cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combinatorial Methods for Polymer Science

This article presents recent advances in which combinatorial methodologies have been used for efficient measurement of chemical and physical properties of polymers over large regimes of variable space. Methodologies for both synthesis and characterization allow for both materials discovery and discovery of new models and structure–processing–property relationships. Polymer synthesis with combinatorial methods relies primarily on reactant mixing and diversity to create discrete libraries for investigating reactant structure and composition variations. In the future, techniques will be developed to allow library variation in processing variables like temperature, UV exposure, and pressure during synthesis. Several recent developments are presented in the combinatorial characterization of polymers, using high throughput libraries of films and coatings. As examples, four novel techniques are developed for preparing continuous gradient polymer libraries with controlled variations in temperature, composition, thickness, and substrate surface energy. The use of these new library techniques facilitates characterization of polymer blend phase behavior, thin-film dewetting, block copolymer order–disorder transitions, and polymer adhesion. Keywords: Combinatorial methods; library creation; synthesis; characterization; high throughput; materials research
EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF PEDESTRIAN INJURY MINIMIZATION THROUGH VEHICLE DESIGN

The overall objective of this experimental investigation of pedestrian/vehicle impacts was to conduct representative impacts of unembalmed cadavers in order to (1) pioneer the establishment of impact tolerance levels for the pelvis and legs of a standing pedestrian and (2) explore the ability of a few selected geometry and compliance modifications to the impacting vehicle to increase the impact velocities that can be tolerated. A series of 15 experimental impacts were conducted which covered a speed range from 10 to 30 mph. Dynamic data obtained included high-speed films and time histories of (1) bumper and hood edge forces, (2) horizontal and vertical ground reaction forces, and (3) pelvic acceleration. Three of the key results are that (1) injuries to the lower body of an adult pedestrian are strongly dependent upon vehicle design, (2) the pedestrian leg injury mechanism is a complex dynamic event influenced significantly by both the bumper force and the ground friction force, and (3) a threshold tolerance value of pelvic acceleration appears to exist below which pelvic injuries do not occur. Language: en
Compact Ultrasound Donations to Medical Facilities in Low-Resource Countries A Survey-Based Assessment of the Current Status and Trends

Objectives Many ultrasound (US) specialists, independently or as part of institutionally directed teams, have donated compact US equipment and training to rural and urban clinics in low-resource regions. The objective of our study was to assess the scope, impact, and characteristics of these donation and training activities. Methods We designed a 1-page, 10-question survey soliciting responses on donors, equipment, donation sites, training, and follow-up. Physicians and sonographers with qualifying donation experience were located by means of personal references, professional networking, and referral from US manufacturers. Respondents were also solicited at several online sites for medical imagers. The survey was active from May 2010 to March 2011 and was available via an interactive website (www.surveymonkey.com) or as an electronic download directly from the authors. Results Fifteen respondents provided data on deployments spanning a 7-year period from 2004 to early 2011. Forty-eight compact US units were donated to sites in 15 different nations on 4 continents; 69% of the units went to sites in Africa. All but 4 sites received initial training. Donated systems were reported as "operational and functional" for all units for which the current status was available. Conclusions Results suggest involvement by a broad variety of participants. The number of successful deployments and excellent equipment durability support the premise that small-scale, individual donation and training activities have the potential for a substantial public health impact. The authors recommend better coordination of effort and the need for additional data.
Thin-film, flat-panel, composite detectors for projection and tomographic imaging

The concept of composite imaging detectors in which a flat-panel array precedes a second level of detection is presented. In radiotherapy, a dual-energy X-ray projection imager would consist of a pair of stacked, flat-panel imagers. The upper detection of level would consist of a flat-panel array with an overlying X-ray converter and would serve as a diagnostic imager. The lower detection level would consist of a second array with an overlying metal sheet/phosphor screen converter and would serve as a megavoltage imager. Such a composite imager would be of significant assistance in helping to resolve the patient localization problem in megavoltage radiotherapy by facilitating the correlation of patient anatomy obtained with diagnostic images with the position of the megavoltage portal field. In a second realization of a composite imager, a flat-panel array placed directly over the crystal in a SPECT (single photon emission computed tomography) camera, or within the detector ring of a PET (positron emission tomography) scanner, would allow the simultaneous collection of emission and transmission projection data. >
Prevalence and Factors Associated With Severe Physical Intimate Partner Violence Among U.S. Black Women A Comparison of African American and Caribbean Blacks

This study explored prevalence rates and factors associated with lifetime severe physical intimate partner violence among U.S. Black women. Data from the National Survey of American Life were examined. Rates of severe physical intimate partner violence were higher among African American women compared with U.S. Caribbean Black women. Risk factors associated with reported abuse were similar to those found in earlier studies but differed by ethnic backgrounds. Demographic, resource, and situational factors were associated with severe physical intimate partner violence among U.S. Black women in general but made unique contributions by ethnic group. Implications and suggestions for future studies were discussed.
Abstract 11301: AdipoRon, the First Orally Active Adiponectin Receptor Activator, Attenuates Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury by AMPK-Mediated Autophagy and AMPK-Independent Anti-Apoptosis

