cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Axonal transport of proteins and glycoproteins in the rat nigro-striatal pathway and the effects of 6-hydroxydopamine.

Summary Following stereotaxic injection of [ 35 S]methionine into the substantia nigra of adult rats, there was rapid local incorporation of radioactivity into acid-insoluble material. Incorporation peaked by 4 h and then decreased. In contrast, acid-precipitable radioactivity in the corpus striatum (the major projection site of the substantia nigra) rose markedly between 1 and 8 h followed by a plateau period and another even more marked increase between 24 h and 6 days. Experiments involving injection of [ 3 H]fucose gave similar results except that most of the acid-precipitable radioactivity in the striatum appeared in an early wave. In each case radioactivity in the contralateral striatum was less than 11% of that on the ipsilateral side. Stereotaxic injection of colchicine (20 μg) into the nigrostriatal pathway (within the median forebrain bundle) blocked transport of [ 35 S]protein and [ 3 H]glycoprotein by 90% and 50%, respectively. In animals treated with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA; treated neonatally or as adults) the accumulation of striatal [ 35 S]protein was reduced to 7 to 26% of control levels; striatal [ 3 H]glycoprotein was also reduced, but not as much (29% to 73% of control). In control experiments, [ 3 H]DOPA was injected into the substantia nigra, and [ 3 H]dopamine was measured in corpus striatum; 6-OHDA treatment reduced the amounts of striatal [ 3 H]dopamine recovered to 3% of control values. The failure of colchicine or 6-OHDA to block transport of incorporated fucose as effectively as the transport of incorporated methionine is possibly due to greater diffusion of fucose away from the injection site to non-dopaminergic nuclei projecting to the striatum. The molecular weight distribution of radioactive proteins at the substantia nigra and corpus striatum was analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. For both [ 35 S]methionine and [ 3 H]fucose, the gel electrophoretic pattern of radioactive proteins in the injection site (substantia nigra) was complex and did not change greatly between 2 h and 6 days. At the projection site (striatum) the electrophoretic distribution pattern was initially different from that of the substantia nigra, and changed markedly over the course of several days. In 6-OHDA-treated animals (treated neonatally or as adults), the bulk of proteins transported in nigro-striatal non-dopaminergic neurons appears to be very similar to that transported in the intact pathway in control rats. However, in striata of 6-OHDA-treated animals, a consistent reduction in striatal 35 S- and 3 H-radioactivity was observed in proteins with molecular weight from about 67,000 to 77,000. Assuming that the 6-OHDA treatment did not substantially affect the non-dopaminergic neurons, we interpret this to mean that some of the proteins in this molecular weight range are transported primarily by dopaminergic neurons.
Immunohistochemical and Histochemical Properties of Surgically Excised Subretinal Neovascular Membranes in Age-related Macular Degeneration

The immunohistochemical and histochemical properties of 16 surgically excised subretinal neovascular membranes from 16 patients with age-related macular degeneration were studied. Primary antisera to c-retinaldehyde-binding protein; leukocyte common antigen; factor VIII-related antigen; S-100 protein; glial fibrillary acid protein; muscle-specific actin; neuron-specific enolase; collagen types I, II, III, IV, and V; laminin; and fibronectin were used for immunohistochemical characterization of the membranes. Histochemical staining for lipid and mucopolysaccharide was performed. The results of the staining in conjunction with histologic examination showed the cellular components of the membranes to be composed of retinal pigment epithelium, inflammatory cells, vascular endothelium, glial cells, myofibroblasts, photoreceptor cells, and fibrocytes. The extracellular matrix of the membranes contained collagen types I, III, IV, and V; fibronectin; laminin; mucopolysaccharide; and lipid. These findings are consistent with the concept that subretinal neovascular membranes in age-related macular degeneration are composed of localized intra-Bruch's membrane granulation tissue proliferation associated with diffuse drusen.
Detection of E. coli O157:H7 in Complex Matrices under Varying Flow Parameters with a Robotic, Fluorometric Assay System

The development of rapid assays for detection of microbial pathogens in complex matrices is needed to protect public health due to continued outbreaks of disease from contaminated foods and water. An Escherichia coli O157:H7 detection assay was designed using a robotic, fluorometric assay system. The system integrates optics, fluidics, robotics and software for the detection of foodborne pathogens or toxins in as many as four samples simultaneously. It utilizes disposable fiber optic waveguides coated with biotinylated antibodies for capture of target analytes from complex sample matrices. Computer-controlled rotation of sample cups allows complete contact between the sample and the waveguide. Detection occurs via binding of a fluorophore-labeled antibody to the captured target, which leads to an increase in the fluorescence signal. Assays are completed within twenty-five minutes. Sample matrices included buffer, retentate (material recovered from the filter of the Automated Concentration System (ACS) following hollow fiber ultrafiltration), spinach wash and ground beef. The matrices were spiked with E. coli O157:H7 (10 3 -10 5 cells/ml) and the limits of detection were determined. The effect of sample rotation on assay sensitivity was also examined. Rotation parameters for each sample matrix included 10 ml with rotation, 5 ml with rotation and 0.1 ml without rotation. Detection occurred at 104 cells/ml in buffer and spinach wash and at 10 5 cells/ml in retentate and ground beef. Detection was greater for rotated samples in each matrix except ground beef. Enhanced detection of E. coli from large, rotated volumes of complex matrices was confirmed.
Matching program code generators to software developers' needs

