cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synchrotron x-ray-diffraction study of the structure and growth of Xe films adsorbed on the Ag(111) surface

Synchrotron x-ray scattering has been used to investigate the structure and growth of perhaps the simplest of all films: xenon physisorbed on the Ag(111) surface. High-resolution x-ray scans of the in-plane structure and lower-resolution scans (specular and nonspecular) of the out-of-plane order were performed. The Xe films were prepared under both quasiequilibrium and kinetic growth conditions, and have fewer structural defects than those investigated previously by others on graphite substrates. Under quasiequilibrium conditions, the bulk Xe-Xe spacing is reached at monolayer completion, and the monolayer and bilayer lattice constants at coexistence are inferred equal to within 0.005 \AA{}, consistent with theoretical calculations. The Xe/vacuum interface profile for a complete monolayer and bilayer grown at quasiequilibrium is found to be sharper than for kinetically grown films. At coverages above two layers, diffraction scans along the $\mathrm{Xe}(01l)$ rod for quasiequilibrated films are consistent with the presence of two domains having predominantly an ABC stacking sequence and rotated 60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} with respect to each other about the surface normal. Annealing of these films alters neither the population of the two domains nor the fraction of ABA stacking faults. The thickest film grown under quasiequilibrium conditions exceeds 220 \AA{} (resolution limited). Under kinetic growth conditions, x-ray intensity oscillations at the Xe anti-Bragg position of the specular rod are observed as a function of time, indicating nearly layer-by-layer growth. Up to four complete oscillations corresponding to a film of eight layers have been observed before the intensity is damped out; the number of oscillations is found to depend on the substrate temperature, the growth rate, and the quality of the Ag(111) substrate. The specular reflectivity from kinetically grown films at nominal coverages of three and four layers has been analyzed using a Gaussian model which gives a film thickness standard deviation of 0.5 and 1.0 layers, respectively. Diffraction scans along the $\mathrm{Xe}(01l)$ rod of these films indicate a larger fraction of ABA stacking faults than found for thicker films. These results demonstrate the difficulty of kinetically growing Xe films thicker than two layers which have an ideal slab geometry.
An Experimental and Computational Study of Solvent Effects in Toluene Chlorination

The rate of the uncatalyzed chlorination of toluene by molecular chlorine was studied without added solvent and in acetic acid solution. During competitive reaction in acetic acid, the chlorination...
State and trait components of test anxiety and their implications for treatment.

This study examines the relationships among state, trait, and test anxiety, and GPA in a sample of 87 undergraduate volunteers. Of those students 21 met the criteria for classification as test-anxi...
Infant lung function after inhaled nitric oxide therapy for persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn

Our objectives were to determine whether the use of inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) for severe persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) causes impaired lung function during infancy. We therefore performed a prospective study of lung function in 22 infants after neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) discharge who had been treated for severe persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn (PPHN) with (n = 15) or without (n = 7) iNO, and compared these findings in lung function to those of healthy control infants (n = 18). Five infants with interstitial lung disease (ILD) were included to assure that the pulmonary function tests (PFT) were sensitive enough to detect abnormalities of lung function in this age group. We measured passive respiratory mechanics and functional residual capacity (FRC) using a commercially available system. All data were expressed as means and standard deviation. Statistical analysis was performed by analysis of variance (ANOVA). A Bonferroni multiple comparisons test was used for variables that showed overall group differences. Twenty-two infants were studied during follow-up 4-12 months after NICU discharge. None of the infants were actuely ill, and only one infant was on 0.25 L of oxygen per minute at the time of study. We found no differences in lung function between the treatment groups (iNO + mechanical ventilation (MV), or MV alone), or between either treatment group and healthy control infants of the same age. We were able to detect significant differences in functional residual capacity adjusted for weight or height, and compliance of the respiratory system adjusted for weight or lung volume in the ILD infants compared to the healthy controls or infants who had PPHN, indicating that these PFTs were sensitive enough to determine abnormal lung function in this age group. We conclude that inhaled nitric oxide therapy for the treatment of severe PPHN does not alter lung function as determined by lung volume and passive respiratory mechanics measurements during early infancy.
Comparison of boom and airblast sprayers on T-trellis apples

T-trellis apple trees treated with combinations of fungicides and insecticides applied with a boom sprayer had a lower percentage of fruit damage from diseases and insects than those treated with an airblast sprayer. With the boom sprayer, chemical deposit was uniform in distribution between outer and inner parts of the tree canopy, but with the airblast sprayer there was more than a threefold difference in deposit between parts of the canopy. The boom sprayer was inferior to the airblast sprayer in the control of apple aphids (Aphis pomi) when vertical top growth (watersprouts) had grown to 0.7-1 m (...)
Ultrastructural observations on FUdR‐induced cell death and subsequent elimination of cell debris

