cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On Thermodynamics of Interaction of a Thread-Like Inclusion with a Compound of Matrix in Composite Materials

In this article we describe a simple model for thermodynamics of interaction of structure-forming inclusions of a type of a thread (for example, carbon thread) with a matrix compound in composite materials. We provide formulas for free energy, entropy, and heat capacity of such interaction. We assume that a thread is in thermodynamics equilibrium with the compound of the matrix, which we consider as a thermostat. Dynamics of the thread is modeled by the one-dimensional wave equation. On the infinite-dimensional phase space of the thread we consider a Gaussian measure. The partition function of the dynamical system is calculated exactly.
37-OR: CLASS I MHC BINDING MOTIFS FROM CYNOMOLGUS AND RHESUS MACAQUES

Aim Cynomolgus macaque (Macaca fascicularis = Mafa) and Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta = Mamu) are widely used as alternative nonhuman primate models for studying HIV, transplantation, and vaccines since they are anatomically and physiologically similar to humans. In this study we characterize naturally loaded peptides from two Mafa (A ∗ 31 & B ∗ 49) and one Mamu (B ∗ 47) class I molecule. Methods An MHC Class I-deficient human B cell line was transfected with Mafa and Mamu soluble MHC (sMHC) DNA constructs and selected with Geneticin. Clones were tested for sMHC class I production by ELISA, and “best producers” were single cell sorted, expanded, and retested. Cell pharms were seeded and 25 mg of class I MHC harvested. Mafa and Mamu class I MHC were purified by affinity chromatography, peptide ligands eluted in acetic acid, and the pooled peptide ligands were subjected to 14 cycles of Edman degradation. Pooled peptides were HPLC fractionated and subjected to nanospray mass spectrometry (MS) in order to characterize individual peptide ligands. Results MS analysis data show that Mafa molecules present peptides similar to those presented by human HLA class I molecules. The peptide lengths and source are consistent with previous reports of class I MHC. The two Mafa molecules in this study have peptide-binding motifs characteristic of HLA-B molecules while Mamu peptide ligands are not consistent with previously reported MHC class I. Conclusions Mafa class I molecules exhibit HLA-B-like cross-species peptide presentation, while Mamu class I molecules do not show similarities with human HLA class I molecules. The characterization of endogenously loaded Mafa-B ∗ 49 MHC class I peptides shows that it is comparable to human HLA-B ∗ 4405, and Mafa-A ∗ 31 to human HLA-B ∗ 1509 and B ∗ 1510. These data suggest that the MHC typing of Non-Human Primates for comparable MHC should proceed the use of these animal models when establishing correlates of immunity.
Inertial response enhancement of a microgrid using Photovoltaic Synchronous Generator

Application of power electronic converters in energy systems application have been increased due to the present national renewable energy portfolio. Photo-voltaic, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Doubly Fed Induction Generator based Wind System, FACTS devices etc. are some of the applications in energy systems having power electronic converters. Power Electronic converters with its fast electronic switching and standard control configuration have low inertia compared to electromechanical device based energy systems. In this research work, inverter control algorithms for inertial response improvement will be studied. A new inverter topology (photo-voltaic synchronous generator or PVSG) consisting Photo-voltaic unit, and BESS has been proposed. Dynamic response of PVSG unit, control design will be analyzed. Dynamic performance of this new topology has been compared with existing virtual inertia algorithms. In addition, this scheme will be compared with conventional synchronous machine based energy systems.
Measurement of residual stress in disks from turbine-rotor forgings

The Sachs turning-down method and the concentric-ring method have both been used successfully to determine the residual stresses in steel disks. The measurements were made under typical factory conditions.
Multifaceted Privacy: How to Express Your Online Persona without Revealing Your Sensitive Attributes

