cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
High-Power, High-Pulse-Rate YAG Laser Seam Welding

Although the pulsed YAG laser has distinct advantages as a precision welding tool, limited power and pulse rate capability has restricted its applications. A 500 Watt average power, 300 pulse per second system is described which makes possible conduction seam welding penetrations as great as .06 inch and welding speeds as high as 150 inches per minute. Penetrations and welding efficiencies for pulsed YAG are compared to published data for CO2 and CW YAG lasers. Penetration and welding efficiencies are substantially higher for pulsed YAG up to speeds of 120 inches per minute. YAG laser penetration welds are reported for the first time. Hermetic seal conduction laser welds are also reported for the first time.
Europa's icy bright plains and dark linea: Exogenic and endogenic contributions to composition and surface properties

[1] We compare linear spectral modeling solutions yielding surface abundance estimates and water ice grain size information from low-noise Galileo Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (NIMS) observations for three widely spaced locations on Europa. Bright equatorial plains on the orbital leading side are dominated by fine-grained (∼50–75 μm) water ice (>80 wt%). This area shows a low abundance of hydrated salts and statistically insignificant amounts of hydrated sulfuric acid. A midlatitude northern hemisphere location on the trailing side exhibits strikingly different surface composition and properties for similar terrain. The modeled abundance of hydrated sulfuric acid exceeds 40% here; large-grained water ice (∼250 μm diameter) dominates the ice grain size distribution. A third location at high southern latitudes on the leading side exhibits high abundances of water ice (>67%) and no detectable sulfuric acid hydrate. Water ice grain sizes here are intermediate between those of the other locations, at 75–100 μm. We resolve compositional differences between the darkest materials (at visible wavelengths) and the most hydrated materials (as evidenced by the distortion of water ice absorption bands) on Europa's leading side. Distinctive water ice grain size distributions are associated with visibly dark materials in all three locations. Our results help distinguish between exogenic and endogenic influences on Europa's present-day surface composition. The results are consistent with migration and redeposition of sputtered water ice molecules from trailing to leading side locations.
Inquiry into appreciative evaluation

Appreciative Inquiry evaluation offers an important new option in evaluation's increasingly vast repertoire of approaches. Its ultimate legitimacy and credibility will depend on how it is applied and used.
Veblen, Europe and Utopia

SummaryRick Tilman's new study, Veblen and his European Contemporaries, explores Veblen's conceptual relationship with a host of seminal European thinkers. Among the continuities and differences that Tilman develops, none stands out more than his strikingly original claim that in important ways Veblen's work parallels that of Ferdinand Tonnies. This essay reviews Tilman's study, with a particular emphasis on Veblen's idea of community, particularly its political and utopian aspects. Most notable in these regards is Veblen's idea that a free and insurgent “spirit of insubordination” is the chief animating principle of self-regulating anarchistic communities. The essay examines tensions between Veblen's embrace of the free spirit of anarchism and his belief in the centralizing thrust of modern technology. It suggests, however, that by dramatically curtailing needs for human labor, Veblen's industrial republic might, as most systems do, fumble its way toward a rough working balance between predominant values...
Physical and chemical characterization of SIDI engine particulates

Abstract Carbonaceous soot particles from a spark-ignition direct-injection (SIDI) engine are characterized by physical and chemical techniques. Physical characterization included aggregate size and morphology, primary particle size and internal nanostructure, each by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and corresponding image analyses. Chemical characterization included composition and bonding as analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier Transform Infrared – Attenuated Total Reflectance spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR). Engine operational conditions included lean, rich, high-load cases and an advanced ignition test, each relative to a reference condition. The aggregates formed for the operational modes with less time for in-cylinder mixing appeared to be more compact with the primary soot particles exhibiting a higher level of tortuous nanostructure. XPS analysis indicated considerable organic matter content while FTIR-ATR confirmed that the organic component was not condensed volatiles but instead matrix bound organics. A small (
Home environmental modification strategies used by caregivers of elders.

Although several definitions and categorizations of home environmental modification strategies exist, previous researchers have not addressed whether the conceptualizations developed by clinicians and researchers match the way families think about how they modify the home environment in order to provide care to frail elders. The aim of the analysis reported here was to describe, from the family's perspective, the home environmental modification strategies that they use. Twenty-four caregivers of community-dwelling elders with a variety of impairments were interviewed. Seventeen families provided guided tours of the elder's home and allowed selected observation of some caregiving activities. Forty-four modification strategies were identified and categorized into one of seven home environmental modification purposes: organizing the home, supplementing the elder's function, structuring the elder's day, protecting the elder, working around limitations or deficits in the home environment, enriching the home environment, and transitioning to a new home setting. More research is needed on the processes families use to generate and refine the home environmental modification strategies identified in this study.
Special article the glutathione S‐transferases: An update

