cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The nature of the epidermal barrier: biochemical aspects

Abstract As epidermal keratinocytes differentiate, they synthesize lipids, much of which are packaged into small organelles called lamellar granules. Acetate from the circulation serves as the principal carbon source for epidermal lipid synthesis, and the required energy is produced primarily by glycolysis with reduction of the resulting pyruvate to lactate. Late in the differentiation program, the contents of the lamellar granules are extruded into the extracellular spaces. Lipases, also delivered to the intercellular spaces via the lamellar granules, completely break down the remaining phospholipids and deglycosylate the glycolipids. Ceramides, cholesterol and fatty acids remain as the principal lipids in the stratum corneum. The modification of the lipid initially extruded from the lamellar granules is accompanied by a transformation from small, flattened vesicles to broad multilamellar lipid sheets which fill most of the intercellular spaces of the stratum corneum, and it is this intercellular lipid that provides the epidermal permeability barrier. Knowledge of the molecular events underlying formation and function of the permeability barrier can both improve our understanding of the normal protective role of the barrier and could be useful in design of transdermal drug delivery systems.
Detection and quantification of 3D hydraulic fractures with multi-component low-frequency borehole resistivity measurements

Summary Hydraulic fracturing is routinely used to enable production in hydrocarbon-bearing shale but no commercial in-situ borehole methods are available except microseismic monitoring for appraising the shape and spatial reach of hydro-fractures. Borehole resistivity measurements were previously shown to be suitable for in-situ hydro-fracture assessment provided that the proppant enhances the contrast of electrical conductivity between the fractures and the embedding formation. In this article, an FFTaccelerated integral-equation method is used to quantify the sensitivity of multi-component low-frequency borehole resistivity measurements to the shape, area, and dip of 3D hydro-fractures. Numerical simulations performed at 100 Hz for a sand proppant indicate the following: (i) Coaxial measurements are insensitive to shape but can quantify the area of axially symmetric fractures; the maximum area they can differentiate is a function of the spacings between the transmitter and receivers; e.g., it is 2 3600 m p  for an instrument with large spacings. (ii) Coaxial measurements can differentiate between axially asymmetric and symmetric fractures; the maximum area they can differentiate is larger for asymmetric fractures. (iii) Crosspolarized measurements can quantify fracture dip.
Current Distributions on Recessed Electrodes

The primary current distributions on disk electrodes and two‐dimensional electrodes that are recessed in insulating planes are given. The ohmic resistances are also given and are compared to previous estimates that were given in Ref. (2–5). A singular‐perturbation analysis, valid for small aspect ratios, shows general behavior to be expected for all cells containing an electrode that is recessed slightly from the insulating plane.
Landslide susceptibility mapping using downscaled AMSR-E soil moisture: A case study from Cleveland Corral, California, US

article i nfo As soil moisture increases, slope stability decreases. Remotely sensed soil moisture data can provide routine updates of slope conditions necessary for landslide predictions. For regional scale landslide investigations, only remote-sensing methods have the spatial and temporal resolution required to map hazard increases. Here, a dynamic physically-based slope stability model that requires soil moisture is applied using remote- sensing products from multiple Earth observing platforms. The resulting landslide susceptibility maps using the advanced microwave scanning radiometer (AMSR-E) surface soil moisture are compared to those created using variable infiltration capacity (VIC-3L) modeled soil moisture at Cleveland Corral landslide area in California, US. Despite snow cover influences on AMSR-E surface soil moisture estimates, a good relationship between the downscaled AMSR-E's surface soil moisture and the VIC-3L modeled soil moisture is evident. The AMSR-E soil moisture mean (0.17 cm 3 /cm 3 ) and standard deviation (0.02 cm 3 /cm 3 ) are very close to the mean (0.21 cm 3 /cm 3 ) and standard deviation (0.09 cm 3 /cm 3 ) estimated by VIC-3L model. Qualitative results show that the location and extent of landslide prone regions are quite similar. Under the maximum saturation scenario, 0.42% and 0.49% of the study area were highly susceptible using AMSR-E and VIC-3L model soil moisture, respectively.
Neutrophil-mediated cartilage injury in vitro is enhanced by tumour necrosis factor alpha.

Neutrophil functions relevant to tissue damage are altered by cytokines such as tumour necrosis factor alpha (cachectin, TNFα), known to be present in inflammatory foci. In this study we examined the effect of TNFα on neutrophil-mediated cartilage damage in vitro. Human neutrophils were able to injure both human and bovine articular cartilage slices by degrading proteoglycan and inhibiting its synthesis. Recombinant human TNFα enhanced neutrophil-mediated degradation of proteoglycan, even when neutrophils were preincubated with TNFα and washed before incubating with cartilage. TNFα alone degraded proteoglycan and inhibited its synthesis. Neutrophil-mediated inhibition of proteoglycan biosynthesis was increased after incubating cartilage together with neutrophils and TNFα, but was unaltered when neutrophils were preincubated with TNFα. We conclude that TNFα enhances neutrophil injury to articular cartilage.
14.8 A 247-to-263.5GHz VCO with 2.6mW peak output power and 1.14% DC-to-RF efficiency in 65nm Bulk CMOS

