cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Fabrication of a material assembly of silver nanoparticles using the phase gradients of optical tweezers.

Optical matter can be created using the intensity gradient and electrodynamic (e.g., optical binding) forces that nano- and microparticles experience in focused optical beams. Here we show that the force associated with phase gradient is also important. In fact, in optical line traps the phase gradient force is crucial in determining the structure and stability of optical matter arrays consisting of Ag nanoparticles (NPs). NP lattices can be repeatedly assembled and disassembled simply by changing the sign of the phase gradient. The phase gradient creates a compressive force (and thus a stress) in the optically bound Ag NP lattices, causing structural transitions (a stress response) from 1D ``chains'' to 2D lattices, and even to amorphous structures. The structural transitions and dynamics of driven transport are well described by electrodynamics simulations and modeling using a drift-diffusion Langevin equation.
Mesoscale Sound Speed Fronts in the Central and Western North Pacific and in the Emperor Seamounts Region

Abstract Mesoscale sound speed fronts in the central and western Pacific are investigated on the basis of closely spaced CTD stations. In the flat-bottomed central Pacific where currents are weak, the main sound speed fronts occur neat the subarctic and subtropical water mass boundaries. In the western Pacific, where the topography is rugged and currents are strong, fronts are encountered not only near water mass boundaries, but throughout the region. Vertical oscillations of the sonocline are large and give rise to deep and at times quasi-regularly spaced (∼400 km) sound speed fronts. In the vicinity of the Emperor Seamounts a variety of sound speed fronts is observed. Frontal deflections are observed over Suiko, Nintoku, Jingu, and Kinmei seamounts. The individual patterns vary, though there is a tendency for the fronts to be deflected northward upon approaching the seamounts. A Taylor-column-like feature occurs over Suiko Seamount. Conspicuous sound speed domes occur near Jingu and Kanmu seamounts. The...
Determination of band curvatures by angle-resolved two-photon photoemission in thin films of C60 on Ag(111).

The thickness-dependent interfacial band structure was determined for thin films of C60 on Ag(111) by angle-resolved two-photon photoemission spectroscopy. Dispersions of molecular-orbital derived bands (HOMO, LUMO+1, and LUMO+2) were acquired, and limits were placed on their possible effective masses. A group theoretic approach is also incorporated to further understand the properties of these states. The HOMO, LUMO+1, and LUMO+2 bands possess (best-fit) effective masses of −7 me, −7 me, and −12 me, respectively. These values are consistent with theoretical calculations, averaged over the closely spaced subbands for each state, and provide practical limits on the effective fundamental charge-transport properties of C60 films.
N -Acetylcysteine (NAC)-Induced Hyponatremia Caused by an Electronic Medical Record (EMR) Order Error

Introduction Intravenous N-acetylcysteine (NAC) causes few adverse drug events, with mild anaphylactoid reactions being the most common. Hyponatremia as a complication of hypoosmolar NAC solution has been reported. We describe how a locally constructed electronic medical record (EMR) order set for IV NAC resulted in a seizure from hyponatremia due to excess free water administration.
Finite size effects on the thermodynamics of CuNi alloys: {100} and {110} thin films

Abstract A series of atomistic simulations of CuxNi1 − x {100} and {110} thin films were performed as a function of Cu-concentration, temperature, and thickness in order to determine the effects of film thickness on the surface concentration and the surface free energy. The surface free energies of these films were found to differ significantly from those of the corresponding flat surfaces of bulk samples. Very thin films exhibit surface entropies ΔS which have an opposite sign to those for the bulk (positive surface entropy). These films undergo a transition from negative to positive surface entropy with increasing film thickness, composition and/or temperature. The unusual behavior of the surface free energy of thin films may be accounted for by the surface energy dependence on the surface concentration and the limited solute availability in these systems. The surface segregation in these thin films may be accurately described by the theory presented in Ref. [3]. Using the prediction of the surface composition and a simulation of a bulk flat surface it is possible to accurately predict the (surface) free energy of thin films as a function of film thickness using only properties of a bulk sample.
Structures of the genes encoding the α and β subunits of the Neurospora crassa mitochondrial ATP synthase

Abstract We have isolated and sequenced cDNA and genomic clones encoding the α and β subunits of the Neurospora crassa ATP synthase. The genes are not linked to each other: atp-1 (α) maps to either linkage group I or V, and atp-2(β) lies on linkage group II. The two genes resemble each other in having a large number of introns, five in atp-1 and atp-2, mostly positioned near their 5′ ends and varying in length from 60–332 bp. The coding regions of both genes have a high G+C content (59%) and use a low number of codons, 46 (atp-1) and 44 (atp-2), a feature associated with highly expressed genes. Northern-blot analysis shows both genes are expressed at high levels during mycelial growth. Comparison of the exon-intron structures of the β-subunit-encoding gene with those from human and tobacco showed a similar number of introns, several closely positioned, but no exact conservation in position, size or sequence of introns.
β-Galactosidase fused to the hydrophobic domain of cytochrome b5 spontaneously associates with liposomes

