cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A SYSTEMS BIOLOGY APPROACH FOR UNDERSTANDING INFLAMMATION IN THE GASTROINTESTINAL TRACT OF A CROHN’S PATIENT

A system of ordinary differential equations is developed to model the effect of fatty acids on chronic intestinal inflammation that is typical of a Crohn’s patient. Several murine studies have shown an anti-inflammatory response when specific polyunsaturated fatty acids are included regularly in the diet. It is believed that the fatty acids serve as a specific ligand that activates the Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptor (PPAR) which is located on multiple cell types that are active in the inflammatory response. The binding of the PPAR results in a suppression of the inflammatory pathway. Results of the model indicate a muted inflammatory response when fatty acids are added regularly to the diet in mild to moderate cases of Crohn’s. Results of mathematical analysis show a stable fixed point with decreased inflammatory markers and pathogen levels when fatty acids are added regularly to the diet.
Pediatric Appropriate Use Criteria Implementation Project: A Multicenter Outpatient Echocardiography Quality Initiative

Abstract Background Recently published appropriate use criteria (AUC) for initial pediatric outpatient transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) have not yet been evaluated for clinical applicability. Objectives This study sought to determine the appropriateness of TTE as currently performed in pediatric cardiology clinics, diagnostic yield of TTE for various AUC indications, and any gaps in the AUC document. Methods Data were prospectively collected from patients undergoing initial outpatient TTE in 6 centers. TTE indications (appropriate [A], may be appropriate [M], or rarely appropriate [R]) and findings (normal, incidental, or abnormal) were recorded. Results Of the 2,655 studies ordered by 102 physicians, indications rated A, M, and R were found in 1,876 (71%), 316 (12%), and 319 studies (12%), respectively, and 144 studies (5%) were unclassifiable. Twenty-four of 113 indications (21%) were not used. Innocent murmur and syncope or palpitations with no other indications of cardiovascular disease, a benign family history, and normal electrocardiogram accounted for 75% of indications rated R. Pathologic murmur had the highest yield of abnormal findings (40%). Odds of an abnormal finding in an A or M TTE were 6 times that of R (95% confidence interval [CI]: [2.8 to 12.8]). Abnormal findings were more common in patients 10 years of age (odds ratio: 6.4; 95% CI: 4.7 to 8.7). Age was a significant predictor of an abnormal finding after adjusting for indication and site (p Conclusions Most TTEs ordered in pediatric cardiology clinics were for indications rated A. AUC ratings successfully stratified indications based on the yield of abnormal findings. This study identified differences in the yield of TTE based on patient age and most common indications rated R. These findings should inform quality improvement efforts and future revisions of the AUC document.
Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus: A Decade’s Perspective

Based upon the rather large worldwide experience that has been published recently, it would appear that the concept of subacute cutaneous LE as presented in our original reports starting 10 years ago is still a viable one. However, we must now also consider the possibility that these patients will occasionally develop other types of autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren's syndrome and, on occasion, have their skin disease triggered by drugs such as hydrochlorothiazide. However, the majority of these patients will have recurrent skin disease activity and musculoskeletal symptoms as the major manifestations of their illness. Although most of these patients do have a relatively mild disease course, a small percentage seem to be at risk for developing potentially life-threatening complications of systemic LE. The future challenge in this area lies in identifying prognostic features that may correlate with this more aggressive disease course so that this subgroup of patients can be more efficiently managed. Our preliminary studies have suggested several candidates for further study: the papulosquamous/psoriasiform subacute cutaneous LE lesional subtype; development of acute cutaneous LE; resistance to antimalarials alone; leukopenia; high titer ANA; and the presence of circulating double-stranded DNA antibodies. Another possibility may include the rate of systemic disease onset. Discoid LE patients who have not developed clinically significant SLE manifestations within the first 2 years of the appearance of their skin lesions have a very low risk for suffering from severe SLE complications later in their disease course. The same question might be asked of subacute cutaneous LE. In addition, some subacute cutaneous LE patients have a single episode of disease activity followed by long-term, if not permanent, remission. More needs to be learned about this more benign pattern of illness in the hope of identifying favorable prognostic signs. Our impressions regarding subacute cutaneous LE disease outcome have mostly come from retrospective or point-prevalence types of clinical analyses; more prospective examinations of large groups of patients will be required to better address the issue of prognosis in subacute cutaneous LE. The data published to date suggest that this is a relatively homogeneous group of patients immunogenetically: they frequently have circulating anti-Ro auto-antibodies and often possess the HLA-DR3 phenotype. Much circumstantial evidence indicates that this particular genetically determined autoimmune response might be directly participating in pathogenesis of this form of LE-specific skin injury.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
HCI Professional Involvement in k-12 Education: On Target or Missing the Mark?

