cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chondroitinase ABC Promotes Axon Regeneration and Reduces Retrograde Apoptosis Signaling in Lamprey

Paralysis following spinal cord injury (SCI) is due to failure of axonal regeneration. It is believed that axon growth is inhibited by the presence of several types of inhibitory molecules in central nervous system (CNS), including the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs). Many studies have shown that digestion of CSPGs with chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) can enhance axon growth and functional recovery after SCI. However, due to the complexity of the mammalian CNS, it is still unclear whether this involves true regeneration or only collateral sprouting by uninjured axons, whether it affects the expression of CSPG receptors such as protein tyrosine phosphatase sigma (PTPσ), and whether it influences retrograde neuronal apoptosis after SCI. In the present study, we assessed the roles of CSPGs in the regeneration of spinal-projecting axons from brainstem neurons, and in the process of retrograde neuronal apoptosis. Using the fluorochrome-labeled inhibitor of caspase activity (FLICA) method, apoptotic signaling was seen primarily in those large, individually identified reticulospinal (RS) neurons that are known to be "bad-regenerators." Compared to uninjured controls, the number of all RS neurons showing polycaspase activity increased significantly at 2, 4, 8, and 11 weeks post-transection (post-TX). ChABC application to a fresh TX site reduced the number of polycaspase-positive RS neurons at 2 and 11 weeks post-TX, and also reduced the number of active caspase 3-positive RS neurons at 4 weeks post-TX, which confirmed the beneficial role of ChABC treatment in retrograde apoptotic signaling. ChABC treatment also greatly promoted axonal regeneration at 10 weeks post-TX. Correspondingly, PTPσ mRNA expression was reduced in the perikaryon. Previously, PTPσ mRNA expression was shown to correlate with neuronal apoptotic signaling at 2 and 10 weeks post-TX. In the present study, this correlation persisted after ChABC treatment, which suggests that PTPσ may be involved more generally in signaling axotomy-induced retrograde neuronal apoptosis. Moreover, ChABC treatment caused Akt activation (pAkt-308) to be greatly enhanced in brain post-TX, which was further confirmed in individually identified RS neurons. Thus, CSPG digestion not only enhances axon regeneration after SCI, but also inhibits retrograde RS neuronal apoptosis signaling, possibly by reducing PTPσ expression and enhancing Akt activation.
Critical Appraisal of Amyloid Lowering Agents in AD.

According to the amyloid cascade hypothesis, removing amyloid beta (Aβ) should cure Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In the past three decades, many agents have been tested to try to lower Aβ production, prevent Aβ aggregation, and dissolve Aβ deposits. However, the paucity in definitive preventative or curative properties of these agents in clinical trials has resulted in more avant-garde approaches to therapeutic investigations. Immunotherapy has become an area of focus for research on disease-modifying therapies for neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we highlight the current clinical development landscape of monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapies that target Aβ plaque formation and removal in AD. Multiple potential disease-modifying therapeutics for AD are in active development. Targeting Aβ with mAbs has the potential to treat various stages of AD: prodromal, prodromal to mild, mild, and mild to moderate. Monoclonal antibodies discussed here include aducanumab, lecanemab, solanezumab, crenezumab, donanemab, and gantenerumab. The final decision by the FDA regarding the approval of aducanumab will offer valuable insight into the trajectory of drug development for mAbs in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Future directions for improving the treatment of AD will include more inquiry into the efficacy of mAbs as disease-modifying agents that specifically target Aβ peptides and/or multimers. In addition, a more robust trial design for AD immunotherapy agents should improve outcomes such that objective measures of clinical efficacy will eventually lead to higher chances of drug approval.
Tribological Behavior of Carbon-Based Nanomaterial-Reinforced Nickel Metal Matrix Composites.

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) with exceptional mechanical, thermal, chemical, and electrical properties are enticing reinforcements for fabricating lightweight, high-strength, and wear-resistant metal matrix composites with superior mechanical and tribological performance. Nickel–carbon nanotube composite (Ni-CNT) and nickel–graphene nanoplatelet composite (Ni-GNP) were fabricated via mechanical milling followed by the spark plasma sintering (SPS) technique. The Ni-CNT/GNP composites with varying reinforcement concentrations (0.5, 2, and 5 wt%) were ball milled for twelve hours to explore the effect of reinforcement concentration and its dispersion in the nickel microstructure. The effect of varying CNT/GNP concentration on the microhardness and the tribological behavior was investigated and compared with SPS processed monolithic nickel. Ball-on-disc tribological tests were performed to determine the effect of different structural morphologies of CNTs and GNPs on the wear performance and coefficient of friction of these composites. Experimental results indicate considerable grain refinement and improvement in the microhardness of these composites after the addition of CNTs/GNPs in the nickel matrix. In addition, the CNTs and GNPs were effective in forming a lubricant layer, enhancing the wear resistance and lowering the coefficient of friction during the sliding wear test, in contrast to the pure nickel counterpart. Pure nickel demonstrated the highest CoF of ~0.9, Ni-0.5CNT and Ni-0.5GNP exhibited a CoF of ~0.8, whereas the lowest CoF of ~0.2 was observed for Ni-2CNT and Ni-5GNP composites. It was also observed that the uncertainty of wear resistance and CoF in both the CNT/GNP-reinforced composites increased when loaded with higher reinforcement concentrations. The wear surface was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) analysis to elucidate the wear mechanism in these composites.
Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor Mediates PAR-Induced Bladder Pain.

