cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HgSe:Fe quantum dots: growth and characterization

Abstract Mercury selenide and its ternary and quaternary modifications in the form Hg(A,B)Se with A, B magnetic ions, provide an interesting semiconductor family featuring different kinds of correlation effects. These effects manifest themselves already in three-dimensional, quasi-two-dimensional, and quasi-one-dimensional structures. We have succeeded now in fabricating HgSe:Fe quantum dots using three different growing procedures based on molecular beam epitaxy: (a) Stranski–Krastanov growth; (b) thermally activated surface reorganization; (c) pit filling. The special feature of the HgSe:Fe dots is the intrinsic population of the dot states by electrons, where a large amount of about 50–500 electrons form a many-electron system within a single dot. The formation of the dots was controlled in situ by RHEED. The morphology of the resulting structures was characterized by AFM. Subsequently, the electronic properties of the dots were investigated by megagauss magneto spectroscopy, indicating the presence of strong correlation effects as manifested in a 50% increase of the cyclotron mass in respect to that of structures with a higher dimensionality.
Decreased abundance of trefoil factor 1 transcript in the majority of gastric carcinomas

BACKGROUND Gastric carcinoma is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide, but the mechanisms underlying its development and progression still remain largely uncharacterized. As loss of trefoil factor 1 (TFF1) expression leads to neoplastic growth in the antropyloric mucosa of mice, the authors sought to comprehensively study the human TFF1 gene in primary gastric carcinomas. METHODS The authors studied the human TFF1 gene in primary gastric carcinomas and normal gastric mucosa at the DNA, RNA, and protein levels through DNA sequencing, quantitative real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Strikingly, TFF1 mRNA expression was significantly decreased in all 37 gastric carcinomas studied compared with normal gastric mucosa. Furthermore, six tumor/normal pairs with available histologic samples demonstrated a marked decrease in protein expression in tumor samples. Screening of the entire TFF1 coding region in a panel of 42 human gastric tumors did not reveal any somatic mutations, although a few rare germline sequence variants were identified. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrated a significant decrease in the TFF1 transcript in the majority of human gastric carcinomas along with a corresponding reduction in protein expression, both of which occurred in the absence of gene mutation. Dysregulation of TFF1 expression at the transcript level was a critical event in the development of most gastric carcinomas. Cancer 2003. © 2003 American Cancer Society.
Resistance of herpes simplex virus to antiviral agents. Is it clinically important

The deoxyguanosine analogue, acyclovir, represents a singularly important advance in antiviral therapy because it is an antiherpes drug which requires a viral-specific enzyme to form an active inhibitor of viral DNA replication. As discussed by Richards et al. in this issue of the Journal (p. 378), acyclovir is a preferred substrate for herpesvirus thymidine kinase (TK) which phosphorylates acyclovir to acyclovir monophosphate (Elion et aI., 1978). Cellular guanylate kinase then leads to the formation of acyclovir triphosphate (Miller and Miller, 1980). Acyclovir triphosphate is a substrate for the herpesvirus DNA polymerase; it is a competitive inhibitor for DNA polymerase activity, and appears to be a chain terminator of elongating herpesvirus DNA (Derse et aI., 1981; Furman et aI., 1979). Acyclovir triphosphate inhibits viral DNA polymerase 30 times more preferentially than any cellular polymerase (Elion et aI., 1978).
Genetic Variation of Lysosomal Acid Lipase

Extract: Lysosomal acid lipase (LAL) activity was measured using a new fluorometric assay in cultured skin fibroblasts from eight control subjects, two obligate heterozygotes for Wolman's disease (WD), one patient with WD, and one patient with cholesteryl ester storage disease (CESD). The LAL activities (mean ± SD) were 25.8 ± 8.2, 13.2 ± 0.1, 1.1, and 1.4 nmol 4-methylumbelliferyl oleate (4-MUO) hydrolyzed/min/mg protein, respectively. These results compare favorably with those obtained using standard radioassays. The LAL activities of two cultures of amniotic fluid cells were 12.1 and 10.5. The LAL activity (mean ± SD) of peripheral leukocytes obtained from 34 laboratory volunteers (19 females, 15 males) was 4.0 ± 1.8. Partially purified lymphocytes contained about 25 times as much LAL activity as did granulocytes. Cellogel electrophoresis, followed by staining with 4-MUO, showed at least two bands of LAL (A and B) from normal fibroblasts, amniotic fluid cells, and lymphocytes. Band A was absent from WD and CESD fibroblasts and was reduced in fibroblasts of the WD heterozygotes. Speculation: Deficiency of lysosomal acid lipase activity is associated with lysosomal accumulation of cholesteryl esters and triglycerides. One of the early events in atherogenesis is the accumulation of cholesteryl esters in the lysosomes of arterial smooth muscle cells. Genetic variants of lysosomal acid lipase, resulting in reduced activity or altered catalytic properties, may be predisposing factors in the development of premature atherosclerosis.
An analysis of speech disfluencies in down's syndrome and in normally intelligent subjects

