cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some Experimental Design Problems in Attribute Life Testing

Abstract Many life testing procedures which have been developed involve continuous monitoring of the items under test. In storage deterioration problems, as an example, the failure of items can only be ascertained by means of inspection. Continuous observation, in these cases, is either not possible or not feasible. This paper is concerned with design problems related to the choice of the number and timing of inspections. A general class of survival functions is investigated and optimal procedures, for estimating parameters, derived. The efficiency is compared with continuous monitoring.
ON THE ASYMMETRY OF ELASTIC-PLASTIC MODULI FOR A CLASS OF PRESSURE-DEPENDENT MODELS IN STRAIN SPACE

For a general class of constitutive equations of plastic strain rates, which are normal to the loading surface in strain space, it is shown that for associated pressure-dependent plasticity the elastic-plastic moduli are nonsymmetric. The asymmetry is shown to be incompatible with the consequences of a work assumption due to Naghdi and Trapp.
A fluorosensor for two-dimensional measurements of extracellular enzyme activity in marine sediments

Abstract A novel planar fluorosensor has been developed for measuring two-dimensional activity distributions of the extracellular enzyme, leucine-aminopetidase (Leu-AP), in marine sediments. The sensor is a foil consisting of an enzyme substrate l -leucine 7-amido-4-methylcoumarin hydrochloride (Leu-MCA) and a Hydromed D4 membrane, backed by a polyester sheet. In its present application, the sensor foil is introduced into surficial deposits to a depth of ~ 10–15 cm, and time dependent fluorescence production occurring in successive digital images is used to resolve enzyme activity patterns. Corrections for microenvironmental variability (e.g., diffusion and adsorption properties) and background reflectance were made. The planar fluorosensor technique was standardized by comparison with traditional slurry based methods using homogenized sediment sections. Spatially averaged, vertical enzyme activity profiles measured using the imaging sensor system were contrasted with the traditional method to verify the reliability of this new approach. The new system resolves enzyme activity on a submillimeter scale over relatively large areas (~ 50–100 cm2). In addition to allowing rapid determination of enzyme activity patterns in undisturbed material, the transparent nature of the sensing foils permits direct correlation of enzyme distributions to heterogeneous biological and physical structure.
Estimation of error variance in one-way random model

A preliminary-test estimator for the error variance in the one-way random model is considered. The optimum levels of significance for the preliminary test are obtained based on a regret function. A pooling procedure for estimating the error variance, based on weighting functions, is also considered. A comparison of these estimators is made.
Debated Whiteness amid World Events: Mexican and Mexican American Subjectivity and the U.S.' Relationship with the Americas, 1924–1936

By the 1920s, anti-Mexican campaigns in the United States had become a major liability for US interests in the Americas, as rival imperial powers attempted to exploit growing anti-American sentiments in Mexico and Latin America against American imperialism. The U.S. State Department sought to curtail animosity in Latin America by contesting discriminatory domestic practices that angered elite Mexicans and Mexican-American leaders who identified as white. After blocking eastern and southern European and Japanese immigration in the 1924 National Origins Act, the eugenics movement turned its attention to excluding Mexicans from entering the US. When legislative attempts at restriction failed because they conflicted with national and international commercial interests, non-legislative avenues were sought, including the Census and the courts. The 1930 Census was the only census that categorized Mexicans as a separate “race.” In the context of a changing racial formation in the United States, this unique category was reversed in 1936 due to Mexican-American leaders leveraging the fragility of the “Good Neighbor Policy” to force the Federal government into action.
Colony‐stimulating factor enhancement of myeloid effector cell cytotoxicity towards neuroectodermal tumour cells

We conducted experiments to determine the optimal conditions for colony-stimulating factor-enhanced neutrophil- and mononuclear phagocyte-mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC) using monoclonal antibodies to disialogangliosides expressed on neuroectodermal tumour target cells. Neutrophil ADCC was most effective at effector:target ratios of 100:1, with maximal cytotoxic responses to melanoma target cells generated by 3 h. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) were the most potent stimulators of neutrophil ADCC, and enhanced ADCC activity was inhibited in the presence of antibody to Fc receptor type II (FcRII). GM-CSF and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) treatment of freshly isolated monocytes inhibited antibody-independent cytotoxicity but enhanced antibody-dependent responses. After 3 d in culture with CSF, 3-10-fold enhancement of ADCC against melanoma target cells was observed at effector:target cell ratios of 10:1. Greatest stimulation of macrophage ADCC was obtained when GM-CSF, M-CSF or interleukin 3 (IL-3) were used in conjunction with a secondary stimulus. Although gamma interferon (gamma-IFN) did not augment the cytotoxic capability of GM-CSF- and IL-3-stimulated macrophages, prominent cytotoxic enhancement was seen when M-CSF-stimulated macrophages were exposed to gamma-IFN. A chimaeric mouse/human monoclonal antibody was found to be equivalent in activity to the murine antibody in neutrophil ADCC; however, in macrophage ADCC assays with submaximal effector cell stimulation, the chimaeric antibody was associated with a two-fold greater response. These studies indicate that under specific conditions, CSFs capable of increasing the number and functional activity of mature myeloid effector cells enhance antibody-dependent cytotoxicity to neuroectodermal tumour target cells.
New insights into the molecular pathogenesis of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma is an aggressive malignancy and is one of the most devastating cancers of the gastrointestinal tract. The molecular mechanisms contributing to the pathogenesis of these cancers are not well understood. The recognition and distinction of these cancers from other tumors such as perihilar or extrahepatic distal cholangiocarcinoma and hepatocellular carcinoma are important in defining the pathogenesis. New insights into molecular mechanisms contributing to disease pathogenesis are emerging from recent epidemiological, genome-wide profiling and laboratory based studies. These have contributed to an improved understanding of risk factors, genetic mutations and pathophysiological mechanisms that are associated with these tumors. The contribution of well-established risk factors such as biliary tract inflammation and key signaling pathways involved in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma are being further defined. These new insights have several important implications for both molecular diagnosis and therapy of these cancers.
A numerical technique for obtaining the complete bifurcated equilibrium solution space for a tokamak