Since liver microsomal cytochrome b5 spontaneously associates with liposomes and membranes by means of its C-terminal hydrophobic domain (HP), chimeric proteins containing HP prepared by genetic fusion might also spontaneously associate with liposomes or cellular membranes. Synthetic DNA corresponding to the hydrophobic domain of cytochrome b5 was enzymatically fused in-frame to cloned DNA corresponding to the C-terminus of the Escherichia coli enzyme, beta-galactosidase. This protein, LacZ:HP, synthesized in E. coli and purified from a crude E. coli membrane extract, was shown to spontaneously associated with liposomes, as does cytochrome b5. Association is rapid and stable in the presence of salt and high pH and the fusion protein behaves as an integral membrane protein. LacZ:HP can be readily and extensively purified from crude extracts by association with liposomes and this procedure may provide a convenient purification scheme for proteins not otherwise readily purified, for example polypeptides from cloned gene fragments to be used for antibody production. These hybrid proteins may represent a new potentially useful class of polypeptides capable of hydrophobic interactions with membranes.
Defining the passive state

The growth of passive film on tungsten in phosphate buffer solution has been described in terms of the Point Defect Model (PDM). The steady-state current and passive film thickness have been measured as a function of voltage, with the film thickness being obtained from an analysis of capacitance and reflectance data. The observed data cannot be accounted for by the High Field Model (HFM) in its classical form, but can be understood in terms of the PDM. Diagnostic criteria that have been derived from the PDM were used to identify the majority charge carriers in the passive film. The Point Defect Model was employed, together with Mott-Schottky analysis to explore the crystallographic defect structures of the passive films, whereas their electronic structures were studied using photoelectrochemical impedance spectroscopy (PEIS). The experimental results demonstrate that these structures are strongly coupled with the vacancies acting as the dopants.
Operations research: broadening computer science in a liberal arts college

Operations research, while not traditionally taught at many small or liberal arts colleges, can be a significant asset to the offerings of a computer science department. Often seen as a discipline at the intersection of mathematics, computer science, business, and engineering, it has great interdisciplinary potential and practical appeal, allowing for recruitment of students who may not consider taking a CS0 or CS1 course. A special topics course in operations research was offered by the computer science department at Southwestern University as an upper-level elective, and it was also cross-listed as a business and mathematics elective. Not only did the course benefit computer science majors who appreciated the applications and different perspectives, but it provided a means for the department to serve a wider population, increased interdisciplinary education, and resulted in a filled-to-capacity upper-level course in computer science for the first time in recent memory. This course is now being considered as a permanent elective that will interest computer science majors and minors as well as draw in students from disciplines across campus. For departments with limited faculty resources for teaching non-major courses, offering an operations research course provides an alternative that simultaneously serves the department and the campus as a whole.
Territory acquisition in lizards: III. Competing for space

Juvenile Anolis aeneus lizards were released into patches of microhabitat in the field, and their social interactions and space use recorded throughout the settlement period. Two hypotheses about the role of social interactions in space acquisition were tested: (1) settlers win space by winning contests and (2) settlers win space by persistence. Results supported the second hypothesis. Juveniles did not acquire the areas in which they won interactions with opponents, and in the vast majority of dyads, both the winner and the loser subsequently avoided the location of their first encounter with one another. A second set of analyses focused on ‘space transfers’, in which one settler gained possession of space that had been used by its opponent before they began to interact with one another. Subordinates were as successful as dominants at taking space from their opponent, and space transfers by dominants and subordinates were virtually identical with respect to estimates of the costs and benefits of space acquisition. Dominants acquired space by repeatedly chasing subordinates, and the amount of space that transferred from subordinate to dominant was positively related to the rate at which the dominant attacked the subordinate. Conversely, subordinates took space by persisting in the face of repeated attacks by dominants, and the amount of space taken by a subordinate was inversely related to the rate at which the subordinate was attacked by the dominant. Overall, dyads with space transfers interacted at higher rates for a longer period of time than dyads without transfers, and dyads with transfers were more likely to end up with overlapping activity areas than were dyads that resolved their disputes without taking space from one another. Two factors had independent effects on the probability that a dyad would engage in a transfer: (1) spatial overlap when the pair first encountered one another and (2) contender pressure in the patch of territorial habitat.
Citrobacter rodentium-induced NF-κB activation in hyperproliferating colonic epithelia: role of p65 (Ser536) phosphorylation