Twelve-day mouse embryos were treated with fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdR) and sacrificed at various time intervals after treatment. The neuroepithelial cells were then examined to determine by electron microscopy the primary site of action of the drug. About two hours after treatment mitotic activity ceased and a number of cells were found with a normal interphase nucleus, but with a cytoplasm in which the ribosomes had lost their normal polysomal configuration and were dispersed as single ribosomes. At about the same time cells were seen with an accumulation of chromatin at the nuclear membrane and the segregation of chromatin masses within the somewhat denser karyoplasm. Concurrent with the nuclear changes was the appearance of a condensed cytosome containing monoribosomes. The condensation of the nucleus and cytoplasm was followed by fragmentation of the cell into membrane bound bodies. Since condensed cells always contained monodispersed ribosomes, it seems likely that the dispersal of the ribosomes is the first morphological sign of the action of FUdR. Since about half of the neuroepithelial population underwent cell degeneration, the second goal of this experiment was to study the fate of the dying cells. Some fragments from condensed cells were found within apparently normal neuroepithelial cells, indicating phagocytosis. In addition macrophages were seen containing phagosomes from fragmented cells. Most of the fragments, however, remained free and were not immediately phagocytosed. These unphagocytosed fragments lysed and became ghosts, thereby giving the neureopithlium a vacuolated appearance. Hence, cellular debris was eliminated partially by neuroepithelial cells, partially by macrophages and to a great extent by lysis.
Analyzing Tagging Patterns by Integrating Visual Analytics with the Inferential Test

Due to the large volume and complexity of data, exploring data using visual analytics has become more helpful to interpret and analyze it. The box plot is one of graphical ways and is the most common technique for presenting and summarizing statistics. In this paper, we focus on discussing the tagging patterns by integrating visualization assessment using the box plot with the Shapiro-Wilk test.
EVALUATION OF INJURED COMMERCIAL POTATO SAMPLES FOR TOTAL GLYCOALKALOID CONTENT

Stress by physical damage is one of the most significant factors which may cause an increase in potato glycoalkaloids. A high percentage of potatoes available on the retail market are physically damaged and possibly are subject to an internal build-up of glycoalkaloids. To investigate this possibility, analyses for total glycoalkaloids were carried out on damaged potatoes purchased on the retail market. Four separate purchases of three different potato varieties were tested. From this limited sampling it cannot be concluded that no tubers containing a high level of glycoalkaloids due to physical stress reach the retail market. However, in the cross section of damaged potatoes analyzed, in no case was a dangerous level of glycoalkaloids observed.
IMPROVING MOTORCYCLISTS' BRAKING PERFORMANCE: THE INTEGRATED BRAKE SYSTEM

Two motorcycles were used in these tests, each of which could be operated in both integrated and separated braking modes. The motorcycles had engine displacements of 400 cc and 1100 cc. The braking test was performed by 24 riders, nine of whom were instructors in motorcycle rider courses.It was found that, on both dry and wet pavements, decelerations were significantly greater in the integrated braking mode than the separated mode when foot brakes alone were used and there were no significant differences in the frequencies with which wheels were locked between these modes. However, there was a consistent trend of fewer lockups in the integrated mode. When both brakes were used on the larger motorcycle significantly greater mean deceleration was attained in the integrated than separated mode but this was accompanied by significantly more wheel lockups in the integrated mode.The results indicated a significant advantage in braking performance with integrated brakes for the motorcycle rider course instructor...
Treatment of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in Young Children: An Intervention Model and Case Series

This article presents an intervention model for young children with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The intervention, designed to reduce compulsive behavior and improve parenting practices, was tested using a multiple baseline design with 7 children (M = 6 years old; 57% female) in which participants were randomly assigned to 1, 2, or 3 weeks of baseline (i.e., no treatment). All children were diagnosed with OCD using a semi-structured diagnostic interview. Baseline and weekly ratings of obsessive-compulsive (OC) symptoms and family accommodation were obtained. In addition, at pre- and post-treatment and 1-month follow-up, independent evaluators and/or parents completed measures assessing the severity and impact of OC symptoms and child and family functioning. Findings revealed that participants had a 33–66% reduction in OC symptoms (as measured by the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale; CYBOCS) at posttreatment and 6 of the 7 children were rated as treatment responders on the Clinical ...
Research Note: Physiological Effects of Adrenocorticotropic Hormone and Hydrocortisone in Laying Hens