Abstract The overall productivity derived from a system depends on matching system specifications to user needs. This case illustrates the selection of microcomputer based software for Program Code Generators (PG). A recommendation report ranks the PG in descending order of their correlations to user needs. Implications for users, consultants and vendors are discussed and illustrated.
Measuring Compliance and Deviations in a Template-Based Service Contract Development Process

Asset-based approaches, involving the use of standardized reusable components (as opposed to building custom solutions), are increasingly being adopted by IT service industries to achieve higher standardization, quality and cost reduction goals. In this paper, we address issues related to the use of an asset-based approach for authoring service contracts, where standard templates are defined for each type of service offered. The success of such an approach relies on a compliance checking system. We focus on three key components of such a system. The first measures how well actual contracts comply with the standard templates. The second analyzes compliant contracts containing moderate deviations and reports on the consistent patterns of deviations observed for each template to help identify necessary modifications required in templates to keep them up-to-date with evolving business requirements and customer needs. The third analyzes noncompliant contracts and identifies groups within them such that members of each group have enough similarity to each other to warrant consideration for development of new templates for each group. We describe the architecture of the proposed system, our experience in the use of various text analysis techniques to prototype different system components, and the lessons learned.
METAL ISOTOPE AND HIGH PRESSURE EFFECTS ON THE INFRARED ACTIVE SKELETAL VIBRATIONS IN METAL SANDWICH COMPOUNDS.

Metal sandwich compounds such as ferrocene (FeCp2) and ruthenocene (RuCp2) exhibit the six skeletal modes shown in Fig. 1. Among them, the ring tilt (v5), the metal–ring stretch (v3), and the ring–metal–ring bending (v6) are infrared active under D5h (or D5d) symmetry.
Selectivity in Micellar Liquid Chromatography: Surfactant Bondee Phase Interactions. I. C-18

Abstract Micellar liquid chromatography and solid state 13C NMR spectroscopy have been used to study the interactions of three ionic surfactants with the C18 alkyl bonded phase. The three surfactants, sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB), and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), are commonly used in micellar RPLC. Surfactant adsorption is found to produce distinct changes in the selectivity of the stationary phase. Specifically, the differing nature of the surfactant monomer-bonded phase association is largely responsible for the observed differences in selectivity between SDS, CTAB, and DTAB micellar RPLC. For SDS, the association leads to the formation of an anionic hydrophilic surface layer on C18 which would explain the superior resolution achieved by SDS for hydrophilic compounds. For CTAB or DTAB adsorbed on C18, the nitrogen head group is probably incorporated (at least partially) in the bonded phase due to hydrophobic interactions between the methyl nitrogens and...
Are nitrogen-containing intravenous bisphosphonates implicated in osteonecrosis of appendicular bones and bones other than the jaws? A survey and literature review.

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of osteonecrosis of appendicular bones due to nitrogen-containing intravenous bisphosphonates and the incidence of adverse effects in bones other than the jaws. Materials and Methods A detailed search of the professional medical and dental literature was conducted. In addition, a questionnaire was mailed to all known orthopedic surgery training programs in the United States. Programs were queried as to clinical findings and other various scenarios. Results There was a great paucity of literature that addressed the issue. Of the 154 questionnaires mailed, 29 (19%) were returned. Identification was optional; therefore, it was impossible to determine the geographic origin of the returned questionnaires. No orthopedic surgery training program indicated positive findings of osteonecrosis in the long bones due to nitrogen-containing intravenous bisphosphonates. There were rare reports in the literature of osteonecrosis in other areas of the bony skeleton. Conclusion On the basis of literature searches and national orthopedic questionnaires, there is only a rare incidence of osteonecrosis of the appendicular bones and bones other than the jaws due to nitrogen-containing intravenous bisphosphonates. There were no reports of adverse long bone effects, based on the questionnaires. There were rare reports in the literature.
Pediatric snakebites: lessons learned from 114 cases.