Over the last 15 years, we have passed through an initial period in which multiple forms of GST in various organs and different species were identified and characterized. The focus of current research is to define the role of the numerous isozymes in cell function, to ascertain the relationship between structure and function of different isozymes and to determine how the expression of GST is regulated in different tissues. During these studies, it is expected that new roles for the GST will be proposed, and this family of multifunctional proteins will continue to hold the interest of numerous investigators for many years.
Comparison of multivariate calibration models for glucose, urea, and lactate from near-infrared and Raman spectra

Partial least-squares (PLS) calibration models have been generated from a series of near-infrared (near-IR) and Raman spectra acquired separately from sixty different mixed solutions of glucose, lactate, and urea in aqueous phosphate buffer. Independent PLS models were prepared and compared for glucose, lactate, and urea. Near-IR and Raman spectral features differed substantially for these solutes, with Raman spectra enabling greater distinction with less spectral overlap than features in the near-IR spectra. Despite this, PLS models derived from near-IR spectra outperformed those from Raman spectra. Standard errors of prediction were 0.24, 0.11, and 0.14 mmol L−1 for glucose, lactate, and urea, respectively, from near-IR spectra and 0.40, 0.42, and 0.36 mmol L−1 for glucose, lactate, and urea, respectively, from Raman spectra. Differences between instrumental signal-to-noise ratios were responsible for the better performance of the near-IR models. The chemical basis of model selectivity was examined for each model by using a pure component selectivity analysis combined with analysis of the net analyte signal for each solute. This selectivity analysis showed that models based on either near-IR or Raman spectra had excellent selectivity for the targeted analyte. The net analyte signal analysis also revealed that analytical sensitivity was higher for the models generated from near-IR spectra. This is consistent with the lower standard errors of prediction.
AAOL wavefront data reduction approaches

This paper addresses a method for extracting the convection speed and direction of aberrations present in wavefronts due to aero-optical turbulence over the pupil of a turret on the side of an airborne platform. The method is applied to data from the Airborne Aero-Optics Laboratory (AAOL). Such convection information is useful in designing feed-forward adaptive-optic approaches. The method makes use of a four-beam Malley probe technique derived by constructing a two-dimensional local convective velocity-distribution over the beam's aperture. This technique is based on extending the analysis of the Notre-Dame-developed Malley probe. Two wavefront datasets (Azimuth 157° and Elevation 40°; Azimuth 42° and Elevation 43°) from the AAOL are analyzed using the derived method, the first where the laser propagates through fully-separated flow and the second where the laser propagates through an attached-flow region. Finally, the two-dimensional Proper Orthogonal Decomposition is applied to one in-flight measured dataset to determine the spatial requirements of deformable mirrors in an adaptive-optics system. The paper concludes with a discussion that points out the usefulness of the two-dimensional velocity-distributions in characterizing the various flow structures which convect over the aperture.
Studies on the mechanism by which thyroid hormones enhance alpha-lactalbumin activity in explants from mouse mammary glands

Addition of 3,5,32-triiodo-L-thyronine to cultures of mammary gland explants in serumfree medium containing insulin, hydrocortisone and prolactin results in a 3 to 5-fold increase in the activity of the milk-protein a-lactalbumin over that seen in the presence of the latter three hormones alone. The thyroid hormone does not act by substituting for any of the other hormones. It need not be present throughout the culture period but can act if added along with prolactin after insulin and hydrocortisone have induced formation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Delayed addition of the thyroid hormone also results in further stimulation of cells already responding maximally to insulin, hydrocortisone and prolactin. These effects of triiodothyronine are not blocked by progesterone at 1 µg per ml. They are, however, blocked by the addition of inhibitors of RNA (actinomycin D) or protein (cycloheximide or puromycin) synthesis, suggesting that the thyroid hormone increases the synthesis of the a-lactalbumin molecu...
A physical and biological context for Karenia brevis seed populations on the northwest Florida shelf during July 2009

