cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of Platen Temperatures and Storage Conditions on the Survival of Freeze-dried Salmonella typhimurium

Salmonella typhimurium survived freeze-drying at a platen temperature of 120 F (48.9 C) and also, though to a much lesser degree, at 160 F (82.6 C). The extent of the survival at these temperatures was dependent on the composition of the model system employed. The incidence of damage immediately after freeze-drying was greater for cells dried at the higher platen temperature and was influenced by the composition of the menstruum in which the cells were dried. In model systems having protein-dominant isotherms, survival during subsequent storage depended greatly on relative humidity, with recovery highest at relative humidities below those corresponding to moisture contents at which a monomolecular layer is formed. In menstrua having a higher sugar content, survival was best at low relative humidities corresponding to a very low equilibrium moisture content in the model system used. Damage during storage tended to be a function of the composition of the gels in which the organisms were freeze-dried, and also depended greatly on the presence of air and on the relative humidity. The maximal percentage of damage usually occurred at the low relative humidities as storage time increased.
Membrane support of accelerated fuel capsules for inertial fusion energy

The use of thin membranes to suspend an inertial fusion energy fuel capsule in a holder or hohlraum for injection into a reaction chamber is investigated. Also discussed is the stress that occurs in the fuel within a capsule during acceleration. To determine the maximum target acceleration, capsule displacement and membrane deformation angle are calculated for an axisymmetric geometry for a range of membrane strain and capsule size. Membranes must be thin (perhaps <1 {mu}m) to minimize their effect on capsule implosion symmetry. Typical target injection scenarios prefer accelerations in excess of 1000 m/s{sup 2}. Acceleration in excess of 1600 m/s{sup 2} for a 2.4-mm-radius 30-mg capsule is possible with two 0.1-{mu}m-thick membranes. Added stress from vibrations could cause a factor of 2 decrease in the allowed acceleration unless the acceleration profile is modified to mitigate this effect. However, if the acceleration is gradually increased and then decreased, over a few membrane oscillation periods (i.e., a few milliseconds), the membrane stress due to oscillation overshoot and the final capsule oscillation amplitude is minimal. Compared with a single membrane, a dual membrane geometry allows several times greater acceleration with reduced capsule displacement. 7 refs., 14 figs., 1 tab.
Characterizing traveling-wave collisions in granular chains starting from integrable limits: the case of the Korteweg-de Vries equation and the Toda lattice.

Our aim in the present work is to develop approximations for the collisional dynamics of traveling waves in the context of granular chains in the presence of precompression. To that effect, we aim to quantify approximations of the relevant Hertzian FPU-type lattice through both the Korteweg\char21{}de Vries (KdV) equation and the Toda lattice. Using the availability in such settings of both one-soliton and two-soliton solutions in explicit analytical form, we initialize such coherent structures in the granular chain and observe the proximity of the resulting evolution to the underlying integrable (KdV or Toda) model. While the KdV offers the possibility to accurately capture collisions of solitary waves propagating in the same direction, the Toda lattice enables capturing both copropagating and counterpropagating soliton collisions. The error in the approximation is quantified numerically and connections to bounds established in the mathematical literature are also given.
Metastable microstructures of rapidly solidified and undercooled FeAlC and Fe(Ni,Mn)AlC alloys

Abstract Chill block melt spinning and levitation melting were utilized to investigate the effect of rapid solidification and undercooling on the phase structure of FeAlC and Fe(Ni,mn)AlC alloys. Phase analyses were accomplished by a combination of X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction analysis. By melt spinning, single-phase f.c.c. austenite forms for the ternary alloys at about 1.8–2.2 wt.% C and 2–6 wt.% Al, and ordered f.c.c. (L12 structure) is observed at the same carbon concentrations but with 8–10 wt.% Al. The duplex structure of f.c.c. + ordered f.c.c. was also developed on rapidly solidified Fe20Ni8Al2C and FeMnMn8Al2C alloys (where the compositions are in approximate weight per cent). For the levilated samples, equilibrium phases (such as ferrite and carbide) were present in addition to the f.c.c. austenite phase. Furthermore, no ordering in the f.c.c. phase was observed for the ternary alloys. The appearance of the stable phases was attributed to the small amount of bulk undercooling measured. This conclusion was supported by the absence of the equilibrium phase in the Fe20Ni8Al2C sample which exhibited a larger degress of undercooling. In general, it was found that the resulting phase structure is dependent on the amount of undercooling as well as the chemical composition. No structure-quench rate dependence was observed for melt-spun samples for the range of thickness from 20 to 100 μm.
A General Route to Homophthalic Acid Derivatives - Valuable Precursors to Isoquinolinones, Dihydronaphthols and Isocoumarins

Abstract Homophthalic acids, esters, and anhydrides are well documented starting materials for the construction of isoquino-linones,1 isocoumarins2 and dihydronaphthols.3 Several recent literature reports further emphasize the utility of homophthalates in the construction of linear polynuclear aromatic systems.4 While several methods are available for the synthesis of homophthalates,5 these lack the ease of execution and the versatility required to make them processes of general applicability.
Statistical timing verification for transparently latched circuits through structural graph traversal