Introduction Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a pro-inflammatory cytokine, is constitutively expressed in urothelial cells that also express protease-activated receptors (PAR). Urothelial PAR1 receptors were shown to mediate bladder inflammation. We showed that PAR1 and PAR4 activator, thrombin, also mediates urothelial MIF release. We hypothesized that stimulation of urothelial PAR1 or PAR4 receptors elicits release of urothelial MIF that acts on MIF receptors in the urothelium to mediate bladder inflammation and pain. Thus, we examined the effect of activation of specific bladder PAR receptors on MIF release, bladder pain, micturition and histological changes.
Anxiety Disorders and Sleep

In Oedipus the King , King Creon asks “who in his right mind would rather rule and live in anxiety than sleep in peace?” (Sophocles (1982) The Three Theban Plays (translated by Fagles R). New York: Viking Press). The question remains contemporary, because anxiety disorders often compromise sleep and are themselves influenced by alterations in sleep. These interrelationships between sleep and anxiety have been observed for millennia, but recent investigators have better characterized the demographics, diagnosis, pathophysiology, comorbidities, complications, and treatment of sleep disturbances in the context of anxiety disorders. Sleep is most often disturbed in patients with generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder. Recent research suggests that improving sleep needs to be a specific target of treating these disorders, and this article reviews the available treatments.
A Q-methodology study of media worker attitudes toward changing roles of the media in Tanzania

Press freedom has begun to emerge in East Africa's Tanzania with private newspapers. Attitudes among journalists and other media workers are responding to these structural changes. This Q-study explores media philosophies among 50 Tanzanian media workers. The study, conducted in 1992 at the time of the initiation of the move toward multi-party democracy, suggests that four factors view the media with a mixture of socialist, traditional, revolutionary and Western philosophies. Factor I turns to the private press to carry out the development role that the official press has failed to fulfill. Factor II seeks professional and social changes within the structures and functions of the official press. Factor III supports socialist development journalism roles and government media. Factor IV distrust governments involvement in the media and positively assesses the private press.
Truth Monism Without Teleology

Some say the swamping problem confronts all who believe that true belief is the sole fundamental epistemic value (“T-Monism”, to use Duncan Pritchard's term). This, I say, is mistaken. The problem only confronts T-Monists if they grant two teleological claims: (i) that all derived epistemic value is instrumental, and (ii) that it is the state of believing truly rather than the standard of truth in belief that is fundamentally epistemically valuable. T-Monists should reject (i) and (ii), and appeal to a non-teleological form of value derivation I call Fitting Response Derivation that obviates swamping. Since, alas, simple reliabilists can't apply this model to knowledge, the problem remains for them, and is local
A new polar magnetic index of geomagnetic activity

[1] We developed a new polar magnetic (PM) index of geomagnetic activity which, similarly to the existing polar cap index, was computed from magnetic field data from near-pole geomagnetic observatories. However, we used a different method for its calculation, which provided the high correlation of this index with both solar wind data and many events in geospace environment. This improves significantly the reliability of forecasting geomagnetic disturbances and such key parameters as cross-polar-cap voltage and Joule heating in high-latitude ionosphere, which play an important role in the development of global geomagnetic, ionospheric, and thermospheric disturbances. In this paper, we examined PM index in the Northern Hemisphere only. We tested the PM index for 10-year period. The correlation between PM index and upstream solar wind data for all these years is very high (the squared correlation coefficient R2 ≈ 0.74 which corresponds to the linear correlation coefficients R ≈ 0.86). The PM index also shows the high correlation with the cross-polar-cap voltage and hemispheric Joule heating (the squared correlation coefficient R2 between the actual and predicted values of these parameters reaches ∼0.81 which corresponds to the linear correlation coefficients R ≈ 0.9), which results in significant increasing the prediction reliability of these parameters. Thus, the polar magnetic (PM) index of geomagnetic activity provides a significant increase in the forecasting reliability of geomagnetic disturbances and related events in geospace environment, and it may be used as an important input parameter in modeling ionospheric, magnetospheric, and thermospheric processes.
Leaf-produced floral signals

Florigen is the hypothetical leaf-produced signal that induces floral initiation at the shoot apex. The nature of florigen has remained elusive for more than 70 years. But recent progress toward understanding the regulatory network for flowering in Arabidopsis has led to the suggestion that FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) or its product is the mobile flower-inducing signal that moves from an induced leaf through the phloem to the shoot apex. In the past year, physical and chemical evidence has shown that it is FT protein, and not FT mRNA, that moves from induced leaves to the apical meristem. These results have established that FT is the main, if not the only, component of the universal florigen.
Enhanced CO2 Adsorption in Metal-Organic Frameworks via Occupation of Open-Metal Sites by Coordinated Water Molecules