Abstract The current effort focuses on characterizing physical and biological conditions across the northwest Florida shelf during summer as they influence Karenia brevis distributions and phytoplankton/microphytobenthos community associations. Phytoplankton and benthic algal communities were examined in the context of cross-shelf hydrography and sediment conditions during July 2009 between the 20 and 65 m isobaths off Panama City, FL. A towed undulating profiler (SeaSciences Acrobat) mapped water column characteristics between near-surface and ∼1 m above the sediment. A CTD/rosette provided hydrographic profiles and collected water samples at 17 cross-shelf locations at selected depths for nutrient concentration, phytoplankton biomass determination, and chemotaxonomic and taxonomic phytoplankton identification. In addition, a CTD/rosette time series sample set was collected following a holey sock drogue set at ∼34 m along the ∼50 m isobath, and cores were collected at eight stations approximately along the 30, 40 and 55 m isobaths. Cross-shelf, a pycnocline existed at ∼10 m depth, the 1% light level penetrated to ∼45 m depth, and nitrate–nitrite (NO3−+NO2−) concentrations increased in the lower 10 m of the water column to the 50 m isobath and then below 40-m depth to the 65 m isobath. A chlorophyll a peak occurred near-bottom between the 25 and 35 m isobaths. Gyroxanthin dinoflagellates (GD) representing K. brevis occurred across the shelf in near-surface and near-bottom waters. Near-surface GD co-occurred with cyanophytes at low density in the upper 20 m of the water column where NO3−+NO2− concentrations were low. Above sediments in the euphotic zone, near-bottom GD were most abundant between the 25 and 35 m isobaths where the NO3−+NO2− concentrations were 1–4 µM and where microphytobenthos competed for nutrient sources. Below the euphotic zone, GD were present near-bottom to the 60 m isobath where NO3−+NO2− concentrations approached 6 µM. A pattern consistent with dinoflagellate diel vertical migration was inferred at the 50-m isobath time-series station. The results provide insight into offshore K. brevis seed populations and their associations with other phytoplankton and microphytobenthos. Under summer light and nutrient conditions along the northwest Florida shelf, K. brevis coastal blooms may be seeded by diffuse near-surface populations during occasional downwelling conditions and by more concentrated near-bottom populations during more prevalent upwelling conditions.
A systematic approach to the design of structures for arithmetic

A design tool for the decomposition of binary digital structures for addition and subtraction has been developed. A simplified theory reduces a complex structure to a collection of basic structures of one type, namely, a full adder. The simplified theory is applicable to the design of parallel counters and array multipliers. A general theory is used for decomposition to three types of basic structures, whose complexity is usually on the order of a half-adder. The general theory is applicable to redundant array multipliers and signed-digit adders.
Transferable Team Skills for Accounting Students

Abstract Accounting educators are incorporating student teams in the classroom as a response to employers' demands that employees be able to work collaboratively. Although there are many studies in the accounting literature that explore factors (e.g. size, incentives) affecting student team performance, few address skills development for team members. This paper examines students' exposure to specific meeting management techniques (e.g. agendas, surveys, action plans). Findings indicate that students in accounting classes are frequently lacking in exposure or specific training in organizational and analysis techniques that can help teams succeed. These findings suggest that instructors may positively influence student performance and skill development by integrating appropriate techniques in team assignments. Examples of assignments in management accounting, tax, information systems, auditing, and financial reporting are provided.
A strain-energy criterion for recognition of identified modes of continuous structural models

Abstract In structural modal analysis and modal testing, an important but difficult task is to match the identified natural frequencies and the corresponding modal deflections. This process is called the modal recognition in this paper. There were some treatments towards this problem for the lumped parameter structural models. For the distributed parameter models, however, little research has been reported on the modal recognition problem. In this paper, a strain-energy criterion for modal recognition has been developed. As an example, a distributed parameter model for a two-beam structural system has been formulated, which is expected to simulate the dynamics of a two-arm manipulating system fixed on a shuttle. Transfer matrix method has been used to set up the dynamic equation of the system. The natural frequencies are obtained from the solution of the characteristics equation. Consequently, the mode shape functions are found out analytically. Strain energy can be viewed as a measure of the structural deformation. When performing modal analysis, we always assume that the structural system is vibrating at a particular natural frequency. The strain energy is, therefore, stored in the deflection caused by such a harmonic motion. The vibration at a particular natural frequency will not produce any strain energy in the other modal components. On the other hand, if a particular mode shape is contributed mostly by the deformation of a specific component of the global structural system, then the great percentage of the total strain energy will be stored in the deformation of that component. Based upon the calculation of the strain energy in the structural components we can find out which component is deformed most and in what motion it is deformed, thereby, the mode shape can be detected. The computer simulation demonstrated that the strain energy indicated an essentially perfect recognition of the identified natural frequencies with the corresponding mode shapes. The creation of the strain-energy criterion consummates the procedure of the distributed parameter modeling, modal identification and parameter estimation.
Sense Organs on the Ovipositor of the Face Fly, Musca autumnalis,

Sense organs on the ovipositor of the face fly, Musca autumnalis De Geer (Diptera: Muscidae), were examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Rings of long tactile hairs encircle distal margins of the proximal 2 ovipositor segments (abdominal segments 6, 7). The 8th abdominal segment, rarely fully extended, is covered with microtrichiae. Six morphologically different types of sense organs occur on 6 plates (dorsal plate, paired anal leaflets, medial plate, and paired ventral plates) of the terminal segment (abdominal 9). The anal leaflets have 5 different types of sense organs (long tactile hairs, campaniform receptors, a 3-dendrite thick-walled hair, a 5-dendrite thick-walled hair, and pegs with pores). Morphological evidence suggests that the thick-walled hairs on the anal leaflet are olfactory receptors. Two short (3.8 μ) pegs on each leaflet have large (1600–1800 A) pores and are innervated by a single sensory dendrite. Although these pegs are morphologically similar to thin-walled chemoreceptors, no pore tubular system was detected. A 6th type of sense organ on the ovipositor may be the ventral plate pits.
Prostate cancer-specific mortality after radical prostatectomy or external beam radiation therapy in men with 1 or more high-risk factors.