Purpose: Evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of pediatric snakebite injuries are lacking because they occur infrequently in most centers. Methods: We reviewed our experience treating snakebites from January 1995 through December 2005. Demographic (eg, age, sex, geographic location) and clinical information (eg, location of bite, species of snake, vital signs, laboratories, treatment, hospital length of stay) were obtained. Results: Over the last decade, we have treated 114 children with confirmed snakebites. Mean age was 7.3 ± 4.2 years (range, 1-17 years), and snakebites were more common in males (n = 68, 60%). All bites occurred on the extremities, and lower extremity bites were more common (n = 71, 62%). Copperheads inflicted the most bite injuries (n = 65, 57%), followed by rattlesnakes (n = 9, 8%) and cottonmouths (n = 7, 6%). The snake was not identified in 33 (29%) cases. Seven (6%) children were treated with Crotalidae antivenin. Of the children treated with antivenin, only 4 met criteria for treatment, and 1 had an anaphylactic reaction. If compartment syndrome was suspected based on neurovascular examination, compartment pressures were measured. Only 2 (1.8%) patients required fasciotomies. Over the last 2 years, we have stopped empiric treatment with antibiotics and have not observed any infectious complications. Average hospital length of stay was 30 ± 25 hours. Conclusions: Most children bitten by pit vipers can be managed conservatively with analgesics and elevation of the affected extremity. Treatment with Crotalidae antivenin, antibiotics, and fasciotomy is rarely indicated.
Characterization of a 10-MHz quadrant APD for measuring frequency oscillations and tip displacements of microcantilevers

The room-temperature response of a 10-MHz quadrant avalanche photodiode (APD) is investigated for detection of high frequency oscillations and tip displacements of fabricated microcantilevers. Currently, no quadrant detectors with a response bandwidth in the megahertz range are available, and oscillations on the order of a few microseconds cannot be resolved. A comparison is made between optical and opto-mechanical measurements to characterize this detector by investigating the frequency response and signal-to-noise (SNR) of pulsed laser signals up to 10 MHz and reflected laser signals from freely vibrating microcantilevers up to 1.64 MHz. The power level of the minimum detectable signal incident on the APD is found to be 28.2 ± 5.0 nW for optical measurements and 1.0 μW ± 5.0 nW for opto-mechanical measurements.
Twice-daily sucralfate dosing to heal acute duodenal ulcer

Twice-daily dosing with sucralfate was evaluated by two multicenter trials, trial 1 (eight weeks) and trial 2 (four weeks). Both trials demonstrated significantly better ulcer healing at study completion for the 2-g twice daily (B.I.D.) regimen compared with placebo. Both trials were double-blind, randomized, and placebo-controlled, with parallel groups. Patients received two doses daily consisting of sucralfate 2 g B.I.D., placebo/sucralfate 2 g at bedtime (H.S.), or placebo/placebo. Ulcer healing was assessed by scheduled endoscopy and symptom assessment. Healing was defined as complete absence of erosion or ulceration. Trial 1 evaluations were conducted at four and eight weeks, trial 2 evaluations at two and four weeks. Interim examinations were performed at investigator discretion. Treatment groups were comparable with regard to number of patients, age, sex, smoking status, ulcer size, and presence/absence of baseline symptoms. Sucralfate 2 g B.I.D. was significantly better than H.S. or placebo dosing at the completion of each trial. H.S. dosing was better than placebo only at the four-week analysis of trial 1. At Week 4 of trial 1, 14 of 54 patients (26 percent) were healed with the B.I.D. sucralfate regimen, whereas at Week 8, 41 of 54 (76 percent) were healed (p less than 0.001). For the placebo/sucralfate H.S. group, 17 of 57 patients (30 percent) were healed at Week 4 (p less than 0.05), and 32 of 56 patients (57 percent) were healed at Week 8. For the placebo group, six of 52 (12 percent) and 20 of 51 patients (39 percent) were healed at Weeks 4 and 8, respectively. In trial 2, the B.I.D. group had a 21 percent healing rate at Week 2 (13 of 61 patients) and 62 percent were healed at Week 4 (38 of 61 patients; p less than 0.05). The H.S. group had an 8 percent healing rate (five of 66 patients) at Week 2 and 50 percent (33 of 66 patients) at Week 4. For the placebo group, 10 of 62 patients (16 percent) and 26 of 62 patients (42 percent) were healed at Weeks 2 and 4, respectively. Trial 1 demonstrated significant symptom improvement for active treatment groups at both four and eight weeks, whereas no differences were found in trial 2. Sucralfate 2 g B.I.D. was found to be safe and effective for the treatment of acute duodenal ulcer.
A Genius for Money: Business, Art, and the Morrisons; The Vulgar Question of Money: Heiresses, Materialism, and the Novel of Manners from Jane Austen to Henry James

A Genius for Money: Business, Art, and the Morrisons Caroline Dakers London: Yale UP, 2012 The Vulgar Question of Money: Heiresses, Materialism, and the Novel of Manners from Jane Austen to Henry J...
Discrimination and consumer credit

Abstract The problem of credit discrimination surfaced during the public hearings of the National Commissionon Consumer Finance in the late 60's. Higher labor force participation accompanied by raising income expectations led to an increased demand for credit by women. To empirically investigate credit discrimination, a survey of consumers provided data and the average amount of
Chaotic signal masking with arbitrarily fine recovery

