cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Spectral characterization and intracellular detection of Surface‐Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS)‐encoded plasmonic gold nanostars

Plasmonic gold nanostars offer a new platform for Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering (SERS). However, due to the presence of organic surfactant on the nanoparticles, SERS characterization and application of nanostar ensembles in solution have been challenging. Here we applied our newly developed surfactant-free nanostars for SERS characterization and application. The SERS enhancement factors (EF) of silver spheres, gold spheres and nanostars of similar sizes and concentration were compared. Under 785 nm excitation, nanostars and silver spheres have similar EF, and both are much stronger than gold spheres. Having plasmon matching the incident energy and multiple “hot spots” on the branches bring forth strong SERS response without the need to aggregate. Intracellular detection of silica-coated SERS-encoded nanostars was also demonstrated in breast cancer cells. The non-aggregated field enhancement makes the gold nanostar ensemble a promising agent for SERS bioapplications.
Robust and Efficient Sharing of RSA Functions

We present two efficient protocols which implement robust threshold RSA signature schemes, where the power to sign is shared by N players such that any subset of T or more signers can collaborate to produce a valid RSA signature on any given message, but no subset of fewer than T corrupted players can forge a signature. Our protocols are robust in the sense that the correct signature is computed even if up to T - 1 players behave in arbitrarily malicious way during the signature protocol. This in particular includes the cases of players that refuse to participate or that generate incorrect partial signatures. Our robust protocols achieve optimal resiliency as they can tolerate up to (N - 1)/2 faults, and their efficiency is comparable to the efficiency of the underlying threshold RSA signature scheme. Robust threshold signature schemes have very important applications, since they provide increased security and availability for a signing server (e.g. a certification authority or an electronic cash provider). Solutions for the case of the RSA signature scheme are especially important because of its widespread use. In addition, these techniques apply to shared RSA decryption as well, thus leading to efficient key escrow schemes for RSA. Our schemes are based on some interesting extensions that we devised for the information checking protocol of T. Rabin and Ben-Or [Rab94, RB89], and the undeniable signature work initiated by Chaum and van Antwerpen [CA90]. These extensions have some attractive properties, and hence are of independent interest.
Inadequate therapy and poor symptom control among children with asthma: findings from a multistate sample.

Objectives Asthma continues to cause significant morbidity in children. We hypothesized that many children still do not use recommended preventive medications, or they have ineffective symptom control despite preventive medication use. The aim of this study was 1) to describe the use of preventive medications among children with persistent asthma, 2) to determine whether children using preventive medications have adequate asthma control, and 3) to identify factors associated with poor control. Methods The State and Local Area Integrated Telephone Survey (SLAITS) Asthma Survey provided parent-reported data for children aged 1 attack in the previous 3 months despite preventive medication use; children in optimal control had intermittent symptoms, ≤1 attack, and reported using preventive medication. Demographic and asthma-related variables were compared across groups. Results Among children with persistent asthma, 37% had inadequate therapy, 42.9% had suboptimal control, and only 20.1% had optimal control. In multivariate regression, black race (odds ratio [OR], 2.0; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1–3.5), Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 1.1–2.9), and discontinuous insurance status (OR, 2.4; 95% CI, 1.4–4.3) were associated with inadequate therapy. Potential explanations for poor control included poor adherence, exposure to smoke and other triggers, and lack of written action plans. Conclusions Inadequate asthma therapy remains a significant problem. A newly highlighted concern is the substantial number of children experiencing poor symptom control despite reported use of preventive medications.
Similarity solutions for jet breakup in a Giesekus fluid with inertia

Abstract We study the existence of similarity solutions for surface tension driven jet breakup of a Giesekus fluid with inertia. It is shown that a family of solutions exists which reduces to the Eggers solution in the limit of infinite retardation time.
Structural Geology of the Knowlton-Richmond Area, Quebec

The geometric relationships of intersecting foliation and minor folds exposed in numerous outcrops in the Knowlton-Richmond area suggest two and possibly three phases of deformation. Cleavage and axial surfaces that formed during the late phase of deformation lie in a plane that strikes about N. 27° E. and dips steeply. Plunges of folds within this plane, however, are variable. The early formed foliation and axial surfaces do not have uniform orientation, but the poles of many lie in a girdle whose pole is consistent with the late folding. The axes of early folds lie near two steeply dipping planes, one striking about N. 52° E. and the other about N. 60° W. The plunges within these planes are variable. The gross distribution of lithologic units, from east to west, delineates the major St. Etienne anticline, the major Valcourt syncline, and the major Enosburg Falls anticline. All three have axial traces close to N. 30° E., and consequently they are believed to be related to the late phase of deformation. Where outcrops are abundant, the map-pattern suggests that early folds have been preserved in the flanks of the late folds. The axial traces of these early folds in the flanks of the late folds are approximately N. 40° E. to N. 50° E. In the west limb of the St. Etienne anticline the early folds are overturned toward the southeast, in its crest they are nearly recumbent, and in its east limb they are inverted. In contrast to those in the St. Etienne anticline, the early folds in both limbs of the Enosburg Falls anticline are overturned toward the southeast. The amplitudes of these folds decrease toward the crest of the Enosburg Falls anticline; thus, the effect of the late deformation has been to “fold out” the earlier folds in the crest of the superimposed fold. No major folds with axial traces near N. 60° W. were identified. The diversity of plunges of minor late folds is consistent with a unique direction of maximum compressive stress for the whole area. Its direction is 5° N. 61° W. The relationship between early lineations and late minor folds provides ambiguous evidence as to whether deformation was by concentric or shear folding. However, the orientations of axes of early minor folds in the late major folds suggest that to a large extent the major late folds were produced by shear folding. The geologic age of the earliest phase of folding may be post-Ordovician and pre-Silurian. The age of the two later phases may be Upper Devonian.
All-atom empirical force field for nucleic acids: I. Parameter optimization based on small molecule and condensed phase macromolecular target data