Adiponectin (APN) is a cardioprotective molecule. Its reduction in diabetes exacerbates myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury. Although APN administration in animals attenuates MI/R injury, multiple factors limit its clinical application. The current study investigated whether AdipoRon, the first orally active molecule binding APN receptors, may protect against cardiac MI/R injury, and if so, to delineate the mechanisms involved. Wild type (WT) or gene manipulated mice were treated with vehicle or AdipoRon (50 mg/kg, 10 min prior to MI) and subjected to MI/R (30 min/3-24 hours). Orally administered AdipoRon in WT mice significantly reduced infarct size and improved cardiac function (P
Higher-Order Figure Discrimination in Fly and Human Vision

Visually-guided animals rely on their ability to stabilize the panorama and simultaneously track salient objects, or figures, that are distinct from the background in order to avoid predators, pursue food resources and mates, and navigate spatially. Visual figures are distinguished by luminance signals that produce coherent motion cues as well as more enigmatic 'higher-order' statistical features. Figure discrimination is thus a complex form of motion vision requiring specialized neural processing. In this minireview, we will highlight recent advances in understanding the perceptual, behavioral, and neurophysiological basis of higher-order figure detection in flies, much of which is grounded in the historical perspective and mechanistic underpinnings of human psychophysics.
The SHR Y chromosome increases cardiovascular, endocrine, and behavioral responses to stress compared to the WKY Y chromosome.

Abstract The SHR Y chromosome has loci which are involved with behavioral, endocrine and brain phenotypes and respond to acute stress to a different degree than that of the WKY Y chromosome. The objectives were to determine if WKY males with an SHR Y chromosome (SHR/y) when compared to males with a WKY Y chromosome would have: 1. a greater increase in systolic and diastolic blood pressures (BP), heart rate (HR), and locomotor activity when placed in an open field environment and during an acute stress procedure; 2. enhanced stress hormone responses; 3. greater voluntary running; and 4. increased brain Sry expression. The SHR/y strain showed a significant rise in BP (32%) and HR (10%) during the open field test and exhibited higher BP (46% change) during air jet stress. SHR/y had higher locomotor activity and less immobility and had increased stress induced plasma norepinephrine and adrenocorticotrophic hormone and 3–4 × more voluntary running compared to WKY. Differential Sry expression between WKY and SHR/y in amygdala and hippocampus was altered at rest and during acute stress more than that of WKY. Evidence suggests that this animal model allows novel functions of Y chromosome loci to be revealed. In conclusion, a transcription factor on the SHR Y chromosome, Sry, may be responsible for the cardiovascular, endocrine and behavioral phenotype differences between SHR/y and WKY males.
Modified oxide sol-gel (MOSG) synthesis of borophosphosilicate glasses and glass-ceramics

A modified oxide sol-gel (MOSG) process was used to synthesize borophosphosilicate glasses and glass-ceramics using boron oxide and phosphorous pentoxide as starting precursors. The oxide precursors were used to form alkoxidesin situ, which were then hydrolysed and condensed to form borophosphosilicate gels. The dried gels were analysed for their thermal properties and were heat treated accordingly, at a temperature of 800 °C, to crystallize the boron phosphate phase. The resultant xerogels were then analysed for their microstructure. Both pressureless and hot-pressing techniques were used to sinter the calcined gels to form glass-ceramics. The sintered samples were characterized for their microstructure using electron microscopy and evaluated for their dielectric properties. Dielectric measurements indicate that the sintered glass-ceramics possess dielectric constants less than 5 and dissipation factors less than 0.001 at a frequency of 1 MHz. The results of these studies show the potential of the oxide sol-gel-derived borophosphosilicate glass-ceramics for use as substrate materials in microelectronic packaging.
Transient thermal effects in edge dislocation generation near a crack edge

Abstract A transient 2-D study of edge dislocation generation near a crack in a fully-coupled thermoelastic solid loaded by SV-wave diffraction is considered. Exact solutions to the mixed boundary/initial value problem in the integral transform space are obtained, and inversions valid for short times performed. The solution behavior indicates that the generation process requires only a short time period, and that thermal effects might be important. In particular, a thermally-sensitive dislocation takes longer to be emitted from the crack edge region than one described in a non-thermal analysis but. on the other hand, does not arrest. Moreover, in contrast to the simple relaxation effect seen in non-thermal analyses, dislocation generation here causes oscillations in the dynamic stress intensity factor. Finally, the average temperature gradient across the dislocation cut is large enough to suggest that generation may be a potential source of local material disorder.
Schedule-controlled behavior in the morphine-dependent and post-dependent rat.