This paper describes a new numerical method for finding solutions to the ideal MHD equilibrium problem The space of solutions thus found can have more than one bifurcation branch, depending on the tokamak being modeled. We suggest that the solutions which are difficult to obtain without the use of this technique correspond to equilibria which are difficult to maintain in the tokamak being modeled. First, this paper investigates, for a tokamak design with large poloidal field-shaping coil (PFC) to plasma distance, the bifurcated numerical solution curve as a function of flux loop position and relates this curve to the practical existence of ideal magnetohydrodynamic equilibria and practical tokamak design. In previous papers, some of the problems which could arise for large PFC-plasma distance were discussed. Then, using a regularization technique, it was shown that, for large PFC-plasma distance, the flux loops should be close to the PFCs for stable control if the full information form the flux loops is used. Here it is shown that, for large PFC-plasma distance, the structure of the equilibrium solution space becomes increasingly complex and desirable solutions become more difficult to attain as the flux loops are moved farther from the plasma. In order tomore » explore this solution space numerically, it is necessary to obtain solutions for which the usual Picard iteration method is unstable. Here an extension of this method is given. The solution space is enlarged by adding additional variable and constraints, so that the iteration to the desired solution is stable in the extended space. A modified version of this numerical technique has been used to obtain equilibrium fits to highly elongated DIII-D plasmas. The numerical equilibria are very difficult to obtain without the use of this technique and the plasmas are difficult to maintain in the tokamak. 10 refs., 6 figs., 2 tabs.« less
Abstract 212: Targeting p73 as a strategy for enhancing anticancer efficiency of chemotherapeutic drugs to triple-negative human breast cancers

Proceedings: AACR 101st Annual Meeting 2010‐‐ Apr 17‐21, 2010; Washington, DC Successful treatment of p53-mutant, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains a daunting challenge. Chemotherapeutic drugs such as doxorubicin (DOX) and cisplatin (CDDP) remain the first line treatments for TNBC; however, chemotherapy eventually fails due to acquired drug resistance and toxicity. Therefore, new treatments for overcoming drug resistance and toxicity in TNBC are badly needed. Here we report on the reconstitution of the p53 tumor suppressor pathway in a p53-independent manner via p53 homolog p73 as an exciting possibility for improving cancer therapy in p53 mutant breast cancers. α-TEA, a small bio-active lipid analog of vitamin E, exhibits potent anticancer actions in human breast and murine mammary cancer both in vitro and in vivo. Treatments with combinations of α-TEA plus DOX or CDDP enhances in vitro apoptotic killing of two p53-mutant TNBC cells; namely, MDA-MB-231 and BT-20 cells. Sub-apoptotic doses of α-TEA plus non-apoptotic doses of DOX or CDDP significantly enhanced caspase-8 and 9 mediated apoptosis in both cell lines. The combination treatments enhanced p73 protein expression, enhanced levels of death receptors-5 (DR5), CD95/APO-1 (Fas), pro-apoptotic Bax and Noxa proteins, and reduced pro-survival Bcl-2 protein levels, all of which are p53 regulated genes. The combination treatments induced enhanced levels of phospho-c-Ab1 and JNK, upstream mediators for p73. Furthermore, combination treatments activated Yes-associated protein (Yap), a transcriptional coactivator which has been demonstrated to interact with and to enhance p73-dependent apoptosis in response to DNA damage. Taken together, our data suggest that combination of α-TEA with clinically relevant chemotherapeutic drugs (DOX or CDDP) enhances apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 and BT-20 p53-mutant TNBC cells via p73, and that c-Abl/JNK and Yap may contribute to the enhanced anti-cancer efficacy of the combination treatments. These data provide the rationale for conducting pre-clinic TNBC xenograft studies testing the safety and efficacy of this new therapeutic approach. Supported by DOD concept grant W81XWH-09-1-0564 (Yu). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 212.
ECONOMICS AND POLICY PREFERENCES: CAUSAL EVIDENCE OF THE IMPACT OF ECONOMIC CONDITIONS ON SUPPORT FOR REDISTRIBUTION AND OTHER BALLOT PROPOSALS