Empirical force-field calculations on biological molecules represent an effective method to obtain atomic detail information on the relationship of their structure to their function. Results from those calculations depend on the quality of the force field. In this manuscript, optimization of the CHARMM27 all-atom empirical force field for nucleic acids is presented together with the resulting parameters. The optimization procedure is based on the reproduction of small molecule target data from both experimental and quantum mechanical studies and condensed phase structural properties of DNA and RNA. Via an iterative approach, the parameters were primarily optimized to reproduce macromolecular target data while maximizing agreement with small molecule target data. This approach is expected to ensure that the different contributions from the individual moieties in the nucleic acids are properly balanced to yield condensed phase properties of DNA and RNA, which are consistent with experiment. The quality of the presented force field in reproducing both crystal and solution properties are detailed in the present and an accompanying manuscript (MacKerell and Banavali, J Comput Chem, this issue). The resultant parameters represent the latest step in the continued development of the CHARMM all-atom biomolecular force field for proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Comput Chem 21: 86–104, 2000
Does prophylactic cranial irradiation reduce the incidence of brain metastases in extensive small-cell lung cancer?

Does prophylactic cranial irradiation reduce the incidence of brain metastases in extensive small-cell lung cancer?
Data Services and the Performing Arts

In the academic world, research is primarily seen through the scientific approach of collecting and interpreting scientific or numeric data, or the humanistic approach of comparing and interpreting texts. However, in the performing arts fields, academics see themselves on a spectrum between scholar and artist. Artistic scholarly research activities are often driven by the same requirements as humanities research. However, as artists, research often takes the form of listening to or watching performances. In this approach, performances and recordings are research data to these academics. How can libraries support this method of research? What are the implications for data curation in libraries? These and other questions will be explored in this article.
Science Information in Fictional Movies: Effects of Context and Gender:

The National Science Board and others are concerned that movies often miscommunicate science to the public with negative effects on science literacy and attitudes toward science. However, very litt...
Outcome of salvage radiotherapy for biochemical failure after radical prostatectomy with or without hormonal therapy

Background: This study analyzed the outcome of salvage radiotherapy for biochemical failure after radical prostatectomy (RP). By comparing the outcomes for patients who received RT alone and for those who received combined RT and hormonal therapy, we assessed the potential benefits of hormonal therapy. Patients and Methods: This cohort was comprised of 101 patients who received salvage RT between 1990 and 2001 for biochemical failure after RP. Fifty-nine of these patients also received hormone. Margin status (positive vs. negative), extracapsular extension (yes vs. no), seminal vesicle involvement (yes vs. no), pathologic stage, Gleason score, pre-RP PSA, post-RP PSA, pre-RT PSA, hormonal use, radiotherapy dose and technique, RP at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, and time from RP to salvage RT were analyzed. Statistically significant variables were used to construct prognostic groups. Results: Independent prognostic factors for the RT-alone group were margin status and pre-RT PSA. RP at M. D. Anderson Cancer Center was marginally significant ( p = 0.06) in multivariate analysis. Pre-RT PSA was the only significant prognostic factor for the combined-therapy group. We used a combination of margin status and pre-RT PSA to construct a prognostic model for response to the salvage treatment based on the RT group. We identified the favorable group as those patients with positive margin and pre-RT PSA ≤0.5 ng/mL vs. the unfavorable group as otherwise. This stratification separates patients into clinically meaningful groups. The 5-year PSA control probabilities for the favorable vs. the unfavorable group were 83.7% vs. 61.7% with radiotherapy alone ( p = 0.03). Androgen ablation seemed to be most beneficial in the unfavorable group. Conclusion: After prostatectomy, favorable-group patients may fare well with salvage radiotherapy alone. These patients may be spared the toxicity of androgen ablation. The other patients may benefit most from a combined approach with hormonal treatment. We further suggest that salvage radiotherapy should be given early when the PSA is still low.
Fumonisin B1-induced apoptosis is associated with delayed inhibition of protein kinase C, nuclear factor-κB and tumor necrosis factor α in LLC-PK1 cells

