cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Amorphization by mechanical attrition in the NbGe system: Extension of the amorphous composition range

Abstract If amorphization by mechanical alloying in NbGe alloys were controlled by some type of solid state amorphization reaction involving NbGe microdiffusion couples a glass forming composition range of about 20–70 at.% Ge would be predicted. This follows from the calculated negative heats of mixing for amorphous NbGe alloys. However, the experimentally observed composition range is only about 12–30 at.% Ge for ball milling of Nb + Ge powders. The range for amorphization has been extended in the present work by using amorphous Nb4Ge as one of the initial powder components. The amorphous phase formed in this manner at 37.5 and 40 at.% Ge transforms to the equilibrium Nb5Ge3 phase on continued milling. Oxygen may play a role in nucleating the Nb5Ge3 phase since milling in air atmosphere prevents the formation of an amorphous phase for the above starting powders. During milling, the stable compounds, Nb4Ge, Nb5Ge3, and NbGe2, occur first instead of the amorphous phase; presumably because of insufficient kinetic constraints to their formation. The A15 structure Nb4Ge compound by itself, unlike Nb5Ge3, amorphizes under continued mechanical attrition and the composition range for amorphization is associated with its composition range.
Acetylcholine-induced arteriolar dilation is reduced in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats with motor nerve dysfunction

1. Diabetes mellitus produces marked abnormalities in motor nerve conduction, but the mechanism is not clear. In the present study we hypothesized that in the streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rat impaired vasodilator function is associated with reduced endoneural blood flow (EBF) which may contribute to nerve dysfunction. 2. We examined whether diabetes-induced reductions in sciatic nerve conduction velocity and EBF were associated with impaired endothelium-dependent dilation in adjacent arterioles. We measured motor nerve conduction velocity (MNCV) in the sciatic nerve using a non-invasive procedure, and sciatic nerve nutritive blood flow using microelectrode polarography and hydrogen clearance. In vitro videomicroscopy was used to quantify arteriolar diameter responses to dilator agonists in arterioles overlying the sciatic nerve. 3. MNCV and EBF in 4-week-STZ-induced diabetic rats were decreased by 22% and 49% respectively. Arterioles were constricted with U46619 and dilation to acetylcholine (ACh), aprikalim, or sodium nitroprusside (SNP) examined. All agonists elicited dose-dependent dilation in control and diabetic rats, although ACh-induced dilation was significantly reduced in diabetic rats. Treating vessels from normal or diabetic rats with indomethacin (INDO) alone did not significantly affect ACh-induced relaxation. However, ACh-induced vasodilation was significantly reduced by treatment with KCl or Nomega-nitro-L-arginine (LNNA) alone. Combining LNNA and KCl further reduced ACh-induced dilation in these vessels. 4. Diabetes causes vasodilator dysfunction in a microvascular bed that provides circulation to the sciatic nerve. These studies imply that ACh-induced dilation in these vessels is mediated by multiple mechanisms that may include the endothelial-dependent production of nitric oxide and endothelial-derived hyperpolarizing factor. This impaired vascular response is associated with neural dysfunction.
The use of a CMOS camera to resolve nanometer displacements of hair cell stereocillia in the bullfrog sacculus

A Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) camera (1024×1024 pixels) is used to record spontaneous oscillations of hair cell stereocillia in an in-vitro preparation of the bullfrog sacculus with the otolithic membrane removed. The CMOS camera is attached to an Olympus BX51WI Microscope inside of a sound-isolation chamber, with white light transmission illumination using an X-Cite 120 metal halogenide lamp. The combination of the parallel readout of the CMOS chip and the high intensity of illumination allows full frame images of the oscillations to be taken at 1000 frames per second. A weighted, time averaged differential algorithm is used to aid in the visualization of the hair cell movement. To detect the displacement from its center of the stereocillia tip with nanometer position resolution and millisecond time resolution, an average background intensity value was subtracted from each image to remove lamp intensity fluctuations and then a center of intensity algorithm was applied. This combination of our imaging system and data analysis allows for the oscillations of more than one hair cell to be recorded during the same time period, and their frequency components extracted.
Effect of Hemorrhage on the Cardiac Output and Distribution in the Rat

The effects of moderate and severe hemorrhage on the cardiac output and its distribution have been studied in the rat. In moderate hemorrhage, cerebral and adrenal blood flow are well maintained through localized vasodilatation while most other organs show increased vascular resistance and diminished blood flow. After severe hemorrhage, despite further changes in territorial resistances, the blood flow is not maintained in any area of the body.
Do Social Stressors Impact Everyone Equally? An Examination of the Moderating Impact of Core Self-evaluations

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between social stressors and the outcomes of job satisfaction, altruism, and turnover intentions. Additionally, this study examined the moderating impact of individuals’ core self-evaluations on these relationships. Data were obtained from a branch of the state government in the southeast. Responses were received from 144 employees. Supervisors provided responses as well, and the matched dyads where both supervisor and subordinate responses were received numbered 133. We found that social stressors were negatively related to job satisfaction and altruism and positively related to turnover intentions. Results also indicated that higher core self-evaluations buffered the negative influence of social stressors on job satisfaction and turnover intention, but not altruism. Our results reinforce the notion that social stressors exhibit significant negative associations with desired job consequences. Another managerial implication relates to managers when filling vacant positions. When completing this task, managers need to honestly and accurately assess the social stressors present in their organization. When social stressors are high, managers should seek to hire individuals who possess higher core self-evaluations. This study employed a different theoretical perspective, conservation of resources theory, and extended the nomological network related to social stressors. Additionally, this study showed the important moderating impact that core self-evaluations can have on other relationships, whereas the large majority of previous studies have examined core self-evaluations as a main effect predictor of important organizational outcomes.
The effects of chlorpromazine and d-amphetamine upon shock-elicited aggression.