CO2 is one of the most important greenhouse gases and its removal from flue gas and natural gas has become increasingly important. We report an interesting discovery in which the CO2 uptake and its selectivity over N2 and CH4 in the metal-organic framework (MOF) Cu-BTC were significantly increased by the presence of water molecules coordinated to open-metal sites in the framework. This was first predicted by molecular simulations and later validated by experiments. A detailed analysis of simulation data revealed that interaction between the quadrupole moment of CO2 and the electric field created by water molecules is responsible for the enhanced CO2 uptake. These findings could open new possibilities for tuning the adsorption behavior of MOFs for CO2 capture and other applications.
Stabilized Curative Blends for Rubber

Abstract Blending of curatives offers several advantages. These include a sharply reduced number of weighings of curative ingredients, reduced weighing costs, reduced dusting and improved cleanliness. These advantages might not be realized with some curative blends. For example, diphenyl guanidine (DPG) could not be blended with sulfenamide accelerators because it reacted chemically with the sulfenamides. Later work assessed the effect of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole (MBT), sulfur (S), or free amine on the hydrolytic stability of N-cyclohexyl-2-benzothiazyl-sulfenamide (CBS) that was highly purified. Results showed that free amine or sulfur accelerate the hydrolysis, but to a lesser extent than MBT. The present work shows that aging of curative blends (like S, CBS, and DPG) sharply reduces the scorch resistance of rubber compounds containing the aged blends. Selected additives will stabilize the blends.
The IOLAB, Inc Pediatric Intraocular Lens Study

Abstract Purpose: This report is a summary of the data of the IOLAB, Inc pediatric intraocular lens (IOL) implantation investigation. The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of IOL implantation for the treatment of pediatric aphakia, pending approval by the Food and Drug Administration. Methods: From May 1981 to July 1994, a total of 1260 pediatric eyes received 171 styles of IOLs implanted by 361 US investigators. Preoperative, operative, and postoperative status reports over the first year were required for each eye entered into the study. Annual visit reports were requested thereafter to determine the long-term effects. The study was terminated in November 1995. All IOLs were obtained from IOLAB, Inc (now Chiron Vision Corp). Results: Reporting compliance was 98.3% for the preoperative and operative reports, 45.1% at 1 year, and 13.8% at 3 years. The subjects' ages ranged from younger than 1 year to 17 years. Nine subjects (0.7%) were younger than 1 year, with the largest group of 533 subjects (42.3%) aged between 6 and 12 years at the time of surgery. Cataract types were congenital (45.6%), traumatic (37.1%), secondary (11%), senile (0.95%), and unrecorded (5.4%). The IOL was implanted primarily in 74.8% of cases and secondarily in 21.4% of cases. There was no record in 3.8% of the cases. IOL types included anterior chamber (4.1%), iridocapsular (0.71%), posterior chamber (93.6%), and unrecorded (1.59%). There were 130 adverse reactions that required secondary surgical intervention. The most frequently performed surgical procedures included lens removal without replacement, vitrectomy, lens repositioning, and lens replacement. More than half (52%) of all eyes had a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse before surgery; amblyopia was reported in 21.1% of all participants at baseline. Postoperative visual acuity data were available on 563 eyes at 1 year after surgery. Overall, 52.8% of all eyes attained a visual acuity of 20/40 or better by the 1-year visit, and only 15.5% had visual acuity worse than 20/200. In general, the older patient, traumatic cataract, and secondary cataract categories were overrepresented in the better visual acuity outcome group. Conclusion: The IOLAB, Inc pediatric IOL study is the first multiple- practitioner, national study designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of IOL implantation in children. The study results are compromised by the almost 50% loss of follow-up at the 1-year evaluation. Other variables that most likely influenced outcome results were the methods of cataract extraction, medical management, and IOL design, all of which evolved dramatically over the time course of the study. Despite these issues, pediatric IOL implantation seems to be a reasonable treatment modality for aphakia, on the basis of the available 1-year follow-up data of the remaining 45.1% of eyes in the study. (J AAPOS 1999;3:295-302)
Escapable-inescapable shock and body weight loss

Rats were exposed to 23½ h of either escapable, inescapable, or nonshock conditions. Weight loss was significantly greater for inescapable Ss when compared to either escape or nonshocked Ss. These results appear to agree with prior research that has suggested an inverse relationship between stressfulness and weight gain. The data is also consistent with the hypothesis that the availability of a coping response may partially mitigate the deleterious effects of shock induced stress.
Theory of learning mathematics with computer-assisted instruction: Hierarchical and nonhierarchical options