Abstract Fumonisin B1 (FB1), the most potent of the fumonisin mycotoxins, is a carcinogen and causes a wide range of species-specific toxicoses. FB1 modulates the activity of protein kinase C (PKC), a family of phospholipid-dependent serine/threonine kinases that play important role in modulating a variety of biologic responses ranging from regulation of cell growth to cell death. Although it has been demonstrated that FB1 induces apoptosis in many cell lines, the precise mechanism of apoptosis is not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the membrane localization of various PKC isoforms, PKC enzyme activity, and its downstream targets, namely nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), and caspase 3, in porcine renal epithelial (LLC-PK1) cells. FB1 repressed cytosol to membrane translocation of PKC-α, -δ, -e, and -ζ isoforms over 24–72 h. The FB1-induced membrane PKC repression was corroborated by a concentration-dependent decrease in total PKC activity. Exposure of cells to phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) for this duration also resulted in repressed PKC membrane localization and activity comparable to FB1. Exposure of cells to FB1 (10 μM) was associated with inhibition of cytosol to nuclear translocation of NF-κB and NF-κB-DNA binding at 72 h. The expression of TNFα was significantly inhibited at 24 and 48 h in response to 1 and 10 μM FB1. Increased caspase 3 activity was observed in LLC-PK1 cells exposed to ≥1 μM FB1 at 48 h. PMA also increased the caspase 3 activity at 24 and 48 h. Results suggest that FB1-induced apoptosis involves the activation of caspase 3, which is associated with the repression of PKC and possibly its down-stream effectors, NF-κB and TNFα.
Evaluating the interoperability of document formats: ODF and OOXML as examples

This project assesses the current state of interoperability among different software implementations of the document formats OpenDocument Format (ODF) and Office Open XML (OOXML). Numerous governments are considering mandating either or both formats for their electronic documents. For ODF, the dominant implementation is OpenOffice.org and for OOXML, the dominant implementation is Microsoft Office. This research scores the performance of other alternative implementations for ODF and OOXML. The goal is to assess the current state of interoperability for document formats. The results show that there are no alternative implementations, for either ODF or OOXML, that offer 100% compatibility with the dominant implementations. The results are troubling and suggest the need for improved interoperability testing. Without such testing, governments will be locked-in into the dominant implementations for either standard.
¿Está la generación en línea preparada para el aprendizaje en línea? Un estudio de percepciones de auto-eficacia sobre las tecnologías on line como predictores del éxito académico en programas de formación virtual

Students’ perceptions regarding their online self-efficacy skills were investigated in order to determine whether self-efficacy serves as an indicator of success in virtual environments. Student self-efficacy was measured using the Online Technologies Self-efficacy Scale (OTSES). The survey was administered to students from a large urban school district, simultaneously enrolled in a magnet high school and online courses with Florida Virtual School (FVS). Findings from the study revealed that the statistical majority of students felt very confident with their online technologies skills regardless of their standing in the FVS, that is, failed or passed and, course drop versus course completion. However, half of the respondents claimed that online courses are more difficult than traditional face to face classes.
Security issues in privacy and key management protocols of IEEE 802.16

Without physical boundaries, a wireless network faces many more security threats than a wired network does. Therefore, in the IEEE 802.16 standard a security sublayer is specified in the MAC layer to address the privacy issues across the fixed Broadband Wireless Access (BWA). Several articles have been published to address the flaws in IEEE 802.16 security after the IEEE standard 802.16-2001 was released. However, the IEEE standard 802.16-2004 revision does not settle all the discovered problems and additional flaws remain. This paper gives an overview of the IEEE 802.16 standard, focusing on the MAC layer and especially the security sublayer. We analyze the security flaws in the standard as well as in related works, and illustrate possible attacks to the authentication and key management protocols. Possible solutions are also proposed to prevent these attacks. Finally, we propose a security handover protocol that should be supported in the future 802.16e for mobility.
The blood system of the flabelligerid polychaete Flabelliderma commensalis (Moore).

The blood system of the flabelligerid polychaete, Flabelliderma commensalis has been explored by dissection, light and electron microscopy and absorption spectrophotometry. The main longitudinal vessels are the dorsal, ventral, perineural, sub-oesophageal, supra-oesophageal and heart. Each segment has a segmental vessel which communicates with the dorsal vessel in thoracic setigers and the gut sinus in abdominal setigers. Branches of the segmental vessels in setigers 2–9 supply the gonads. A blood sinus envelopes most of the gut. Circulation is maintained by the pumping of the heart which immediately supplies blood to the supra-oesophageal ganglion, the branchiae and the palps. These are paralleled by a system of collecting vessels. The sinus of the supra-oesophageal ganglion receives a number of different axonal endings, some of which may be neurosecretory. The retroperitoneal vessels in their most developed form are composed of an intima, longitudinal and circular muscles and a peritoneum. The heart vessel contains a cardiac body whose cells appear to contain vacuoles of blood pigment. The blood pigment exhibits the absorption characteristics of a chlorocruorin with maxima at 438, 558 and 606 nm.
KTP-532 laser utilization in endoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy

Laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy has become increasingly of interest to Urologists in staging patients not only with prostatic carcinoma but for those patients suffering with carcinoma of the bladder. It also allows access for therapeutic treatment such as treatment of varicoceles and laser phototherapy for transmural coagulation of bladder cancers. Lasers have proven extremely better in allowing surgical incisions through the laparoscope and coagulation of bleeders. Both the KTP and Neodymium Yag Laser have been used for this purpose. The KTP Laser has distinct advantages in that it allows 1) flexible fiber easily used through laparoscopes, 2) the ability to coagulate and cut retroperitoneal tissue, and 3) seal lymphatics when lymph nodes are removed. The KTP fiber can be used to incise the retroperitoneum to expose the lymph node tissue. Grasping the lymph nodes with forceps, the laser can excise and coagulate the proximal and lymphatic channels. The laser fiber will not experience carbonization as can occur with the Yag Laser fiber unless a contact tip sapphire end is utilized. The KTP's laser fiber ability to give coagulation and ablation of tissue through a liquid medium allow it to be an excellent choice for laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Redox-Magnetohydrodynamic Microfluidics Without Channels and Compatible with Electrochemical Detection Under Immunoassay Conditions

A unique capability of redox-magnetohydrodynamics (redox-MHD) for handling liquids on a small scale was demonstrated. A 1.2 μL solution plug was pumped from an injection site to a detector without the need for a channel to direct the flow. The redox pumping species did not interfere with enzymatic activity in a solution compatible with enzyme-linked immunoassays. Alkaline phosphatase (AP), a common enzyme label, converted p-aminophenyl phosphate (PAPP) to p-aminophenol (PAPR) in the presence of 2.5 mM Ru(NH3)6Cl2 and 2.5 mM Ru(NH3)6 Cl3, in 0.1 M Tris buffer (pH = 9). A solution plug containing PAPP (no AP) was pumped through the surrounding solution containing AP (no PAPP), and the enzymatically generated PAPR was easily detected and distinguishable electrochemically from the pumping species with square wave voltammetry down to 0.1 mM concentrations. The test device consisted of a silicon chip containing individually addressable microband electrodes, placed on a 0.5 T NdFeB permanent magnet with the fiel...
Consumer beware: a systematic assessment of potential bias in the lay electronic media to examine the portrayal of "PARP" inhibitors for cancer treatment.

This study examined how the lay electronic media covers poly-ADP-ribose polymerase, or “PARP,” inhibitors, a class of cancer agents currently under clinical investigation. Of 771 internet links, 51 targeted the lay public. Independent review by two investigators yielded the following categorizations: 36 (71%) were “overly positive”, 15 (29%) “neutral”, and none “overly negative”. “Overly positive” articles used: (l) overstated benefit, (2) included quotations from enthusiastic scientists, and (3) discussed single or small patient subsets. They used such phrases as “the holy grail of cancer research”, “the most exciting development in cancer research in a decade or more…. it could save thousands of lives”, and “we were surprised and delighted…. it’s the kind of thing you don’t really think will happen”. Healthcare providers should be aware of the foregoing when discussing PARP inhibitors—and perhaps other novel therapies—with cancer patients.
Rate-state friction in microelectromechanical systems interfaces: Experiment and theory

A microscale, multi-asperity frictional test platform has been designed that allows for wide variation of normal load, spring constant, and puller step frequency. Two different monolayer coatings have been applied to the surfaces—tridecafluorotris(dimethylamino)silane (FOTAS, CF3(CF2)5(CH2)2 Si(N(CH3)2)3) and octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS, CH3(CH2)17SiCl3). Static friction aging was observed for both coatings. Simulating the platform using a modified rate-state model with discrete actuator steps results in good agreement with experiments over a wide control parameter subspace using system parameters extracted from experiments. Experimental and modeling results indicate that (1) contacts strengthen with rest time, exponentially approaching a maximum value and rejuvenating after inertial events, and (2) velocity strengthening is needed to explain the shorter than expected length of slips after the friction block transitions from a stick state. We suggest that aging occurs because tail groups in the monolayer coatings reconfigure readily upon initial contact with an opposing countersurface. The reconfiguration is limited by the constraint that head groups are covalently bound to the substrate.
Effectiveness of Interventions to Improve Patient Compliance a Meta-Analysis

Objectives.This article summarizes the results of 153 studies published between 1977 and 1994 that evaluated the effectiveness of interventions to improve patient compliance with medical regimens.Methods.The compliance interventions were classified by theoretical focus into educational, behaviora
Chemosensory cues from the lacrimal and preputial glands stimulate production of IP3 in the vomeronasal organ and aggression in male mice