To study the hormonal effects on hematologic parameters as indicators of chronic stress, exogenous adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) at 6.3 or 20.0 IU/kg/day and hydrocortisone at .25 or 2.5 mg/kg/day were administered parenterally to laying hens. Both ACTH treatments induced significant (P less than .05) heterophilia, monocytosis, eosinophilia, and basophilia. Significantly elevated leucocyte counts and lymphopenia (P less than .05) were observed with the high dosage of ACTH. Both hydrocortisone-treated groups developed an absolute lymphopenia and heterophilia (P less than .05). The low dosage of hydrocortisone induced a significant (P less than .05) monocytosis; the high dosage caused significant (P less than .05) decreases in the total eosinophil and basophil counts as well as an increase in the ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes. The hemopoietic parameters, especially heterophil counts, were sensitive indicators of a hormonal stress response induced by the administration of ACTH and hydrocortisone.
Disulfide Trapping and Spectroscopic Studies of Bacterial Chemosensory Core Signaling Complexes: Probing Molecular Mechanisms of Complex Assembly and Receptor-Regulated On-Off Switching

The core unit of the bacterial chemosensory array is multi-protein complex comprised of 6 transmembrane chemoreceptor homodimers, 1 CheA His kinase homodimer, and 2 CheW adaptor protein monomers. We are reconstituting core units on isolated bacterial membranes, yielding individual core units and oligomers of core units ranging in size up to small hexagonal arrays. This approach generates functional, membrane-bound core complexes and allows incorporation of modified kinase and adaptor proteins possessing pairs of engineered Cys residues for disulfide trapping, or spectroscopic probes for fluorescence or EPR studies. The resulting core complexes display native receptor-stimulated kinase activities that are fully regulated by attractant binding to the receptor, or covalent modification of the receptor adaptation sites. The findings shed new light on the kinetics and order of core complex assembly, and provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying receptor-mediated kinase on-off switching.
S cone pathway sensitivity in eyes with high risk and low risk drusen characteristics

A method of measuring S cone pathway sensitivity which corrects internally for media absorption, flicker sensitivity variations, and diffuse losses in retinal sensitivity is presented. Foveal S cone pathway sensitivity was measured in elderly subjects who had no ophthalmoscopically detectable retinal abnormality other than the presence of drusen. S cone pathway sensitivity was decreased in the elderly group compared with a group of young normals. The elderly group was subdivided by drusen characteristics present in fundus photographs into a group felt to be at high risk of developing age-related macular degeneration and a group judged to be at low risk. There was a mean difference in age of 7 yr between the groups. There was a weak association between a lower S cone pathway sensitivity and the presence of high risk drusen characteristics not attributable to the age difference. Yellow flicker sensitivity better separated the high risk group from the low risk group, but this was attributable to the mean difference in age between the groups. The limited usefulness of the drusen risk classification in assessing the likelihood of developing severe age-related macular degeneration highlights the need for following a group of drusen patients prospectively to assess the true worth of S cone pathway sensitivity in this disease.
Censored distribution techniques in analysis of toxicological data

Es werden Methoden der Dosis-Effekt-Analyse verglichen, die es erlauben, nicht mehr gemessene Werte in hoheren Dosisbereichen zu schatzen. Obwohl die Daten eng beieinander liegen, ergab die vonGupta5 1952 entwickelte Methode zur Bestimmung von Mittelwerten befriedigende Schatzungen, verifiziert durch die Ubereinstimmung innerhalb der Gruppen.
How to realize a concept: Lexical selection and the conceptual network in text generation

The task of natural language generation by computer requires a method for the selection of lexical items that refer to concepts. A generation system cannot assume that every concept will have an appropriate lexical entry associated with it. Similarly, a generation system must avoid redundant text and must strive for the most specific descriptions possible. This paper presents an algorithm for lexical selection that takes advantage of a conceptual network in which we represent the relationships between concepts (such as which concepts subsume each other and what differentiates concepts at different levels of generality). When the algorithm chooses a lexical realization for a concept, it first checks to see if the concept to be expressed is associated with a lexical entry. If so, that entry is used. If the concept does not have the appropriate lexical associations, the algorithm generates a phrase with a more general head term and restrictive modifiers. It does this by using the conceptual network to compute a semantically appropriate head term, and then modifying the request for generation by adding restrictions that differentiate the concept associated with the head term from the concept initially requested. Similarly, the conceptual network is used to eliminate redundant modifiers by computing the information contained in a lexical item that is chosen as a head term. Here the algorithm modifies the generation request to avoid restating the extra information. This algorithm is being implemented within Penman, a computerized system for the generation of English text from statements in a first-order predicate calculus language.
High-temperature vaporization of transplutonium oxides

Abstract A systematic evaluation of the vaporization-decomposition behavior of the actinide oxides as a function of atomic number has been initiated. This work has provided important clues for understanding the underlying roles played by the actinide's f-electrons in this process. Studies of the actinide sesquioxides have determined that the major factor in determining their primary mode of vaporization is the magnitude of dissociation energies of the monoxides. It has been shown that the dissociation energy of the monoxide is linked to the promotion energy of the actinide element's f-electrons. Establishing this relationship has now provided both a predictive and a correlative approach to understanding the vaporization processes of the actinide sesquioxides. Results from our initial vaporization studies of selected transplutonium sesquioxides were found to be in accord with these predicted processes. This systematic correlation, recent information about the melting points of berkelium and californium sesquioxides, and a summary of the initial high-temperature vaporization behaviors of several transplutonium sesquioxides are presented here.
Marmosets (Hapiladae): Breeding Seasons, Twinning, and Sex of Offspring

