cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A visual identification key utilizing both gestalt and analytic approaches to identification of Carices present in North America (Plantae, Cyperaceae)

Images are a critical part of the identification process because they enable direct, immediate and relatively unmediated comparisons between a specimen being identified and one or more reference specimens. The Carices Interactive Visual Identification Key (CIVIK) is a novel tool for identification of North American Carex species, the largest vascular plant genus in North America, and two less numerous closely-related genera, Cymophyllus and Kobresia. CIVIK incorporates 1288 high-resolution tiled image sets that allow users to zoom in to view minute structures that are crucial at times for identification in these genera. Morphological data are derived from the earlier Carex Interactive Identification Key (CIIK) which in turn used data from the Flora of North America treatments. In this new iteration, images can be viewed in a grid or histogram format, allowing multiple representations of data. In both formats the images are fully zoomable.
Solubility of hemoglobin as red cell marker in irradiated mouse chimeras.

Genetically different mouse hemoglobins differ in solubility and crystal formation. Differences in hemoglobin solubility and crystal formation can therefore be used to identify homologous erythrocytes in irradiated mouse chinreras if the hemoglobin types of donor and recipient mice are distinguishable by these properties to begin with. (auth)
As New Hampshire Goes (in January)

For all the signs of a dead heat in the horserace polls and strong hints of a victory for Senator John Kerry in exit polls on Election Day itself, the reelection of George W. Bush proved predictable from a model with a leading indicator available as far back as January. The forecast published in the October 2004 issue of PS was initially posted on January 29, 2004, the day after the New Hampshire Primary. It claimed, with 95% certainty, that President George W. Bush would defeat Democrat John Kerry in November. The forecast, which was not subject to any revision throughout the remainder of the election year, gave Bush 54.7% and Kerry 45.3% of the major-party vote. It missed the actual division of the major-party vote by a little more than one unit of the forecast error (2.7). All in all, a satisfactory performance of the model.
Ultraviolet spectra of organic molecules and the interstellar medium

THE polysaccharides cellulose and starch have been shown to give an excellent match to certain spectra of the interstellar medium1. The matching was based on comparisons of the laboratory spectra of polysaccharides in the 2–30-µm region with those of various astronomical objects, in particular dark clouds near the Trapezium2,3. Cellulose has broad absorption bands at 3, 10 and 20 µm devoid of the 10.3-µm high transmittance spike reported for crystalline silicates4, the commonly accepted dominant interstellar material. It has been claimed that cellulose obviates the need for the presence of both H2O ice and silicates in the interstellar medium1. Several organic molecules have already been found associated with dust grains in the interstellar medium. The dust grains offer protection from dissociation and could aid in the cellulose formation process5 The ultraviolet (UV) absorption in the interstellar medium can provide an additional identification technique for interstellar organic molecules, and this poses the question as to what are the UV spectral characteristics of cellulose. We have tried to answer this question by measuring the UV spectrum of cellulose between 0.19 and 0.40 µm, and comparing to the observed UV spectrum of the interstellar medium6. The sample we chose was regenerated cellulose produced from wood pulp, known generally as cellophane.
Emotional Regulation in Adolescent Substance Use Disorders: Rethinking Risk

Emotional regulation has emerged as an important factor in understanding a wide spectrum of disorders, including substance abuse. This article reviews research on the role of emotion regulation in substance use disorders (SUD) and offers a new perspective on the rationale of family substance use as a risk predictor for children and adolescents. The implications for prevention and early intervention are of particular importance to adolescent SUD.
Influence of geometry on liquid oxygen magnetohydrodynamics

Magnetic fluid actuators have performed well in industrial applications, but have a limited temperature range due to the freezing point of the carrier fluid. Liquid oxygen (LOX) presents a pure, paramagnetic fluid suitable for use in a cryogenic magnetic fluid system; therefore, it is a potential solution to increasing the thermal range of magnetic fluid technology without the need for magnetic particles. The current study presents experimental work regarding the influence of geometry on the dynamics of a LOX slug in a 1.9 mm quartz tube when pulsed by a solenoid in a closed volume. A numerical analysis calculated the optimal solenoid geometry and balanced the magnetic, damping, and pressure forces to determine optimal slug lengths. Three configurations comprised the experiment: (1) a 24-gauge wire solenoid with an optimized 2.7 cm length slug, (2) a 30-gauge wire solenoid with an optimized 1.3 cm length slug, and (3) a 30-gauge wire solenoid with a nonoptimized 2.5 cm length slug. Typically, the hydrodynamic breakdown limit is calculated and used to determine the system range; however the experiment showed that the hydrodynamic breakdown limit was never reached by the slug. This implied that, instead, the system range should factor in a probabilistic risk of failure calculated as a function of the induced pressure change from its oscillations. The experimental data were also used to establish a nondimensional relationship between the maximum displacement and initial magnetic pressure on the slug. The average initial velocity of the slug was found to be proportional to the initial magnetic pressure, Mason number, and slug length. The results of this study can be used in the design and optimization of a LOX fluid system for space or low-temperature applications.
ATP-sensitive potassium channels mediate hyperosmotic stimulation of NKCC in slow-twitch muscle

