cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Eco-friendly 3D micromachining of polymers by 172 nm photoablation for optical and microfluidics applications

We report a novel, environmentally-friendly, scalable subtractive process which allows for complex 3D optical, microfluidic and biomedical components and microstructures to be fabricated precisely in a wide variety of polymers. The reported technique is capable of producing submicron structures with 20 µm depth in biodegradable polymers. The process is based on a VUV (λ=172 nm) photoablative lithographic technique utilizing flat microplasma lamps and does not require a clean room environment or any chemical processing. The fabricated 3D surface may also be used as a mold for PDMS curing.
High-Dose Nitric Oxide From Pressurized Cylinders and Nitric Oxide Produced by an Electric Generator From Air.

Background: High dose (≥80 parts-per-million[ppm]) inhaled nitric oxide (NO) has antimicrobial effects. We designed a trial to test the preventive effects of high dose NO on coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in healthcare providers working with COVID-19 patients. The study was interrupted prematurely due to the introduction of COVID-19 vaccines for healthcare professionals. We thereby present data on safety and feasibility of breathing 160 ppm NO using two different NO sources, namely pressurized nitrogen/NO cylinders (iNO) and electric NO generators (eNO).Methods: Nitric oxide gas was inhaled at 160 ppm in air for 15 minutes twice a day, before and after each work shift, over 14 days to healthcare providers (NCT04312243). During NO administration vital signs were continuously monitored. Safety was assessed by measuring transcutaneous methemoglobinemia (SpMet) and the inhaled nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentration.Results: 12 healthy healthcare professionals received a collective total of 185 administrations of high dose NO (160 ppm) for 15 minutes twice daily. 171 doses were delivered by iNO and 14 doses by eNO. During NO administration SpMet increased similarly in both groups (p=.82). Methemoglobin decreased in all subjects at five minutes after discontinuing NO administration. Inhaled NO2 concentrations remained between 0.70 [0.63-0.79] and 0.75 [0.67-0.83] ppm in the iNO group and between 0.74 [0.68-0.78] and 0.88 [0.70-0.93] ppm in eNO group. During NO administration peripheral oxygen saturation and heart rate did not change. No adverse events occurred.Conclusion: This pilot study testing high dose inhaled NO (160 ppm) for 15 minutes twice a day using eNO seem feasible and similarly safe when compared with iNO.
Geochemically induced shear slip in artificially fractured dolomite- and clay-cemented sandstone

Abstract Geologic carbon sequestration in deep saline aquifers results in a low pH brine plume that pushes into subsurface storage reservoirs and can access pre-existing or induced microfractures. This work investigates the effect of acidic brine on displacement of an artificial fracture under stress in the dolomite- and clay-cemented Bandera Gray sandstone. Samples were held under stress in a custom flow cell housed within an industrial CT scanner, and either acidic (pH 4) or reservoir-simulated (pH 8.3) brine was flowed through the artificial fracture for seven days. CT imaging shows that acidic brine resulted in greater shear slip than reservoir-simulated brine, with 0.379 ± 0.022 mm shear slip after pH 4 flow and only 0.213 ± 0.011 mm slip after pH 8.3 flow. Fracture surfaces exposed to acidic brine had rougher surfaces and lower fracture toughness, respectively, than those exposed to reservoir-simulated brine. SEM images of fracture surfaces indicate a loss by area of Fe-dolomite cementing crystals (6.05 ± 1.37% to 3.78 ± 0.73%) after exposure with the acidic brine, as well as a corresponding porosity increase (24.6 ± 1.1% to 26.1 ± 1.1%). These results indicate dissolution and weakening of the dolomite cements by acidic brine frees individual grains at the fracture surface to move, resulting in geochemically-induced stress release. Acidic brine created from geological carbon sequestration can dissolve sandstone cements and lead to increased shear slip at fracture interfaces, but further work at larger scales and with more realistic fracture conditions is needed.
Motor Babble: Morphology-Driven Coordinated Control of Articulated Characters

Locomotion in humans and animals is highly coordinated, with many joints moving together. Learning similar coordinated locomotion in articulated virtual characters, in the absence of reference motion data, is a challenging task due to the high number of degrees of freedom and the redundancy that comes with it. In this paper, we present a method for learning locomotion for virtual characters in a low dimensional latent space which defines how different joints move together. We introduce a technique called motor babble, wherein a character interacts with its environment by actuating its joints through uncoordinated, low-level (motor) excitations, resulting in a corpus of motion data from which a manifold latent space is extracted. Dimensions of the extracted manifold define a wide variety of synergies pertaining to the character and, through reinforcement learning, we train the character to learn locomotion in the latent space by selecting a small set of appropriate latent dimensions, along with learning the corresponding policy.
Using tandem mass spectrometry to quantify site-specific chlorination and nitration of proteins: model system studies with high-density lipoprotein oxidized by myeloperoxidase.

