cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Estrogen receptor β expression in the mouse forebrain: age and sex differences.

Estrogen receptors regulate multiple brain functions, including stress, sexual, and memory-associated behaviors as well as controlling neuroendocrine and autonomic function. During development, estrogen signaling is involved in programming adult sex differences in physiology and behavior. Expression of estrogen receptor α changes across development in a region-specific fashion. By contrast, estrogen receptor β (ERβ) is expressed in many brain regions, yet few studies have explored sex and developmental differences in its expression, largely because of the absence of selective reagents for anatomical localization of the protein. This study utilized bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mice expressing ERβ identified by enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) to compare expression levels and distribution of ERβ in the male and female mouse forebrain on the day of birth (P0), on postnatal day 4 (P4), and on P21. By using qualitative analysis, we mapped the distribution of ERβ-EGFP and found developmental alterations in ERβ expression within the cortex, hippocampus, and hypothalamic regions including the arcuate, ventromedial, and paraventricular nuclei. We also report a sex difference in ERβ in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, with males showing greater expression at P4 and P21. Another sex difference was found in the anteroventral periventricular nucleus of P21, but not P0 or P4, mice, in which ERβ-EGFP-immunoreactive cells were densely clustered near the third ventricle in females but not males. These developmental changes and sex differences in ERβ indicate a mechanism through which estrogens might differentially affect brain functions or program adult physiology at select times during development. J. Comp. Neurol. 522:358–371, 2014. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Balancing International Trade Policy with National Security: The Dilemma of China and Foreign Direct Investment in the United States

With the People's Republic of China flush with US foreign reserves generated from a significant trade imbalance with the United States (US). Chinese firms have begun to exercise foreign direct inve...
Reliability characterization of a commercial TaO x -based ReRAM

We present results of endurance and retention characterization for one of the first commercially available TaOx-based resistive memory chip in room and higher temperature environments. Data retention of the memory chip shows activation energy of 1.13eV and demonstrates an 85°C 10-year data retention even after 250,000 programming cycles. The combined program and read errors were in the range of 10−7 to 10−5 and the memory chip withstood 106 program cycles at 125°C. Overall, the reliability of this commercial resistive memory chip compares well with flash memory.
Identification of occupant posture using a Bayesian classification methodology to reduce the risk of injury in a collision

Abstract Recent studies have shown that smart restraint systems, which will recognize and then adapt to a specific collision and occupant combination, have a strong opportunity to significantly reduce occupant injuries during a traffic accident. As a step toward the development of these adaptive restraint systems, this study proposes a novel methodology for the classification of pre-crash occupant posture. Various occupant postures were simulated with a human model and the corresponding data was recorded using sensor models implemented in a mid-size car interior. The sensor data was then used to train two Bayesian classifiers which categorized an unknown occupant posture as one of nine predefined classes. The posture classifiers and a look-up table which contained optimized restraint laws for each class were combined to form catalog controllers for the restraint systems. The benefit of these restraint systems with catalog controllers vs. a restraint system optimized at a nominal posture was estimated by analyzing crash simulations with the occupant in 200 different postures. While the minimum error rate classifier showed the highest correct classification rate (90%), the Bayesian minimum risk classifier estimated the highest average injury reduction (21%). As expected, the highest injury reduction (up to 45%) was recorded for the posture classes closest to the windshield, whereas the lowest injury reduction was found for the classes closest to the nominal position. While the proposed restraint system with a catalog controller requires considerable “offline” computational effort, it is more versatile in terms of using complex human models and injury criteria and is much faster during the brief decision window available than recent “online” controllers proposed previously in literature.
The effect of effort on baseline neuropsychological test scores in high school football athletes

OBJECTIVE: Poor effort on baseline neuropsychological tests is expected to influence interpretation of post-concussion assessment scores. Our study examined effort in an athletic population to determine if poor effort effects neuropsychological test performance. METHODS: High school athletes (N = 199) were administered a brief neuropsychological test battery, which included the Dot Counting Test (DCT) and the Rey 15-Item Test with recognition trial. One-way analyses of variance were used to compare groups with adequate and poor effort test performance. RESULTS: Most athletes (N = 177; 89%) exerted adequate effort while a number of athletes (N = 22; 11%) exerted poor effort on the DCT. Statistically significant differences existed between effort groups (p < 0.05) on several of the neuropsychological tests. CONCLUSIONS: Poor effort was observed in the athletic population during baseline testing and athletes with poor effort displayed statistically significant differences in performance on neuropsychological tests. Adding an effort test to baseline examinations may improve post-concussion test score interpretations. © 2007 National Academy of Neuropsychology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Entangled Nanoparticles: Discovery by Visualization in 4D Electron Microscopy