Abstract Spontaneous speech samples were obtained from 19 institutionalized mongoloids and from 19 normally intelligent individuals. All subjects were evaluated by a panel of speech pathologists to be nonstutterers. Subjects' speech samples were analyzed to determine (a) frequency of occurance of seven disfluency categories per 100 words spoken, (b) the proportion of each category in the total number of disfluencies. Statistically significant differences indicated that the mongoloids were more disfluent both absolutely and relatively, on categories that have been regarded as most typical to speech of stutterers. Interpretations were made to reflect on factors which may enhance the high prevalence of stuttering among Down's Syndrome patients.
Lattice-based structures for studying percolation in two-dimensional grain networks

Abstract The applicability of standard lattice percolation models to a random two-dimensional grain structure is explored. A random network based on the triangle lattice is proposed as a more appropriate model, and results in a higher percolation threshold (0.711 compared with 0.653 for the standard hexagonal lattice). The triple junction constraint inherent in grain boundary structures is subsequently applied to the new network. This results in a lowering of the percolation threshold to 0.686; this is opposite to its effect on the standard hexagonal lattice. The effect of varying the network’s ‘grain shape’ distribution on the percolation threshold is also considered.
THE CASE FOR EXPANDING EDUCATIONAL AND COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS THAT SERVE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, and TRANSGENDER POPULATIONS

The basis of good public health practice begins with strong ties to the community being served. Likewise, community and school-based educational programs need to be sensitive to and knowledgeable a...
Frequency Response Displayed in Real Time

For the purpose of classroom and laboratory demonstration of linear system frequency response, the technique of applying a sinusoid of linearly varying frequency is especially dynamic. Here the restrictions on frequency sweep rate and observation time for which the envelope of the output signal is the system frequency response are clearly developed. It is shown that for such restrictions the output is a sinusoidal of frequency (?+?t) with instantaneous amplitude |G(j[?+2?t])|.
Multiprecision arithmetic using fast Hartley transforms

In this paper we describe a method to perform multiprecision multiplication using fast Hartley transforms. We improve this method further by eliminating bit reversal permutations.
Feasibility of High Pressure Injection of Chemicals into the Subsurface for the Bioremediation of the Exxon Valdez Oil

Delivery of dissolved chemicals to bioremediate oil from the Exxon Valdez oil spill was investigated at Beach EL056C of Eleanor Island, Prince William Sound, Alaska. The delivery technique was high pressure injection (HPI) of an inert tracer, lithium, at the approximate depth of 1.0 m into the beach near the mid-tide line. The results revealed that the maximum injection flow rate was 3.0 L/min and the associated pressure was around 196 kPa. Therefore, exceeding any of these values would probably cause failure of the injection system. The injected tracer was monitored at multiple depths of four surrounding observation wells, and the results showed that the tracer plume occupied an area of 12 m 2 within 24 h. The tracer plume traveled at the average speeds of 10 m/d in the seaward direction and 1.7 m/d in other directions. The rapid movement under HPI and the large diameter of influence (3.0 m) indicated that bioremediation of the Exxon Valdez oil on this beach via injection of chemicals is logistically feasible.
Self-consistent dynamolike activity in turbulent plasmas.

The evolution of turbulent plasmas is investigated within the framework of resistive magnetohydrodynamics. The functional form of the mean electric field is derived for fluctuations generated by tearing and resistive-interchange modes. It is shown that a bath of such local and global modes in pinches causes toroidal field reversal with finite pressure gradients in the plasma.
Human Papillomavirus Type 16 E7 Oncoprotein Associates with the Centrosomal Component γ-Tubulin

Expression of a high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) E7 oncoprotein is sufficient to induce aberrant centrosome duplication in primary human cells. The resulting centrosome-associated mitotic abnormalities have been linked to the development of aneuploidy. HPV type 16 (HPV16) E7 induces supernumerary centrosomes through a mechanism that is at least in part independent of the inactivation of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor pRb and is dependent on cyclin-dependent kinase 2 activity. Here, we show that HPV16 E7 can concentrate around mitotic spindle poles and that a small pool of HPV16 E7 is associated with centrosome fractions isolated by sucrose density gradient centrifugation. The targeting of HPV16 E7 to the centrosome, however, was not sufficient for centrosome overduplication. Nonetheless, we found that HPV16 E7 can associate with the centrosomal regulator γ-tubulin and that the recruitment of γ-tubulin to the centrosome is altered in HPV16 E7-expressing cells. Since the association of HPV16 E7 with γ-tubulin is independent of pRb, p107, and p130, our results suggest that the association with γ-tubulin contributes to the pRb/p107/p130-independent ability of HPV16 E7 to subvert centrosome homeostasis.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Coulomb Explosion Processes

Irradiation of clusters with intense femtosecond laser pulses has been found to oftentimes produce highly charged ion fragments resulting from Coulomb explosion of the cluster under investigation. When a time-of-flight mass spectrometer is used for detection, double peaks can be observed for these multicharged species due to the different arrival times of backward and forward ejected ions. Kinetic energy release values can be calculated from these peaks splittings and also can be directly measured from cutoff potentials using a reflectron as an energy analyzer. The experimental values determined with both of these methods are surprisingly large, typically on the order of several hundred electronvolts. The purpose of the work reported herein is to model the temporal evolution of a cluster system after the ionization event, using MD simulations on a level of pure electrostatic interactions between the formed ion cores. The results give insight into how composition, size, structure, and charge distribution i...
Ethanol production from corn cob pretreated by the ammonia steeping process using genetically engineered yeast