The social and reproductive behaviors of most mammals are modulated by chemosensory cues. The perception of some of these cues is mediated by the vomeronasal organ, which is a cartilage-encased elongated organ associated with the vomer bone in the rostral nasal cavity. Several studies have shown that chemosensory cues are present in urine, seminal fluid or vaginal secretions but only a few studies have focused on exocrine glands as a source of chemosensory cues. Here we show that chemosensory cues present in two exocrine glands, i.e., the preputial gland located at the caudal region and the lacrimal gland located at the rostral region, are capable of stimulating aggression in male mice. We further show that these extracts can stimulate the production of inositol-(1,4,5)-trisphosphate in the vomeronasal organ.
Autoradiographic evidence for nicotine receptors on nigrostriatal and mesolimbic dopaminergic neurons

Rats received unilateral injections of 6-hydroxydopamine into the medial forebrain bundle, resulting in an ipsilateral loss of striatal dopamine and of dopaminergic perikarya. A concomitant reduction of displaceable tritiated nicotine binding was observed autoradiographically in the ipsilateral substantia nigra, ventral tegmental area, striatum, nucleus accumbens, and olfactory tubercle. Thus, nicotine receptors appear to be located on nigrostriatal and mesolimbic dopaminergic neurons at the level of perikarya and terminals.
Probability and the Single Neuron: Decisions, Uncertainty and the Brain: The Science of Neuroeconomics , by P.-W. Glimcher. 2003. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press. 375 pp., $40.00.

In an uncertain world, people and other animals make their living by predicting which of alternative courses of action is likely to yield the best return. For humans the return might take many forms, such as material, financial, social, or esthetic, but the underlying currency involved for any species is “inclusive fitness,” the rate at which an animal's genes are propagated. Professor Glimcher demonstrates that Economics methods are applicable to decision-making under conditions of uncertainty, both at the behavioral and the neuronal level. This approach has been called neuro-economics, although “econometrics” characterizes it more precisely. Econometrics is the application of statistical and mathematical methods in the field of economics to test and quantify economic theories and the solution to economic problems. Specifically, individuals' decision-making benefits from knowing how likely a response is to be reinforced, and knowing the reinforcement's value. Even single neurons are sensitive to these variables. Glimcher reaches beyond the heavily studied neural substrate for sensation and response to predictive neural circuitry that factors in the prior probability of reward, and its expected value. Indeed, he and his colleagues have identified neurons in monkey's inferior parietal lobule whose firing rates reflect both probability and value.
Fine structure of the pleomorphic bacteroids in the mycetocytes and ovaries of several genera of cockroaches

Abstract Symbiotic bacteroids in the fat-body mycetocytes of the cockroaches Byrsotria fumigata, Blaberus craniifer, Blaberus discoidalis , and Nauphoeta cinerea show metamorphosis at times when the metabolic demands on the stored lipid and glycogen of the fat body are very high. The classic rod-like form of the bacteroids is found in large numbers in young larvae, and in the ovaries of adult females at the time of oocyte development. At the later ecdyses in both sexes and during the period of oocyte development and pregnancy in the females increasing numbers of fat-body mycetocytes are observed filled with round, enlarged bacteroids which lack cell walls. The cytoplasmic area of these metamorphosed symbionts if filled with concentric layers of strands. Various intermediate bacteroid forms are seen in the process of losing the cell wall and acquiring the stranded coats. It is suggested that this metamorphosis occurs under the control of factors from the cockroach's corpora cardiaca.
Restoration and pictorial representation of scanning-tunneling-microscope data

Abstract Assuming a linear Gaussian resolution function, topographic and other data from a Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) or similar instruments like the Atomic-Force Microscope (AFM) can be deconvoluted using a Wiener filter to eliminate blurring and to suppress noise. Shot noise, owing to quantized electron transfer, becomes important at the picoamp level but can be easily filtered out. More care is required with 1/ f -like noise which, however, leads to characteristic artifacts and can be estimated from an independent measurement. Salient features are easily recognized in processed three-dimensional surface profiles generated on a high-resolution graphics station by simulating shading with judiciously placed sources. To enhance the topography or to superpose information from spectroscopic, barrier-height or potentiometric measurements, colors can be combined with shading, or contour lines can be displayed. With these tools we can convey the essence of STM and related measurements to nonexperts, or exhibit correlations between properties recorded simultaneously.
High temperature dislocation mobility in LiF part II. Glide mobility of dislocations at high temperatures

Abstract A theory for the high temperature glide mobility of dislocations in ionic crystals is developed following the thermodynamic treatment of charged dislocations by Eshelby, Newey, Pratt and Lidiard and the theory of charge cloud drag by Brown. It is proposed that the glide velocity is limited by the speed with which the “Debye - Huckel” cloud of point defects can be dragged along with the moving dislocation. A feature of this theory is that the dislocation velocity depends on temperature through both the temperature dependence of the dislocation charge and the temperature dependence of the point defect mobility. This causes both the stress and temperature dependence of the dislocation velocity to be unusually large, as observed experimentally for “pure” LiF. The theory also suggests that the anomalous stress and temperature dependence of the dislocation velocity observed for doped LiF is caused by the presence of an isoelectric temperature at which the dislocations lose most of their charge.
Comparison of lattice and dual QCD results for heavy quark potentials