Level-sensitive transparent latches are widely used in high-performance sequential circuit designs. Under process variations, the timing of a transparently latched circuit will adapt random delays at runtime due to time borrowing. The central problem to determine the timing yield is to compute the probability of the presence of a positive cycle in the latest latch timing graph. Existing algorithms are either optimistic since cycles are omitted or require iterations that cannot be polynomially bounded. In this paper, we present the first algorithm to compute such probability based on block-based statistical timing analysis that, first, covers all cycles through a structural graph traversal, and second, terminates within a polynomial number of statistical "sum" and "max" operations. Experimental results confirm that the proposed approach is effective and efficient.
Highly conductive polymer electrolytes containing rigid polymers

A new type of polymer electrolyte which contains rigid polymer rather than the flexible low Tg polymers used in conventional polymer electrolytes is described. The new type of polymer electrolyte e...
Impulse response analysis and Orcutt’s hypothesis in trade

How fast trade flows respond to exchange rate changes versus relative price changes has its own literature in international economics. Indeed, Orcutt (Rev Econ Stat 32:117–132, 1950) conjectures that they respond faster to exchange rate changes than to changes in relative prices. Previous studies tested the hypothesis by imposing lag structure on both the exchange rate and relative prices and judged Orcutt’s conjecture by identifying significant lag lengths. In this paper, we rely upon impulse response analysis as an alternative method to test the hypothesis. We find very limited number of cases in which impulse response of trade flows to changes in the exchange rate dies out sooner than the same response to changes in relative prices.
Electrocatalytic systems organized by micelles

Abstract Surfactant aggregates can organize reactants so as to achieve enhanced electrocatalytic currents. They provide a wide variety of organized media for applications in electroanalysis. Surfactant microstructures are suggested as the basis for electrochemical models for biological redox events.
APECS code synthesis: Extending ocarina for multi-threaded code synthesis from AADL models for Safety Critical applications

For Safety Critical CPS applications, Architecture Analysis and Design Language (AADL) can provide a framework for formally modeling end-to-end Cyber Physical Systems (CPS). Such a model includes hardware platform model, software architecture model, the real-time bounds on software and hardware components. An AADL model of the system allows early formal analysis of real-time schedulability, end-to-end performance, power, memory requirements and correctness. Multiple tool support for AADL modeling and analysis exists, including software code generator, which glues together software components declared in the software architecture model. Ocarina is one such tool for software generation but it requires that the modeler provides the subprogram code in C/C++ or Ada. For correct-by-construction code synthesis, it is ideal to eliminate manually written code, and instead of using Ocarina as a glue code generator, using it for complete code synthesis from formal models. Support for Esterel and Lustre based specification of subprograms already have been attempted, but they usually specify specific subprogram elements, and the specific code generators are invoked to synthesis C/C++ code and then Ocarina glues them together based on the architectural constraints specified in the AADL model. This means that in a multi-threaded or multi-process software architecture, we still have to maneuver to get correct synchronization code. Moreover, if the granularity of code synthesis is at the function or subprogram level, we cannot gain much towards the goal of correct-by-construction synthesis and we believe that taking advantage of polychronous modeling and code synthesis would be ideal to achieve that goal. In this work, we show how to extend the Ocarina code generator to work with our Polychronous modeling and code synthesis solution to obtain multi-threaded code, improving the code-synthesis granularity from subprograms to processes while guaranteeing the implementation correctness. Moreover, a real-time extension of our polychronous code synthesis can provide the opportunity to enhance the real-time schedulability analysis of AADL. In this paper, we will outline the problem of AADL based model-driven implementation of CPS systems, describe the state-of-art code generation through Ocarina, point out why the extensions we propose are needed, and finally describe our code synthesis extension for multi-threaded code synthesis in our AADL modeling, analysis and code synthesis tool APECS which extends OSATE and Ocarina tools for AADL.
Should America Save for its Old Age? Fiscal Policy, Population Aging, and National Saving

he federal government has recently seen an abrupt turnaround in its budget balance, from years of deficits to the now-predicted years of surpluses. This switch has been widely hailed, since many analysts believe that the United States saves too little and that the switch to government budget surpluses can help to address that problem. Indeed, concern about low U.S. saving and the long-term budget outlook has increased of late, as the retirement of the baby boom generation draws closer and the financial pressures associated with population aging loom larger. In this paper we cite a collection of arguments for why U.S. fiscal policy should be used to increase national saving. Then we focus on whether the aging of the U.S. population adds force to these arguments for boosting national saving and conclude-perhaps surprisingly-that it may not. The potential role of fiscal policy in preparing the country for the coming demographic change is at the center of recent budget proposals. Although the sudden emergence of budget surpluses is to a large extent based on economic and other factors beyond the government's direct control, one can argue that the political will to maintain these surpluses stems, in part, from a desire to prepare for the retirement of the baby boomers. Moreover, the question of whether the projected surpluses should be devoted to new spending, tax cuts, or debt reduction is entangled with arguments over what portion of the surpluses should go to "saving" Social Security and Medicare. Yet the appropriate saving response to population aging is not clear cut. While aging boosts the demands on future resources, it also changes the rate of return the U.S. economy can expect from saving. The net effect of aging on desired saving is
Photocross-Linking of Nucleic Acids to Associated Proteins