Chronic morphine treatment has been reported to induce long-lasting changes in the responses of animals to the subsequent administration of morphine or narcotic antagonists. However, there have been few systematic studies in which the effects of morphine or narcotic antagonists have been compared in the same group of animals before, during, and after chronic morphine administration. Rats were trained to press a lever on a variable interval (1 min) schedule of food presentation and dose-response curves were determined for morphine (0.3–30 mg/kg) and naloxone (0.003–10 mg/kg) in the same group of animals prior to, during, and following morphine dependence. Dependence was induced and maintained by scheduled access to 0.05% morphine drinking solution for 10 min every 6 h. Response rates and fluid intake remained constant over the 9 month study. The dose-response curves for morphine and naloxone in predependent and dependent animals were similar to those previously reported in studies using other schedules of reinforcement and different techniques for establishing morphine dependence: chronic morphine treatment produced a threefold decrease in the effect of morphine and a dramatic increase in the effectiveness of naloxone in decreasing response rate. The altered sensitivity of dependent rats to morphine and naloxone was completely reversed in the post-dependent animals, within 4 weeks after the withdrawal of morphine. Scheduled access to a morphine solution affords a simple means of maintaining morphine-tolerant and dependent animals for long-term behavioral studies.
Solar Water Splitting Cells

Energy harvested directly from sunlight offers a desirable approach toward fulfilling, with minimal environmental impact, the need for clean energy. Solar energy is a decentralized and inexhaustible natural resource, with the magnitude of the available solar power striking the earth’s surface at any one instant equal to 130 million 500 MW power plants.1 However, several important goals need to be met to fully utilize solar energy for the global energy demand. First, the means for solar energy conversion, storage, and distribution should be environmentally benign, i.e. protecting ecosystems instead of steadily weakening them. The next important goal is to provide a stable, constant energy flux. Due to the daily and seasonal variability in renewable energy sources such as sunlight, energy harvested from the sun needs to be efficiently converted into chemical fuel that can be stored, transported, and used upon demand. The biggest challenge is whether or not these goals can be met in a costeffective way on the terawatt scale.2
The effects of ethnic/racial discrimination and sleep quality on depressive symptoms and self-esteem trajectories among diverse adolescents.

Ethnic/racial discrimination has persistent negative implications for both physical and mental health. The current study employs a risk and resilience framework to explore the joint effects of ethnic/racial discrimination and sleep disturbance on psychosocial outcomes among adolescents. In a sample of 146 minority and White adolescents (70 % female), changes in depressive symptoms, anxiety, and self-esteem over 3 years are explored using growth curve models. Regardless of ethnic background, adolescents reporting high levels of ethnic/racial discrimination and poor sleep also reported a corresponding increase in depressive symptoms and lower levels of self-esteem over time. Adolescents reporting all other combinations of sleep quality and ethnic/racial discrimination reported more positive adjustment over time. The joint effects of sleep and ethnic/racial discrimination on adolescent psychosocial development are discussed.
Responses of gas exchange to humidity in populations of three herbs from environments differing in atmospheric water

Responses to humidity of net photosynthesis and leaf conductance of single attached leaves were examined in populations of herbs from wet soil sites in Beltsville, Maryland and Davis, California, USA. Plants were grown in controlled environments under three conditions which differed in the magnitude of the day-night temperature difference and in daytime air saturation deficit. No population differences in response were found in Abutilon theophrasti. In Amaranthus hybridus stomatal conductance and net photosynthesis were more reduced by increasing leaf to air water vapor pressure difference (VPD) in the population from Beltsville, but only for the growth condition with a constant 25°C temperature. In Chenopodium album, stomatal conductance was more sensitive to VPD in the population from Davis, but only for the growth condition with 28/22°C day/night temperatures. Population differences in the sensitivity to VPD of leaf conductance were associated with differences in leaf area to root weight ratio. The relative reduction of net photosynthesis as VPD increased was greater than, equal to, or less than the relative decrease in substomatal carbon dioxide partial pressure. The pattern depended on species, and on growth condition. From these results one can not conclude that environmental humidity has been a strong selective force in determining sensitivity to humidity of stomatal conductance.
Teaching Virtual Reality: Why and How?