Lattice results and dual QCD results for all heavy quark potentials through order (quark mass)-2 are exhibited and compared. The agreement on the whole is quite good, confirming the validity of dual QCD.
A computer-controlled pulser system

Abstract A computer controlled pulser system capable of driving both light emitting diodes on scintillation counters and electronics such as discriminators is described. The use of this system in an experiment is also discussed.
A novel method of manufacturing three-dimensional ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMCs) biomimetic sensors, actuators and artificial muscles

Abstract All commercially available (as-received) perfluorinated ion-exchange polymers are in the form of hydrolyzed polymers and are semi-crystalline and may contain ionic clusters. The membrane form of these polymers has a typical thickness in the range of approximately 100–300 μm. Such a thin thickness of commercially available membranes permits fast mass transfer for use in various chemical processes. Although ionic polymer–metal composite (IPMC) artificial muscles made with these ion-exchange membranes have shown a great potential to produce large bending displacements in cantilever form and high force densities (maximum force greater than 40 times of its own weight), achieving large forces to be utilized in many practical devices requires manufacturing and fabrication of three-dimensional IPMCs. Knowing that such as-received semi-crystalline membranes are not melt-processable, they are not suitable for the fabrication of three-dimensional electroactive materials or other composite forms. In this work, the authors report a newly developed fabrication method that can scale-up or down the IPMC artificial muscles in a strip size of micro-to-centimeter thickness. We have adopted a recently developed technique by Moor et al. [J Membr Sci 75 (1992) 7] for dissolving as-received ion-exchange membranes in appropriate solvents. By carefully evaporating solvents out of the solution, recasted ion-exchange membranes were obtained. The test results showed that a successfully fabricated IPMC strip in a size of 2 mm thickness, 5 mm width, and 15 mm length, produces generative forces (tip forces) more than 20 gmf up to approximately a half centimeter-displacement under a small voltage.
μ-Opioid receptors in the stimulation of mesolimbic dopamine activity by ethanol and morphine in Long-Evans rats: A delayed effect of ethanol

Rationale Naltrexone, a non-selective opioid antagonist, decreases the euphoria and positive subjective responses to alcohol in heavy drinkers. It has been proposed that the μ-opioid receptor plays a role in ethanol reinforcement through modulation of ethanol-stimulated mesolimbic dopamine release.
Transfer of training as a function of degree of first-list learning

Summary The present study determined the effects of two degrees of first-list learning on transfer under four paradigms. Using the A-B, C-D paradigm as a control for nonspecific transfer effects, no significant differences in net transfer as a function of degree of first-list learning were found for the following paradigms: A-B, A-C; A-B, C-B, and A-B, A-Br. Negative transfer was obtained in all paradigms, being greatest in the A-B, A-Br paradigm, followed by the A-B, A-C, and least in the A-B, C-B paradigm. These results agree closely with those of a recent similar study (Postman, 1962).
The Status of Women in Environmental Economics

AbstractThis article examines the status of women in the environmental economics profession in terms of their representation and impact. Three indicators are used to gauge the status of women in th...
Rotigotine skin patch for the treatment of fluctuating Parkinson's disease--how does it compare with pramipexole?

Rotigotine skin patch for the treatment of fluctuating Parkinson's disease—how does it compare with pramipexole?
A survey of selected physician views on acupuncture in pain management

Objectives. To collect information on the role of acupuncture in pain management from pain physicians and referral physicians who manage clinical pain conditions. Methods. The survey was conducted between 2007 and 2008 through nationwide direct mail or e-mail to 1083 physicians who are currently practicing in the United States. We divided our 16 survey questions into five categories: 1) physician's attitude toward acupuncture as a modality of pain management; 2) physician's preference or belief with regard to the type of pain condition suitable for acupuncture referrals; 3) timing for making acupuncture referrals (e.g., acupuncture as a first line pain treatment option or a last approach after failed conventional pain management); 4) clinical assessment criteria for the effectiveness of acupuncture therapy; and 5) barriers to making acupuncture referrals (e.g., physician's personal view, insurance issues, patient refusal, etc.). The survey results were calculated and interpreted as the percentage rate of response. Result. The results indicate that an overwhelming majority of survey responders have a positive attitude and favorable experience with using acupuncture as an alternative modality for chronic pain management. However, our survey responders are mostly from teaching hospitals, suggesting a possible gap between teaching hospitals and other medical facilities (private practice and community hospitals) in utilizing acupuncture for pain management. The lack of insurance coverage and facility for acupuncture treatment are two primary barriers to making acupuncture referrals. Conclusions. The survey results indicate that acupuncture is considered by many physicians to be a useful alternative modality for chronic pain management.
Transcription initiation in eukaryotes: analysis of heterologous in vitro systems utilizing components from mammalian and yeast cells.

