cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Primary saturation of α, β-unsaturated carbonyl containing fatty acids does not abolish electrophilicity.

Abstract Metabolism of polyunsaturated fatty acids results in the formation of hydroxylated fatty acids that can be further oxidized by dehydrogenases, often resulting in the formation of electrophilic, α,β-unsaturated ketone containing fatty acids. As electrophiles are associated with redox signaling, we sought to investigate the metabolism of the oxo-fatty acid products in relation to their double bond architecture. Using an untargeted liquid chromatography mass spectrometry approach, we identified mono- and di-saturated products of the arachidonic acid-derived 11-oxoeicosatetraenoic acid (11-oxoETE) and mono-saturated metabolites of 15-oxoETE and docosahexaenoic acid-derived 17-oxodocosahexaenoinc acid (17-oxoDHA) in both human A549 lung carcinoma and umbilical vein endothelial cells. Notably, mono-saturated oxo-fatty acids maintained their electrophilicity as determined by nucleophilic conjugation to glutathione while a second saturation of 11-oxoETE resulted in a loss of electrophilicity. These results would suggest that prostaglandin reductase 1 (PTGR1), known only for its reduction of the α,β-unsaturated double bond, was not responsible for the saturation of oxo-fatty acids at alternative double bonds. Surprisingly, knockdown of PTGR1 expression by shRNA confirmed its participation in the formation of 15-oxoETE and 17-oxoDHA mono-saturated metabolites. Furthermore, overexpression of PTGR1 in A549 cells increased the rate and total amount of oxo-fatty acid saturation. These findings will further facilitate the study of electrophilic fatty acid metabolism and signaling in the context of inflammatory diseases and cancer where they have been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative signaling properties.
Only Unthinking Intelligence

If a Lion Could Talk Animal Intelligence and the Evolution of Consciousness. Stephen Budiansky. Free Press, New York, 1998. 255 pp. $25, C$36. ISBN 0-684-83710-2. Examining a wide range of studies on animal intelligence, Budiansky argues that associative learning underlies behaviors that might suggest sophisticated reasoning.
Cell-mediated lympholytic responses against autologous cells modified with haptenic sulfhydryl reagents. V. H-2Ld self products are recognized by anti-AED-specific cytotoxic T cells.

The present studies were designed to examine the restriction elements involved in the H-2d haplotype CTL response against AED-self. BALB/c mice were immunized by in vivo administration of syngeneic BALB/c spleen cells conjugated with the sulfhydryl reactive haptenic reagent I-AEDANS. The cytotoxic T cell response generated by subsequent in vitro stimulation with AED-self was found to contain H-2K and H-2D region-specific components. In contrast to the predominant H-2D hapten-self CTL responses induced by amino-reactive haptenic reagents like TNBS and FITC, the AED-self response was predominantly directed against H-2K self products. Antibody inhibition analysis demonstrated that the H-2D region component contained Ld-AED-self CTL, as well as Dd-AED-self CTL. However, although both Ld- and Dd-restricted components could be identified shortly (less than 1 wk) after priming, the H-2D region AED-self CTL response shifted to a single restricting molecule, namely Dd, 1 wk and later after immunization. The results of this study provide the first demonstration that the H-2L locus encodes a cell surface product that can function as a restricting molecule for hapten-self-specific CTL. The shift from Ld and Dd AED-specific CTL to Dd only suggests the existence of a highly specific regulatory mechanism directed against antigen (i.e., hapten) plus self.
The Racial Underpinnings of Party Identification and Political Ideology

Objective The racial issue evolution theory has shaped our understanding of U.S. party politics since 1964. However, some scholars disagree that racial issues are the chief factors. Others argue that social identities are the key to understanding U.S. party politics. Methods Using logistic regression, this analysis addresses this controversy and joins the debate with a different test of the social identity theory. Results It demonstrates that relationships between three racial psychological attachments (categorization, identification, and consciousness) and political orientation (party identification and political ideology) exist even when controlling for other factors. Conclusion The findings suggest that Americans rely on racial categorization and identification when identifying themselves with a political party, but not a political ideology. However, the findings suggest that Americans rely on racial and moral issues when adopting a political ideology, but not party identification.
A Bayesian Model to Assess a Binary Measurement System When No Gold Standard System Is Available

A repeated binary testing framework is a fallible means of determining whether or not units conform to quality standards. This article's Bayesian approach to the analysis of repeated binary testing data allows investigators to incorporate prior information on the conforming rate and misclassification parameters. A Markov chain Monte Carlo approach has been developed to represent posterior beta densities. The article also proposes methods for determining necessary sample sizes.
Wavelet-based lossy compression of turbulence data