Signal generation at mm-Wave-to-THz frequencies is attractive because of its applications in bio-sensing, spectroscopy, detection of concealed weapons, as well as high-data-rate communication. CMOS is considered a potential platform to implement a low-cost and high-yield signal generation solution at this frequency range. Despite continuous scaling, effective fmax of active devices is not high enough and hence either harmonic oscillators or frequency multipliers are employed for high-frequency signal generation. In recent CMOS VCO designs, reasonable power levels (~1mW) and tuning range (~10GHz) have been reported at around 300GHz but with very low DC-to-RF efficiency (<;0.4%), which is undesirable for portable applications [1,4]. Moreover, power-level fluctuation is more than 3dB across the frequency range [1]. In this work, we introduce a scalable VCO architecture that efficiently generates and extracts the 2nd harmonic at 256GHz and hence simultaneously achieves high tuning range (16GHz), high output power (2.6mW), high DC-RF efficiency (1.14%), and low phase noise (-94dBc/Hz to -85dBc/Hz at 1MHz offset frequency across the tuning range). When compared to published state-of-the-art, this work demonstrates the highest output power, tuning range, and DC-to-RF efficiency, and the lowest phase noise among all CMOS VCOs above 200GHz.
Structure of the capsular polymer of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 6.

The capsular polymer of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 6 (ATCC 33590) was investigated by methylation, dephosphorylation, partial hydrolysis, and 1H- and 13C-n.m.r. methods. It was found to be a high-molecular-weight polymer composed of triglycosylglycerol phosphate repeating-units joined through monophosphate diester linkages, and has the structure: (formula; see text).
Conceptual Aspects of Subsidence Due to Fluid Withdrawal

A saturated reservoir or confined aquifer system responds to fluid withdrawal as a dynamic unit whose elemental volumes not only compress due to decrease in porosity but move horizontally and vertically in order for the system to remain contiguous. Recent trends in the conceptual aspects of subsidence due to fluid withdrawal are toward developing a practical three-dimensional theory of reservoir theory is to couple volume strain within a reservoir to calculated stress change. An alternative approach to developing a three-dimensional theory is proposed here. It couples reservoir velocity fields in three dimensions to appropriate force fields. The generally neglected effect of the gravitational force field on transient movement of solids is included in the analysis. After calculating the transient velocity field of a saturated granular medium, it is conceptually possible to estimate the displacement of solids by integrating velocity over an appropriate interval of time.
Influenza A (H5N1): Will It Be the Next Pandemic Influenza? Are We Ready?

Influenza experts have been predicting a pandemic flu for many years. What they fear most is an epidemic like the Spanish flu of 1918 to 1919—the largest outbreak of fatal infectious disease during...
Stability Boundary of Non-Linear Orbits Within Clearance Circle of Journal Bearings

The transient, nonlinear study of journal bearing stability requires tracking the locus of the shaft center as a function of time. It is shown that there exists a boundary within the bearing clearance circle outside of which any initial condition would yield an unstable orbit. This is shown to be the case for operating speeds that are well below the threshold of instability according to the linearized stability analysis.
Effects of Peroxynitrite and Superoxide Radicals on Endothelial Monolayer Permeability: Potential Role of Peroxynitrite in Preeclampsia

Increased endothelial permeability is associated with increased oxidative stress in the maternal vasculature in women with preeclampsia. This study was to determine if oxidative stress elicited by peroxynitrite could lead to an increase in endothelial permeability. Endothelial oxidative stress was produced by adding 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1, a peroxynitrite generator) to the cell culture. Confluent endothelial cells (ECs) grown in cell culture inserts were treated with SIN-1 at a concentration of 0.5 mM alone or in combination with MnTMPyP (aperoxynitrite scavenger) or superoxide dismutase (SOD). EC permeability was determined by measuring EC electrical resistance (ER) and horseradish peroxide (HRP) leakage. Data are presented as means ± SE and analyzed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). Junctional protein expression and distribution for vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin, occludin, and phosphorylated focal adhesion kinase (FAK) at tyrosine 397 [pY397] were examined by fluorescent staining of ECs. First, ER was significantly reduced and HRP leakage was significantly increased in ECs treated with SIN-1 compared to those in control cells, ER: 26.97 ± 1.41 versus 42.27 ± 0.40 Ω · cm2, P <.01; HRP: 0.26 ± 0.07 versus 0.02 ± 0.01 OD 470 nm, P <.01, respectively. Second, cells treated with SIN-1 showed formation of gaps and disorganized VE-cadherin and occludin distribution at cell contact regions. FAK [pY397] expression was completely lost in cells treated with SIN-1. Finally, these functional and morphologic changes in ECs induced by SIN-1 were blocked in cells pretreated with MnTMPyP and SOD. Disorganization of junctional proteins and dephosphorylation of FAK[pY397] may account for the increased endothelial permeability induced by oxidative stress associated with preeclampsia.
Class-F and inverse class-F power amplifier loading networks design based upon transmission zeros