Graded dosages of chlorpromazine hydrochloride and d-amphetamine sulfate were administered to rats and shock-elicited fighting frequencies determined. Chlorpromazine interfered with or abolished fighting at appropriate dosages, but d-amphetamine had little or no effect on fighting elicited by grid shock. However, when elicited by subdermal shock, d-amphetamine decreased shock elicited aggression at larger dosages and higher shock intensities, but moderate dosages, combined with moderate shock intensities, increased aggression. These results were discussed within the context of the arousal properties associated with shock-elicited aggression.
Autoradiographic localization of testosterone-3H in the female rat brain and estradiol-3H in the male rat brain

Eine halbe Stunde nach der i.v. Injektion wurde Testosterone-3H von den Nerven- und Glialzellen innerhalb des Gehirns der weiblichen Ratte und Estradiol-3H innerhalb des Gehirns der mannlichen Ratte aufgenommen. Zwei Stunden nach der Injektion war die Aufnahme in hohem Masse nur noch in gewissen Teilen des hypothalamisch-limbischen Systems vorhanden.
Application of recycled tyre cord in concrete for shrinkage crack control

Recently, there has been rauch attention focused on the rapidly deteriorating infrastructure. The main cause of the decay of infrastructure is the deterioration of the materials used in the construction and repair of the structures. In many types of infrastructure, such as highway and airport pavement, cracking behaviour is the most important factor for the determination of durability and lifetime of structures. For example, the control of the crack spacing and width is the main design criterion in continuously reinforced concrete pavement [1]. This type of cracking behaviour is related to environmental strain due to either dry shrinkage or thermal change in concrete structures with restrained boundary condition. Such shrinkage-induced cracking is very common in concrete, especially for large surfaceto-volume ratio structures such as highway pavement, slabs for parking garages, and walls [2]. Cracking can cause several problems in a reinforced concrete structure: durability problems related to the corrosion of rebars, spalling of structure surface, and increased permeability through the cracks, etc. Thus, the control of the shrinkage cracking behaviour in cementitious materials is considered an important factor for long-term structural performance. In the past, research was conducted on the shrinkage behaviour of ordinary concrete and reinforced concrete structures. Recently, attention has focused on fibre reinforced cementitious composites [2-5]. It was found that the effect of discrete fibres is to reduce shrinkage cracking rather than reduce free shrinkage, although 10-25% reduction in free shrinkage in cementitious composites having steel fibre reinforcement has been reported [6, 7]. Shrinkage cracking can, as expected, be significantly reduced by increasing the fibre volume fraction in cementitious composites [8]. In the above mentioned studies of shrinkage behaviour of fibre reinforced composites (FRCs), all composites were reinforced with various types of new virgin fibres including polypropylene and steel. Data on the shrinkage properties of concrete reinforced with recycled waste fibres are not available. Many industrial wastes can be recycled and utilized in building and highway construction. At present, most of these wastes are disposed of in landfills, which is of great environmental concern. For example, about 275 million used tyres are disposed of annually, and 3 billion used tyres have accumulated in waste piles across the United States [9]. No efforts have been made to reuse recycled tyre cord (such as nylon, polyester, and Kevlar), however,
The deposition of zinc from alkaline solutions: a capacitance study

Summary Since the object of this paper was to relate capacitance changes to changes in surface roughness during zinc deposition, it was necessary initially to ascertain at which electrode potential the capacitance should be measured. Following this, the capacitance of an electrodeposited zinc electrode was measured at frequent intervals during the course of potentiostatic deposition from an alkaline zincate solution. This capacitance behavior was studied both above and below the critical overpotential required for dendrite initiation. The results are suggested to verify a theory of dendrite initiation, in which it was proposed that large surface area changes occur prior to the appearance of visible dendrites.
IO Mediation of Interstate Conflicts: Moving Beyond the Global versus Regional Dichotomy

Regional and global intergovernmental organizations have grown both in number and scope, yet their role and effectiveness as conflict managers is not fully understood. Previous research efforts ten...
Intracranial transection of the optic nerve in adult mice: preliminary observations.