1. The transcription factors of the NF-kappaB/Rel family form dimeric complexes that control expression of various genes involved in inflammation and proliferation. 2. During transmissible murine colonic hyperplasia (TMCH) induced by Citrobacter rodentium, nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB in isolated colonic crypts increased 3 day's post-infection and continued over 12 days paralleling peak hyperplasia. Antibody supershifts for both p65/p50 hetero- and p50/p50 homodimers occurred. Expression levels of both p50 and p65 subunits increased in cytosolic/nuclear extracts and correlated with NF-kappaB activation kinetics. IkappaB alpha levels decreased during this time. 3. Phosphorylation of IKK alpha (at Ser(176/180)) and -beta (at Ser(177/181)) increased significantly during TMCH suggesting activation in vivo. 4. p65-Ser536 (p65(536)) exhibited increased phosphorylation on immunoblotting and immunohistochemistry (IHC) both at day 6 and 12 TMCH. p65(536) translocated to nucleus and interacted with transcriptional coactivator CREB binding protein (CBP). 5. Proteasomal inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade) caused accumulation of Ser(32/36)-phosphorylated IkappaB alpha and significant inhibition of NF-kappaB activity in vivo. Velcade also blocked nuclear translocation of activated p65: both immunoblotting and IHC failed to detect p65(536) nuclear immunoreactivity. Velcade, however, did not abrogate TMCH. 6. p65 interacted strongly with ribosomal S6 kinase 1 (RSK-1) during coimmunoprecipitation but not with IKK alpha or -beta. 7. Thus, NF-kappaB activation during TMCH involves both IkappaB alpha degradation and p65-Ser536 phosphorylation. p65/RSK-1 interaction and concomitant increase in p65(536) complexed with CBP may be important in modulating NF-kappaB activity in vivo. Activated NF-kappaB, besides modulating proliferation, may aid in providing protective immunity against C. rodentium infection in vivo.
Cyanobacterial and eukaryotic algal odour compounds: signals or by-products? A review of their biological activity

Algal metabolites (produced by cyanobacteria or eukaryotic algae) are the primary cause of foul source-water odour. Industry has tended to treat algal volatile organic compounds (AVOCs) as metaboli...
Quantitative Characterization of High- and Low-Affinity Binding Sites for Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor on Trabecular Cells of the Eye

By radioligand binding followed by Scatchard analysis, we characterized and quantitated the specific binding sites for bFGF on cultured trabecular meshwork cells obtained from freshly enucleated porcine eyes. We detected two binding sites: 1.67 x 10(4) +/- 5.75 x 10(2) high-affinity receptors per cell with a Kd of 33.4 +/- 7.90 pM, and 1.70 x 10(4) +/- 7.57 x 10(5) low-affinity binding sites per cell with a Kd of 3.84 +/- 1.41 nM. At low concentrations of 125I-bFGF ( 2.50 ng ml-1), binding was dependent on the low-affinity binding sites. By phase-contrast time-lapse video micrography and sequential photomicrography, we demonstrated that at a concentration of 1 ng ml-1, bFGF significantly stimulated the rate of mitosis of the trabecular meshwork cells in G0-phase compared with control cultures maintained in serum-free medium alone. Treatment with higher concentrations of bFGF did not reveal more potent effects on these cells. Our findings demonstrate that trabecular meshwork cells do possess low- and high-affinity receptors for bFGF and that bFGF induces these cells in vitro to re-enter the cell cycle. Because the low-affinity interactions of 125I-bFGF were reduced by 75% following pretreatment of the trabecular meshwork cells with heparinase, these sites represent cell-associated heparin-like molecules and heparan sulfate proteoglycans, and may control the bioavailability of bFGF to ocular tissues. Heparinase treatment also resulted in a 30% reduction in high-affinity binding, which may be secondary to the decreased low-affinity binding. This finding agrees with the well-established scheme for bFGF-receptor interaction. We conclude that bFGF at the concentration present in aqueous humor is capable of stimulating the mitotic activity of trabecular meshwork cells in vitro, suggesting a possible paracrine role of aqueous humour bFGF in vivo. The results obtained in this study, together with our previous findings on bFGF mRNA expression by trabecular meshwork cells and protein deposition in this tissue, also indicates that trabecular cells of the eye may utilize bFGF by an autocrine mechanism.
Right ventricular function during orthotopic liver transplantation.

Right ventricular (RV) function was assessed in 20 patients undergoing orthotopic liver transplantation to determine its role in the hemodynamic instability frequently seen during this procedure. A modified pulmonary artery catheter equipped with a fast response thermistor was used to determine RV ejection fraction (EFrv), allowing for calculation of RV end-diastolic volume index (EDVIrv, as the ratio of stroke index [SI] to EFrv) and RV end-systolic volume index (ESVIrv, as the difference between EDVIrv and SI). The above hemodynamic measures were taken during dissection for hepatectomy (stage I), during the anhepatic stage (stage II), and after reperfusion of the grafted liver, the neohepatic stage (stage III). No patient had pulmonary hypertension during the study interval. No correlation was observed between right atrial pressure (Pra) and EDVIrv, indicating that Pra is a less reliable clinical indicator of RV preload. RV function appeared to be well preserved throughout the procedure, as indicated by a relatively constant and supranormal EFrv, although a small and probably clinically unimportant decrease in EFrv was observed during the anhepatic stage (0.52, 0.50, and 0.55 during stages I, II, and III, respectively). There was a strong correlation between SI and EDVIrv for pooled data over a wide range of EDVIrv (60-185 mL.m-2). Although unstable central blood temperature precluded the determination of EFrv within the first 5 min after reperfusion, RV function was unaltered otherwise during uncomplicated orthotopic liver transplantation using venovenous bypass, indicating that orthotopic liver transplantation per se is not associated with significant RV dysfunction.
Construction and Consensus Performance of (Q)SAR Models for Predicting Phospholipidosis Using a Dataset of 743 Compounds