Photocross-linking is a useful technique for the partial definition of the nucleic acid-protein interface of nucleoprotein complexes. It can be accomplished by one or two photon excitations of wild-type nucleoprotein complexes or by one photon excitation of nucleoprotein complexes bearing one or more substitutions with photoreactive chromophores. Chromophores that have been incorporated into nucleic acids for this purpose include aryl azides, 5-azidouracil, 8-azidoadenine, 8-azidoguanine, 4-thiouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-iodouracil, and 5-iodocytosine. The various techniques and chromophores are described and compared, with attention to the photochemical mechanism.
Managing and improving efficiency of an outpatient vascular laboratory

Noninvasive vascular diagnostic testing is efficient and cost-effective, and it is an integral part of vascular surgery practice. Integration of the laboratory into the practice can add significant income to a practice as well as increase the quality of the patient's experience. Maintaining a successful vascular laboratory is a key component of the practice's remaining competitive in an ever-changing health care system. Attention must be paid to staffing, operations, financial performance, revenue cycle, and patient and referring physician satisfaction to grow the business.
A potassium ion-dependent RNA structural switch regulates human pre-miRNA 92b maturation.

Summary MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are an important set of oligonucleotide sequences with a biogenesis that involves Dicer-mediated cleavage as a critical step. Dicer cleaves the precursor miRNA (pre-miRNA) stem-loop structure to produce the mature miRNA. Using bioinformatics analysis, we discovered the presence of putative G-quadruplex (GQ)-forming sequences in about 16% of pre-miRNAs. We report the existence of a GQ as an alternative to the canonical stem-loop structure in the clinically important human pre-miRNA 92b. GQ formation led to unwinding of the stem-loop structure imparting resistance to Dicer-mediated cleavage both in vitro and in vivo. A potential K + ion-dependent equilibrium between GQ and the stem-loop structure has the ability to regulate the Dicer-mediated maturation of pre-miRNA 92b, which consequently affects target gene silencing. These findings unravel a new mechanism of regulation in pre-miRNA maturation, albeit at the RNA structure level.
Use and yield of endoscopy in patients with uncomplicated gastroesophageal reflux disorder.

Practice guidelines recommend esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) screening for Barrett esophagus (BE) or esophageal cancer for patients with uncomplicated gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), especially in high-risk patients (symptoms for >5 years, white race, male sex, age >50 years, and family history of BE or esophageal cancer).1,2 However, the extent of using screening EGD, its predictors, and diagnostic yield are unclear. We aimed to determine prevalence, predictors, and yield of screening EGD in a large national sample of patients with uncomplicated GERD.
Controlling the curvature of a quadratic Be´zier curve

Abstract This paper describes a simple geometric condition that indicates when a quadratic Bezier curve segment has monotone curvature. Using this condition, it treats the problem of ‘correcting’ the curvature plot of such a curve by moving the middle control point to a new location. The method guarantees minimization of error between the new and old Bezier curve.
Abstract 2523: Synthetic triterpenoids protect against toxicity and enhance the efficacy of treatment with carboplatin/paclitaxel in experimental lung cancer

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, with no real improvement in 5 yr survival rates in over 30 yrs. While prevention offers the most promising approach for reducing mortality, new drugs are clearly needed. We have previously shown that synthetic triterpenoids, including the methyl ester (Me) and ethyl amide (EA) of CDDO (2-cyano-3,12-dioxooleana-1,9-dien-28-oic acid), are effective for prevention and treatment of experimental lung cancer; CDDO-Me is currently in early clinical trials. When used for treatment of lung cancer in A/J mice, the triterpenoids caused growth-arrest rather than tumor regression, so we tested the triterpenoids in combination with carboplatin and paclitaxel, standard chemotherapeutic agents used to treat human lung cancer. Female A/J mice were injected i.p. with vinyl carbamate to induce lung cancer; adenocarcinomas are visible on lung sections as early as 4 wks after initiation. In a pilot study, mice were fed triterpenoids and received 5 injections of carboplatin (50 mg/kg) and paclitaxel (15 mg/kg), one wk apart, beginning eight wks after initiation. This protocol was toxic in the mice treated with carboplatin/paclitaxel alone, as only 38% (3 of 8) mice survived. In contrast, 88% (14 of 16) of the mice survived when treated with triterpenoids in combination with carboplatin/ paclitaxel. In a second study, lung cancer was induced by vinyl carbamate, but treatment was delayed until 12 wks after initiation, and the 5 carboplatin/ paclitaxel injections were given every other wk instead of every wk. Survival improved to 91% in the carboplatin/paclitaxel group (21 of 23 mice) and was 97% (31 of 32 mice) in the groups given triterpenoid in combination with carboplatin/paclitaxel. Although treatment with carboplatin/paclitaxel alone significantly (P 3 for the controls vs. 3.1 mm 3 for the group treated with carboplatin/paclitaxel), treatment with the combination of CDDO-EA (800 mg/kg diet) and carboplatin/paclitaxel reduced tumor volume to 1.1 mm 3 , a 93% reduction compared to the controls (P Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2523. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2523
Samuel Morland and his calculating machines c. 1666: the early career of a courtier–inventor in Restoration London