Abstract Using California ballot proposition returns and exogenous shifts to labor demand, we provide the first large-scale causal evidence of the impact of economic conditions on policy preferences. Consistent with economic theory, we find that positive economic shocks decrease support for redistributive policies. More notably, we find evidence of a need for cognitive consistency in voting behavior as economic shocks have a smaller significant impact on voting on noneconomic ballot issues. While we also demonstrate that positive shocks decrease turnout, we present evidence that our results reflect changes in the electorate's preferences and not simply to its composition.
Seasonal meridional energy balance and thermal structure of the atmosphere of Uranus - a radiative-convective-dynamical model

The seasonal meridional energy balance and thermal structure of the atmosphere of Uranus is investigated using a two-dimensional radiative—convective—dynamical model. Diurnal-average temperatures and heat fluxes are calculated as a function of pressure, latitude, and season. In addition to treating radiation and small-scale convection in a manner typical of conventional radiative—convective models, the dynamical heat fluxes due to large-scale baroclinic eddies are included and parametrized using a mixing length formulation (P.H. Stone, 1972; J. Atmos. Sci.29, 405–418; A. P. Ingersoll and C. C. Porco, 1978, Icarus35, 27–43). The atmosphere is assumed to be bounded below by an adiabatic, fluid interior with a single value of potential temperature at all latitudes. The internal heat flux is found to vary with latitude and season. The total internal power and the global enthalpy storage rate are seen to oscillate in phase with a period of 1/2 Uranian year. On an annual-average basis, equatorward heat transport can take place both in the atmosphere and convective interior. For a weak internal heat source, the meridional transport takes place predominantly in the atmosphere. If the internal heat source is larger, a greater share of the transport is taken up by the interior. For a value of the internal heat near the current upper limit for Uranus (∼27% of the adsorbed sunlight), about one-third of the equatorward heat transport at midlatitudes occurs in the interior. For a given internal heat source, placing the peak of the solar heating at high altitudes or depositing the solar energy into a narrow altitude range favors heat transport by the atmosphere over the interior. Deep penetration of sunlight favors transport by the interior. For the time corresponding to the Voyager 2 Uranus encounter, the effective temperature at the south (sunlit) pole is calculated to be ∼1.5°K higher than that at the equator. Horizontal contrasts of the mean 450- to 900 mbar temperature are found to be ≤1.5°K, in fair agreement with Voyager 2 IRIS results (R. Hanel et al., 1986, Science233, 70–74), but the model fails to reproduce the local minimum in this temperature seen at −30°S. Nevertheless, it is concluded that meridional heat transport in the atmosphere is efficient in keeping seasonal horizontal temperature contrasts below those predicted by radiative-convective models (L. Wallace, 1983, Icarus 54, 110–132).
Cation order in olivines: Evidence from vibrational spectra

Abstract A simple theory is developed which relates cation ordering in the olivine structure to compositional trends in the vibrational spectra of olivines. Quantitative results for (Mg, Mn) and (Fe, Mn) olivines indicate that Mn 2+ favors the M2 site relative to both Mg 2+ and Fe 2+ .
Design criteria of the near-millimeter wave quasi-optical monolithic diode-grid frequency multiplier array

The high-frequency performance along with the optimum designs and operating conditions of near-millimeter wave quasi-optical monolithic diode-grid frequency multiplier arrays have been studied and will be presented in this paper. The limitations of the development of nearmillimeter wave quasi-optical monolithic diode-grid frequency multiplier arrays will be discussed in detail. The optimum operating conditions and performance of different device structures are presented along with the associated device physics. The optimum designs, operating conditions and performance of the monolithic diode-grid frequency multiplier array will also be discussed based upon the temperature distribution study on the diode-grid.
Social space and the practice of anarchist history

This essay argues for the integration of a spatial analysis in historical research and writing. The history of anarchism and other oppositional, decentralized movements can be better understood when the spatial implications of their ideological practices are critically examined. The uses, production, and conceptualization of space and places should be an essential dimension of historical research and interpretation.
Continuous myofiber remodeling in uninjured extraocular myofibers: Myonuclear turnover and evidence for apoptosis

Unlike normal mature limb skeletal muscles, in which satellite cells are quiescent unless the muscle is injured, satellite cells in mammalian adult extraocular muscles (EOM) are chronically activated. This is evidenced by hepatocyte growth factor, the myogenic regulatory factor, Pax-7, and the cell-cycle marker, Ki-67, localized to the satellite cell position using serial sections and the positional markers laminin and dystrophin. Bromodeoxyuridine (brdU) labeling combined with dystrophin immunostaining showed brdU-positive myonuclei, presumably the result of fusion of activated satellite cells into existing myofibers. One new myonucleus was added to every 1000 myofibers in cross-section using a 12-hour brdU-labeling paradigm. The EOM thus appear to retain a stable nuclear population by an opposing process of apoptosis that results in myonuclear removal as visualized by terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated nick end labeling (TUNEL). Activated caspase-3 was present in localized cytoplasmic domains extending from 10 to 210 μm within individual myofibers, suggesting segmental cytoplasmic reorganization. Understanding the cellular mechanisms that maintain this process of continuous myonuclear addition and removal in normal adult EOM may suggest new hypotheses to explain the preferential involvement or sparing of these muscles in skeletal muscle disease.
Design and characterization of a passive harmonic sensor embedded in sand

