cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Optimization of a peptide/non-cationic lipid gene delivery system for effective microinjection into chicken embryo in vivo.

Here we report the characterization and optimization of a peptide/non-cationic lipid gene delivery system that successfully produces high levels of gene expression when delivered by microinjection into chicken embryos in vivo. In addition to plasmid DNA, the delivery complex consisted of four components: 1) a “condensing” peptide with both hydrophobic and cationic amino acid segments; 2) a “fusogenic” peptide with both membrane insertion and amphipathic helical segments; 3) a relatively short-chain phosphatidylcholine (14:1 cis-9); and 4) polyethyleneglycol conjugated to dioleoylphosphatidylethanolamine through a disulfide linkage. Optimum amounts of each component were determined by measuring expression of a luciferase reporter gene following a 24-hour incubation with chick embryo fibroblast (CEF) cells in culture. When relatively low amounts of condensing peptide, fusogenic peptide, or lipid were assembled into the complexes, relatively large concentrations of complex were required to reach maximum gene expression. When the amounts of peptide or lipid were increased, less complex was required to achieve maximum expression, but expression fell substantially with higher amounts of added complex. The polyethyleneglycol component significantly increased gene expression. With some preparations, luciferase activities in the CEF cells reached 1×1010 relative light units per second per mg protein within 24 hours. Following the optimization experiments with the CEF cells, formulations containing low levels, intermediate levels, and high levels of the delivery system components were assembled with green fluorescent protein plasmid DNA, then microinjected into somite regions of chicken embryos in vivo. It was found that intermediate levels of the components gave the most reliable formulations for inducing localized gene expression in the somitic cells.
Evaluating virulence of waterborne and clinical Aeromonas isolates using gene expression and mortality in neonatal mice followed by assessing cell culture's ability to predict virulence based on transcriptional response.

Aims: To assess the virulence of Aeromonas spp. using two models, a neonatal mouse assay and a mouse intestinal cell culture. Methods and Results: After artificial infection with a variety of Aeromonas spp., mRNA extracts from the two models were processed and hydridized to murine microarrays to determine host gene response. Definition of virulence was determined based on host mRNA production in murine neonatal intestinal tissue and mortality of infected animals. Infections of mouse intestinal cell cultures were then performed to determine whether this simpler model system’s mRNA responses correlated to neonatal results and therefore be predictive of virulence of Aeromonas spp. Virulent aeromonads up-regulated transcripts in both models including multiple host defense gene products (chemokines, regulation of transcription and apoptosis and cell signalling). Avirulent species exhibited little or no host response in neonates. Mortality results correlated well with both bacterial dose and average fold change of up-regulated transcripts in the neonatal mice. Conclusions: Cell culture results were less discriminating but showed promise as potentially being able to be predictive of virulence. Jun oncogene up-regulation in murine cell culture is potentially predictive of Aeromonas virulence. Significance and Impact of the Study: Having the ability to determine virulence of waterborne pathogens quickly would potentially assist public health officials to rapidly assess exposure risks.
Partial duodenal obstruction with incomplete duodenal rotation

Abstract Incomplete rotation of the duodenojejunum with abnormal fixation is a cause of partial obstruction, which may occur even in the presence of a normal colon rotation. The embryology of intestinal rotation is briefly reviewed, and the anatomical features of the obstruction and the surgical treatment are presented.
Cardiac changes with cyclophosphamide

Serial echocardiographic (ECHO) studies were obtained on 40 pediatric patients (pts) treated with greater than or equal to 80 mg/kg cyclophosphamide (CPM) (range 80-200 mg/kg) in 1 week. Patients were treated for solid tumors and prior to marrow transplant. Echo changes occurred in 10/13 pts who received CPM greater than or equal to 170 mg/kg over four days, and in 11/19 pts who received 120-140 mg/kg dose over two days and who had previously received greater than or equal to 100 mg/m2 anthracyclines with or without radiation. No changes were seen in eight pts who had 80-160 mg/kg CPM and less than 100 mg/m2 anthracyclines. The observed changes occurred approximately 1 week after CPM and persisted for days to weeks. Pericardial effusion seen in 15 pts was successfully treated with furosemide in 13. Two died with hemorrhagic pancarditis. Other changes seen were increased end diastolic left ventricular diameter, decreased fractional shortening and abnormal left ventricular preejection period/ejection time ratios. Thus, cardiac effects of high dose CPM are not rare in children. Patients receiving greater than 170 mg/kg CPM in 1 week or 120 mg/kg in 1 week after greater than or equal to 100 mg/m2 anthracyclines are at particular risk.
Recombination-ready Sindbis replicon expression vectors for transgene expression

Background Sindbis viruses have been widely used as tools to study gene function in cells. Despite the utility of these systems, the construction and production of alphavirus replicons is time consuming and inefficient due to potential additional restriction sites within the insert region and lack of directionality for insert ligation. In this report, we present a system useful for producing recombinant Sindbis replicons that uses lambda phage recombination technology to rapidly and specifically construct replicon expression plasmids that contain insert regions in the desired orientation.
A survey of quantum games