This paper presents the story of two calculating machines invented by Sir Samuel Morland (1625-95) in the 1660s. These instruments are the earliest known mechanical calculators made in England. Their designs are unusual and very much of their time. They appealed to some, especially at court, and were dismissed by others, such as Robert Hooke. The first part of the paper introduces Morland and the courtier-inventor's world, in which a reputation as a ‘machinist’ or an engineer could accompany high social status. It considers why a former diplomat and postal spy would turn to invention in general and to mechanical calculators in particular as a career move in the Restoration court. The second part addresses the instruments - attention to their design reveals Morland's inspiration. The paper concludes with an examination of the market for the calculators in London, Paris and Florence. While it is notable that the calculators circulated both in court and in the commercial sphere, even more interesting is the contrast between their receptions in these two spheres. The story of these machines and their maker helps flesh out the poorly understood world of the courtier-inventor in early modern England.
Nanoplasmonic couplers and modulators based on metal-insulator-metal structures

We propose a "slot-to-slot" coupler to convert power between optical and metal-insulator-metal (MIM) plasmonic modes. Coupling efficiency of larger than 60% is obtained from 2D FDTD simulation. Based on this prototype, a quasi-MIM plasmonic junction is demonstrated using e-beam lithography onto an SOI substrate. The junction is formed by depositing a thin layer of gold (~20 nm) on part of a dielectric slot. When probed by 1520-nm laser, coupling efficiency of 36% is achieved for a 500-nm long quasi-MIM junction. Optical modulation is under investigation by pumping the device using visible light to change the optical property of gold.
A 3-Kilobase Region Derived from the Rat Cathepsin L Gene Directs In Vivo Expression of a Reporter Gene in Sertoli Cells in a Manner Comparable to That of the Endogenous Gene

Abstract During mammalian spermatogenesis, the transcription of several genes in Sertoli cells is turned on and off as the adjacent male germ cells progress through the stages of the cycle of the seminiferous epithelium. A requirement for defining how germ cells regulate this process is the identification of a promoter that confers, in vivo, accurate, stage-specific gene expression in Sertoli cells. To date, such a promoter has not been identified. Using transgenic mice, we show that the 3-kilobase genomic fragment immediately upstream of the rat cathepsin L translation start site directs expression of the reporter gene, β-galactosidase, only in Sertoli cells. The expression pattern of the reporter gene recapitulated that of the endogenous gene in Sertoli cells as 75% of the seminiferous tubules that contained X-gal positive Sertoli cells were at stages VI–VIII and β-galactosidase enzymatic activity was 4-fold higher in mature testes compared with immature testes. This is, to our knowledge, the first iden...
The Parable of the Squirrel: Alleviating the Anxiety of Agoraphobia

This article focuses on agoraphobia, one of the anxiety disorders, and draws on William James (James 1890/1905), the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (American Psychiatric Association 2000) and Aaron T. Beck and Gary Emery (1985) to present and explore the psychodynamics of agoraphobia, including its behavioral manifestations, the personality features that may predispose a person to become agoraphobic, and the factors that may precipitate its emergence at a particular time in one’s life. A parable concerning a squirrel having difficulty crossing the street frames the discussion.
Anomalously high Fe contents in rehomogenized olivine-hosted melt inclusions from oxidized magmas

Iron concentrations in rehomogenized (remelted) melt inclusions hosted in forsterite-rich olivine (Fo 8 8 - 9 2 ) from an alkalic lava have significantly higher Fe contents (FeO* up to 21 wt%) than found in naturally quenched inclusions, matrix glasses, and bulk lava compositions (6.21-6.66 wt% FeO*). The main objectives of this study were to: (1) determine the source of the anomalous Fe concentrations, and (2) evaluate the significance of this signature with respect to rehomogenization of melt inclusions. Heating experiments conducted from 1125 to 1225 °C on crystallized inclusions show that Fe and Mg contents in rehomogenized inclusions increase with homogenization temperature, consistent with dissolution of olivine + magnetite in a 1:1 atomic ratio. The dissolution of magnetite contributes significant excess Fe to the homogenized inclusions, and thus the high FeO* contents of the glasses do not reflect the original composition of the trapped melt. The addition of excess Fe also dilutes the concentrations of other major elements, especially evident in SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 , and CaO wt%. Although the cause of magnetite formation in the inclusions is unresolved, two models (H + diffusion and co-entrapment of magnetite) for the formation of significant volumes of magnetite are considered. One of the most significant conclusions for this study is that magnetite formation occurred prior to rehomogenization and that the magnetite did not result from post-entrapment fractional crystallization of the inclusion. For these inclusions, a correction must be made for the dissolution of magnetite (′ pyroxene) and olivine to the silicate melt to accurately reconstruct the original Fe content of the melt.
An integrated shadow-mask based on a stack of inorganic insulators for high-resolution OLEDs using evaporated or spun-on materials