Our records on marmosets, primarily Oedipomidas oedipus, plus data from the literature, confirm that these animals customarily have twins. Demonstrated chimerism for several tissues is significant, for virtually all twins are of biovular origin. Furthermore, a single birth may often be a survivor of twins. Births occur during any month, but springtime appears to be the most common period. An average interval of 240 days between births predicts the production level of a captive colony. A gestation period of about 140 days appears to be a valid estimate.
A simplified procedure for the stereospecific transformation of 1,2-diols into epoxides

Abstract A simple, ‘one-pot’ procedure for the conversion of vicinal diols into epoxides via halohydrin ester intermediates has been developed. This method tolerates a wide range of functionality including acid sensitive functional groups. The transformation proceeds via a, usually highly regioselective, nucleophilic opening of a cyclic acetoxonium intermediate, generated from a cyclic orthoacetate and Me3SiCl, acetyl bromide or acetyl chloride/NaI to form 1-acetoxy-2-chloride, 1-acetoxy-2-bromide or 1-acetoxy-2-iodide intermediates, respectively. No epimerization occurs, even with benzylic substrates. Subsequent base mediated methanolysis furnishes epoxides in excellent overall yield. Application of this method led to an efficient formal synthesis of the leukotriene antagonist SKF 104353, commencing with the highly enantioselective cis-dihydroxylation of methyl 3-[2-(8-phenyloctyl)phenyl]propenoate.
Simulation analysis of muscle activity changes with altered body orientations during pedaling.

Testing hypotheses related to the effect of gravitational orientation on neural control mechanisms is difficult for most locomotor tasks, like walking, because body orientation with respect to gravity affects both sensorimotor control and task mechanics. To examine the mechanical effect of body orientation independently from changes in workload and posture, Brown et al. (J. Biomech. 29 p. 1349, 1996) studied pedaling at altered body orientations. They found that subjects pedaling at different orientations changed needlessly their muscle excitations, putatively to preserve body-upright pedaling kinematics. We tested the feasibility of this hypothesis using simulations based on a three biomechanical-function pair organization for control of lower limb muscles (limb extension/flexion pair, extension/flexion transition pair, and foot plantarflexion/dorsiflexion pair), where each pair consists of alternating agonistic/antagonistic muscles. Adjustment of only three parameters, one to scale the muscle excitations of each pair, was sufficient to preserve pedaling kinematics to altered body orientation. Because these adjustments produced changes in muscle excitation and net joint moments similar to those observed in pedaling subjects, the hypothesis is supported. Moreover, the effectiveness of a decoupled gain adjustment procedure where each parameter was adjusted by error in only one aspect of the pedaling trajectory during each iteration (i.e., cadence adjusted the Ext/Flex parameter; peak-to-peak variation in crank velocity over the cycle adjusted the transition parameter; average ankle angle over the cycle adjusted the foot parameter) further supports the distinct function of each muscle pair.
Morphological effects of ballistic impact on fabrics of highly drawn polyethylene fibers

Changes in crystalline structure of high-tenacity ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fabric brought on by ballistic impact from a small projectile were determined by X-ray diffractometry. A suitable X-ray diffraction method that averages out the fiber orientation effects in the diffraction pattern was used. The Spectra 1000™ polyethylene fabrics were successfully characterized in terms of both the predominant orthorhombic and the minor monoclinic crystal content. Crystallinity values for the undamaged fabric are consistent from sample to sample and show an average orthorhombic fraction of 0.61 and an average monoclinic fraction of 0.04. Fabric damage by the projectile impact results in either an increase in monoclinic fraction, attributed to recrystallization at temperatures nearing the normal polyethylene melting point, or disappearance of monoclinic material as that temperature is exceeded. The latter predominates where ballistic penetration is complete. However, actual melting need not be involved: Transformation to the hexagonal (“rotator”) phase and the disappearance of the monoclinic phase could have occurred rather than true melting. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The molecular basis of thyroid hormone action.

Cette revue considere les donnees recentes concernant les mecanismes de l'action des hormones thyroidiennes via des recepteurs hormonaux ainsi que la structure moleculaire de ces derniers
In situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic studies of nafion adsorption on Au and Pt electrodes.