Abstract Between 1 and 3 days after intracranial transection of the mouse optic nerve, the number of retinal ganglion cells decreased by about 20% and the mean cross-sectional area of the cells decreased by about 25%. The decrease in number continued more slowly, to 50 to 60% of normal by 2 to 3 months, whereas the mean cell size began to recover after about 30 days, becoming nearly normal by 90 days. In the retinal stump of the optic nerve, silver-stained sections showed a core region of complete axonal degeneration extending for a distance of about 1.5 mm from the lesion toward the eye. This core, which was already present 1 day after the lesion, was probably due to ischemia of the nerve on the retinal side of the lesion. The degenerated core was surrounded by a mantle layer, about 25 to 40 μm in thickness, containing intact axons which were presumably nourished by diffusion from the surface of the nerve. The mantle layer represents about 30% of the total nerve cross section. Beginning at 8 days the degenerated core acquired a population of moderately thick fibers, which were probably constituents of connective tissue, although they could not be distinguished with certainty from regenerating axons. There was no unequivocal evidence of axonal regeneration at any time after the lesion. Some of the surviving axons in the retinal stump showed terminal bulbs, but these were less well developed than those seen on the cranial side of the lesion before the axons in the cranial stump degenerated. This suggests that axonal transport might be impaired even in the surviving axons in the retinal stump. This may be a significant factor in deterring regeneration.
Hard-Particle Fluids. I. General Scaled-Particle-Like Descriptions

The Kirkwood-Salsburg equation for the many-particle distribution function is generalized to mixtures of anisotropic particles which can form ordered (e.g., liquid crystal or solid) phases. We extend similarly various statements of the “zero-separation” theorem. This allows us to obtain the small- and large-“ scaled ” particle limits in which a single particle is scaled to zero and infinite size, respectively. Simple interpolation between the corresponding solutions to the Kirkwood-Salsburg equation leads directly to the generalized scaled particle theory (SPT). Distribution functions as well as thermodynamic properties are considered. As special cases we treat first the single-component, hard-sphere system in its disordered and ordered states; an additional (gas ⇔ liquid) phase transition fails to appear when attractions are added. We then consider mixtures of particles, including those which interact via nonadditive hard cores. The SPT relations describing order states and isotropic phases of mixtures ofdifferently shaped particles are found to violate certain of the Maxwell relations. This thermodynamic inconsistency, inherent in the SPT because of its having afforded special status to a single particle, is absent altogether in the alternative description of hard-particle fluids which is presented in an accompanying paper.
Visual acuity of the cat estimated from evoked cerebral potentials.

THE ability to distinguish between a striped target or a grating and a non-striped target, when the average intensity is held constant, depends on the relative intensity (contrast) and size of the light and dark stripes. Contrast and stripe size, however, are not independent in that the minimum (threshold) contrast necessary to detect a grating varies with the spatial frequency (cycles/degree of visual angle) of the grating. The function relating contrast sensitivity, the reciprocal of threshold contrast, to spatial frequency is the contrast sensitivity function. When expressed this way, peak contrast sensitivity is found at moderate spatial frequencies, with sensitivity declining slowly at lower spatial frequencies and rapidly at higher spatial frequencies1. At maximum contrast, the highest spatial frequency (finest grating) that is seen as a grating is a measure of the spatial resolution of the visual system and can be considered a measure of visual acuity2.
Heart transplantation for end-stage heart failure due to cardiac sarcoidosis.

Abstract Background Cardiac sarcoidosis with end-stage heart failure has a poor prognosis without transplantation. The rates of sarcoid recurrence and rejection are not well established after heart transplantation. Methods A total of 19 heart transplant recipients with sarcoid of the explanted heart were compared with a contemporaneous control group of 1,050 heart transplant recipients without cardiac sarcoidosis. Assessed outcomes included 1st-year freedom from any treated rejection, 5-year actuarial survival, 5-year freedom from cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), 5-year freedom from nonfatal major adverse cardiac events (NF-MACE), and recurrence of sarcoid in the allograft or other organs. Patients with sarcoidosis were maintained on low-dose corticosteroids after transplantation. Results There were no significant differences between the sarcoid and control groups in 1st-year freedom from any treated rejection (79% and 90%), 5-year posttransplantation survival (79% and 83%), 5-year freedom from CAV (68% and 78%), and 5-year freedom from NF-MACE (90% and 88%). Causes of death (n = 5) in the sarcoid group were coccidioidomycosis, pneumonia, rejection, hemorrhage, and CAV. No patient had recurrence of sarcoidosis in the cardiac allograft. Three of 19 patients (16%) experienced recurrence of extracardiac sarcoid, with no mortality. Conclusions Patients with cardiac sarcoidosis undergoing heart transplantation have acceptable long-term outcomes without evidence of recurrence of sarcoidosis in the allograft when maintained on low-dose corticosteroids. Progression of extracardiac sarcoid was uncommon, possibly related to immunosuppression. In patients with cardiac sarcoidosis, heart transplantation is a viable treatment modality.
Ascribing societal benefit to applied remote sensing data products: an examination of methodologies based on the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer experience