In practical implementations, class-F amplification is achieved based upon the second and/or third harmonic control provided by the output matching network. This paper presents a design method based upon inserting finite-frequency transmission zeros to a lumped-element matching network at the harmonic frequencies of interest. A two-section impedance matching network is transformed to either a class-F2,3 or inverse class-F2,3 loading network. The manipulation of transistor parasitics is described using network transformations. The resultant loading networks serve as fundamental-frequency matching and harmonic tuning simultaneously while reducing the number of components and circuit size. The simulated results show the expected wave shaping and drain impedances. The prototype amplifiers achieve 81% and 79% efficiency for the class-F and inverse class-F, respectively, at 42.32 and 42.37 dBm output powers at 300-MHz fundamental-frequency.
Peer rejection, affiliation with deviant peers, delinquency, and risky sexual behavior

Risky sexual behavior poses significant health risks by increasing sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. Previous research has documented many factors related to risky sexual behavior. This study adds to the literature by proposing a prospective, developmental model of peer factors related to risky sexual behavior. Developmental pathways to risky sexual behavior were examined in a sample of 517 individuals (51% female; 82% European American, 16% African American, 2% other) followed from age 5-27. Structural equation models examined direct and indirect effects of peer rejection (assessed via peer nominations at ages 5, 6, 7, and 8), affiliation with deviant peers (assessed via self-report at ages 11 and 12), and delinquency (assessed via maternal report at ages 10 and 16) on risky sexual behavior (assessed via self-report at age 27). More peer rejection during childhood, affiliation with deviant peers during pre- adolescence, and delinquency in childhood and adolescence predicted more risky sexual behavior through age 27, although delinquency at age 16 was the only risk factor that had a significant direct effect on risky sexual behavior through age 27 above and beyond the other risk factors. Peer rejection was related to subsequent risk factors for girls but not boys. Peer risk factors as early as age 5 shape developmental pathways through childhood and adolescence and have implications for risky sexual behavior into adulthood.
Diffraction of Laguerre-Gauss vortex beams by regular polygons

Diffraction of Laguerre-Gauss vortex beams by regular polygons is studied theoretically and experimentally. Novel features that depend on the orbital angular momentum index, aperture and beam size ratio, and aperture position relative to beam waist are described.
Tumor and liver determinants of prognosis in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: a large case cohort study

967 patients with unresectable and untransplantable, biopsy-proven hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were prospectively evaluated at baseline and followed up till death. Survival was the end point. We found that male gender, ascites, cirrhosis, portal vein thrombosis (PVT), elevated AFP or bilirubin, or alkaline phosphatase, were each statistically significant adverse prognostic factors. Patients with normal AFP survived longer than those with elevated AFP, even in the presence of PVT, large or bilobar tumors or cirrhosis. We used a bivariate analysis to separate patient sub groups based on liver function and tumor characteristics and found clear discrimination in survival between subsets; in addition both cirrhosis and presence of PVT were significant factors. We also used a purely mathematical approach to derive subgroups and a prognostic model for individual patients. Interestingly, the two approaches gave similar predictive information, which opens the possibility of a more detailed mathematical analysis in the future. The results of this large dataset show that amongst non-surgical HCC patients, there are clear subsets with longer survival. The data supports the concept of heterogeneity of HCC. The three factors, bilirubin, AFP, and PVT predominate in prognosis.
Regularity and diversity in firm size distributions in U.S. industries

Abstract The size distribution of firms in manufacturing industries has long been a matter of interest in industrial organization. Distribution in different industries show considerable regularity that static economic theory fails to explain. Stochastic growth models appear to provide some insights, but empirical tests of the log-normal or Pareto distributions have been inconclusive. This paper draws on market share data for over three hundred U.S. manufacturing industries and analyses the distribution of largest firm sizes. A statistical test of the Pareto hypothesis, rather different from previous tests in the literature, decisively rejects that hypothesis as a general explanation for the upper tail of the distribution. Instead, great diversity among distributions is found, and the regularities that do emerge imply a greater clustering of large firms than predicted by theory.
Effect of bile salts on lactosylceramide β-galactosidase activities in human brain, liver and cultured skin fibroblasts

Abstract The effect of bile salts on the hydrolysis of lactosylceramide by human β-galactosidases in vitro was studied using cultured skin fibroblasts, liver and brain tissue. The evidence for two distinct enzymes that can catalyze the hydrolysis of lactosylceramide was observed when the bile salt was changed from pure sodium taurocholate to either crude taurocholate, or pure glycodeoxycholate, taurodeoxycholate or taurochenodeoxycholate. Tissues from patients with Krabbe's disease were found to be deficient in lactosylceramide β-galactosidase activity (lactosylceramidase I) when pure taurocholate was used in the assay. When crude taurocholate was used in the assay, the Krabbe patients appeared to have normal activity for this enzyme. In place of crude taurocholate the pure salts of glycodeoxycholate, taurodeoxycholate and taurochenodeoxycholate worked even better to stimulate the second lactosylceramide β-galactosidase activity (lactosylceramidase II). Using these bile salts in the reaction resulted in the Krabbe patients exhibiting near normal lactosylceramide β-galactosidase activity and GM1 gangliosidosis patients exhibiting little if any activity. Therefore, lactosylceramidase I is stimulated only by pure taurocholate, but lactosylceramidase II is stimulated by crude taurocholate or pure glycodeoxycholate, taurodeoxycholate and taurochenodeoxycholate. The use of pure bile salts to assay lactosylceramidase I and II will result in better reproducibility for these enzyme activities between laboratories.
Specific antagonism of behavioral action of "uncommon" amino acids linked to motor-system diseases.