BACKGROUND. Estimates of prostate cancer-specific mortality (PCSM) were determined after radical prostatectomy (RP) or radiation therapy (RT) in men with ≥1 high-risk factors. METHODS. The study cohort comprised 948 men who underwent RP (N = 660) or RT (N = 288) for localized prostate cancer between 1988 and 2004 and had at least 1 of the following high-risk factors: a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) velocity >2 ng/mL/year during the year before diagnosis, a biopsy Gleason score of ≥7, a PSA level of ≥10 ng/mL, or clinical category T2b or high disease. Grays regression was used to evaluate whether the number and type of high-risk factors were associated with time to PCSM. RESULTS. Multiple determinants of high risk were found to be significantly associated with a shorter time to PCSM after RP (P 2 ng/mL/year was associated with an increased risk of PCSM after RP (hazards ratio [HR] of 7.3; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.0–59 [P = .05]) or RT (HR of 12.1; 95% CI, 1.4–105 [P = .02]) when compared with men with any other single high-risk factor. CONCLUSIONS. Men with a PSA velocity >2 ng/mL/year had a significantly higher risk of PCSM compared with men who had any other single high-risk factor. These men should be considered for randomized trials evaluating the impact on PCSM from adding systemic agents to standards of care for men with high-risk PC. Cancer 2007. © 2007 American Cancer Society.
Self‐care for the Obstetrical Patient A Nursing Framework

A self-care framework is useful in obstetric nursing when patients are eager to accept responsibility for their own health via self-care actions. A model framework is presented for use by family-centered obstetric nursing. A case study emphasizes patient involvement in planning nursing care and setting health goals.
Pole/zero cancellations in time-varying systems

Poles and zeros are defined for continuous-time, linear, time-varying systems. A pole set for a time-varying state equation defines a stability-preserving variable change relating the original state equation to a time-varying, diagonal state equation. A zero is a function of time corresponding to an exponential input whose transmission to the output is blocked within the system. These definitions are shown to be generalizations of the definitions of poles and zeros in the time-invariant case. Using these definitions, it is shown that the relationship between the loss of controllability and/or observability in cascade systems and pole/zero cancellations is analogous to the relationship in the time-invariant case.
Competitive Equilibrium in Sobolev Spaces Without Bounds on Short Sales

Following Chichilnisky and Chichilnisky-Kalman we establish existence and optimality of competitive equilibrium when commodity spaces are infinite dimensional Sobolev spaces, including Hilbert spaces such as weighted L2 which have Linf as dense subspaces. We allow general consumption sets with or without lower bounds, thus including securities markets with infinitely many assets and unbounded short sales and economies with production. We give non-arbitrage conditions on endowments and preferences which suffice for the existence of an equilibrium. Prices are in the same space as commodities. Equilibrium allocations are approximated by allocations in other frequently used spaces such as C(R) and Linf.
Fused s‐triazino heterocycles. XVI. 13H‐1,3,7,8,12a, 13c‐hexaazabenzo[de]naphthacene and 1,3,7,8,11b, 12,14,14d‐octaazadibenzo[de,hi]naphthacene, two new ring systems

The reaction of 7,9-dibromo-5-tribromomethyl-2-t-butyl-4-cyano-1,3,6,9b-tetraazaphenalene (1a) with 2-amino-5-picoline is shown to give 4,6-dibromo-2-t-butyl-13-imino-11-methyl-13H-1,3,7,8,12a,13c-hexaazabenzo[de]naphthacene (3) and the isomeric 7,9-dibromo-2-t-butyl-4-cyano-5N-(5-methyl-2-pyridyl)amino-1,3,-6,9b-tetraazaphenalene (2a). A related annulation reaction of 7,9-dibromo-2-t-butyl-5-chloro-4-cyano-1,3,6,9b-tetraazaphenalene (1g) with 2-amino-6-trimethylacetamidopyridine leads in two steps to 4,6-dibromo-2,13-di-t-butyl-1,3,7,8,11b,12,14,14d-octaazadibenzo[de,hi]naphthacene (4a). The preparation of 1g, 5-azido-7,9-dibromo-2-t-butyl-4-cyano-1,3,6,9b-tetraazaphenalene (1c) and the reaction of the latter with pyrrolidine leading to 7,9-dibromo-2-t-butyl-4-cyano-5-(1-pyrrolidino)-1,3,6,9b-tetraazaphenalene (1e) are also reported. Attempted displacement of the azido-group on 1c by 2,6-diaminopyridine affords surprisingly 5-amino-7,9-dibromo-2-t-butyl-4-cyano-1,3,6,9b-tetraazaphenalene (1d).
Two Cases of Apical Ballooning Syndrome Masking Apical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Apical akinesis and dilation in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease is a typical feature of stress-induced (takotsubo) cardiomyopathy, whereas apical hypertrophy is seen in apical-variant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. We report the cases of 2 patients who presented with takotsubo cardiomyopathy and were subsequently found to have apical-variant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, after the apical ballooning from the takotsubo cardiomyopathy had resolved. The first patient, a 43-year-old woman with a history of alcohol abuse, presented with shortness of breath, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features consistent with takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and no significant coronary artery disease. An echocardiogram 2 weeks later revealed a normal left ventricular ejection fraction and newly apparent apical hypertrophy. The 2nd patient, a 70-year-old woman with pancreatitis, presented with chest pain, apical akinesis, and a left ventricular ejection fraction of 0.39, consistent with takotsubo cardiomyopathy. One month later, her left ventricular ejection fraction was normal; however, hypertrophy of the left ventricular apex was newly noted. To our knowledge, these are the first reported cases in which apical-variant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was masked by apical ballooning from stress-induced cardiomyopathy.
Differential Sensitization of Different Prostate Cancer Cells to Apoptosis