This paper demonstrates the suitability of the harmonic back-scatter approach for narrow-band, embedded remote structural health monitoring. A passive harmonic repeater was embedded and characterized at a depth of 15 cm in a sand box with inserted metal bars. The harmonic repeater comprises electrically-small 3-D receive and transmit antennas and a passive diode-based frequency doubler. The repeater operates by receiving a 2.4 GHz signal and transmitting back a signal at 4.8 GHz.
Hydroxyurea enhances sickle survival

In this issue of Blood , Voskaridou et al provide more compelling evidence that hydroxyurea improves survival in adults with severe sickle cell disease. 1 This comes at the centennial of the recognition of sickle cell disease in Western medicine. Considerable progress has been made in understanding the pathophysiology of this complex disease caused by a single nucleotide change in the β-globin gene that causes replacement of glutamic acid by valine.
X-Autosome translocations, meiotic synapsis, chromosome evolution and speciation.

Several theories have been proposed to explain the often-noted sterility of both reciprocal and Robertsonian X-autosome translocations in male mammals. However, there are a number of species in which all members of the species carry a Robertsonian X-autosome translocation. Meiosis in spermatocytes from these sterile vs. fertile animals is compared within the context of these theories. New technologies and insights into underlying mechanisms are summarized and suggestions presented for further studies.
Thermal Decomposition of Substituted Phenols in Supercritical Water

The thermal decomposition of cresols, hydroxybenzaldehydes, nitrophenols, and benzenediols was studied in dilute aqueous solutions and in the absence of oxygen at 460 C and 250 atm for residence times around 10 s. Thermolysis under these conditions produced conversions of less than 10% for o-, m-, and p-cresol, whereas hydroxybenzaldehydes and nitrophenols were much more reactive. Global rate expressions are reported for the thermolysis of each hydroxybenzaldehyde and nitrophenol isomer. Phenol was a major product from the decomposition of all of the substituted phenols studied. For a given substituent, ortho-substituted phenols reacted more rapidly than the other isomers. For a given substituted position, nitrophenols reacted more rapidly than hydroxybenzaldehydes, which in turn reacted more rapidly than cresols. These results demonstrate that the treatment of CHO- and NO{sub 2}-substituted phenols by oxidation in supercritical water will involve the oxidation of thermal decomposition products in addition to the oxidation of the original compounds.
IMPLICATIONS OF CERTAIN ALGEBRAIC ASPECTS OF DUAL RESONANCE MODELS.

Certain algebraic aspects present in the dual resonance models led Susskind and Frye to the construction of $n$-point pion amplitudes in the tree-graph approximation which are a sum of terms, each one coming from a distinct permutation and satisfying the Adler's condition separately. It was also shown that this line of reasoning picks up a definite form of chiral symmetry breaking (in $\mathrm{SU}2\ensuremath{\bigotimes}\mathrm{SU}2$). In this work we show that the extension to the pseudoscalar multiplet forces one to include the whole nonet. The resulting amplitudes coincide with those obtained from an $U(3)\ensuremath{\bigotimes}U(3)$ model with the chiral symmetry broken in a way that preserves the complete nonet degeneracy.
Introducing a practical approach for non-invasive blood pressure monitoring during home-based telerehabilitation exercise program

One of the main challenges in implementing an optimal home-based exercise program in older adults and individuals with cardiovascular conditions is the requirement to ensure exercise safety and prevention of any undesirable side effects. A crucial component to achieve this requirement is the ability to monitor blood pressure (BP) during exercise. The goal of this project was to introduce and to test a practical low-cost solution for using pulse transit time (PTT) to estimate BP during exercise. Our approach was based on obtaining 3 calibration points during different levels of exertion for each subject and utilizing the resulting individualized BP estimation equitation for patient-specific monitoring of BP during home-based exercise. Evaluation of the proposed approach showed that the mean difference between reference systolic BP (SBP) and estimated systolic BP was 1.1 mmHg. Telecare systems can be enhanced by utilizing PTT-based individualized estimation equations for monitoring BP changes during exercise.
Organochlorine and polychlorinated biphenyl levels in pinniped milk from the arctic, the antarctic, California and Australia