Abstract While organic materials show impressive performances as electroluminescent diodes, their integration in a passive matrix to form a high-resolution display is a challenge. The anode can easily be patterned in columns prior to the deposition of organic materials, but conventional microfabrication techniques cannot be used to etch the cathode on top because organics are affected by treatments applied to photosensitive resins. We microfabricated an integrated shadow-mask with openings in rows orthogonal to the columns of the anode. The mask has an overhanging edge so that the cathode evaporated on top is discontinuous at its edges, thereby separating the diodes along rows. The mask is composed of a stack of inorganic insulators all deposited in a commercial plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition tool, and whose different etching rates in hydrofluoridric acid enable to obtain the overhang in one lithographic step. The process is very simple, as high resolution as microfabrication can provide, and the resulting device is less prone to short-circuits than when a lift-off photoresist is used. Pixellation is reported both from evaporated small molecules and spun-on polymers.
Detection of Influenza Virus Infection Using Two PCR Methods

Rapid, accurate, and cost-effective methods to identify the cause of respiratory tract infections are needed to maximize clinical benefit. Outpatients with acute respiratory illness were tested for influenza using a singleplex reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (SRT-PCR) method. A multiplex RT-PCR (MRT-PCR) method tested for influenza and 17 other viruses and was compared with SRT-PCR using chi-square tests. Among 935 patients, 335 (36%) tested positive for influenza A and influenza B using SRT-PCR. Using MRT-PCR, 320 (34.2%) tested positive for influenza A and influenza B. This study supports MRT-PCR as a comparable method for detecting influenza among patients seeking outpatient care for acute respiratory illnesses.
Evidence for clonal deletion and clonal anergy after intrathymic antigen injection in a transplantation model

Intrathymic (IT) antigen injection has been shown to induce antigen-specific systemic tolerance in the rodent. To delineate the mechanisms responsible for the induction of tolerance, we used the 2C line of T cell receptor transgenic mice. The majority of T cells in 2C mice express an antigen receptor specific for the major histocompatibility complex class I alloantigen Ld and can be identified with the clonotypic monoclonal antibody 1B2. IT injection of lymphoid cells expressing Ld was found to induce a significant prolongation in BALB/c skin allograft survival. The allograft prolongation was associated with a marked reduction in the number of developing 1B2+ thymocytes (clonal deletion), which occurred primarily at the CD4+ CD8+ stage of thymocyte development, as well as a reduction in the number of mature CD8+ 1B2+ 2C T cells in peripheral lymphoid tissue. In addition, CD8+ 1B2+ 2C T cells that survive deletion have decreased CD8 expression levels and a significantly reduced in vitro proliferative response to specific alloantigen (clonal anergy). Exogenous recombinant interleukin 2 restores the capacity of 2C T cells to respond in vitro to alloantigen. Experiments involving separation of cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorter indicate that there is a precise correlation between the reduction in CD8 expression and anergy induction. Collectively, these data indicate that IT antigen injection can induce antigen-specific systemic tolerance by both clonal deletion and clonal anergy.
Statistical Analysis With Missing Data

(2003). Statistical Analysis With Missing Data. Technometrics: Vol. 45, No. 4, pp. 364-365.
Trifluoperazine and dibucaine‐induced inhibition of glutamate‐induced mitochondrial depolarization in rat cultured forebrain neurones

1 Glutamate receptor activation has been previously shown to result in mitochondrial depolarization and activation of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore in cultured neurones. In this study, we characterized the effects of two putative permeability transition inhibitors, namely trifluoperazine and dibucaine, on mitochondrial depolarization in rat intact, cultured forebrain neurones. 2 Permeability transition was monitored by following mitochondrial depolarization in neurones loaded with the mitochondrial membrane potential-sensitive fluorescent indicator, JC-1. Trifluoperazine (10–20 μM) and dibucaine (50–100 μM) inhibited or delayed the onset of glutamate-induced permeability transition. 3 We also investigated the effects of trifluoperazine and dibucaine on neuronal recovery from glutamate-induced Ca2+ loads. Trifluoperazine affected Ca2+ recovery in a manner similar to the mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchange inhibitor, CGP-37157, while dibucaine had no apparent effect on Ca2+ recovery. Therefore, inhibition of permeability transition does not appear to be involved in Ca2+ recovery from glutamate-induced Ca2+ loads. 4 Trifluoperazine and dibucaine did not inhibit [3H]-dizocilpine binding at the concentrations that prevented mitochondrial depolarization. 5 These studies suggest that trifluoperazine and dibucaine inhibit permeability transition in intact neurones. Trifluoperazine also appears to inhibit mitochondrial Na+/Ca2+ exchange. These drugs should prove to be valuable tools in the further study of the role of mitochondrial permeability transition in glutamate-induced neuronal death. British Journal of Pharmacology (1997) 122, 803–808; doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0701442
Poly(amide‐ester)s from p‐aminobenzoic acid