Drug-induced phospholipidosis (PLD) continues to be a safety concern for pharmaceutical companies and regulatory agencies, prompting the FDA/CDER Phospholipidosis Working Group to develop a database of PLD findings that was recently expanded to contain a total of 743 compounds (385 positive and 358 negative). Three commercial (quantitative) structure-activity relationship [(Q)SAR)] software platforms [MC4PC, Leadscope Predictive Data Miner (LPDM), and Derek for Windows (DfW)] were used to build and/or test models with the database and evaluated individually and together for their ability to predict PLD induction. Models constructed with MC4PC showed improved sensitivity over previous models constructed with an earlier version of the database and software (61.2 % vs. 50.0 %), but lower specificity in cross-validation experiments (58.2 % vs. 91.9 %) due in part to the more balanced ratio of positives to negatives in the training set. A new model created with LPDM gave good cross-validation statistics (79.0 % sensitivity, 78.0 % specificity) and the single DfW structural alert for PLD was found to have high positive predictivity (83.3 %) but low sensitivity (10.4 %) when tested with the entire PLD database. Combining the predictions of MC4PC, LPDM and/or DfW resulted in increased sensitivity and coverage over using one software platform alone, although it did not enhance the overall prediction accuracy beyond that of the best performing individual software platform. The comparison across software platforms, however, facilitated the identification and analysis of chemicals that were consistently predicted incorrectly by all platforms. The prevalence of cationic amphiphilic drug (CAD) structural motifs in the database contributed heavily to many of the structural alerts and discriminating features in the models, but the subset of incorrectly predicted structures across all models underscores the need to account for mitigating features and/or additional filtering criteria to assess PLD, in particular for PLD-inducing non-CADs and non-PLD-inducing CADs. (Q)SAR tools may be used as part of an early screening battery or regulatory risk assessment approach to identify those compounds with the greatest chance of inducing PLD and potentially toxicity.
Numerical Method for the Analysis of Diffraction Gratings

A general numerical technique for analyzing diffraction gratings of arbitrary groove shape as electromagnetic boundary-value problems is suggested. The method yields the induced surface current, from which the energies in various radiating orders can be conveniently obtained. Computed results are compared to the theoretical as well as the experimental results available in the literature. The accuracy and versatility of the technique are demonstrated together with its economy and convenience.
Son Preference in Indian Families: Absolute Versus Relative Wealth Effects

The desire for male children is prevalent in India, where son preference has been shown to affect fertility behavior and intrahousehold allocation of resources. Economic theory predicts less gender discrimination in wealthier households, but demographers and sociologists have argued that wealth can exacerbate bias in the Indian context. I argue that these apparently conflicting theories can be reconciled and simultaneously tested if one considers that they are based on two different notions of wealth: one related to resource constraints (absolute wealth), and the other to notions of local status (relative wealth). Using cross-sectional data from the 1998–1999 and 2005–2006 National Family and Health Surveys, I construct measures of absolute and relative wealth by using principal components analysis. A series of statistical models of son preference is estimated by using multilevel methods. Results consistently show that higher absolute wealth is strongly associated with lower son preference, and the effect is 20%–40% stronger when the household’s community-specific wealth score is included in the regression. Coefficients on relative wealth are positive and significant although lower in magnitude. Results are robust to using different samples, alternative groupings of households in local areas, different estimation methods, and alternative dependent variables.
Testing the contribution of multi-skilled employees to the financial performance of high-tech organizations

Abstract This paper presents a study that found no support for the claim: “Employees with multiple skills enable organizations to thrive in dynamically changing and unpredictable environments.” The study showed that the “multi-skilled worker” (MSW) was a non-significant predictor of financial performance in a statistical analysis of companies that operated in these environments. A sample of companies drawn from three high-technology industries (suppliers to the automotive industry, electronic instrumentation, and semiconductor manufacturers) showed no relationship between employee skill diversity and financial performance. As a result, it appears that the benefits of a multi-skilled workforce may be overstated in terms of its contribution to the organization's financial performance. Or, it may simply suggest that the additional profits generated by responsive, multi-skilled employees are insufficient to offset the additional costs associated with training and hiring them. Companies should be aware of these issues when considering plans to expand employee skill sets as part of a strategy for improving responsiveness.
Ovarian Burkitt lymphoma: Pelvic pain in a woman with AIDS