Understanding interactions between Nafion (perfluorosulfonic acid) and Pt catalysts is important for the development and deployment of proton exchange membrane fuel cells. However, study of such interactions is challenging and Nafion/Pt interfacial structure remains elusive. In this study, adsorption of Nafion ionomer on Au and Pt surfaces was investigated for the first time by in situ surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy. The study is made possible by the use of uniform SiO2@Au core–shell particle arrays which provides very strong enhancement of Raman scattering. The high surface sensitivity offered by this approach yields insightful information on interfacial Nafion structure. Through spectral comparison of several model compounds, vibration assignments of SERS bands were made. The SER spectra suggest the direct interaction of sulfonate group with the metal surfaces, in accord with cyclic voltammetric results. Comparison of present SERS results with previous IR spectra was briefly made.
A framework for efficient progressive fine granularity scalable video coding

A basic framework for efficient scalable video coding, namely progressive fine granularity scalable (PFGS) video coding is proposed. Similar to the fine granularity scalable (PGS) video coding in MPEG-4, the PFGS framework has all the features of FGS, such as fine granularity bit-rate scalability, channel adaptation, and error recovery. On the other hand, different from the PGS coding, the PFGS framework uses multiple layers of references with increasing quality to make motion prediction more accurate for improved video-coding efficiency. However, using multiple layers of references with different quality also introduces several issues. First, extra frame buffers are needed for storing the multiple reconstructed reference layers. This would increase the memory cost and computational complexity of the PFGS scheme. Based on the basic framework, a simplified and efficient PFGS framework is further proposed. The simplified PPGS framework needs only one extra frame buffer with almost the same coding efficiency as in the original framework. Second, there might be undesirable increase and fluctuation of the coefficients to be coded when switching from a low-quality reference to a high-quality one, which could partially offset the advantage of using a high-quality reference. A further improved PFGS scheme can eliminate the fluctuation of enhancement-layer coefficients when switching references by always using only one high-quality prediction reference for all enhancement layers. Experimental results show that the PFGS framework can improve the coding efficiency up to more than 1 dB over the FGS scheme in terms of average PSNR, yet still keeps all the original properties, such as fine granularity, bandwidth adaptation, and error recovery. A simple simulation of transmitting the PFGS video over a wireless channel further confirms the error robustness of the PFGS scheme, although the advantages of PFGS have not been fully exploited.
Modeling of turbulent heat transfer during the solidification process of continuous castings

Abstract Prandtl mixing length theory with average heat capacity was successfully implemented to model turbulent continuous casting (CC) process. This method features the simplicity of zero equation model along with ease of maintaining higher time step increment using average heat capacity method. A series of simulations were investigated to study the effect of inlet speed ( Pe ), superheat ( Θ o ), mold cooling rate ( Bi m ) and post mold cooling rate ( Bi p ) on the process characteristics and were presented in terms of viscosity contours, location and slope of the solidification front, axial velocity profiles, velocity vectors, local heat flux and shell thickness. The ranges of the parameters studied in the current work were: Pe = 3.5–6.1, Θ o = 1.2–2.0, Bi m = 0.2–0.4 and Bi p = 0.1–0.4. The effect of mold length ( L m ) was also investigated to establish remedies of breakout due to higher Pe and Θ o . The current studies reveal that Pe , Θ o and L m have significant effect on the performance and productivity of the cast material.
The molecular nature of heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) of Escherichia coli

ALTHOUGH Escherichia coli is part of the natural flora of the mammalian gut, certain strains cause a cholera-like disease in humans and young farm animals1,2. These E. coli strains carry at least two plasmid-mediated determinants of virulence3,4. One class of plasmids, called Ent, codes for the synthesis of one or more enterotoxins3. These toxins disrupt the fluid balance in the gut resulting in a net efflux of fluid and electrolytes from the gut epithelial cells1. The heat-labile toxin (LT) and cholera toxin have been shown to be identical in their modes of action5 and also to be immunologically similar6,7. Although cholera toxin has been purified and characterised8, it has proved difficult to purify LT and it is not yet fully characterised. Molecular weight estimates for LT range from 20,000 to over 100,000 (refs. 9–11). We report here investigations of the molecular nature of LT carried out by studying an LT gene isolated using recombinant DNA technology12. Using E. coli minicells13, the proteins encoded by the LT gene were identified and the structure of LT was found to be similar to that of cholera toxin.
The US and Europe: Continental Drift?

This article is an edited version of the second C. Douglas Dillon Lecture on European-American relations delivered at Chatham House on 24 June 1999 by Joseph S. Nye Jr, in which he analyses future relations between Europe and the United States. Despite the lack of a mutual threat in the form of Soviet aggression, the author believes there is still enough common ground between the two for the relationship to be sustained. However, he is very much aware of current counter-arguments and acknowledges that the bickering will continue. Drawing on the works of Stephen Walt and Robert Blackwill, among others, Joseph Nye outlines where and why difficulties in the relationship could appear. He points to the areas of economics, culture, diplomacy and defence cooperation where potential rifts might occur and offers suggestions on ways to reduce the friction. His conclusion is optimistic: divorce is not in the offing.
Orientation relative to the retina determines perceptual organization.