Abstract This study presents levels of organochlorines and polychlorinated biphenyls in pinniped milk samples collected from four geographical regions. These regions include the Arctic, the Antarctic, California and Australia. Twenty milk samples from five species of pinnipeds were analyzed for organochlorines and polychlorinated biphenyls. Analyzes were carried out by high resolution gas chromatography/electron capture (HRGC/ECD) and high resolution gas chromatography/low resolution mass spectrometry (GC-MS). All samples had detectable levels of p,p′-DDE(DDE) with geometric mean (geom. mean) values ranging from 12 ug/kg in Antarctic fur seals to 1400 ug/kg in California sea lions. Geom. mean values reported for DDE in northern hemisphere pinniped milk ranged between 14 and 118 times larger than values reported for southern hemisphere pinniped milk. In addition every sample contained detectable levels of PCBs; the primary congeners reported include 99, 118, 153, 138, 180, and 187. Geom. mean values reported for the sum of these six congeners range from 6.78 ug/kg in Antarctic fur seals up to 360 ug/kg in northern elephant seals from California. Pinniped milk samples from California contained the highest overall levels of organochlorines and polychlorinated biphenyls. DDT (and metabolites), chlordane compounds, and dieldrin were also detected in most samples with a wide range of levels reported.
Spreading Sequences for Asynchronous Spectrally Phase Encoded Optical CDMA

In phase encoding optical CDMA (OCDMA) the spreading is achieved by encoding the phase of signal spectrum. In this paper we first derive a mathematical model for the output of phase encoding OCDMA systems. Based on this model we introduce a metric to design spreading sequences for asynchronous transmission. Then we connect the phase encoding sequence design problem to OFDM PMEPR (peak to mean envelope power ratio) problem. Using this connection we conclude that designing sequences with good properties for samples of timing delay guarantees that the same sequence to be good for all timing delays. Finally using generalized bent function we manage to construct a family of sequences which are good for asynchronous phase encoding OCDMA systems and using these sequences we introduce an M-ary modulation scheme for phase encoding OCDMA
Parameter optimization of robust low-bit-rate video coders

Most standards provide a generalized syntax and semantics framework for video coders, leaving the selection and optimization of the right parameter set (and lookup tables) to the implementation. The choice of the right parameter set that is suitable for a rich enough class of input sequences is, however, quite difficult. This difficulty is particularly amplified in the low-bit-rate video coding arena, where robust parameter sets are very important. We propose that robust parameter estimation, using the Taguchi (1979) methods, when applied to low-bit-rate video coding allows effective (near optimal) performance over a wide variety of input data streams. A number of experimental results confirm the improvement (via robustness) vis-a-vis conventional parameter estimation methods, and these methods promise a solution to the design of efficient parameter sets that support standards.
Glycopeptide Analysis, Recent Developments and Applications

Glycopeptide-based analysis is used to inform researchers about the glycans on one or more proteins. The method's key attractive feature is its ability to link glycosylation information to exact locations (glycosylation sites) on proteins. Numerous applications for glycopeptide analysis are known, and several examples are described herein. The techniques used to characterize glycopeptides are still emerging, and recently, research focused on facilitating aspects of glycopeptide analysis has advanced significantly in the areas of sample preparation, MS fragmentation, and automation of data analysis. These recent developments, described herein, provide the foundation for the growth of glycopeptide analysis as a blossoming field.
BENZO(A)PYRENE DECREASES BRAIN AND OVARIAN AROMATASE mRNA EXPRESSION IN FUNDULUS HETEROCLITUS

Abstract The higher molecular weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) such as benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) are typically associated with genotoxicity, however, newer evidence suggests that these compounds may also act as endocrine system disruptors. We hypothesized that altered expression of the P450 enzyme aromatase genes could be a target for reproductive or developmental dysfunction caused by BaP exposure. Aromatase is at least partially responsible for estrogen homeostasis by converting androgens into estrogens. In fish, there are two isoforms of aromatase, a predominantly ovarian form, CYP19A1, and a brain form, CYP19A2. CYP19 mRNA expression was measured following BaP exposure (0, 10, 100 μg/L waterborne for 10 or 15 days) in Fundulus adults, juveniles and embryos by in situ hybridization. The CYP19A1 expression was significantly decreased after BaP exposure in the 3-month-old Fundulus immature oocytes, but BaP did not affect CYP19A1 expression at any stage in adult oocytes. In embryo brains, BaP significantly decreased CYP19A2 compared to controls by 3.6-fold at 14 days post-fertilization. In adults, CYP19A2 expression was decreased significantly in the pituitary and hypothalamus (81% and 85% of controls, respectively). Promoter regions of Fundulus CYP19s were cloned, and putative response elements in the CYP19A1 and CYP19A2 promoters such as CRE, AhR and ERE may be involved in BaP-mediated changes in CYP19 expression. In order to compare the mechanism of BaP-mediated inhibition with that of a known aromatase inhibitor, fish were also exposed to fadrozole (20 and 100 μg/L). Fadrozole did not significantly decrease the mRNA expression in embryos or adult Fundulus. However, aromatase enzyme activity was significantly decreased in adult ovary and brain tissues. These studies provide a greater molecular understanding of the mechanisms of action of BaP and its potential to impact reproduction or development.
Acoustooptic linear heterodyned complex-valued matrix-vector processor

A new analog (linear) optical vector-inner-product and matrix-vector processor architecture is described. It employs linear input laser-diode arrays and a multichannel acoustooptic cell. Attention is given to the selection of the operating modes for all devices, error correction, the ability of the system to operate on complex-valued data, and its stability with respect to temperature, data history, and component variations. Laboratory data are provided verifying the potential of the system architecture to achieve 9-10-bit accuracy and complex-valued multiplication.
Pyrazole formation: Examination of kinetics, substituent effects, and mechanistic pathways