In mildly hyperosmotic medium, activation of the Na+-K+-2Cl- cotransporter (NKCC) counteracts skeletal muscle cell water loss, and compounds that stimulate protein kinase A (PKA) activity inhibit t...
Manufacture and Biodegradation of Wheat Gluten/Basalt Composite Material

Wheat gluten is a naturally occurring protein polymer. It is biodegradable and very inexpensive (less than $1.00/kg). Nonfood applications of wheat gluten have been explored to develop biodegradable polymers from renewable resources. In this work, gluten was reinforced with unidirectional basalt fibers in a compression molding operation. Biodegradation behavior of wheat gluten/basalt composites was examined by putting specimens into soil of prescribed moisture content. Specimens were removed at various time intervals and tested for mass loss and change in mechanical properties. Both mass and mechanical properties show a steady decline over a soil exposure time of 40 days. However, the basalt composite retained mechanical properties longer. At the same time, the bacterial count on the specimen surfaces increased exponentially. Field emission scanning electron microscope images show smooth fracture surfaces, indicating brittle failure of the wheat gluten. However, there are many small holes in the protein matrix with diameter of order 100 nm. These small inclusions may contribute to the brittleness through stress concentration.
Perturbative QCD at High-Energies

A partial review of QCD at high energies is given. Factorization and the use of the renormalization group equation are emphasized. Topics discussed are the parton model, cut vertices in covariant and axial gauges, μ-pair production, jets, form factors, x → 1 limit of structure fu nctions, wide angle elastic scattering and heavy quarkonium exclusive decays. A discussion of mass and infrared singularities and a discussion of Sudakov effects are also included.
Vacuum-assisted closure in the treatment of gynecologic oncology wound failures

Abstract Objective. Negative pressure wound vacuum therapy can expedite the healing of complex wound failures. Our aim was to evaluate the use of a vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) device to treat complex wound failures in gynecologic oncology patients. Methods. We retrospectively identified 27 patients with gynecologic malignancies in whom the device was used to treat complex wound failures from January 2001 to May 2002 at our institution. We analyzed operative data and information regarding the diagnosis and management of these complex wound failures and the length of time the device was used. Results. The procedures performed before wound VAC placement were total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy with or without tumor reductive surgery in 14 patients, vulvectomy with or without inguinal lymph node dissection in five patients, skin or myocutaneous grafting in three patients, parastomal herniorrhaphy in two patients, retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in two patients, and incision and drainage of a gluteal abscess after radiation therapy in one patient. Four of the 27 patients had the VAC device placed at the time of a reoperation, while the remaining 23 patients had the VAC device placed postoperatively for wound failures. Wound breakdown occurred at a median of 9 days (range: 0–88 days) postoperatively. Overall, there was a 96% reduction (range: 0–100%) in the median size of wound defects from 330 to 14.0 cm 3 with use of the VAC device. The median number of days of VAC therapy was 32 days (range: 3–88 days). Twenty patients used this device as outpatients, and the charge per day was approximately US$150.00. One patient experienced bleeding, and 26 patients experienced no complications. The only complaint was pain during dressing changes (67% of patients). The mean follow-up was 52 days (range: 0–270 days). At the time of last contact, 26 (96%) of 27 patients had complete wound healing. Conclusions. VAC therapy is a novel treatment using controlled negative pressure to evacuate wound fluid, stimulate granulation tissue, and to decrease bacterial colonization of the wound. Our experience indicates that this is a safe method to treat complex wound failures in gynecologic oncology patients.
Resentment and Renewal: Toward a Theory of the History of Judaism

Abstract Diverse Judaic religious systems, from the Pentateuchal statement to the Zionist reiteration of that statement, endure and will define future Judaisms too. A single paradigm defines those systems, however varied they are in detail. I propose to explain the endurance of the Judaic paradigm, which is realized in the myth of exile and return.
Natural and Synthetic Rubber Fibers. Electron Microscope Studies

Abstract Hevea rubber fibers suitable for observation in the electron microscope were prepared from thin films produced by spreading rubber solutions and dispersions on a water surface. Fibers of guayule, Cryptostegia, Neoprene, and Buna-S were prepared in a similar manner and studied with the electron microscope. Unvulcanized Hevea rubber was separated into sol and gel fractions. Electron micrographs of the sol fraction show fibers bearing many large nodules along their lengths. The spherical shape of many of the nodules is strongly suggestive of fluid properties. The gel fraction shows practically no nodules, but tends to form closely branched networks. The smallest fibers have a characteristically beaded appearance which may be related to the state of aggregation of the isoprene chains. When pale crepe or smoked sheet is worked on the mill, cross-linked networks of the gel fraction disappear, and the milled material takes on the appearance typical of the sol. Vulcanization of milled rubber in solution ...
Exact controllability of wave equations in Rn coupled in parallel