Abstract. The state of learning across geographic, socioeconomic, age, and gender boundaries can be enhanced greatly by Human-Computer Information (HCI) infusion into blended learning [1][2][3] or Course Management System (CMS) software [4][3][5]. The major thrust of this paper is to examine problematic issues examined in popular software such as MoodleTM in which the HCI community could be beneficial. By regarding the ultimate students' goal, i.e. grades, and the desirable benefit of course material understanding, one can develop an understanding of what CMS software needs and CMS software users expect on the high school level.
Review of empagliflozin monotherapy for previously untreated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Comparison with sitagliptin

This Practice Pearl provides a review and brief commentary of the 24-week, double-blind, parallel-group, randomized, Phase III study by Roden et al., which assessed the efficacy and safety of the sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor empagliflozin, 10 mg or 25 mg as monotherapy, versus placebo and the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor sitagliptin, in previously untreated patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Compared to placebo, empagliflozin improved glycemic control, with additional benefits on bodyweight and systolic blood pressure, versus placebo and sitagliptin. Treatment was well tolerated. The authors concluded that empagliflozin is a potential new approach to treat patients with T2DM who are inadequately controlled with diet and exercise alone. This paper advances our understanding of empagliflozin, which so far, appears to be a promising therapeutic option for the management of patients with T2DM.
The five stable noble gases are sensitive unambiguous tracers of glacial meltwater

The five inert noble gases—He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe—exhibit a unique dissolved gas saturation pattern resulting from the formation and addition of glacial meltwater to seawater. He and Ne become oversaturated, and Ar, Kr, and Xe become undersaturated to varying percentages. For example, addition of 10‰ glacial meltwater to seawater results in a saturation anomaly of ΔHe = 12.8%, ΔNe = 8.9%, ΔAr = −0.5%, ΔKr = −2.2%, and ΔXe = −3.3%. This pattern in noble gas saturation reflects a unique meltwater signature that is distinct from the other major physical processes that modify the gas concentration and saturation, namely, seasonal changes in temperature at the ocean surface and bubble mediated gas exchange. We use Optimum Multiparameter analysis to illustrate how all five noble gases can help distinguish glacial meltwater from wind-driven bubble injection, making them a potentially valuable suite of tracers for glacial melt and its concentration in the deep waters of the world ocean.
Discussion of "Comparison of Two Techniques to Measure Sediment Erodibility in the Fox River, Wisconsin"

Site-specific measurements are required to adequately quantify dominant cohesive sediment transport trends Lick and McNeil 2001; Dyer 1986. These data are subsequently used to parameterize algorithms for predicting site-specific sediment transport. The scientific and engineering community, by necessity, compares the utility, applicability, and practicality of measurement techniques. A recent technical note TNRavens 2007 compares data from two field methods for measuring cohesive sediments erosion processes and finds significant differences in results between the two methods. This discussion addresses methods and assumptions used in Raven’s analysis that lead to incorrect conclusions.
An increased Bohr effect in sickle cell anemia

Recent findings that hemoglobin S gelation and sickling are pH-dependent and also influence oxygen affinity suggested that the red cells containing this hemoglobin variant might show an abnormal Bohr effect. We therefore studied the effects of pH variation on the in vitro oxygen affinity of whole blood from persons with sickle cell anemia (SS) and normal donors (at 37 degrees C and constant carbon dioxide tension of 40 mm Hg). The Bohr effect in SS blood was greatly increased only between blood pH 7.4 and 7.2 (cell pH 7.2 and 7.0, a shift that strongly affects gelation), with delta log p50/deltapH= - 0.92 to -0.99 (normal = -0.42 to -0.46). Thus a drop in SS blood pH below 7.4 in tissue capillaries yields twice the normal decrease in oxygen affinity and a large release of oxygen from red cells, whose risk of sickling is high. Even mild transient acidosis would seem hazardous for patients with sickling disorders.
Economic Impact of a Livestock Attack

This article describes the importance and challenges of modeling the economics of attacks to livestock agriculture through the introduction of an animal or zoonotic disease. The value of including economic evaluation is presented. The various types of economic impact categories needed to do a disease assessment are discussed, as well as what determines the severity of impacts in a particular situation. The article concludes with a short discussion of how to determine which economic loss categories to focus on, and the need for additional focus on key loss areas. Keywords: economics; animal disease; disease control costs
CPAP therapy of obstructive sleep apnea in type 2 diabetics improves glycemic control during sleep.