This paper describes and illustrates frameworks for societal benefits associated with data products from the Multi-angle Imaging SpectroRadiometer (MISR), one of five instruments launched into polar orbit aboard NASA's Terra spacecraft in December 1999. The objective of framing and illustrating benefits is impelled by the January, 2007, U.S. National Research Council's seminal decadal survey of U.S. Earth science. The survey urges that all missions explicitly identify potential societal benefits in mission planning and operation. In this paper, our retrospective look at MISR offers approaches which mission planning for future instruments could operationalize. "Societal benefit" generally refers to practical applications of data and data products beyond their intrinsic science merit. The paper demonstrates how societal benefit frameworks work, highlights some of these benefits in the case of MISR, and seeks to provide useful guidance for benefit descriptions in future multi-angle and other Earth observation research programs.
Seasonal variation in radiation use efficiency of irrigated rice

Abstract Radiation use efficiency (RUE), the amount of carbon assimilated per unit intercepted photosynthetic photon flux density (Qi), is important in understanding and modeling the relationship between plant growth and the physical environment. Field experiments were conducted in 1998 and 1999 to evaluate RUE as a function of growth and development in a commercial rice field near El Campo, TX. Half-hourly averages of carbon assimilation were obtained from tower-based conditional sampling (CS), and Qi was measured with quantum sensors. We found a high correlation between half-hourly averages of CO2 exchange rate (CER) and Qi. RUE steadily declined during growth of the primary crop, from 3.18 to 2.65 μg μmol−1 quanta, in 1998 and 1999, respectively, for leaf area index (LAI) between 1 and 2, to 1.57 and 1.55 μg μmol−1 quanta, respectively, for LAIs exceeding 5. Post-anthesis values of RUE were substantially lower than pre-anthesis values at comparable LAIs. Post-anthesis RUE in the ratoon crop was also lower than pre-anthesis RUE. Daily totals of CER and Qi values were also strongly correlated. We concluded that when RUE is used as a model parameter, it must be changed for differing LAI and for pre- and post-anthesis periods.
Long Term Studies on Patients with Absence and Bilateral Spike-Wave Complexes: 430 Patients, up to 52 Years Follow-up

This study involved long-term changes, up to 52 yrs, in 430 patients with absence (A) attacks and bilateral spike and wave complexes (BSW). Nearly 2/3 had additional GTC attacks and only about 1/4 had A alone. Atonic attacks (7%), complex partial (CP) (4%) and other types of seizures also occurred in the group. Distinctive features of the GTC group were diffuse slow waves and 6/sec spike and wave complexes, and of the A alone were BSW as the only abnormality and later normal records. For CP or focal motor (FM) attacks, nearly all had focal spikes and these seizures appeared between 15-25 yrs of age. The background alpha rhythm with increasing age showed more rhythmicity, but lower amplitudes in all of these patients. Onset age was an important factor in that the highest peak was at 6 yrs, mainly from those with A only and a minor peak appeared at 13-14 yrs, mainly from the patients with GTC seizures. One major difference between the group with A alone and those with GTC attacks was that normal records developing with A alone usually remained normal, while those with GTC attacks usually became abnormal again. The 6/sec spike and wave complexes usually appeared after the onset of GTC attacks, often at 18-19 yrs of age. Diffuse slowing usually appeared after GTC attacks at around 16 yrs after the onset of these seizures. Possible forerunners of BSW were multifocal spikes at < 4 yrs of age, occipital or temporal spikes at 5-16 yrs and temporal spikes after 16 yrs of age. CP seizures could be predicted from the EEG by focal spikes, especially on the temporal lobe, appearing over long periods of time in records with an inconsistent BSW. Patients with A extending into adulthood were distinctive by a later onset of A and a history of GTC attacks. In general, more females were seen in this study but there were more males with A alone and more developed a normal record. Females often had a later onset of A, with GTC attacks, and the older the patient in this study the more likely the patient was female. Evidence is seen in this study for prediction of (1) future BSW by different types of focal spikes at different ages, (2) CP (or FM) seizures by focal spikes and an inconsistent BSW, (3) GTC seizures by onset age, female sex, and EEG reverting to an abnormal record after normalizing, (4) A attacks alone by onset age, male sex and finally a normalized EEG, and (5) GTC or myoclonic attacks by the presence of BSW as the only abnormality.
gyrA Mutations in Ciprofloxacin-Resistant Bartonella bacilliformis Strains Obtained In Vitro

We isolated and characterized mutants of Bartonella bacilliformis that are resistant to the fluoroquinolone antibiotic ciprofloxacin, which targets the A subunit of DNA gyrase. Mutants had single point mutations in the gyrA gene that changed either Asp-90 to Gly or Asp-95 to Asn and had 3- or 16-fold higher resistance, respectively, to ciprofloxacin than did wild-type B. bacilliformis. Asp-95 is homologous to Asp-87 of Escherichia coli GyrA and is a common residue mutated in fluoroquinolone-resistant strains of other bacteria. This is the first report of a mutation at an Asp-90 homologue, which corresponds to Asp-82 in E. coli GyrA.
The elephant and the mice: the role of non-strict fine-grain synchronization for modern many-core architectures