Although protein kinase C (PKC) plays an important role in sensitizing prostate cancer cells to apoptosis, and suppression of PKC is able to trigger an apoptotic crisis in cells harboring oncogenic ras, little is known about whether dyregulation of Ras effectors in prostate cancer cells, together with loss of PKC, is synthetically lethal. The current study aims at investigating whether prostate cancer cells with aberrant Ras effector signaling are sensitive to treatment with HMG (a PKC inhibitor) for the induction of apoptosis. We show that prostate cancer DU145 cells expressing a high level of JNK1 become susceptible to apoptosis after treatment with HMG, in which caspase 8 is activated and cytochrome c is released to the cytosol. In contrast, the addition of HMG sensitizes LNCaP or PC3 prostate cancer cells harboring an active Akt to apoptosis, in which ROS is upregulated to induce the UPR and GADD153 expression. The concurrent activation of JNK1 and Akt has an additive effect on apoptosis following PKC suppression. Thus, the data identify Akt and JNK1 as potential targets in prostate cancer cells for PKC inhibition–induced apoptosis.
Beginning teachers moving toward effective elementary science teaching

We use a 10-year program of research centered on iterations of one elemen- tary science methods course as a vehicle for exploring three important and interrelated goals for the learning of beginning elementary teachers. These include learning about inquiry- oriented science teaching, using science curriculum materials effectively, and anticipating and working with students' ideas in instruction. For each goal we discuss how the literature informs our thinking, describe relevant aspects of our design of the course, and present find- ings of our research with regard to preservice teachers' experiences in and learning from aspects of the course. For each goal, we also highlight examples from our longitudinal work following the preservice teachers into their early years as elementary teachers, to provide a glimpse of teachers' trajectories related to each of the themes. We close with a discussion of implications for research and practice in elementary science teacher education. C � 2009
Enzymatic transesterification of olive oil and its precursors

The effect of different solvents and three different acyl acceptors on the transesterification of triolein (as a model compound) was investigated. The yield of biodiesel (methyl or ethyl ester) was monitored as a function of time. The yield of the product was also determined in a solvent-free system for two different modes of stirring. The results indicate that the highest yield is obtained in a solvent-free system with mechanical stirring. Methyl acetate is also effective as a solvent and acyl acceptor. Biodiesel was also produced by transesterification of triglycerides (triolein) present in olive oil with methanol and Novozym® 435. The effect of the molar ratio of methanol to triolein, mode of methanol addition, enzyme activity and reaction temperature on overall conversion and yield was determined. The final conversion and yield of biodiesel after a reaction time of 24 h were unaffected by changes in these parameters over the range studied. Preliminary findings indicate that the results obtained from s...
Adventitial delivery minimizes the proinflammatory effects of adenoviral vectors.

Abstract Purpose: Adenovirus-mediated arterial gene transfer is a promising tool in the study of vascular biology and the development of vascular gene therapy. However, intraluminal delivery of adenoviral vectors causes vascular inflammation and neointimal formation. Whether these complications could be avoided and gene transfer efficiency maintained by means of delivering adenoviral vectors via the adventitia was studied. Methods: Replication-defective adenoviral vectors encoding a β-galactosidase (β-gal) gene (AdRSVnLacZ) or without a recombinant gene (AdNull) were infused into the lumen or the adventitia of rabbit carotid arteries. Two days after infusion of either AdRSVnLacZ (n = 8 adventitial, n=8 luminal) or AdNull (n = 4 luminal), recombinant gene expression was quantitated by histochemistry (performed on tissue sections) and with a β-gal activity assay (performed on vessel extracts). Inflammation caused by adenovirus infusion was assessed 14 days after infusion of either AdNull (n = 6) or vehicle (n = 6) into the carotid adventitia. Inflammation was assessed by means of examination of histologic sections for the presence of neointimal formation and infiltrating T cells and for the expression of markers of vascular cell activation (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1). To measure the systemic immune response to adventitial infusion of adenovirus, plasma samples (n = 3) were drawn 14 days after infusion of AdNull and assayed for neutralizing antibodies. Results: Two days after luminal infusion of AdRSVnLacZ, approximately 30% of luminal endothelial cells expressed β-gal. Similarly, 2 days after infusion of AdRSVnLacZ to the adventitia, approximately 30% of adventitial cells expressed β-gal. β-gal expression was present in the carotid adventitia, the internal jugular vein adventitia, and the vagus nerve perineurium. Elevated β-gal activity (50- to 80-fold more than background; P Conclusion: Infusion of adenoviral vectors into the carotid artery adventitia achieves recombinant gene expression at a level equivalent to that achieved by means of intraluminal vector infusion. Because adventitial gene transfer can be performed by means of direct application during open surgical procedures, this technically simple procedure may be more clinically applicable than intraluminal delivery. Moreover, despite the generation of a systemic immune response, adventitial infusion had no detectable pathologic effects on the vascular intima or media. For these reasons, adventitial gene delivery may be a particularly useful experimental and clinical tool. (J Vasc Surg 1999;29:•••.)
Low-field quantum Hall transport in an electron Fabry-Perot interferometer: Dependence of constriction filling on front-gate voltage