Poly(amide-ester)s containing p-aminobenzoic acid derived from three different diols (1,6-hexanediol, 1,4-butanediol, and trans-1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol) and two different acid chlorides (sebacoyl and adipoyl chloride) were synthesized by melt polymerization. The thermal and viscoelastic behaviour has been investigated and related to the chemical composition. All of the polymers synthesized showed an inherent viscosity ranging from 0·26 to 0·47dlg-1. The poly(amide-ester)s prepared by melt polymerization showed a lower molecular weight and melting temperature than polymers prepared by solution polymerization. The lower melting points of the polymers prepared by melt polymerization were due either to the lower molecular weight or to breakage of intermolecular hydrogen bonding, which was attributed to amide–ester exchange reactions during polymerization. © 1998 SCI.
Thermal Model of an Absolute Solar Radiometer Designed for Future Satellite Missions

This paper describes a finite-element thermal model of an absolute radiometer designed for total solar irradiance (TSI) measurement in future satellite missions. The cavity-type absolute radiometer employs the electrical-substitution technique and active temperature control to determine the radiant power entering the receiving cavity. The nonequivalence between the shutter-open mode and shutter-closed mode due to different temperature distributions is a major factor that affects the radiometric accuracy. The analysis shows that the nonequivalence is a function of sensor positions and can be minimized by properly choosing the electrical heating method and the temperature sensor location.
Ruling Class: Disciplining Class, Race, and Ethnicity in Television Reality Court Shows

The author argues that the very popular television reality court show genre also serves a disciplinary function that is focused specifically on the management of class and race/ethnicity. Drawing o...
Sexual dimorphism: divergent or convergent?

Abstract Our species is characterized by sexual dimorphism: the biological differences between males and females. This dimorphism is important because we are a sexually reproducing species, but the dimensions of male/female differences and their impact on identity have been debated for centuries. New reproductive techniques, both already in use and currently under development, promise to affect very radically the characteristics of human sexual dimorphism. The way these technologies will be applied and expanded upon could lead either to an intensification or to a dilution of male/female differences. Which of these two trends may actually become prevalent in the next quarter century is likely to depend on what definition of gender roles is the most adaptive for our species. Insights into this issue may be gleaned from the evidence being increasingly gathered by anthropologists about the way human gender roles were defined in very ancient times. The evidence does not support the standard view of human sexual dimorphism, and it may intimate surprising cultural developments.
Evidence for a coronal magnetic bottle at 10 solar radii

The Faraday rotation of a radio source (Pioneer 6) occulted by the solar corona has been measured by Levy et al. (1969). During the course of these measurements, three large-scale transient phenomena were observed. These events were preceded by subflares and class 1 flares. These transient events are interpreted as evidence for a coronal magnetic bottle at 10 R ⊙. The velocity of propagation for the disturbance is set at 200 km/sec; the dimension of the region, 10 R ⊙; field strength at 10 R ⊙, 0.02 G; particle density, 2.0 × 104/cm3; Alfven speed, 320 km/sec. From the nature of the observations and the lack of related effects from similar flares on the interplanetary sector pattern observed at 1 AU, it is suggested that such coronal magnetic bottles expand to perhaps 10–30 R ⊙ and then contract to a few solar radii. Such a phenomena is evidence for an expansion of the corona with a sub-Alfvenic velocity. It is further suggested that such magnetic bottles may be important in the storage and diffusion of solar generated cosmic ray particles.
Fractal Analysis of Mammographic Parenchymal Patterns in Breast Cancer Risk Assessment