Recent works in social network stream analysis show that a user's online persona attributes (e.g., gender, ethnicity, political interest, location, etc.) can be accurately inferred from the topics the user writes about or engages with. Attribute and preference inferences have been widely used to serve personalized recommendations, directed ads, and to enhance the user experience in social networks. However, revealing a user's sensitive attributes could represent a privacy threat to some individuals. Microtargeting (e.g.,Cambridge Analytica scandal), surveillance, and discriminating ads are examples of threats to user privacy caused by sensitive attribute inference. In this paper, we propose Multifaceted privacy, a novel privacy model that aims to obfuscate a user's sensitive attributes while publicly preserving the user's public persona. To achieve multifaceted privacy, we build Aegis, a prototype client-centric social network stream processing system that helps preserve multifaceted privacy, and thus allowing social network users to freely express their online personas without revealing their sensitive attributes of choice. Aegis allows social network users to control which persona attributes should be publicly revealed and which ones should be kept private. For this, Aegis continuously suggests topics and hashtags to social network users to post in order to obfuscate their sensitive attributes and hence confuse content-based sensitive attribute inferences. The suggested topics are carefully chosen to preserve the user's publicly revealed persona attributes while hiding their private sensitive persona attributes. Our experiments show that adding as few as 0 to 4 obfuscation posts (depending on how revealing the original post is) successfully hides the user specified sensitive attributes without changing the user's public persona attributes.
Institutional Evolution and Change: Environmentalism and the US Chemical Industry

This paper empirically measures changes in the constituency of an organizational field centered around the issue of corporate environmentalism from 1960 to 1993, and correlates those changes with the evolving institutions adopted by the US chemical industry to interpret the issue. Four stages are identified, each representing a different field membership, interaction pattern and set of dominant institutions. The beginning of each stage is marked by the emergence of a triggering event. The article develops the ideas that: fields form around central issues, not markets or technologies; within fields, competing institutions may simultaneously exist within individual populations (or classes of constituencies); as institutions evolve, inter-connections between their regulative, normative and cognitive aspects can be detected, and; field level analyses can reveal the cultural and institutional origins of organizational impacts on the natural environment. The article concludes with future research challenges in understanding the dynamics by which events influence institutional change processes and the role of institutional entrepreneurs in channeling that influence.
The Vc2 Cyclic di-GMP-Dependent Riboswitch of Vibrio cholerae Regulates Expression of an Upstream Putative Small RNA by Controlling RNA Stability

Cyclic di-GMP (c-di-GMP) is a bacterial second messenger molecule that is important in the biology of Vibrio cholerae, but the molecular mechanisms by which this molecule regulates downstream phenotypes have not been fully characterized. We have previously shown that the Vc2 c-di-GMP-binding riboswitch, encoded upstream of the gene tfoY, functions as an off switch in response to c-di-GMP. However, the mechanism by which c-di-GMP controls expression of tfoY has not been fully elucidated. During our studies of this mechanism, we determined that c-di-GMP binding to Vc2 also controls the abundance and stability of upstream noncoding RNAs with 3' ends located immediately downstream of the Vc2 riboswitch. Our results suggest these putative small RNAs (sRNAs) are not generated by transcriptional termination but rather by preventing degradation of the upstream untranslated RNA when c-di-GMP is bound to Vc2.IMPORTANCE Riboswitches are typically RNA elements located in the 5' untranslated region of mRNAs. They are highly structured and specifically recognize and respond to a given chemical cue to alter transcription termination or translation initiation. In this work, we report a novel mechanism of riboswitch-mediated gene regulation in Vibrio cholerae whereby a 3' riboswitch, named Vc2, controls the stability of upstream untranslated RNA upon binding to its cognate ligand, the second messenger cyclic di-GMP, leading to the accumulation of previously undescribed putative sRNAs. We further demonstrate that binding of the ligand to the riboswitch prevents RNA degradation. As binding of riboswitches to their ligands often produces compactly structured RNA, we hypothesize this mechanism of gene regulation is widespread.
Spatially-Varying Sharpness Map Estimation Based on the Quotient of Spectral Bands

Natural images suffer from defocus blur due to the presence of objects at different depths from the camera. Automatic estimation of spatially-varying sharpness has several applications including depth estimation, image quality assessment, information retrieval, image restoration among others. In this paper, we propose a sharpness metric based on the quotient of high- to low-frequency bands of the log-spectrum of the image gradients. Using the proposed sharpness metric, we obtain a descriptive dense sharpness map. We also propose a simple yet effective method to segment out-of-focus regions using a global threshold which is defined using weak textured regions present in the input image. Results over two publicly available databases show that the proposed method provides competitive performance when compared with state-of-the-art methods.
Solitary osteochondroma of the cervical spine presenting with quadriparesis and hand contracture.