Abstract We describe a computer based method for chaotic signal masking which allows arbitrarily fine recovery of the masked message, as well as the masking of messages with large magnitude.
mTOR Signaling Pathway and mTOR Inhibitors in Cancer Therapy

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine protein kinase. It is ubiquitously expressed in cells and is a therapeutic target for the cancer treatment arsenal. Despite the great responses obtained in tumors addicted to specific mutations or overactivation of key members of the mTOR pathway (HiF1α in RCC, cyclin D1 in MCL, or TSC in SEGA), mTOR inhibitors as single agents have modest activity. Dual PI3K/mTOR kinase inhibitors have been developed with the idea of overcoming resistance to the mTOR inhibition through preventing the activation of PI3K/Akt as a result of release negative feedback loops.
Experimental demonstration of diffusocapillary flow in an oil droplet

Abstract The phenomenon of diffusocapillary flow is demonstrated utilizing a vegetable oil droplet suspended in a host medium composed of Dow Corning 200 silicone fluids. The host fluid was prepared in such a way that the average polymer length was varied across the surface of the droplet, thus creating an interfacial tension gradient with concomitant Marangoni flow.
SU-FF-T-440: Treatment Table Induced Dose Perturbation in An IMRT Treatment

Purpose: Treatment table support bars create problems in treatment planning and delivery. It is a complex issue for the case of IMRT with multiple and varying size beamlets. Methodology to account for the dose perturbation due to the presence of the table support in IMRT treatments is presented. Method and Materials: Five patients were planned with 7‐beam IMRT using a posterior field and six other fields spaced at equal gantry angles. Treatment plans were optimized to produce suitable dose distributions for patient treatment. Plans were imported to solid phantom for dose verification. Treatment plan verification with ion chamber and film was carried out with and without bar. A mathematical weighted dose calculation is presented based on the equation: Dose = TD * [(MU‐ ΣMUij*T)/MU)], where TD is total prescribed dose, MU is total monitor unit from all beams, MUij is monitor unit in ith beam and jth beamlet that is blocked through the bar, and T is the measured transmission factor through bar. T was measured at 90 cm SSD at a depth of 10 cm for all photon energy and a film profile was taken. Results:Measured transmission through the center of the Siemens table bar for 6 MV and 18 MV was found to be 72.9% and 78.8% respectively. Even though IMRT beamlets pass through the bar, the dosimetric effect is minimal. Measured and calculated doses through bar for all clinical cases show agreement within ±4.5%, which is within the limits of the IMRT criterion. Conclusion:IMRT planning and treatment should be coordinated carefully to avoid passage of the beam through treatment table supports to avoid underdosage of the target area. However, in an accidental situation, methodology presented here provides simple and accurate dose estimates for an IMRT treatment.
Short- and Long-Term Complications of Radiation Therapy for Pediatric Brain Tumors

Brain tumors are the second most common malignancy of childhood after acute lymphocytic leukemia. Improvements in therapy have led to increased survival. It is estimated that by the year 2000 there will be approximately 200,000 survivors of childhood cancer. A proportion of these will have survived a central nervous system malignancy. As more children survive, complications of treatment are increasingly recognized. This paper reviews the spectrum of radiation-induced complications, both short- and long-term. Their frequency and characteristics will be reviewed as well as suggestions made to decrease their incidence.
A rapid plasma extraction method for gas chromatographic analysis of nicotine

Abstract A method for the rapid extraction and concentration of nicotine from human plasma is described. The samples are suitable for quantitative determination of nicotine by gas chromatography utilizing thermoionic detection. Accurate estimations of plasma nicotine were obtained for concentrations between 5 and 40 ng/mL. Environmental nicotine appears to limit reliable determinations below 5 ng/mL.
Stochastic dynamics of music album lifecycle: An analysis of the new market landscape

The rapid emergence of file sharing networks has enabled easier information dissemination and product access to potential consumers. At the same time, copyright protection technologies for securing digital products have been compromised repeatedly. To analyze the ensuing impacts on the market landscape for music products (a digital good), we develop a stochastic model of distribution of music album longevity on the Billboard Chart. We find that since the advent of file sharing networks and other market forces (such as legal changes in copyright laws, introduction of digital rights management systems and legitimate online music download offerings), the lifecycle of music albums has shortened with lowered probabilities of survival for each week. While the probability of survival past the first week is markedly lower, the future portends well for albums that do survive on the charts beyond the first week. This is consistent with the rapid diffusion of information on music albums in the changed market landscape. Integrating this insight with user activity on online computer networks, we estimate the continued success of albums on the charts. This analysis helps to create a more dynamic decision process on resource allocation to promote and market music products. Using the robust stochastic model parameters as a benchmark, we estimate a logistic regression model which helps us make quality decisions in an uncertain environment through early monitoring of the success of music albums.
Preliminary investigation of gravity anomalies.