Particle interactions are fundamental to our understanding of nanomaterials and biological assemblies. Here, we report on the visualization of entangled particles, separated by as large as 70 nm, and the discovery of channels in their near-fields. For silver nanoparticles, the induced field of each particle extends to 50–100 nm, but when particles are brought close in separation we observe channels as narrow as 6 nm, a width that is 2 orders of magnitude smaller than the incident field wavelength. The channels’ directions can be controlled by the polarization of the incident field, particle size, and separation. For this direct visualization of these nanoscopic near-fields, the high spatial, temporal, and energy resolutions needed were hitherto not possible without the methodology given here. This methodology, we anticipate, paves the way for further fundamental studies of particle entanglement and for possible applications spanning materials and macromolecular assemblies.
Spatio-temporal prediction of snow water equivalent using the Kalman filter

Abstract Consider a spatio-temporal stochastic process {Z(s; t): s e D; t = 1, 2 .... } and suppose it is of interest to predict {Z(s; to): s e D} at some fixed time point t o. Purely spatial methods use data Z(sl;to) ..... Z(s,;to) to construct a spatial predictor (e.g., kriging). But, when data {Z(si;t): i = 1,..., n; t = 1, 2,..., t o } are available, it is advantageous to treat the problem as one of spatio- temporal prediction. The US National Weather Service now use current snow water equivalent (SWE) data and a purely spatial model to predict SWE at sites where no observations are available. To improve SWE predictions, we introduce a spatio-temporal model that incorporates the SWE data from the past, resulting in a Kalman-filter prediction algorithm. A simple procedure for estimating the parameters in the model is developed and an example is presented for the Animas River basin in southwest Colorado. Keywords: Cross-validation; Kriging; Second-order stationary; Spatio-temporal model
The Seventy-Year Itch: Controversies over Human Antiquity and Their Resolution

Several major turning points in the study of human prehistory have occurred at almost precisely 70 year intervals: from the initial establishment of a deep human antiquity in Europe in the late 1850s (at Brixham Cave and in the Somme River Valley) to the demonstration in the late 1920s at Folsom that American prehistory reached into the Pleistocene (albeit not very far) to the realization in the late 1990s, based on evidence from Monte Verde, that there was a still-earlier, pre-Clovis presence in the Americas. It is unlikely that the cyclical nature of these episodes is anything more than an odd coincidence. Still, there are patterns to those cycles of controversy and resolution beyond their timing that tell us a great deal about the evolution of and revolution in scientific knowledge. Moreover, in comparing these episodes, and the differences that emerge from that comparison, we can see clearly how much (and how little) archaeology has changed over the past two centuries.
Sensor networking: radio and networking technology for sensor applications (Invited Paper)

Preston F. Marshall Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency 3710 North Fairfax, Arlington, VA pmarshall@darpa.mil ABSTRACT The problems of sensor networking have genera lly been attacked using existing radio and networking technology and engineer ing. This paper describes se veral DARPA programs that are developing wireless, networking an d power sources that have speci fic application to sensor and other low power network applications. Program s discussed include th e DARPA Connectionless Networking (CN), Disruption Tole rant Networking (DTN) and Radi o Isotope Micropower Sources (RIMS) programs. KEYWORDS Networking, Low Power Networks, Se nsor Networks, Internet Protoc ol, Delay Tolerant Networks, Radio-Isotope Power Sources, Waveform Acqui sition and Synchronization, Mobile Ad-Hoc Networks
Note on reading acquisition: an extension of laboratory principles.

Abstract Staats, Minke, Finley, Wolf, and Brooks (1964) have shown that reading behavior can be effectively conditioned in a laboratory setting. The present paper reports an extension of these principles. The subject ( S ) was a six-year-old male in the first grade at the Webster College Experimental School, Webster Groves, Missouri. The S was recommended for this study by his teacher because, in her opinion, he was “below normal” in reading performance. No reading tests had been administered to the child, but he had an IQ of 100 on the Stanford-Binet test. For five weeks he was given special group training in daily sessions with a special reading teacher, but had not responded and still did not read according to the average reading-grade level of his class.
The influence of exchangeable cations on the carbonization of biomass

Abstract Cations of calcium and potassium added to wood through ion exchange have unique effects on the thermal decomposition of the wood. Addition of calcium ions increases the decomposition temperature of the wood and affects the char yield only slightly, while addition of potassium ions reduces the decomposition temperature and significantly increases the char yield. These effects are distinct from the effects of salts of the same elements added to the same or similar materials through absorption of a solution of the salt. For instance, potassium carbonate absorbed on cellulose significantly increases its decomposition temperature, although it has the opposite effect when added to wood through ion exchange. The primary sites for ion exchange are believed to be glucuronic acids in the hemicellulose fraction, and it is therefore likely that the effects of exchanged cations are due primarily to their influence on the decomposition of this component. When naturally occuring inorganic species are removed from wood by acid washing, the char yield is reduced and the cellular structure of the wood can be lost during carbonization, particularly at high heating rates.
Analysis of axial vibration of compound bars by differential transformation method