Summary form only given. Modelling of turbulence is among a class of Grand Challenge applications that severely strain data storage capabilities. The rate at which data is generated can actually limit the performance of the application. One tool that can assist is data compression. Unfortunately, lossless compression performs poorly on such data. Lossy compression is the only choice for turbulence data. Lossy compression preserves the absolute characteristics of turbulence data well. However the statistics of the data are poorly preserved. It is believed that various structures in turbulence determine the behaviour of the various statistics. Designating these structures as regions of interest and using a region-of-interest (ROI) coder is one potential approach to preserving these statistics better. In this research, data from a quasi-geostrophic model of incompressible turbulence is used. The output data of this model is vorticity.
Optimal consumption and savings with stochastic income

We develop an analytically tractable consumption-savings model for a liquidityconstrained agent who faces both permanent and transitory income shocks. We find that risk aversion and intertemporal substitution have very different effects on both consumption and the steady-state savings target. Moderate changes in risk aversion have large effects on consumption and buffer-stock savings. With permanent shocks, it takes many years to reach the steady-state savings target. We also find that large discrete income shocks (jumps) occurring at low frequencies can be very costly. Unlike conventional wisdom, transitory shocks can generate very large precautionary savings demand, especially for low transitory income states.
Hepatic adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia: Clinical, pathologic, and radiologic features

Based on strict predefined histologic criteria, we identified 23 patients with hepatic adenoma and 41 patients with focal nodular hyperplasia seen at this institution between 1961 and 1980. Patients with hepatic adenoma were young and 91% were female. When a reliable history was available, 89% had used oral contraceptives; 53% presented acutely or with pain. Eleven of 11 radionuclide scans were abnormal; 15 of 15 angiograms showed a hypervascular mass with 7 of 15 showing areas of hypovascularity. Eighteen resections were performed with one operative death. Two tumors contained areas of unequivocal hepatocellular carcinoma. Fifteen of 18 patients followed for 82 +/- 11 mo were living and well and had discontinued oral contraceptives. Focal nodular hyperplasia patients were older, 88% were female, and 58% had used oral contraceptives. Their lesions were discovered accidentally. Seven of 12 radionuclide scans demonstrated voids, while 13 of 13 angiograms showed hypervascular lesions with no areas of hypovascularity. Seventeen tumors were resected. Twenty-three of 24 patients followed for 45 +/- 7 mo were living and well. One died of nonhepatic causes. Based on the findings of this review, we believe that if the clinical suspicion of hepatic adenoma or focal nodular hyperplasia is strong, elective laparotomy for diagnosis is usually the best approach. Hepatic adenoma should be resected if technically feasible. Intraoperative wedge biopsy is appropriate for focal nodular hyperplasia.
Concatenationism and Anti‐architectonicism in Musical Understanding

This article discusses Jerrold Levinson's theory of concatenationism, which emphasizes the moment-by-moment character of musical listeners’ basic musical understanding, and the related project of anti-architectonicism, which denies the influence of large-scale music-structural information on basic musical understanding. A reconstruction of Levinson's position reveals him to embrace a qualified architectonicism himself and shows that his remaining anti-architectonicism is afflicted with several problems. While the conceptual distinction Levinson draws between a piece of music and its structure as well as his three “intuitions for concatenationism” all point toward important features of musical understanding, it is argued that none of them supports the anti-architectonicist thesis in the intended manner. Furthermore, the way Levinson relates both musical understanding and musical value to a notion of aural cogency renders it difficult to see how one could understand music that one does not value or value music that one cannot understand. It is argued that the anti-architectonicist focus of Levinson's project, together with the ensuing argumentative problems, follows from methodological commitments that might be overcome within disciplinary frameworks beyond philosophy. Suggestions are given for developing a positive concatenationism both in musicology and in philosophical aesthetics.
Social choice and welfare economics under representative government

Abstract In his Impossibility Theorem, Arrow demonstrated logically that certain a priori conditions cannot all be satisfied by a rule of social choice. Those conditions, however, are admittedly value judgments, and how ethically impelling they are remains in dispute. To appraise that matter, the theorem is properly seen in a political context, and Arrow himself has seen it so, but he focuses in effect on ‘direct democracy.’ Further clarification may result from reference instead to different forms of ‘representative government.’ The same inquiry may also illuminate another still controversial matter: the import of the theorem for welfare economics.
No Splicing, No Dicing: Non-Proteolytic Roles of the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System In Transcription

The ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP) is responsible for most programmed turnover of proteins in eukaryotic cells, and this activity has been known for some time to be involved in transcriptional regulation. More recently, intersections of the UPP and transcription have been discovered that are not proteolytic in nature and appear to revolve around the chaperonin-like activities of the ATPases in the 19 S regulatory subunit of the proteasome. Moreover, monoubiquitylation, which does not signal degradation, has been found to be a key modification of many transcription factors and histones. These various non-proteolytic roles of the UPP in transcription are reviewed here, and plausible mechanistic models are discussed.
Nitrogen Cycling and Nitric Oxide Emissions in Oil-Impacted Prairie Soils