Background Non-Hodgkin lymphomas, a common, AIDS-defining manifestation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), are aggressive, advanced at diagnosis, and tend to involve extranodal sites. Burkitt lymphoma comprises approximately 20% of AIDS-related non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Sites frequently affected by the disease include the central nervous system, bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, and mucocutaneous tissue. Gonadal involvement is less common; reports of testicular lymphomas in adult males with AIDS have been sporadic. Ovarian involvement in AIDS-related lymphoma is exceedingly rare and usually involves pediatric patients. Case We report an unusual case in which disseminated Burkitt lymphoma presented as pelvic pain in a 32-year-old woman with AIDS. At laparoscopy, the ovaries were unremarkable in appearance but at the upper limits of normal size. However, extreme friability of the left ovary led to hemorrhage and oophorectomy. Pathologic evaluation of the ovary resulted in the diagnosis of Burkitt lymphoma. Conclusion With improved survival because of antiretroviral therapy, the incidence of AIDS-related lymphomas is expected to rise. Lymphoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of women with AIDS with perplexing abdominal or pelvic symptoms.
LWIR hyperspectral imager based on a diffractive optics lens

A diffractive optics lens based longwave infrared hyperspectral imager has been used to collect laboratory and outdoor field test data. The imager uses a specially designed diffractive optics Ge lens with a 320×256 HgCdTe focal plane array (FPA) cooled with a Sterling-cooler. The imager operates in 8-10.5 μm (long wave IR, LWIR) spectral region and an image cube with 50 to 200 bands can be acquired rapidly. Spectral images at different wavelengths are obtained by moving the lens along its optical axis. An f/2.38 diffractive lens is used with a focal length of 70 mm at 8 μm. The IFOV is 0.57 mrad which corresponds to an FOV of 10.48°. The spectral resolution of the imager is 0.034 μm at 9 μm. The pixel size is 40×40 μm 2 in the FPA. In post processing of image cube data contributions due to wavelengths other than the focused one are removed and a correction to account for the change in magnification due to the motion of the lens is applied to each spectral image. A brief description of the imager, data collection and analysis to characterize the performance of the imager will be presented in this paper.
Influence of grain size and texture on the cyclic stress-strain response of nickel

Abstract The cyclic stress-strain behavior of fine-grain (24 μm) nickel was compared with previously published results on coarse-grain (290 μm) nickel to evaluate the effects of grain size on cyclic hardening. The fine-grain nickel exhibited a moderate 〈111〉〈100〉 fiber texture, while the coarse-grain material was essentially texture free. As a result, texture also influenced the cyclic responses. Fatigue experiments were conducted at plastic strain amplitudes ranging from 2.5 × 10 −5 to 2.5 × 10 −3 . At a plastic strain amplitude of 2.5 × 10 −5 , the cyclic responses of the two types of materials were nearly identical. Above that plastic strain amplitude the fine-grain-textured specimens exhibited higher saturation stresses. The difference became greaster plastic strain amplitude increased. The higher saturation stress in the fine-grain-textured material was primarily caused by a higher back stress. Both grain sizes exhibited cyclic stress-strain curve plateaux extending from plastic strain amplitudes of 2 × 10 −4 to 8 × 10 −4 . The results are discussed in terms of traditional monotonic Hall-Petch mechanisms and the cyclic stress-strain behavior of multiple-and single-slip-oriented single crystals.
Static analysis summit II

Funded by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) started a long-term, ambitious project to identify, enhance and develop software assurance tools. The Software Assurance Metrics And Tool Evaluation (SAMATE) project is leading in (A) developing tests for software evaluation tools, (B) measuring the effectiveness of tools, and (C) identifying gaps in tools and methods. See the workshop web site at http://samate.nist.gov/ SASII.
Rethinking the Restriction on Nutrition During Hemodialysis Treatment

The annual mortality rate for patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) treatment in the United States is 20%, a rate higher than most other countries in the world. Poor nutrition status in MHD patients contributes to this adverse outcome as well as poor quality of life. Providing oral nutrition to MHD patients, especially during hemodialysis (HD) treatment has many potential benefits including improvements in nutrition status and attenuating HD-related muscle wasting. However, this practice is generally restricted in the United States presumably because of concerns that include worsening hemodynamic instability, reductions in treatment efficiency, and increased gastrointestinal symptoms. Despite widespread restrictions, few studies have adequately examined the effect of eating during HD on these outcomes, leaving many questions unanswered. This review outlines the current evidence regarding the effects of feeding during HD and provides potential future directions to outline the best practices in this controversial area.
What a privilege to reside at the synapse: NMDA receptor signaling to CREB.