Although there are solutions for the axial vibration of compound bars, i.e., bars of different cross-section connected in mechanical series, this note is to illustrate another solution. The primary objective is to analyze this problem by a relatively new technique originated in 1986 and known as the differential transformation (DT) method. The numerical solutions are compared with classical exact solution and other studies in the literature. The accuracy, simplicity, and effectiveness of the DT approach are demonstrated.
Resonant wave propagation in gun tubes with eccentric bores

Abstract An analysis of the steady-state vibrations of gun tubes with eccentric bores is performed entirely within the framework of three-dimensional linear elasticity. The dispersion curves for the eccentric cylindrical tube are obtained by satisfying the differential equations and boundary conditions on the external cylindrical surface exactly and the boundary conditions on the eccentric inner cylindrical surface variationally. The resulting solutions clearly exhibit the coupling between the extensional and flexural motions. The forced vibrations are treated by satisfying the continuity conditions at the interface of the moving step in bore pressure using a variational principle in which all conditions, i.e., those of both constraint- and natural-type, appear as natural conditions. The calculations reveal the existence of resonance at critical velocities and increasing coupling to flexural motions with increasing eccentricities.
Initiation of DNA replication cycles in Escherichia coli following DNA synthesis inhibition

Abstract The pattern of initiation of new growing points in the bacterial chromosome has been studied in a temperature-sensitive DNA replication-deficient mutant of Escherichia coli, strain TAU-bar t3. In particular, the effect of a period at the restrictive temperature upon this pattern has been examined. Selected regions of the chromosome were marked by radioisotopic labeling in cultures synchronized by amino acid starvation. The subsequent pattern of DNA replication was determined by equilibrium sedimentation of isolated DNA in a CsCl density gradient after a period of DNA synthesis in the presence of 5-bromouracil. The relative amount of label in the hybrid 5-bromouracil DNA band indicated the replication of the marked regions. New growing points were preferentially initiated at the chromosomal origin, as defined by amino acid starvation, following a period of DNA synthesis inhibition. A period of inhibition obtained by placing the mutant at the restrictive temperature had the identical effect to that of a period of thymine starvation upon the subsequent premature initiation of new replication cycles. Our results support the hypothesis that the initiation of new cycles is independent of the presence or locations of existing points of replication and that it is dependent entirely upon cytoplasmic factors, such as protein synthesis and possibly membrane synthesis.
Deltorphin II-induced Rapid Desensitization of δ-Opioid Receptor Requires Both Phosphorylation and Internalization of the Receptor

Abstract Similar to other G protein-coupled receptors, rapid phosphorylation of the δ-opioid receptor in the presence of agonist has been reported. Hence, agonist-induced desensitization of the δ-opioid receptor has been suggested to be via the receptor phosphorylation, arrestin-mediated pathway. However, due to the highly efficient coupling between the δ-opioid receptor and the adenylyl cyclase, the direct correlation between the rates of receptor phosphorylation and receptor desensitization as measured by the adenylyl cyclase activity could not be established. In the current studies, using an ecdysone-inducible expression system to control the δ-opioid receptor levels in HEK293 cells, we could demonstrate that the rate of deltorphin II-induced receptor desensitization is dependent on the receptor level. Only at receptor concentrations ≤90 fmol/mg of protein were rapid desensitizations (t <10 min) observed. Apparently, deltorphin II-induced receptor desensitization involves cellular events in addition to receptor phosphorylation. Mutation of Ser363 in the carboxyl tail of the δ-opioid receptor to Ala completely abolished the deltorphin II-induced receptor phosphorylation but not the desensitization response. Although the magnitude of desensitization was attenuated, the rate of deltorphin II-induced receptor desensitization remained the same in the S363A mutant as compared with wild type. Also, the S363A mutant could internalize in the presence of deltorphin II. Only when the agonist-induced clathrin-coated pit-mediated receptor internalization was blocked by 0.4 m sucrose that the deltorphin II-induced receptor desensitization was abolished in the S363A mutant. Similarly, 0.4 m sucrose could partially block the agonist-induced rapid desensitization in HEK293 cells expressing the wild type δ-opioid receptor. Taken together, these data supported the hypothesis that rapid desensitization of the δ-opioid receptor involves both the phosphorylation and the internalization of the receptor.
Effect of time on production of cortisol by incubated human adrenal tissue