Abstract We consider a system of two parallel identical wave equations in R n coupled by a distributed internal dissipator. It is shown that despite the distributed damping, there exists a subspace of states which is unstable. We prove an exact controllability result with Dirichlet boundary controls with no restrictions on the coupling parameters, with a control time that is independent of the coupling constants and dictated by geometric optics.
Quantitative analysis of the effects of steady-state illumination on the MOS-capacitor—I. Theory

Abstract A detailed theoretical investigation is made into the effects of steady state illumination on the MOS-capacitor characteristics. Solutions are given for the C–V characteristics in the low and high frequency limits, and a general solution for the total admittance is developed in terms of a simple lumped circuit model, which is approximately valid for all gate voltages and for test frequencies below the majority carrier relaxation frequency. Suggested techniques for determining the lumped circuit elements are noted and a scheme for evaluating the light perturbed carrier concentration directly from capacitance data is outlined. The band to band communication, which is enhanced by illumination, is studied assuming a single level recombination center, and the effect of the center's parameters and the light intensity on the recombination resistance is deduced. Finally, the expected dependence of the perturbed carrier concentrations on the light intensity, light wavelength, and incident light orientation is derived.
The pollination spectrum in the southwestern American cactus flora

The cacti of the American Southwest, defined as the region from southern California to Texas, are surveyed for types of pollination systems and their frequencies. Four types of pollination systems are known to occur in the southwestern cactus flora: bee, hummingbird, hawkmoth, and bat pollination. Two other modes are suspected but not documented: miscellaneous smallinsect pollination and autogamy.—Bee flowers comprise a wide and nearly continuous series of size classes from very small to very large. The large bee flowers, with perianths 5.5 to 12.5 cm in diameter, form a prominent but arbitrarily delimited subcategory in the bee pollination system. Promiscuous flowers and autogamous flowers, if they occur, are included with the medium-sized and small bee flowers in our present classification, due to lack of information, and will have to be separated out when our knowledge is more complete. The overwhelming majority of species in the southwestern cactus flora are bee flowers. Between 39 and 44% of the species are large bee flowers. Another 50 to 56% of the species are classified as medium-sized and small bee flowers; while some of these may turn out to be promiscuous flowers and autogamous flowers, most of them are undoubtedly bee flowers.—Hummingbird, hawkmoth, and bat pollination are conspicuous but statistically minor components of the pollination spectrum, occurring in only one or a few species (see Table 2). Hummingbird pollination has arisen from bee pollination in the Southwest. The species or species groups with hawkmoth and bat pollination, on the other hand, are basically tropical groups which developed their advanced pollination systems in the tropics.
Synthesis of feedback control logic for discrete manufacturing systems

Abstract This paper concerns the supervisory coordination and control of concurrent activity cycles in automated manufacturing facilities. In contrast to commonly used simulation models which integrate the control policy with the system model, the state transition logic for the manufacturing equipment is represented by a class of controlled Petri nets (CtlPN) with external inputs to be determined by the control synthesis algorithm. We formulate the forbidden state control problem in the CtlPN context and present an algorithm for generating maximally permissive controls which guarantee the system will avoid the forbidden states while permitting a maximal amount of flexibility in the system operation. The problem formulation and control synthesis algorithm is illustrated for an example of AGV co-ordination, and several classes of manufacturing control problems which can be addressed within this framework are identified.
Changes in Trunk and Head Stability in Children with Cerebral Palsy after Hippotherapy: A Pilot Study

Hippotherapy (HPOT) is a therapy that uses horse movement. This pilot investigation objectively evaluated the efficacy of HPOT in improving head/trunk stability in children with cerebral palsy (CP)...
O-silyl-substituted enols

Abstract Although sodium bis(trimethylsilyl)amide reacts with non-enolisable carbonyl compounds to yield silyl-substituted imines and sodium silanolate, carbonyl compounds with active hydrogen are easily enolised and react differently, yielding bis(trimethylsilyl)amine and a sodium derivative of the carbonyl compound. The reaction of the resulting sodium enolates with halosilanes yields O-silyl-substituted enols, the structures of which have been proven by NMR and IR spectroscopy.
Contribution to the Theory of the Compton-Line

Starting from Wentzel's theory of the Compton scattering of bound electrons, and assuming that the motion of the electrons in the atom can be described by hydrogenic eigenfunctions, general formulae are developed for the calculation of the intensity distribution in the Compton line. It is shown that the interaction of the electrons with the atomic nucleus gives not only a broadening of the Compton line but makes it also asymmetrical, shifting at the same time the position of the maximum intensity from Compton's value $\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\lambda}=(\frac{h}{{m}_{0}c})(1\ensuremath{-}cos\ensuremath{\theta})$. The "defect of the Compton shift" is shown to be quadratic in the wave-length of the incident radiation. This law as well as the value of the constant entering into it are found to agree satisfactorily with experiment.
Massive quarks and the quark-parton model