Abstract A remote site in the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve of Oklahoma (The Nature Conservancy) was contaminated with crude oil from a pipeline break and is being bioremediated using landfarming techniques. Landfarming is designed to stimulate microbial-based catabolism of petroleum through combined dilution/mixing and fertilization-based effects. To evaluate nitrogen-based effects during remediation, the site was sectioned and treated with urea, ammonium sulfate, or ammonium nitrate. Samples were obtained from prairie soil without chemical nitrogen addition and with or without hydrocarbon contamination. Nitrogen cycling dynamics were followed by measuring ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, and volatile nitric oxide (NOx) levels. Nitrifying and denitrifying bacterial numbers were estimated and compared to soil oxygen, carbon dioxide, and methane levels as well as to overall total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) reduction. For a prairie ecosystem of this type, a high level of fertilization, particularly with nitrogen, ...
A case study for teaching information literacy skills

The Internet has changed contemporary workplace skills, resulting in a need for proficiency with specific digital, online and web-based technologies within the fields of medicine, dentistry and public health. Although younger students, generally under 30 years of age, may appear inherently comfortable with the use of technology-intensive environments and digital or online search methods, competence in information literacy among these students may be lacking. This project involved the design and assessment of a research-based assignment to help first-year, graduate-level health science students to develop and integrate information literacy skills with clinical relevance. One cohort of dental students (n = 78) was evaluated for this project and the results demonstrate that although all students were able to provide the correct response from the content-specific, or technology-independent, portion of the assignment, more than half (54%) were unable to demonstrate competence with a web-based, technology-dependent section of this assignment. No correlation was found between any demographic variable measured (gender, age, or race). More evidence is emerging that demonstrates the need for developing curricula that integrates new knowledge and current evidence-based practices and technologies, traditionally isolated from graduate and health-care curricula, that can enhance biomedical and clinical training for students. This study provides evidence, critical for the evaluation of new practices, which can promote and facilitate the integration of information literacy into the curriculum.
Massive black holes generated by cosmic strings

Abstract Zel'dovich and Vilenkin have suggested that topological strings associated with symmetry breaking in a unified Yang-Mills theory might be responsible for the formation of galaxies and clusters. It is shown in this letter that the same strings would probably also lead to the occurrence of massive black holes in galactic nuclei.
TH-C-T-617-06: Error Analysis in Monte Carlo Simulation of Low Energy Brachytherapy Sources

Purpose: The AAPM recommends two independent investigators to determine the dosimetriccharacteristics of any new brachytherapy sources before their clinical applications. In this recommendation, it is suggested that one of the two investigators must include Monte Carlo simulation technique. The accuracy of Monte Carlo simulation technique is highly dependent on accuracy of the source geometry and material information that is provided by the manufacturers, and the approximations taken during the simulations. In the present work, the effects of various parameters like configuration of active pellets, outer wall thickness and end cap thickness on the accuracy of the dosimetriccharacteristics of the brachytherapy sources have been investigated. Also, studies were performed to determine the effect of embedded radioactive elements within the source, and effect of number of histories used for calculating the dosimetric parameters. Method and Materials:Monte Carlo simulation code PTRAN version 7.43 was used to simulate the source designs in water medium. The photon cross section used for these simulations was DLC‐146, distributed by the Radiation Sciences Information Computing Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The variations of dosimetriccharacteristics of different brachytherapy source design with a fixed radionuclide were obtained following the AAPM TG‐43U1 recommendations. Results: The results of these investigations showed that the anisotropy function and anisotropy factors of the source were considerably affected by the thickness of the outer wall and end caps. Whereas, the radial dose function and the dose rate constant were not significantly affected by these parameters. Moreover larger histories are required to obtain dosimetriccharacteristics at larger distances with acceptable (< ± 2%) statistical uncertainty range. Conclusion: This study suggests that the Monte Carlo simulated 2D anisotropy functions for low energy brachytherapy sources are very sensitive to the geometric parameters of the source and number of histories used in simulation.
Examination of Seafloor Reflection Phase Change In the Northland Basin, New Zealand