Two experiments are reported which show that perceptual unit formation, as measured by Gillam’s method of using common reversals of ambiguous lines as an index of their coherence, depends strongly on the orientation of the configuration. Measurements under conditions of 90° head and body tilt show that the critical orientation is retinal, not physical. The results are discussed in relation to other findings and to possible explanations.
Phase I trial of oral talactoferrin alfa in refractory solid tumors.

Background: Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein first identified in breast milk as a protein product of mammary epithelial cells. Its immunomodulatory functions include activation of NK and lymphokine-activated killer cells and enhancement of PMN and macrophage cytotoxicity. Studies in animal models have shown promising anti-cancer activity. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the safety and tolerability of talactoferrin alfa (talactoferrin; TLF) in humans, as well as pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Methods: Ten adult patients with progressive advanced solid tumors who had failed conventional chemotherapy were administered oral TLF at doses from 1.5 to 9 g/day, using a 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off schedule. Patients were evaluated for drug toxicity, tumor growth rate, talactoferrin pharmacokinetics and cytokine markers. Results: Talactoferrin was very well tolerated. No hematological, hepatic, or renal toxicities were reported. A single patient had Grade 2 diarrhea, and there were no Grade 3 or 4 toxicities. Following oral administration, significant levels of talactoferrin were undetectable in circulation, but a statistically significant increase in circulating IL-18, a pharmacodynamic indicator of talactoferrin activity, was observed. Of the eight patients who were radiologically evaluable, five (63%) had stable disease by RECIST criteria two months after start of therapy, including one patient with a minor response. Seven patients (88%) had a decrease in their tumor growth rate. The three patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) all survived for at least one year following the start of talactoferrin monotherapy. Conclusions: Talactoferrin is a promising, well-tolerated new agent that should be evaluated further in patients with refractory metastatic cancer.
The Globalization of Intellectual Property Rights and Innovation in Services

I review the various interrelationships between innovation in service industries and the need for intellectual property rights (IPR) protection. A number of service sectors engage in significant innovation, particularly in information technologies, the internet, digital entertainment, and financial services, suggesting that IPR are of increasing importance in those areas. Other service sectors have not made much use of IPR to date but emerging patterns of innovation indicates that doing so will become a more central element of commercial strategy. A review of available survey evidence supports these views. I discuss how fundamental principles of IPR may be applied to various services and note certain gaps in policy regimes that should be filled in order to meet the needs of these sectors.
Disturbance and Climatic Influences on Age Structure of Ponderosa Pine at the Pine/Grassland Ecotone, Colorado Front Range

. In the Colorado Front Range, disturbances and climatic variation influence stand structure of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) along the lower timberline ecotone. Over the past 100 years there has been a shift to a greater density and extent of ponderosa pine at the forest-grassland boundaries. Ponderosa pine regeneration at lower timberline appears to be influenced by fires in the 1860s and decreased grazing pressure in the 1970s–1980s. Climatic variation may also have influenced age structure, even though analyses of age structure at a 10-year class scale prevented the detection of climatic influences occurring at a finer scale. These changes in disturbance regimes, possibly together with moister springs/early summers, created favourable conditions for the increase in density and extent of ponderosa pine at lower timberline ecotone.
A computationally simple model for determining the time dependent spectral neutron flux in a nuclear reactor core

The balance of isotopes in a nuclear reactor core is key to understanding the overall performance of a given fuel cycle. This balance is in turn most strongly affected by the time and energy-dependent neutron flux. While many large and involved computer packages exist for determining this spectrum, a simplified approach amenable to rapid computation is missing from the literature. We present such a model, which accepts as inputs the fuel element/moderator geometry and composition, reactor geometry, fuel residence time and target burnup and we compare it to OECD/NEA benchmarks for homogeneous MOX and UOX LWR cores. Collision probability approximations to the neutron transport equation are used to decouple the spatial and energy variables. The lethargy dependent neutron flux, governed by coupled integral equations for the fuel and moderator/coolant regions is treated by multigroup thermalization methods, and the transport of neutrons through space is modeled by fuel to moderator transport and escape probabilities. Reactivity control is achieved through use of a burnable poison or adjustable control medium. The model calculates the buildup of 24 actinides, as well as fission products, along with the lethargy dependent neutron flux and the results of several simulations are compared with benchmarked standards.
Isoproterenol infusion increases level of consciousness during catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation.