The parton-model result $\ensuremath{\nu}{W}_{2}(x)=\ensuremath{\Sigma}{i}^{}{{e}_{i}}^{2}x{f}_{i}(x)$ is derived for massive quarks in the case where partons are identified as quarks. A simple model of a bound-quark system is also given in order to illuminate the ideas behind the derivation.
Effect of different sizes of polyacrylic acid on the structure and DNA template properties of isolated rat liver nuclei and soluble chromatin

Abstract 1. 1. Polyacrylic acid is capable of releasing the DNA template restrictions on isolated rat liver nuclei or soluble chromatin when assayed with either DNA polymerase or RNA polymerase from Escherichia coli B. 2. 2. The ability of polyacrylic acids to release these template restrictions is dependent on their size. Polyacrylic acids of molecular weight 20 400 and 4680 were very effective; whereas polyacrylic acid with a molecular weight of 1260 was completely ineffective. 3. 3. The similarity of the effect of polyacrylic acid in releasing the template restrictions in both isolated nuclei and soluble chromatin indicates that this characteristic is not determined by the ability of the polymer to pass through the nuclear membrane. 4. 4. All sizes of polyacrylic acid were able to precipitate purified unfractionated calf thymus histones; however, the smallest polymer was nearly twice as effective as the larger ones (60 μg histone precipitated by 100 μg polyacrylic acid, mol. wt = 1260 ). 5. 5. The larger sizes of polyacrylic acid, but not the smallest size, caused an increase in nuclear volume and an optical clearing of isolated nuclei when examined at 600 nm. This phenomenon was accompanied by a release of DNA from the nuclei. 6. 6. The two large sizes of polyacrylic acid were able to protect high molecular weight DNA in nuclei from degradation when nuclear suspensions were incubated at 37 °C in the presence of 2.5 mM Mg 2+ . 7. 7. DNA template characteristics of purified, heat-denatured calf thymus DNA could be completely inhibited by the addition of isolated calf thymus histones. The two larger sizes of polyacrylic acid were specifically able to reactivate the DNA template properties of these histone-inhibited DNA preparations.
Widely Separated Pheromone Release Sites for Disruption of Sex Pheromone Communicationin Two Species of Lepidoptera

Experiments were conducted to determine the efficacy of synthetic pheromone components in causing disruption of attractancy of males of 2 moth species to females used as bait in traps in the centers of large field plots. For beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hubner) (Noctuidae), in tomatoes and Platynota stultana (Walsingham) (Tortricidae) in both peaches and table grapes, large, widely spaced (20 m apart) evaporators in 1-ha plots gave disruption equivalent to that provided by smaller, more closely spaced (5.5 m apart) evaporators, as long as the release rates in both cases were adjusted to the same level, ≍0.9 mg/ha/d. When evaporators releasing the same total amounts of components per hectare per day were spaced 100 m apart in 25-ha plots, a reduction in the efficacy of communication disruption was noted. Evaporators releasing ≍0.9 mg of pheromone components per hectare per day and spaced at 5.5-m intervals around the perimeters only of 1- or 4-ha plots provided communication disruption of S. exigua in tomatoes and P. stultana in grapes and peaches equivalent to that provided by evaporators releasing the same amount of components per hectare per day and uniformly distributed at 5.5-m spacings within 1-ha plots. When evaporators releasing the same amount of components per hectare per day were spaced at 5.5-m intervals around the perimeters only of 16-ha plots, a reduction in communication disruption efficacy was also noted. It was calculated that evaporators releasing ≍0.9 mg of pheromone components per hectare per day could be separated from each other and from centrally located female-baited traps by up to 100 m before a lessening of communication disruption was obtained. Mechanical devices, which we call puffers , releasing pheromone components at 840 mg/ha/d, spaced at 40-m intervals around perimeters only of 16-ha plots, and separated from female-baited monitoring traps by 200 m, provided complete disruption of communication of S. exigua in tomatoes and P. stultana in grapes and peaches.
Rate Accelerating Polymeric Cofactors in the Homogeneous Hydrogenation of Alkenes

Abstract The novel use of polymeric reagents as selective phosphine absorbers in a homogeneous catalysis is presented. Silver(I) p-toluene sulfonate (A) is shown to absorb tertiary phosphines from organic solution and to restore PPh3-inhibited homogeneous hydrogenation of alkenes by RhC1L3 (L[dbnd]PPh3) to a non-inhibited rate. Treatment of RhC1L3 with ethylene in presence of A followed by addition of a second alkene and removal of ethylene under reduced pressure leads to an increased rate of hydrogenation for several alkenes.
State of the Climate in 2005

Abstract The State of the Climate 2005 report summarizes global and regional climate conditions and places them, where possible, into the context of historical records. Descriptions and analyses of notable climatic anomalies, both global and regional, also are presented. According to the Smith and Reynolds global land and ocean surface temperature dataset in use at the NOAA National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), the globally averaged annual mean surface temperature in 2005 was the warmest since the inception of consistent temperature observations in 1880. Unlike the previous record positive anomaly of 1998 (+0.50°C), the 2005 global anomaly of 0.53°C above the 1961–90 mean occurred in the absence of a strong El Nino signal. The record ranking of 2005 was corroborated by a dataset maintained at NASA, while United Kingdom archives placed 2005 second behind 1998. However, statistically, the 2005 global temperature anomaly could not be differentiated from either 1998 or any of the past four years. The majority...
Importance of the distance and velocity of electrical forces in the diagnosis of inferior wall healed myocardial infarction: A vectorcardiographic study