This paper presents an overview and survey of a new type of game-theoretic setting based on ideas emanating from quantum computing. (We provide a brief overview of quantum computing at the beginning of the paper.) Initial results suggest this view brings more flexibility and possibilities into decisions involving game-theoretic considerations. Applications cover a broad spectrum of classical games as well as games in economics, finance and other areas.
A versatile and comprehensive analysis code for automated reduction of gamma-ray spectral data

Abstract PIDAQ, a Fortran IV program, quantifies and qualifies a 4096-channel Ge(Li) spectrum for neutron-activation analysis. PIDAQ employs code based on Fourier-transform and cross-correlation functions for peak analysis. Isotope identification of peaks involves a search through a disc stored library of 6590 gamma-rays by using a polynomial fit for time-saving direct-access. Comparative method and/or the double ratio technique can be utilized to quantify spectra. The standard comparative method ratios the activities of known peaks to the activities of corresponding unknown peaks, corrects for decay and dead-time and calculates the concentration of elements with their related error in the unknown sample. The double ratio method eliminates matrix problems by employing a double ratio in which the concentration of a component of the unknown must be predetermined. PIDAQ, as written, can analyze up to 50 spectra. If core size allows, changes could be made to increase this limit. Quantification can be performed on any combination of these spectra. The program is running on an IBM 370-155 computer under Batch OS and with output on remote terminals.
Hydrogen desorption from polycrystalline platinum chemically modified by sulfur pre-coverage

Abstract Hydrogen desorption energetics from clean polycrystalline platinum (Pt(Poly)) and (Pt(Poly)) with sulfur (S) pre-coverage (S/Pt(Poly)) have been studied using temperature programmed desorption (TPD) over a wide range of hydrogen and S coverages. Hydrogen desorption energies have been calculated and tabulated. At saturation, hydrogen desorbs from clean Pt(Poly) in three states (384, 320, and 282 K). The 384 K state is attributed to hydrogen from defect sites. The 320 and 282 K states are both attributed to hydrogen from (1 1 1) sites, the latter state induced by repulsive lateral interaction between hydrogen in neighboring sites. On clean Pt(Poly), the desorption energy for hydrogen from defect sites is essentially fixed over the entire coverage range, dilute to saturation. In contrast, the desorption energy for hydrogen from (1 1 1) sites begins to decrease when about 50% of the surface is saturated. The decrease onset is attributed to significant accumulation of hydrogen in fcc three-fold hollows relative to hcp hollows. With increasing hydrogen and S coverages, the energies of desorption converge to 4.5 kcal/mol, the barrier height to hydrogen diffusion on (1 1 1) terraces of d-band transition metal surfaces via classical over-the-barrier hopping. Therefore, increasing S coverage has the same effect on the binding strength of Pt ( Poly ) for hydrogen as increasing hydrogen coverage (site blocking). But more interestingly, at high surface coverage, atomic hydrogen recombination immediately after hopping out of the adsorption well without surface diffusion is indicated. Though, S site blocking has been found as the primary cause of decreased hydrogen desorption temperatures, several trends in the data cannot be rationalized using a pure site blocking argument alone. Sulfur induced additional repulsive lateral interaction at high coverage is strongly suggested, through-space, short range electronic effects. Further, long range S effects (through space) are also clearly supported. The uniform percent decrease in hydrogen adsorption independent of exposure is not consistent with pure site blocking but can be readily explained by a decreased sticking coefficient on S/Pt(Poly) surfaces due to long range S effects. In particular, the strong inhibition of hydrogen adsorption on S/Pt(Poly) surfaces (the long range effect) is attributed mostly to electrostatic repulsion of approaching hydrogen caused by non-bonding electron pairs in hybrid valence sulfur orbitals normal to the surface. Insight has also been gained into the dynamics of hydrogen adsorption. The study of fixed hydrogen exposures as a function of S coverage shows zero order kinetics for the initial rate of desorption of the 320 K state, i.e. the leading edges are `pinned'. Thus, hydrogen adsorption on Pt(Poly) in patches nucleated at defects that attain similar density independent of coverage is implied. Key steps in the adsorption and desorption trajectories as indicated by this TPD work are illustrated in a schematic.
High permeability nano-composite membranes based on mesoporous MCM-41 nanoparticles in a polysulfone matrix

Abstract Mixed matrix membranes containing mesoporous MCM-41 nanoparticles with ∼80 nm particle size have been prepared. These smaller nanoparticles lead to a high polymer/particle interfacial area and provide an opportunity to fabricate composites containing up to 40 wt% of molecular sieve in the polymer matrix. With 40 wt% of nano-sized MCM-41 silica, gas permeability of the mixed matrix membranes is shown to increase by up to 300% when compared to the neat polymer. In addition, amine-functionalization of MCM-41 can significantly enhance CO 2 /CH 4 selectivity of the mixed matrix membranes.
Adenine nucleotide-induced contraction of the inner mitochondrial membrane. I. General characterization.