BECAUSE of similarity in methods of observation and reduction, it is possible to combine the gravity data of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Department of Mines and Resources of the Dominion of Canada in large-scale gravity investigations. The combined data include gravity observations extending from lat. 24° N. to 67° N. and from long. 52° W. to 133° W., an extent of 43° in latitude and 81° in longitude. This region includes large variations in topography and in geology, and has considerable coastal regions.
Characterization of piezoelectric materials with large piezoelectric and electromechanical coupling coefficients.

The relaxor based ferroelectric (1 � x)Pb(Zn1=3Nb2=3)O3–xPbTiO3 and (1 � x)Pb(Mg1=3Nb2=3)O3–xPbTiO3 single crystals provided new challenges in propertycharacterization because their extraordinarilylarge piezoelectric coefficients and electromechanical coupling coefficients. Large errors mayoccur in some of the derived material constants using conventional characterization techniques. This paper will analyze the inadequacy of the traditional characterization methods and provide some basic guidelines for properlycharacterizing piezoelectric materials with extremelyhigh piezoelectric and electromechanical coupling coefficients. 2002 Published byElsevier Science B.V.
Ringing the Bell on the NYSE: Might a Nonprofit Stock Exchange Have Been Efficient?

This spring the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (NYSE) completed an historic restructuring. On March 7, 2006, the NYSE completed its merger with Archipelago Holdings Inc. (Archipelago), a publicly traded electronic trading platform. As a result, the old NYSE itself will become the New York Stock Exchange LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of NYSE Group, Inc. (NYSE Group). The former members, or seat holders, of the NYSE will receive one of three forms of consideration: all cash, all stock in NYSE Group, or a package of cash and stock. Then, NYSE Group will allow those former members to offer their shares to the public in a secondary offering.Because the NYSE was a not-for-profit corporation, the merger was also a change in organizational form. The change from nonprofit to for-profit, or demutualization, has mostly been viewed as a long-overdue response to new, on-line competition from "electronic communications networks" (ECN's). But there has been little assessment of the strengths or efficiencies of the nonprofit form of the exchange. This paper presents the possibility that the NYSE's choice of form was an efficient solution to a classic "lemons" problem, in which misinformation from bad issuing firms (firms whose shares trade on the exchange) could drive out good issuing firms. We apply a robust theory of nonprofits in which the highest demanding consumers of a nonrival good organize the production of that good. In this case, investment bankers and other financial intermediaries organize to produce liquidity. The resulting nonprofit is the former NYSE, which was able to align issuing firms' incentives to disclose with those of investors. Banker-owners of the NYSE acted as gatekeepers to the exchange, screening issuing firms through an extensive "due diligence" process, providing capital via underwriting, and connecting issuing firm insiders to one another via initial public offering (IPO) allocations. Over a period of many decades this system maintained an equilibrium in which issuing firms, big and small investors, and exchange members could participate with relative ease, transparency and fairness in the exchange. The shift to a for-profit corporation will have a significant, and potentially deleterious, impact on this equilibrium as it breaks up the longstanding components of the nonprofit system.
A Study of Homophobia Among HBCU Undergraduate Students Toward Gay and Lesbian Adoption

While recent research examines homophobia among social work majors, there is limited research devoted to social work students enrolled in a historically Black college and university (HBCU). Social workers are not immune to possessing homophobic attitudes; therefore, diversity training is important. This research explored whether there were any differences in the attitudes of undergraduate social work students enrolled in a HBCU in the South toward gay and lesbian adoption in relation to the students’ gender, age, religious affiliation, and religious participation. This quantitative study used a nonrandom convenience sample of 94 students using the Attitudes Toward Lesbians and Gay Men Scale and the Attitudes Toward Homosexuality Scale. The data were analyzed utilizing one-way and two-way chi-square procedures.
Family-Based Cognitive-Behavioral Treatment for a Preschooler With Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) with exposure and response prevention is known to be effective in the treatment of older youth (8-17) and adults with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD); however...
Genetic differentiation of quantitative characters between populations or species: I. Mutation and random genetic drift

Introducing a new genetic model called the discrete allelic-state model, the evolutionary change of genetic variation of quantitative characters within and between populations is studied under the assumption of no selection. This model allows us to study the effects of mutation and random genetic drift in detail. It is shown that when the allelic effects on phenotype are additive, the rate of approach of the genetic variance within populations to the equilibrium value depends only on the effective population size. It is also shown that the distribution of genotypic value often deviates from normality particularly when the effective population size and the number of loci concerned are small. On the other hand, the interpopulational variance increases linearly with time, if the intrapopu-lational variance remains constant. Therefore, the ratio of interpopulational variance to intrapopulational variance can be used for testing the hypothesis of neutral evolution of quantitative characters.
Adolescents interpretation of probability terms and percentages used in health messages.