Abstract The data presented here serves to emphasize the effect of time on incubation of human adrenal tissue incubated in autologous plasma. Previous reports (1,2) have described the steroids isolated from this system. Many studies of tissue incubations carried out in synthetic media are of 3–4 hours duration. Results of a series of time course experiments indicate that times as long as 6 hours were insufficient when the incubation media was autologous plasma. Maximal yields of corticoid were obtained when the tissues were incubated under the usual conditions for 20–24 hours. This time was also maximal for incubations to which adrenocorticotropin was added.
Spectroscopic study of rigid-rod polymers. I. Structures of model compounds

Poly(p-phenylene benzbisoxazole) and poly(p-phenylene benzbisthiazole) belong to the class of extended-chain, rigid-rod polymers possessing high modulus, high strength, and good thermal and oxidative resistance. Fibers and films of these polymers are processed from anisotropic solutions in strong acids such as methane sulfonic acid or polyphosphoric acid. The electronic absorption and vibrational spectra of the model compounds have been investigated in order to characterize the structures in the solid state and in nonprotonic solvents. The dramatic intensity differences in the spectra obtained have been interpreted by variations in the dihedral angle between the plane of the phenyl group and the plane of the central heterocyclic ring which affect the resonance configuration between the two rings.
High-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation in relapsed and refractory Hodgkin's disease: outcome based on a prognostic model.

We evaluated the results of high-dose therapy (HDT) and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with relapsed or primary refractory Hodgkin’s disease (HD), using a previo
Poe's the Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket

(2000). Poe's the Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket. The Explicator: Vol. 59, No. 1, pp. 17-19.
Skin types in dysplastic nevus syndrome.

. In order to determine if individuals with dysplastic nevi (DN) are relatively more sun-sensitive than controls who do not have DN, the sun-reactivity skin types (based on the Harvard classification) were determined in these two groups. Compared with controls, sun-sensitive types were significantly overrepresented in the DN group. This is consistent with the hypothesis that the fundamental defect in the dysplastic nevus syndrome is the genetically unstable melanocyte, which is susceptible to neoplastic transformation induced by sunlight.
Numerical modeling of nonlinear water waves over heterogeneous porous beds

Abstract The transformation of nonlinear water waves over porous beds is studied by applying a numerical model based on Chen's [2006. Fully nonlinear Boussinesq-type equations for waves and currents over porous beds. Journal of Engineering Mechanics, 132:2, 220–230] Boussinesq-type equations for highly nonlinear waves on permeable beds. The numerical model uses a high-order time-marching solution and fourth-order finite-difference schemes for discretization of first-order spatial derivatives to obtain a computational accuracy consistent with the model equations. By forcing the wave celerity and spatial porous-damping rate of the linearized model to match the exact linear theory for horizontal porous bed over a prescribed range of relative depths, the values of the model parameters are optimally determined. Numerical simulations of the damped wave propagation over finite-thickness porous layer demonstrate the accuracy of both the numerical model and governing equations, which have been shown by prior theoretical analyses to be accurate for both nominal and thick porous layers. These simulations also elucidate on the significance of the higher-order porous-damping terms and the influence of the hydraulic parameters. Application of the model to the simulation of the wave field around a laboratory-scale submerged porous mound provides a measure of its capability, as well as useful insight into the scaling of the porous-resistance coefficients. For application to heterogeneous porous beds, the assumption of weak spatial variation of the porous resistance is examined using truncated forms of the governing equations. The results indicate that the complete set of Boussinesq-type equations is applicable to porous beds of nonhomogeneous makeup.
Which subgradients have sum formulas

On donne une formule de somme generale valable pour un cone tangent avec une courte liste de proprietes
Insulin-like growth factor-1 and insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 in women with premenstrual syndrome.

Abstract Objective: To determine whether women with premenstrual syndrome (PMS) have aberrations of the GH axis as has been demonstrated in individuals with depression. Design: Prospective trial. Setting: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, Los Angeles. Patient(s): After prospective screening, 32 healthy women with PMS and 32 asymptomatic controls completed the study. Intervention(s): Subjects completed a daily PMS symptom diary and a Beck Depression Inventory. They underwent phlebotomy 5 days and 12 days after the LH midcycle surge, which was identified with the use of a urinary LH detection kit. Main Outcome Measure(s): Serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), E 2 , and progesterone. Result(s): Levels of IGF-1, IGFBP-3, E 2 , and progesterone did not differ between women with prospectively documented PMS and control subjects. Conclusion(s): Premenstrual syndrome and affective disorder share common symptoms and possibly a common cause. Biochemical markers such as alterations in the somatotropic system often are associated with major depression. Levels of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 did not differ between women with PMS and control subjects, supporting the concept that PMS and endogenous depression are biologically distinct entities.
Radiochemical microassay of δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase in hepatic and erythroid tissues