Background Spinal osteochondromas are rare, benign tumors arising from the cartilaginous elements of the spine that may appear as solitary lesions versus multiple lesions in patients with hereditary multiple exostoses. Here, we present a 15-year-old female with a solitary C3-C4 osteochondroma who presented with a progressive quadriparesis and hand contracture successfully managed with a laminectomy/posterior spinal fusion. Case description A 15-year-old female presented with a 3-month history of progressive quadriparesis and hand contracture secondary to a magnetic resonance (MR) documented C3-C4 cervical spine osteochondroma. The MR imaging revealed a solitary osseous extramedullary outgrowth arising from the left laminar cortex of the C-3 vertebral body extending to C-4. Due to the marked resultant canal stenosis, the patient underwent a cervical laminectomy of C3- C4 with posterior spinal fusion. Gross total resection was achieved, and the pathology confirmed an osteochondroma. The patient's myelopathy resolved, and 2 years later, she demonstrated no residual deficits or tumor recurrence. Conclusion Here, we report the successful management of a 15-year-old female with a C3-C4 osteochondroma and progressive quadriparesis through cervical laminectomy/fusion.
New insights into the functions of Cox-2 in skin and esophageal malignancies

Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms of tumor initiation and progression for each cancer type is central to making improvements in both prevention and therapy. Identifying the cancer cells of origin and the necessary and sufficient mechanisms of transformation and progression provide opportunities for improved specific clinical interventions. In the last few decades, advanced genetic manipulation techniques have facilitated rapid progress in defining the etiologies of cancers and their cells of origin. Recent studies driven by various groups have provided experimental evidence indicating the cellular origins for each type of skin and esophageal cancer and have identified underlying mechanisms that stem/progenitor cells use to initiate tumor development. Specifically, cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2) is associated with tumor initiation and progression in many cancer types. Recent studies provide data demonstrating the roles of Cox-2 in skin and esophageal malignancies, especially in squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) occurring in both sites. Here, we review experimental evidence aiming to define the origins of skin and esophageal cancers and discuss how Cox-2 contributes to tumorigenesis and differentiation.
STORM: Foundations of End-to-End Empirical Risk Minimization on the Edge.

Empirical risk minimization is perhaps the most influential idea in statistical learning, with applications to nearly all scientific and technical domains in the form of regression and classification models. To analyze massive streaming datasets in distributed computing environments, practitioners increasingly prefer to deploy regression models on edge rather than in the cloud. By keeping data on edge devices, we minimize the energy, communication, and data security risk associated with the model. Although it is equally advantageous to train models at the edge, a common assumption is that the model was originally trained in the cloud, since training typically requires substantial computation and memory. To this end, we propose STORM, an online sketch for empirical risk minimization. STORM compresses a data stream into a tiny array of integer counters. This sketch is sufficient to estimate a variety of surrogate losses over the original dataset. We provide rigorous theoretical analysis and show that STORM can estimate a carefully chosen surrogate loss for the least-squares objective. In an exhaustive experimental comparison for linear regression models on real-world datasets, we find that STORM allows accurate regression models to be trained.
RIGID AROMATIC HETEROCYCLIC POLYMERS: SYNTHESIS OF POLYMERS AND OLIGOMERS CONTAINING BENZAZOLE UNITS FOR ELECTROOPTIC APPLICATIONS

Conjugated organic structures exhibit large, ultrafast nonlinear optical (NLO) responses that arise from excitation of highly charged correlated p-electron states. Highly aligned, high strength films of high molecular weight, rigid rod poly(benzobisazole) (PBZ) polymers have been shown recently to possess oustanding third-order NLO properties.1,2 PBZ polymers, being comprised exclusively of aromatic rings, are conjugated structures with numerous possibilites for structural modification. In addition to ultrafast NLO response, PBZ polymers offer advantages of high damage thresholds, environmental stability, a wide variety of processing options, and excellent mechanical properties. Molecular structures with or without centers of symmetry can be prepared and the molecular weight distribution, electron density, and the molecular morphology can be varied over broad ranges. This tailorability in both molecular structure and supramolecular order provides promise for new materials with optimized NLO properties. This paper describes our recent work on the synthesis of PBZ polymers having controlled molecular weights. By controlling the molecular weight at relatively high levels, we aim to improve the processability and reproducibility of solutions for better optical quality high strength films. By preparing novel lower molecular weight materials, we aim to explore new structures that are specifically designed to maximize their NLO response and may require new methods for obtaining the high degree of molecular order that has become associated with PBZ materials.
Artificial papillary muscle device for off-pump transapical mitral valve repair