The properties of heterologous in vitro transcription systems utilizing components from mammalian and yeast cells have been investigated. Purified yeast RNA polymerase II, when supplemented with a full complement of mammalian transcription factors, does not promote specific transcription initiation on cloned mammalian class II genes. Similarly, a complete mammalian transcription system does not initiate specific transcription on cloned yeast class II genes. These results indicate evolutionary divergence in function of yeast and mammalian class II genes and the associated transcription appratus. The functional differences observed in this study are corroborated by previously reported structural differences between yeast and mammalian RNA polymerase II and class II genes. In contrast, the mechanism of eukaryotic class III gene transcription appears to be evolutionarily conserved. Thus, a mammalian transcription extract specifically transcribes the cloned yeast 5S rRNA gene. This system synthesizes without processing the 130 base 5S rRNA precursor, and this primary transcript may be processed to the mature 120 base RNA using a partially purified yeast processing activity. An homologous yeast class III transcription system has also been developed. This yeast system contains all components necessary for proper synthesis, processing and splicing of yeast tRNA precursors. Using the homologous yeast transcription system, a template in which the 5′ flaking region and first 5 base pairs of the 5S rRNA gene had been deleted is utilized to synthesize a 120 base transcript, but the efficiency of transcription is reduced to about 10% that of the wild type gene. Thus, the yeast 5S rRNA gene has an internal transcription control region, but the immediate 5′ flanking sequence have effects on the level of transcription.
Synthesis of N-substituted 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3α-yl carbamate analogs as σ2 receptor ligands

Abstract A series of N -substituted 9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3α-yl phenylcarbamate analogs was prepared and their affinities for sigma (σ 1 and σ 2 ) receptors were measured in vitro. The results of their structure–activity relationship study identified two new compounds, N -(9-(4-aminobutyl)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3α-yl)- N ′-(2-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)carbamate and N -(9-(6-aminohexyl)-9-azabicyclo[3.3.1]nonan-3α-yl)- N ′-(2-methoxy-5-methylphenyl)carbamate, having a high affinity and selectivity for σ 2 versus σ 1 receptors. These compounds were also used in the preparation of biotinylated and fluorescent probes of the σ 2 receptor.
Modified FDK half-scan (MFDKHS) scheme on flat panel detector-based cone-beam CT

A modified Feldkamp (FDK) half-scan (MFDKHS) algorithm was developed to conduct the circular half-scan scheme on a flat panel detector (FPD)-based CBCT. X-ray source scans the object in a circular trajectory in the range of 180 degrees plus full fan angle rather than 360 degrees for a full scan. The redundant data is weighted by a weighting function in 3-D case based on the ones proposed by Parker 1 , FDK algorithm is then applied on this weighted data, and another FBP term developed by Dr. Hu is also added to get the final reconstruction. The MFDKHS is expected to correct the attenuation coefficient drop of the reconstructed object associated with FDK in the place where Z (rotation axis) is away from scanning plane and improve the temporal resolution as well.
Skin tight: cell adhesion in the epidermis of Caenorhabditis elegans

The powerful genetics, genomics and microscopy tools available for C. elegans make it well suited to studying how epithelial cells adhere to one another and the extracellular matrix, and how the integrated, simultaneous activities of multiple cell adhesion complexes function to shape an organism. Recent studies using forward and reverse genetics have shed light on how phylogenetically conserved cell adhesion complexes, such as the cadherin/catenin complex, claudins, the Discs large complex and hemidesmosome-like attachment structures, regulate epithelial cell adhesion, providing new insights into conserved cell adhesion mechanisms in higher eukaryotes.
Differential effects of salinity and soil saturation on native and exotic plants of a coastal salt marsh

In many southern California salt marshes, increased freshwater inflows have promoted the establishment of exotic plant species. A comparative study showed that a native, perennial, high marsh dominant,Salicornia subterminalis, and an invasive, exotic annual grass,Polypogon monspeliensis, responded differently to soil salinity and saturation.Salicornia subterminalis seeds and young plants were more salt tolerant, and the native grew best at high salinities (23 g 1−1 and 34 g 1−1) in greenhouse experiments. In contrast, the exotic had reduced growth at high salinities relative to nonsaline controls. The native,S. subterminalis, grew poorly as the duration of soil saturation increased from 2 wk to 32 wk, butP. monspeliensis grew equally well for all durations tested. The response ofS. subterminalis andP. monspeliensis to increased salinity indicated that salt applications might be used to protect native vegetation in salt marshes where salt-sensitive exotics are a problem. A field experiment verified that a salt application of 850 g m−2 mo−1 for 3 mo was sufficient to control the exotic, while not noticeably affecting the native. Thus, salt applications may be a practical method for controllingP. monspeliensis invasions in areas receiving urban runoff or other unwanted freshwater inflows.
Religion and College Attendance: Change among Students

This study began with three expectations: (a) students' religious convictions will decline over time, (b) their profile will follow that of earlier studies, and (c) greater involvement in diversity-related experiences would be associated with weaker religious beliefs. Using a longitudinal database for a national cohort of 1994 freshmen and a hierarchical regression analysis, this study found some unexpected results, particularly that diversity-related experiences were not associated with weaker religious beliefs.
Informational Robustness of Competitive Equilibria