Abstract A specific radiochemical microassay for δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase is described. The assay is rapid and 10 to 500 times more sensitive than currently available methods. The assay measures the incorporation of radioactive succinate into δ-aminolevulinic acid and requires a succinyl CoA generating system; alternate pathways of succinate utilization are blocked by specific metabolic inhibitors. The δ-aminolevulinic acid formed is isolated by ion-exchange chromatography. The increased sensitivity of this assay has permitted the direct measurement of δ-aminolevulinic acid synthetase activity in cell cultures of avian hepatocytes, needle biopsy specimens of human liver, peripheral erythrocytes, and human fibroblasts.
The Gamble: Circular Mexican Migration and the Return on Remittances

This article examines the role remittances play in three sending communities in the municipality of Peribaan, located in the highlands of Michoacaan, Meexico. Drawing from fieldwork conducted by Dickinson College9s Mexican Mosaics, it discusses the evolution of migration from the region and explores both macro- and micro-level data to better understand the motivations and factors that lead to circular migration and the sending of collective remittances through hometown associations. Debates within the migration literature tend to focus on whether or not remittances are beneficial forces for communities, but the issues are far too complex to characterize remittances simply as positive or negative——or as productive or nonproductive. Actors situated at the national, state, community, and familial levels are likely to hold different perspectives about what is needed and what is considered rational and productive. Although the degree and type of costs and benefits may vary, the case studies of these communities demonstrate the potential of migrant clubs for community development and also the importance of remittances to families and individuals. Este artiiculo examina el papel que tienen las remesas en tres comunidades del municipio de Peribaan, localizado en las tierras altas de Michoacaan, Meexico. A partir del trabajo de campo del proyecto ““Mexican Mosaics”” de Dickinson College, se discute la evolucioon de la migracioon de la regioon y se exploran los datos en sus diferentes niveles para entender mejor las motivaciones y factores que conducen a la migracioon circular y al enviio de remesas colectivas a travees de las asociaciones locales. Los debates dentro de la bibliografiia sobre la migracioon tienden a plantear si las remesas son beneeficas para las comunidades o no, pero la cuestioon es demasiado compleja para caracterizar las remesas simplemente como positivas o negativas, o como productivas o no productivas. Los participantes a nivel ciudadano, estatal, comunal y familiar probablemente sostendraan perspectivas diferentes sobre lo que se necesita y lo que se considera racional y productivo. Aunque el grado y el tipo de costos y beneficios puedan variar, los estudios de caso de estas comunidades demuestran el potencial que los clubes migratorios tienen en el desarrollo de la comunidad y tambieen la importancia de las remesas para las familias y los individuos.
Is all communication created equal?: an investigation into the effects of communication mode on perceived information quality

Enhancing communication between functions is crucial to successful product development and management. Previous work in the product innovation management literature has made two implicit assumptions. First, that increasing the frequency of information dissemination from one function to the other always improves the perceived quality of the information received. The second assumption is that all types of interfunctional communication carry equal weight in the decision-making process of the target of that communication. The current study develops a typology of communication modes, which suggests a rationale for why these assumptions may not be true. The empirical findings of the study, based on a survey of 504 nonmarketing managers indicate that the relationship between total communication frequency and perceived information quality (PIQ) is nonlinear. Specifically, the study finds that marketing managers can either communicate too little or too much with nonmarketing managers. If they interact too infrequently, they run the risk of not understanding the way to most effectively communicate market information. If they communicate too much, they may overload the manager with too much information and erode the overall quality of the information sent. In addition, some modes of communication are more effective in improving perceptions of the quality of market information. For instance, regular e-mail sent by marketing managers seems to have no effect on perceived information quality. On the other hand, e-mail sent with supporting documentation can have a strong positive effect on perceived information quality. Impromptu phone calls by marketing have less positive effects than scheduled phone calls. Interestingly, too much of the wrong types of communication actually seem to reduce perceptions of perceived information quality, and consequently the likelihood that market information will be used. The study also suggests that certain kinds of communication are better for manufacturing managers and others more effective in sharing information with R&D managers. For instance, disseminating information through written reports seems to reduce perceived information quality. This is particularly true for R&D managers. On the other hand too many meetings can reduce perceptions of PIQ, particularly on the part of manufacturing managers. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Rab GTPases: master regulators of membrane trafficking

Rab GTPases are thought to be likely to catalyze the accurate association of pairs of targeting molecules located on the surfaces of transport vesicles with their corresponding membrane acceptors. Advances during the past year have solidified our understanding of the mechanisms by which Rab proteins are recruited onto nascent transport vesicles and retrieved from their fusion targets. Functional analyses of Rab proteins in living cells have led to the surprising observation that vesicles do not seem to form if the appropriate Rab protein, in its GTP-bound conformation, is not present.
Model for the composition dependence of conductivity of an ionic conductor containing submicron particles of an insulator