Rationale and Objectives To evaluate fractal-based computerized image analyses of mammographic parenchymal patterns in the task of differentiating between women at high risk and women at low risk for developing breast cancer. Materials and Methods The fractal-based texture analyses are based on a box-counting method and a Minkowski dimension, and were performed within the parenchymal regions of normal mammograms. Four approaches were evaluated: 1) a conventional box-counting method, 2) a modified box-counting technique using linear discriminant analysis (LDA), 3) a global Minkowski dimension, and 4) a modified Minkowski technique using LDA. These fractal based texture features were extracted from regions of interest to assess the mammographic parenchymal patterns of the images. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to evaluate the performance of these features in the task of differentiating between the two groups of women. Results Receiver operating characteristic analysis yielded an A z value of 0.74 based on the conventional box-counting technique and an A z value of 0.84 based on the global Minkowski dimension in the task of distinguishing between the two groups. By using LDA to assess the characteristics of mammograms, A z values of 0.90 and 0.93 were obtained in differentiating the two groups, for the modified box-counting and Minkowski techniques, respectively. Statistically significant improvement was achieved ( P z values similar to those obtained with the conventional approaches in the task of differentiating between the two groups. Conclusions The proposed LDA approach improved significantly the separation between the two groups based on experimental data. Because this approach was used as a linear classifier rather than as a regression function, it combined the fractal analysis with the knowledge of the high- and low-risk patterns, and thus better characterized the multifractal nature of the parenchymal patterns. We believe that the proposed analyses based on the LDA technique to characterize mammographic parenchymal patterns may potentially yield radiographic markers for assessing breast cancer risk.
Patterns of failure in supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors treated in Children's Cancer Group Study 921, a phase III combined modality study.

Abstract Purpose To analyze the patterns of failure in patients with supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors (ST-PNETs) treated with combined modality therapy in a large, randomized, multi-institutional study. Methods and materials A total of 44 prospectively staged patients with ST-PNET confirmed by central pathology review were treated in the Children's Cancer Group Study 921, which compared two chemoradiotherapy regimens. The patterns of initial sites of failure were analyzed. These were compared with the failure patterns of 188 children with posterior fossa (PF) PNETs treated in the same protocol. Results The major determinant for progression-free survival was the initial metastatic stage. The 3-year progression-free survival for M0 patients was 53% ± 8.5% compared with 14% ± 9.4% for M+ patients. The cumulative 5-year relapse incidence was 71.4% ± 21% for M+ patients compared with 47.5% ± 8.6% for M0 patients. The overall failure rate for both M0 and M+ ST-PNETs was greater than that for PF-PNETs (47.5% ± 8.6% vs. 29.3% ± 4.7% for M0 and 71.4% ± 21% vs. 48.4% ± 5.5% for M+). Failure at the primary site, either as the sole site or as a component of initial failure, was also seen more frequently in ST-PNETs than in PF-PNETs. For M0 patients, the 5-year local failure rate as a component of initial failure was 42.0% ± 8.5% for ST-PNETs compared with 17.7% ± 3.9% for PF-PNETs. For patients with primary tumors either in the ST or PF, the 5-year spinal axis failure rate as a component of initial failure was not significantly different statistically when compared by M stage. For M+ patients, the 5-year spinal axis failure rate as a component of initial failure was 42.9% ± 22.8% for ST-PNETs and 34.6% ± 5.2% for PF-PNETs. Conclusion Despite aggressive combined modality therapy, ST-PNETs had high rates of failure, with M+ patients faring especially poorly. Both local and spinal failure rates remained high, indicating the need to maximize both local and regional/systemic therapies. Overall, these patients fared worse than those with high-risk PF-PNETs in terms of progression-free survival and failure rates.
Electrical responses of the human eye to colored flickering light.

The electrical flicker responses of the eye to stimulation at various wavelengths and luminances were recorded by means of a frequency analyzer in a manner suggested by Granit and Wirth. This instrument employs a tuned circuit to “lock in” on the stimulating frequency of the light flashes. Its tuning characteristics allow it to reject frequencies other than the one to which it is tuned, thus improving the signal-to-noise ratio. The results obtained were plotted against stimulus luminance, and criterion responses were used to plot spectral sensitivity points as a basis for comparison with the standard I.C.I. photopic sensitivity curve. The results point to the electrical responses of the eye as being more sensitive in the blue and red regions of the visible spectrum than their counterpart in psychophysical data. Various discrepancies and their possible sources are discussed. The use of the frequency analyzer in further electroretinographic research is evaluated, particularly with problems that depend on some frequency characteristic of the response.
The determination of mercury in whole blood and urine by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Abstract An inductively coupled mass spectrometric (ICP-MS) method for the determination of mercury in whole blood and urine was developed. Gold and dichromate in hydrochloric acid were evaluated as agents to reduce mercury spray chamber memory. Dichromate with hydrochloric acid was found to be superior to gold. We evaluated the rapid introduction of sample to promote equilibrium and the rapid introduction of wash solutions after the sample analyses to minimize mercury memory. This ‘fast pump’ mode (2.5 ml/min) was used for 20 s at the beginning and end of each sample-wash cycle. The mercury detection limit is 0.15 μg/l in the original sample before dilution. Regressions and correlation coefficients for ICP-MS vs. target concentrations for interlaboratory comparison samples from the Centre de Toxicologie du Quebec were: whole blood: y=1.0x−0.6; r=0.9801; n=27 and urine: y=0.84x+8; r=0.9915; n=42. Patient samples were analyzed by ICP-MS and cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). Regressions and correlations for patient samples were: urines: y=0.93x+1; r=0.8763; n=456 and whole blood: y=1.1x+0.2; r=0.9357; n=251. ICP-MS correlation with CVAAS for 29 urine samples containing 15–150 μg Hg/specimen was: y=0.94x+4; r=0.9864.
Polymeric precursor derived nanocrystalline ZnO thin films using EDTA as chelating agent