This article looks at the teaching aspects of virtual reality, as opposed to the use of virtual reality as a teaching tool (in virtual teaching environments). It is motivated by a perceived need for clarity, focus, and dialogue that are lacking within the VR community of developers, instructors, and end users. The market for visualization/3D computer graphics/simulations has seen a steady growth over the last decade. Yet, despite success stories in oil exploration, military training, car manufacturing, and other sectors, the VR curriculum has been fragmented and heterogeneous. The most longevity and success has been shown by programs that are designed to satisfy a societal need, such as the MOVES Institute at the Naval Postgraduate School (USA). The difficulty in adequately teaching VR may be related to the expense of setting up dedicated laboratories, and the lack of supporting textbooks in the 1990s. Yet such laboratories and books are key to gaining true understanding of the VR domain. An informal worldwide survey shows that only 3% of universities offer such courses, with half being in the USA. A listing of courses in Core (VR, VE technology) and Related (human factors, interface design, arts, architecture) areas is included in the Appendix. It is hoped that this article will spark a much-needed dialog within the VR community on ways to better teach VR to address societal needs.
Methods and Findings in the Study of Virtues: Humility

I sketch and respond to Ryan Byerly’s distinction between a Value-Based Approach to assessing proposed accounts of a virtue-here, humility-and what he calls a Counterexample Based Approach. My first section, on method, argues that, though distinct, the two approaches are not mutually exclusive and answer different questions. Engaging his claim that the former approach is superior to the latter, I suggest that we apply Byerly’s own idea that there are different kinds of value to show, contra Byerly, each approach may be better than the other in different ways, and for different purposes. Adapting and applying a point from Aristotle and Aquinas, I suggest that Byerly’s core question--what kind of values a virtue has--may rely on a mistake, that of misunderstanding a virtue’s work of making people and things good as its possessing goodness itself. My latter section, on results, points out difficulties for Byerly's altruistic conception of humility and defends my own view, developed in an earlier “Philosophia” article, that humility is essentially a matter of remaining unimpressed with oneself. I conclude by (apologetically) engaging and rebutting Byerly’s contention that his analysis of humility best captures a certain religious view.
Relation of mitochondria-rich chloride cells to active chloride transport in the skin of a marine teleost

Mitochondria-rich cells in the skin of the marine teleost, Gillichthys mirabilis, were found to be ultrastructurally similar to typical chloride-secreting cells of marine fish gill, but had a tall, spindlelike shape due to the thickness of the stratified epithelium. The fluorophore, dimethylaminostyrylethyl-pyridiniumiodide (DASPEI), was used to visualize and count skin chloride cells so that cell density could be regressed against the in vitro short-circuit current (ISC) measured on the same tissue. The regression (r2 = 0.76; n = 72) demonstrated that chloride cells are responsible for anion transport across Grillichthys skin.
Influenza A-associated bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia mimicking Wegener's granulomatosis

We describe a patient with bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) requiring respiratory support and treated with corticosteroids and cytoxan for presumed Wegener's granulomatosis (WG). The diagnosis of WG was based on clinical presentation and strongly positive stains for anti-neutrophilic cytoplasmic antibodies (cANCA). The results of an open-lung biopsy were consistent with BOOP. Although BOOP has previously been described as one of the pulmonary manifestations of WG, other more specific histologic features of WG such as capillaritis or necrotizing vasculitis were lacking. Because influenza A virus was cultured from the patient's lung tissue, final assessment of the illness focused on this as the etiologic agent triggering the pulmonary syndrome. The presence of ANCA was considered to be nonspecific. The patient's condition improved with appropriate therapy for BOOP.
A COMMENTARY ON POPULAR ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT POLITICAL COMMUNICATION

This essay examines certain popular assumptions made about political discourse. Five common criticisms of political talk are examined: (1) politicians too frequently emphasize their images at the expense of issues; (2) politicians' personal inadequacies render their remarks corrupt or incompetent; (3) all political talk is a chimera, totally incapable of ameliorating human conditions: (4) political leaders use verbal masks to hide the deceptions they foist upon their constituencies: and (5) because public dialogue rarely fosters true understanding, it cannot bring about rapprochement. While there is some truth in each of these criticisms, each makes too bold a denunciation of political discourse. The author advocates another perspective—reificationism—and suggests why it has both practical and theoretical advantages over its rivals.
Statistical Perspectives on Stratospheric Transport

Long-lived tropospheric source gases, such as nitrous oxide, enter the stratosphere through the tropical tropopause, are transported throughout the stratosphere by the Brewer-Dobson circulation, and are photochemically destroyed in the upper stratosphere. These chemical constituents, or "tracers" can be used to track mixing and transport by the stratospheric winds. Much of our understanding about the stratospheric circulation is based on large scale gradients and other spatial features in tracer fields constructed from satellite measurements. The point of view presented in this paper is different, but complementary, in that transport is described in terms of tracer probability distribution functions (PDFs). The PDF is computed from the measurements, and is proportional to the area occupied by tracer values in a given range. The flavor of this paper is tutorial, and the ideas are illustrated with several examples of transport-related phenomena, annotated with remarks that summarize the main point or suggest new directions. One example shows how the multimodal shape of the PDF gives information about the different branches of the circulation. Another example shows how the statistics of fluctuations from the most probable tracer value give insight into mixing between different regions of the atmosphere. Also included is an analysis of the time-dependence of the PDF during the onset and decline of the winter circulation, and a study of how "bursts" in the circulation are reflected in transient periods of rapid evolution of the PDF. The dependence of the statistics on location and time are also shown to be important for practical problems related to statistical robustness and satellite sampling. The examples illustrate how physically-based statistical analysis can shed some light on aspects of stratospheric transport that may not be obvious or quantifiable with other types of analyses. An important motivation for the work presented here is the need for synthesis of the large and growing database of observations of the atmosphere and the vast quantities of output generated by atmospheric models.
Biological Study of “R”and “S”Forms of Chromogenic Acid-Fast Bacillus from Human Leprous Lesion