Abstract Protein oxidation is implicated in atherogenesis and other inflammatory conditions. Measuring levels of chlorinated and nitrated proteins in biological matrices serves as a quantitative index of oxidative stress in vivo . One potential mechanism for oxidative stress involves myeloperoxidase, a heme protein expressed by neutrophils, monocytes, and some populations of macrophages. The enzyme uses hydrogen peroxide to generate an array of cytotoxic oxidants, including hypochlorous acid (HOCl), a potent chlorinating intermediate, and nitrogen dioxide radical, a reactive nitrogen species (RNS). One important target may be high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), which is implicated in atherogenesis. This chapter describes liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometric methods for quantifying site‐specific modifications of proteins that have been oxidized by HOCl or RNS. Our studies center on apolipoprotein A‐I, the major HDL protein, which provides an excellent model system for investigating factors that target specific residues for oxidative damage. Our approach is sensitive and rapid, applicable to a wide array of posttranslational modifications, and does not require peptides to be derivatized or labeled with an isotope.
A Multiresolution Representation for Shape

This paper defines a multiple-resolution representation for shape. The representation is constructed by detecting peaks and ridges in the Difference of Low-Pass (DOLP) transform. Descriptions of shape which are encoded in this representation may be matched efficiently despite changes in size, orientation, or position.
Shared memory based cooperative coevolution

Autonomous agents that possess distinct expertise but lack proper coordination skills can suffer from poor performance in a cooperative setting. The success of agents in multiagent systems is based on their ability to adapt effectively with other agents in completing their tasks. We present here a co-evolutionary approach to generating behavioral strategies for autonomous agents cooperating with each other to achieve a common goal. We co-evolve agent behaviors with genetic algorithms (GAs) where one GA population is evolved per individual in the cooperative group. Groups are formed by pairing strategies from each population and the best pairs are stored in shared memory. Population members are evaluated by pairing them with representatives of other populations in the shared memory. Experimental results obtained by conducting experiments in a room painting domain are presented, showing the success of the shared memory approach in consistently generating optimal behavior patterns. Performance comparisons with a random pairing approach and a single population approach demonstrate the utility of the shared memory approach.
Cutting Edge : Down-Regulation of MHC Class I-Related Chain A on Tumor Cells by IFN-γ-Induced MicroRNA

NKG2D is a receptor used by NK cells to detect virally infected and transformed cells. It recognizes ligands that are expressed constitutively on primary tumors and tumor cell lines. In this report, we have identified four microRNAs (miRNAs) that each was sufficient to reduce the expression of the NKG2D ligand MHC class I-related chain A (MICA). One of these miRNAs (miR-520b) was induced by IFN-gamma, leading to a reduction in MICA surface protein levels. Interestingly, miR-520b acted on both the MICA 3'-untranslated region and the promoter region and caused a decrease in the levels of MICA transcript. In contrast, an antisense oligonucleotide inhibitor of miR-520b increased the expression of a reporter construct containing the MICA 3'-untranslated region but not the MICA promoter region. These findings demonstrate the novel regulation of an NKG2D ligand by an endogenous microRNA that is itself induced by IFN-gamma.
Studies on the Viral Etiology of the Renal Adenocarcinoma of Rana pipiens (Lucké Tumor)

The presence of intranuclear acidophilic inclusion bodies and an increased incidence of tumors in frogs receiving cell-free tumor extracts led Lucke (1, 2) to postulate a viral etiology of the renal adenocarcinoma of Rana pipiens (Lucke tumor). Although this conclusion was reached over thirty years ago, propagation of a virus from R. pipiens capable of inducing renal tumors has not been achieved.
β-Arrestin 2 dependence of δ opioid receptor agonists is correlated with alcohol intake

Background and Purpose δ Opioid receptor agonists are being developed as potential treatments for depression and alcohol use disorders. This is particularly interesting as depression is frequently co-morbid with alcohol use disorders. Yet we have previously shown that δ receptor agonists range widely in their ability to modulate alcohol intake; certain δ receptor agonists actually increase alcohol consumption in mice. We propose that variations in β-arrestin 2 recruitment contribute to the differential behavioural profile of δ receptor agonists. Experimental Approach We used three diarylmethylpiperazine-based non-peptidic δ receptor selective agonists (SNC80, SNC162 and ARM390) and three structurally diverse δ receptor agonists (TAN-67, KNT127 and NIH11082). We tested these agonists in cAMP and β-arrestin 2 recruitment assays and a behavioural assay of alcohol intake in male C57BL/6 mice. We used β-arrestin 2 knockout mice and a model of depression-like behaviour to further study the role of β-arrestin 2 in δ receptor pharmacology. Key Results All six tested δ receptor agonists were full agonists in the cAMP assay but displayed distinct β-arrestin 2 recruitment efficacy. The efficacy of δ receptor agonists to recruit β-arrestin 2 positively correlated with their ability to increase alcohol intake (P < 0.01). The effects of the very efficacious recruiter SNC80 on alcohol intake, alcohol place preference and depression-like behaviour were β-arrestin 2-dependent. Conclusions and Implications Our finding that δ receptor agonists that strongly recruit β-arrestin 2 can increase alcohol intake carries important ramifications for drug development of δ receptor agonists for treatment of alcohol use disorders and depressive disorders. © 2015 The British Pharmacological Society
University of Hawaii adaptive optics system: II. Computer simulation