Beta-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and beta-N-oxalylamino-L-alanine (BOAA) are chemically related amino acids present in the seeds of Cycas circinalis and Lathyrus sativus, respectively. Consumption of these seeds has been linked to Guam amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (BMAA) and lathyrism (BOAA; a form of primary lateral sclerosis). A single large dose of BOAA or BMAA causes seizures in newborn mice and postsynaptic neuronal edema and degeneration in CNS explants. We report that the acute neurotoxic actions of these amino acids are blocked selectively by specific glutamate-receptor antagonists (administered intracerebroventricularly) (i.c.v.) prior to the amino acid. Administration of BOAA i.c.v. to neonatal mice (ED100 = 50 micrograms) elicits a spectrum of time-dependent behavioral states including arm and leg rigidity, convulsions, and resting tremor. These are blocked in a dose-dependent manner by cis-2,3-piperidine dicarboxylic acid (PDA), an antagonist of quisqualate (QA)-preferring (A2) and kainate (KA)-preferring (A3) glutamate receptors (ED50s; 2.8 micrograms, rigidity; 1.4 micrograms, convulsions; 2.4 micrograms, resting tremor). BMAA induces a transitory hyperexcitable state followed by a long-lasting whole-body shake/wobble (ED100 = 1,000 micrograms, i.c.v.). These responses are antagonized selectively and dose-dependently by 2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoic acid (AP7), an N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) or A1 glutamate-receptor antagonist (ED50 = 0.45 microgram). Taken collectively, our data indicate that the acute neuronotoxic actions of BOAA and BMAA (or a metabolite) operate through different glutamate-receptor species. BMAA likely exerts most of its action indirectly via the A1 glutamate receptor, while BOAA acts principally at the A2 and/or A3 receptor.
Ethanol-induced sleep time: interaction with taurine and a taurine antagonist.

In male Swiss-Webster mice sleep time (hypnosis) was used as an index of ethanol-induced central nervous system depression. Ethanol (4 g/kg, IP) was administered to animals and the onset to sleep time (loss of the righting reflex) and the duration of sleep time were recorded. At the end of the ethanol-induced sleep time, taurine (7.5, 15 or 25 μmol/kg, ICV) was injected. Immediately after the ICV injection of taurine the mice again lost the righting reflex. This effect of taurine occurred in a dose-dependent fashion. In the absence of ethanol, taurine (25 μmol/kg, ICV) did not produce a significant sleep time. In another experiment when TAG, 6-amino-methyl-3-4H-1,3,4-benzothiadiazine-1,1-dioxide HCl, (a taurine antagonist) was given to mice, TAG (0.9 μmol/kg, ICV) significantly reduced the effect of taurine (7.5, 15 and 25 μmol/kg, ICV) to reinstate a sleep time in the presence of ethanol. TAG, however, did not alter ethanol-induced sleep time. These results indicate that taurine (ICV) can enhance the central depressant action of ethanol and that this effect of taurine can be attenuated by TAG. The antagonism of taurine by TAG appears to be noncompetitive in nature.
Hydration benefits to courtship feeding in crickets

The spermatophore transferred by male decorated crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus) at mating includes a large gelatinous spermatophylax that the female consumes after copulation. Although previous studies have shown that G. sigillatus females gain no nutritional benefits from consuming food gifts, there may be other benefits to their consumption. We examined potential hydration benefits to females by experimentally manipulating both the availability of water and the number of food gifts that females consumed, and by measuring their effect on female fitness. Analysis of the number of nymphs produced by females revealed a significant interaction between the number of spermatophylaxes consumed and water availability. When spermatophylaxes were not provided, females given water ad libitum produced significantly more nymphs than females subjected to water stress. Female longevity was significantly affected by water availability, with an increase in the availability of water corresponding to a significant increase in female longevity. These data suggest that female G. sigillatus accrue fitness benefits by consuming spermatophylaxes when alternative sources of water are unavailable. In addition, females appear to allocate water contained in spermatophylaxes towards reproduction as opposed to survival.
Energy Consumption and Colour Characteristics of Nettle Leaves during Microwave, Vacuum and Convective Drying