Introduction The objective of this study was to determine the effects of isoproterenol infusion on level of consciousness during ablation using total intravenous anesthesia.
Downwelling 10 μm radiance temperature climatology for the Atmospheric Radiation Measurement Southern Great Plains site

[1] Fourteen years of data from the Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer were used to determine the distribution of downwelling infrared radiance at 10 μm at the Department of Energy's Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) site in north central Oklahoma. A neural network classification algorithm was applied to each infrared radiance observation to separate clear-sky from cloudy conditions, with the latter being separated into two broad categories using a simple threshold on the downwelling radiance temperature to separate “thick” from “thin” clouds. This distribution shows a prominent trimodal character. The mode associated with the highest downwelling radiance values is associated with thick low-altitude opaque clouds, whereas the other two modes each contain both clear-sky and thin cloud samples. The distribution of the downwelling radiance in each classification is qualitatively similar for each year in the larger data set. A strong seasonal dependence is seen in the distribution of the radiance in the three classifications, with the clear-sky classification being well correlated with the seasonal distribution of precipitable water vapor.
Intensive Document-Based Instruction in a Social Studies Methods Course and Student Teachers' Attitudes and Practice in Subsequent Field Experiences

Abstract This article examines the socialization of student teachers in secondary history classrooms. Specifically, the article examines student teachers' responses to a history-intensive social studies methods course and their subsequent uses of document-based instruction. The analysis, grounded in data collected from interviews, lesson plans, and written reflections, supported previous research regarding student teachers' active participation in their socialization process. The findings also provide further insights into the complex relationship between teacher education and student teachers' beliefs and practices. The article ends with a discussion of ways in which methods coursework might be designed to better enable student teachers to introduce document-based instruction into existing secondary history classrooms.
Reversible barrier height changes in hydrogen-sensitive Pd/GaN and Pt/GaN diodes

The forward current of Pd/GaN and Pt/GaN Schottky diodes is found to increase significantly upon introduction of H2 into a N2 ambient. Analysis of the current–voltage characteristics as a function of temperature showed that the current increase is due to a decrease in effective barrier height through a decrease in metal work function upon absorption of hydrogen. The introduction of 10% H2 into a N2 ambient was found to lower the effective barrier height of Pd on GaN by 50∼70 meV over the temperature range of 298 to ∼423 K and of Pt on GaN by 30∼60 meV over the range of 443 to ∼473 K. The magnitude of the changes increased with temperature due to the effective cracking of the H2. The changes in barrier height were completely reversible upon restoration of N2 ambient.
Monitoring health-related quality of life in paediatric practice: development of an innovative web-based application

Health Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) questionnaires are increasingly used in clinical practice. These Patient Reported Outcomes (PROs) are provided to the paediatrician to facilitate communication with patients during a consultation. The aim of the current article is to describe the development and introduction of a new web-based application for the use of PROs in daily paediatric clinical practice. Currently, the use of PROs in daily clinical practice is very time consuming and often has logistical problems. The use of a web-based programme can overcome these problems and contributes to an improved use of PROs in clinical practice. We therefore developed an easily accessible website (KLIK) for outpatient treatment and a training programme for paediatricians to maximize the effectiveness and the practical use of PROs (KLIK PROfile). The KLIK study was launched in August 2008 to evaluate the use of the KLIK PROfile in daily clinical practice. The KLIK study evaluates whether feedback from HRQOL data could influence patient satisfaction with the consultation, the advice given, the type of referrals and topics discussed. In this multicentre study, a control group (without the use of the KLIK PROfile) is compared to an intervention group (with the use of the KLIK PROfile). A sequential cohort design is chosen to avoid contamination between the study groups. Based on the positive experiences with the use of the KLIK PROfile acquired during the study we conclude that the KLIK PROfile may contribute to systematically monitor and discuss HRQOL issues during consultations. The next steps will be a comprehensive evaluation of the KLIK study data and the implementation of the KLIK PROfile in daily clinical practice in different patient groups.
Modeling and control of a counter-gravity casting machine

Counter-gravity casting is a process where molten metal is forced into the casting cavity against gravity. It aims at increasing the energy efficiency of the casting process. It also offers an opportunity of introducing automatic control into the process by changing the pressure under which the metal is forced into the mold cavity. This paper describes a new method of multi-variable control of the counter-gravity casting machine. System modeling of the counter-gravity machine reveals that it is a nonlinear system. The machine has been modeled as a set of linear systems corresponding to twelve regions of operation: six for increasing vacuum and six for decreasing vacuum. The models are parameterized based on the stem valve positions and the initial pressure in the casting vessel. The models are validated through actual data collected from the counter-gravity machine. An automatic controller is designed for control of the machine operation throughout the different regions. The full scheme of the controlled simulated machine consists of a valve selector and a gain scheduled controller based on the operating conditions of the machine. Simulations are provided to show the operation of the designed controller.
Liver regeneration following hepatic injury