NMDA receptors are important for both normal transmission and pathological damage. New results indicate that receptor location makes the key difference: survival-promoting signals derive from synaptic receptors, whereas a cell-death signal comes from extrasynaptic receptors.
Differential Effects of PPAR-γ Activation versus Chemical or Genetic Reduction of DPP-4 Activity on Bone Quality in Mice

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have an increased risk of fracture that can be further exacerbated by thiazolidinediones. A new class of antidiabetic agents control glucose through reduction of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) activity; however the importance of DPP-4 for the control of bone quality has not been extensively characterized. We compared the effects of the thiazolidinedione pioglitazone and the DPP-4 inhibitor sitagliptin on bone quality in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed wild-type mice. In complementary studies, we examined bone quality in Dpp4(+/+) vs. Dpp4(-/-) mice. Pioglitazone produced yellow bones with greater bone marrow adiposity and significantly reduced vertebral bone mechanics in male, female, and ovariectomized (OVX) HFD fed female mice. Pioglitazone negatively affected vertebral volumetric bone mineral density, trabecular architecture, and mineral apposition rate in male mice. Sitagliptin treatment of HFD-fed wild-type mice significantly improved vertebral volumetric bone mineral density and trabecular architecture in female mice, but these improvements were lost in females after OVX. Genetic inactivation of Dpp4 did not produce a major bone phenotype in male and female Dpp4(-/-) mice; however, OVX Dpp4(-/-) mice exhibited significantly reduced femoral size and mechanics. These findings delineate the skeletal consequences of pharmacological and genetic reduction of DPP-4 activity and reveal significant differences in the effects of pioglitazone vs. sitagliptin vs. genetic Dpp4 inactivation on bone mechanics in mice.
FACULTY AND ADMINISTRATOR VIEWS OF INFLUENCES ON PROFESSIONAL PROGRAMS

Administrators in professional programs perceive influences on the program from within the university as stronger than do faculty but the two groups do not perceive the strength of societal influences, professional community influences, or internal levels of curriculum debate differently. After controlling for program and institutional sizes and institutional types, these differences between faculty and administrator views regarding relationships between the program and the university appear characteristic of certain professional fields. The analysis was based on subsamples drawn from a data base of survey responses from 873 administrators and 849 faculty members in ten professional fields representing 732 programs in 346 colleges and universities.
Query expansion using random walk models

It has long been recognized that capturing term relationships is an important aspect of information retrieval. Even with large amounts of data, we usually only have significant evidence for a fraction of all potential term pairs. It is therefore important to consider whether multiple sources of evidence may be combined to predict term relations more accurately. This is particularly important when trying to predict the probability of relevance of a set of terms given a query, which may involve both lexical and semantic relations between the terms.We describe a Markov chain framework that combines multiple sources of knowledge on term associations. The stationary distribution of the model is used to obtain probability estimates that a potential expansion term reflects aspects of the original query. We use this model for query expansion and evaluate the effectiveness of the model by examining the accuracy and robustness of the expansion methods, and investigate the relative effectiveness of various sources of term evidence. Statistically significant differences in accuracy were observed depending on the weighting of evidence in the random walk. For example, using co-occurrence data later in the walk was generally better than using it early, suggesting further improvements in effectiveness may be possible by learning walk behaviors.
LSI-11 Based Auxiliary Crate Controller for Beam Line and Experiment Control

A beam line control system using an Auxiliary Crate Controller incorporating a LSI-11/2 processor has been developed at the Clinton P. Anderson Meson Physics Facility. The LSI-ll runs under the RSX-11S operating system and by means of a specially designed control console allows easy implementation of beam line and experiment controls independent of a larger computer system.
Determination of F2-isoprostanes in cultured human lung epithelial cells after exposure to metal oxide and silica nanoparticles by high-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry

The environmental impact of nanotechnology has caused a great concern. Many in vitro studies showed that many types of nanoparticles were cytotoxic. However, whether these nanoparticles caused cell membrane damage was not well studied. F2-isoprostanes are specific products of arachidonic acid peroxidation by nonenzymatic reactive oxygen species and are considered as reliable biomarkers of oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. In this article, we investigated the cytotoxicity of different nanoparticles and the degree of cellular membrane damage by using F2-isoprostanes as biomarkers after exposure to nanoparticles. The human lung epithelial cell line A549 was exposed to four silica and metal oxide nanoparticles: SiO2 (15 nm), CeO2 (20 nm), Fe2O3 (30 nm), and ZnO (70 nm). The levels of F2-isoprostanes were determined by using high-performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. The F2-isoprostanes’ peak was identified by retention time and molecular ion m/z at 353. Oasis HLB cartridge was used to ex...
Narrowing the range of possible solutions to the Pu electronic structure problem: Developing a new Bremstrahlung Isochromat Spectroscopy capability

Bremstrahlung Isochromat Spectroscopy (BIS) has a proven record for the probing of unoccupied electronic structure, including feasibility studies of actinides such as U and Th. A description of the BIS or Inverse Photoelectron Spectroscopy (IPES) process and of our reasoning concerning the potential importance of extending the application of BIS related techniques to the actinides, will be provided. To put this into the proper context, our past successes, using soft x-ray techniques to interrogate the electronic structure of Pu, will be briefly reviewed. Finally, the initial results of the calibration of the BIS device, including preliminary spectra from of the surrogate system CeOxide, will be presented.
POPUP: A Prototype Bottom-Moored Long-Term Current Profiler