A new and effective pretreatment process for biomass conversion involves the steeping of biomass in 2.9 M NH4OH. This resulted in the removing about 80–90% of the lignin along with almost all the acetate from cellulosic residues. Based on dry cellulose from corn cob, a high glucose yield of 92% was obtained after enzymatic saccharification of cellulose fraction. By using a genetically engineered, xylosefermenting Saccharomyces 1400(pLNH33) in the batch fermentation of a glucose-xylose mixture from corn cob, an ethanol concentration of 47 g/L was obtained within 36 h with 84% yield. In addition, an ethanol concentration of 45 g/L was obtained within 48 h with 86% yield using simultaneous saccharification-fermentation process.
Determination of MyBP-C Orientation in the Cardiac Sarcomere by Immuno-EM

Myosin binding protein-C (MyBP-C) is a thick filament accessory protein of vertebrate striated muscle. It is essential for normal cardiac function, and mutations in MyBP-C cause cardiac and skeletal muscle disease. The 40 nm long molecule is composed of 10 or 11 immunoglobulin- or fibronectin-like domains and is located in up to 9 axial stripes 43 nm apart in each half of the A-band. To understand MyBP-C function it is important to know its structural organization in the sarcomere. Several models have been proposed, in which MyBP-C either wraps around the thick filament, or extends radially from or longitudinally along the filament (or some combination of these). To distinguish between these models, we have used immuno-EM of mouse cardiac myofibrils labeled with antibodies to different domains of MyBP-C to determine the relative axial positions of the domains. Myofibrils were obtained from mouse cardiac muscle by homogenizing chemically skinned hearts under rigor conditions. They were labeled with antibodies specific for the N-terminal domain, the middle of the molecule, and the C-terminal domain, and observed by negative stain EM. Labeled myofibrils showed nine stain-excluding stripes in each half of the A-band. The average distance of each stripe from the middle of the M-line was measured. All antibodies labeled axially within 10 nm of each other, at the same axial positions as the unlabeled stripes, suggesting that the bulk of MyBP-C runs radially or circumferentially. A small axial difference between the C-terminal and the central and N-terminal antigenic sites suggests that a short portion of the C-terminus runs longitudinally. Electron tomography of muscle sections (Luther et al., PNAS 2011) and 3D reconstruction of isolated thick filaments (Zoghbi et al., PNAS 2008) support the radial arrangement.
Deformation of Copper and CuAl alloys thermally charged with hydrogen

Abstract Copper and CuAl samples, thermally charged with hydrogen at 1000°C, quenched and then deformed, show greater hardening than do samples similarly quenched from an argon atmosphere and deformed by the same amount. This response was studied by measuring both microhardness and the Doppler broadening of the positron annihilation spectrum. Hydrogen screening of vacancies and dislocations from positrons is confirmed in copper. In Cu-2wt.%Al and Cu-4wt.%Al alloys, this screening is less effective because, although both protons and positrons are strongly attracted to stacking faults, their correlation in the large regions between the widely separated partial dislocations bounding stacking faults is small.
Teleotolaryngology: a retrospective review at a military tertiary treatment facility.

Abstract Objective/ hypothesis The use of real-time telemedicine in providing quality health-care in multiple specialties has been demonstrated in several small studies; however, a review of the literature reveals no large-scale prospective or retrospective telemedicine studies in otolaryngology. The telemedicine office at Naval Medical Center San Diego (NMCSD) acquired a large otolaryngology telemedicine patient database, and this study reviews the otolaryngology telemedicine experience at NMCSD over an 18-month period. Study design We conducted a retrospective and reviewed new patient consults for the NMCSD otolaryngology telemedicine clinic from April 1, 2001, until November 6, 2002. Results During the study period, a total of 883 patients received new patient evaluations. Of 883 patients, 568 (64.3%) received a preliminary diagnosis and were treated accordingly. Telemedicine resulted in the avoidance of 22.7% consults. Only 115 (13.0%) of 883 patients required traditional face-to-face otolaryngology consultation. In addition, only 30 (4.3%) of 705 patients who underwent flexible nasopharyngoscopy, otomicroscopy, or nasal endoscopy received incomplete examinations. Conclusions Our study demonstrates the ability of telemedicine to function in an general otolaryngology setting.
CASE REPORT – EFFORT HEADACHE WITH CEREBRAL INFARCTION

SYNOPSIS A 26 year old man ran a distance of 11/2 miles in 12 minutes. Soon after this effort he developed visual disturbances in the right field of vision and left-sided clumsiness associated with left frontal headache, nausea and vomiting. Four vessel arteriography and skull x-rays were normal but examination of the visual fields showed a right superior quadrantic field defect and the electroencephalogram a left posterior temporal slow focus. EMI scan performed a few days later showed an infarct in the left inferior occipital pole. No known risk factors for stroke were present. It is suggested that the cerebral infarction associated with headache was related to effort at altitude and most importantly to lack of physical training.
Pulmonary hemodynamic responses to acute and chronic hypoxia in two waterfowl species