The learning of arithmetic problems is assumed to be a Markov process involving conditioning of a set of k subskills, each consisting of one or more productions. An axiom set is provided, with the choice between two options for one axiom controlling which of two models results. Model 1, which assumes that every subskill is attempted on every occurrence of a given problem, is a nonhierarchical model. Model 2, which assumes that every subskill in the temporal sequence for a problem is attempted until one is failed, is a somewhat unconventional hierarchical model: It is hierarchical in the sense that conditioningor chance success at one level is prerequisite to performance of the next subskill (next level) in the problem. As the value of the guessing parameter, g, declines, Model 2 leads to less efficient learning than Model 1.
Live Analysis: Progress and Challenges

As computer technologies become increasingly ubiquitous, so must supporting digital forensics tools and techniques for efficiently and effectively analyzing associated systems' behavior. Live analysis is a logical and challenging step forward in this area and a method that has recently received increased R&D focus. This article describes some live analysis approaches as well as tools and techniques for live analysis on real and virtual machines. The discussion includes research challenges and open problems.
Post‐bite Elevation in Tongue‐flick Rate by Neonatal Garter Snakes (Thamnophis radix)

A post-biting elevation in tongue-flicking rate was demonstrated experimentally in neonatal, ingestively naive garter snakes (Thamnophis radix). That the snakes also exhibited apparent searching movements suggests that strike-induced chemosensory searching occurs in nonvenomous snakes lacking previous experience with food or prey chemicals. Two litters of neonates differed in numbers of tongue-flicks emitted, but had similar relative magnitudes of response across experimental conditions. The existence of post-bite elevation in tongue-flick rate (and presumably strike-induced chemosensory searching) argues for a genetic basis for these chemosensory behaviors in a nonvenomous species of snake, extending the recent finding that strike-induced chemosensory searching is fully developed in ingestively naive neonatal rattlesnakes. Possible patterns of evolution of post-bite elevation in tongue-flick rate, and the strike-release-trail strategy of highly venomous snakes are discussed.
In Utero Diagnosis of Agenesis of the Ductus Arteriosus in a Twin Pregnancy: An Unusual Case Presentation

Agenesis of the ductus arteriosus is a rare congenital cardiac anomaly which should be considered within the differntial prenatal diagnosis of hydrops fetalis.
Chemomechanics of ionically conductive ceramics for electrical energy conversion and storage

Functional materials for energy conversion and storage exhibit strong coupling between electrochemistry and mechanics. For example, ceramics developed as electrodes for both solid oxide fuel cells and batteries exhibit cyclic volumetric expansion upon reversible ion transport. Such chemomechanical coupling is typically far from thermodynamic equilibrium, and thus is challenging to quantify experimentally and computationally. In situ measurements and atomistic simulations are under rapid development to explore how this coupling can be used to potentially improve both device performance and durability. Here, we review the commonalities of coupling between electrochemical and mechanical states in fuel cell and battery materials, illustrating with specific cases the progress in materials processing, in situ characterization, and computational modeling and simulation. We also highlight outstanding questions and opportunities in these applications – both to better understand the limiting mechanisms within the materials and to significantly advance the durability and predictability of device performance required for renewable energy conversion and storage.
The affinities of procolipase and colipase for interfaces are regulated by lipids.

It has been suggested that at physiological pH, the trypsin-catalyzed activation of the lipase cofactor, procolipase, to colipase has no consequence for intestinal lipolysis and serves primarily to release the N-terminal pentapeptide, enterostatin, a satiety factor (Larsson, A., and C. Erlanson-Albertsson 1991. The effect of pancreatic procolipase and colipase on pancreatic lipase activation. Biochim. Biophys. Acta 1083:283–288). This hypothesis was tested by measuring the adsorption of [14C]colipase to monolayers of 1-stearoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-3-glycerophosphocholine and 13, 16-cis, cis-docosadienoic acid in the presence and absence of procolipase. With saturating [14C]colipase in the subphase, the surface excess of [14C]colipase is 29% higher than that of procolipase, indicating that colipase packs more tightly in the interface. With [14C]colipase-procolipase mixtures, the proteins compete equally for occupancy of the argon-buffer interface. However, if a monolayer of either or both lipids is present, [14C]colipase dominates the adsorption process, even if bile salt is present in the subphase. If [14C]colipase and procolipase are premixed for > 12 h at pH approximately 8, this dominance is partial. If they are not premixed, procolipase is essentially excluded from the interface, even if procolipase is added before [14C]colipase. These results suggest that the tryptic cleavage of the N-terminal pentapeptide of procolipase may be of physiological consequence in the intestine.
Urocanic acid photobiology. Photocycloaddition of N,N-dimethylthymine to urocanic acid.