Background:Type 2 diabetes and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) are frequently comorbid conditions. OSA is associated with increased insulin resistance, but studies of continuous positive airway press...
Valganciclovir: Recent Progress

In 2001 valganciclovir was approved by the FDA for treatment of HIV associated retinitis and in 2003 for prevention of post transplant CMV. This review provides an update on the status of its use and areas of controversy: How long should prophylaxis be given?; What is the appropriate dose for prophylaxis?; Can it be used in children, and at what dose?; Can it be used to treat CMV disease? The question of optimal dosing will probably not be settled as the sample size for controlled trials would be prohibitive. Other trials clearly show that extended therapy provides added benefit, the drug is safe and an appropriate dose has been identified in children and oral therapy of CMV disease is effective.
Chapter 1 Strained-Layer Superlattices

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the strained-layer super lattices. Strained-layer epitaxy is a stepchild of the semiconductor laser. The chapter discusses several principles of strained-layer epitaxy—such as critical layer thickness—and planar nucleation and growth in strained-layer epitaxy. The growth of lattice-mismatched heterostructures by liquid-phase epitaxy (LPE) has been largely abandoned for two reasons. One is the difficulty of the nucleation of epitaxial layers with even a modest amount of mismatch relative to the substrate. The second is the inability to grow epitaxial layers reproducibly with a thickness of less than one thousand A. These considerations have driven researchers to continue to use LPE for considering heterostructures in which the lattice mismatch could be kept very small, such as AlGaAs/GaAs or GalnAsP/lnP. The astonishing progress in strained-layer epitaxy of planar heterostructures of only a few atomic layers in thickness is in a large part because of the development and improvement of materials analysis methods. These two fields of study should continue to advance together, because strained-layer superlattice structures have dimensions and features that challenge the latest improvements in analysis technology.
FGFR3 biology and skeletal disease.

AbstractFibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 3 (FGFR3) is one of four high-affinity receptors for canonical FGF ligands. It acts in many tissues and plays a special role in skeletal development, especially post-embryonic bone growth, where it inhibits chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation. Gain of function mutations cause the most common forms of dwarfism in humans, and they are also detected in cancer. Triggered by ligand binding or in some cases mutation, FGFR3 activation involves dimerization of receptor monomers, phosphorylation of specific tyrosine residues in the receptor’s kinase domain and in the tightly linked scaffold protein Fibroblast Receptor Factor Substrate 2 (FRS2). Signaling molecules recruited to these phosphorylation sites propagate signals through cascades that are subject to modulation. Signal output is also regulated by the fate of the receptor and the interval between its activation and degradation. Trafficking pathways have been identified for both lysosomal and proteasomal de...
Interview: what is PTSD really? Surprises, twists of history, and the politics of diagnosis and treatment. Interview by Lisa M Najavits.

Let’s start with how the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) diagnostic system was born. It came out of a need for medication researchers to agree on a set of criteria so that when they studied a drug for, let’s say, depression, people in Los Angeles, New York, and Boston could have a common language for what they meant by “depression.” Its first incarnation was called the “Research Diagnostic Criteria.” At that point everybody seemed to agree that the mind is way too complex, and our knowledge way too limited, to conceptualize distinct diseases of the mind. But drug researchers needed to have a way of talking to each other to get a rough impression of which drugs work for different mental problems. And as crude criteria for drug research, they were serviceable. However, the limitations of the criteria were well recognized. In the preamble to DSM-III, Robert Spitzer conveyed that the diagnostic system was way too inaccurate and schematic to ever be used for forensic or insurance purposes. That little preamble was left out of subsequent editions and soon psychiatric residents and psychology students came to be taught that the DSM diagnoses actually exist, that they represent concrete disease entities, rather than lists of symptoms. There was little talk that they did not have clearly identifiable, distinct brain or cognitivemarkers, that there was little research to identity the boundaries between disorders, and that there is an enormous overlap between these supposedly distinct disorders. Thirty years later, this situation has not really improved. After the simplest of field trials for DSM-V diagnoses, based on clinician ratings of written case histories, only five of the 23 DSM-V diagnoses have achieved scientifically acceptable (kappa) levels of agreement.
Runtime support for integrating precomputation and thread-level parallelism on simultaneous multithreaded processors

This paper presents runtime mechanisms that enable flexible use of speculative precomputation in conjunction with thread-level parallelism on SMT processors. The mechanisms were implemented and evaluated on a real multi-SMT system. So far, speculative precomputation and thread-level parallelism have been used disjunctively on SMT processors and no attempts have been made to compare and possibly combine these techniques for further optimization. We present runtime support mechanisms for coordinating precomputation with its sibling computation, so that precomputation is regulated to avoid cache pollution and sufficient runahead distance is allowed from the targeted computation. We also present a task queue mechanism to orchestrate precomputation and thread-level parallelism, so that they can be used conjunctively in the same program. The mechanisms are motivated by the observation that different parts of a program may benefit from different modes of multithreaded execution. Furthermore, idle periods during TLP execution or sequential sections can be used for precomputation and vice versa. We apply the mechanisms in loop-structured scientific codes. We present experimental results that verify that no single technique (precomputation or TLP) in isolation achieves the best performance in all cases. Efficient combination of precomputation and TLP is most often the best solution.
Estimation of the thin ice thickness and heat flux for the Chukchi Sea Alaskan coast polynya from Special Sensor Microwave/Imager data, 1990–2001