Conclusions: We found inconsistent interpretations of the probability terms and percentages found in health brochures both among adolescents and across health messages for the same term. Not surprisingly terms used to indicate a particular end of the scale (e.g. “rarely” and “most”) were interpreted more consistently than were more vague terms such as “some” and “can.” Although adolescents’ interpretation of “can” and “some” varied widely by situation the responses reflected the emphasis of public health messages. For example “can” in “Using a condom can make sex more enjoyable because both partners are more relaxed” received a lower rating (X = 48.91%) than did the same term used to convey a more commonly provided message “You can get AIDS if you have sex with someone who is carrying the AIDS virus” (X = 84.71%). These results have implications for the delivery of health messages to adolescents. (excerpt)
Formation of anatase TiO2 nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes

Anatase TiO2 nanoparticles with a size range of 2 to 10 nm have been formed on carbon nanotubes by the controlled hydrolysis and condensation of titanium bis-ammonium lactato dihydroxide in water and electrosterically dispersed carbon nanotubes.
Biology of the p21-Activated Kinases

The p21-activated kinases (PAKs) 1-3 are serine/threonine protein kinases whose activity is stimulated by the binding of active Rac and Cdc42 GTPases. Our understanding of the regulation and biology of these important signaling proteins has increased tremendously since their discovery in the mid-1990s. PAKs 1-3 are activated by a variety of GTPase-dependent and -independent mechanisms. This complexity reflects the contributions of PAK function in many cellular signaling pathways and the need to carefully control PAK action in a highly localized manner. PAKs serve as important regulators of cytoskeletal dynamics and cell motility, transcription through MAP kinase cascades, death and survival signaling, and cell-cycle progression. Consequently, PAKs have also been implicated in a number of pathological conditions and in cell transformation. We propose here a key role for PAK action in coordinating the dynamics of the actin and microtubule cytoskeletons during directional motility of cells, as well as in other functions requiring cytoskeletal polarization.
A triangular arrangement of planar-array elements that reduces the number needed

In this paper, it is shown that by arranging the elements of a beam-scanning planar antenna array in a triangular pattern rather than a rectangular pattern, the number of elements needed in the array is reduced. (The number of elements needed in an array is determined from the requirement that no spurious beams form in the array pattern.) The reduction in the number of elements depends upon the solid angle over which the main beam is positioned. If the main beam is positioned within a constant angle about the array normal, then the number of elements can be reduced by 13.4 per cent by arranging the elements in a pattern of equilateral triangles rather than in a square pattern. If the main beam is positioned within a "pyramid," centered about the array normal, then the reduction is usually less than 13.4 per cent. Graphs are included showing for both element arrangements the solid angle over which the main beam can be scanned without the formation of spurious beams.
Composition of DCT and Wavelet Transform for Image Compression

The paper reports an advanced image compression algorithm based on a newly proposed standpoint of time-frequency analysis. The advanced algorithm yields 40% improvement against JPEG2000 in compression performance, which means that it attains the same image quality with 40% less data. Compared with JPEG, the improvement may reach 50%. Especially, it makes more improvement at high quality than low quality to the same image. It doubles the coding speed of JPEG2000. But the implementation complexity is only at the level of baseline JPEG. The revolutionary enhancement is critical to high definition (HD) image and video coding technology because of the sea amount of data there. In the paper, the new standpoint of time-frequency analysis is elaborated. Based on the new standpoint, the concept of transform composition is introduced. Furthermore, the composition of DCT and wavelet transform is applied to image compression.
Electrothermal Bonding of Carbon Nanotubes to Glass

Applications that exploit the exceptional properties of carbon nanotubes CNTs at practical length scales almost invariably involve the fundamental issues of nanotube-to-surface contacts; indeed, interface properties often dominate mechanical, electrical, and thermal performance in devices and materials based on CNTs. In this paper we present a method to attach CNTs to glass surfaces and investigate the mechanism of bonding at the interface. An electric field which induces migration of alkali ions from glass into CNTs, with a reversed polarity as compared to an analogous anodic bonding configuration, is employed to form a chemical bond between nanotubes and glass. We report a pull-off force of 4.35 N/cm 2
Detection and Attribution of Twentieth-Century Northern and Southern African Rainfall Change

The spatial patterns, time history, and seasonality of African rainfall trends since 1950 are found to be deducible from the atmosphere’s response to the known variations of global sea surface temperatures (SSTs). The robustness of the oceanic impact is confirmed through the diagnosis of 80 separate 50-yr climate simulations across a suite of atmospheric general circulation models. Drying over the Sahel during boreal summer is shown to be a response to warming of the South Atlantic relative to North Atlantic SST, with the ensuing anomalous interhemispheric SST contrast favoring a more southern position of the Atlantic intertropical convergence zone. Southern African drying during austral summer is shown to be a response to Indian Ocean warming, with enhanced atmospheric convection over those warm waters driving subsidence drying over Africa. The ensemble of greenhouse-gas-forced experiments, conducted as part of the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, fails to simulate the pattern or amplitude of the twentieth-century African drying, indicating that the drought conditions were likely of natural origin. For the period 2000–49, the ensemble mean of the forced experiments yields a wet signal over the Sahel and a dry signal over southern Africa. These rainfall changes are physically consistent with a projected warming of the North Atlantic Ocean compared with the South Atlantic Ocean, and a further warming of the Indian Ocean. However, considerable spread exists among the individual members of the multimodel ensemble.
Modeling Jury Verdicts in the American Legal System