Abstract The composition dependence of the conductivity of an ionic conductor such as LiI containing submicron particles of an insulator such as Al 2 O 3 is modeled by embedding a simple-cubic-lattice of cubic insulators in a conducting medium. The conductivity in the vicinity of each cube is assumed to be enhanced. Its dependence on the distance from the cube surface and the size of the cube are treated as parameters, the values of which are extracted by fitting conductivity data reported in the literature. The results suggest that the conductivity outside each particle may have a maximum at certain distance away from the surface.
Disk Electrophoresis of Acid Mucopolysaccharides

WITHIN the past four years the application of disk electrophoresis for the separation of serum proteins1 and lipoproteins (S. Lakshmanan, personal communication, 1966) has become more prevalent. The present report deals with the application of disk electrophoresis to the separation of acid mucopolysaccharides, in particular chondroitin sulphate B (CSB) and heparitin monosulphate (HMS).
Relationship between surface concentration of amphiphilic quaternary ammonium biocides in electrospun polymer fibers and biocidal activity

Abstract Electrospinning was utilized to generate antimicrobial Nylon and polycarbonate fibers for potential applications including self-decontaminating fabrics, wound dressings, and filtration media. The effects of quaternary ammonium salt concentration on fiber morphology, diameter, and antimicrobial activity of the resulting fiber mats were investigated. Fibers were characterized utilizing scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, while antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus . The co-electrospinning of soluble quaternary ammonium biocides within polymeric solutions generated uniform fibers with diameters ranging from 91 to 278 nm for Nylon and 0.55–2.34 μm for polycarbonate. Fiber morphology and diameter of the resulting fibers were shown to be dependent on polymer type and biocide concentration. A positive correlation between surface concentration of quaternary ammonium salts and antimicrobial activity was observed as fibers loaded with biocides exhibited up to a 7 log reduction of viable bacteria.
Net-Faim: distributed computation of aerial images

Abstract Simulation of aerial images is an important part of modern mi- crochip manufacturing, but computation of the image of an entire maskis a challenging problem requiring a large amount of memory and CPU time. Fortunately, it is possible to decompose the large problem of computing the full image into many smaller, mostly independent, sub- problems. In this paper, one particular decomposition is described andimplemented. The target platform is a heterogeneous group of net- worked workstations. The program, net-faim, was designed to be robust,to scale well with available resources, and to place modest demands on participating workstations. All of these design criteria have been real- ized. The overall performance of the distributed computation is linearly proportional to the sum of the performances of the individual proces- sors, up to a rather high level of parallelism. Robustness is achieved bynot relying on any one server to complete a given task; instead, if an idle server is available, the task is sent out to the idle server even if it haspreviously been sent to another server. The task is only retired when aserver returns the completed answer. This "paranoid" method of pro-cessing tasks has the pleasant side effect of doing automatic dynamicload balancing. The results of runs with several different configura-tions, both of participating workstations and of sub-domain sizes, are
Changing the Terms of Rural Development: Collaborative Research in Cultural Ecology in the Sahel

Examples of failed development projects in the West African Sahel are legion; this paper reports on successes. A multidisciplinary team identified scores of successful natural resources management initiatives ranging from farmer innovations to national policies in The Gambia, Mali, Niger, and Senegal. Rapid reconnaissance technique adapted from farming systems research methods was employed in the survey effort. Analysis of the case studies, four of which are presented here, leads to the formulation of strategic recommendations for long-term collaborative natural resource research and development in the Sahel. The cases also suggest a number of hypotheses for further intra-regional comparative research in cultural ecology.
Proximity to death and participation in the long-term care market

The extent to which increasing longevity increases per capita demand for long-term care depends on the degree to which utilization is concentrated at the end of life. We estimate the marginal effect of proximity to death, measured by being within 2 years of death, on the probabilities of nursing home and formal home care use, and we determine whether this effect differs by availability of informal care--i.e. marital status and co-residence with an adult child. The analysis uses a sample of elderly aged 70+ from the 1993-2002 Health and Retirement Study. Simultaneous probit models address the joint decisions to use long-term care and co-reside with an adult child. Overall, proximity to death significantly increases the probability of nursing home use by 50.0% and of formal home care use by 12.4%. Availability of informal support significantly reduces the effect of proximity to death. Among married elderly, proximity to death has no effect on institutionalization. In conclusion, proximity to death is one of the main drivers of long-term care use, but changes in sources of informal support, such as an increase in the proportion of married elderly, may lessen its importance in shaping the demand for long-term care.
Tectonic style of venus: An analog to polar “icepack tectonics”