[1] One of the largest Arctic polynyas occurs along the Alaskan coast of the Chukchi Sea between Cape Lisburne and Point Barrow. For this polynya, a new thin ice thickness algorithm is described that uses the ratio of the vertically and horizontally polarized Special Sensor Microwave/Imager (SSM/I) 37-GHz channels to retrieve the distribution of thicknesses and heat fluxes at a 25-km resolution. Comparison with clear-sky advanced very high resolution radiometer data shows that the SSM/I thicknesses and heat fluxes are valid for ice thicknesses less than 10–20 cm, and comparison with several synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images shows that the 10-cm ice SSM/I ice thickness contour approximately follows the SAR polynya edge. For the twelve winters of 1990–2001, the ice thicknesses and heat fluxes within the polynya are estimated from daily SSM/I data, then compared with field data and with estimates from other investigations. The results show the following: First, our calculated heat losses are consistent with 2 years of over-winter salinity and temperature field data. Second, comparison with other numerical and satellite estimates of the ice production shows that although our ice production per unit area is smaller, our polynya areas are larger, so that our ice production estimates are of the same order. Because our salinity forcing occurs over a larger area than in the other models, the oceanic response associated with our forcing will be modified. INDEX TERMS: 4540 Oceanography: Physical: Ice mechanics and air/sea/ice exchange processes; 3360 Meteorology and Atmospheric Dynamics: Remote sensing; 4504 Oceanography: Physical: Air/sea interactions (0312); 4572 Oceanography: Physical: Upper ocean processes; 4207 Oceanography: General: Arctic and Antarctic oceanography; KEYWORDS: Chukchi Sea, coastal polynya, remote sensing
Convergence as a cue to depth

A test that presents conflicting monocular and vergence cues to depth shows that approximately two-thirds of the population can use convergence as a cue to depth. The remaining one-third apparently cannot use this cue. These differences in the role of convergence in depth perception reflect individual differences in the neural mechanisms underlying depth perception.
Electrical control of parametric processes in silicon waveguides.

We demonstrate electrical tuning of phase mismatch in silicon wavelength converters. Active control of birefringence induced by a thinfilm piezoelectric transducer integrated on top of the waveguides is used for dispersion engineering. The technology provides a solution for compensating the phase mismatch caused by fabrication errors in integrated waveguides. It also offers a mean to dynamically control the relative dispersion between interacting waves and hence, to introduce electronic control of optical parametric processes.
Great Lakes management: Ecological factors

Although attempts to improve the quality of the Great Lakes generally focus on chemical pollution, other factors are important and should be considered Ecological factors, such as invasion of the lakes by foreign species, habitat changes, overfishing, and random variations in organism populations, are especially influential. Lack of appreciation of the significance of ecological factors stems partly from the inappropriate application of the concept of eutrophication to the Great Lakes. Emphasis on ecological factors is not intended to diminish the seriousness of pollution, but rather to point out that more cost-effective management, as well as more realistic expectations of management efforts by the public, should result from an ecosystem management approach in which ecological factors are carefully considered.
Temporary and permanent migration with and without an immobile factor

Abstract This paper develops two two-country overlapping-generations models – one with and one without an immobile factor – to study temporary and permanent migration. Temporary migration is shown to be equivalent to international lending and borrowing. One strong result found in the literature that if natives of each country are homogeneous permanent migration leads to the migration of the entire population of the impatient country in the long run is overturned. Welfare effects of migration are analyzed.
Simulations of baryon oscillations

Abstract The coupling of photons and baryons by Thomson scattering in the early universe imprints features in both the cosmic microwave background (CMB) and matter power spectra. The former have been used to constrain a host of cosmological parameters, the latter have the potential to strongly constrain the expansion history of the universe and dark energy. Key to this program is the means to localize the primordial features in observations of galaxy spectra which necessarily involve galaxy bias, non-linear evolution and redshift space distortions. We present calculations, based on mock catalogs produced from high-resolution N-body simulations, which show the range of behaviors we might expect of galaxies in the real universe. We investigate physically motivated fitting forms which include the effects of non-linearity, galaxy bias and redshift space distortions and discuss methods for analysis of upcoming data. In agreement with earlier work, we find that a survey of several Gpc 3 would constrain the sound horizon at z ∼ 1 to about 1%.
Tumors in Female Offspring of Control and Diethylstilbestrol-Exposed Mice Fed High-Fat Diets

Strong correlations have been established internationally between female reproductive system cancer rates and dietary fat. To test the hypothesis that the prenatal period is a critical time for exposure to high dietary fat, we placed adult female strain CD-1 mice with or without prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol (DES) on diets with low or high levels of fat and mated them. After delivery of the litters, these mice were given the commercial diet on which they had been raised. Their female offspring were raised on this commercial diet until terminal illness occurred. Of the 47 offspring of control mice on low-fat diets, only five had reproductive system tumors, whereas tumors developed in 39 of 78 offspring of mice on high-fat diets. For DES-exposed mice, tumors developed in 18 of 64 offspring of mice on low-fat diets and 38 of 70 offspring of mice on high-fat diets. Nine mice with metastatic mammary tumors and seven with pituitary tumors were offspring of mice on high-fat diets.
France, soldiers and Africa

(1990). France, soldiers and Africa. History of European Ideas: Vol. 12, No. 1, pp. 139-140.
Fibroblast growth factor 21, the endocrine FGF pathway and novel treatments for metabolic syndrome.