Nettle leaves (Urtica dioica L.) were dried from an initial moisture content of 4·41 to 0·1 (dry basis) by involving microwave, convective and vacuum drying, respectively. Energy consumption and colour parameters for the nettle leaves were compared at these different drying conditions. In particular, the experiments were carried out at four different microwave power levels (500, 650, 750 and 850 W) and air temperatures (50, 75, 100 and 125 °C) to investigate the effect of these factors on the microwave and convective drying, respectively. Instead, under vacuum drying conditions both the influence of vacuum (20 and 50 mm [Hg]) and drying temperature (50 and 75 °C) were considered. Drying periods ranged from 4 to 6, 30 to 120 and 35 to 65 min for microwave, convective and vacuum drying, respectively. The semi-empirical Page's equation was able to reproduce the experimental drying curves at all operating conditions under microwave, convective and vacuum drying. The optimum method with respect to the drying period, colour and energy consumption was the microwave drying at 850 W.
Use of protective behavioral strategies and reduced alcohol risk: examining the moderating effects of mental health, gender, and race

Recent research indicates that protective behavioral strategies (PBS)-previously established as effective self-regulating tools for reducing alcohol risk among college students-may be especially useful for students with poor mental health, who are shown to be at heightened risk for alcohol-related harm. The current study examined the moderating influence of mental health (depression and anxiety severity), gender, and race (White, Asian) in the relationship between PBS use and alcohol-related negative consequences. Participants were 1,782 undergraduate students from two West Coast universities who reported past-month incidence of heavy episodic drinking (HED). Students reported on their drinking, experience of alcohol-related consequences, use of PBS, and depression and anxiety symptomatology. Overall, results demonstrated that among participants experiencing depression or anxiety, greater PBS utilization was associated with significantly lower levels of alcohol-related consequences, even after controlling for drinking and other predictors. However, findings also revealed important distinctions in the potential effectiveness of PBS by depression/anxiety severity and racial-gender subgroup, such that Asian men with poor mental health appeared to garner unique and substantial benefit (i.e., lesser consequences) from increased PBS use. Further, PBS were found to offer substantial protective benefit for White females, irrespective of mental health. This study points to the potential for targeted PBS-specific skills training and interventions to minimize alcohol-related risks faced by the growing subpopulation of college students experiencing psychological distress, and further highlights important race and gender differentials.
A complete classification of planar four-bar linkages

Abstract A system of classification of planar four-bar mechanisms is presented in which the three major categories are Grashof, non-Grashof and change point. The Grashof and non-Grashof categories are each organized to include four classes while the change point has six classes. The classification system is closely related to a partitioning of the positive octant of a three-dimensional space in which the coordinate axes are nondimensional ratios of the bar lengths. The positive octant is first reduced in size by four zero mobility planes which eliminate from consideration regions where the bar lengths would not permit assembly. The remaining volume is designated as the solution space, and it is partitioned by three change point planes into eight volumes each of which represent a class of Grashof and non-Grashof mechanism. All of the change point classes reside in the change point planes. This paper describes the classification system and the geometry of the solution space, and lays the foundation for future work to study the properties of planar four-bar mechanisms. Because all of the mechanisms within a particular volume share in common characteristics of the bar lengths which are unique to their class, they also share particular properties with regard to the maximum and minimum values of position angles, the range and average value of the position angles, the maximum and minimum value of angular velocity and angular acceleration, as well as time ratio. Hence all of the significant properties can be represented as characteristic surfaces within the solution space. The trace of the characteristic surfaces in the base plane can be used to construct design charts which will permit choosing mechanisms with desirable properties. The method can also be used to synthesize mechanisms by locating intersections of characteristic surfaces. These topics will be presented in forthcoming publications.
Model for the on-line management of knowledge transfer*

A distinction is made between information retrieval and knowledge transfer, in terms of which the latter activity assumes a much greater degree of conceptual organization. It is argued that the current generation of on‐line information‐retrieval systems must evolve into so‐called ‘second generation’ systems that will support the more demanding requirements for knowledge instead of information. It appears that the man/machine interactive inquiry systems characteristic of today's on‐line activities can form a good basis for knowledge transfer, and an approach is described in which the LEADERMART information system is used as the platform for a knowledge‐transfer system. A model is described for the on‐line management and transfer of problem‐solving knowledge. Several ways in which information flow can be converted to knowledge‐transfer activities are explored, although there appears to be no unique paradigm for this conversion. Instead, knowledge transfer is explicated in terms of enhancements to on‐line retrieval manipulations, featuring an ever increasing emphasis on such direct forms of information transfer as numerical data retrieval and the retrieval of answer‐indicating passages. A new question‐analyzing procedure, QUANSY, is described which functions with another new technique for information regeneration to provide a start toward genuine knowledge transfer.
Ligand Influences on Copper Cyanide Solid-State Architecture: Flattened and Fused "Slinky", Corrugated Sheet, and Ribbon Motifs in the Copper-Cyanide-Triazolate-Organoamine Family.