SummaryThe “R”and “S”forms of the lepra bacillus show definite biological differences. The “S”form is a smooth and moist colony while the “R”form is wrinkled and dry. The “R”form grows the more rapidly, forms a flaky suspension and is more thermostable. After several months of subculturing, both forms remained pure. The “S”form are acid-fast rods the majority of which contain 2–5 small granules. The “R”form are short rods showing a predominance of large bipolar granules and surrounded by a thicker capsular zone. The significance of the small granules in the “S”form and the large polar granules in the “R”form is not fully understood. It is reasonable to believe that the small granules in the “S”form are signs of degeneration while the large granules in the “R”form may represent a stage of quiescence resembling a spore stage. The presence of the much thickened capsular zone and the higher thermal death-point in the “R”form may have some relation to its stability and resistance to disintegration.Since the “S...
Mandala of the Self: Embodiment, Practice, and Identity Construction in the Cakrasamvara Tradition

Tantric traditions have often been ignored by scholars studying Asian social history, in part because the structure of traditions, and hence their social impact, have been poorly understood. This paper seeks to remedy this lacuna by exploring in some depth a particular tradition, that centring around the Cakrasamvara Tantra, an Indian Buddhist scripture that became the basis of a popular practice tradition in Nepal and Tibet. Following Charles Taylor and the Comaroffs, 1 will argue that the Cakrasamvara practice tradition encourages a construction of self-identity based on a rather different set of assumptions than those common in the West, i.e., assumptions concerning the limits and constitution of the self. I will explore the nature of this considerably more expansive and fluid sense of self and its social and historical ramifications, both in the pre-modern and contemporary manifestations of this tradition.
THE ACTIVATION OF SPHINGOSINE-1-PHOSPHATE RECEPTOR BY FINGOLIMOD DURING MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION IMPROVES DIASTOLIC FUNCTION IN PIGS

We have previously shown that the anti-apoptotic effects of Fingolimod (FIN), an FDA-approved agonist of sphingosine-1-P receptors (S1P-R), leads to reduced myocardial infarct (MI) size and improved systolic function in a pig model of ischemia-reperfusion. However, the effects of S1P-R activation on
Acoustic Radiation by Charged Atomic Particles in Liquids: An Analysis

A new analysis of the propagation of acoustic pulses produced by local heating of liquids due to ionization by charged particles is presented. It is shown that the wave equations with loss dominate the pulse shape after small distances and that, due to the bipolar $\ensuremath{\delta}$-function behavior of the individual pulses, a net observed pulse is just the time derivative of the received density of pulses from individual heating centers. Angular distributions, signal-to-noise ratios, detectable volume, and numerical examples are discussed. One important observation is that the effect of attenuation upon this type of radiation is to produce power-law rather than exponential cutoff with distance. For example, in the thermal-noise-limited case the signal-to-noise ratio defined herein only steepens by one-half power in falloff with distance due to attenuation.
New perspectives on social networks in the study of peer relations.

Much of children's interactions with peers take place in cliques or small groups that they themselves form. What happens in these groups has important effects on children's further social and academic development. The chapters in this volume present the most recent ideas and methods to study childhood cliques and groups.
Laser interference pattern ablation of a carbon fiber microelectrode: biosensor signal enhancement after enzyme attachment.

Fluorescence microscopy was used to visualize the accumulated fluorescent product of the enzyme alkaline phosphatase to indicate where active covalently bound enzyme remained on the surface after application of a Nd:YAG laser interference pattern to a surface that was first globally derivatized with the covalently bound enzyme. The electrochemical kinetics of the same carbon fiber surface were examined through the electrogenerated chemiluminescence of Ru(bpy)32+ to determine that electron-transfer sites were indeed segregated from the enzyme-binding sites. The enzyme-derivatized areas are determined to be separate and distinct from the areas of enhanced electron transfer. Two other enzymes, glucose oxidase and malic dehydrogenase, were then covalently bound to carbon fiber microelectrode surfaces in order to verify the change in detection limit of their respective cofactors, NADH or H2O2, under a variety of surface conditions. The S/N of an enzyme-modified electrode after laser interference pattern photoa...
A theoretical analysis of the barometric method for measurement of tidal volume