While the process of liver regeneration has been the subject of a multitude of investigations, the overwhelming majority of these studies have examined hepatocellular proliferation in the in vivo model of partial hepatectomy. In contrast, the characteristics and mechanisms of hepatic regeneration stimulated by liver cell loss from hepatocyte injury and cell death rather than surgical resection are largely unknown. The reasons for this imbalance in our knowledge of liver regeneration are probably twofold. The first is that many of the studies on hepatic regeneration have been fueled by an interest in general cellular mechanisms of proliferation and not a desire to understand liver cell-specific responses to a regenerative stimulus. Investigations into the process of cellular proliferation have centered on the liver because partial hepatectomy represents a unique in vivo whole-organ model in which a quiescent cell population is simultaneously stimulated to enter the cell cycle. Thus, a great deal of information has been generated about liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy because of the strength of the model rather than an interest in specific hepatic events. Secondly, there is an inherent experimental difficulty in any study of regeneration after hepatic injury that is not present in the partial hepatectomy model. In injury models, the two processes of injury/death and regeneration are intertwined, which greatly complicates any study of regeneration. For instance, the cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) has been found to promote DNA synthesis after partial hepatectomy (Akerman et al., 1992). During toxic liver injury, TNFa is expressed (Czaja et al., 1989a) and contributes to hepatocyte injury and cell death (Czaja, Xu and Alt, 1995). It is difficult to determine the direct effects of TNFa on the process of post-injury regeneration by experimentally blocking the biological activity of TNFα, because such efforts will also decrease the amount of liver cell death and therefore reduce the stimulus for liver regeneration. Any evidence of a TNFα mitogenic effect may be lost in the background of a marked decrease in liver regeneration due to reduced liver cell death. The use of the partial hepatectomy model, in which the quantity of hepatocyte proliferation relies only on the extent of surgical removal of liver tissue (Bucher and Swaffield, 1964), obviates such problems.
Performance Still Matters: Explaining Trust in Government in the Dominican Republic

What explains low levels of trust in government institutions in democratizing Latin American countries? The authors examine this question in the Dominican Republic, employing data from three surveys conducted over 1994 to 2001. Their analysis finds that trust in government institutions is shaped primarily by perceptions of economic and political performance by government. There is little evidence of a relationship between civic engagement and institutional trust, and no relationship between democratic values and institutional trust. They find a curvilinear effect between socioeconomic status and institutional trust, with middle-sector groups significantly less trusting of government institutions than either the poor or the wealthy. Age has a nonlinear effect as older generations, who experienced authoritarianism as children, are considerably more trusting of democratic institutions, contradicting predictions by culturalist early-life socialization arguments. The authors conclude that low trust per se is n...
The selectivity of charged phenyl radicals in hydrogen atom abstraction reactions with isopropanol.

The vertical electron affinity is demonstrated to be a key factor in controlling the selectivity of charged phenyl radicals in hydrogen atom abstraction from isopropanol in the gas phase. The measurement of the total reaction efficiencies (hydrogen and/or deuterium atom abstraction) for unlabeled and partially deuteriumlabeled isopropanol, and the branching ratios of hydrogen and deuterium atom abstraction, by using a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer, allowed the determination of the selectivity for each site in the unlabeled isopropanol. Examination of hydrogen atom abstraction from isopropanol by eight structurally different radicals revealed that the preferred site is the CH group. The selectivity of the charged phenyl radicals correlates with the radical’s vertical electron affinity and the reaction efficiency. The smaller the vertical electron affinity of a radical, the lower its reactivity, and the greater the preference for the thermodynamically favored CH group over the CH3 group or the OH group. As the vertical electron affinity increases from 4.87 to 6.28 eV, the primary kinetic isotope effects decrease from 2.9 to 1.3 for the CD group, and the mixture of primary and R-secondary kinetic isotopes decreases from 6.0 to 2.4 for the CD3 group.
On the characterization and efficient computation of hard-to-detect bridging faults

We investigate a characterization of hard-to-detect bridging faults. For circuits with large numbers of lines (or nodes), this characterization can be used to select target faults for test generation efficiently, when it is impractical to target all the bridging faults (or all the realistic bridging faults). We demonstrate that the faults selected based on the proposed characterization are indeed hard-to-detect by performing the following experiments. 1) We show that the fault coverage of a given test set, with respect to the selected subset of bridging faults, is lower and more sensitive to the test set than the fault coverage obtained with respect to a random subset of bridging faults of the same size, with respect to the complete set of bridging faults, and when possible, with respect to a subset of realistic bridging faults of the same size. 2) We demonstrate that a test set generated for the selected subset of bridging faults detects other bridging faults more effectively than when a test set is derived for a randomly selected subset of bridging faults of the same size. We also describe an efficient procedure for selecting hard-to-detect bridging faults according to the proposed characterization. This procedure avoids enumeration of all the faults in order to select the hard-to-detect ones. This is important for large circuits where even enumeration of all the bridging faults may not be feasible.