The inner membranes of isolated bovine heart mitochondria undergo pronounced contraction upon being exposed to exogenous adenosine diphosphate (ADP), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and certain other high-energy phosphate compounds. Contraction results in decrease of inner membrane expanse which in turn results in decrease of intracristal space and increase of mitochondrial optical density (OD). The magnitude of the OD change appears to be proportional to the degree of contraction Half-maximal contraction can be achieved with ADP or ATP at concentrations as low as about 0 3 µM. Atractyloside at concentrations as low as about 1.2 nmol/mg mitochondrial protein completely inhibits the contraction. It is concluded from these and other observations that inner membrane contraction occurs as a result of adenine nucleotide binding to the carrier involved in the exchange of adenine nucleotides across the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Low field Hall effect in potassium

Abstract The anisotropic electron relaxation time in K caused by the freezing out of Umklapp processes on certain areas of the Fermi surface is predicted to give a temperature-dependent component to the low-field Hall effect at low temperatures. A previous attempt to demonstrate this component was defeated by the unsuitability of the existing data which contain an overwhelming high-field contribution in the temperature range of interest. To provide more suitable data, we have measured the Hall effect of polycrystalline K as the conditions tend towards the low-field limit. It is shown how the results can be qualitatively interpreted in terms of a competition between this predicted Umklapp component and the high-field tendencies inherent in the galvano-magnetic effect.
Branchiopods (Anostraca, Notostraca) from protected areas of Western Montana

Fairy shrimp (order Anostraca) and tadpole shrimp (order Notostraca), members of the crustacean class Branchiopoda, are important components of many freshwater and saline wetlands (Dodson and Frey 2001, Brendonk et al. 2008). These animals are especially common in seasonal wetlands, where populations are maintained by banks of resting eggs that may remain dormant for decades or longer (Brendonck 1996). Both orders are distributed worldwide (Brendonk et al. 2008). Fairy shrimp are more prone to endemism, with several species listed as threatened or endangered, and new species are described frequently (e.g., Rogers 2006, Rogers et al. 2006). Most of the comparatively few species of tadpole shrimp are widespread, but Lepidurus packardi is endemic to central California and the recently-described L. cryptus is restricted to the Pacific Northwest (Rogers 2001).
BIOLUMINESCENCE OF THE AUSTRALIAN GLOW-WORM, ARACHNOCAMPA RICHARDSAE HARRISON

— Stable dry powders of the light organ of the glow-worm, Arachnocampa richardsae (Diptera) have been prepared and although the amounts of material are extremely limited, a semi-quantitative description of the bioluminescence reaction can be given. The in vivo and in vitro bioluminescence spectra are the same, maximum 488 nm (corrected) and the shape of the in vitro emission spectrum is not influenced by pH (5.9–8.5). Light is produced by addition of buffer (optimum pH 7) to the powder, but is stimulated several fold if the buffer contains adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP), about 0.3 mM being required for half maximum stimulation. A number of other high-energy phosphates do not stimulate. Ethylenediaminetetraacetate quenches the ATP stimulation implicating a Mg2+ requirement, but not ethylene-bis(oxyethylene-nitrilo)-tetraacetate which chelates Ca2+ but not Mg2+. Inorganic pyrophosphate (2 mM) also quenches if added with the ATP but in contrast to the firefly (Coleoptera) reaction, does not stimulate the light emission if added post-ATP. The decay of the ATP-stimulated glow-worm bioluminescence is first-order unlike the strongly product inhibited firefly kinetics. Oxygen is required for both in vivo and in vitro bioluminescence. A glow-worm can emit more than 1015 photons in its lifetime but at any one time, appears to possess only about 10% of this total capacity.
Evaluating Population-Size Estimators: An Empirical Approach

We used nine closed populations of gray-tailed voles ( Microtus canicaudus ) in 0.2-ha enclosures to empirically select the best fit among 11 probabilistic estimators of population size. We also examined the influence of population size and number of trap occasions on performance of estimators. Population size was known in all instances, providing a basis for comparison of performance of estimators. Three replicates of three population sizes (30, 60, and 90 voles/enclosure) were used in this experiment. The most accurate and precise estimators, selected on the basis of four consecutive trapping occasions, were the Pollock and Otto's Mbh, Chao's Mh, and jackknife estimators. Examination of the hypothesis tests included in the Model Selection Procedure of the program CAPTURE identified individual heterogeneity as the prevailing source of variation in capture probabilities and suggested that the appropriate estimator would be the jackknife. Reliability of the heterogeneity estimators (the jackknife and Chao's estimators for Mh and Mth) was positively related to population size, whereas reliability of almost all of the other estimators varied inversely with population size. The jackknife estimator was unique in the stability and quality of its performance in the first few trap occasions. Using the jackknife estimator and three trap occasions offered the best tradeoff between reliability and trapping effort.
Emergency Medical Text Classifier: New system improves processing and classification of triage notes