A series of novel composite inorganic−organic materials from the copper−cyanide−triazolate−organoamine system have been isolated and structurally characterized. An unusual interpenetrating layered ...
Training-induced elevation in FABPPM is associated with increased palmitate use in contracting muscle

To evaluate the effects of endurance training in rats on fatty acid metabolism, we measured the uptake and oxidation of palmitate in isolated rat hindquarters as well as the content of fatty acid-b...
The Effectiveness of Knowledge Transfer Portfolios in Software Process Improvement: A Field Study

Because of challenges often experienced when deploying software, many firms have embarked on software process improvement (SPI) initiatives. Critical to the success of these initiatives is the transfer of knowledge across individuals who occupy a range of roles in various organizational units involved in software production. Prior research suggests that a portfolio of different mechanisms, employed frequently, can be required for effective knowledge transfer. However, little research exists that examines under what situations differing portfolios of mechanisms are selected. Further, it is not clear how effective different portfolio designs are. In this study, we conceptualize knowledge transfer portfolios in terms of their composition (the types of mechanisms used) and their intensity (the frequency with which the mechanisms are utilized). We hypothesize the influence of organizational design decisions on the composition and intensity of knowledge transfer portfolios for SPI. We then posit how the composition and intensity of knowledge transfer portfolios affect performance improvement. Our findings indicate that a more intense portfolio of knowledge transfer mechanisms is used when the source and recipient are proximate, when they are in a hierarchical relationship, or when they work in different units. Further, a source and recipient select direction-based portfolios when they are farther apart, in a hierarchical relationship, or work in different units. In terms of performance, our results reveal that the fit between the composition and intensity of the knowledge transfer portfolio influences the recipient's performance improvement. At lower levels of intensity direction-based portfolios are more effective, while at higher levels of intensity routine-based portfolios yield the highest performance improvement. We discuss the implications of our findings for researchers and for managers who want to promote knowledge transfer to improve software processes in their organizations.
Husbands’ and Wives’ Relative Earnings Exploring Variation by Race, Human Capital, Labor Supply, and Life Stage

Whereas much research has explored the causes and consequences of the gender wage gap, far less has examined earnings differentials within marriage. This article contributes to this literature by utilizing the 2000 wave of the 1979 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth to examine variation in husbands’ and wives’ relative income by race/ethnicity, human capital, labor supply, and life stage. The author finds that Black women’s disproportionate concentration among high relative earning wives can be attributed more to their greater attachment to paid labor than to their husbands’ labor supply. Nonetheless, Black women’s odds of earning as much as or more than their husbands are greater than those of White women. In addition, unlike research on the motherhood wage gap more generally, the author finds that the impact of motherhood on women’s earnings relative to their husbands can be largely explained by mothers’ lower labor supply relative to their childless counterparts.
Going to college and staying connected: communication between college freshmen and their parents

For many first-year college students in their late teen years, communicating with parents provides crucial social support. When going to college involves moving away from home for the first time, students and their parents must rely on technologies to keep communication channels open. We studied the ways in which college freshmen communicate with their parents and the various communication technologies they use. Interviews with nineteen first-year students at a major United States university revealed insights into students' perspectives of their communication and relationships with parents. We found students to use a variety of tools to connect with their parents and identified some considerations they make when choosing tools. Furthermore, the use of these communication tools played a significant role in mediating students' social and emotional closeness with, and independence from, their parents. We conclude by discussing technical and social implications for social support of students and student-parent relationships.
A method for systematic discovery of adverse drug events from clinical notes.

Objective Adverse drug events (ADEs) are undesired harmful effects resulting from use of a medication, and occur in 30% of hospitalized patients. The authors have developed a data-mining method for systematic, automated detection of ADEs from electronic medical records. Materials and Methods This method uses the text from 9.5 million clinical notes, along with prior knowledge of drug usages and known ADEs, as inputs. These inputs are further processed into statistics used by a discriminative classifier which outputs the probability that a given drug–disorder pair represents a valid ADE association. Putative ADEs identified by the classifier are further filtered for positive support in 2 independent, complementary data sources. The authors evaluate this method by assessing support for the predictions in other curated data sources, including a manually curated, time-indexed reference standard of label change events. Results This method uses a classifier that achieves an area under the curve of 0.94 on a held out test set. The classifier is used on 2 362 950 possible drug–disorder pairs comprised of 1602 unique drugs and 1475 unique disorders for which we had data, resulting in 240 high-confidence, well-supported drug-AE associations. Eighty-seven of them (36%) are supported in at least one of the resources that have information that was not available to the classifier. Conclusion This method demonstrates the feasibility of systematic post-marketing surveillance for ADEs using electronic medical records, a key component of the learning healthcare system.
Design of a miniaturized dual-band patch antenna as an array element for microwave breast imaging