The vectorcardiograms of 41 patients with angiographically proved inferior myocardial infarction (MI) and 51 normal subjects were analyzed to determine whether it is the time (in milliseconds) or the distance (in millivolts) of the initial superiority directed forces of ventricular depolarization that is increased more by inferior MI, and whether parameters derived from both the initial superior time and distance can be used to detect inferior MI. The 10 best individual and the 10 best paired criteria for inferior MI involve superior distance, either alone or used in the calculation of average velocity (in volts per second), and the product of initial superior time and distance (in millivolts per second). The 2 best individual criteria for inferior MI are: inferior velocity more than 0.0065 V/s (sensitivity 71%, specificity 100%) and superior distance more than 0.39 mV (sensitivity 68%, specificity 100%). These diagnostic performances are superior to those of the best criterion that involves only the duration of the initial superior forces, i.e., initial superior time longer than 28 ms (sensitivity 49%, specificity 98%) (chi 2 = 8.42, p less than 0.005 and chi 2 = 6.31, p less than 0.025, respectively). Initial superior distance and parameters calculated from both initial superior distance and time are better vectorcardiographic criteria for inferior MI than are criteria that involve only initial superior time.
Preliminary design interfaces for high-fidelity engineering software: web-based analyses for vehicle engineering

Abstract Web browser interfaces have been developed for geometry generation, volume grid generation, Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver execution and solution inspection. These interfaces access only a subset of the software's capability because they are tailored so that only the relevant choices are available for change. Scripts have been written to efficiently link the steps in CFD analysis and to facilitate repeated analysis. This environment is used successfully for CFD analysis of ballistic range models for atmospheric entry experiments.
Accuracy of formula preparation equipment for liquid measurement.

Abstract Background Modular specialist feeds may consist of a number of individual liquid ingredients. Accurate feed preparation is dependent on competent liquid measurement. We investigate the accuracy of two measuring jugs (one retail mix-and-measure; and one produced to laboratory standards); and the influence of volume and technique on accuracy. Materials and methods 20 health professionals aged 18–60 y (mean: 46 y) measured 3 different volumes of water with each of two measuring jugs. For each volume with each jug, 2 measurements in randomised order were made: 1) eye-level with the jug, and 2) standing upright (total of 12 measurements). Measured quantities were weighed and the difference between measured and target volumes calculated. Results The laboratory jug was more accurate (mean difference 9.3 ml, range − 30.5 to 57.5 ml, std error mean 1.59) than the retail jug (mean difference − 17.7 ml, range − 92.0 to 48.5 ml, std error mean 1.59). Accuracy improved with increased volume (450 ml: mean difference − 9.4 ml, range − 75.5 to 49.5 ml, std error mean 1.95; and 810 ml: mean difference − 0.7 ml; range − 92.0 to 43.0 ml, std error mean 1.95). Conclusions Accurate measurement of liquid ingredients is difficult to achieve even for trained professionals. The cumulative effect of many different liquid measurement errors (inappropriate jug type, inaccurate volume measured and poor technique) may lead to clinically important errors in the preparation of modular specialist feeds.
Regulation of mesenchymal stem cell chondrogenesis by glucose through protein kinase C/transforming growth factor signaling.

Summary Objective Effective induction of human mesenchymal stem cell (hMSC) differentiation for regenerative medicine applications remains a great challenge. While much research has studied hMSC activity during differentiation, it is unclear whether pre-differentiation culture can modulate differentiation capacity. We investigate the effect of glucose concentration in pre-differentiation/expansion culture on modulating chondrogenic capacity of hMSCs, and explore the underlying molecular mechanism. Design The extent of chondrogenesis of hMSCs previously cultured with different concentrations of glucose was evaluated. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling molecules and protein kinase C (PKC) were analyzed to identify the role of these molecules in the regulation of glucose on chondrogenesis. In addition, hMSCs in high-glucose expansion culture were treated with the PKC inhibitor to modulate the activity of PKC and TGF-β signaling molecules. Results High-glucose maintained hMSCs were less chondrogenic than low-glucose maintained cells upon receiving differentiation signals. Interestingly, we found that high-glucose culture increased the phosphorylation of PKC and expression of type II TGF-β receptor (TGFβRII) in pre-differentiation hMSCs. However, low-glucose maintained hMSCs became more responsive to chondrogenic induction with increased PKC activation and TGFβRII expression than high-glucose maintained hMSCs during differentiation. Inhibiting the PKC activity of high-glucose maintained hMSCs during expansion culture upregulated the TGFβRII expression of chondrogenic cell pellets, and enhanced chondrogenesis. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate the effect of glucose concentration on regulating the chondrogenic capability of pre-differentiation hMSCs, and provide insight into the mechanism of how glucose concentration regulates PKC and TGF-β signaling molecules to prime pre-differentiation hMSCs for subsequent chondrogenesis.
Disposition of ultrasound sensitive polymeric drug carrier in a rat hepatocellular carcinoma model.