Diabetes and associated metabolic conditions have reached pandemic proportions worldwide, and there is a clear unmet medical need for effective and safe therapies. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)21 is an atypical member of the FGF family. The ability of FGF21 to normalize glucose, lipid and energy homeostasis has attracted considerable interest as a potential therapeutic for treating diabetes and obesity. Many different engineering approaches have successfully improved the plasma half life, protein stability and solubility, as well as ‘manufacturability’ of FGF21. Novel approaches such as agonist antibodies to FGF21 receptor complexes have opened new opportunities previously unavailable. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the functions, target tissues and receptors for FGF21. Furthermore, it provides an up-to-date appraisal of the approaches on therapeutic development targeting this pathway.
Theoretical studies of the infrared and Raman spectra of P4S10

Abstract The 15 unique normal mode frequencies and the corresponding vibrational assignments of tetraphosphorus decasulfide (P 4 S 10 ) in T d symmetry are examined theoretically using the Gaussian 94 set of quantum chemistry codes at the HF/6-31G*, MP2/6-31G* and DFT/B3LYP/6-31G* levels of theory. By comparison to experimental normal mode frequencies deduced by Gardner [M. Gardner, J. Chem. Soc., Dalton Trans. (1973) 691–696] correction factors for predominant vibrational motions are determined and compared. Normal modes were decomposed into six nonredundant motions {P–S–P wag, PS wag, P–S–P bend, P–S–P symmetric stretch, P–S–P asymmetric stretch, and PS stretch}. Root Mean Square (RMS) differences found for the HF, MP2, and DFT corrected frequencies compared to experimentally determined frequencies yielded values of 8, 4, and 4 cm −1 , respectively.
Local behavior of Q-homeomorphisms in Loewner spaces

We study the problem of the elimination of isolated singularities for so-called Q-homeomorphisms in Loewner spaces. We formulate several conditions for a function Q(x) under which every Q-homeomorphism admits a continuous extension to an isolated singular point. We also consider the problem of the homeomorphicity of the extension obtained. The results are applied to Riemannian manifolds and Carnot groups.
Tumor necrosis factor/cachectin-induced intravascular fibrin formation in meth A fibrosarcomas.

Recent studies have indicated that TNF can promote activation of the coagulation mechanism by modulating coagulant properties of endothelial cells. In this report, we demonstrate that infusion of low concentrations of TNF (3 micrograms/animal) into mice bearing meth A fibrosarcomas leads to localized fibrin deposition with formation of occlusive intravascular thrombi in close association with the endothelial cell surface. Studies with 125I-fibrinogen showed tenfold enhanced accumulation of radioactivity in tumor within 2 h after TNF infusion. Western blots of tumor extracts subjected to SDS-PAGE and visualized with a fibrin-specific mAb indicated that fibrin forms in the tumor after the TNF infusion. Electron microscopic studies demonstrated fibrin strands, based on the characteristic 21-nm periodicity, which appeared to be adherent to the endothelial cell surface. Further ultrastructural studies indicated that fibrin formation, first evident within 30 min of the TNF infusion, led to occlusive thrombi limited to the tumor vascular bed (i.e., not in the normal mouse vasculature) within 2 h and was associated with an 80% reduction in tumor perfusion based on studies with Evans blue. In view of previous work concerning TNF induction of endothelial cell procoagulant activity, the hypothesis that tumor cell products prime the response of endothelium to this cytokine was tested. Supernatants of cultured meth A fibrosarcomas obtained serum-free conditions, which had no intrinsic procoagulant activity, considerably enhanced tissue factor induction in endothelium in response to submaximal concentrations of TNF. The factor(s) in the tumor-conditioned medium appeared to be distinct from IL-1, fibroblast growth factor, IFN-gamma, TNF, endotoxin, TGF-alpha, and TGF-beta. These studies delineate a novel model of localized clot formation in which thrombosis is initiated by a pathophysiologic mediator, TNF, and provides an opportunity to examine mechanisms in the microenvironment directing clot formation to the tumor vascular bed.
Establishment of a Standard ‘Holloman’ Chimpanzee Blood Group Panel and its Application for Immunogenetic Studies

Establishment of a Standard ‘Holloman’ Chimpanzee Blood Group Panel and its Application for Immunogenetic Studies
Tensile fracture of brittle matrix composites: influence of fiber strength

Abstract A stress intensity approach is used to analyze tensile failure of brittle matrix composites that contain unidirectionally aligned fibers held in place by friction. In general, failure may initiate either by growth of a crack in the matrix, or by fracture of fibers that bridge the matrix crack. Subsequently, these failure processes may continue either unstably or stably with increasing applied stress. Solutions to the fracture mechanics analysis are obtained numerically in normalized form, with one microstructural variable, the normalized fiber strength. The analysis defines transitions between failure mechanisms and provides strength/crack-size relations for each mechanism. Explicit relations are derived for the matrix cracking stress (noncatastrophic failure mode), the condition for transition to a catastrophic failure mode, and the fracture toughness in a region of catastrophic failure, in terms of microstructural properties of the composite.
A fluorescence-based rapid screening assay for cytotoxic compounds