Abstract A self-contained, bottom-mounted instrument for measuring high-resolution vertical profiles of horizontal current in the deep ocean over long time periods (up to a year) has been designed, constructed and successfully tested. It employs an interferometric technique to track small, expendable, buoyant probes containing continuous wave (CW) acoustic beacons which are released on a preset schedule. A carrying capacity of 60 probes is quite feasible. Tracking data are stored on cassette tape and recovered with the bottom instrument. The design of the instrument is discussed and errors analyzed. The uncertainty in the horizontal current averaged over 10 m vertical intervals increases near the surface to approximately 2 cm s−1 and is due primarily to acoustic phase noise from reflection off the rough sea surface. Considerable improvement in future design can be expected.
Luminescent lanthanide-containing metallopolymers

Abstract Recent work in the area of luminescent lanthanide-containing metallopolymers has been reviewed, as well as potential applications. These hybrid materials are classified into three types, Wolf Types I–III, which are distinguished by the position of the metal center relative to the polymer backbone and the subsequent electronic interactions of the two components. These interactions, the nature of the lowest lying excited state, energy transfer processes, and non-radiative deactivation pathways must all be carefully considered when designing luminescent lanthanide-containing metallopolymers. The advantages and disadvantages of each type have been discussed.
Automatic Skid Number Evaluation Using Texture Laser Measurement

Skid resistance plays a very important role in highway construction, design, management, maintenance, road safety, and environment protection. In the past, evaluation of the skid resistance through the road texture on the highway and in the lab was not efficient, and traffic usually was disrupted. With the advent of the latest non-contact technologies of measurement, especially the use of laser, data acquisition can be performed real-time. The challenge is how to derive the skid resistance from the primitive data acquired from the road and effectively reduce the contribution of unwanted components introduced in the testing process, such as the vibration of the testing vehicle, noise from the environment, etc. A data or signal processing system was implemented to estimate the skid number; and, the architecture of multilayer feedforward neural network and the back propagation algorithm was used.
Comparison of Isocapnic Hyperventilation and Walking Exercise Training at Home in Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Eighteen COPD patients enrolled in a comprehensive, multidisciplinary pulmonary rehabilitation program were randomly assigned to perform either: 1) walking, or 2) ventilatory muscle exercise training (VMT) using a prototype, portable device for isocapnic hyperventilation training. Both groups performed exercise training at home. Twelve patients completed the study and follow-up evaluation (five VMT, seven walkers). Pulmonary function did not change in either group. For the VMT patients, there were modest increases in ventilatory muscle endurance and exercise performance. V ˙ o 2 max and V ˙ Emax increased significantly. For the walkers, only walking endurance time increased significantly. These results indicate that isocapnic hyperventilation exercise training can be performed successfully by COPD patients in an unsupervised home setting and can lead to improvement in both ventilatory muscle endurance and exercise performance. Walking exercise training did not improve ventilatory muscle endurance.
Fine needle aspiration biopsy: role in diagnosis of pediatric head and neck masses.

Summary Objective To assess the feasibility and role of fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) as a diagnostic tool in children with neck masses. Design Retrospective chart review. Setting Tertiary care children's hospital. Patients Consecutive series of 71 children with a head and neck mass who underwent FNAB as the primary diagnostic modality. Interventions FNAB was performed and interpreted by a pediatric cytopathologist. Rapid on-site analysis was performed to allow immediate assessment of specimen adequacy and to attain a preliminary diagnosis, after which routine cytologic staining was performed. Flow cytometry was performed on cytological specimens when malignancy was suspected, and open biopsy was performed when the cytologic diagnosis was in question. Main outcome measures Technical feasibility of FNAB in children, complications, cytopathological diagnoses, accuracy of rapid on-site analysis, need for subsequent diagnostic evaluations, clinical outcomes and follow-up. Results Mean age was 8.4 years (S.D. 5.3 years), with mean follow-up of 4.1 months (S.D. 9.6 months). FNAB was performed under general anesthesia in 54 cases (76%). There were no technical complications. On-site rapid interpretation was completed in 55 cases, 18/55 confirmed adequacy of specimen only, 37/55 yielded a preliminary diagnosis, and in 34/37 cases, was same as final cytopathologic result. Overall, FNAB biopsy demonstrated 64 benign lesions, 3 malignant diagnoses, 2 follicular thyroid neoplasms, and 2 non-diagnostic specimens. FNAB was the only pathological test performed in 54 (76%) cases. The most common diagnosis was reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (n = 39), followed by benign granulomatous disease (n = 8). Flow cytometry was performed on 7 specimens (non-diagnostic in 5, negative for malignancy in 2). Of the 15 cases with surgical specimens, 3 revealed a pathologic diagnosis different from initial FNAB. There were no cases in which FNAB missed a malignancy, and there were 2 cases where FNAB suggested malignancy, with benign disease subsequently found on open biopsy. Conclusions Fine needle aspiration biopsy is developing into a feasible option in diagnosing pediatric neck masses, with its main advantage being its minimally-invasive nature and avoidance of an open surgical procedure for benign persistent lymphadenitis. On-site rapid interpretation can be used successfully to confirm specimen adequacy and to give an accurate preliminary diagnosis for concerned parents. Issues to consider include the need for a specialized pediatric cytopathologist familiar with pediatric differential diagnoses, the need for general anesthesia in many cases, and the possibility of inaccurate diagnosis requiring an open procedure.
Simulations of optical microscope images