Abstract Venus and Earth are similar in size, bulk composition, internal heat generation and planetary differentiation. Like Earth, Venusian surface relief is at least partially compensated isostatically at some depth in the mantle and is partially supported by the dynamics of mantle convection. The “continental” crustal rocks of Venus are less dense than its mantle, but are much more globally extensive than their terrestrial counterparts. Based on the observed unimodal elevation distribution, the Venusian “continental” crust would appear to completely cover the planet. This suggests that crustal recycling may consist of simply remelting at its base. Venusian tectonics is fundamentally different from terrestrial tectonics (Solomon et al. , 1991) in that there is no observed evidence for large scale subduction of lithosphere into the deep mantle, no large-offset strike-slip faults, and few examples of concave ridges characteristics of cooling and spreading lithosphere. The primary mode of planetary heat loss is not tectonics as on Earth, but instead appears to be hot spot volcanism. The tectonic history of Venus is dominated by a relatively static lithosphere with lateral tectonic displacements of limited scale much like the tectonics once believed to describe the geological development of the Earth. Thus there are fundamental differences between terrestrial and Venusian tectonics in morphology, kinematics and dynamics. Venusian tectonics appears to more closely resemble the ridges and leads in a choked field of Arctic pack ice in that the unimodal crust is buoyant and completely covers the surface, the primary plate driving forces are surface tractions at the base of plates, and there is recycling of crust by basal melting rather than subduction.
Platinum(II) and Palladium(II) Dibenzo[a,e]cyclooctatetraene (DBCOT) Oxo and Halide Complexes: Comparison to 1,5-COD Analogues

The dialkene complexes L2MCl2 (M = Pt, Pd, L2 = dibenzo[a,e]cyclooctatetraene (DBCOT)) were prepared by treatment of MCl42- salts with L2. Comparison of the solid-state structures with those of the analogous 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD) complexes shows strong congruence of the structures. Competition experiments between DBCOT and COD show that COD bonds more strongly to the Pt(II) center. In contrast, Ir(I) bonds slightly better to DBCOT. Reaction of PtCl2(DBCOT) with NaI gives PtI2(DBCOT), which reacts with PhMgBr to give PtPh2(DBCOT). 195Pt NMR data indicate a less electron-rich Pt center in the DBCOT complexes as compared to the analogous COD complexes. Treatment of PtCl2(DBCOT) with [(Ph3PAu)3(μ3-O)](BF4) yields trimeric [Pt(μ3-O)(DBCOT)(AuPPh3)]3(BF4)3, which contains a six-membered Pt3O3 ring in a twist-boat configuration. Au−Au and Au−Pt interactions may help stabilize the solid-state structure, but NMR and mass spectral data indicate a dynamic structure in solution and the likely presence of other oli...
Chemoselective derivatization of alkaloids in periwinkle

The terpene indole alkaloidbiosynthetic pathway can utilize a secologanin substrate analog containing a handle for functionalization, and the resulting non-natural alkaloids can be chemoselectively derivatized in crude extracts of plant tissue.
Sol-gel encapsulation of molecules to generate functional optical materials: A molecular programming approach

The extraordinary opportunities offered by integrating solution chemistry of molecular entities with the solid-state nature of the gel provide the basis for designing a number of novel molecular materials. Herein, we present a strategy based on encapsulation of suitable response active species to impart useful optical properties to sol–gel glasses. The basic concept of this molecular programming approach is based on deliberate incorporation of response-active species in the silica gel framework to elicit specific optical responses. Design of molecular materials for device applications depends on selection of molecules which exhibit well-defined electronic or optical response, and assembly of these molecular components into a geometric structure that retains the rigidity, addressability, and stability necessary for practical applications. The approach is based on using molecules as active species and sol–gel glass as structural matrix in which the molecules are selectively integrated. A designer approach that employs specific molecules for generating optical signals is described. As such the properties of these silica-based glasses can be tuned by varying the composition of encapsulated species. These modified glasses exhibit substantially altered optical properties as compared to pristine silica sol–gels. The optical response of these materials provide initial examples toward designing novel materials whose optical and/or photonic responses can be modulated by structural integration of specific dopant entities.
Off disk-center potential field calculations using vector magnetograms

A potential field calculation for off disk-center vector magnetograms that uses all the three components of the measured field is investigated. There is neither any need for interpolation of grid points between the image plane and the heliographic plane nor for an extension or a truncation to a heliographic rectangle. Hence, the method provides the maximum information content from the photospheric field as well as the most consistent potential field independent of the viewing angle. The introduction of polarimetric noise produces a less tolerant extrapolation procedure than using the line-of-sight extrapolation, but the resultant standard deviation is still small enough for the practical utility of this method.
A Reduced-Order Model of the Mean Properties of a Turbulent Wall Boundary Layer at a Zero Pressure Gradient

equations are derived for the solution of the similarity function along the wall normal coordinate and for its streamwise location. A numerical integration scheme of the model equations is developed and enables the solution of ow properties. The coecients of the mixing-length polynomial function are modied at each streamwise location as part of solution iterations to satisfy the wall and far-eld boundary conditions and adjust the local boundary layer thickness,:4, to a location where streamwise speed is 99:4% of the far-eld streamwise velocity. The elegance of the present approach is established through the successful solution of the various ow
Racial differences in androgen receptor protein expression in men with clinically localized prostate cancer.