Abstract Consider an exchange economy with complete information. We perturb this economy by assuming that each agent's observation about the true state of the world is noisy. The paper investigates the robustness of equilibria of the complete information economy with respect to incomplete information. We provide conditions under which complete information equilibria are limits of equilibria of the economies with incomplete information, as the noise in the signal converges to zero. Journal of Economic Literature Classification Numbers: D51, D82.
Elevated serum levels of heat shock protein 70 precede the development of AIDS-non-Hodgkin lymphoma in carriers of the common and highly conserved HLA-B8-DR3 haplotype

Elevated serum levels of heat shock protein 70 precede the development of AIDS-non-Hodgkin lymphoma in carriers of the common and highly conserved HLA-B8-DR3 haplotype Brahim Aissani, Otoniel Martinez-Maza, Sadeep Shrestha, Elizabeth Breen, Lisa Jacobson, Richard Kaslow From 12 International Conference on Malignancies in AIDS and Other Acquired Immunodeficiencies (ICMAOI) Bethesda, MD, USA. 26-27 April, 2010
The cytoplasmic carboxy-terminal amino acid specifies cleavage of membrane TGFα into soluble growth factor

Summary Membrane-anchored transforming growth factor α (proTGFα) belongs to a group of transmembrane proteins whose extracellular domains are selectively cleaved and released into the medium. We demonstrate that the carboxy-terminal valine in the cytoplasmic tail of proTGFα is required for cleavage of the growth factor ectodomain in response to various activators. This cleavage process occurs outside Golgi or lysosomal locations, affects cell surface proTGFα, and requires little or no membrane traffic. We propose that cleavage and release of proTGFα ectodomain involve a specialized proteolytic system and depend on the recognition of a simple and specific determinant located in the proTGFα cytoplasmic tail.
A monocular vision-based diameter sensor for Miscanthus giganteus

The stem diameter of Miscanthus giganteus (MxG) is an important parameter in the measurement of stand volume and yield. To measure the diameters of MxG stems automatically, a vision-based diameter sensor was developed, consisting of a camera and a laser sheet that was slanted downward at a 15° angle. The laser sheet projected Illuminated Line Segments (ILSs) onto the MxG stems, creating detectable features in images that enabled the depth from the camera to the stems and, subsequently, the stem diameters to be measured. To evaluate the method in a sample of 1364 MxG stems, originating from 100 randomly selected images, the depths and diameters of 150 stems were measured manually and plotted versus their automatically measured counterparts. Straight lines with intercept were fitted to both the depth and diameter data. The depth measurements, ranging from 368 to 1486 mm, yielded a slope of 1.002, an intercept of −1.2 mm and a coefficient of determination of 0.998. The diameter data, ranging from 3.1 to 14.6 mm, yielded a slope of 0.845, an intercept of 1.4 mm and a coefficient of determination of 0.926.
Six-week Latino family prevention pilot program effectively promotes healthy behaviors and reduces obesogenic behaviors.

Abstract Objective To test the effectiveness of a 6-week family-based healthy eating pilot program aimed to reduce obesogenic behaviors among Latino parents and children. Methods A 6-week healthy eating pilot program focused on dietary changes within Latino families with a 6- to 13-year-old child. A 1-group, pre-posttest design with 2-month follow-up examining fruit, vegetable, and sugar-sweetened beverage consumption. Results The program was effective at increasing parent-report of child fruit consumption, ( P P = .001, effect size=.20), and decreasing sugar-sweetened beverage consumption, ( P = .002, effect size=.16). Conclusions and Implications This family-based prevention program was effective at improving healthy eating in Latino families, especially for children. The curriculum can be used in future prevention programs for Latino families with a 6- to 13-year-old child.
Women and science careers: leaky pipeline or gender filter?

Women are under‐represented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) majors and careers in most industrialized countries around the world. This paper explores the broad array of explanations for the absence of women in STEM put forth in the literature of the last 30 years. It is argued that some proposed explanations are without merit and are in fact dangerous, while others do play a part in a complex interaction of factors. It is suggested that the very nature of science may contribute to the removal of women from the ‘pipeline’. Recommendations for reform in science education to address this problem are also provided.
A paradox in the interpretation of group comparisons.

It is common practice in behavioral research, and in other areas, to apply the analysis of covariance in the investigation of preexisting natural groups. The research worker is usually interested in some criterion variable (y) and would like to make allowances for the fact that his groups are not matched on some important independent variable or "control" variable (x). The situation is such that observed differences in the dependent variable might logically be caused by differences in the independent variable, and the research worker wishes to rule out this possibility. It is widely recognized that ideally the research worker should assign cases or individuals at random to the groups that are to be studied by analysis of covariance. In behavioral research and in many other areas, such random assignment is usually difficult or impossible—as, for example, in a com-