A simple fluorescence-based assay was developed for the rapid screening of potential cytotoxic compounds generated by combinatorial chemistry. The assay is based on detection of nuclear green fluorescent protein (GFP) staining of a human cervical cancer cell line (HeLa) carrying an integrated histone H2B-GFP fusion gene. Addition of a cytotoxic compound to the HeLa-GFP cells results in the eventual degradation of DNA and loss of the GFP nuclear fluorescence. Using this assay, we screened 11 distinct quinone derivatives and found that several of these compounds were cytotoxic. These compounds are structurally related to plumbagin an apoptosis-inducing naphthoquinone isolated from Black Walnut. In order to determine the mechanism by which cell death was induced, we performed additional experiments with the most cytotoxic quinones. These compounds were found to induce morphological changes (blebbing and nuclear condensation) consistent with induction of apoptosis. Additional tests revealed that the cytotoxic compounds induce both necrotic and apoptotic modes of death.
Asymmetric synthesis of four diastereomers of 3-hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethylheptanoic acid: proof of configurational assignment.

Four unique diastereomers of 3-hydroxy-2,4,6-trimethylheptanoic acid(2R,3R,4R), (2S,3R,4R), (2S,3R,4S), and (2R,3R,4S)the fatty acid component of callipeltin A and D, have been synthesized from com...
Impact of fly ash on monoethanolamine degradation during CO2 capture

Abstract Fly ash contains varying amounts of transition metals depending on the fuel, combustion and also downstream emission control process. As certain transition metal ions are known to catalyze solvent degradation, the impact of fly ash is an important consideration for a post-combustion CO 2 capture process. Here, five different fly ashes were screened with a representative carbon dioxide loaded aqueous monoethanolamine solution. The addition of fly ash has been found to impact oxidative degradation and product distribution significantly. Eight products have been identified and quantified by LC-TOF method. Some of the new products identified here contain a secondary amine group that could potentially nitrosate further. The rates of formation of these products were determined and found much higher with fly ash compared to MEA alone.
Modeling and Analysis of PDN Impedance and Switching Noise in TSV-Based 3-D Integration

This paper reports on modeling and analysis of power delivery network (PDN) impedance and switching noise in through silicon via (TSV)-based 3-D integration. PDN is simulated in SPICE with the combination of lumped-element models and distributed-element models, where the elements are extracted from full-wave electromagnetic modeling. PDN impedance explicitly distinguishes the contributions from off-chip PDN and on-chip PDN, and reveals the TSV-induced resonant effect associated with the 3-D chip stack. The simultaneously switching noises in PDN are simulated and analyzed in different frequency regions, in which 3-D integration has distinct impacts on the PDN impedance.
The sources of sulfate, vanadium and mineral matter in aerosol particles over Bermunda

Abstract Seventy-eight atmospheric particle samples were collected from April to October, 1974, at Bermuda and were analyzed for V, Al, Mn, Na, Cl and SO 2− 4 . The chemical composition of aerosol particles at Bermuda is significantly affected by pollution sources in continental regions. Most of the sulfate in excess of that from sea spray and V in excess of that from weathered crustal material in the particles at Bermuda is pollution derived, primarily from North America. Relatively direct transport of aerosol particles from North America to Bermuda apparently occurs 35–40 % of the time each year. Significant quantities of mineral aerosol particles are also transported to Bermuda from North America under these conditions. Even greater quantities of mineral aerosol particles are transported to Bermuda from North Africa. Transport to Bermuda from this region in the eastern North Atlantic occurs 40–45 per cent of the time each year. Under these conditions pollution derived components in the marine aerosol at Bermuda are considerably reduced.
Enhanced uranium tolerance of an exposed population of the eastern mosquitofish ( Gambusia holbrooki Girard 1859)

Genetic differences between populations of mosquitofish from a uranium(U)-contaminated stream were identified by starch gel electrophoresis. Fish collected from the uncontaminated mainstream of Upper Three Runs Creek (South Carolina, USA) exhibited greater genetic variability than those collected from the contaminated Tims Branch. Lower genetic variation displayed in Tims Branch fish could reflect selection associated with toxicant stress, a genetic bottleneck due to low population numbers at the contaminated site, or random genetic drift. A toxicity assay was performed to determine if these genetically distinct mosquitofish also displayed enhanced U tolerance. Times to death were compared for fish from an uncontaminated site and offspring of fish taken from the U-contaminated Tims Branch. After 7 days of exposure to 2.57 mg/L of U as uranyl nitrate, 98% and 96% of the naive population had died in the replicate tanks. In contrast, the final mortality for the offspring from the population previously exposed to U were 25% and 57% in the replicate tanks. Fish derived from the U-contaminated site were more tolerant than those from the uncontaminated site. Because these were second generation fish, this tolerance likely has a genetic basis.
Detection of asymptomatic bacteriuria in obstetric patients with a semiautomated urine screen.