The Cray XMT architecture has incited curiosity among computer architect and system software designers for its architecture support of fine-grain in-memory synchronization. Although such discussion go back thirty years, there is a lack of practical experimental platforms that can evaluate major technological trends, such as fine-grain in-memory synchronization. The need for these platforms becomes apparent when dealing with new massive many-core designs and applications.This paper studies the feasibility, usefulness and trade-offs of fine-grain in-memory synchronization support in a real-world large-scale many-core chip (IBM Cyclops-64). We extended the original Cyclops-64 architecture design at gate level to support the fine-grain in-memory synchronization feature. We performed an in-depth study of a well-known kernel code: the wavefront computation. Several versions of the kernel were used to test the effects of different synchronization constructs using our chip emulation framework. Furthermore, we tested selected OpenMP kernel loops against existing software-based synchronization approaches.In our wavefront benchmark study, the combination of fine-grain dataflow-like in-memory synchronization with non-strict scheduling methods yields a thirty percent improvement over the best optimized traditional synchronization method provided by the original Cyclops-64 design. For the OpenMP kernel loops, we achieved speeds of three to fourteen times the speed of software-based synchronization methods.
Radon Transform Inversion using the Shearlet Representation

Abstract The inversion of the Radon transform is a classical ill-posed inverse problem where some method of regularization must be applied in order to accurately recover the objects of interest from the observable data. A well-known consequence of the traditional regularization methods is that some important features to be recovered are lost, as evident in imaging applications where the regularized reconstructions are blurred versions of the original. In this paper, we show that the affine-like system of functions known as the shearlet system can be applied to obtain a highly effective reconstruction algorithm which provides near-optimal rate of convergence in estimating a large class of images from noisy Radon data. This is achieved by introducing a shearlet-based decomposition of the Radon operator and applying a thresholding scheme on the noisy shearlet transform coefficients. For a given noise level e, the proposed shearlet shrinkage method can be tuned so that the estimator will attain the essentially optimal mean square error O ( log ( e − 1 ) e 4 / 5 ) , as e → 0 . Several numerical demonstrations show that its performance improves upon similar competitive strategies based on wavelets and curvelets.
Impact of Dominance and Relatedness on Brand Extensions

This research investigated how a consumer's cognitive structure for a brand in a given product category affects the possible transfer of associations to other product categories. One key factor in evaluating such possible brand extensions is dominance , which can be defined as the strength of the directional association between the parent category and the branded product. Likewise, another important factor is the relatedness of the brand's parent category and the target category of the proposed extension. The 1st experiment measured dominance and relatedness via response latencies to recognize brand extensions. The 2nd experiment demonstrated that consumers’ affect for strongly category-dominant brands (a) transfers better to an extension when the proposed extension is closely rather than distantly related to the parent category and (b) transfers better than a weakly category-dominant brand's affect. Together, the research demonstrated that consumers’ response times to disconfirm the existence of product-brand pairs is related to their transfer of affect from the brand to the proposed product category. This disconfirmation method could be used as an unobtrusive measure for determining brand boundaries. The attractiveness of potential brand extensions may thus be determined without consumers making any judgments about a proposed extension other than answering whether or not it exists.
A research on evaluation of some fruit kernels and/or seeds as a raw material of vegetable oil industry

The crude oils obtained from the kernels of apple (Malus spp.), plum (Prunus domestica L.), apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.), sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.), mandarin (Citrus mitis), peach (Prunus persica L.), sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) and grape (Vitis vinifera L.) fruits were examined for some of their physicochemical properties and fatty acid compositions. The total oil content of the kernels ranged between 18.5-39.5%. While grape (20.2%) and apple (18.5%) seeds show the lowest oil content, the highest oil content was found in peach (39.5%) and apricot (38.8%) kernels. The saponification number and unsaponifiable matter contents of the samples varied between 170-195 and 0.93-1.59, respectively. The refractive index values of plum (1.478 nD 20 °C) and apricot (1.475 nD 20 °C) kernel oils were higher than the values of other kernel oils. The specific gravity, iodine number, peroxide value, free fatty acid and total crude fat contents of the kernels varied between 0.901 and 0.960, 95 and 135, 1.87 and 3...
Modafinil and cocaine: a double-blind, placebo-controlled drug interaction study

Modafinil is a novel compound that is approved for the treatment of narcolepsy. It is now being studied as a potential treatment for cocaine dependence. Cocaine withdrawal symptoms are associated with poor clinical outcome and are likely to be reversed by modafinil. In addition, the neurotransmitter actions of modafinil are opposite to cocaine-induced neuroadaptations affecting dopamine and glutamate reward circuits. Since cocaine-dependent subjects might use cocaine during a clinical trial with modafinil, this study tested the safety of intravenous cocaine (30 mg) in combination with modafinil. Each of seven subjects received a baseline (open-label) cocaine infusion. Three subsequent cocaine infusions were administered after subjects received 4 days of low dose modafinil (200 mg/day), high dose modafinil (400 mg/day), or placebo in randomized double-blind sequences. One subject received placebo prior to all infusions. Our results indicate that co-administering modafinil and a single dose of intravenous cocaine is not associated with medical risk in terms of blood pressure, pulse, temperature, or electrocardiogram measures. Furthermore, pretreatment with modafinil did not intensify cocaine euphoria or cocaine-induced craving. In fact, cocaine euphoria was significantly blunted (P=0.02) in one of our subjective measures.
Indian Buddhist Preachers Inside and Outside the Sūtras