Water depths increase rapidly in the Northland Basin of New Zealand from the shoreline to over 1500 m. about 100 km. offshore. Coincident with the bathymetric increase is an apparent seafloor reflection phase change. Since the seafloor reflection was used to diagnose the phase of the seismic data, this change was troubling. Investigating possible causes of the change led to testing various processing parameters to determine their influence on phase and to examining the characteristics of the reflection packages directly beneath the seabed to determine their influence on wave shape. As expected, processing parameters, especially deconvolution, were found to affect the phase, but not in a way that correlated to the bathymetry. Interpretation revealed that there was a marked difference in the characteristics of the reflection packages beneath the seafloor and that the variations in these packages could be correlated to variations in the apparent seafloor phase. Higher amplitude seaward prograding reflections beneath the seabed near shore gave way to lower amplitude reflections that paralleled the seafloor in deeper water. Interpretation of the near seabed seismic data suggested that the higher amplitude reflection packages were predominantly coarse clastics while the lower amplitude reflection packages were predominantly finer sediments. The apparent -90 phase of the seafloor reflection in deeper water is interpreted to result from a gradational increase of acoustic impedance below the seabed, while the characteristic 0 phase in shallower waters is interpreted to result from a step increase in acoustic impedance at the seabed. The seafloor acoustic impedance properties are interpreted to vary as a consequence of transitioning from sandier to muddier sediments with increasing water depth. Seafloor sediment samples confirm this transition. The apparent phase change of the seafloor reflector in the Northland Basin shows the problem of using this as the only diagnostic of phase. If the seismic data had only been acquired in the deepwater portion of the block, and there was no understanding of seabed geology, then an interpretation of phase from the seafloor reflection alone may have led to erroneous conclusions and misinterpretations of the stratigraphy.
Dopamine neurons heterozygous for the Nurr1‐null allele have reduced survival in vitro

Although Nurr1 is essential for the differentiation of midbrain dopamine neurons, its function in mature dopamine neurons has not been determined. In order to investigate the role of Nurr1 in the survival of dopamine neurons, neurons from the mesencephalon of newborn pups heterozygous for the Nurr1-null mutation (+/–) or wild-type (+/+) littermates were grown in culture. Postnatal cultures revealed a significant reduction in the survival and growth of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive (TH-IR) neurons from Nurr1 +/– pups as early as 1 day in culture despite having normal TH-IR neuron numbers in vivo. The Nurr1 +/+ and +/– TH-IR neurons responded to treatment with forskolin, glia cell-line derived neurotrophic factor and brain-derived neurotrophic factor, although significantly fewer Nurr +/– TH/IR neurons survived. These data suggest that the loss of a single allele of Nurr1 significantly reduces the survival capacity of postnatal dopamine neurons in vitro without affecting normal development or differentiation.
Imaging and Target Detection With a Heterodyne-Reception Optical Radar

A mathematical system model for a compact heterodyne-reception infrared radar is developed. This model incorporates the statistical effects of propagation through atmospheric turbulence, target speckle and glint, and heterodyne-reception shot noise. It is used to find the image signal-to-noise ratio of a matched-filter envelope-detector receiver and the target detection probability of the optimum likelihood ratio processor. For realistic parameter values it is shown that turbulence-induced beam spreading and coherence loss may be neglected. Target speckle and atmospheric scintillation, however, present serious limitations on single-frame imaging and target-detection performance. Experimental turbulence strength measurements are reviewed, and selected results are used in sample performance calculations for a realistic infrared radar.
Berry's phases in optics: Aharonov-Bohm-like effects and gauge structures in surprising contexts☆

Abstract A general introduction to Berry's phase is given. Connections to twin paradoxes, the Aharonov-Bohm effect and the Dirac monopole, are made. Optical forms of this phase are discussed, with emphasis on an early optical fiber experiment, and a recent interference experiment using a nonplanar Mach-Zehnder interferometer. Connection to quantum measurements is also made.
Dilaton tadpoles, string condensates and scale invariance

The divergent dilaton tadpole occuring in certain string theories can be eliminated by introducing a background dilaton condensate such that the strings propagate in a background geometry which to leading order is equivalent to de Sitter space.
Identification of developmentally regulated Giardia lamblia cyst antigens using GCSA-1, a cyst-specific monoclonal antibody

Summary GCSA-1, a monoclonal antibody raised against cysts generated in vitro was shown to be Giardia cyst-specific by immunoblot analysis and immunofluorescence. GCSA-1 recognized four polypeptides ranging from 29–45kD present in the cyst wall. These antigens appeared within eight hours of exposure of trophozoites to encystation medium and were shown to be synthesized by encysting parasites by means of metabolic labelling with [35S]-cysteine. Trophozoites were not stained by the antibody. GCSA-1 also reacted with in vivo cysts obtained from faeces of infected humans, gerbils and mice. These data demonstrate that the determinants recognized by GCSA-1 are early cyst antigens which are developmentally regulated and conserved components of the cyst wall. The actual role of the antigens detected by GCSA-1 in encystation are unknown, but they represent a potential target for strategies directed at inhibiting this process.
Resonant excitation of ethylene molecules in the combustion flame CVD of diamond using a wavelength tunable CO2 laser