Abstract 1. 1 Two waterfowl species, the Bar-headed goose, Anser indicus, and the Pekin duck, Anas platyrhyncos forma domestica, were studied first at sea level, and subsequently, after they had acclimated to a simulated altitude of 5450 m (0.5 atm) for 4 weeks. 2. 2. Cardiac output (.Q) and right ventricular pressures were measured in response to graded hypoxia in the sea level (SL) and high altitude acclimated (HA) birds. 3. 3. Mean values obtained from six birds of each species indicated: in the SL condition right ventricular systolic pressures (RVSP) began to increase at arterial PO2 (PaO2) of 40 torr in both species; in the duck Q also increased at PaO2 = 40 torr and to same extent as RVSP, but in the goose Q increased only when PaO2 reached 30 torr. 4. 4. In the HA birds, under normoxic conditions, Q was above SL control in the goose but slightly below in the duck. RVSP followed the same pattern as .Q. 5. 5. When made hypoxic, the contours of the .Q and RVSP response curves were similar to those seen in the SL control state in both species. 6. 6. The rise of RVSP proportional with the rise of .Q in hypoxia suggests that the major cause of the pulmonary hypertensive response to hypoxia in these species is mechanical in origin.
HOME ECONOMICS IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES: CURRENT TRENDS

Higher education programmes of home economics in the United States have experienced dynamic changes in recent years. Today, home economics programmes are marked by name and curricula changes, concern for cohesion in the field, student and faculty diversification, leadership and administrative structure changes, strengthened research efforts and by improved graduate programmes. Parallel with these trends is a movement to clarify the content and aims of the field by developing a contemporary definition of home economics.
Quantum Optics Round-Table Teaching

An advanced undergraduate quantum mechanics course used topics of contemporary quantum optics to stimulate student interest. Half the class meetings were literal round-table discussions on experiments and theories in quantum optics.
Biosynthesis of dioscorine

Abstract The administration of [1- 14 C]-acetate of Dioscorea hispida plants afforded radioactive dioscorine (0·2% incorporation). A systematic degradation established that the bulk of the activity was located at alternate carbons of the unsaturated lactone ring (C-5: 31%, C-10: 28%, C-12: 28%). [2- 14 C]-lysine, a plausible precursor of part of the isoquinuclidine nucleus, did not afford dioscorine containing a significant amount of activity. Dioscorine obtained from plants which had been fed [6- 14 C]-Δ 1 -piperideine had low activity (0·03% incorporation). However, a partial degradation indicated that the alkaloid was not labelled at one specific position, and the pattern of labelling was consistent with catabolism of the Δ 1 -piperideine to acetate, prior to its incorporation into dioscorine.
Occupational needlestick injuries in a metropolitan police force

Abstract Objectives: Police officers are at risk of bloodborne diseases through needlestick injuries but few studies have addressed this problem. The purpose of this study was to assess the risk of needlestick injuries in law enforcement officers and to determine predictors of injuries and reporting rates. Design: An anonymous, voluntary questionnaire was distributed to 1738 active-duty, metropolitan police officers. The survey included the number of needlestick injuries ever experienced, how often these were reported, activities at the time of injury and attitudes toward injuries. Results: Of the 803 respondents (46.2% of survey population), 29.7% had at least one needlestick injury, and 27.7% of this group had two or more. Risk factors included evening shifts, pat-down searches, patrol duties, male gender and less experience. Only 39.2% sought medical attention for these injuries. Conclusions: Needlestick injuries occur with considerable frequency in this group of law enforcement personnel, suggesting an increased risk of becoming infected with bloodborne pathogens, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV.
Another look at the effects of the system of multicultural pluralistic assessment

The purpose of this study was (a) to determine if a declassification occurs when estimated learning potential (ELP) is used in reevaluation of special education students and (b) to assess the effects of the use of ELP by multidisciplinary teams. Subjects included 107 black and 13 white students (83 males and 37 females) referred for reevaluation from classes for the mentally retarded. Data analysis consisted of determining the percentage of students who would be classified as mentally retarded according to the main criterion of (a) Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R) scores, or (b) ELP scores, or (c) multidisciplinary teams' placement. A chi-square test of independence indicated a significant difference between WISC-R and ELP scores; and between multidisciplinary teams' placement and ELP scores (p<.05). Students already in special education classes for the mentally retarded were not determined to be ineligible for services by multidisciplinary teams, even though 15% of the students would be ineligible for services according to ELP scores.
Stanford University Network for Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity (SUNDROP): 18-month experience with telemedicine screening

Purpose To report the 18-month experience of the Stanford University Network for Diagnosis of Retinopathy of Prematurity (SUNDROP) telemedicine initiative.
A connection between fungal hydrophobins and soil water repellency