Abstract— Photolysis of N,N-dimethylthymine (DMT) and urocanic acid (UA) gives rise to two isolable cyclobutane adducts. N,N-dimethylthymine also photosensitizes UA E/Z isomerization. Neither phenomenon is affected by a triplet quencher, and 1DMT* is proposed as the likely reactive species. If so, prior complexation of DMT and UA would be necessary in order for their interaction to be competitive with DMT radiationless decay. These observations are potentially related to the effect of UA on viral DNA described in the following paper.
Different normalization strategies for microarray gene expression traits affect the heritability estimation

Several studies have been conducted to assess the influence of genetic variation on genome-wide gene expression profiles measured by the microarray technologies. Due to substantial noise in microarray-based experiments, it has long been recognized that proper normalization is a crucial step to ensure sensitive and reliable downstream analyses. This is especially true when large number of samples were collected and analyzed. In this study, we investigated the impact of different normalization strategies on genome wide linkage analyses, in particular, the estimation of heritability of gene expression traits. We used the Genetics Analysis Workshop 15 Problem 1 data. We found that there are significant differences in the estimated number of genes showing heritability when different normalization strategies were used. RMA (robust multiarray average) and dChip identify 45% and 13% more genes showing heritability than MAS 5.0, respectively. Our study also reveals that a large number of genes show strong "family effect" in their expression levels but no significant heritability. Analysis of their annotation indicates different types of genes were enriched in this group compared to genes showing strong heritability.
The view from a broken window: How residents make sense of neighbourhood disorder in Flint:

This paper explores how members of a neighbourhood association in a post-industrial blighted community in Flint, Michigan are working to reduce disorder conditions in their neighbourhood. We seek to understand how members are impacted by disorder, what they perceive to be the cause of disorder, and how they respond to disorder conditions. We argue that a disordered physical environment characterised by abandoned buildings and neglected properties is viewed by association members as giving rise to fear and incidences of crime and the impression of the loss of social control by formal authorities. As a result, association members focus their attention on interventions specifically geared toward controlling environmental factors such as neighbourhood greenspace. Our findings suggest that residents are deeply and negatively impacted by the presence of disorder, and that they view such neighbourhood greening initiatives as an effective way to mobilise neighbourhood residents against disorder-producing conditions.
Target-Derived Neurotrophins Coordinate Transcription and Transport of Bclw to Prevent Axonal Degeneration

Establishment of neuronal circuitry depends on both formation and refinement of neural connections. During this process, target-derived neurotrophins regulate both transcription and translation to enable selective axon survival or elimination. However, it is not known whether retrograde signaling pathways that control transcription are coordinated with neurotrophin-regulated actions that transpire in the axon. Here we report that target-derived neurotrophins coordinate transcription of the antiapoptotic gene bclw with transport of bclw mRNA to the axon, and thereby prevent axonal degeneration in rat and mouse sensory neurons. We show that neurotrophin stimulation of nerve terminals elicits new bclw transcripts that are immediately transported to the axons and translated into protein. Bclw interacts with Bax and suppresses the caspase6 apoptotic cascade that fosters axonal degeneration. The scope of bclw regulation at the levels of transcription, transport, and translation provides a mechanism whereby sustained neurotrophin stimulation can be integrated over time, so that axonal survival is restricted to neurons connected within a stable circuit.
Studies of Photoredox Reactions on Nanosize Semiconductors

Light induced electron transfer (ET) from nanosize semiconductors Of MoS{sub 2} to organic electron acceptors such as 2,2`-bipyridine (bpy) and methyl substituted 4,4`,5,5`-tetramethyl- 2,2`-bipyridine (tmb) was studied by static and time resolved photoluminescence spectroscopy. The kinetics of ET were varied by changing the nanocluster size (the band gap), the electron acceptor, and the polarity of the solvent. MoS{sub 2} is an especially interesting semiconductor material as it is an indirect semiconductor in bulk form, and has a layered covalent bonding arrangement which is highly resistant to photocorrosion.
Emerging patterns of complex technological innovation

Abstract Technological innovation is increasingly concerned with complex products and processes. The trend toward greater complexity is suggested by the fact that in 1970 complex technologies comprised 43% of the 30 most valuable world goods exports, but by 1996 complex technologies represented 84% of those goods. These technologies are innovated by self-organizing networks. Networks are those linked organizations that create, acquire, and integrate the diverse knowledge and skills required to innovate complex technologies. Accessing tacit knowledge (i.e., experienced-based, unwritten know-how) and integrating it with codified knowledge is a particular strength of many networks. Self-organization refers to the capacity networks have for reordering themselves into more complex structures (e.g., replacing individual managers with management teams), and for using more complex processes (e.g., evolving strategies) without centralized, detailed managerial guidance. Case studies of the innovation pathways traced by six complex technologies indicate that innovations can be grouped into three quite distinct patterns. Transformation: the launching of a new trajectory by a new coevolving network and technology. Normal: the coevolution of an established network and technology along an established trajectory. Transition: the coevolutionary movement to a new trajectory by an established network and technology. Policy makers and managers face the greatest challenge during those periods of movement from one innovation trajectory to another. These are periods of turbulence; they are the embodiment of Schumpeter's “gales of creative destruction.” This paper investigates how, in six case studies, core capabilities, complementary assets, organizational learning, path dependencies, and the selection environment varied among the innovation patterns. The paper builds on work reported in a recent book by the authors entitled: The Complexity Challenge: Technological Innovation for the 21st Century, Pinter, London, 1999.
Interactions of sulfur dioxide and acrolein as sensory irritants.