CO 2 laser resonant excitations of precursor molecules were applied in combustion flame synthesis of diamond films. The combustion flame was produced from a mixture of ethylene (C 2 H 4 ), acetylene (C 2 H 2 ) and oxygen (O 2 ). A wavelength-tunable CO 2 laser with wavelength range from 9.2 to 10.9 μm was used for wavelength-matched excitation of the ethylene molecules. By irradiating the flame using CO 2 laser at 10.532 μm, the ethylene molecules were resonantly excited through the CH 2 wagging vibrational mode (ν 7 , 949.3 cm -1 ). Irradiation of the flame using the common CO 2 laser wavelength at 10.591 μm was also carried out for comparison. It was found that diamond synthesis was more obviously enhanced by the CO 2 laser resonant excitation at 10.532 μm as compared to that at 10.591 μm. Firstly, the flame was shortened by 50%, indicating a promoted reaction in the process. Secondly, the diamond grain sizes as well as the diamond film thicknesses were increased by 200~300% and 160% respectively, indicating a higher growth rate of diamond films. Finally, Raman spectra of the diamond sample showed a sharp diamond peak at 1334 cm -1 and a suppressed G-band, indicating higher diamond quality.
Multifunctional plasmonic shell-magnetic core nanoparticles for targeted diagnostics, isolation, and photothermal destruction of tumor cells.

Cancer is the greatest challenge in human healthcare today. Cancer causes 7.6 million deaths and economic losses of around 1 trillion dollars every year. Early diagnosis and effective treatment of cancer are crucial for saving lives. Driven by these needs, we report the development of a multifunctional plasmonic shell–magnetic core nanotechnology-driven approach for the targeted diagnosis, isolation, and photothermal destruction of cancer cells. Experimental data show that aptamer-conjugated plasmonic/magnetic nanoparticles can be used for targeted imaging and magnetic separation of a particular kind of cell from a mixture of different cancer cells. A targeted photothermal experiment using 670 nm light at 2.5 W/cm2 for 10 min resulted selective irreparable cellular damage to most of the cancer cells. We also showed that the aptamer-conjugated magnetic/plasmonic nanoparticle-based photothermal destruction of cancer cells is highly selective. We discuss the possible mechanism and operating principle for the...
Multiple class memory constrained queueing networks

Most computer systems have a memory constraint: a limit on the number of requests that can actively compete for processing resources, imposed by finite memory resources. This characteristic violates the conditions required for queueing network performance models to be separable, i.e., amenable to efficient analysis by standard algorithms. Useful algorithms for analyzing models of memory constrained systems have been devised only for models with a single customer class.In this paper we consider the multiple class case. We introduce and evaluate an algorithm for analyzing multiple class queueing networks in which the classes have independent memory constraints. We extend this algorithm to situations in which several classes share a memory constraint. We sketch a generalization to situations in which a subsystem within an overall system model has a population constraint.Our algorithm is compatible with the extremely time- and space-efficient iterative approximate solution techniques for separable queueing networks. This level of efficiency is mandatory for modelling large systems.
‘The breath of the mountain is my heart’: indigenous cultural landscapes and the politics of heritage

This paper examines the socio-political implications and consequences of heritage practices related to indigenous cultural landscapes in post-settler nations. Although cultural landscapes are natural and material, they are also, more importantly, inscribed with meaning by those for whom they are heritage. Using a critical heritage studies framework, this paper examines the historical, cultural and legal contexts of Tongariro National Park and its nomination to the World Heritage list. I argue that narratives surrounding the Gift of Tongariro silence the colonial histories of the Park. I show how the ecological integrity and scientific, aesthetic, and conservation values of the Park are promoted, and in the process, Maori people’s complex and multifaceted relationships to the land are reframed as a relationship to the ‘natural’ world. I argue that to truly decolonise heritage, we must locate and acknowledge how our models, theories and practices of heritage work through systems of power and exclusion.
Abnormal p53 immunohistochemistry is associated with an increased colorectal cancer-related mortality in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Abstract Objective Immunohistochemical evaluation of p53 staining patterns has been considered as a complementary test for dysplasia in ulcerative colitis-related colorectal cancer surveillance, but usefulness would be particularly important if it were a marker associated with a poor prognosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether abnormal p53 staining of the tumor correlated with cancer-related mortality in ulcerative colitis patients. Methods An historical cohort study was designed to examine all ulcerative colitis patients who developed colorectal cancer between 1978 and 1997 and who had tumor tissue blocks available for staining. Tissue was recut and stained for abnormal p53 immunohistochemistry using the DO-7 antibody. Tumors were considered to be p53 positive if at least 5% of nuclei in a high power field were positive for staining. Results Among 75 patients entered in the study, 38 (50.7%) had p53 positive tumors. Fourteen patients (36.8%) with p53 positive tumors died from colorectal cancer, compared to five (13.5%) with p53 negative tumors (p Conclusions Abnormal p53 immunohistochemistry of tumors is associated with a poor prognosis among ulcerative colitis patients who develop colorectal cancer. As such, p53 immunohistochemical staining could be a useful histological marker to complement routine histology in cancer surveillance programs in ulcerative colitis patients.
Spinor Bose Condensates in Optical Traps