A review of computer simulation of a low-order adaptive system based on curvature sensing and a bimorph mirror is given. The system was designed to accurately follow the lowest order Karhunen Loeve modes of the atmosphere. The purpose of the simulation was system design improvement and the determination of system performance limits. The four main areas of the simulation are described; atmospheric simulation, Fresnel propagation, bimorph model, and sensor feedback model. Results are presented and discussed.
Avalanche Breakdown Design Parameters in GaN

We have studied the avalanche breakdown design parameters of GaN n+/p and p+/n junctions in the voltage range of 1.2 to 12 kV using numerical simulations and analytical calculations. Important analytical models regarding the relationships between breakdown voltages, depletion width, maximum junction electric field and doping concentrations have been extracted which shows very high consistency with the results from numerical simulations. These analytical models can be used as guidelines in the designing of GaN high voltage power devices. The multiplication factors Mn and Mp have also been obtained and the analytical models have been extracted. The results showed that in GaN, n+/p junction is better than p+/n for the main voltage blocking junction due to a sharper avalanche current increase.
Spatial constraints of device-to-device communications

Device-to-device (D2D) communication has recently been considered as an efficient way to offload the cellular traffic by allowing user equipments (UEs) to have direct communication via the licensed spectrum. In this paper, we study the fundamental constraints of maximally allowed density and communication distance of D2D devices. The locations of D2D devices are modeled by a Poisson point process (PPP) and the tools from stochastic geometry are applied for network analysis. Scenarios involving infinite and finite coverage area and exclusion region are investigated.
c-Cbl mediated ubiquitylation and regulation of cell surface exposure of CD5.

Abstract Downregulation of cell surface receptors is an important process aimed at attenuation or termination of receptor signaling. c-Cbl role in the process is thought to be initial ubiquitylation of the receptors targeted for degradation and assembly of internalization complexes consisting of several other proteins. c-Cbl seems to be present during the whole process of vesicle sorting after internalization. However, there are very few receptor molecules so far like EGFR being proven to be regulated by c-Cbl. It is known that a level of CD5 on mouse c-Cbl−/− thymocytes is upregulated in comparison to wild type cells. The mechanism leading to the upregulation is unknown. We show that CD5 is ubiquitylated in Jurkat-TAg cells and in mouse thymocytes and that the ubiquitylation is c-Cbl dependent. We also show that amount of CD5 associated with lysosomal marker LAMP-1 after stimulation is significantly lower in c-Cbl −/− thymocytes. CD5 mRNA level did not differ significantly between c-Cbl −/− and wild type thymocytes. We conclude that CD5 is ubiquitylated; the ubiquitylation is mediated by c-Cbl; CD5 level on a T lymphocyte cell surface is regulated by ubiquitylation and targeting to lysosomes.
Breeding for Egg Quality I. Heritability and Repeatability of Egg Weight and Its Components

Abstract SEVERAL factors related to egg quality such as egg size, shell thickness, amount of thick albumen and number of blood spots are known to have a heritable basis. Because of this, many poultry breeders are giving increased attention to the possibility of improvement of egg quality through selection. In order to perfect breeding procedures for the improvement of egg quality, more detailed information concerning the heritable nature of egg quality factors is desirable. In the present report, estimates of the heritability and repeatability of total egg weight, yolk weight, and albumen weight will be given. This is intended as the first of a series of papers dealing with the subject of breeding for egg quality. All of the heritability estimates of total egg weight reported in the literature indicate this character to be highly heritable. Thirteen separate estimates from four different sources cited by Shoffner and Sloan (1948) ranged from …
The decomposition of ethanol, propanol and acetic acid chemisorbed on magnesium oxide

Abstract Adsorption of ethanol, propanol, or acetic acid at 10-5 Torr for 10 min on magnesium oxide powder, followed by evacuation for 20 min and then temperature programmed thermal desorption at a rate of 150 K min-1, yielded the dehydration products ethylene, propylene, and ketene, respectively, while the dehydrogenation products were below detection limits. Several experiments with ethanol chemisorbed on magnesium oxide doped with various transition metals revealed that such impurities have the effect of lowering the temperature at which ethylene is desorbed. A mechanism is proposed which accounts for dehydration under low pressure conditions and dehydrogenation under high pressure conditions.
Effects of Teacher-Constructed Pre- and Post-Graphic Organizer Instruction on Sixth-Grade Science Students’ Comprehension and Recall

AbstractThis investigation compares the effectiveness of three instructional procedures for facilitating sixth graders’ comprehension and retention of science content: (a) use of teacher-constructed graphic organizers (GO) before text reading (pre-GO), (b) use of teacher-constructed graphic organizers after text reading (post-GO), and (c) use of a traditional form of instruction consisting of frequent questions and text-oriented discussion interjected before, during, and after text reading. The results indicate that all three groups were comparable on daily probe measures and an immediate posttest; however, the pre-GO group outperformed the post-GO group on a delayed posttest measure. The overall results suggest that teacher-constructed graphic organizers, whether presented prior to or following textual reading, appear no more effective than traditional instruction in increasing sixth-grade children’s comprehension and retention of science content-area information. The present findings fail to corroborate...
Cooperative Communication Aware Link Scheduling for Cognitive Vehicular Networks