Abstract Objective New transapical minimally invasive artificial chordae implantation devices are a promising alternative to traditional open-heart repair, with the potential for decreased postoperative morbidity and reduced recovery time. However, these devices can place increased stress on the artificial chordae. We designed an artificial papillary muscle to alleviate artificial chordae stresses and thus increase repair durability. Methods The artificial papillary muscle device is a narrow elastic column with an inner core that can be implanted during the minimally invasive transapical procedure via the same ventricular incision site. The device was 3-dimensionally printed in biocompatible silicone for this study. To test efficacy, porcine mitral valves (n = 6) were mounted in a heart simulator, and isolated regurgitation was induced. Each valve was repaired with a polytetrafluoroethylene suture with apical anchoring followed by artificial papillary muscle anchoring. In each case, a high-resolution Fiber Bragg Grating sensor recorded forces on the suture. Results Hemodynamic data confirmed that both repairs—with and without the artificial papillary muscle device—were successful in eliminating mitral regurgitation. Both the peak artificial chordae force and the rate of change of force at the onset of systole were significantly lower with the device compared with apical anchoring without the device (P Conclusions Our novel artificial papillary muscle could integrate with minimally invasive repairs to shorten the artificial chordae and behave as an elastic damper, thus reducing sharp increases in force. With our device, we have the potential to improve the durability of off-pump transapical mitral valve repair procedures.
Is Decentralization Sustainable in the Bitcoin System

The Bitcoin system is a decentralized monetary system in that any participant can potentially verify and record transactions onto a public ledger. Using a simple model, we show that the number of miners could be negatively (positively) related to the expected rewards, if miners with low-operating costs face less (more) severe financing constraints. We characterize the possibility of miners with low-operating (high-operating) costs facing less (more) severe financing constraints as large-size (small-size) miners. The empirical evidence supports the model’s prediction of large-size and small-size miner characterization. The negative association between the number of miners and expected rewards is attributable to the bitcoin’s exchange rate. Collectively, our evidence suggests that even though the Bitcoin system is designed as an egalitarian system, it is likely to evolve into a near-centralized system because of economic forces.
Abstract PS15-14: Comparison between a breast specific radiosurgery device and intensity modulated proton therapy for accelerated partial breast irradiation

Purpose: A breast specific radiosurgery device (BSRD) has recently been FDA cleared for treatment of accelerated partial breast irradiation. Using this device requires a vacuum assisted immobilization system to treat patients in the prone position. Alternatively, APBI delivery using intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT) treats patients in the supine position at University of Maryland. This study aimed to compare dose distribution to targets and organs at risk (OARS), using BSRD plans versus IMPT plans for APBI. We hypothesized that despite the physical characteristics of IMPT the BSRD plans would be superior in conformality. Methods:An IRB approved retrospective review was performed for 13 patients who previously received a lumpectomy boost using the BSRD in prone position followed by whole breast irradiation in the supine position. APBI plans were created using dose a fractionation of 30Gy in 5 fractions. Previously contoured LPC volumes with a 1cm CTV expansion were created (modified at anatomic boundaries and within 5 mm of skin) followed by a 3 mm PTV expansion for BSRD plans, our standard for all BSRD plans, or CTV with beam specific PTV for IMPT plans. A single physicist created plans for BSRD with a different physicist for IMPT. Physicists were blinded to the results of the comparative plans. Plans were compared with respect to heart max, heart mean, ipsilateral lung V5, V20, normal breast D5, D20, D50 and D80, skin max, CTV coverage, conformality index (CI) and homogeneity index (HI). Paired t-test was used for statistical analysis. Results:Six out of thirteen patients had left sided breast cancer. The CTV volumes were comparable, with no difference in coverage of 95% of the CTV receiving the prescription dose (98% vs 97%). BSRD plans had superior CI (0.82 vs 0.63, p Citation Format: Santanu Samanta, Elizabeth Nichols, Mark Zakhary, Mariana Guerrero, Baoshe Zhang, Ariel Pollock, Naru Lamichhane, Stewart Becker. Comparison between a breast specific radiosurgery device and intensity modulated proton therapy for accelerated partial breast irradiation [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2020 San Antonio Breast Cancer Virtual Symposium; 2020 Dec 8-11; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(4 Suppl):Abstract nr PS15-14.
Automated identification and assignment of colonoscopy surveillance recommendations for individuals with colorectal polyps.