Objective: Automated syndrome classification aims to aid near real-time syndromic surveillance to serve as an early warning system for disease outbreaks, using Emergency Department (ED) data. We present a system that improves the automatic classification of an ED record with triage note into one or more syndrome categories using the vector space model coupled with a ‘learning’ module that employs a pseudo-relevance feedback mechanism. Materials and Methods: Terms from standard syndrome definitions are used to construct an initial reference dictionary for generating the syndrome and triage note vectors. Based on cosine similarity between the vectors, each record is classified into a syndrome category. We then take terms from the top-ranked records that belong to the syndrome of interest as feedback. These terms are added to the reference dictionary and the process is repeated to determine the final classification. The system was tested on two different datasets for each of three syndromes: Gastro-Intestinal (GI), Respiratory (Resp) and Fever-Rash (FR). Performance was measured in terms of sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp). Results: The use of relevance feedback produced high values of sensitivity and specificity for all three syndromes in both test sets: GI: 90% and 71%, Resp: 97% and 73%, FR: 100% and 87%, respectively, in test set 1, and GI: 88% and 69%, Resp: 87% and 61%, FR: 97% and 71%, respectively, in test set 2. Conclusions: The new system for pre-processing and syndromic classification of ED records with triage notes achieved improvements in Se and Sp. Our results also demonstrate that the system can be tuned to achieve different levels of performance based on user requirements.
How-To Web Pages

How to pages constitute unique online collections of practical instructions, personal stories, and multimedia illustrations. Though independent creations, they are linked together through the Web to form large repositories of useful information. Emerging Web 2.0 technologies are making it easier than ever for those who share a passion to communicate and collaborate. The how-to has become a common online format for procedural knowledge sharing, similar to the FAQ or personal homepage and how-to pages can be found for almost every activity. Whether you're modifying software, installing a water heater, or just packing a suitcase, you can likely find detailed instructions or suggestions on the Web for how to do it or does it better. How-to pages have been around since the Internet's early days, but the emergence of open, flexible Web 2.0 technologies, greater network bandwidth, and increased multimedia capabilities have made it easier for hobbyists to explain complex tasks, particularly those that require manipulating physical objects.
The use of sulfamerazine in infants and children.

Summary A study of the absorption, methods of administration, therapeutic effectiveness, and toxicity of sulfamerazine in an unselected group of 135 infants and children with infections revealed the following pertinent data: 1. Sulfamerazine is rapidly absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract and rather slowly excreted by the kidney. Accordingly, adequate blood concentrations are easily attained by the oral administration of 0.05 Gm. per kilogram of body weight every eight hours (three-quarters of the total daily dosage usually employed with sulfathiazole and sulfadiazine). Sulfamerazine thus possesses an advantage over the other sulfonamide drugs in that they must be given in larger total dosage with more frequent doses to attain comparable blood levels. 2. High blood concentrations are easily and rapidly produced by the subcutaneous administration of sodium sulfamerazine. The absorption of sulfamerazine from the gastrointestinal tract, although more rapid and complete than is the absorption of the other sulfonamide drugs, does not lead to values sufficiently high to obviate the need for parenteral administration of the drug when very high values are desired. 3. Sulfamerazine was observed to pass into the spinal fluid to the extentof from 52 to 83 per cent of the whole blood value and 41 to 73 per cent of the plasma value, while the concentration in pleural and ascitic fluid equaled that in the plasma. 4. From a purely clinical evaluation, the therapeutic effectiveness of sulfamerazine is entirely comparable to that of sulfapyrazine, sulfadiazine and, sulfathiazole. 5. The toxic reactions encountered were relatively frequent but, for the most part, were mild, and no serious reactions occurred. On the basis of our past experience, the frequency of toxic reactions was definitely greater with the use of sulfamerazine than with sulfapyrazine and certainly as great as with sulfadiazine.
On the development of new communities

Abstract Linear programming is used to explore the relationship between a planned community and a planned development. Also, its usefulness to the developer in formulating land-use plans is evaluated. The objective of a planned community is maximization of social welfare, whereas the objective of a planned development is maximization of economic gain. It is shown through the use of duality theory that a planned community and a planned development are on a continuum, thereby (1) de-emphasizing the need to formulate a social welfare function and (2) revealing the close relationship between the two.
Virtue in Media: The Moral Psychology of U.S. Exemplars in News and Public Relations

This study contributes to an empirical basis for media ethics theorizing by constructing a moral psychology profile of exemplars in journalism and public relations. Drawing on theories and instrume...
Reflections of microwaves from laser pulses in a non-linear medium

Abstract The change in frequency and the fractional intensity of microwaves reflected from short intense laser pulses in a non-linear medium are discussed using a mirror model and a parametric interaction model. The experimental feasibility, applied to CS2, is analysed.
Comparison of Potential-Time Waveforms for the Detection of Biogenic Amines in Complex Mixtures following Their Separation by Liquid Chromatography.