ABSTRACTPurpose: Black American men experience disproportionate mortality from prostate cancer (CaP) compared with white American men. Differences in outcome may stem from differences within the androgen axis. Since serum testosterone levels appear to be similar by race in men with CaP, we measured and compared androgen receptor (AR) protein expression in malignant and benign prostate tissue from black and white men who underwent radical prostatectomy for clinically localized CaP.Materials and Methods: Archived radical prostatectomy specimens obtained from 25 white and 25 black men had AR protein antigen retrieved and immunostained. AR protein expression from CaP and benign tissue was assessed by 2 methods. Automated digital color video image analysis was used to measure the percent area immunostained for AR protein and the intensity of expression (mean optical density). Visual scoring was performed to compare results with automated values.Results: In black compared with white men malignant nuclei were 27...
Semi-polar green LEDs on c-plane sapphire substrates

We demonstrated the first semipolar Ill-nitride green LED grown on c-plane sapphire substrates. The emission wavelength under CW current injection was 543 nm and showed negligible quantum confined Stark effect.
Accounting for Soil Spatial Variability in Soil Water Capacitance Probe Calibration

For long-term studies on spatiotemporal processes of soil water focusing on spatial variability at the field scale, appropriate calibration techniques for capacitance sensors are lacking. In an ideal case, soil water content samples would need to be taken in the close vicinity of the access tube, that is, within the physical sphere of influence, for sensor calibration. This destructive sampling procedure is prohibitive because the measurement site of that particular access tube would be destroyed for any further capacitance probe measurements. On the other hand, despite the advantage of controlled boundary conditions, it is difficult or impossible to conduct a lab calibration of the sensor that would be valid for the site specific conditions in a heterogeneous field soil. The objective of this study was to propose a sampling and data processing procedure to compare six calibration scenarios with respect to the RMSE values of their associated calibration functions and to describe the spatial series of calibration parameters in an autoregressive state-space model. All scenarios were based on a data set obtained during the installation of access tubes and four subsequent soil sampling campaigns in the vicinity of 1-m radius around the tube. Site- and depth-specific calibration yielded the best calibration results, ranging among the best calibration results presented in the literature. Layer-specific stratification of measurement points according to the soil clay content yielded RMSE values approximately twice as high as the site- and layer-specific calibration and ranged among many other published studies. The presented sampling and data-processing procedure in combination with site- and layer-specific calibration are critically discussed and show a promising way for field-scale studies focused on spatiotemporal processes of soil water content and underlying calibration parameters. This study shows that the spatial range of representativity can substantially exceed the small physical sphere of influence of the capacitance sensor and supports its calibration.
Primary splenic hairy cell leukemia--remission for 21 years following splenectomy.

A patient with primary splenic hairy cell leukemia is reported. This patient presented with massive splenomegaly and pancytopenia due to hypersplenism. Exploratory laparotomy failed to demonstrate any disease outside the spleen and splenic hilar lymph nodes. Splenectomy was the only form of treatment. During the following 21 years, no recurrent hairy cell leukemia has been found. This case allows speculation that hairy cell leukemia may originate in the spleen and that prolonged survivial or cure of the disease after Splenectomy alone may be due to removal of stem cells in the spleen.
Briefing: Nigeria's 2007 general elections: Democracy in retreat

NIGERIA'S THIRD GENERAL ELECTIONS SINCE THE END OF MILITARY RULE in 1999 took place on two consecutive Saturdays in April 2007. State polls to elect members of Nigeria's 36 state Houses of Assembly and their Governors were held on 14 April. National elections for the Senate, House of Representatives, and President were held on the following weekend, 21 April. With President Olusegun Obasanjo stepping down after two terms, the elections were widely anticipated as a milestone, marking the first transfer from one civilian head of state to another since independence. At the time of writing it seems certain that the next President of Nigeria, Umaru Yar'Adua, of Obasanjo's ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP), will indeed take over in a peaceful transition on 29 May (Umaru Yar'Adua took power on 29 May). But to celebrate the peaceful and civilian nature of the transition is to close one's eyes to the brutal, corrupt and undemocratic way in which Yar'Adua has come to power.
A planar-geometry platform for the experimental investigation of Be jets

Initial experiments were performed at the OMEGA laser [J. Soures et al., Phys. Plasmas 3, 2108 (1996)] to investigate the physics associated with inertial confinement fusion capsule fill tubes and holes. These experiments were performed in planar geometry and examined the hydrodynamics of a 6.7:1 aspect ratio fill-hole. X-ray radiographs at 310eV show a jet has formed due to the interaction between the temperature drive and the beryllium (Be) washer.