Abstract Urine specimens (1215) from obstetric patients were evaluated for the presence of significant bacteriuria by the Bac-T-Screen (Marion Scientific Division, Marion Laboratories, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri) and a conventional semiquantitative culture method. Seventy (5.8%) specimens were not processed successfully by the Bac-T-Screen because pigments interfered with interpretation or the test filters clogged. The remaining 1145 specimens screened by the Bac-T-Screen were compared with a conventional culture method. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for specimens containing ≥ 10 5 colony-forming units per milliliter were 97.4%, 70.4%, 19.0%, and 99.7%, respectively. These values for specimens containing ≥10 4 colony-forming units per milliliter were 92.2%, 71.6%, 24.1%, and 98.9%, respectively.
Protecting Life's Foundation

Worldwide pressure on soil resources and the recognition by many international organizations, scientists, and universities of the importance of soils to humans and the natural world has recently led to further exploration of soils and their rarity. Using the example of species protection from wildlife conservation, we define a rare soil as one of limited areal extent and a threatened soil as one of greater areal extent undergoing a transformation that alters the soil's characteristics and function and makes it less able to carry out that characteristic or function (e.g., growing food or supporting a native plant community). We propose a process to recognize natural rare and/or threatened soils based on five categories that could be used to describe the values associated with these soils: (1) economic; (2) ecosystem; (3) scientific; (4) historic/cultural; and (5) rarity. We propose not a legally binding designation, but a program modeled on several successful wildlife-oriented conservation awareness and education programs. We aim to create a non-politically mired system that draws attention to rare and threatened soils and their role in supporting people and ecosystems while lending support to the soils' study and management. Land-use planners might find this system valuable in helping to identify ecologically important areas. Conservation organizations might find the scientifically based assessments of soil value useful in defining their designations of important conservation areas. The publicity generated by designating rare and threatened soils might help U.S. citizens and politicians appreciate the importance of soils in so many aspects of our lives.
Contexts and messages in macaque social communication.

Using a previously developed quantitative scale of social behavior, interactions between group members in seven groups of rhesus macaques were studied. Analysis of 636 behavior chains showed that the large number of different chain sequences (445) was due in part to the large number of contexts in which interactions were occurring. A catalog of 33 contexts of interaction was empirically developed. Particular behaviors were found to have different frequencies of occurrence in different contexts. These frequency differences can be accounted for by the verbal message statements derived for each behavior.
The effect of boron on the microstructure and physical properties of chemically vapour deposited nickel films

The solid solution addition of boron greatly enhances the strength and hardness of chemically vapour deposited (CVD) nickel while dramatically changing the microstructure. The solid solubility of boron in nickel is limited, and single-phase alloys containing in excess of 0.3 at% B are supersaturated with respect to the formation of one or more intermetallic boride phases. Single-phase Ni-B alloys containing 0 to 13.0 at% B were produced by CVD on polycrystalline copper substrates at 155° C in an atmospheric pressure process. The microstructure, mechanical and physical properties were characterized for the alloys both as-deposited and after various thermal treatments by using optical microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and micro-indentation hardness testing with a diamond pyramid indentor. The grain size of the alloy was found to decrease sharply with rising boron content. Concomitantly, the defect density of the material rose significantly, the microhardness increased and the ductility decreased. With annealing at a temperature of 300° C or greater, precipitation of the Ni3B intermetallic phase, recovery and grain growth occurred.
COLLEGE STUDENTS' ABILITY TO EVALUATE THEIR PERFORMANCE ON OBJECTIVE TESTS