Pulsed amperometric detection (PAD), integrated voltammetric detection (IVD), and integrated square-wave detection (ISWD) at gold electrodes are compared for the flow injection detection of 1,3-diaminopropane in a liquid chromatograph (LC). These detection methods are especially significant for alkylamines and amino acids because (i) the majority of these compounds do not naturally possess chromophoric or fluorophoric functional groups and (ii) their amperometric detection at constant potential at Au electrodes fails because the electrode activity is severely attenuated by the formation of an inert surface oxide (AuO). The anodic response mechanisms for detection of amines require concomitant formation of AuO; therefore, a large background signal is observed with conventional PAD. In comparison, the background is much smaller for IVD and ISWD because the anodic charge for oxide formation (positive scan/step) is compensated by the cathodic charge for oxide reduction (negative scan/step). The limits of dete...
Thermal balancing via distributed inert-gas streams for high-meniscus ribbon crystal growth

Abstract Superior melt growth of ribbon crystals by thermal profile control that is continuously variable, inert, and capable of heat extraction has been achieved. In the device developed, multiple inert-gas jets are directed at various parts of the hot zone, each with individually controlled flow adjustment. In a furnace at 1200°C, the temperature at one edge of a 38-mm-wide ribbon growth zone can be varied at a rate of 6.8°C per liter per minute of argon flow. Asymmetrical temperature profiles in the zone can be flattened to within ±1°C or symmetrically tailored. Silicon ribbons having uniform widths of 38 and 50 mm and grown with a high melt meniscus have been produced by the capillary action shaping technique with inert-gas thermal balancing. Such crystals show minority carrier lifetime values of up to about 300 μs.
Array resolutions of linear maps

The identification of concurrency is a critical factor in the high-speed calculation of algorithms. This study considers maps onX, a discrete resolution space. We establish a resolution on the space of linear maps onX which exhibit compatibility with array processing. Our results are extended to the partially ordered resolution space setting. While on-line array processing motivates our study, the results also suggest efficient processing procedures for off-line applications.
Material response and reversible cracks in viscoelastic polymers

Deformation processes in viscoelastic polymers are examined in terms of an energy balance involving work, strain energy, viscous dissipation and damage. The concepts of time dependent damage and reversible cracks are presented. The latter, while giving rise to novel mechanical behavior in viscoelastic materials, are important considerations in temperature dependent recovery phenomena of deformed polymers. Constitutive equations are derived for systems with reversible cracks analogous to Maxwell and Kelvin viscoelasticity models. Retractive forces arising from crack closure occur by conversion of surface energies to strain energy and subsequently to mechanical work. This effect is investigated during contraction of hard-elastic polypropylene fibers under constant load at different temperatures.
On the direct determination of the near-tip stress field for the scattering of SH-waves by a crack

A procedure is given for the direct determination of the near-tip stress field arising from the scattering of a normally incident SH-wave by a crack in a homogeneous, isotropic elastic medium. The analysis, which circumvents the construction of the global solution of the problem, is based on a conservation law associated with the relevant field equation.
Clonal evidence for the induction of NKH1 on activated human thymocytes. Functional changes associated with antigen expression.

Freshly isolated human thymocytes lack the NKH1 antigen and the ability to lyse target cells without major histocompatibility complex restriction. Short-term culture of human thymocytes in interleukin (IL) 2 results in the generation of non-major histocompatibility complex-restricted effector cells, all of which express NKH1. The mechanism by which these cells appear in culture has yet to be elucidated. In the present studies, we developed thymocyte clones and performed a molecular analysis of T cell receptor gene rearrangements to demonstrate that the expression of NKH1 antigen is induced on the surface of NKH1- thymocytes in the presence of IL2. In addition, we were able to show that the NKH1+ fraction consistently displayed an increased proliferative response to similar concentrations of IL 2 when compared to NKH1- cells, for both clonal and polyclonal populations of thymocytes. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that the initial appearance of the NKH1 antigen following thymocyte culture in the presence of IL2 results from the induction of NKH1 expression on NKH1- thymocytes, while the subsequent predominance of this cell type also results from an enhanced proliferative response to IL 2 which coincides with NKH1 expression.
BOUNDS FOR THE AVERAGE SAMPLE NUMBER FUNCTION FOR A BINOMIAL SEQUENTIAL TEST

Summary Recently, Billard (1977) developed a partial sequential procedure for comparing a null hypothesis against a two-sided alternative hypothesis when the parameter under test is that of the binomial distribution. In that paper, approximations to the operating characteristic and average sample number function were derived. In this note, bounds to the average sample number function are derived. Using numerical results a comparison of the approximations, bounds and empirical values is made.
Pressure Drop and Heat Transfer for Cocurrent Upflow of Dilute Gas−Coal Particle Suspensions in a Circular Tube