Summary This Idea/Viewpoint paper aims to bring together two hitherto relatively disjointed areas of research: work on soil water repellency and our rapidly increasing knowledge about fungal hydrophobins. Water repellency is a significant problem worldwide, with important environmental consequences, for which proximate causes are poorly understood. Hydrophobins are a recently discovered, seemingly ubiquitous class of fungal proteins that have numerous roles in the life history of filamentous fungi through their ability to act at surfaces. Hydrophobins are potent surfactants; they also have the ability to self-assemble at hydrophobic–hydrophilic interfaces, with concurrent changes in surface properties. Potential, but as yet unexplored consequences of hydrophobin presence in soils are discussed, and it is concluded that the study of water repellency (and soil ecology in general) could profit by applying some of the knowledge obtained from molecular/biochemical studies on hydrophobins to the soil environment.
The second amino acid of alfalfa mosaic virus coat protein is critical for coat protein-mediated protection.

Abstract Transgenic plants expressing the coat protein (CP) of alfalfa mosaic virus (AIMV) are resistant to infection by AIMV. A mutation was introduced into the second amino acid of the cDNA for the CP of AIMV. Three different transgenic tobacco lines expressing the mutant CP and two different transgenic tobacco lines expressing the wild-type CP at similar levels were challenged with AIMV virions and viral RNA. Whereas the lines expressing the wild-type CP were highly resistant to infection by AIMV virions and viral RNA, the lines expressing the mutant CP were susceptible to infection by both. The binding affinity of the mutant and the wild-type CPs for the 3' terminal protein binding site on AIMV RNAs was similar, as determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. A mixture of AIMV genomic RNAs 1-3 was infectious on the plants expressing the mutant CP but not on vector control plants or plants expressing the wild-type CP, indicating that the mutant CP can activate the AIMV genomic RNAs for infection. These results demonstrate that the second amino acid of the AIMV CP is critical for protection from AIMV but not for the initial interaction between the AIMV RNA and CP, suggesting that this initial interaction does not play a major role in CP-mediated protection.
Use of low molecular weight oligomers as non-volatile reaction media

Abstract Very low molecular weight oligomers were prepared and evaluated as non-volatile reaction media. This paper reports the results of a preliminary feasibility study on the potential for oligomers to function as environmentally benign and cost-effective replacements for liquid solvents. The preparation and solvent efficacy are reported on two series of low molecular weight vinylpyrrolidone (VP) rich co-oligomers. The first series of oligomers employed 1-hexene as a `soft' co-monomer, while the second series employed ethyl vinyl ether (EVE) as a `soft' co-monomer. The `soft' co-monomer was required to lower the Tg and Tm of the low molecular weight VP-rich oligomer so that a low viscosity liquid could be obtained at suitable reaction temperatures. This study determined the required amount of soft co-monomer and then evaluated the ability of the oligomers to solvate a variety of reactants. Selected oligomers from each series were employed as reaction media in aliphatic and aromatic nucleophilic substitutions, and in condensation reactions. Product yields were compared for both oligomers and for N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP), which is structurally similar to the VP repeat unit, and was used as a control solvent. Yields in oligomer solvents were similar to those obtained in NMP. Products were separated from the oligomers by distillation or aqueous extraction.
Radiolarians from the western North Pacific Ocean: a latitudinal study of their distributions and fluxes

Free-drifting sediment traps were deployed individually to make day-long collections of settling particulates at seven stations in the western North Pacific Ocean. Samples were taken between 70 and 2200 m along a longitudinal section between 16 and 50°N latitude. Radiolarian skeletons were mechanically isolated under a reflected light microscope. Subsequent gravimetrically determined radiolarian silica fluxes range from 0 to 4.43 mg m−2 day−1 and show significant and consistent increases at all depths with increasing latitude. Radiolarians also were counted and categorized into each of their three suborders: Nassellaria, Spumellaria and Phaeodaria. An inverse relationship is evident between the proportions of phaeodarians and polycystines (nassellarians plus spumellarians), with the phaeodarins increasing relative to the polycystines with increasing latitude. Although the absolute numbers of phaeodarians in the northern samples may not exceed the numbers of their polycystine counterparts in the south, the comparatively large and heavy phaeodarian skeletons contribute significantly to the increased silica fluxes noted in the north. This contribution, combined with a high susceptibility to dissolution, may signify that phaeodarians are important for the recycling of silica in the northern North Pacific. Spectrophotometric analyses of seven phaeodarian species and one species of colonial spumellarian show that silica constituted between 86 and 99% of the phaeodarians' skeletons and 75% of the spumellarians' skeletons. Non-radiolarian amorphous silica was mobilized by a selective chemical leach and quantified spectrophotometrically. Significant and consistent increases in the flux of this diatomaceous silica fraction (ranging from 0.14 to 47.0 mg m−2 day−1) are noted with increasing latitude. In almost all cases, diatomaceous silica fluxes are greater than those of the radiolarians. With the exception of some anomalously high percentages, radiolarian-derived silica ranges from 0 (only one sample) to 24% of the total amorphous silica flux.
2'-hydroxyflavanone inhibits proliferation, tumor vascularization and promotes normal differentiation in VHL-mutant renal cell carcinoma.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is one of the top ten cancers prevalent in USA. Loss-of-function mutations in the von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) gene constitute an established risk factor contributing to 75% of total reported cases of RCC. Loss-of-VHL leads to a highly vascularized phenotype of renal tumors. Intake of citrus fruits has been proven to reduce the risk of RCC in multicenter international studies. Hence, we studied the effect of 2′-hydroxyflavanone (2HF), an active anticancer compound from oranges, in RCC. Our in vitro investigations revealed that 2HF suppresses VHL-mutant RCC to a significantly greater extent than VHL-wild-type RCC by inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor signaling, which is increased due to VHL mutations in RCC. Our results also revealed for the first time, that 2HF inhibits glutathione S-transferase pi activity. 2HF reduced cyclin B1 and CDK4 levels and induced G2/M phase arrest in VHL-mutant RCC. Importantly, 2HF inhibited the angiogenesis in VHL-mutant RCC by decreasing vascular endothelial growth factor expression. Our in vivo studies in mice xenografts confirmed our in vitro results as evident by decreased levels of proliferation marker, Ki67 and angiogenic marker, CD31, in 2HF-treated mice xenografts of VHL-mutant RCC. 2HF also increased the expression of E-cadherin in VHL-mutant RCC, which would be of significance in restoring normal epithelial phenotype. Collectively, our in vitro and in vivo results revealed the potent antiproliferative, anti-angiogenic and prodifferentiation properties of 2HF in VHL-mutant RCC, sparing normal cells, which could have significant implications not only in the specific management of VHL-mutant RCC but also towards other VHL syndromes.
Inhibition of Pseudomonas Burn Wound Infection by Mafenide Dry Foam