The barometric method is unique in allowing measurement of tidal volume in a manner that requires no tactile contact with the subject. The equations used by previous investigators to calculate tidal volume described only events occurring during inspiration. Neglect of events during expiration caused a systematic error. Additional equations needed to calculate tidal volume for the barometric method are derived. An error sensitivity analysis is performed to assess quantitatively the accuracy of the calculated tidal volume due to propagation of errors in the experimentally measured variables. Numberical evaluation for typical cases indicates that the limit of accuracy for tidal volume measurement lies between 10 and 15%.
Fiber-Optically Isolated Instrumentation for Pulsed Power System Diagnostics

Advances in analog fiber optic telemetry and high sample rate/wide bandwidth analog-to-digital converters have enabled the development of increasingly sophisticated instrumentation suited for the highly stressing electromagnetic environment associated with many pulsed power systems. We report the development of several new capabilities, one based on analog modulation of the fiber-transmitted light and one in which a high-bandwidth digitizer is packaged in a compact configuration and the light signals are transmitted digitally using standard network protocols. Both systems are battery powered and heavily shielded to allow measurements to be made in regions of extremely high field strengths. Connection with external instrumentation and control systems is accomplished by using only fiberoptic cabling, providing completely isolated measurements.
Do Good Grammar Skills Predict Success in a Business-Communication Course?

After reviewing the controversy over inclusion of grammatical instruction in composition and communication courses, this article details a data-based study that explored the relationship between grammatical proficiency and a number of variables in an introductory business-communication course. Em pirical data suggest a small, but significant correlation between grammatical proficiency and success in writing the formal report. The data suggest that a stronger correlation exists between grammatical proficiency and perform ance in the overall course, and that grammatical competency is a predictor of successful completion of the course. The article explores other minor correla tions, suggests the implications these correlations have for business- communication courses, and recommends other areas of study
Rationale, challenges, and participants in a Phase II trial of a botanical product for chronic hepatitis C:

Background Chronic hepatitis C is associated with significant morbidity and mortality as a consequence of progression to cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and liver failure. Current treatment for chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon (IFN) and ribavirin is associated with suboptimal responses and numerous adverse effects. A number of botanical products have been used to treat hepatic disorders. Silymarin, extracted from the milk thistle plant, Silybum marianum (L) Gaertn. (Asteraceae), has been most widely used for various liver disorders, including chronic hepatitis C, B, and alcoholic liver disease. However, the safety and efficacy of silymarin have not been studied systematically in chronic hepatitis C. Purpose We describe our strategy for a phased approach for studying the impact of silymarin in hepatitis C, in the context of the unique challenges of botanical product clinical trials and the development of specific and curative antiviral therapy. Methods This multicenter, randomized, double-masked, placebo-controlled trial was conducted with four clinical centers and a data-coordinating center in the United States, to assess the impact of silymarin therapy in patients with chronic hepatitis C who failed conventional antiviral therapy. Results Key aspects relevant to performing clinical trials of botanical products include early identification of an appropriate product with standard product chemistry, acquisition of pharmacokinetic and dosing information, selection of the appropriate study group, and choosing rigorous outcome variables. Potential limitations Trial participants were chronic hepatitis C patients who were nonsustained virologic responders to IFN-based therapy; therefore, the findings are not generalizable to all hepatitis C populations. Further, alanine aminotransferase, a biochemical liver test, rather than hepatitis viral RNA or liver histology was the primary end point. Conclusions The challenges identified and addressed during development of this United States multicenter Phase II trial to evaluate silymarin for treatment of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection who had failed to respond successfully to previous IFN-based therapy are common and must be addressed to conduct rigorous trials of botanical products.
Top surface imaging at 157-nm

Top surface imaging (TSI) has had an interesting history. This process showed great promise in the late 1980's and several attempts were made to introduce it to full-scale manufacturing. Unfortunately, defect density problems limited the process and it fell from favor. TSI emerged again as an important part of the EUV and 193 nm strategies in the early stages of those programs because it offered a solution to the high opacity of common resist materials at both wavelengths. A flurry of research in both areas identified the seemingly insurmountable problem of line edge roughness than typical single layer resist systems. This has largely been due to the development of polymers specifically tailored for this end use. The optimum materials must be moderately transparent and have high Tg's in the silylated state. The 157nm program has much in common with the early stages of the 193nm program. The optical density of even 193nm resist materials at 157nm is far too high to allow their use in single layer applications. The less stringent optical density of even 193nm resist materials at 157nm is far too high to allow their use in single layer applications. The less stringent optical density requirements of TSI make it a potentially viable imaging scheme for use at 157nm. Various TSI materials, including the traditional poly(t-BOC- hydroxystyrene), as well as novel aliphatic cyclic polymers bearing bis-trifluoromethyl carbinol substituents, have been investigated for use at 157 nm, and smooth high-resolution images have been generated.
Integrating science into management: Ecological carrying capacity of bivalve shellfish aquaculture