Abstract Sulfur dioxide/acrolein atmospheres were evaluated for their sensory irritation potential by monitoring the respiratory rate of groups of mice during 5-min control, 10-min exposure, and 5-min postexposure periods. The results demonstrated that depending upon the concentration ratio of these sensory irritants, either irritant can alter, or completely block, the effect of the other during the exposure. Following exposure to these mixtures, recovery was extremely slow, unlike the rapid recovery observed with each irritant alone.
1645-nm Q-switched Er:YAG laser with in-band diode pumping

In this work, resonant diode pumping has been demonstrated for Q-switched and CW Er:YAG solid state lasers (SSLs) at eye-safe wavelengths. Resonant pumping was realized by using high spectral brightness 1470 nm laser diodes. An efficient 1645 nm CW laser with output power >5 W in the TEM00 mode was demonstrated. Total optical-to-optical efficiency was >19%. More than 11 mJ of output pulse energy and an output peak power of ~400 kW have been achieved in the TEM00 mode for Q-switched operation.
Catalyst-functionalized nanomaterials

With rapid development in both nanotechnology and biotechnology, it is now possible to combine these two exciting fields to modulate the physical properties of nanomaterials with the molecular recognition and catalytic functional properties of biomolecules. Such research efforts have resulted in a larger number of sensors that can detect a broad range of analytes ranging from metal ions, small molecules, and nucleic acids down to proteins. These sensors will find important applications in nanomedicine. In this article, the design of sensors with four classes of nanomaterials (metallic, semiconductor, magnetic, and carbon nanotube nanoparticles) is reviewed. Metallic nanoparticles possess distance-dependent optical properties and are useful for designing colorimetric sensors. Semiconductor nanoparticles or quantum dots (QDs) appear to be superior alternatives to traditional organic fluorophores in many aspects, such as broad excitation range, narrow emission peaks, and high photo stability. QD sensors based on either energy transfer or charge transfer are summarized. Furthermore, magnetic nanoparticles are shown to be useful as smart magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast agents. Finally, some carbon nanotubes show near-IR emission properties, and thus, are potentially useful for in vivo sensing. Sensors based on either tuning the emission intensity or wavelength are discussed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. For further resources related to this article, please visit the WIREs website.
Head-to-head comparisons of quality of life instruments for young adult survivors of childhood cancer

Purpose Few studies examine the relevance of health-related quality of life (HRQOL) instruments for young adult survivors of childhood cancer (YASCC). This study compared the psychometric properties of two survivor-specific instruments, the Quality of Life–Cancer Survivor (QOL-CS) and Quality of Life in Adult Cancer Survivor (QLACS).
Composite samples and the generation of novel metal carbide clusters

Abstract New methods are described for the preparation of composite metal-carbon samples used for pulsed laser vaporization molecular beam cluster experiments. Samples containing a thin metal film on the surface of a carbon rod are prepared by thermal metal vapor deposition of electrochemical metal deposition. These composite samples are used to produce metal carbide clusters in the gas phase which could not be produced by other techniques. The size distributions of Bi/C, Sb/C, Ni/C, Co/C and Cu/C cluster cations are measured with time-of-flight mass spectrometry.
Effective field theory of vacuum tilting

Simple models of top-color and top-color-assisted technicolor rely on a relatively strong $\mathrm{U}(1)$ gauge interaction to ``tilt'' the vacuum. This tilting is necessary to produce a top condensate, thereby naturally obtaining a heavy top quark, and to avoid producing a bottom condensate. We identify some peculiarities of the Nambu\char21{}Jona-Lasinio approximation often used to analyze the top-color dynamics. We resolve these puzzles by constructing the low-energy effective field theory appropriate to a mass-independent renormalization scheme. We construct the power-counting rules for such an effective theory. By requiring that the Landau pole associated with the $\mathrm{U}(1)$ gauge theory be sufficiently above the top-color gauge boson scale, we derive an upper bound on the strength of the $\mathrm{U}(1)$ gauge coupling evaluated at the top-color scale. The upper bound on the $\mathrm{U}(1)$ coupling implies that these interactions can shift the composite Higgs boson mass-squared by only a few percent and, therefore, that the top-color coupling must be adjusted to equal the critical value for chiral symmetry breaking to within a few percent.
Specific ion fluxes generate cornea wound electric currents

The corneal epithelium generates a significant trans-epithelial potential (TEP) which aids in maintaining cornea water balance and transparency. Injury to the cornea causes a short circuit of the TEP at the wound. The TEP in the intact epithelium around the wound acts like a battery, powering significant ion flux and electric current at the wound. These circulating endogenous currents generate an electric field orientated towards the wound, with the wound the cathode. Many cell types, including human corneal epithelial cells and keratinocytes, migrate to the cathode at physiological electric field strengths. Indeed, the electric signal is a powerful stimulator of cell migration which appears to over-ride other cues such as chemotaxis and wound void. These wound fields also have a dynamic timecourse of change after wounding. It has been assumed that wound electric fields are produced by passive leakage of ions from damaged cells and tissue. Could these fields be actively maintained and regulated as an acti...
Usefulness of Arterial Compliance in the Thigh in Predicting Exercise Capacity in Individuals Without Coronary Heart Disease