The results of an in vivo evaluation of 8.5% mafenide dry foam are described. Using burned guinea pigs infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, mafenide was applied every 12 hr as the dry foam or as the commercially available ointment. After 156 hr of therapy with the medicated dosage forms, the previously infected areas did not demonstrate the presence of Pseudomonas. However, all nonmedicated, infected controls produced positive cultures. Both medicated dosage forms demonstrated equivalent efficacy in the inhibition of Pseudomonas on burn wounds.
One Starfish at a Time: Using Fundamentals in Sociology to Rethink Impressions about People Living with HIV/AIDS.

The purpose of this article is to document how a course in the fundamentals of sociology encouraged students to rethink negative impressions about people with AIDS. Multimethod, active learning pro...
Strained Quantum Wells for P-channel InGaAs CMOS

We present experimental results on the effect of strain on hole transport in InGaAs quantum well (QW) structures. Indium content was varied from lattice matched to high compressive stress in InGaAs/InP QW and the transport properties were analyzed at various temperatures (T = 77-300 K) using Hall measurements. The effect of QW thickness (4-20 nm) on hole transport is also presented. The current best results include room temperature mobility and sheet resistance of 390 cm 2 /V-s and 8500 Ω/sq., respectively. It was observed that the mobility had a T -1.8 dependence indicating similar scattering mechanism in almost all of the samples with prominent mechanism being due to interface and barrier scattering. Further optimization of p-channel for InGaAs CMOS needs to be performed using the above results as guidelines.
A Vertically Integrated VLSI Design Environment

A VLSI design system called VIVID is the heart of a newly developed, vertically integrated design environment. This environment provides support for all phases of design from high-level system specification through on-site fabrication to construction of prototype systems. Key features already implemented include: the use of a circuit description language at the level of a silicon assembler; a fast, highly interactive combination floor planner and layout editor; fast interactive timing simulation; and layout made free from design-rule constraints by the use of virtual-grid compaction. Functional specification and verification, automated routing, standard cell layout, and semi-automated layout from schematics are being built upon the foundation formed by VIVID.
Using Structure to Understand Justice and Care as Different Worlds

When read as a theory that is supposed to mirror, represent or fit some collection of historical data, critics argue that Kuhn’s theory of paradigm shift in Structure of Scientific Revolutions fails by cherry-picking and underdetermination. When read as the ground for a socio-epistemological conception of rationality, critics argue that Kuhn’s theory fails by either the naturalistic fallacy or underarticulation. This paper suggests that we need not view Structure as a historian’s attempt to accurately depict scientific theory change or a philosopher’s attempt to suggest, more normatively, the factors we ought to consider in theory choice. Instead, we might use Kuhn’s theory as a metaphilosophical frame through which to better understand the limits of otherwise intractable philosophical debates. We can focus on Kuhn’s theory not as a proposition or model to confirm, but as something we might use as a tool for understanding. Philosophers have discussed the justice and care orientations in ethics as two theories for which there will be some common, constraining set of intuitions to confirm one theory over the other, to demonstrate that protecting rights is fundamentally more valuable that fulfilling needs or that fulfilling needs is fundamentally more valuable that protecting rights. Instead of conceptualizing this conversation as a choice between two theories, this paper looks to Ian Hacking’s interpretation of Kuhn’s paradigm concept to suggest that working in the world of justice is very different than working in the world of care, as each orientation is a paradigm with its own cognitive and contextual standards of theory assessment. To start, after Larry Laudan, each has its own ontology, methodology, aims and values. But moreover, after Ian Hacking, each has an even larger, entrenched collection of projectible predicates. Though Carol Gilligan herself uses the metaphor of gestalt shift in a few places to characterize the move from the justice to the care perspective, the insight—that what many assume to be a standard exercise in theory choice is really more of a paradigm shift—has been under theorized by ethicists and ignored by philosophers of science. This paper brings the full resources of Structure and its secondary literature to this metaethical issue, while making the larger point that Structure has an important pragmatic role to play, when it comes to the understanding philosophical debates, even if we cannot secure the truth of Kuhn’s theory.
Fine root turnover in sugar maple estimated by 13C isotope labeling