The subject of the preacher in Indian Buddhist history and literature is one that has gone almost completely unexplored by modern scholars. Indian Buddhist preachers have historically served as voices for Buddhist teaching, but they have also been voiced by that teaching, articulated in the very sūtra texts that they are charged to preserve and protect. This article explores a few portraits of preachers painted in the Buddhist sūtra corpus, and attempts to draw provisional conclusions regarding the impact of such portraits on Buddhist preachers’ own conceptions of doctrinal authority. As Gregory Schopen's work reminds us, we cannot straightforwardly recover an accurate picture of ‘what Buddhism was’ from texts that concern ‘what Buddhism should be’. But, it is no less a mistake to assume either that normative texts do not influence history, or that the traces of such influence are nowhere evident in normative texts. This article explores some of the ways in which these reciprocal impacts may be glimpsed.
Mathematical modeling of reflectance and intrinsic fluorescence for cancer detection in human pancreatic tissue

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma has a five-year survival rate of only 4%, largely because an effective procedure for early detection has not been developed. In this study, mathematical modeling of reflectance and fluorescence spectra was utilized to quantitatively characterize differences between normal pancreatic tissue, pancreatitis, and pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Initial attempts at separating the spectra of different tissue types involved dividing fluorescence by reflectance, and removing absorption artifacts by applying a "reverse Beer-Lambert factor" when the absorption coefficient was modeled as a linear combination of the extinction coefficients of oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin. These procedures demonstrated the need for a more complete mathematical model to quantitatively describe fluorescence and reflectance for minimally-invasive fiber-based optical diagnostics in the pancreas.
The effect of ascorbic acid on lysyl and prolyl hydroxylase activity of cultured fibroblasts.

Abstract Previous studies have indicated that prolyl hydroxylase is synthesized in an inactive precursor form and that ascorbate is involved in its activation. The present studies indicate that ascorbate does not activate lysyl hydroxylase in cultured L-929 fibroblasts and further suggests that lysyl hydroxylase is not synthesized in an inactive precursor form.
Plasma hyaluronidase (Hyal-1) promotes tumor cell cycling

Paradoxically, both hyaluronan (HA) and hyaluronidase are involved in malignant transformation and cancer progression. Their mechanisms of action, given the apparent disparities, are not understood. In many malignancies, levels of HA correlate with metastatic behavior while hyaluronidases suppress malignant progression. Hyal-1, product of one of six paralogous hyaluronidase-like sequences, is the predominant circulating hyaluronidase. HYAL1, the gene that codes for Hyal-1, is located on chromosome 3p21.3, a region containing a tumor suppressor gene. Loss of HYAL1 often correlates with tumor progression, particularly in tobacco-related cancers. In other malignancies, however, hyaluronidase functions as a tumor promoter. Testicular hyaluronidase (PH-20), used as an adjuvant in chemotherapy, is assumed to enhance drug permeability. By an unknown mechanism, hyaluronidases recruit tumor cells back into the cycling pool, making these malignancies more sensitive to chemotherapeutic drugs. Such contradictory observations might be resolved by assuming that HA and hyaluronidase are required at different times in the multiple steps that lead to malignant transformation. We have undertaken a systematic investigation of their roles in cancer progression. Here, we investigate the effect of Hyal-1 expression on cell cycle kinetics. A tumor cell line was constructed with an ecdysone-inducible promoter located upstream from the cDNA of HYAL1. Fluorescent-activated cell sorting was used to monitor cell cycle kinetics following Hyal-1 induction. Enhanced cell cycling was observed, with a 13.6% increase in S phase and 9.6% decrease in G(1)/G(0) phase cells.
Structural and spectral studies of N-2-(4,6-lutidyl)-N′-tolylthioureas

Abstract N -2-(4,6-lutidyl)- N ′- o -tolylthiourea, 4,6LuTuoT, triclinic, P-1 , a =7.470(2), b =9.799(5), c=10.269(3) A , α =90.514(4), β =98.89(3), γ =90.14(3)°, V=742.5(9) A 3 , Z =2, μ=2.09 mm −1 ; N -2-(4,6-lutidyl)- N ′- m -tolylthiourea, 4,6LuTumT, monoclinic, P2 1 /a , a =7.2393(2), b =16.636(3), c=12.557(1) A , β =101.968(9)°, V=1479.4(6) A 3 , Z =4, μ=2.10 mm −1 and N -2-(4,6-lutidyl)- N ′- p -tolylthiourea, 4,6LuTupT, triclinic, P-1 , a =7.883(2), b =7.9024(8), c=23.273(4) A , α =86.49(1), β =86.48(2), γ =88.45(2)°, V=1443.9(7) A 3 , Z =4, μ=2.15 mm −1 . These molecules have an intramolecular hydrogen bond between N′H and the pyridyl nitrogen, as well as intermolecular hydrogen bonding between NH and a thione sulfur of a second molecule to form centrosymmetric dimers. Solution 1 H NMR studies (CDCl 3 ) show the N′H resonance considerably downfield for each thiourea and its position, as well as that of NH, are affected by substituents on the phenyl ring.
Prediction of strategy usage by adults with aphasia