This study examined the relation between arterial compliance of the lower extremities and aerobic capacity in patients with a broad spectrum of cardiovascular risk but without overt coronary heart disease (CHD). Local arterial compliance was noninvasively measured in the thigh and calf in 104 men and 99 women using air plethysmography. Subjects also underwent maximal exercise treadmill testing as a measure of aerobic capacity. In univariate analysis, age (r = −0.49, p
GLUTAMINE DEPRIVATION IN RAT INTESTINAL CELLS. 476

Our objective is to establish the importance of both endogenous and exogenous sources of glutamine (GLN) for proliferation and differentiation of small intestinal epithelium. We hypothesize that exposure to sub-physiologic concentrations of GLN (<0.4 mM) in cell culture media (exogenous GLN source) results in upregulation of glutamine synthetase (GS) activity(endogenous GLN source). Increased GS activity should compensate for the lack of exogenous GLN and result in no differences in variables indicative of cell growth. IEC-6 cells were grown in GLN-free DMEM containing 10% FBS. Confluent stock cultures were trypsinized and seeded (1 × 105 cells/well) onto plates grown in media containing 1 of 6 different concentrations of supplemental GLN (4, 2, 0.4, 0.2, 0.02, and 0 mM). The approximate percentage of area covered by cells, an indicator of cell growth, was monitored each day and time to confluency was noted. Cells were trypsinized and processed for determination of protein concentration, GS activity (μ M•mg-1protein•h-1), and 3H-thymidine incorporation (dp m•mg protein-1). Results (means± SD, *p<0.05): All variables decreased in response to decreased [GLN] in a dose-dependent manner. Table
Comparison of a new braid fixation system to an interlocking intramedullary nail for tibial osteotomy repair in an ovine model.

Objectives— To compare bone healing of tibial osteotomy repaired with Nitinol wire braid and hardened steel rods (Braid system) and polymethylmethacrylate bone cement with an interlocking intramedullary (IM) nail fixation in an ovine model. Study Design— In vitro and in vivo experimental study. Animals— Adult female sheep (n=22). Methods— Using sheep tibia, a middiaphyseal transverse osteotomy was performed in the right tibia, which were then randomly assigned to the Braid system group or IM nail group (n=5). The left tibia were used as controls. The torsional properties of tibial constructs were compared. The study was repeated in vivo in 12 sheep and mechanical properties and bone healing were evaluated at 12 weeks. Results— In vitro, there was no significant difference in torsional stiffness between the groups. In vivo, operative time for the Braid system group was significantly shorter than the IM nail group. At 12 weeks, there were no significant differences in maximum torque and torsional stiffness between IM nail and Braid system groups nor were there significant radiographic or histologic differences between the groups. Conclusions— The Braid system might decrease operative time for repair of transverse middiaphyseal tibial fractures and result in similar bone healing at 12 weeks after surgery compared with an interlocking IM nail repair. Clinical Relevance— A Nitinol Braid system may be a treatment option for transverse midshaft tibial fractures.
The experiences of families with a relative in the intensive care unit.

Objective: To describe the experiences of families with a relative in the intensive care unit (ICU). Design: Retrospective, descriptive, and qualitative. Setting: The surgical-trauma ICU in a midwestern university-affiliated tertiary medical center. Participants: Eighteen women and 2 men with relatives in a surgical trauma ICU. Outcome Measures: Focus group and individual unstructured interviews. Results: A group interpretive process was used to code, categorize, and identify themes found in the transcribed interviews. Four categories of experiences were identified: hovering, information seeking, tracking, and the garnering of resources. Hovering is an initial sense of confusion, stress, and uncertainty. Information seeking is a tactic used both to move out of the hovering state and to identify the patient's progress. Tracking is the process of observing, analyzing, and evaluating patient care and status and the family's own satisfaction with the environment and with care givers. The garnering of resources is the act of acquiring what family members perceive as needed for themselves or their relative. Conclusions: Families experience a sense of uncertainty that is eventually resolved by seeking information and resources. Health care professionals can minimize the stress associated with hospitalization of relatives in the ICU by anticipating and addressing the family's needs for information and resources.
John Greenleaf's life of science

This article summarizes the life and career of John E. Greenleaf, PhD. It complements an interview of Dr. Greenleaf sponsored by the American Physiological Society Living History Project found on t...
An analysis of nudity in Chinese magazine advertising: Examining gender, racial and brand differences

This study gives a most recent view of nudity in Chinese magazine advertising. Focusing on gender, racial and brand differences, the authors content analyzed 2,058 models in 19 Chinese consumer magazines from a stratified random sample of four months in 2009. Results showed that female models were more likely to be shown in different levels of nudity than male models, and Western models were more likely to be shown in different levels of nudity than Chinese models, as predicted. However, regarding brand origin, although Western advertisers portrayed models in higher levels of nudity, Western and Chinese advertisers did not differ in their portrayals when models were examined separately by brand origin. Our study suggests that sexism in advertising is a cross-cultural phenomenon, and Western advertising models are the trend setters of sexual images in Chinese magazine advertising. Chinese advertising is not only a “melting pot” of cultural values, but also a “melting pot” of advertising practices.
Ethnic Preferences and Residential Segregation: A Commentary on Outcomes from Agent-Based Modeling