Abstract Jury size, majorities required for acquittal or conviction and correctness of juror decisions in criminal trials are studied. The article draws heavily on ideas presented in a previous article [1] which updated a model suggested by Poisson. Briefly, a model is developed and then examined, employing data from Kalven and Zeisel [2] on the American legal system. Comparisons of the American experience with French data from the early 19th century are made through the use of the model. Recent U. S. Supreme Court decisions in criminal trials regarding jury size and the relaxation of unanimity for decisions in criminal trials make these studies pertinent.
A SAF Binding Site in the Promoter Region of Human γ-Fibrinogen Gene Functions as an IL-6 Response Element

Expression of fibrinogen is highly induced during inflammation, and such abnormal expression of this protein is considered as a major cardiovascular risk factor. IL-6 is one of the main mediators of abnormal expression of fibrinogen leading to the pathogenic conditions. Transient transfection and EMSA were performed to investigate the molecular mechanism of IL-6-induced gamma-fibrinogen gene expression in hepatic cells. Using progressively deleted 5' fragments of the gamma-fibrinogen promoter coupled to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene, an IL-6 responsive element located between positions -273 and -259 was identified. Mutation of this element abrogates IL-6 responsiveness of the gamma-fibrinogen promoter. Interaction of this promoter with a zinc finger transcription factor, serum amyloid A activating factor (SAF)-1, was demonstrated by EMSA. Furthermore, overexpression of wild-type SAF-1 in transfected liver cells can increase transcription of the gamma-fibrinogen promoter. These data show that transcription factor SAF-1 is involved in the regulation of IL-6-mediated induction of the human gamma-fibrinogen gene in liver cells.
New Insights into Thyroid Stem Cells

Stem cells exhibit an extraordinary ability for self-renewal. They also give rise to many specialized cells. The potential of stem cells in regenerative medicine, developmental biology, and drug discovery has been well documented. Although advances in stem cell science have raised broad ethical concerns, it is clear that stem cell technology has revolutionized our thinking in modern biology and medicine and provided the basis for understanding many of the mechanisms controlling basic biological processes and disease mechanisms. This review details the nascent field of thyroid stem cell research, exploring the current status of thyroid stem cell differentiation from the perspectives of both developmental biology and cell replacement therapy. It highlights successes to date in the generation of thyroid follicular cells from embryonic stem cells in the laboratory and the identification and characterization of adult stem cells from human thyroid glands and thyroid cancers. Finally, it outlines future challenges with a focus on potential stem cell therapy for thyroid patients.
Vertical and temporal variability of redox zonation in the water column of the Cariaco Basin: implications for organic carbon oxidation pathways

Temporal and vertical variability in the concentrations of major electron acceptors and donors (O2 ,N O3 , particulate Mn and Fe, dissolved Mn 2+ and Fe 2+ , and HS � ) were investigated in the water column of the Cariaco Basin between 1995 and 1999. Vertical profiles of the redox species during upwelling and non-upwelling periods reflected the zonation of aerobic respiration, denitrification, metal reduction, and sulfate reduction in the water column and varied widely over time scales of months to years. Comparisons of these profiles with distributions of organic carbon production and acetate uptake suggest that the rate of organic carbon supply was the major control on the variability. Inhibition and enrichment experiments suggested that sulfate reduction was not a dominant pathway for organic carbon oxidation near the oxic/anoxic interface. Instead, the reduction of metal oxides, elemental sulfur, and/or thiosulfate is likely to be more important. Estimates of vertical fluxes showed that vertical diffusive transport of the major electron acceptors (oxygen, nitrate, and metal oxides) only accounted for less than 10% of the oxidation of organic carbon produced near the suboxic/anoxic transition zone. Thus, horizontal oxic mid-water intrusions coupled with strong internal redox recycling of the major redox species occur to supply additional electron acceptors for organic carbon oxidation near the redox transition zone. D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Primers on molecular pathways--pain and opioid receptors, I.