We show that in an optical trap the ground states of spin-1 bosons such as ${}^{23}\mathrm{Na}$, ${}^{39}\mathrm{K}$, and ${}^{87}\mathrm{Rb}$ can be either ferromagnetic or ``polar" states, depending on the scattering lengths in different angular momentum channels. The collective modes of these states have very different spin character and spatial distributions. While ordinary vortices are stable in the polar state, only those with unit circulation are stable in the ferromagnetic state. The ferromagnetic state also has coreless (or Skyrmion) vortices like those of ${}^{3}\mathrm{He}\ensuremath{-}A$.
The effects of caffeine on the preterm sheep ductus arteriosus

Caffeine and other methyl xanthines are widely used in the neonatal period. A recent, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial found that infants who were randomly assigned to caffeine treatment had less need for pharmacologic and/or surgical closure of a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). We hypothesized that the decreased need for pharmacologic and surgical closure of the PDA after caffeine treatment might be due to a direct effect of caffeine on ductus contractility. We examined preterm fetal lamb ductus arteriosus (from 24 fetuses, 105 +/- 4 d of gestation, term = 147 d), in vitro to determine the direct effects of caffeine on the isometric tension of the ductus arteriosus. Caffeine (0.003-0.3 mM) had no direct effect on ductus arteriosus tension, nor did it affect the contractile response of the ductus arteriosus to increasing oxygen concentrations. Caffeine's lack of effect was observed in both the presence and absence of indomethacin and NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (inhibitors of prostaglandin and nitric oxide production). In conclusion, we found no evidence of a direct effect of therapeutic caffeine concentrations on ductus contractility.
Treatment of Gastric Adenocarcinoma May Differ Among Hospital Types in the United States, a Report from the National Cancer Data Base

The concept that complex surgical procedures should be performed at high-volume centers to improve surgical morbidity and mortality is becoming widely accepted. We wanted to determine if there were differences in the treatment of patients with gastric cancer between community cancer centers and teaching hospitals in the United States. Data from the 2001 Gastric Cancer Patient Care Evaluation Study of the National Cancer Data Base comprising 6,047 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma treated at 691 hospitals were assessed. The mean number of patients treated was larger at teaching hospitals (14/year) when compared to community centers (5–9/year) (p < 0.05). The utilization of laparoscopy and endoscopic ultrasonography were significantly more common at teaching centers (p < 0.01). Pathologic assessment of greater than 15 nodes was documented in 31% of specimen at community hospitals and 38% at teaching hospitals (p < 0.01). Adjusted for cancer stage, chemotherapy and radiation therapy were utilized with equal frequency at all types of treatment centers. The 30-day postoperative mortality was lowest at teaching hospitals (5.5%) and highest at community hospitals (9.9%) (p < 0.01). These data support previous publications demonstrating that patients with diseases requiring specialized treatment have lower operative mortality when treated at high-volume centers.
Oxidation and nutritional deficiency in AIDS: Promotion of immune dysfunction for cardiac toxicity?

Immune dysfunction resulting from HIV infection is a major health threat. As HIV-infected persons survive previously life-threatening infection through the use of effective medical therapies, undernutrition, its immune dysfunction and heart disease have become critical issues in the health care of longer-term survivors. Changes in oxidation and the resulting immune modulation affect their host defenses. The potential role of oxidation and immune dysfunction in HIV-induced heart disease is reviewed. Antioxidant is becoming accepted as interventions in the early and ongoing treatment of HIV disease. Nutritional and hormonal therapy, in coordination with other medical interventions, should extend and improve the quality and quantity of life for individuals infected with HIV. Research about the relationship between nutrition/hormone and development of AIDS is essential for understanding its mechanisms of immune dysfunction and heart disease, and for determining the effectiveness of nutritional and hormonal therapy. The mechanisms and consequences of oxidation and immune dysfunction in HIV/AIDS patients are reviewed with special emphasis on heart disease.
BERRY DEPHASING DUE TO DIFFUSION IN NUCLEAR QUADRUPOLE RESONANCE

Berry's phase can give rise to coherence dephasing in optically detected nuclear quadrupole resonance of gaseous 131Xe. Diffusion of xenon atoms around a toroidal container should cause incoherent acquisition of Berry's phase, with consequent loss of phase coherence between atoms. This leads to signal loss which is equivalent to spin relaxation. The rate of dephasing is calculated by two different methods: first, using an exact treatment of diffusion, and secondly, using average propagators. Berry dephasing is predicted to be an important relaxation mechanism in this system.
Religious discourse and first person authority

Competent speakers are normally authoritative as to the meaning of their words. Increasingly students of religion seem to be discounting this "first person authority", claiming that religious persons are not - as they seem to be - talking about what Hume called "invisible intelligent powers", gods, goddesses, ancestors, angels, and the like. This interpretative stance has understandably drawn criticism. I argue that the force of first person authority is diminished in religious discourse, and that this explains why it is so widely discounted. My argument turns on a broadly externalist account of linguistic meaning. When we view linguistic meaning as somehow "in the head" of the speaker, the interpreter will be set the incoherent task of trying to extract it with a minimum of distortion. But by viewing the meaning of words as emerging from the circumstances, mental and physical, and of their use, we may uncover the basis of first person authority and come to understand why its place in religious discourse has proved elusive.
Quantification of performance of sensor networks for fault diagnosis