Microwave tomography is a promising low-cost, non-ionizing, three-dimensional (3-D) breast imaging tool (e.g. [1]–[5]) that could potentially aid clinicians around the world in screening efforts [6]. An essential component of the microwave tomography system is the 3-D antenna array that surrounds the breast of a prone patient. This array system transmits low-power microwave signals into the breast tissue and then measures the resulting scattered signals. The spatial distribution of the dielectric properties throughout the breast volume is estimated by solving an electromagnetic nonlinear inverse scattering problem. The antenna elements and array are critical parts of the 3-D tomography system. An array that is composed of a large number of small elements is desired to permit dense 3-D spatial sampling of scattered fields. Multi-frequency operation of the antenna element in the 0.5–3.0 GHz range also offers several advantages in effectively solving the inverse scattering problem [4], [7], [8]. In this paper we report on the design and validation of a dual-band miniaturized patch antenna that is well suited for a 3-D sensor array system for microwave breast imaging.
Effect of a Urease Inhibitor and Ceiling Fans on Ascites in Broilers.1. Environmental Variability and Incidence of Ascites

A low ventilation model to induce ascites was introduced and characterized. In addition, the effect of supplemental air mixing via ceiling fans (CF) and the feeding of a urease inhibitor (0, 125, and 250 ppm) on incidence of ascites were investigated. Twelve environmental chambers were utilized in the trial; six were fitted with CF. Each dietary treatment was replicated twice per CF treatment. One hundred and twenty day-old male commercial broilers were reared per chamber. Atmospheric O2, CO2, and NH3, temperature, and humidity, as well as weekly litter moisture and pH, were monitored. Chamber CO2 levels increased immediately then stabilized. Chamber NH3 levels increased between 2 to 4 wk of age and rapidly declined when ventilation rates were increased to 1 cfm per bird. The CF and dietary treatments had little effect on air or litter variables except for NH3. Supplementing the diet with urease inhibitor resulted in a greater than 50% reduction in cumulative mortality due to ascites and a slight reduction in weekly BW gains. The CF treatment had no effect on production variables such as weekly feed intake, gain, and feed to gain ratio, or survivability due to ascites.
Expression of G-protein inwardly rectifying potassium channels (GIRKs) in lung cancer cell lines

Previous data from our laboratory has indicated that there is a functional link between the β-adrenergic receptor signaling pathway and the G-protein inwardly rectifying potassium channel (GIRK1) in human breast cancer cell lines. We wanted to determine if GIRK channels were expressed in lung cancers and if a similar link exists in lung cancer. GIRK1-4 expression and levels were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and real-time PCR. GIRK protein levels were determined by western blots and cell proliferation was determined by a 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) assay. GIRK1 mRNA was expressed in three of six small cell lung cancer (SCLC) cell lines, and either GIRK2, 3 or 4 mRNA expression was detected in all six SCLC cell lines. Treatment of NCI-H69 with β2-adrenergic antagonist ICI 118,551 (100 μM) daily for seven days led to slight decreases of GIRK1 mRNA expression levels. Treatment of NCI-H69 with the β-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol (10 μM) decreased growth rates in these cells. The GIRK inhibitor U50488H (2 μM) also inhibited proliferation, and this decrease was potentiated by isoproterenol. In the SCLC cell lines that demonstrated GIRK1 mRNA expression, we also saw GIRK1 protein expression. We feel these may be important regulatory pathways since no expression of mRNA of the GIRK channels (1 & 2) was found in hamster pulmonary neuroendocrine cells, a suggested cell of origin for SCLC, nor was GIRK1 or 2 expression found in human small airway epithelial cells. GIRK (1,2,3,4) mRNA expression was also seen in A549 adenocarcinoma and NCI-H727 carcinoid cell lines. GIRK1 mRNA expression was not found in tissue samples from adenocarcinoma or squamous cancer patients, nor was it found in NCI-H322 or NCI-H441 adenocarcinoma cell lines. GIRK (1,3,4) mRNA expression was seen in three squamous cell lines, GIRK2 was only expressed in one squamous cell line. However, GIRK1 protein expression was not seen in any non-SCLC cells. We feel that this data may indicate that stimulation of GIRK1 or GIRK2 channels may be important in lung cancer. Stimulation of GIRK channels and β-adrenergic signaling may activate similar signaling pathways in both SCLC and breast cancer, but lead to different results.
Towards real-time (milliseconds) parameter estimation of lithium-ion batteries using reformulated physics-based models

Abstract In this paper, transport and kinetic parameters of lithium-ion batteries are estimated using a rigorous porous electrode theory based model. The rigorous model used in this investigation is reformulated using advanced mathematical techniques. Since batteries and other electrochemical devices are used in hybrid environments, which include devices with time constants less than a second (like supercapacitor), we need to develop parameter estimation codes with computation time less than a second or a few milliseconds. In this investigation, the computation time for parameter estimation measures between 100 and 300 ms since a reformulated battery model is devised especially for these purposes. Obtaining the numerical solution for battery model equations is very difficult towards the end of discharge and is usually neglected for parameter estimation purposes. However, in this paper the estimation takes into account the entire discharge data ranging from an initial potential of 4.2 V to a cut-off potential of 2.5 V. It is found from this investigation that the reformulated lithium-ion battery model is efficient and accurate in estimating parameters.
Fundamentals of three-dimensional mathematical morphology