Throughput maximization is a key challenge for wireless applications in cognitive Vehicular Ad-hoc Networks (C-VANETs). As a potential solution, cooperative communications, which may increase link capacity by exploiting spatial diversity, has attracted a lot of attention in recent years. However, if link scheduling is considered, this transmission mode may perform worse than direct transmission in terms of end-to-end throughput. In this paper, we propose a cooperative communication aware link scheduling scheme and investigate the throughput maximization problem in C-VANETs. Regarding the features of cooperative communications and the availability of licensed spectrum, we extend the links into cooperative links/general links, define extended link-band pairs, and form a 3-dimensional (3-D) cooperative conflict graph to characterize the conflict relationship among those pairs. Given all cooperative independent sets in this graph, we mathematically formulate an end-to-end throughput maximization problem and near-optimally solve it by linear programming. Due to the NP-completeness of finding all independent sets, we also develop a heuristic pruning algorithm for cooperative communication aware link scheduling. Our simulation results show that the proposed scheme is effective in increasing end-to-end throughput for the session in C-VANETs.
EXAFS and XRD studies of phase formations of Co in reactions with SiGe alloys

Abstract Using EXAFS and XRD techniques, we have investigated the phase formation of Co/SiGe structures at several annealing temperatures. For the Co/Si 0.80 Ge 0.20 samples annealed from 400°C to 600°C, Co(Si 1− y Ge y ) phases with y ∼ 0.10 were identified and the coordination number of Si around Co increases as the annealing temperature increases. For the sample annealed at 700°C, only the CoSi 2 phase was formed. These results indicate a preferential CoSi reaction when annealing the Co/SiGe structure.
Memories and Reflections, The Singapore Experience: Documenting a Nation's History Through Oral History

The Oral History Centre (OHC) of Singapore was established in 1979 by the National Archives of Singapore “to record the voices of people who have been eyewitnesses to events and developments that m...
Pulsed CV system for ion implantation control

Abstract A high precision, automatic, pulsed capacitance measuring system, developed for basic studies and for process control is described. The system consists of a microprocessor controlled capacitance bridge including current measuring capability, connected to a desk calculator. It allows the measurement of a great variety of semiconductor and thin film properties in MOS structures. Main application is the control of low dose implantation processes by measuring the implanted profiles and the doping uniformity over the wafer area.
Sphere Culture of Murine Lung Cancer Cell Lines Are Enriched with Cancer Initiating Cells

Cancer initiating cells (CICs) represent a unique cell population essential for the maintenance and growth of tumors. Most in vivo studies of CICs utilize human tumor xenografts in immunodeficient mice. These models provide limited information on the interaction of CICs with the host immune system and are of limited value in assessing therapies targeting CICs, especially immune-based therapies. To assess this, a syngeneic cancer model is needed. We examined the sphere-forming capacity of thirteen murine lung cancer cell lines and identified TC-1 and a metastatic subclone of Lewis lung carcinoma (HM-LLC) as cell lines that readily formed and maintained spheres over multiple passages. TC-1 tumorspheres were not enriched for expression of CD133 or CD44, putative CIC markers, nor did they demonstrate Hoechst 33342 side population staining or Aldefluor activity compared to adherent TC-1 cells. However, in tumorsphere culture, these cells exhibited self-renewal and long-term symmetric division capacity and expressed more Oct-4 compared to adherent cells. HM-LLC sphere-derived cells exhibited increased Oct-4, CD133, and CD44 expression, demonstrated a Hoechst 33342 side population and Aldefluor activity compared to adherent cells or a low metastatic subclone of LLC (LM-LLC). In syngeneic mice, HM-LLC sphere-derived cells required fewer cells to initiate tumorigenesis compared to adherent or LM-LLC cells. Similarly TC-1 sphere-derived cells were more tumorigenic than adherent cells in syngeneic mice. In contrast, in immunocompromised mice, less than 500 sphere or adherent TC-1 cells and less than 1,000 sphere or adherent LLC cells were required to initiate a tumor. We suggest that no single phenotypic marker can identify CICs in murine lung cancer cell lines. Tumorsphere culture may provide an alternative approach to identify and enrich for murine lung CICs. Furthermore, we propose that assessing tumorigenicity of murine lung CICs in syngeneic mice better models the interaction of CICs with the host immune system.
Abstract 2386: Molecular-cytogenetic analysis of the maternal embryonic leucine-zipper kinase (MELK) oncogene in cancer