Safety and optimality are crucial requirements in every industrial process. The success of any fault diagnosis technique depends critically on the sensors measuring the important process variables. Choosing an appropriate sensor network is a combinatorially difficult problem, especially when the number of potential measurements is large. There has been considerable amount of work that has been done on developing algorithms for sensor network design for fault diagnosis based on quantitative and qualitative models. Various objectives, such as cost, reliability and fault resolution have been used in the sensor network design. While these design algorithms can provide the best design locations for a given cost, the value of the sensor network for fault diagnosis or benefit accrued is usually not quantified in a manner that is transparent to the user. This is an important aspect that needs to be addressed if these algorithms have to be assimilated into industrial practice. An approach for characterizing the value of a sensor network from a fault diagnosis perspective is proposed. This notion of value can be used directly in sensor network design algorithms. The proposed concepts are explained through a simple example and numerical simulations of a CSTR. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007
Polygonal representation: a maximum likelihood approach

Abstract Image boundaries are frequently approximated with polygons. The polygonal approximation technique described here constructs straight lines from digital line segments having the same angular orientation. The procedure sequentially analyzes the segmented contour while producing a diminishing set of candidate lines. When particular conditions prevail, a straight line may be recognized. These operations are performed on integer and set variables only, obviating the need for floating point calculations.
DeltaFosB: a molecular mediator of long-term neural and behavioral plasticity.

DeltaFosB, a member of the Fos family of transcription factors, is derived from the fosB gene via alternative splicing. Just as c-Fos and many other Fos family members are induced rapidly and transiently in specific brain regions in response to many types of acute perturbations, novel isoforms of DeltaFosB accumulate in a region-specific manner in brain uniquely in response to many types of chronic perturbations, including repeated administration of drugs of abuse or of antidepressant or antipsychotic treatments. Importantly, once induced, these DeltaFosB isoforms persist in brain for relatively long periods due to their extraordinary stability. Mice lacking the fosB gene show abnormal biochemical and behavioral responses to chronic administration of drugs of abuse or antidepressant treatments, consistent with an important role for DeltaFosB in mediating long-term adaptations in the brain. More definitive evidence to support this hypothesis has recently been provided by inducible transgenic mice, wherein biochemical and behavioral changes, which mimic the chronic drug-treated state, are seen upon overexpression of DeltaFosB in specific brain regions. This evolving work supports the view that DeltaFosB functions as a type of 'molecular switch' that gradually converts acute responses into relatively stable adaptations that underlie long-term neural and behavioral plasticity to repeated stimuli.
Phase Detection of R Waves in Noisy Electrocardiograms

Ventricular fibrillation, a form of electrical instability of the myocardium, is strongly suspected to be a significant contributor to ``sudden'' coronary fatalities. Present evidence indicates that ventricular fibrillation is often preceded by other forms of abnormal electrical activity of the heart, especially ventricular premature beats (VPBs). Early detection of the presence of VPBs in the electrocardiogram may be important in making medical decisions to avert a later coronary attack.
Novel design and integration enhancements in the final polymeric passivation for improved mechanical performance and C4 electromigration in lead-free C4 products

Two key C4 reliability concerns for the current and next generation integrated circuits are electromigration (EM) and “white C4” bumps caused by the stresses induced by die-package interactions. This paper discusses novel design and integration changes in the final polymeric passivation via (FV) in order to mitigate white bump and chip-package interaction (CPI) stresses in the ultra-low k (ULK) BEOL levels and also meet lead-free C4 EM requirements. FV design changes such as strategically offsetting a single or multiple FV vias towards the center of the chip and thus to the compressive side of the C4 bump has been shown to reduce the stresses in the ULK levels due to chip package interactions and hence significantly reduce the number of white bump fails. Changing the shape of the FV via to strategically distribute current more uniformly through the C4 bumps has also been shown to improve the C4 EM performance significantly, while lowering the overall stresses in the chip. Effects of final passivation thickness and via diameter on the white bump stresses will also be discussed. Supporting white-bump, C4 EM and electrical/mechanical modeling data showing the benefits of the design and integration changes will also be discussed in detail in the paper.
Update on Lung Transplantation for Emphysema

Lung transplantation in the modern era remains an evolving field and a viable option for patients suffering from end-stage emphysema. Recent modifications for recipient prioritization has resulted in a modest decrease in the number of patients with emphysema receiving transplants. More time will be required to determine what impact, if any, these modifications will have on the overall survival of patients with end-stage emphysema. Ongoing research will address persistent issues with lung transplantation, most notably, primary graft dysfunction and chronic BOS.
"Katrina Bloggers Activate!": The Long-Term Effects of Digital Media on Civic Participation*