Abstract In this paper, synthesis of high quality nanocrystalline zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films is presented. A novel polymeric precursor route using ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) as chelating agent for Zn cations has been developed. The synthesized polymeric precursors were spincoated on different surface modified substrates and were annealed at different temperatures. The effect of annealing, over the range of 300–600 °C, on the properties of the ZnO films was investigated. The surface morphology, average crystallite size, degree of crystallization, and optical properties were also investigated. XRD results illustrate that the ZnO thin films are polycrystalline with texturing along the (0 0 2) plane. The thin films are dense, have homogeneous microstructure, with absorption edge at 375 nm, and optical transparency of over 85% in the visible region. The optical band gap energy of ZnO films was found to red-shift on annealing. Room temperature photoluminescence spectra of these films show strong UV emission on annealing.
Chemical Dependency Education within Medical Schools: Supervised Clinical Experience

Physicians can play a significant role in chemical dependency, including early identification and intervention, referral to treatment resources, patient and community education, and responsible prescribing practices. Some medical schools have begun to provide instruction in the psychology, pharmacology, and physical pathology of chemical dependency; yet surveys indicate that few offer supervised clinical experience with chemically dependent patients.At the University of Minnesota Medical School, chemical dependency treatment centers are used to provide supervised clinical tutorials for all second year students as part of a coordinated chemical dependency curriculum. The authors describe the development, goals, organization, instructional approaches, and assessment of these tutorials. It is argued that chemical dependency treatment centers are a valuable resource in the education of medical students, as well as other professionals, if used with a view to their assets and limitations.
056 Activation of Sterol Regulatory Element‐Binding Proteins ((SREBPs) is Critical in IL‐8‐Induced Angigiogenesi

Angiogenesis is an essential process during wound healing. The chemokine IL-8 is a well-known inflammatory and angiogenic factor. We found that IL-8 stimulates activation of SREBPs, molecules that are critical for cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism, and that this activation is markedly increased during IL-8-induced angiogenesis. Two important processes in the early stages of angiogenesis are increase in proliferation and migration of endothelial cells. Therefore, we tested whether IL-8 stimulates these processes in a SREBP-dependent manner both in vivo and in culture. Our data show that IL-8 stimulates SREBP-1 and -2 gene expression which leads to an increase in both the precursor and the mature forms of these proteins in human microvascular endothelial cells (hMVEC). In addition, several genes downstream of SREBPs are also up-regulated by IL-8 stimulation, in particular 3-hydroxy -3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCA). Furthermore, SREBP-1 was abundant in the neovasculature of wound healing skin, and this expression could be suppressed by local application of antibodies to IL-8 or to its receptors, CXCR1 and CXCR2. To test whether SREBP activation is critical for the proliferation and migration of endothelial cells induced by IL-8 during angiogenesis, we used either RNA interference (RNAi) to inhibit the SREBP cleavage-activating protein (SCAP) that escorts SREBPs from the ER to the Golgi for maturation (activation), or treated endothelial cells with 25-hydroxycholesterol (25-HC), an inhibitor of SREBP activation. Both SCAP RNAi and 25-HC significantly inhibited IL-8-induced SREBP activation during endothelial cell migration and proliferation indicating that SREBPs are critical components of the signaling pathways leading to IL8-induced angiogenesis. In addition, in the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) model, 25-HC markedly inhibited both developmental- and IL-8-induced angiogenesis in 7-day and 10-day CAMs, respectively. In conclusion, our results indicate a novel regulatory mechanism for IL-8-induced angiogenesis that is mediated by SREBPs.
Trust in expert testimony: Eddington's 1919 eclipse expedition and the British response to general relativity

Abstract The 1919 British astronomical expedition led by Arthur Stanley Eddington to observe the deflection of starlight by the sun, as predicted by Einstein's relativistic theory of gravitation, is a fascinating example of the importance of expert testimony in the social transmission of scientific knowledge. While Popper lauded the expedition as science at its best, accounts by Earman and Glymour, Collins and Pinch, and Waller are more critical of Eddington's work. Here I revisit the eclipse expedition to dispute the characterization of the British response to general relativity as the blind acceptance of a partisan's pro-relativity claims by colleagues incapable of criticism. Many factors served to make Eddington the trusted British expert on relativity in 1919, and his experimental results rested on debatable choices of data analysis, choices criticized widely since but apparently not widely by his British contemporaries. By attending to how and to whom Eddington presented his testimony and how and by whom this testimony was received, I suggest, we may recognize as evidentially significant corroborating testimony from those who were expert not in relativity but in observational astronomy. We are reminded that even extraordinary expert testimony is neither offered nor accepted entirely in an epistemic vacuum.