Introduction: The MELK gene is located on chromosome 9p13.2 and encodes a serine/threonine kinase that is involved in cell cycle regulation and apoptosis. The MELK protein is abundantly expressed in various tumors including breast cancer, and is associated with poor patient survival. MELK is an attractive molecular target due to its critical roles in cancer stem cell maintenance. However, the function and mechanism of MELK overexpression remain elusive. Gene amplification/copy number gain is one of the potential mechanisms underlying MELK overexpression. In this pilot study, we used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to detect MELK gene amplification and analyzed other MELK gene copy number alterations (CNA) in endometrial, ovarian, and breast cancer cell lines. Methods: To date, 3 endometrial, 1 ovarian and 13 breast cancer cell lines of different subtypes were screened for MELK CNA. Of these, six breast cancer cell lines (BT20, MCF7, MDAMB231, SKBR3, BT549, and T47D) had known status of MELK: all carried high levels of protein expression by Western Blot. Cell harvest and metaphase slides were prepared according to standard protocols. MELK FISH probe (BAC RP11-450B8) directly labeled with SpectrumGreen was developed and validated in our laboratory. The chromosome 9 centromere enumeration probe (CEP9) labeled with SpectrumOrange (Abbott Molecular) was used to distinguish gene amplification from gene polysomy (gene and chromosome copy number gain ≥ 3). Mean copies of each signal per cell and copy number ratios per cell were calculated. Ratio of MELK to CEP9 ≥ 2.0 was a cut off point for MELK amplification. Results: Across all cell lines, the ratios of MELK to CEP9 ranged between 0.5 to 1.7, showing no amplification. However, 10 cell lines (59%) displayed 3-8 copies of MELK due to polysomy for chromosome 9, 4 (24%) harbored both gene polysomy and structural alterations (duplications and translocations); only two cell lines exhibited normal MELK and CEP9 copies and one presented with heterozygous deletion of MELK. Interestingly, all 6 MELK- overexpressed cell lines showed either gene polysomy or complex chromosomal alterations or both. Conclusions: Our pilot study suggests that amplification of MELK gene does not occur or is a rare event in human cancer cells in vitro. However, recurrent MELK structural alterations (duplications and translocations) and gene polysomy can cause elevated protein expression in breast cancer cell lines. MELK FISH study in primary tumors from breast cancer patients will be presented. Supported by: American Cancer Society Citation Format: Ashley Hardeman, Tatyana A. Grushko, Maria J. Gomez, Mariann Coyle, Yusuke Nakamura, Olufunmilayo I. Olopade. Molecular-cytogenetic analysis of the maternal embryonic leucine-zipper kinase (MELK) oncogene in cancer. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 2386. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-2386
The parameter R2 in multiquadric interpolation

Abstract The multiquadric (MQ) method is an effective bivariate interpolant to three-dimensional data (xi, yi, zi), where the (xi, yi) are arbitrarily located in the plane. The accuracy of the MQ method is dependent on a user defined parameter R2, and most practitioners select R2 based upon the number of data points and the locations of the (xi, yi) in the plane. We observe that the optimal value of R2 is a strong function of the zi, and that it is essentially independent of both the number and the locationsof the (xi, yi) points. Contrary to some opinions, we observe that the MQ method can effectively interpolate to “track data”, that is, data sampled densely along tracks in the plane. Together with several other observations, we present an algorithm that generally yields an effective value for R2.
Acute toxicity of five insect chemosterilants, hemel, hempa, tepa, metepa, and methotrexate, for cockerels.

Abstract The acute oral LD50 values in 11-day-old cockerels of the insect chemosterilants, hemel (hexamethylmelamine), hempa (hexamethylphosphoric triamide), tepa (tris(1-aziridinyl)phosphine oxide), metepa (tris(2-methyl-1-aziridinyl)phosphine oxide), and methotrexate (N-(p-(((2,4-diamino-6-pteridinyl)methyl)methylamino)benzoyl)glutamic acid), were calculated to be 341 (314–373), 835 (771–932), 151 (130–169), 329 (306–353), and >1000 mg/kg, respectively. The LD30, LD70, and LD90 values were also computed. Methotrexate at 1000 mg/kg caused no detrimental effects in the treated birds. Leukopenia was marked in birds treated with 300 mg/kg metepa and 125 mg/kg tepa. Hemel at 300 mg/kg caused a moderate leukopenia, but hempa at 600 mg/kg had little or no effect on the number of leukocytes in the blood. Testes growth and spleen size were significantly restricted by treatment. Microscopic examination indicated that hempa at 500 mg/kg was highly inhibitory to testicular development.
CMOS phase-shifting circuits for wireless beamforming transmitters

Two phase-shifting techniques for wireless beamforming transmitter applications are presented. The first performs quadrant selection using phase-offset local oscillators and fine-grain phase-shifting using RF phase shifters; a 5.2 GHz narrowband phase shifter is designed and fabricated in the CMOS subset of a 0.25 μm SiGe BiCMOS process. Using a tunable all-pass filter topology, it achieves a wide phase-shift range with low loss, and minimizes the number of on-chip passive elements. Measurement results show an insertion loss of 2 dB, an IIP3 of 1 dBm, and a total phase-shift range of 240°; power consumption of the core circuitry is 36.3 mW from a 2.5 V supply. The second approach, a phase-shifting up-converter based on Cartesian combining, achieves a 360° phase shift range that is independent of the operating frequency. Fabricated in 0.18 μm CMOS, it achieves 8 dB conversion gain, 4 dBm OP1 dB, 28 dB sideband rejection, and a 360° phase-shift range at 5.2 GHz without the explicit use of RF phase shifters. The power consumption of its core circuitry is 46.5 mW.
Nonlinear Viscoelastic Analysis of Composites using Competing Micromechanical Models

Micromechanical models for a study of nonlinear viscoelastic (NVE) response of composite laminae are developed and their performance compared. A single integral constitutive law proposed by Schapery and subsequently generalized to multiaxial states of stress is utilized in the study for the matrix material. This is used in conjunction with a computationally facile scheme in which hereditary strains are computed using a recursive relation suggested by Henriksen. Composite response is studied using two competing micromodels, a simplified square cell model (SSCM) and a finite element based self-consistent cylindrical model (FECM). The algorithm is developed assuming that the material response computations are carried out in a module attached to a general purpose finite element program used for composite structural analysis. It is shown that the SSCM as used in investigations of material nonlinearity can involve significant errors in the prediction of transverse Young’s modulus and shear modulus. The errors i...
Some properties of bacteriophages active on the obligate anaerobe Clostridium sporogenes.