Background and Aims Determining surveillance intervals for patients with colorectal polyps is critical but time-consuming and challenging to do reliably. We present the development and assessment of a pipeline that leverages natural language processing techniques to automatically extract and analyze relevant polyp findings from free-text colonoscopy and pathology reports. Using this information, we categorized individual patients into 6 postcolonoscopy surveillance intervals defined by the U.S. Multi-Society Task Force on Colorectal Cancer. Methods Using a set of 546 randomly selected colonoscopy and pathology reports from 324 patients in a single health system, we used a combination of statistical classifiers and rule-based methods to extract polyp properties from each report type, associate properties with unique polyps, and classify a patient into 1 of 6 risk categories by integrating information from both report types. We then assessed the pipeline’s performance by determining the positive predictive value (PPV), sensitivity, and F-score of the algorithm, compared with the determination of surveillance intervals by a gastroenterologist. Results The pipeline was developed using 346 reports (224 colonoscopy and 122 pathology) from 224 patients and evaluated on an independent test set of 200 reports (100 colonoscopy and 100 pathology) from 100 patients. We achieved an average PPV, sensitivity, and F-score of .92, .95, and .93, respectively, across targeted entities for colonoscopy. Pathology extraction achieved a PPV, sensitivity, and F-score of .95, .97, and .96. The system achieved an overall accuracy of 92% in assigning the recommended interval for surveillance colonoscopy. Conclusions This study demonstrates the feasibility of using machine learning to automatically extract findings and classify patients to appropriate risk categories and corresponding surveillance intervals. Incorporating this system can facilitate proactive and timely follow-up after screening colonoscopy and enable real-time quality assessment of prevention programs and providers.
The Members of the Court of Justice of the European Communities

In view of the far-reaching significance which the Court has obviously assumed for governments and private individuals alike in the Member States, one may be justified in asking who are the justices wielding such extensive power and responsibility? How are they appointed and under what conditions can they be removed from office? What are their duties and privileges, and what measure of judicial independence do they possess? This paper attempts to answer systematically Feld's first question -- a question that remains unanswered yet relevant more than thirty-five years after he posed it -- and begins to answer the rest. While many have debated the merits of legal reasoning of the European Court of Justice's (ECJ) rulings, few, if any, have studied how judges are chosen or who they are or compared Member States' selection procedures.
Electronic planar laminography

This paper describes an X-ray imaging architecture, called electronic planar laminography, that utilizes a time delay and integration (TDI) detector to provide laminographic cross-sectional images without recourse to a mechanically moving scintillator. Advantages in system performance and reduced complexity may be achieved in comparison with current scanned-beam laminographic systems. The architecture additionally allows for both two-dimensional radiography and digital reconstruction techniques. Any practical system design must make a number of trade-offs, such as between resolution and throughput. These trade-offs are elucidated through consideration of different design examples.
Budget Planner: User-Oriented Whole-Farm Budgeting Software

that balance. the user clientele and eventually increase tha balance computer use by farmers and extension The criteria used to develop Budget Planner agents. were based on popular farm press articles, an article in the Doane's 1986 Agricultural Com
Molecular and genetic studies of an R factor system consisting of independent transfer and drug resistance plasmids.

Certain genetic, structural, and biochemical properties of a class 2 R-factor system consisting of the conjugally proficient transfer plasmid I and the naturally occurring non-conjugative tetracycline (Tc) resistance plasmid 219 are reported. I and 219 exist as separate plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) species in both Escherichia coli and Salmonella panama, having molecular weights of 42 × 106 and 5.8 × 106, respectively. The buoyant densities of I and 219 are 1.702 and 1.710 g/cm3, respectively, in neutral cesium chloride. Although the Tc resistance plasmid is not transmissible in a normal conjugal mating, it is mobilized in a three-component mating by plasmid I and by certain other conjugative plasmids of the fi+ or fi− phenotype. Mobilization does not appear to involve intermolecular recombination between plasmids, and no covalent linkage of resistance markers and fertility functions is observed. Transformation of CaCl2-treated E. coli by plasmid DNA is shown to be a useful procedure for studying the biological properties of different plasmid molecular species that have been fractionated in vitro, and for selectively inserting non-self-transmissible plasmids into specific bacterial strains. The effects of tetracycline on the rate of protein synthesis carried out by plasmid 219 were studied by using isolated E. coli minicells into which this plasmid had segregated. Consistent with the results of earlier investigations showing the inducibility of plasmid-mediated Tc resistance in E. coli, the antibiotic was observed to stimulate protein synthesis in minicells carrying the plasmid 219 and totally inhibit 3H-leucine incorporation by minicells lacking the Tc resistance marker. Five discrete polypeptide species were synthesized by minicells carrying plasmid 219; exposure of minicells or parent bacteria to Tc resulted in specific and reproducible changes in polypeptide synthesis patterns.
Development of an integrated fluid sensor