We evaluated variation in root turnover across five root orders in sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) saplings growing in a northern hardwood forest in central New York, USA. We used a stable isotope approach in which root systems were labeled with 13C and root structural C sequentially sampled for 13C enrichment. Turnover of first- and second-order roots was apparently rapid with only about 5% of the 13C retained in living roots after two growing seasons. Although third- to fifth-order roots appeared to persist longer, differences among root orders were not statistically significant, probably mostly because of highly nonuniform initial labeling. This nonuniform labeling constrains the precision of root turnover quantification using this approach.
An overview of Sandia National Laboratories' MEMS activities

Sandia National Laboratories has a substantial effort in development of microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technologies. This miniaturization capability can lead to low-cost, small, high-performance, "systems-on-a-chip", and have many applications ranging from advanced military space systems to large-volume commercial markets like automobiles, rf or land-based communication networks and equipment, or commercial electronics. One of the key challenges in realization of the microsystem is integration of several technologies including digital electronics; analog and RF electronics, optoelectronics, sensors, and actuators, and advanced packaging technologies. This paper will provide an overview of Sandia's MEMS activities. Microscopic devices such as gears, transmissions, pop-up mirrors (such as those planned for the next generation telescope), and shutters, fabricated using silicon surface micromachining, techniques will be presented. Various sensors and the technology details used to create them will also be described. Such devices and technologies should provide aerospace system designers with a new set of tools for creating the next generation of space hardware.
Working Men and Women: Inter- and Intra-Role Conflict

Hypotheses about sex differences and inter-social role and intra-work role conflict were tested in a university setting. Results indicate that inter-role conflict is primarily a function of the number of social roles held. There was no number of social roles by sex interaction. Women did perceive greater conflict between work and home maintenance roles than men perceived. Intra-work role conflict is primarily a function of the position of the work role in the organization's structure and the role responsibilities.
Dependence of the intrinsic spin-Hall effect on spin-orbit interaction character

We report on a comparative numerical study of the spin-Hall conductivity in two dimensions for three different spin-orbit interaction models; the standard $k$-linear Rashba model, the $k$-cubic Rashba model that describes two-dimensional hole systems, and a modified $k$-linear Rashba model in which the spin-orbit coupling strength is energy dependent. Numerical finite-size Kubo formula results indicate that the spin-Hall conductivity of the $k$-linear Rashba model vanishes for frequency $\ensuremath{\omega}$ much smaller than the scattering rate ${\ensuremath{\tau}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, with first-order relative fluctuations surviving out to large system sizes. For the $k$-cubic Rashba model case, the spin-Hall conductivity does not depend noticeably on $\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\tau}$ and is finite in the dc limit, in agreement with experiment. For the modified $k$-linear Rashba model the spin-Hall conductivity is noticeably $\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\tau}$ dependent but approaches a finite value in the dc limit. We discuss these results in the light of a spectral decomposition of the spin-Hall conductivity and associated sum rules, and in relation to a proposed separation of the spin-Hall conductivity into skew-scattering, intrinsic, and interband vertex correction contributions.
Mixed model analysis of censored longitudinal data with flexible random-effects density

Mixed models are commonly used to represent longitudinal or repeated measures data. An additional complication arises when the response is censored, for example, due to limits of quantification of the assay used. While Gaussian random effects are routinely assumed, little work has characterized the consequences of misspecifying the random-effects distribution nor has a more flexible distribution been studied for censored longitudinal data. We show that, in general, maximum likelihood estimators will not be consistent when the random-effects density is misspecified, and the effect of misspecification is likely to be greatest when the true random-effects density deviates substantially from normality and the number of noncensored observations on each subject is small. We develop a mixed model framework for censored longitudinal data in which the random effects are represented by the flexible seminonparametric density and show how to obtain estimates in SAS procedure NLMIXED. Simulations show that this approach can lead to reduction in bias and increase in efficiency relative to assuming Gaussian random effects. The methods are demonstrated on data from a study of hepatitis C virus.
New Insights into the Physical Nature of Coronal Mass Ejections and Associated Shock Waves within the Framework of the Three-dimensional Structure