Abstract The most commonly encountered bacteriophages active on Clostridium sporogenes have elongated six-sided heads and simple, tubular, noncontractile tails. These viruses have minimum latent periods of about 1 hour at 37° and yield average burst sizes from 17 to 150 PFU/cell. Phage F1 was selected as typical of this group and has been characterized in these studies. F1-directed DNA synthesis begins 20 minutes after infection, and the first mature intracellular virus particles are formed in 40 minutes. Infected cells begin to lyse 60 minutes after infection, and lysis is complete within 90 minutes. F1 particles sedimented with an S obs . of 301, and were composed of 40% protein and 60% DNA. The DNA gave a thermal denaturation profile typical of double-stranded DNA with a T M value of 85.2°. This indicates a 39.5% GC content which is somewhat higher than 33.2% GC found for its host, C. sporogenes 213. Two other viruses, active on strains of C. sporogenes but encountered less frequently, were a very large phage 420 mμ in length with an icosahedral head and a noncontractile tail, and a temperate phage with a smaller icosahedral head and a tail with a contractile sheath. All these viruses were similar to phages described for aerobic, gram-positive bacteria.
Team Structure and Performance: Assessing the Mediating Role of Intrateam Process and the Moderating Role of Task Type

The authors used data from 45 production teams (626 individuals) and their supervisors to test hypotheses related to team structure. For teams engaged primarily in conceptual tasks, interdependence...
Release of alpha-melanocyte stimulating hormone into rat and human cerebrospinal fluid in vivo and from rat hypothalamus slices in vitro

The release of α-melanocyte stimulating hormone (α-MSH) from central nervous system neurons was investigated and demonstrated in vivo and in vitro . α-MSH immunoreactivity in rat and human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is comprised of deacetylated α-MSH, α-MSH and the methionine sulfoxide forms of these peptides. The sulfoxides are formed artifactually upon extraction. α-MSH in rat CSF is unaffected by hypophysectomy but is markedly increased by electrical stimulation of the mesencephalic central gray. These data indicate that CSF α-MSH is primarily of neuronal origin. α-MSH is also released in a calcium dependent manner from hypothalamic slices in vitro . The fact that the release of αMSH is stimulated by veratridine and inhibited by tetrodotoxin demonstrates the necessity for neuronal sodium influx for α-MSH release. The presence of an α-MSH neurosecretory process supports a neurotropic role for this peptide in the central nervous system.
A split-plot experiment in an automobile windshield fracture resistance test

The resistance of laminated glass to small projectile impact is examined with a design of experiments technique. The analysis follows a split-plot design, but other closely related approaches such as repeated measure analysis and multivariate analysis are also discussed and compared.
Melt-spun non-circular carbon fibers

Abstract Carbon fibers are commercially produced from both PAN and petroleum pitch-based processes. PAN-based fibers are usually circular or dogbone-shaped in cross section due to the nature of the precipitation processes used in their production. Pitch-based fibers are melt spun and thus (like other melt-spun fibers) can be extruded into a wide variety of non-circular shapes. In this investigation trilobal and octalobal carbon fibers were melt spun using a precursor produced from petroleum pitch. These non-circular fibers were oxidized and carbonized at conditions typically used in processing circular carbon fibers. Then the fiber modulus, strength and structure was compared to that of circular fibers produced as a control. Surprisingly, the non-circular carbon fibers, which possess a unique structure, have both a higher strength and modulus than the circular carbon fibers.
Effect of hepatitis C virus and its treatment on survival.

The effect of hepatitis C virus (HCV) and its treatment on survival is not well defined. We undertook this study to determine the effect of HCV and its treatment on survival in a national cohort of HCV-infected veterans and uninfected controls. We used a national sample of HCV-infected persons and HCV-uninfected controls from the Electronically Retrieved Cohort of HCV Infected Veterans (ERCHIVES) to compare survival between the two groups. We also compared the effect of treatment and treatment duration on survival in the HCV-infected group. We used matched Cox proportional hazards model to determine the predictors of mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival plots were generated to determine and compare survival among HCV-infected and HCV-uninfected persons, and among treated and untreated HCV-infected persons.We identified 34,480 matched pairs of HCV-infected subjects and controls. HCV infection was independently associated with a higher risk of mortality (hazards ratio, 1.37; 95% confidence interval, 1.31-1.47). Subjects treated for 48 weeks or longer had the lowest mortality among HCV-infected subjects (hazards ratio, 0.41; 95% confidence interval, 0.27-0.64), whereas those who received less than 48 week of treatment had intermediate mortality (hazards ratio, 0.71 and 0.60 for 0-23 weeks and 24-47 weeks of treatment, respectively) compared with untreated subjects. Conclusion: HCV infection is associated with a substantial increase in mortality. Subjects who are initiated on treatment, and particularly those who proceed to finish a full course of treatment, have significantly reduced risk of mortality. Further studies are warranted to determine the effect of virological control on survival. (HEPATOLOGY 2009.)
Some Things Are Just Made to Be Littered