There is a lively debate on the relationship between digital media and civic participation. Some scholars argue that digital media adversely affect civic participation, others that the effect of digital media on civic participation is negligible, and still others claim that digital media strengthens civic participation. Yet, most of this research is based on cross-sectional methodologies, treats digital media as a uniform entity, and overlooks new civic formations that better resonate with current social and technological environments. We address these criticisms with a retrospective case study of blogging in the wake of hurricane Katrina. Through in-depth interviews, supplemental survey data, analysis of blog posts, and field notes, we show how a number of New Orleans’ residents used blogs to organize and take part in a variety of civic actions in the months and years after hurricane Katrina. We discuss the implications of these findings for current debates on the relationship between digital media and civic participation.
A Narrative Review of the Confluence of Breast Cancer and Low-wage Employment and Its Impact on Receipt of Guideline-recommended Treatment.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer among women in the United States, costing the healthcare system, employers, and society billions of dollars each year. Despite improvements in screening and treatment, significant breast cancer treatment and survivorship disparities exist among various groups of women. One variable that has not been explored extensively as a possible contributor to breast cancer treatment disparities is employment. This is concerning, given the changing economic and employment trends in the United States favoring low-wage employment. Currently, one-quarter to one-third of all US workers are considered to be working poor, and women are disproportionally represented in this group. Characteristics of low-wage work—limited paid time off, minimal health benefits, schedule inflexibility, and economic insecurity—may become even more significant in the event of a breast cancer diagnosis. To date, there has been limited research into how job conditions inherent to low-wage work may infl...
The relationship between students' reading orientations and their strategic activity during a collaborative reading task

This study examined the connection between middle school students’ beliefs about reading and their use of comprehension strategies during a collaborative reading activity. Seventy-one fifth- and sixth-grade students were videotaped while they worked in small groups to read and discuss short texts describing the reading habits and abilities of four fictitious readers. Students’ conceptions of successful reading were determined based on their rankings of these fictitious readers, and their strategic activity was indexed by coding their use of strategies and the participation roles they assumed while working together. The analyses revealed a strong relationship between students’ conceptions of reading and their patterns of interaction during the collaborative activity. The findings enrich our understanding of this relationship and raise important questions for future investigations.
Dual processor automotive controller

A dual-processor controller has been developed for evaluating advanced automotive control algorithms. The controller is architectured around a general-purpose microcontroller and a digital signal processor. The main goal of the design is efficient computation of mathematically oriented algorithms with the ability to interface with sensors and actuators. The effectiveness of the system architecture was demonstrated by a real-time fast-Fourier-transform application to road characterization and by state estimation of a quarter car test rig. Also shown was the ability of such controllers to handle modern control theory requirements as applied to an optimal active suspension control. >
Manganese hemoglobin: allosteric effects in redox and ligation equilibria.

Summary Allosteric effects have been observed in the binding of ligands to manganese substituted hemoglobin. Redox measurements indicate a preferred binding of organic phosphates to reduced manganese hemoglobin and the existence of a Bohr effect. The redox n-values, with and without organic phosphate, are similar to those of hemoglobin at all pH values. Differential pH titration of manganese hemoglobin and its nitric oxide derivative demonstrates the existence of both alkaline and acid Bohr effects in the binding of ligands.
Hume and the Enthusiasm Puzzle

This paper presents a discussion of an apparent inconsistency between Hume's moral theory and his moral evaluations of historical characters in his History of England. While Hume considers enthusiasm to be a religious vice, he praises the characters of some historical enthusiasts, blames others, and regards enthusiasm as having a positive social effect. But according to Hume's moral theory, only a virtue can have positive social effect, or be praiseworthy. The paper refers to the inconsistency between the History and the moral theory as the ‘enthusiasm puzzle’. The paper concludes by explaining the inconsistency as being rooted in a problem with Hume's moral theory.
QoS-LI: QoS Loss Inference in Disadvantaged Networks

Quality of Service (QoS) of disadvantaged networks is considered from a purely network standpoint in existing works. Adversarial intervention in such networks is not analyzed, nor is it possible to infer if a QoS loss is benign or otherwise. In this paper, we present a QoS loss inference module, where the end nodes can infer the nature of a QoS loss in a non-intrusive manner. The objective of this work is to develop a conceptual framework to model the inference module, and investigate its integration into existing platforms. We abstract the problem of link selection (as opposed to route selection) in disadvantaged networks as a resource selection problem, and apply a game theoretic model to set limits on the rate of convergence. Using this convergence rate, our loss inference model can distinguish between adversarial network manipulation and benign network loss. Such a module will help manage the operation of disadvantaged networks in a more effective manner in critical networks.