Rationale and Objectives A doxorubicin-loaded microbubble has been developed that can be destroyed with focused ultrasound resulting in fragments, or “nanoshards” capable of escaping through the leaky tumor vasculature, promoting accumulation within the interstitium. This study uses a rat liver cancer model to examine the biodistribution and tumoral delivery of this microbubble platform compared with de novo drug-loaded polymer nanoparticles and free doxorubicin. Materials and Methods Microbubbles (1.8 μm) and 217-nm nanoparticles were prepared containing 14-C labeled doxorubicin. Microbubbles, nanoparticles, a combination of the two, or free doxorubicin were administered intravenously in rats bearing hepatomas, concomitant with tumor insonation. Doxorubicin levels in plasma, organs, and tumors were quantified after 4 hours and 7 and 14 days. Tumors were measured on sacrifice and evaluated with autoradiography and histology. Results Animals treated with microbubbles had significantly lower plasma doxorubicin concentrations (0.466 ± 0.068%/mL) compared with free doxorubicin (3.033 ± 0.612%/mL, P = .0019). Drug levels in the myocardium were significantly lower in animals treated with microbubbles compared to free doxorubicin (0.168%/g tissue vs. 0.320%/g, P = .0088). Tumors treated with microbubbles showed significantly higher drug levels than tumors treated with free doxorubicin (2.491 ± 0.501 %/g vs. 0.373 ± 0.087 %/g, P = .0472). These tumors showed significantly less growth than tumors treated with free doxorubicin ( P = .0390). Conclusions Doxorubicin loaded microbubbles triggered with ultrasound provided enhanced, sustained drug delivery to tumors, reduced plasma and myocardium doxorubicin levels, and arresting tumor growth. The results suggest that in situ generation of nano particles provides a superior treatment over injection of free drug and also de novo synthesized nanoparticles.
Negative regulation of Hedgehog signaling by the cholesterogenic enzyme 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase

Cholesterol regulates Hedgehog (Hh) signaling during early vertebrate development. Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS) is caused by defects in 7-dehydrocholesterol reductase (DHCR7), an enzyme catalyzing the final step of cholesterol biosynthesis. Many developmental malformations attributed to SLOS occur in tissues and organs where Hh signaling is required for development, but the precise role of DHCR7 deficiency in this disease remains murky. We report that DHCR7 and Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) are co-expressed during midline development in Xenopus embryos. DHCR7 has previously been implicated to function as a positive regulator of Hh signaling that acts to regulate the cholesterol adduction of Hh ligand or to affect Hh signaling in the responding cell. We present gain- and loss-of-function analyses suggesting that DHCR7 functions as a negative regulator of Hh signaling at the level or downstream of Smoothened (Smo) and affects intracellular Hh signaling. Our analysis also raises the possibility that the human condition SLOS is caused not only by disruption of the enzymatic role of DHCR7 as a reductase in cholesterol biosynthesis, but may also involve defects in DHCR7 resulting in derepression of Shh signaling.
Role of Mitochondrial Ca2+ in the Regulation of Cellular Energetics

Calcium is an important signaling molecule involved in the regulation of many cellular functions. The large free energy in the Ca(2+) ion membrane gradients makes Ca(2+) signaling inherently sensitive to the available cellular free energy, primarily in the form of ATP. In addition, Ca(2+) regulates many cellular ATP-consuming reactions such as muscle contraction, exocytosis, biosynthesis, and neuronal signaling. Thus, Ca(2+) becomes a logical candidate as a signaling molecule for modulating ATP hydrolysis and synthesis during changes in numerous forms of cellular work. Mitochondria are the primary source of aerobic energy production in mammalian cells and also maintain a large Ca(2+) gradient across their inner membrane, providing a signaling potential for this molecule. The demonstrated link between cytosolic and mitochondrial Ca(2+) concentrations, identification of transport mechanisms, and the proximity of mitochondria to Ca(2+) release sites further supports the notion that Ca(2+) can be an important signaling molecule in the energy metabolism interplay of the cytosol with the mitochondria. Here we review sites within the mitochondria where Ca(2+) plays a role in the regulation of ATP generation and potentially contributes to the orchestration of cellular metabolic homeostasis. Early work on isolated enzymes pointed to several matrix dehydrogenases that are stimulated by Ca(2+), which were confirmed in the intact mitochondrion as well as cellular and in vivo systems. However, studies in these intact systems suggested a more expansive influence of Ca(2+) on mitochondrial energy conversion. Numerous noninvasive approaches monitoring NADH, mitochondrial membrane potential, oxygen consumption, and workloads suggest significant effects of Ca(2+) on other elements of NADH generation as well as downstream elements of oxidative phosphorylation, including the F(1)F(O)-ATPase and the cytochrome chain. These other potential elements of Ca(2+) modification of mitochondrial energy conversion will be the focus of this review. Though most specific molecular mechanisms have yet to be elucidated, it is clear that Ca(2+) provides a balanced activation of mitochondrial energy metabolism that exceeds the alteration of dehydrogenases alone.
Electron Diffraction Intensities