We present new insights into the physical nature of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) and associated shock waves within the framework of the three-dimensional (3D) structure. We have developed a compound model in order to determine the 3D structure of multiple fronts composing a CME, using data sets taken from STEREO, SDO, and SOHO. We applied the method to time series observations of a CME on 2012 March 7. From the analyses, we revealed that a CME could consist of two different fronts: one is represented well with the ellipsoid model, implying that CMEs are bubble-shaped structures, and the other is reproduced well with the graduated cylindrical shell model, indicating that CMEs are flux rope-shaped structures. The bubble-shaped structure is seen as the outermost front of the CME, and the flux rope-shaped structure is seen as the bright frontal loop or three-part morphology. From our results, we conclude that (1) a CME could consist of two distinct structures, a bubble-shaped structure and a flux rope-shaped structure, (2) the bubble-shaped structure is a fast magnetosonic shock wave, while the flux rope-shaped structure is the mass carried outward by the underlying magnetic structure, (3) the driven shock front could be either a piston-shock type or a bow-shock type, (4) the observed EUV wave in the low corona is the footprint of the bubble-shaped wave, and (5) the halo CME is primarily the projection of the bubble-shaped shock wave but not the underlying flux rope.
Primary care physicians surveyed in this study mistakenly interpreted improved survival and increased detection with screening as evidence that screening saves lives

Commentary on: Wegwarth O, Schwartz LM, Woloshin S, et al. Do physicians understand cancer screening statistics? A national survey of primary care physicians in the United States. Ann Intern Med 2012; 156: 340– 9.[OpenUrl][1][CrossRef][2][PubMed][3][Web of Science][4] Primary care physicians need to interpret results of randomised controlled trials assessing the efficacy of screening tests, but there is no evidence that they interpret screening-related statistics correctly. A National sample of 412 US primary care physicians was asked in 2010 and 2011 to say in which of two scenarios a cancer screening test saved lives: (A) a screening test for cancer X is associated with an improved 5-year survival (if screened: 99% survival, if not screened: 68%) and more detection of stage 1 cancers (if screened: 54% detection, if not screened: 36% detection); (B) a screening … [1]: {openurl}?query=rft.jtitle%253DAnnals%2Bof%2BInternal%2BMedicine%26rft.stitle%253DANN%2BINTERN%2BMED%26rft.issn%253D0003-4819%26rft.aulast%253DWegwarth%26rft.auinit1%253DO.%26rft.volume%253D156%26rft.issue%253D5%26rft.spage%253D340%26rft.epage%253D349%26rft.atitle%253DDo%2BPhysicians%2BUnderstand%2BCancer%2BScreening%2BStatistics%253F%2BA%2BNational%2BSurvey%2Bof%2BPrimary%2BCare%2BPhysicians%2Bin%2Bthe%2BUnited%2BStates%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Adoi%252F10.7326%252F0003-4819-156-5-201203060-00005%26rft_id%253Dinfo%253Apmid%252F22393129%26rft.genre%253Darticle%26rft_val_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Ajournal%26ctx_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ver%253DZ39.88-2004%26url_ctx_fmt%253Dinfo%253Aofi%252Ffmt%253Akev%253Amtx%253Actx [2]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=10.7326/0003-4819-156-5-201203060-00005&link_type=DOI [3]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=22393129&link_type=MED&atom=%2Febmed%2F18%2F1%2Fe6.atom [4]: /lookup/external-ref?access_num=000301046800002&link_type=ISI
The Local Benefits and Burdens of Large‐scale Portfolio Assessment

ABSTRACT This paper examines research on the use of portfolios in large‐scale assessments in the US. Overall, the research indicates that portfolio assessments produce many of the desired instructional benefits. However, the assessments also place considerable burdens on teachers, and these burdens do not appear to lessen during the first two or three years of implementation. The author raises concerns about the long‐term sustainability of portfolio assessments without improvement in student performance, the use of portfolios in high stakes accountability contexts, and the difficulty of aligning specific scoring procedures with broader curricular goals.
An affine scaling methodology for best basis selection

A methodology is developed to derive algorithms for optimal basis selection by minimizing diversity measures proposed by Wickerhauser (1994) and Donoho (1994). These measures include the p-norm-like (l/sub (p/spl les/1)/) diversity measures and the Gaussian and Shannon entropies. The algorithm development methodology uses a factored representation for the gradient and involves successive relaxation of the Lagrangian necessary condition. This yields algorithms that are intimately related to the affine scaling transformation (AST) based methods commonly employed by the interior point approach to nonlinear optimization. The algorithms minimizing the (l/sub (p/spl les/1)/) diversity measures are equivalent to a previously developed class of algorithms called focal underdetermined system solver (FOCUSS). The general nature of the methodology provides a systematic approach for deriving this class of algorithms and a natural mechanism for extending them. It also facilitates a better understanding of the convergence behavior and a strengthening of the convergence results. The Gaussian entropy minimization algorithm is shown to be equivalent to a well-behaved p=0 norm-like optimization algorithm. Computer experiments demonstrate that the p-norm-like and the Gaussian entropy algorithms perform well, converging to sparse solutions. The Shannon entropy algorithm produces solutions that are concentrated but are shown to not converge to a fully sparse solution.