Reaction kinetics for the condensation of 1,3-diketones 1a–o with selected arylhydrazines (aryl = Ph, 4-NO2Ph, 4-CH3OPh, and 2,4-diNO2Ph) was studied using 19F NMR spectroscopy. Product regioselectivity is modulated by reactant ratios, substituents, and acidity. Reaction rates were found to be influenced by substituents on the diketones and on phenylhydrazines as well as by acidity of the reaction medium with rates varying as much as 1000-fold. Hammett ρ values for these cyclizations were determined. The reaction was found to be first order in both the diketone and arylhydrazine. The rate-determining step for pyrazole formation shifts as a function of pH. Mechanistic details and reaction pathways supporting these findings are proposed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 40: 370–383, 2008
Improving Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Ratios Using Telemedicine-Based Digital Retinal Imaging Technology The Vine Hill Study

OBJECTIVE —To evaluate the impact of a telemedicine, digital retinal imaging strategy on diabetic retinopathy screening rates in an inner-city primary care clinic. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS —This retrospective cohort study included all diabetic patients aged ≥18 years ( n = 495) seen at Vine Hill Community Clinic between 1 September 2003 and 31 August 2004. Patients were offered ophthalmology referral or digital screening. Patients choosing referral received the next available (within 3 months) appointment at the Vanderbilt Eye Clinic; patients choosing digital screening were screened during the visit. RESULTS —Retinal screening was documented for 293 (59.2%) patients, a significant improvement compared with the 23% baseline rate. Of 293 patients screened, 92 (31.4%) were screened in ophthalmology, and 201 (68.6%) were digitally screened. Among the 201 digitally screened patients, 104 (51.7%) screened negative and were advised to rescreen in 1 year, 75 (37.3%) screened positive and were nonurgently referred to ophthalmology, and 22 (11.0%) screened positive for sight-threatening eye disease and were urgently referred for ophthalmological follow-up. Digital imaging technical failure rate was 0.5%. Referral status was associated with race/ethnicity (χ2 = 7.9, P < 0.02) with whites more likely to screen negative than non-whites (62.4 vs. 47.8%, respectively). Sight-threatening disease among non-whites (14.7%) was more than double that observed for whites (5.9%). CONCLUSIONS —Digital imaging technology in the primary care visit can significantly improve screening rates over conventional methods, increase access to recommended diabetic eye care, and focus specialty care on medically indigent patients with greatest need.
Improved stability of the ZnO varistor via donor and acceptor doping at the grain boundary

The ZnO varistor degradation has been attributed to the field-assisted, temperature-activated diffusion of interstitial zinc in the depletion layer. To improve stability, one approach is to reduce the formation of interstitials, and then further, to prevent their migration through empty interstitial sites. Based on this concept, an amphoteric dopant, such as Na or K, has been incorporated in the ZnO varistor grain boundary wherein a dopant is substituted both in the lattice and in the interstitial sites. A grain boundary defect model has been developed for this dual mode of substitution, with the dopant acting as an acceptor at the lattice site and as a donor at the interstitial site. Under these conditions, and given a desired neutrality range, the concentration of zinc interstitial is indeed shown to be reduced and stability greatly improved. The experimental data presented here validate the grain boundary defect model presented in this and in an earlier paper [J. Mater. Sci. 20, 3487 (1985)].
Rapid determination of limestone using photoacoustic spectroscopy

Rapid and accurate determinations of limestone in lime products would be useful for process control applications in the lime industry. The loss-on-ignition method commonly used for determining residual limestone is very time consuming and prone to error. In this study, the feasibility of using photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS) as a process control tool in the lime industry was investigated. Results from preliminary PAS measurements on samples prepared in the laboratory indicated that a low-cost dedicated analyzer employing PAS has excellent potential.
On Random Dynamic Spectrum Access for Cognitive Radio Networks

The dynamic spectrum access (DSA) capability of cognitive radio networks (CRN) promises to resolve both the spectrum scarcity and the low spectrum utilization problems caused by today's static spectrum access (SSA) policy. With DSA, CRN nodes search the dynamically accessible spectrum bands for communication. In this paper, we study a random DSA scheme, where each node randomly selects its operating band based on the locally detected accessible spectrum bands. This scheme does not need the coordination or exchange of control messages to select a communication band between a sender and a receiver, and is desirable in certain scenarios. We analyze the performance of this random DSA scheme. Numerical results show that the random DSA scheme can achieve 60% of the theoretical maximum performance.
The XML Framework and Its Implications for the Development of Natural Language Processing Tools

The eXtensible Markup Language (XML) (Bray, et al., 1998) is the emerging standard for data representation and exchange on the World Wide Web. The XML Framework includes very powerful mechanisms for accessing and manipulating XML documents that are likely to significantly impact the development of tools for processing natural language and annotated corpora.
Three-phase to single-phase super-sparse matrix converters