Abstract Ecosystem-based management (EBM), despite the best efforts of managers, researchers, and policy makers, often falls short of its intended purpose resulting in inadequate protection of resources. Coastal habitats are particularly vulnerable to poor management due to high use and potential for user conflict. EBM can be improved when it is informed by ecological science and considers the socio-economic needs of the community. Communication between scientists and stakeholders can help to prevent adverse outcomes while enhancing protection and sustainability of the coastal environment. In the research presented here, a framework is used to guide and enhance communication between scientists and stakeholders for sustainable management of resources and equity of all users. The outcome of this applied framework is a long-term plan to guide the management of an oyster aquaculture industry using carrying capacity as an estimate for the basis of management decisions. Central to the framework is the Working Group on Aquaculture Regulations (WGAR), which represents a diverse group of stakeholders. The WGAR worked closely with ecological modelers over a two-year period using mass-balance modeling to calculate ecological carrying capacity for oyster aquaculture in two ecosystems: Narragansett Bay and a set of highly flushed temperate lagoons in Rhode Island, USA. Collaboration between scientists and the WGAR greatly improved the models and stakeholder understanding of the science and acceptance of the results. Aquaculture is increasing in coastal regions world-wide and this framework should be easily transferable to other areas suffering from similar user conflict issues.
Recognition and processing of randomly fluctuating electric signals by Na,K-ATPase

Previous work has shown that Na,K-ATPase of human erythrocytes can extract free energy from sinusoidal electric fields to pump cations up their respective concentration gradients. Because regularly oscillating waveform is not a feature of the transmembrane electric potential of cells, questions have been raised whether these observed effects are biologically relevant. Here we show that a random-telegraph fluctuating electric field (RTF) consisting of alternating square electric pulses with random lifetimes can also stimulate the Rb(+)-pumping mode of the Na,K-ATPase. The net RTF-stimulated, ouabain-sensitive Rb+ pumping was monitored with 86Rb+. The tracer-measured, Rb+ influx exhibited frequency and amplitude dependencies that peaked at the mean frequency of 1.0 kHz and amplitude of 20 V/cm. At 4 degrees C, the maximal pumping activity under these optimal conditions was 28 Rb+/RBC-hr, which is approximately 50% higher than that obtained with the sinusoidal electric field. These findings indicate that Na,K-ATPase can recognize an electric signal, either regularly oscillatory or randomly fluctuating, for energy coupling, with high fidelity. The use of RTF for activation also allowed a quantitative theoretical analysis of kinetics of a membrane transport model of any complexity according to the theory of electroconformational coupling (ECC) by the diagram methods. A four-state ECC model was shown to produce the amplitude and the frequency windows of the Rb(+)-pumping if the free energy of interaction of the transporter with the membrane potential was to include a nonlinear quadratic term. Kinetic constants for the ECC model have been derived.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Effects of cortical ablations upon recovery from the septal syndrome in hooded rats.

Abstract The hyper-reactivity of the septal syndrome was produced in adult male Long-Evans rats by electrolytic lesions in the septal region. Various groups of the rats with septal lesions were handled postoperatively for either 5 or 18 days or left unhandled for 18 days. The operated control group was also not handled. Following these handling periods, the septal syndrome was found to have declined in both handled groups, and the animals were at normal reactivity levels. The unhandled group with septal lesions still displayed the syndrome. Neocortical ablations did not reinstate the syndrome in either handled group, nor did they change the reactivity level of the unhandled groups. The septal syndrome in another group of rats was reduced to normal levels by handling for 21 postoperative days. Spreading depression, induced by application of 25% KCl to the neocortex, did not reinstate the septal syndrome. These results differ from and restrict the generality of previous findings.
Receptive field properties of the macaque second somatosensory cortex: representation of orientation on different finger pads.

Orientation tuning has been studied extensively in the visual system, but little is known about it in the somatosensory system. Here we investigate tuning in the second somatosensory (SII) region using a motorized stimulator that presented a small oriented bar to the 12 finger pads of digits 2–5 (D2–D5) of the macaque monkey. A subset (23%; n = 218) of the 928 SII region neurons [the same 928 neurons studied by [Fitzgerald et al. (2004][1], [2006)][2]] exhibited tuning, and most of these were tuned on one or two finger pads. All eight 22.5° separated orientations were represented as the preferred orientation of multiple neurons, although not necessarily in equal numbers. A measure of bandwidth indicated that tuning in the SII region is sharp and is similar to the tuning observed in visual cortical areas. In addition, two-dimensional Gaussians that were fit to the tuning curves had very high r 2 values, indicating that most tuning curves are both unimodal and symmetrical with respect to their preferred orientation. Most tuned neurons had additional untuned pads, although the responsiveness of these pads tended to be less than the responsiveness of tuned pads. Neurons with multiple tuned pads tended to have similar preferred orientations on their tuned pads, which can be interpreted as evidence for integration of information across fingers or as a form of positional invariance. Finally, comparison of the tuning properties showed that there are small but significant differences between the posterior, central, and anterior fields of the SII region. [1]: #ref-17 [2]: #ref-18
Difficult-to-Treat Trichomoniasis: Results with Paromomycin Cream