It was hypothesized that cognitive flexibility may influence aphasic individuals’ ability to generalize techniques learned in therapy to more functional communication situations. A cognitive flexibility score was created by examination of modality switching behavior on the CADL and on a referential communication task, following multimodality training. A multiple regression analysis revealed a significant correlation between the CADL cognitive flexibility score and the referential communication task, but the contribution of the PICA was not significant. These results suggest the cognitive flexibility score is independent of language function and may help predict whether patients would benefit from specific strategy training.
The Caregiver Activity Survey (CAS): longitudinal validation of an instrument that measures time spent caregiving for individuals with Alzheimer's disease

Family members incur substantial financial costs during the course of caring for an individual with Alzheimer's disease. Much of this cost is associated with time spent in caregiving tasks, including supervision and communication with the patient, and assisting with activities of daily living. We have previously reported on the cross sectional reliability and validity of a scale that measures time spent caregiving, the Caregiver Activity Survey (CAS). This study extends our results to a longitudinal study of the validity of the instrument. Forty-four outpatients with Alzheimer's disease who lived with a primary caregiver were followed over a period of 1 year 6 months. At six month intervals, the patients were administered the Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE), Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS), and the Physical Self Maintenance Scale (PSMS). Caregivers completed the CAS. Over time, the CAS correlated significantly with the MMSE (r=-0.58, p=0.000), ADAS cognitive subscale (r=0.56, p=0. 000) and PSMS (r=0.49, p=0.000). As patients declined, caregivers spent less time communicating with and more time supervising the patient. Excluding the communication item, time spent caregiving increased significantly over time. This prospective study longitudinally validates the CAS with Alzheimer's patients.
CGLive - A Real Time Power Monitoring Solution for Enterprises

CGLive is a real time energy monitoring software tool that could be used to monitor and reduce energy consumption of PC's in a enterprise network environment. Working of CGLive has been tested in a lab environment and was found to be successful. Dashboard of CGLive can show current status of a work station, energy consumed by it and also the Process which consume higher percentage of CPU. CGLive can issue commands towards ensuring shutdown, logon, logoff and hibernate a particular machine.
A resource-bounded agent addresses the newcomb problem

In the Newcomb problem, the standard arguments for taking either one box or both boxes adduce what seem to be relevant considerations, but they are not complete arguments, and attempts to complete the arguments rely upon incorrect principles of rational decision making. It is argued that by considering how the predictor is making his prediction, we can generate a more complete argument, and this in turn supports a form of causal decision theory.
Fluoroscopically Guided Peritendinous Corticosteroid Injection for Proximal Hamstring Tendinopathy: A Retrospective Review

Background:Proximal hamstring tendinopathy is an uncommon but debilitating cause of posterior thigh pain in athletes subjected to repetitive eccentric hamstring contraction, such as runners. Minima...
Bayes net graphs to understand co-authorship networks?

Improvements in data collection and the birth of online communities made it possible to obtain very large social networks (graphs). Several communities have been involved in modeling and analyzing these graphs. Usage of graphical models, such as Bayesian Networks (BN), to analyze massive data has become increasingly popular, due to their scalability and robustness to noise. In the literature BNs are primarily used for compact representation of joint distributions and to perform inference, i.e. answer queries about the data. In this work we learn Bayes Nets using the previously proposed SBNS algorithm [14]. We look at the learned networks for the purpose of analyzing the graph structure itself. We also point out a few improvements over the SBNS algorithm. The usefulness of Bayes Net structures to understand social networks is an open area. We discuss possible interpretations using a small subgraph of the Medline publications and hope to provoke some discussion and interest in further analysis.
Studies of electron tunneling at semiconductor electrodes

The recently developed ability to prepare self-assembled monolayers on n-InP material has been used to study the photooxidation of Fe(CN)64- to Fe(CN)63-. In particular, the dependence of the photocurrent on the thickness of the monolayer film has been investigated. The distance dependence of the electronic coupling through the organic layer is observed to be “softer” than corresponding reports for such layers on gold electrodes.
The Broadband Holographic Vortex Coronagraph and its Applications

We demonstrate a broadband holographic vortex coronagraph for high-contrast imaging over large visible passbands (Δλ/λ = 40%). A scheme to measure the spatial extent of an extremely unresolved on-axis broadband source distribution is verified.
Urinary excretion of 3′,5′-AMP in syndromes considered refractory to parathyroid hormone