Pressure drop and heat transfer for dilute gas−coal particle suspensions flowing cocurrently upward in a 0.498-in.-i.d. tube were measured and compared to previously published results for cocurrent downflow. A 4-ft-long electrically heated test section followed a 26-ft-long pressure-drop test section. Room air was employed as the carrier gas for 300-μm (average screen size) suspensions of coal particles. The gas Reynolds number was varied from 10 000 to 30 000, with solids loading ratios up to 15 lb of solids/lb of gas. Frictional pressure drop for upflow was found to be greater than that for cocurrent downflow. The wall Nusselt number was slightly less than that for air alone but somewhat higher than that for cocurrent downflow. Particle Nusselt numbers were found to depend on the gas Reynolds number and the solids loading ratio and were almost identical with those for cocurrent downflow.
The thermal cleavage of boron tris-trifluoromethane-sulfonate(triflate) and boron tris-pentafluoroethane-sulfonate(pentflate) to triflic (pentflic) anhydride and trifluoromethyl triflate (pentafluoroethyl pentflate)

Abstract Cleavage of boron tris-trifluoromethanesulfonate(triflate) and boron tris-pentafluoroethanesulfonate(pentflate) was studied at 200°C. Complete cleavage giving boron trifluoride, sulfur dioxide, carbonyl fluoride (trifluoroacetyl fluoride), triflic (pentflic) anhydride, triflic (pentflic) triflate (pentflate) and boric acid was observed. A mechanism for the cleavage based on formation of the identified compounds is suggested.
Deconvolution and Compensation in the Measurement of Broadband Signals

This paper considers the recovery of broadband non-random signals distorted by the dynamics of the transmission system and corrupted by additive noise. The design and performance of deconvolution and compensation systems for a mean-square performance measure are discussed. After pointing out the deficiencies of deconvolution without compensation, the joint design of the two signal processing schemes under engineering constraints is presented and illustrated by some examples. Finally the results obtained when the signals are samples of stationary random processes with known statistics are briefly discussed.
Examining the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act's opt-out method for protecting consumer data privacy rights on the Internet

This article involves examining the Gramm–Leach–Bliley Act's GLBA opt-out method in concern with protecting consumer data privacy rights online. Its purpose is to show that further regulatory measures are necessary at the federal level in order to provide better protection for consumers. To lay a foundation, it provides a background on the development of consumer data privacy rights and the collection and dissemination of personal data online and continues by exploring the practices of online merchants, credit card companies, and electronic banking in relation to the treatment of consumers’ data online. Through addressing state, federal, and self-regulatory evolvements, this article makes it apparent that the GLBA, the primary federal law protecting consumers from financial institutions use of consumer data, is insufficient and a revised legal approach for protecting consumer data online is required that is more in line with the progressive approach by the European Union and its opt-in method.
Visualization and verbalization as mediators of thought

The relative effectiveness of visualization and verbalization as mediators of thought was investigated in two experiments. It was found that when subjects were required to pass on verbal instructions, they performed better in the presence of a visual referent. Subjects who were required to overtly visualize (draw) during a discrimination learning task performed as well on a subsequent transposition task as subjects who were required to overtly verbalize (talk). Both groups performed better than a control group which was not required to overtly visualize or verbalize.
Birth defects in uncles and aunts from Irish families with neural tube defects.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies suggested an excess of matrilineal cases of neural tube defects among distant relatives in NTD families. There is little information on patterns of heredity of other birth defects among distant relatives. METHODS: Between 1995 and 2003, 78 nuclear families and 373 uncles and aunts were interviewed about birth defects among uncles and aunts in Irish families with an NTD. RESULTS: Among 783 total uncles and aunts, those related through the mother had more birth defects overall than those related through the father (8.4 vs. 4.0%, p = 0.01). The excess persisted after controlling with logistic regression models for maternal and paternal age, gender of uncle/aunt, proband's NTD diagnosis, and year of birth (OR 2.52; 95% CI: 1.29, 4.91; p = 0.007). Among individual birth defects, significant excesses over expected rates were seen for spina bifida, congenital heart defects, and syndactyly. CONCLUSIONS: This study of reported birth defects suggests that maternal uncles and aunts in Irish families have significantly more birth defects than paternal uncles and aunts. These results, if confirmed, support the hypothesis that NTD relatives carry a susceptibility to other birth defects, preferentially on the mother's side of the family, suggesting opportunities for prevention. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
In vivo microdialysis/liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry for the on-line monitoring of melatonin in rat.

Liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) has been coupled to in vivo microdialysis for on-line monitoring of melatonin in a freely moving rat for a period of 15 hours. A microdialysis probe was surgically implanted into the jugular vein of the rat, and deionized water was used as the perfusion medium at a flow rate of 1.0 microL/min. Microdialysis samples were collected in an on-line injector with sample injection every 30 minutes. Melatonin was dosed by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection and then monitored by microdialysis/LC/MS/MS. The whole experiment, including the microdialysis sampling and sample injection into the LC/MS system, was fully automated. Metabolites of melatonin were identified off-line by LC/MSn experiments. Two metabolites were identified as 6-hydroxymelatonin and cyclic 2-hydroxymelatonin, consistent with ones found previously in the literature.
Charge consequences in electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) nanofibers