RECENT DISCUSSIONS in the literature concernI ed with student evaluation emphasize the desirabil ity of allowing the student to participate in the eval uation process. Most of these discussions have ei ther been philosophical in nature or have dealt with the apparent consistency of this practice with cer tain psychological principles (3). To allow the stu dent to participate in evaluating his own perform ance is held to be more democratic. It is further reasoned that the ability to look realistically at the results of one's own endeavors is an important part of the problem-solving process, and if the student is to develop problem-solving ability, he must have some direct experience in evaluating his own pro gress. In spite of this accent in theoretical discussions, there seems to be a scarcity of research bear ing directly on the use of this technique in school sit uations. As Russell points out in his review, there is more lip service than practice and there are many unanswered questions concerning the useful ness and practicality of self-evaluation(7). A few reports have been published describing the use and advantages of self-evaluation (1, 8). Some re searchers have been concerned with the accuracy of student estimates of their own performance. Bear and Levin investigated awareness of vocabulary size among college students and its relation to class standing and sex. They c o n eluded that a student's estimate of performance is an uncertain guide to his actual performance, and that the accuracy of his estimate is related to class standing but not to the sex of the individual (2, 6). That several variables are related to this accuracy has been demonstrated by Brim, Gilinsky and Sumner (4, 5, 9). Among these variables are past performance, IQ, and the group with which the individual is c o m paring him self. Young found that college students pred i c t e d their academic success more a c c u r a tely than did college counselors (10). It is frequently implied that students should par ticipate in evaluating themselves even in areas in which the criteria are rather nebulously stated, such as progress toward broad behavioral goals. If students can do this, it certainly must be assumed that they would be able to estimate the accuracy of their responses on more objectively stated tasks. In the light of the above r e s e a r ch, it would seem that this assumption needs further investigation. This study seeks to discover w h e ther college students can accurately assess their own perfor mance on objective test items and whether this a bility changes over a semester's duration. Specif ically it attempts to answer the following questions: 1) What percentage of the test items for which stu dents say they are certain of the answers do they actually answer correctly? 2) Do they answer a greater percentage of these items correctly than they do items for which they say they are doubtful of the answers or are guessing on the answers? 3) Does the percentage of the accurately answered certain questions change significantly over a se mester's duration?
Direct measurements of soil‐gas entry into an experimental basement driven by atmospheric pressure fluctuations

To study the importance of changes in atmospheric pressure on radon entry into houses, we have simultaneously measured the soil-gas entry into an experimental basement structure and the fluctuations in atmospheric pressure. Small amplitude ({approx}10 Pa), rapid ({approx} 20 min) fluctuations in atmospheric pressure were an important driving force for soil-gas entry because (1) the characteristic time for the propagation of a pressure disturbance in the soil gas was {approx} 2 min, and (2) the time-rate-of-change of these small fluctuations is often larger than that of the semidiurnal oscillations. An analytical model has been derived for a structure with a subslab gravel layer based on a one-dimensional solution to the transient pressure diffusion equation. This model correctly predicts the temporal response of the measure soil-gas entry into the experimental structure, but underpredicts the amplitude. 14 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.
Deoxyribonucleic acid profiling analysis of 40 human thyroid cancer cell lines reveals cross-contamination resulting in cell line redundancy and misidentification.

Context: Cell lines derived from human cancers provide critical tools to study disease mechanisms and develop novel therapies. Recent reports indicate that up to 36% of cell lines are cross- contaminated. Objective: We evaluated 40 reported thyroid cancer-derived cell lines using short tandem repeat and single nucleotide polymorphism array analysis. Results: Only 23 of 40 cell lines tested have unique genetic profiles. The following groups of cell lines are likely derivatives of the same cell line: BHP5-16, BHP17-10, BHP14-9, and NPA87; BHP2-7, BHP10-3, BHP7-13, and TPC1; KAT5, KAT10, KAT4, KAT7, KAT50, KAK1, ARO81-1, and MRO87-1; and K1 and K2. The unique cell lines include BCPAP, KTC1, TT2609-C02, FTC133, ML1, WRO82-1, 8505C, SW1736, Cal-62, T235, T238, Uhth-104, ACT-1, HTh74, KAT18, TTA1, FRO81-2, HTh7, C643, BHT101, and KTC-2. The misidentified cell lines included the DRO90-1, which matched the melanoma-derived cell line, A-375. The ARO81-1 and its derivatives matched the HT-29 colon cancer cell line,...
Visual discrimination in the protein-malnourished rhesus☆

Abstract Chronically protein-deprived rhesus monkeys and their normal controls were exposed to three successive visual discrimination problems which were designed to investigate the role of attentional processes and the separation of stimulus and response loci in the mastery of such discriminations. The pattern of results was inconsistent with attentional or motivational explanations and seemed to point, rather, to a deficit in the basic learning processes underlying visual discrimination.
Characteristics and Functions of Trustees Serving Pennsylvania Liberal Arts Colleges

AbstractThis study was undertaken to ascertain whether those selecting trustees for Protestant and nonsectarian Pennsylvania liberal arts colleges have heeded the recommendations made by students of collegiate government. A questionnaire" which delved into the nature, composition, and functions of boards of trustees, was used to collect the data. The study demonstrated that the suggestions of scholars of higher education have not been accepted and that the control of the colleges rested with what might be termed the conservative elements in our society. On the basis of the results of this investigation and a review of the literature, the following recommendations are offered for consideration: reduce the prevailing large size of boards; limit the number of consecutive years of service and establish a mandatory retirement age; seat more women, more younger persons, more trustees representing the lower status occupational groups, and more non-Protestants on the boards.
A comparative study of some methods of assessing kinetic parameters from thermogravimetric analysis

Abstract Thermogravimetric analyses of a styrene-methylene type copolymer and poly(α-methyl styrene) have been carried out using standardized experimental techniques. Tests have been made on four of the best methods reported in the literature for analysing the data to extract the activation energy for the decomposition reaction. It is concluded that the method suggested by Osawa is the most reliable but has no advantages over the more traditional approach of carrying out isothermal investigations.