We report systematic quantum Hall transport experiments on Fabry-Perot electron interferometers at ultralow temperatures. The GaAs/AlGaAs heterostructure devices consist of two constrictions defined by etch trenches in the two-dimensional electron layer, enclosing an approximately circular island. Front gates deposited in etch trenches allow one to change the constriction filling, relative to the bulk. A systematic variation of the front-gate voltage affects the constriction and the island electron density, while the bulk density remains unaffected. This results in quantized plateaus in longitudinal resistance, while the Hall resistance is dominated by the low-density, low-filling constriction. At lower fields, when the quantum Hall plateaus fail to develop, we observe bulk Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations in series corresponding to an integer filling of the magnetoelectric subbands in the constrictions. This shows that the whole interferometer region is still quantum coherent at these lower fields at 10 mK. Analyzing the data within a Fock-Darwin model, we obtain the constriction electron density as a function of the front-gate bias and, extrapolating to the zero field, the number of electric subbands (conductance channels) resulting from the electron confinement in the constrictions.
Intelligent control of a robotic arm using hierarchical neural network systems

Two artificial neural network systems are considered in a hierarchical fashion to plan the trajectory and control of a robotic arm. At the higher level of the hierarchy the neural system consists of four networks: a restricted Coulomb energy network to delineate the robot arm workspace; two standard backpropagation (BP) networks for coordinates transformation; and a fourth network which also uses BP and participates in the trajectory planning by cooperating with other knowledge sources. The control emulation process which is developed using a second neural system at a lower hierarchical level provides the correct sequence of control actions. An example is presented to illustrate the capabilities of the developed architectures. >
Impact of the Cost of Cancer Treatment: An Internet-Based Survey

Survey suggests many patients with cancer experience distress associated with cost of care. A serious issue for those with modest annual incomes, these costs affect whether patients decide to receive recommended treatment.
Using Part-of-Speech Reranking to Improve Chinese Word Segmentation

Chinese word segmentation and Part-ofSpeech (POS) tagging have been commonly considered as two separated tasks. In this paper, we present a system that performs Chinese word segmentation and POS tagging simultaneously. We train a segmenter and a tagger model separately based on linear-chain Conditional Random Fields (CRF), using lexical, morphological and semantic features. We propose an approximated joint decoding method by reranking the N-best segmenter output, based POS tagging information. Experimental results on SIGHAN Bakeoff dataset and Penn Chinese Treebank show that our reranking method significantly improve both segmentation and POS tagging accuracies.
Glutamine prevents downregulation of myosin heavy chain synthesis and muscle atrophy from glucocorticoids

The aims of this study were to determine whether glutamine infusion prevents the decline in protein synthesis and muscle wasting associated with repeated glucocorticoid treatment. Hormone (cortisol acetate, 100 mg.kg body wt-1.day-1) and vehicle (carboxymethyl cellulose)-treated female rats were infused with either saline or glutamine (240 mM, 0.75 ml/h) for a 7-day period. Glutamine infusion attenuated the decline of plantaris muscle glutamine concentration (3.0 +/- 0.2 vs. 2.3 +/- 0.2 mumol/g) and prevented > 70% of the total muscle mass losses due to the glucocorticoid injections. Fractional synthesis rates of myosin heavy chain (MHC) and total protein were determined after constant [3H]leucine infusion from the leucyl-tRNA precursor pool, which was similar in all groups (range 4.8 +/- 0.5 to 6.3 +/- 0.4 disintegrations.min-1.pmol-1). MHC synthesis rates (%/day) in plantaris muscles were reduced to approximately 40% of controls (4.2/9.4). Although glutamine had no effect on MHC synthesis in vehicle-treated animals (10.1/9.4), it prevented 50% (7.6/4.2) of the hormone-induced decline in MHC synthesis rates. The same results were obtained with total protein synthesis measurements. Changes in muscle mass did not appear related to estimates of protein breakdown. In conclusion, these data show that glutamine infusion is effective therapy in counteracting glucocorticoid-induced muscle atrophy. Atrophy attenuation appears related to maintaining muscle glutamine levels, which in turn may limit the glucocorticoid-mediated downregulation of MHC synthesis.
Endovascular management of early lung transplant-related anastomotic pulmonary artery stenosis.