Abstract During the last 10 years extensive research has been conducted on various aspects of electrospinning. These efforts include spinning many different polymer and solvent pairs, varying fiber forming conditions, fiber characterization and process modeling. In this work we explore some issues related to charging of the polymer solution, namely charge quantification of electrospun fibers and different charge delivery designs. PAN fibers electrospun in our laboratory show a charge density of 30–50 nC/mg. The charge density varied with applied voltage and solution properties. Theoretical charge density calculations agree well with experimental measurements. Different charging approaches, such as positive or negative induction charging and ionized field charging, all led to fine fiber formation.
Ethical issues in psychotherapy with adolescents

Treating adolescents in psychotherapy presents a number of unique ethical challenges. Because many adolescents who enter treatment have not yet attained the age of majority, reside in families that include other people with emotional difficulties, attend school, become involved with community agencies (e.g., the courts), and must generally take direction from adult authority figures, the role of the therapist becomes particularly complex. The unique dilemmas include developing specialized clinical competence, treatment contracting, choice of treatment modality, direction of the therapeutic process, and confidentiality. This article discusses the range of ethical concerns involved in treating adolescents and suggests strategies for optimal ethical care.
Catastrophic New Age groups and public order

This article examines the recent emergence of separatist, countercultural groups observing a disaster-prone view of the future shaped by variations of New Age religion. While these groups have not uniformly adopted violent strategies against outsiders, the 1995 Aum Shinrikyo case should alert authorities to the potential for violent activism that exists in some New Age collectivities during periods when the group is experiencing an episode of stress. Particular attention is given here to the psychodynamic shift which took place in a Montana-based New Age religious movement as its visions of a forthcoming earthly disaster mobilized the membership to prepare for a cataclysmic event. It is likely that law enforcement agencies will encounter more cases of millennial excitement in catastrophic New Age groups in the near-term future as the approach of the year 2000 stimulates the apocalyptic imaginations of these countercultural movements.
THz imaging of skin tissue — Exploiting the strong reflectivity of liquid water

We present a novel system for imaging burns and other lesions of human skin tissue utilizing the acute sensitivity of THz radiation to water concentration. It is a THz impulse radar that carries out reflective, 2D imaging with a photoconductive-switch wideband illuminator, a Schottky-rectifying gated receiver, and mechanical scanning. It has been used to image burns with ~2 mm spatial resolution in ≈5 min over 1 KPixel and 1 sq inch.
A coloring approach to constructing deletion correcting codes from constant weight subgraphs

We take a graph theoretic view of deletion correcting codes. The problem of finding an n-bit s-deletion correcting code is equivalent to finding an independent set in a particular graph. We discuss the relationship between codes and colorings and demonstrate that the VT codes are optimal in a coloring sense. We describe a method of partitioning the set of bit strings by Hamming weight and finding codes within each partition. In the single deletion case, we find an optimal coloring of the constant Hamming weight induced subgraphs. We show that the resulting code is asymptotically optimal. We also prove a lower bound on size of codes constructed using these partitions for any number of deletions.
INTERBREEDING POPULATIONS OF SOME MARASMIUS SPECIES

Intercollection crosses of four Marasmius species were analyzed to assess the geographic extent of sexual compatibility and to reveal probable complexity of mating type loci. Marasmius pulcherripes, M. pyrrhocephalus and M. rotula showed universal compatibility between intracontinental conmorphospecific collections. Available intercontinental data on M. siccus suggested that infraspecific sexual barriers may be present.
Discretizations of nonlinear differential equations using explicit nonstandard methods

Abstract In a recent paper, Chen and Solis investigated the appearance of spurious solutions when first-order ODEs are discretized using Runge–Kutta schemes. They concluded that the reliability of the numerical solutions to a particular ODE could be verified only by constructing several discrete models and comparing their numerical results with the known properties of the exact solutions. We demonstrate that by using nonstandard schemes, all the difficulties found by Chen and Solis can be eliminated, and that qualitatively correct numerical solutions are obtained for all values of the step size. We illustrate these issues by applying nonstandard finite-difference techniques to the logistic, sine, cubic, and Monod equations.
Embryology of the Turbellaria and its phylogenetic significance

Developmental characters — including oocyte and yolk cell structure, patterns of cleavage, and modes of gastrulation — are presented and examined in relation to the phylogeny of the Turbellaria. Eggshell granules, which have been demonstrated to occur in the oocytes of entolecithal eggs and the yolk cells of ectolecithal eggs, are compared among species, and their potential value as a taxonomic character is discussed. The quartet 4d spiral cleavage of the entolecithal egg of polyclads is described as reminiscent of the primitive pattern of early development for the Turbellaria. This is compared to duet spiral cleavage of acoels, and possible phylogenetic schemes involving the two types of spiral cleavage are reviewed. The link between the precise spiral cleavage, which characterizes development of most archoophorans, and blastomere separation (Blastomeren-Anarchie), which occurs in several neoophoran orders, is established by the occurrence of quartet 4d spiral cleavage in one neoophoran order, and of both quartet spiral cleavage and Blastomeren-Anarchie in different species of a second neoophoran order. The epibolic gastrulation of polyclads is described as primitive for the Turbellaria because of its similarity to that of other members of the Spiralia. Although no identical process occurs in neoophoran development, the earlier event of formation of the hull membrane in some neoophorans, and the later event of formation of the definitive epidermis in all neoophorans studied are presented as processes of possible homology to the epibolic gastrulation of polyclads. The lack of correspondence between polyclads and neoophorans in the relationship of the definitive body axes to the egg axis is discussed, and an hypothesis is advanced to account for the differences. The phylogenetic relationships indicated by known developmental phenomena differ only slightly from the scheme presented by Karling in 1974.
Nucleation of polyvinyl alcohol crystallization by single-walled carbon nanotubes