Previous research has identified a number of situational factors that can contribute to littering in various settings. One key factor that has been largely overlooked is the products that people litter. A descriptive survey of roadside litter was conducted with the goals of identifying the most-littered products and their industry sources. A sample of litter was collected from roads in rural, suburban, and urban areas in Pennsylvania. Of 2,611 littered objects, most (84.6%) litter was waste from one-use smoking, beverage, food, and packaging products. The findings support the view that some products are differentially associated with littering behavior and are thus highly â€œlitterable,â€ leading to recommendations for reducing litter by targeting those products for change.
Robotic-assisted laparoscopic ureterocalicostomy.

INTRODUCTION Ureterocalicostomy is a well-established treatment option for patients with recurrent ureteropelvic junction obstruction or proximal ureteral stricture refractory to endoscopic management in the setting of diminutive or intrarenal pelvis or significant peripelvic fibrosis. We report a case of robotic-assisted laparoscopic ureterocalicostomy using the da Vinci robotic system in a patient with proximal ureteral stricture refractory to endoscopic management. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS All techniques described to date for ureterocalicostomy have been either open or purely laparoscopic. We report a case of robotic-assisted laparoscopic ureterocalicostomy in a patient with refractory proximal ureteral stricture secondary to multiple interventions for stones. We used laparoscopy for the initial dissection and exposure and robotic techniques for lower pole amputation and ureterocaliceal anastomosis. Intraoperative nephroscopy was also performed through the lower pole calix. The patient had resolution of the obstruction at 10 weeks postoperatively with the stent out and radiographic confirmation of excretion and drainage. CONCLUSIONS Robotic-assisted laparoscopic ureterocalicostomy is a feasible alternative to open or laparoscopic techniques for treating refractory proximal ureteral stricture or ureteropelvic junction obstruction. To our knowledge, this is the first described case of robotic-assisted laparoscopic ureterocalicostomy with intraoperative nephroscopy.
Reversal of Severe Heart Failure With a Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device and Pharmacological Therapy A Prospective Study

Background—We have previously shown that a specific combination of drug therapy and left ventricular assist device unloading results in significant myocardial recovery, sufficient to allow pump removal, in two thirds of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy receiving a Heartmate I pulsatile device. However, this protocol has not been used with nonpulsatile devices. Methods and Results—We report the results of a prospective study of 20 patients who received a combination of angiotensin-converting enzymes, β-blockers, angiotensin II inhibitors, and aldosterone antagonists followed by the β2-agonist clenbuterol and were regularly tested (echocardiograms, exercise tests, catheterizations) with the pump at low speed. Before left ventricular assist device insertion, patient age was 35.2±12.6 years (16 male patients), patients were on 2.0±0.9 inotropes, 7 (35) had an intra-aortic balloon pump, 2 were hemofiltered, 2 were ventilated, 3 had a prior Levitronix device, and 1 had extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. C...
Persuasive Narratives and Costly Actions

Persuasive narratives can induce some individuals to engage in costly actions. Entrepreneurs of suicide missions frame the necessity of violent behavior within the context of persuasive narratives to attract potential recruits. Herein we report results from an experiment to test factors involved with costly action linked to a persuasive narrative. We recruited 164 participants (M = 21, SD = 5.20) and measured hormones, electrodermal activity, and personality to predict who would be influenced by the narrative's message. We found that the persuasive narrative we tested resulted in costly action by those who are high-perspective takers and are more physiologically aroused by the narrative. The findings fill lacunae in the literature, providing a novel approach to examine costly behavior (like martyrdom missions) in the laboratory.
Using Input from Realtors to Improve Housing Counseling Programs

Realtors can be described as valuable, nonevaluator stake holders. Realtors can be involved in either motivating the public to become educated about the home buying process or Realtors might be involved in discouraging clients from becoming informed. The framework that guided this research was program evaluation theory. The authors believed that surveying Realtors would provide useful information for improving first-time home buyer (FTHB) workshops and for increasing the credibility of housing counseling agencies. The results of a survey indicated that Realtors perceived FTHB workshops to be “somewhat useful.” However, a majority of the Realtors opposed mandatory FTHB workshops, perceiving them as one more barrier for sales. Responses to an open-ended question showed that Realtors perceived the most troubling issue for FTHBs was experiencing underwriting delays when obtaining a mortgage. Providers of homeownership education can consider this information when evaluating their workshops to improve the effectiveness of FTHB education.
Auslander-Reiten components containing modules with bounded Betti numbers

Let R be a connected selfinjective Artin algebra, and M an indecomposable nonprojective R-module with bounded Betti numbers lying in a regular component of the Auslander-Reiten quiver of R. We prove that the Auslander-Reiten sequence ending at M has at most two indecomposable summands in the middle term. Furthermore we show that the component of the Auslander-Reiten quiver containing M is either a stable tube or of type ZA ∞ . We use these results to study modules with eventually constant Betti numbers, and modules with eventually periodic Betti numbers.
Transporters involved in resistance to antimalarial drugs