Three novel three-phase to single-phase super-sparse matrix converters are described. It is shown that these converters, based on only seven switches, can function similarly to the twelve-switch conventional direct matrix converter. The Z-source and switched-inductor Z-source circuits have recently been proposed for boosting the voltage of power inverters. Here, these circuits have been adopted in the Z-source and switched-inductor Z-source super-sparse indirect matrix converters. To control them, a new modulation technique has been developed. As an example application, the proposed converters constitute a viable alternative to the existing solutions in residential wind-energy systems, where a low-voltage variable-speed generator feeds power to the higher-voltage fixed-frequency grid.
Some Political Aspects of Economic Development in India

The contemporary Indian scene is exciting. Of immediate relevance to the present article are two basic aspects of the evolving situation in India. First is the fact that there is in process, for anyone to see, a deliberate effort to raise living standards. The government of independent India articulated a framework for economic expansion almost a decade ago, at about the time that President Truman dramatically injected the problems of economic development in the arena of international affairs. Since then India has been proceeding with development activity more or less within this framework.
Performance modeling of TCP/AQM with generalized AIMD under intermediate buffer sizes

For TCP/AQM systems, the issue of buffer sizing has recently received much attention. In the recent literature, it is suggested that the buffer size be O(/spl radic/N) for high link utilization contrasting to the traditional bandwidth-delay product, i.e., O(N) for 100% utilization where the link has capacity NC serving N flows. However, these results are all limited to the drop-tail scheme and there has been no systematic modeling framework for any buffer sizing between O(/spl radic/N) and O(N). In this paper, we study the limiting behavior of a TCP/AQM system for an intermediate buffer sizing of O(N/sup /spl gamma//) (0.5/spl les//spl gamma/<1). We develop a stochastic model in a discrete-time setting to characterize the system dynamics and then show that we can have 100% link utilization and zero packet loss probability for a large number of flows when the buffer size requirement is anywhere between O(/spl radic/N) and O(N). Our model is general enough to cover any queue-based AQM scheme with ECN marking (including the drop-tail) and various generalized AIMD algorithms for each TCP flow.
On the Cause of Incomplete Coagulation of Blood and Gelling of Serum of Turkeys

Abstract Twenty, four-months old, Broad Breasted Bronze turkey toms were obtained in September, 1951, from a pullorum clean source for use in electrophoretic studies of serum of turkeys reacting negatively to, or showing zone reactions in, the tube agglutination test for pullorum disease. During the course of the next three months a considerable amount of difficulty was encountered due to the consistent occurrence of gelled serum samples which were obtained from controls as well as those turkeys that had been exposed to Salmonella pullorum. At each bleeding 20 ml. of blood was drawn from the brachial vein. These samples were collected in large test tubes, to provide an adequate surface area, and allowed to clot at room temperature. After clotting appeared to be complete the samples were placed in a refrigerator at 5°C. for approximately 12 hours, allowing the serum to separate. In all instances the cells settled out and the . . .
The vascular endothelium, a benign restrictive barrier? NO! Role of nitric oxide in regulating insulin action.

Insulin resistance is the primary abnormality associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and hypertension (1,2). Interestingly, these disease processes also share a common underlying impairment of vascular endothelial function. For many years the endothelium was thought of as nothing more than a benign barrier between blood and extracellular space. But intensive investigations demonstrate a myriad of actions by the endothelium, including regulation of blood flow (3,4), vascular tone (5), vascular permeability (6), and the immune response (7). The capillary endothelium regulates blood flow via the release of several vasoactive agents, in particular nitric oxide (NO) (8). Baron (4) first demonstrated that insulin can stimulate the release of endothelial NO, thereby regulating blood flow and its own delivery. Insulin has multiple hemodynamic actions to enhance its ability to increase glucose uptake in skeletal muscle (4, 9–11). The three major methods include: 1 ) increasing blood flow to the tissue by modulation of endothelial factors; 2 ) increasing the number of capillaries that dilate within the tissue (increasing microvascular volume), which allows for an increase in total permeable surface area for insulin and glucose to enter the space that bathes the active myocytes (i.e., the interstitial space); and 3 ) increasing permeability of the capillaries, thus allowing more glucose and insulin to pass from the blood to the interstitial space. In insulin-resistant states, these hemodynamic actions of insulin are impaired, presumably due to reduced NO bioavailability (12). The seminal study by Bergman and colleagues …
Impacts of Exotic Annual Brome Grasses (Bromus spp.) on Ecosystem Properties of Northern Mixed Grass Prairie