UNDER this title, Fordham1 has discussed the intensity anomalies observed by us in the electron diffraction pattern of zinc oxide. Fordham believes that “variations in extinction due to irregular crystal shape or to anisotropy will explain at least qualitatively many of the observed differences between calculated and observed electron diffraction intensities”.
Mechanical and microstructural properties of pectin/starch films

Films were made from blends of high methoxy pectin and high amylose starch gelatinized in a microwave oven in the presence and absence of glycerol at times ranging from 10 to 105 s. Three thermodynamic transitions were observed when storage modulus, loss modulus, and loss tangent were plotted against temperature. All three transitions gave minima when the transition temperature was plotted against time of gelatinization. Overall, there were only modest changes in these moduli over the range of gelatinization times studied, with little difference between films made with the starch gelatinized in either the presence or absence of glycerol. Starch granules were found to disappear at gelatinization times between 20 and 30 s, although much smaller starch particles seemed to recur at gelatinization times of 75 s and above. The minima found in the transition temperature and modulus plots were believed to result from a minimum in the amount of intermolecular interactions between the starch molecules. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.*
Making targets for a new heavy ion facility

Abstract The superconducting linac now being built and tested at the Argonne National Laboratory and to be used with the FN Tandem has as its objective to provide precision beams of heavy ions for physics research. Providing stripper foils having reasonable lifetimes for the linac as well as for the Tandem when using heavy ions is a necessity. We have shown that either heating or rotating the foils or a combination of both increases their lifetime. We now find that the lifetime can be significantly increased by high speed rotation of a disc containing the foils. Techniques have also been developed to increase the lifetime of targets used in experiments having intense beams and which may be applicable to heavy ion physics. These techniques involve principles of conductivity, radiation, and target rotation.
Capsule commentary on Frank et al., increased hospital and emergency department utilization by individuals with recent criminal justice involvement: results of a national survey.

The relationship between low health status, such as health disorders, drug use, and epilepsy, and criminal activity is well documented.1,2 Persons within this population often are homeless, poor and/or have limited access to regular and primary care, and therefore seek emergency department (ED) and hospital services when their symptoms are more severe.2–4 In a large national sample (n = 154,356), Frank et al.5 find that recent arrest is positively correlated with hospitalization and ED utilization, showing that 4.2 % of the U.S. adult population has recent criminal justice involvement, yet accounts for 7.2 % of hospital expenditures and 8.5 % of ED expenditures. The authors call for improvements in the quality and access of care for criminal justice populations, which would not only improve their general health, but also reduce the costs associated with hospitalization and ED services. While other non-health related correlates may still exist,1 health-related correlates can be partly addressed through healthcare policy and employment reforms. Health insurance options independent of employment, as part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, will help these individuals receive regular and primary healthcare, and lower the incidence of hospitalization and ED visits by those with criminal history. Given that the authors cannot determine causality with the methods used, we also need to consider that health status may also be a potential driver of criminal activity, as suggested by Lee, Beaver and Wright, and others.1–3 Therefore, we also suggest that physician and hospital care provided through affordable or subsidized, independent insurance policies may help at-risk populations seek care prior to criminal involvement and arrest. Expanded health care access may have the potential to reduce the incidence of crime, particularly drug-related crime if rehabilitation options are available. Though this would require a financial investment from the general public, these services ultimately could reduce costs of emergency and long-term health services and for incarceration, while also improving public health and safety. We would add that other social reforms, including housing, social, community and income support are also needed to help improve the health of this population.
The use and Nonuse of Drugs among High School Students in a Small Rural Community

This study reports on the use of drugs among a sample of high school students in a small rural community. The users were primarily males who were somewhat estranged from such significant primary groups as the home, the church, and the community. Several differences between black and white students were noted. More black males than white males used drugs; the converse was the case among females. Family variables had less influence on use among blacks; religion had more of an effect.
Multiphysics modeling and design of Galfenol-based unimorph harvesters

Iron-gallium alloys, known as Galfenol, are a class of magnetostrictive materials that convert mechanical energy to magnetic energy and vice versa. Galfenol devices especially unimorph consisting of a Galfenol beam bonded to a passive substrate, have great potential in energy harvesting applications, but advanced multiphysics models are lacking for these smart devices. This study presents a comprehensive finite element model for Galfenol unimorph harvesters which incorporates magnetic, mechanical, and electrical dynamics. Experiments considering impulsive tip excitations under purely resistive or resistive-capacitive electrical loads are conducted to validate the proposed model. The energy conversion efficiency and peak power density of a unimorph beam with a natural frequency of 139.5 Hz are analyzed experimentally. The maximum energy conversion efficiency is 5.93% when a 74 Ω resistor and a 2 μF capacitor are connected in parallel to the pickup coil in parallel. The maximum power density observed in experiments is 10.72 mW/cm 3 when load resistance is 74 Ω. This performance may be optimized in the future utilizing the proposed finite element model.
A Method of Three Jet Analysis in e+ e- Annihilation