The ability to treat and control Plasmodium falciparum infection through chemotherapy has been compromised by the advent and spread of resistance to antimalarial drugs. Research in this area has identified the P. falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (PfCRT) and the multidrug resistance-1 (PfMDR1) transporter as key determinants of decreased in vitro susceptibility to several principal antimalarial drugs. Transfection-based in vitro studies are consistent with clinical findings of an association between mutations in the pfcrt gene and failure of chloroquine treatment, and between amplification of the pfmdr1 gene and failure of mefloquine treatment. Many countries are now switching to artemisinin-based combination therapies. These incorporate partner drugs of which some have an in vitro efficacy that can be modulated by changes in pfcrt or pfmdr1. Here, we summarize investigations of these and other recently identified P. falciparum transporters in the context of antimalarial mode of action and mechanisms of resistance.
Allometric scaling of grip strength by body mass in college-age men and women

(1995). Allometric Scaling of Grip Strength by Body Mass in College-Age Men and Women. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport: Vol. 66, No. 1, pp. 80-84.
Fluoxetine, a selective inhibitor of serotonin uptake, potentiates morphine analgesia without altering its discriminative stimulus properties or affinity for opioid receptors

The analgesic effect of morphine in the rat tail jerk assay was enhanced by the serotonin uptake inhibitor, fluoxetine. Tail jerk latency was not affected by fluoxetine alone. Morphine's affinity for opioid receptors labeled in vitro with 3H-naloxone or 3H-D-Ala2-D-Leu5-enkephalin was not altered by fluoxetine, which has no affinity for these sites at concentrations as high as 1000 nM. In rats trained to discriminate morphine from saline, fluoxetine at doses of 5 or 10 mg/kg were recognized as saline. Increasing the fluoxetine dose to 20 mg/kg did not result in generalization to either saline or morphine. The dose response curve for morphine generalization was not significantly altered by fluoxetine doses of 5 or 10 mg/kg. Those rats treated with the combination of morphine and 20 mg/kg of fluoxetine did not exhibit saline or morphine appropriate responding. Fluoxetine potentiates the analgesic properties of morphine without enhancing its affinity for opioid receptors or its discriminative stimulus properties.
Characterization of the activating region of Escherichia coli catabolite gene activator protein (CAP). II. Role at Class I and class II CAP-dependent promoters.

CAP-dependent promoters can be divided into classes based on the position of the DNA site for CAP. In class I CAP-dependent promoters, the DNA site for CAP is located upstream of the DNA site for RNA polymerase; the DNA site for CAP can be located at various distances from the transcription start point, provided that the DNA site for CAP and the DNA site for RNA polymerase are on the same face of the DNA helix. In class II CAP-dependent promoters, the DNA site for CAP overlaps the DNA site for RNA polymerase, replacing the −35 determinants for binding of RNA polymerase. In previous work, we have shown that a surface loop consisting of amino acid residues 152 to 166 of CAP is essential for transcription activation at the best-characterized class I CAP-dependent promoter, the lac promoter, and we proposed that this surface loop makes direct protein-protein contact with RNA polymerase in the ternary complex of lac promoter, CAP, and RNA polymerase. Here, we show that the surface loop consisting of amino acid residues 152 to 166 is essential for transcription activation at other class I CAP-dependent promoters and at a class II CAP-dependent promoter. We show further that the effects of alanine substitutions of residues 152 to 166 are qualitatively identical at the lac promoter and other class I CAP-dependent promoters, but are different at a class II CAP-dependent promoter. We propose that the surface loop consisting of residues 152 to 166 makes identical molecular interactions in transcription activation at all class I CAP-dependent promoters, irrespective of distance between the DNA site for CAP and the transcription start point, but makes a different set of molecular interactions in transcription activation at class II CAP-dependent promoters.
Spasmolytic action of adenosine on the guinea‐pig ileum

Adenosine (10−5M) reduces the contractile response of the guinea-pig isolated ileum to 5-hydroxytryptamine or barium more than the responses to acetylcholine or histamine. Adenosine also inhibits the contractile response of the guinea-pig ileum to a calcium-free medium. These results suggest that adenosine effects a blockade of the indirect responses to barium or 5-hydroxytryptamine mediated through intrinsic nerves and has a weak direct inhibitory effect on the smooth muscle cells of this tissue.
Evidence for Common Etiological Influences on Early Literacy Skills in Kindergarten

Understanding how the etiology of print awareness and phonological awareness are related to the etiology of decoding can provide insights into the development of word reading. To address this issue, we examined the degree of overlap among etiological influences of pre-reading skills in 1,252 twin pairs in kindergarten. Genetic, shared environmental, and non-shared environmental factors were significant for all three literacy phenotypes. The majority of genetic and shared environmental influence on decoding was due to common factors that included print awareness and phonological awareness. Notably, only a single genetic factor contributed to all three literacy phenotypes but there was additional shared environmental influence common to phonological awareness and decoding. Findings suggest commonalities in the etiology of pre-reading literacy skills that could inform work on the development of reading skill.