Vaginal trichomoniasis poses a difficult therapeutic challenge when metronidazole is ineffective or contraindicated. We conducted a retrospective study of 6.25% paromomycin cream in the treatment of nine women referred with cases of vaginal trichomoniasis where metronidazole resistance or allergy was present. Results obtained immediately and 1 month after treatment were reviewed. The median age of the patients was 46 years; four women were nulliparous. The median symptom duration was 1 year. Five women were allergic to metronidazole. In four cases, resistance to high doses of metronidazole was demonstrated. Smears or cultures were positive immediately after treatment for three patients; a fourth relapsed 2 weeks later. Of these patients for whom treatment failed, one was cured with a 3-week course of paromomycin cream, and another was successfully treated with paromomycin cream and oral tinidazole. Three patients developed vaginal ulcerations that resolved spontaneously. Adverse effects may be a result of local formulation. Paromomycin cream was useful for treatment of cases of trichomonas infection where metronidazole resistance or allergy was encountered.
Establishment of a murine model for therapy-treated chronic myelogenous leukemia using the tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571

The murine bone marrow retroviral transduction and transplantation model of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) imperfectly mimics human CML because the murine CML-like disease causes death of all animals from an overwhelming granulocytosis within 3 to 4 weeks. In this report, mice reconstituted with P210 BCR/ABL -transduced bone marrow cells received posttransplantation therapy with either the tyrosine kinase inhibitor STI571 or placebo. Compared with the rapidly fatal leukemia of placebo-treated animals, 80% of the STI571-treated mice were alive on day 74, with marked improvement in peripheral white blood counts and splenomegaly. There was decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of STAT5, Shc, and Crk-L in leukemic cells from STI571-treated animals, consistent with STI571-mediated inhibition of the Bcr/Abl tyrosine kinase in vivo. In some STI571-treated animals Bcr/Abl messenger RNA and protein expression were markedly increased. In contrast to the polyclonal leukemia of placebo-treated mice, STI571-treated murine CML was generally oligoclonal, suggesting that STI571 eliminated or severely suppressed certain leukemic clones. None of the STI571-treated mice were cured of the CML-like myeloproliferative disorder, however, and STI571-treated murine CML was transplanted to secondary recipients with high efficiency. These results demonstrate the utility of this murine model of CML in the evaluation of novel therapeutic agents against Bcr/Abl-induced leukemias. This improved murine chronic-phase CML model may be a useful tool for the study of STI571 resistance, CML progression, and the anti-CML immune response.
Modeling of Solid Oxide Fuel Cells with Particle Size and Porosity Grading in Anode Electrode

Solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) have the potential to meet the critical energy needs of our modern civilization and minimize the adverse environmental impacts from excessive energy consumption. They are highly efficient, clean, and can run on variety of fuel gases. However, little investigative focus has been put on optimal power output based on electrode microstructure. In this work, a complete electrode polarization model of SOFCs has been developed and utilized to analyze the performance of functionally graded anode with different particle size and porosity profiles. The model helps to understand the implications of varying the electrode microstructure from the polarization standpoint. The work identified conditions when grading can improve the cell performance and showed that grading is not always beneficial or necessary.
An Exact Input Current Analysis of Ideal Static PWM Inverters

The precise knowledge of current harmonics generated at the input of static pulsewidth modulated (PWM) inverters is essential in designing the input filter and in determining the interaction between the inverter and supply voltage bus. Despite its importance, however, this topic has been given mostly qualitative treatment. A novel harmonic analysis approach is employed with ideal static voltage source inverters to specify the harmonic spectra of their respective input currents. This information is subsequently used to compute the harmonic distortion of the input current and the ripple current for the input filter capacitor.
Corrosion Condition Evaluation at Muddy Creek Bridge

Corrosion rates were measured at the exposed spots of rebars near three corners of Muddy Creek Bridge located in northern West Virginia using a 3LP device. Also, chloride contents of the concrete samples taken from the vicinity of the spots were analyzed using a wet chemical method that had been developed in this study. The average corrosion rate over the three spots was 4.66 mA/m2, which is in the range of corrosion damage possible in 10–15 years. The average chloride content of the concrete over the three spots was 703 parts per million (ppm), which is well above the threshold limit value of 260 ppm. Although the corrosion rate measurement method using a 3LP device is by manual operation, it is found to be reliable and effective, and, thus, recommended for future studies of this kind of research. The wet chemical method developed in this study is found to be effective.