Three-dimensional mathematical morphology and its implementation in three-dimensional cellular automation are discussed. Automata having up to 262,144 PEs (processing elements) have been emulated using the Triakis software. Each PE in addition to its present state (either on or off) is permitted by Triakis software to store up to 20 previous states and is assigned a program word having 2/sup N/ binary locations (bits), where (N-1) is the number of neighbors to which the PE is connected. Triakis uses the FCC (face-centered cubic) tessellation, where the kernel is the tetradekahedron and N=13. The problem of embedding the tetradekahedron in the 64*64*64 array is addressed, and properties of the FCC tessellation are examined. The use of the approach for analyzing true three-dimensional binary data from CT (computer tomography) and MR (magnetic resonance) and three-dimensional binary arrays generated from column encoding gray-level imagery is reported. >
Microhomology-Dependent End Joining and Repair of Transposon-Induced DNA Hairpins by Host Factors in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The maize, cut-and-paste transposon Ac/Ds is mobile in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and DNA sequences of repair products provide strong genetic evidence that hairpin intermediates form in host DNA during this transposition, similar to those formed for V(D)J coding joints in vertebrates. Both DNA strands must be broken for Ac/Ds to excise, suggesting that double-strand break (DSB) repair pathways should be involved in repair of excision sites. In the absence of homologous template, as expected, Ac excisions are repaired by nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) that can involve microhomologies close to the broken ends. However, unlike repair of endonuclease-induced DSBs, repair of Ac excisions in the presence of homologous template occurs by gene conversion only about half the time, the remainder being NHEJ events. Analysis of transposition in mutant yeast suggests roles for the Mre11/Rad50 complex, SAE2, NEJ1, and the Ku complex in repair of excision sites. Separation-of-function alleles of MRE11 suggest that its endonuclease function is more important in this repair than either its exonuclease or Rad50-binding properties. In addition, the interstrand cross-link repair gene PSO2 plays a role in end joining hairpin ends that is not seen in repair of linearized plasmids and may be involved in positioning transposase cleavage at the transposon ends.
RESISTANCE TO EXPERIMENTAL TUBERCULOSIS STIMULATED BY FRACTIONS FROM ATTENUATED TUBERCLE BACILLI.

SummaryThe protective values against experimental tuberculosis in mice of Youmans′ cytoplasmic particulate fraction and of oil disruption product, both prepared from the same lots of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, strains BCG and H37Ra, were tested in parallel with viable BCG vaccine. Two tests were employed, one based on intravenous challenge with large doses and the other on pulmonary challenge with a few virulent tubercle bacilli (H37Rv). Results are presented demonstrating that the vaccine efficacy of the oil disruption product approached or equalled that of similar doses of viable BCG by all criteria used to estimate the response, while its ability to sensitize guinea pigs to P.PD was considerably less than that of viable BCG. The cytoplasmic particulate fraction prepared according to the method of Youmans et at, while effective at high dose levels in the massive challenge test, was not effective in the aerosol challenge test. In contrast to the particulate fraction, sterilization by heat did not impair...
Electrical troubleshooting, diagnostics, and repair of multichip modules

Discusses techniques for detecting and diagnosing interconnect faults in MCM substrates. The methods use stimuli to measure the attenuation and phase variations resulting from interconnect defects such as opens, shorts and high resistance connections. The processes are compared to alternative techniques and provide better resolution in resistance measurement.
Peregrinations through topics in light scattering and radiative transfer

Abstract In this van de Hulst essay, I have taken the liberty to present a journey through some topics in light scattering and radiative transfer which I feel were major contributions to the field but the number of topics I would like to cover is far more numerous than I have the time or the space to present. I also wanted to share with the reader some heartwarming memories I have of my wonderful friend and truly distinguished colleague Hendrik Christoffel van de Hulst (affectionately known to his colleagues as “Henk”) whom I consider to be one of the preeminent scientists of his era.
Socioeconomic Stratification and Its Influences on Talent Development: Some Interdisciplinary Perspectives

There is growing concern in our field about the plight of high-potential children who suffer from socioeconomic deprivation. Efforts to find and serve these children require in-depth understanding of socioeconomic contexts that shape and subvert talent development. In this analysis, socioeconomic barriers to talent development are explored from the vantage points of Major thinkers and recent research findings in context-sensitive disciplines such as economics, sociology, and ethical philosophy. Insights drawn fron these perspectives provide the basis for recommendations that educators of the gifted clarify conceptions of merit and ability; look for hidden socioeconomic influences on aspirations, motivation, and talent development; and engage in critical activism for deprived high-potential children.
Microwave ZnO Thin-Film Transistors

We have developed ZnO thin-film transistor design and fabrication techniques to demonstrate microwave frequency operation with 2-mum gate length devices produced on GaAs substrates. Using SiO2 gate insulator and pulsed laser deposited ZnO active layers, a drain-current ON/OFF ratio of 1012, a drain-current density of 400 mA/mm, a field-effect mobility of 110 cm2/V ldr s, and a subthreshold gate voltage swing of 109 m\/dec were achieved. Devices with Ti-gate metal had current and power gain cutoff frequencies of 500 and 400 MHz, respectively.