For three-jet events ine+e− annihilation, a procedure is described to determine all three jet axes by minimizing the sum of squares of transverse momenta. Computations with this procedure show that at high energies the result is quite insensitive to missing particles, such as neurals.
Bioluminescence-based visualization of CD4 T cell dynamics using a T lineage-specific luciferase transgenic model1

Background Rapid clonal expansion of T cells occurs in response to antigenic challenges. The kinetics of the T cell response has previously been described using tissue-based studies performed at defined time points. Luciferase bioluminescence has recently been utilized for non-invasive analysis of in vivo biologic processes in real-time.
Renal Cortical Infarction Following Treatment With Sumatriptan in a Kidney Allograft Recipient

Renal cortical infarction is a rare cause of acute kidney injury that results from inadequate blood flow to the kidney, most commonly as a consequence of thrombotic or embolic occlusion of the renal artery or profound hypoperfusion. We report the case of a 78-year-old female kidney transplant recipient who developed a migraine headache, took sumatriptan, and soon after developed pain over the allograft and oligoanuric acute kidney injury. Kidney allograft biopsy showed renal cortical infarction. The mechanism of action of sumatriptan involves vasoconstriction, which counters the vasodilatation that is central to the pathogenesis of migraines. This case raises important questions regarding the safety of triptans with calcineurin inhibitors (which also act to vasoconstrict), particularly in elderly patients.
Modeling bimolecular reactions and transport in porous media via particle tracking

Abstract We use a particle-tracking method to simulate several one-dimensional bimolecular reactive transport experiments. In our numerical scheme, the reactants are represented by particles: advection and dispersion dominate the flow, and molecular diffusion dictates, in large part, the reactions. The particle/particle reactions are determined by a combination of two probabilities dictated by the physics of transport and energetics of reaction. The first is that reactant particles occupy the same volume over a short time interval. The second is the conditional probability that two collocated particles favorably transform into a reaction. The first probability is a direct physical representation of the degree of mixing in an advancing interface between dissimilar waters, and as such lacks empirical parameters except for the user-defined number of particles. This number can be determined analytically from concentration autocovariance, if this type of data is available. The simulations compare favorably to two physical experiments. In one, the concentration of product, 1,2-naphthoquinoe-4-aminobenzene (NQAB) from reaction between 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulfonic acid (NQS) and aniline (AN), was measured at the outflow of a column filled with glass beads at different times. In the other, the concentration distribution of reactants ( CuSO 4 and EDTA 4 - ) and product ( CuEDTA 2 - ) were quantified by snapshots of light transmitted through a column packed with cryolite sand. These snapshots allow us to estimate concentration statistics and calculate the required number of particles. The experiments differ significantly due to a ∼ 10 7 difference in thermodynamic rate coefficients, making the latter experiment effectively instantaneous. When compared to the solution of the advection–dispersion-reaction equation (ADRE) with the well-mixed reaction coefficient, the experiments and the particle-tracking simulations showed on the order of 20–40% less overall product, which is attributed to poor mixing. The poor mixing also leads to higher product concentrations on the edges of the mixing zones, which the particle model simulates more accurately than the ADRE.
Softer optimization and control models via fuzzy linguistic quantifiers

A “softening” of a basic formulation of multicriterion optimization and control (multistage decision making) is presented. For optimization, instead of seeking an optimal solution that best satisfies all the fuzzy objectives as has been done so far, we seek an optimal solution that best satisfies most, much more than 50%, etc. (a linguistic quantifier, in general) of the fuzzy objectives. For control, we seek in turn an optimal sequence of controls that best satisfies the fuzzy constraints and fuzzy goals at most, much more than 50%, etc. of the control stages. A calculus of linguistically quantified statements based upon fuzzy sets and possibility theory is used. Some applications to softer evidence aggregation in expert systems are also indicated.
A corpus analysis approach for automatic query expansion

Searching online text collections can be both rewarding and frustrating. While valuable information can be found, typically many irrelevant documents are also retrieved and many relevant ones are missed. Terminology mismatches between the user's query and document contents are a main cause of retrieval failures. Expanding a user's query with related words can improve search performance, but finding and using related words is an open problem. This research uses corpus analysis techniques to automatically discover similar words directly from the contents of the untagged databases. Using these similarities, user queries are automatically expanded, resulting in conceptual retrieval rather than requiring exact word matches between queries and documents. This work has been extended to multi-database collections where each sub-database has a collection-specific similarity matrix associated with it. If the best matrix is selected, substantial search improvements are possible. However, automatically selecting the appropriate matrix for a particular query remains under investigation. * This work was funded by the University of Kansas General Research Fund and National Science Foundation Awards CDA-9401021 and IRI-9409263.