Abstract Earlier studies showed that parathyroid hormone increases the urinary excretion of cyclic 3′,5′-AMP in normal subjects; patients with pseudohypoparathyroidism showed little or no response. In the current investigation this response to parathyroid hormone was examined in several apparently unrelated syndromes previously characterized as resistant to the hormone in tests for phosphaturia. The disorders studied included the basal cell nevus syndrome (BCN), Gardner's syndrome (GS), vitamin D-resistant osteomalacia (DRO), and the syndrome of basal ganglia calcification (BGC). Urine was collected on two successive mornings and 180 USP units of purified bovine parathyroid hormone were infused between 9 and 9:15 a.m. on day 2. During the control day (Day 1) normal volunteers showed average excretion of 3′,5′-AMP of 3.90 nmoles/mg. creatinine (range 2.4–5.4). Baseline excretion for patients averaged 2.90 (BCN), 5.19 (GS), 5.30 (DRO), and 5.27 (BGC) nmoles of 3′,5′-AMP/mg. creatinine. Base-line excretion rates for patients with GS, DRO, and BGC were significantly greater than normal. This finding possibly reflects secondary hyperparathyroidism in DRO but remains unexplained in GS and BGC. Infusion of hormone into normal subjects caused an increase to 23.7 nmoles of 3′,5′-AMP/mg. creatinine (range 13–42). The responses to the hormone for the patient groups were 32 (BCN), 48 (GS), 56.1 (DRO), and 47.4 (BGC) nmoles of 3′,5′-AMP/mg. creatinine. These results were within the limits of normal. There were wide fluctuations in phosphate excretion from day-to-day as well as hour-to-hour in all groups. These variations obscured the phosphaturic response in the normal subjects and in patients with Gardner's syndrome, vitamin D-resistant osteomalacia and the family with calcification of the basal ganglia. The basal cell nevus syndrome showed a significant phosphaturic response to the hormone. These results confirm previous conclusions that the phosphaturic response is not sufficiently reliable to categorize a syndrome as refractory to PTH. On the other hand, the rate of excretion of 3′,5′-AMP shows less variation and the response provides more valid discrimination between normal subjects and those refractory to the hormone. Thus, the current studies show that several syndromes previously described as resistant to parathyroid hormone indeed respond normally.
REACTION OF CYSTEINE AND GLUTATHIONE WITH DERIVATIVES OF MANY SYMPATHOMIMETIC AMINES.

THE mechanism of the reactions between cysteine and glutathione and oxidation products of epinephrine and norepinephrine1,2 in vitro has remained obscure. Examination of the reactions between these sulphydryl substances and derivatives of the many Sympathomimetic compounds3 other than the catecholamines promised to clarify the subject. Because it oxidized almost all the Sympathomimetic amines to pink compounds4, hydrogen peroxide was used to examine the Sympathomimetic amine–SH group reaction. For nearly every Sympathomimetic substance, the presence of hydrogen peroxide and cysteine or glutathione led to the rapid formation of a yellow solution. Further investigation disclosed that the phenyl ring was necessary for the appearance of the yellow colour.
Simulation of Turbulent Airflow Using a CT Based Upper Airway Model of a Racehorse

Computational model for airflow through the upper airway of a horse was developed. Previous flow models for human airway do not hold true for horses due to significant differences in anatomy and the high Reynolds number of flow in the equine airway. Moreover, models that simulate the entire respiratory cycle and emphasize on pressures inside the airway in relation to various anatomical diseases are lacking. The geometry of the airway was created by reconstructing images obtained from computed tomography scans of a thoroughbred racehorse. Different geometries for inhalation and exhalation were used for the model based on the difference in the nasopharynx size during the two phases of respiration. The Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes equations were solved for the isothermal flow with the standard k-epsilon model for turbulence. Transient pressure boundary conditions for the entire breathing cycle were obtained from past experimental studies on live horses. The flow equations were solved in a commercial finite volume solver. The flow rates, computed based on the applied pressure conditions, were compared to experimentally measured flow rates for model validation. Detailed analysis of velocity, pressure, and turbulence characteristics of the flow was done. Velocity magnitudes at various slices during inhalation were found to be higher than corresponding velocity magnitudes during exhalation. The front and middle parts of the nasopharynx were found to have minimum intraluminal pressure in the airway during inhalation. During exhalation, the pressures in the soft palate were higher compared to those in the larynx, epiglottis, and nasopharynx. Turbulent kinetic energy was found to be maximum at the entry to the airway and gradually decreased as the flow moved inside the airway. However, turbulent kinetic energy increased in regions of the airway with abrupt change in area. Based on the analysis of pressure distribution at different sections of the airway, it was concluded that the front part of the nasopharynx requires maximum muscular activity to support it during inhalation. During exhalation, the soft palate is susceptible to displacements due to presence of high pressures. These can serve as critical information for diagnosis and treatment planning of diseases known to affect the soft palate and nasopharynx in horses, and can potentially be useful for human beings.
Study on Pre-Processing Method and Software Platform Development for Three-Dimensional Finite Element of Electric Transmission Lines Based on Solid Modeling

Through the implementation of algorithm based on B-Rep three-dimensional solid modeling techniques, combination with substation, pole tower, electric transmission line and other electric power facilities, C# is used as the main development language and Microsoft Visual Studio2013 is applied to develop three-dimensional solid modeling software of electric power facilities to serve as pre-processing part of CAE system and provide software technology support for finite element analysis.