The conquest of pain would be in our mind, perhaps, the most important discovery in medicine to impact on patient suffering. In our specialty, several pancreatic diseases are characterized by severe discomfort. For instance, pancreatic cancer is one of the most painful diseases from which a human being can suffer. Chronic pancreatitis is similarly debilitating. Therefore, the field of pain research and management is of paramount importance to pancreatologists. Certainly, this area is very extensive and growing. However, as applied to pancreatic diseases, we are still in our infancy. The major problem is that, beyond the anecdotal publication, we do not know how pancreatic pain is originated and maintained. Therefore, significant efforts must be made to improve our understanding of the mechanisms of both acute and chronic pain, as well as of how we can provide our patients with a more dignified life and sometimes a more peaceful end stage of life. Thus, it is in this spirit that we are developing several articles on ‘molecular pathways’ focused on describing the molecular machinery underlying pancreatic pain, with the objective of both creating a better understanding of this problem as well as of generating enthusiasm for outstanding investigators to come to this emerging and critical field of pancreatology. Here, the first article will focus on the mechanism underlying the effect of morphine and opioids. It is our dearest goal that the basic scientist gets very excited about dissecting this problem, and that the clinician not only has simple, one-stop reading material, but that this reading will help him/her understand work published on pancreatic pain and hopefully also initiate clinical trials targeting this pathway.
Transition metal coordination compounds of 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid

Abstract Coordination compounds of 2-aminoethylphosphonic acid have been prepared with magnesium(II), chromium(III), manganese(II), iron(II), cobalt(II), nickel(II) and zinc(II). The complexes have been characterized by means of infrared spectra, visible spectra, magnetic susceptibilities and thermal analysis. Comparisons are made with analogous complexes of alanine.
Responses of Lactating Dairy Cows to Copper Source, Supplementation Rate, and Dietary Antagonist (Iron)

Forty-eight lactating Holstein cows were fed low-Cu diets with 500 mg of supplemental Fe/kg of dry matter (DM), a Cu antagonist, for a 30-d Cu-depletion period. After depletion, two Fe treatments (0 and 500 mg of Fe/kg of dietary DM) and five Cu treatments (2 x 5 factorial arrangement) were compared over 83 d. The Cu treatments were control (basal diet containing 8 mg of Cu/kg of DM) and either 15 or 30 mg of supplemental Cu/kg of dietary DM from either CuSO4 or Cu-lysine. Feeding 500 mg of supplemental Fe/kg of DM (in addition to basal dietary concentration of 140 mg Fe/kg) depressed liver Cu in the absence of Cu supplementation. Apparent Cu retention, estimated from Cu intake minus fecal Cu, was increased greatly by Cu supplementation immediately after the depletion period but declined to very low net retention by d 45 of the 83-d experiment. There were no differences detected between CuSO4 and Cu-lysine except a tendency over time for Cu-lysine to maintain higher plasma Cu, especially in the absence of the Fe antagonist.
Characterization of two-photon excitation fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy for protein localization

Two-photon excitation fluorescence resonance energy transfer (2P-FRET) imaging microscopy can provide details of specific protein molecule interactions inside living cells. Fluorophore molecules used for 2P-FRET imaging have characteristic absorption and emission spectra that introduce spectral cross-talk (bleed-through) in the FRET signal that should be removed in the 2P-FRET images, to establish that FRET has actually occurred and to have a basis for distance estimations. These contaminations in the FRET signal can be corrected using a mathematical algorithm to extract the true FRET signal. Another approach is 2P-FRET fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM). This methodology allows studying the dynamic behavior of protein-protein interactions in living cells and tissues. 2P-FRET-FLIM was used to study the dimerization of the CAATT/enhancer binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha). Results show that the reduction in donor lifetime in the presence of acceptor reveals the dimerization of the protein molecules and also determines more precisely the distance between the donor and acceptor. We describe the development and characterization of the 2P-FRET-FLIM imaging system with the Bio-Rad Radiance2100 confocal/multiphoton microscopy system.
Porous titanium surgical implant materials

Porous pure titanium and titanium-6% aluminum-4% vanadium alloy materials, made by several powder metallurgy techniques, have been studied for potential use as surgical implant materials. Tissue ingrowth into open porosity and favorable physical properties have been found. Tensile strength and ductility data are presented as a function of density. Microscopic observations include scanning electron microscope pictures of the surface of specimens prior to implantation in animals, photomicrographs of the internal pore structure, macrophotographs of surfaces before and after polishing, and histological photomicrographs illustrating the nature of the tissue ingrowth found.
Injection locked mode-locked laser with long-term feedback stabilization

A semiconductor based, CW injection stabilized, 2.46 GHz harmonically mode-locked laser using a feedback loop for long term stabilization is demonstrated. Optical supermode suppression of 36 dB and significant timing and amplitude noise reduction are observed.
A Study of Variance Reduction Techniques for Estimating Circuit Yields

The efficiency of several variance reduction techniques (in particular, importance sampling, stratified sampling, and control variates) are studied with respect to their application in estimating circuit yields. This study suggests that one essentially has to have a good approximation of the region of acceptability in order to achieve significant variance reduction. Further, all the methods considered are based, either explicitly or implicity, on the use of a model. The control variate method appears to be more practical for implementation in a general purpose statistical circuit analysis program. Stratified sampling is the most simple to implement, but yields only very modest reductions in the variance of the yield estimator. Lastly, importance sampling is very useful when there are few parameters and the yield is very high or very low; however, a good practical technique for its implementation, in general, has not been found.