Annual brome grasses, Bromus japonicus and B. tectorum, are common exotic plants in the northern mixed grass prairies of North America. As annuals, the bromes die following seed set in late spring, creating a functional difference between them and native perennial grasses because perennials continue to maintain live shoots into the summer and root systems throughout the year. Our objective was to investigate how this functional difference alters ecosystem properties over the growing season, including soil moisture content, quantity of plant biomass, litter accumulation and aboveground litter decomposition. We conducted an experiment in which the annual bromes were removed from treatment plots to compare with adjacent reference plots. While this experiment served as a direct test for brome impacts, observational plots also were sampled to determine if impacts were apparent in an unmanipulated system. A litter bag experiment was conducted to evaluate impacts of brome grasses on decomposition. Experimental removal of brome grasses led to more biomass both above- and belowground at the end of the growing season, and high brome observational plots averaged 28% less aboveground biomass and 40% less belowground biomass than low brome plots. In contrast, removal of brome grasses did not produce a consistent impact on soil moisture content between sites or among months, and none of measurable impacts from the removal experiment were significant in the observational study. Bromes slowed decomposition of aboveground litter at both sites. However, the overall impact on litter accumulation was only significant at one site, where brome removal reduced surface litter in the latter half of the growing season and high brome observational plots averaged 36% more litter than low brome plots. This study demonstrates how the brome functional type alters several properties in an ecosystem traditionally dominated by perennial grasses.
Global Health: the Past, the Present and What the Future Holds

A little more than a decade ago, a global health program was starting to take shape at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Before that time, several clinical departments had been sending groups of faculty, house staff, and sometimes students to lowand middle-income countries around the world, usually to provide much-needed care, sometimes to collaborate on projects related to public health or clinical research. A group of medical students had also started a grassroots initiative called Medical Students Making Impacts, whose stated goal was to enhance student access to high-quality, community-oriented global health experiences. Despite a handful of examples of outstanding sustained work in the field, there was no concerted institutional effort in this arena. At that time, leaders from the departments of Community Medicine, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, and Medical Education banded together to advocate for more institutional support for global health, which has come to be one of the most important trends of the past decade in medicine and medical education. A pivotal point occurred three years later, during an important recruitment session for applicants to our medical school. The Admissions Office asked a junior faculty member who was a member of the global health leadership group to briefly describe our programs to the applicants. She opened by asking a simple question: How many of you are interested in global health as part of your medical school experience? Fully three-fourths of the applicants immediately raised their hands and the dean, who was present, heard their message loud and clear. The rest, as they say, is history, but it is a history that is worth recounting. Ten years ago, Mount Sinai was known for clinical and research excellence. There was a growing
The Recognition and Handling of Honeybee Specimens in Non-Linnean Taxonomy

SUMMARYThe author has previously published four non-Linnean classifications for honeybees, all based on 15 characters of the worker forewing. This paper reports an attempt to test the accuracy and usefulness of these classifications by inferring the geographical origin of completely unknown, disarticulated wings. Twenty samples, each containing 3–5 worker forewings representing various natural honeybee populations, were sent from Austria by Dr. F. Ruttner; the author attempted to recognize 18 of these wing samples, and 16 are considered to have been correctly identified. The principles used in recognizing and designating honeybee specimens in non-Linnean taxonomy are fully explained in the present paper, which includes two new discriminant diagrams.
How Do Compensation Incentives Affect Managerial Decisions? Evidence from Internal Capital Markets

This paper examines how incentives from the level of CEO compensation affect firms' internal capital allocation decisions.┬aI first document that multi-segment firms invest more in segments associated with higher levels of executive compensation, and that the effect is more pronounced in restructuring firms that have undergone changes in their segments. Furthermore, I present evidence that following restructuring activities, CEOs enjoy both a higher level of compensation and a faster growth rate in that compensation.
MONOCYTE CHEMOATTRACTANT PROTEIN-1 GENE IS EXPRESSED IN ACTIVATED NEUTROPHILS AND RETINOIC ACID-INDUCED HUMAN MYELOID CELL LINES

We have used differential display polymerase chain reaction to identify genes that are upregulated after retinoic acid (RA) treatment of human myeloblastic HL-60 cells. Three of the cDNAs cloned hybridized to RA- inducible transcripts on Northern blots, one of which was shown to encode sequences for monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a recently described cytokine that is chemotactic for monocytes but not for neutrophils. Nuclear run-on analysis indicated that the upregulation of the MCP-1 gene occurs at the transcriptional level in HL-60 cells. MCP-1 transcript levels also increased after RA treatment of the NB4 acute promyelocytic cell line. MCP-1 transcripts were undetectable in freshly isolated neutrophils by Northern analysis or reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction but were readily detectable in neutrophils after incubation in media at 37 degrees C for 20 hours, suggesting that an activation event can lead to MCP-1 expression in neutrophils. Immunocytochemistry confirmed the presence of MCP-1 protein in activated neutrophils. This is the first report that the MCP-1 gene is RA-responsive in myeloid cell lines and is expressed in neutrophils. MCP-1 expression by activated neutrophils may play an important role in attracting monocytes to the site of tissue damage or infection.
Periodic Points of Continuous Functions

Analysis of the cyclic behavior of points under repeated application of a function yields insights into population patterns.
Energy dependence of11Li dissociation cross section

The Coulomb breakup cross section of11Li is calculated as a function of its bombarding energy. Comparison is made to cross sections at 790 MeV/nucleon and 30 MeV/nucleon. Low energy reactions on a high-Z target show a greatly enhanced Coulomb breakup cross section that is more sensitive to the distribution of dipole response strength than high energy reactions thus providing more structure information.