Abstract Purpose To report the safety and short-term efficacy of endovascular interventions for symptomatic lung transplant–related anastomotic pulmonary artery stenosis (PAS). Materials and Methods From February 2008 to December 2011, 354 lung transplants were performed. Pulmonary arteriography was performed in 19 patients (63% men; age, 57 y ± 21, mean ± SD; seven double-lung transplants) because of respiratory decompensation (mean 6.7 mo after transplant). Seven arteriograms were normal, and 12 showed significant PAS. One patient (5%) underwent angioplasty alone, and 11 patients (57%) underwent stent placement. Results All patients underwent general anesthesia, and femoral access was used for the intervention. Technical success was 100% in the 12 patients treated. Symptoms improved in all patients who underwent intervention, with resolution in 11 of 12 (92%). There were no major or minor complications. Three patients (16%) had recurrent symptoms after discharge secondary to chronic rejection or pneumonia. Two patients died as a result of sepsis and multiorgan failure at 2 days and 14 days, respectively, after undergoing only pulmonary arteriography. In-stent stenosis occurred in 1 (9%) patient who required additional stent placement. During a mean follow-up period of 11 months, the remaining stents were patent, and the patients were asymptomatic. Conclusions Endovascular stent placement provides an alternative to open repair for transplant-related anastomotic PAS. It has low mortality and morbidity rates, and it has shown excellent short-term functional and anatomic outcomes.
Magnetic resonance-electrical impedance tomography in breast cancer imaging

Magnetic resonance - electrical impedance tomography employs low amplitude currents injected or induced inside an object. The additional magnetic field due to these currents results in a phase in the MR images. A modified fast spin-echo sequence is used to measure this magnetic field, which is simply the scaled phase MR image. Finite element method is used for the solution of the forward problem. An iterated sensitivity matrix based algorithm was developed for the inverse problem. Resulting ill-conditioned matrix equation was regularized using Tikhonov method and solved using a conjugate gradient solver. After assessing the performance of the technique with agarose gel phantoms, we carried out experiments on rats with induced tumor to understand the in-vivo performance of this system.
Female Sex Offenders Exploring Issues of Personality, Trauma, and Cognitive Distortions

Few studies have investigated the characteristics of female sex offenders and factors and/or causes of female deviance. Research to date has been descriptive in nature, with few comparison studies. Using a correlational design and three valid instruments, female sexual offenders and a matched group of female nonsexual offenders are compared in the areas of personality disorders, chemical dependency, childhood trauma, sexual trauma, emotional neediness, cognitive distortions, and social competence. A sample of 130 incarcerated females, 60 sex offenders, and 70 nonsexual offenders is used. Significant results are found in the areas of total childhood trauma and severity of sexual abuse suffered and social and sexual adequacy. No differences are found in abuse of substances, personality disorders, emotional neediness, or cognitive distortions.
Statistical Modeling of Underwater Wireless Channels

This paper proposes a geometry-based statistical model for multiple-input multiple-output shallow water wireless channels. From the reference model, the corresponding space-time-frequency correlation function and space-Doppler power spectral density are derived. To verify our results, the derived statistics are compared with the experimentally obtained channel statistics and close agreement is observed.
Genetic Screening for Signal Transduction in the Era of Network Biology

In contrast to animal-based mutant phenotype assays, recent biochemical and quantitative genetic studies have identified hundreds of potential regulators of known signaling pathways. We discuss the discrepancy between previous models and new data, put forward a different signaling conceptual framework incorporating time-dependent quantitative contributions, and suggest how this new framework can impact our study of human disease.
Space Interferometry Mission (SIM): Overview and current status

The Space Interferometry Mission (SIM) will be the first in-space, long-baseline Michelson Stellar Interferometer. SIM will perform precision astrometry at the micro-arcsecond accuracy level, which will be used to characterize planetary systems around stars within about ten parsecs of Earth and address a number of other key astrophysics projects. This paper provides a broad overview of the SIM Mission. Topics covered include: the science objectives, key top level requirements, how the mission will be implemented (technical and programmatic), technology development status, an assessment of where the project is today, and prognosis for the future.
Cortisol binding in cultured bovine mammary cells.