Mark Fossett's new research, published here in the Journal of Mathematical Sociology, is arguably the most important advance in studies of residential segregation in the past decade. While this study of the role of preferences in creating the patterns of residential separation does not answer all the questions about how preferences create separation in the residential mosaic, it provides a major extension of Schelling's seminal work of three decades ago. The paper shows clearly that preferences do matter and that the set of simulations leave little doubt that residential preferences and their underlying social dynamics have the capacity to generate high levels of ethnic segregation. The agent-based modeling technique, on which the results are based, is a major advance on previouswork using agent-based modeling and will set the standard for further studies of the underlying processes that create residential separation in U.S. cities.
Cavity quantum electrodynamics for superconducting electrical circuits: An architecture for quantum computation

We propose a realizable architecture using one-dimensional transmission line resonators to reach the strong-coupling limit of cavity quantum electrodynamics in superconducting electrical circuits. The vacuum Rabi frequency for the coupling of cavity photons to quantized excitations of an adjacent electrical circuit (qubit) can easily exceed the damping rates of both the cavity and qubit. This architecture is attractive both as a macroscopic analog of atomic physics experiments and for quantum computing and control, since it provides strong inhibition of spontaneous emission, potentially leading to greatly enhanced qubit lifetimes, allows high-fidelity quantum nondemolition measurements of the state of multiple qubits, and has a natural mechanism for entanglement of qubits separated by centimeter distances. In addition it would allow production of microwave photon states of fundamental importance for quantum communication.
Bounded queries to SAT and the Boolean hierarchy

We study the complexity of decision problems that can be solved by a polynomial-time Turing machine that makes a bounded number of queries to an NP oracle. Depending on whether we allow some queries to depend on the results of other queries, we obtain two (probably) different hierarchies. We present several results relating the bounded NP query hierarchies to each other and to the Boolean hierarchy. We also consider the similarly defined hierarchies of functions that can be computed by a polynomial-time Turing machine that makes a bounded number of queries to an NP oracle. We present relations among these two hierarchies and the Boolean hierarchy. In particular we show for all k that there are functions computable with 2k parallel queries to an NP set that are not computable in polynomial time with k serial queries to any oracle, unless P = NP. As a corollary k + 1 parallel queries to an NP set allow us to compute more functions than are computable with only k parallel queries to an NP set, unless P = NP; the same is true of serial queries. Similar results hold for all tt-self-reducible sets. Using a “mind-change” technique, we show that 2k - 1 parallel queries to an NP set allow us to accept in polynomial time exactly the same sets as can be accepted in polynomial time with k serial queries to an NP set. (In fact, the same is true for any class in place of NP that is closed under polynomial-time positive-bounded-truth-table reductions.) This contrasts with the expected result for function computations with an NP oracle (Beigel, 1988). In addition we show that the Boolean hierarchy and the bounded query hierarchies (of languages) either stand or collapse together. Finally we show that if the Boolean hierarchy collapses to any level but the zeroth (deterministic polynomial time), then for all k there are functions computable in polynomial time with k parallel queries to an NP set that are not computable in polynomial time with k - 1 serial queries to any set (NP-complete sets are p-superterse).
Photolithographic patterning of organosilane monolayer for generating large area two-dimensional B lymphocyte arrays

High-density live cell array serves as a valuable tool for the development of high-throughput immunophenotyping systems and cell-based biosensors. In this paper, we have, for the first time, demonstrated a simple fabrication process to form the hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) binary molecular surface which can be used to effectively form high fidelity cell arrays. The HMDS self-assembled monolayer (SAM) on glass substrates was photolithographically patterned and its ability to physically adsorb proteins was characterized by contact angle measurement and fluorescence microscopy respectively. Passivation of the non-HMDS coated background by PEG was verified to have no impact on the pre-patterned HMDS and greatly inhibited the non-specific protein binding. Using the biotin–streptavidin complexation as an intermediate, uniform orientation and high bioactivity were achieved for the immobilized B lymphocyte specific anti-CD19 antibodies and therefore ensured the formation of high resolution B lymphocyte arrays. The cell–ligand interaction specificity was investigated and the anti-CD19 decorated micropatterns presented a much higher cell-capturing rate (88%) than those modified by non-specific ligands (15% for anti-CD5 and 7% for streptavidin). The approach was verified to be biocompatible and the properties of the antibody-modified surface were maintained after 12 h cell culture. The HMDS monolayer formation and patterning processes, and the universal HMDS/biotin-BSA/streptavidin template, provide a very simple and convenient process to generate high resolution micropatterns of cell-adhesive ligands and are extendable to form arrays of other types of cells as well.