Non-isothermal crystallization experiments were performed on poly(vinyl alcohol) mixed with single-walled carbon nanotubes. Non-isothermal crystallization experiments showed that nanotubes nucleate crystallinity at weight fractions as low as 0.1%. An Ozawa model was applied to the non-isothermal crystallization data, and this approach confirmed the results deduced from the qualitative examination of the data: there was a clear difference in crystallization kinetics for the 0.1 and 1% sample vs. the sample without nanotubes. Nanotubes were also found to promote the thermal degradation of poly(vinyl alcohol).
Outcome of the scarf osteotomy in adolescent hallux valgus.

Purpose We have reported the radiological and clinical outcome of scarf osteotomy in the treatment of moderate to severe hallux valgus among adolescent children.
Discussion Podcast: Election 2012 and Beyond

The 2012 Presidential Election promises major changes in the US health care system. If President Barack Obama wins re-election, the provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will begin to be put in place. Governor …
A remeasurement of the photographic emission spectrum of neutral vanadium (V i)

As part of a comprehensive survey and analysis of the spectrum and structure of the neutral vanadium atom, the photographic V i emission spectrum has been remeasured under uniform conditions by using VCl3 electrodeless discharge tubes, the Paschen-Runge spectrograph at Argonne National Laboratory, thorium lines as standards excited in thorium iodide electrodeless discharge tubes, and an automated self-convolution measuring technique to obtain center-of-gravity line positions of the hyperfine structures encountered. This was undertaken after finding systematic errors in the previously published spectral data which led to numerous internal inconsistencies in the early V i energy level structure analysis, and to ambiguities in spectral line classifications. From the observations of approximately 1600 V i lines and an analysis of the structure of the neutral vanadium atom based upon these observations, upon ultraviolet absorption measurements, and upon measurements of the extra photographic infrared spectrum, which will be presented in later articles, it is apparent that an improvement of about an order of magnitude in wave-number uncertainty has been achieved, with uncertainties in general less than 0.05 cm−1.
Transport Protocols for Wireless Sensor Networks: State-of-the-Art and Future Directions

Characteristics of wireless sensor networks, specifically dense deployment, limited processing power, and limited power supply, provide unique design challenges at the transport layer. Message transmission between sensor nodes over a wireless medium is especially expensive. Care must be taken to design an efficient transport layer protocol that combines reliable message delivery and congestion control with minimal overhead and retransmission. Sensor networks are created using low cost, low power nodes. Wireless sensors are assumed to have a finite lifetime; care must be taken to design and implement transport layer algorithms that allow maximum network lifetime. In this paper we present current and future challenges in the design of transport layers for sensor networks. Current transport layer protocols are compared based on how they implement reliable message delivery, congestion control, and energy efficiency.
Epithelial Barrier Modulation by a Channel Forming Peptide

NC-1059 is a synthetic channel-forming peptide that provides for ion transport across, and transiently reduces the barrier integrity of, cultured epithelial monolayers derived from canine kidney (MDCK cells). Experiments were conducted to determine whether epithelial cells derived from other sources were similarly affected. Epithelial cells derived from human intestine (T-84), airway (Calu-3), porcine intestine (IPEC-J2) and reproductive duct (PVD9902) were grown on permeable supports. Basal short circuit current (I sc) was <3 μA cm−2 for T-84, IPEC-J2 and PVD9902 cell monolayers and <8 μA cm−2 for Calu-3 cells. Apical NC-1059 exposure caused, in all cell types, an increase in I sc to >15 μA cm−2, indicative of net anion secretion or cation absorption, which was followed by an increase in transepithelial conductance (in mS cm−2: T-84, 1.6 to 62; PVD9902, 0.2 to 51; IPEC-J2, 0.3 to 26; Calu-3, 2.3 to 13). These results are consistent with the peptide affecting transcellular ion movement, with a likely effect also on the paracellular route. NC-1059 exposure increased dextran permeation when compared to basal permeation, which documents an effect on the paracellular pathway. In order to evaluate membrane ion channels, experiments were conducted to study the dose dependence and stability of the NC-1059-induced membrane conductance in Xenopus laevis oocytes. NC-1059 induced a dose-dependent increase in oocyte membrane conductance that remained stable for greater than 2 h. The results demonstrate that NC-1059 increases transcellular conductance and paracellular permeation in a wide range of epithelia. These effects might be exploited to promote drug delivery across barrier epithelia.