Bovine mammary cells cultured in vitro were incubated with varying levels of 3H-cortisol and various unlabeled steroids. These mammary cells possessed 2 components which had a high affinity (Kd≍5×lO8 to 2×109M) for the uptake of cortisol. There were approximately 7500 specific binding sites per mammary cell. The incorporation of 3H-cortisol into the mammary cell is inhibited by many (but not all) corticoids, by progesterone, by 17α-OH-progesterone and by preheating to 100 C for 10 min. It is not inhibited by 17β-estradiol, testosterone or 20α-OH-progesterone. There was also a major nonspecific component which bound 3H-cortisol that was practically unsaturable and could not be destroyed by preheating to 100 C for 10 min. About 77% of the 3H-cortisol is found in the 105,000×g supernatant fluid with about 21% localized in the 700×g precipitate fraction of the cultured mammary cell. The majority of the cortisol incorporated into the cell remained as cortisol although metabolites were found in both the 700×g s...
Importation and Transmission of Parasitic and Other Infectious Diseases Associated with International Adoptees and Refugees Immigrating into the United States of America

Each year, hundreds of millions of people travel across international borders or even oceans, and up to 230 million may remain for long periods. Among these, 3–5 million settle permanently in their new homes, with about 1 million migrating permanently to the United States of America. This may result in transport of parasites and other pathogens, which might become established, infecting individuals in the new location. Beyond concern of disease spread, the health of migrants is of concern since the rigors, circumstances, and living conditions surrounding migrations may increase the vulnerability of migrants to infections. International adoptees and refugees are a small subset of these migrants but are of special significance inasmuch as adoptees may be more vulnerable to infection due to their immature immune status, and refugees may be more vulnerable due to substandard living conditions. Both originate from diverse regions, but often from environments of low hygiene and health care standards. This review examines recent examples of infections reported from adoptees and refugees entering the USA through 2010, highlighting the most common origin countries and the diseases most frequently involved, including Chagas disease, Balamuthia amebic meningoencephalitis, giardiasis, microsporidiosis, hepatitis, measles, pertussis, tuberculosis, malaria, intestinal helminths, and syphilis.
Evaluation of the Thermodynamic Properties and Phase Equilibria of the Ordered γ’ and Disordered γ Phases in the Ni-Al-Ta System

The phase equilibria and thermodynamic properties of the ternary Ni-Al-Ta system on Ni-rich side were analyzed. Thermodynamic descriptions of the liquid, γ-fcc, γ’-L12, and π-Ni6AlTa phases were obtained using the CALPHAD (CALculation of PHase Diagrams) technique. The thermodynamics of γ-fcc and γ’-L12 phases were modeled with a single Gibbs energy function taking into account the crystallographic relation between the two phases. The ternary interaction parameters of the liquid and fcc phases were also determined. The calculated phase diagrams of the ternary Ni-Al-Ta system show a good agreement with experimental data.
Experience with an analytic approach to teaching programming languages

Through the use of interpreters it is possible to teach programming languages in an analytic way without the mathematical overhead associated with other formal methods. This is a natural evolution of programming language pedagogy from present approaches that are largely descriptive. As a bonus, students receive training in the use of meta-linguistic abstraction in program design. An example of this approach is presented along with suggested variations and discussion of a number of practical considerations that may be crucial to success in the classroom.
Synthetic analogs of active sites of iron-sulfur proteins: bis (o-xylyldithiolato) ferrate (III) monoanion, a structurally unconstrained model for the rubredoxin Fe-S4 unit

Abstract To complete the set of synthetic analogs of the three recognized types of active sites in iron-sulfur redox proteins, the compound (Et4N)[Fe((SCH2)2C6H4)2], derived from o-xylyl-alpha,alpha'-dithiol, has been prepared and its structure has been determined by x-ray diffraction. The bischelate anion contains a near-tetrahedral Fe(III)-S4 coordination unit with small rhombic distortions and all Fe-S bond distances in the range 2.252-2.279 A. Its electronic properties have been partially characterized by measurement of electronic absorption, paramagnetic resonance, Mossbauer spectra, and magnetic susceptibility. The analog, as the protein, exhibits the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox couple. These results substantiate designation of [Fe((SCH2)2C6H4)2]- as a synthetic analog of the Fe(III)(S-Cys)4 center in oxidized rubredoxin proteins. Comparison of the analog structure with that of the Clostridium pasteurianum rubredoxin active site shows that the former is substantially less distorted from idealized tetrahedral symmetry, and is considered to represent an essentially unconstrained structural model of the latter. Provided the grossly distorted tetrahedral stereochemistry of the protein site persists through final structural refinement, the analog-protein structural comparison supports an entatic state description of oxidized rubredoxin.
Investigating the impact of video games on high school students' engagement and learning about genetics

The popularity of video games has transcended entertainment crossing into the world of education. While the literature base on educational gaming is growing, there is still a lack of systematic study of this emerging technology's efficacy. This quasi-experimental study evaluated a teacher created video game on genetics in terms of its affective and cognitive impact on student users. While statistical results indicated no differences (p>.05) in student learning as measured by our instrument, there were significant differences (p<.05) found in the participants' level of engagement while interfacing with the video game. Implications on this emerging line of inquiry are discussed.