The resolution of an optical microscope is limited by the optical wavelengths used. However, there is no fundamental limit to the sensitivity of a microscope to small differences in any of a feature's dimensions. That is, those limits are determined by such things as the sensitivity of the detector array, the quality of the optical system, and the stability of the light source. The potential for using this nearly unbounded sensitivity has sparked interest in extending optical microscopy to the characterization of sub-wavelength structures created by photolithography and using that characterization for process control. In this paper, an analysis of the imaging of a semiconductor grating structure with an optical microscope will be presented. The analysis includes the effects of partial coherence in the illumination system, aberrations of both the illumination and the collection optics, non-uniformities in the illumination, and polarization. It can thus model just about any illumination configuration imaginable, including Koehler illumination, focused (confocal) illumination, or dark-field illumination. By propagating Jones matrices throughout the system, polarization control at the back focal planes of both illumination and collection can be investigated. Given a detailed characterization of the microscope (including aberrations), images can be calculated and compared to real data, allowing details of the grating structure to be determined, in a manner similar to that found in scatterometry.
Evidence for Parallel Pathways in the Facilitated Transport of Alkenes through Ag+-Exchanged Nafion Films

Facilitated transmembrane fluxes for feed solutions containing 1,5-hexadiene, 1-hexene, and n-hexane are reported for hydrated Ag+−Nafion membranes that vary in thickness between 8 and 155 μm. Fluxes for n-hexane are virtually undetectable. Analysis of the fluxes for 1,5-hexadiene and 1-hexene suggests that two transport pathways are operating in parallel. The fluxes associated with one pathway are inversely proportional to membrane thickness and lead to a limiting diene/monoene separation factor of 47. The fluxes associated with the second pathway are independent of membrane thickness and lead to a limiting separation factor of 100. The differences in the selecivity for the two pathways result in separation factors for the 8−155 μm membranes ranging from 50 to 70. Concentrations of solutes in the membranes under equilibrium and transport conditions and the rate of 1,5-hexadiene extraction from membranes as a function of time are determined and are used to infer properties associated with the two pathways.
Stick–slip friction in dissimilar polymer pairs used in automobile interiors

Abstract The static and dynamic friction of dissimilar pairs of plastics used in automotive interiors was measured as a function of normal load, system stiffness, and surface roughness. Glass fiber filled polypropylene (FPP) was slid on polycarbonate (PC) and glass fiber filled styrene–maleic–anhydride copolymer (SMAC) in a single pass, unidirectional sliding test. The friction was characterized by the value of static coefficient of friction (COF) and the number of stick–slip cycles during sliding. It was found that the FPP/PC and FPP/SMAC pairs had fewer instances of stick slip than FPP/FPP, PC/PC, and SMAC/SMAC pairs except for one of the SMAC polymers. The surface texture which had the smallest average radius of peak curvature, had the lowest value of static COF. The decrease in the static COF of polypropylene (PP) caused by the addition of glass fiber was most likely caused by the increase in elastic modulus and hardness.
Hypothalamic neurons innervating fat tissue in the pig express leptin receptor immunoreactivity

While leptin receptors have been found in both the autonomic ganglion neurons and the hypothalamic nuclei, studies dealing with the projections from the central nervous system to the adipose tissue have been conducted mainly in laboratory animals. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to establish whether hypothalamic neurons are transsynaptically connected to adipose tissue depots in the pig, and if these neurons express leptin receptor immunoreactivity. Pseudorabies virus (PRV; Bartha's K strain) was introduced in perirenal or subcutaneous adipose tissue depots in domestic pigs. On day 9, animals were euthanized and hypothalami were collected and processed immunohistochemicaly with primary antisera against PRV and leptin receptor (OBR). PRV-labeled neurons were localized in paraventricular nucleus, supraoptic nucleus and arcuate nucleus following injections in both the perirenal and the subcutaneous adipose tissue depots. Ventromedial nucleus, dorsomedial nucleus and preoptic area-labeled neurons were observed after injection of the PRV into the perirenal adipose tissue, while in the lateral hypothalamic area-labeled neurons projected only to the subcutaneous adipose tissue. The majority of the PRV-labeled neurons simultaneously expressed OBR-immunoreactivity. Our results provide the morphological data on multisynaptic projections from hypothalamus to the fat tissue in the pig and demonstrate that these neurons, located in areas involved in reproductive processes and feeding behavior, may regulate fat tissue metabolism.