A new versatile device which warns of low fluid levels in various medical fluid containers is presented. The fluid-sensing part of the device is a novel type of electromagnetic (EM) coupler which senses the presence or absence of fluid in close proximity to it. The device is battery operated and is small enough to attach directly to the outside of many medical fluid containers. The EM coupler was characterized and optimized through network analyzer measurements, finite difference frequency domain (FDFD) and finite difference time domain (FDTD) computer simulations. Microwave oscillator and detection circuits were designed, constructed, and tested using the optimized EM coupler. The fluid-sensor was tested on a plastic milk container filled with water and the measured results are presented here. Qualitative results were also obtained on glass containers and actual intravenous (IV) bags.
In vitro assay of pancreatic acinar-cell function of rats made chronically riboflavin deficient

To determine the effect of riboflavin deficiency on the rat pancreas, one-third of a group of rats was fed a purified riboflavin-sufficient diet ad libitum and two-thirds were fed isocaloric amounts of riboflavin-deficient diet for 13 wk; one-half of the latter group was replenished with daily intraperitoneal injections of riboflavin for the last 3 wk. Body weight, pancreas weight, DNA, protein, amylase, chymotrypsinogen, and trypsinogen decreased in riboflavin-deficient animals. In vitro basal secretion of chymotrypsinogen decreased and basal and bethanechol-stimulated secretions of trypsinogen increased in riboflavin-deficient rats. These changes were considered to be caused by relative inanition resulting from decreased food consumption. On replenishment of riboflavin, amylase content reverted to that of animals fed ad libitum whereas increases in body weight, pancreas weight, DNA, protein, chymotrypsinogen, and trypsinogen were not statistically significant. Both basal- and bethanechol-stimulated secretions of chymotrypsinogen increased. These data indicate that riboflavin deficiency, which commonly accompanies chronic alcoholism, may contribute to the pancreatic injury in chronic alcoholism.
The transentorhinal cortex of the African green monkey: a combined light- and electron-microscopic study of calcium-binding protein containing neurons.

The transentorhinal cortex (TEC) is a primate-specific transition zone between the entorhinal allocortex and the temporal isocortex. Neurons in the lamina pre-alpha of TEC are known to be the first to develop intraneuronal changes in the course of Alzheimer’s disease. In order to shed light on this important feature, we studied as yet unknown morphological and neurochemical characteristics of the TEC of the African green monkey (Cercopithecus aethiops sabaeus). Using light- and electron-microscopic immunocytochemistry, the distribution and morphology of neurons containing calcium-binding proteins were described and compared with those in the adjacent cortices. Light-microscopic analysis revealed that parvalbumin-containing neurons were distributed in all cortical layers. Calbindin-containing cells were fewer but also present in each layer. Calretinin-containing neurons were largely confined to the upper layers of the TEC. All three types of neuron showed pyramidal-like, multipolar and bipolar shapes; their dendrites were smooth or beaded. Ultrastructural studies revealed immunopositive somata with infolded nuclei and large amounts of cytoplasm. The somata were only sparsely innervated by symmetric synapses. Immunopositive dendrites were almost exclusively covered with immunonegative axon terminals establishing symmetric and asymmetric synapses. Immunopositive terminals established symmetric contacts with immunonegative dendrites and somata. Only occasionally, could synaptic contacts between immunopositive pre- and postsynaptic structures be observed. The comparison of neurons in the TEC and adjacent cortices revealed no striking differences. In summary, the morphological and neurochemical characteristics of TEC neurons as analyzed in our study do not provide an explanation for the early onset of neurodegenerative changes in the TEC.
Formation of composites emitted at large angles in intermediate and high energy reactions

Abstract The importance of the nuclear mean-field, the various collision processes, and the Coulomb potential, for the formation of composites emitted at large angles in nuclear reactions, is discussed. It is demonstrated that the nucleon-nucleon collisions are by far most essential for the formation of composites at high energy. A model with composite formation during the collisions is applied to the intermediate-energy heavy-ion reactions.
Retention of Delayed-Alternation: Effect of Selective Lesions of Sulcus Principalis

Monkeys with bilateral lesions of the anterior, miiddle, or posterior thirds of the principal sulcus, of the periarcuate prefrontal region, or of the inferior parietal lobule were tested for retention of spatial delayed-alternation. Lesions limited to the middle third of sulcus principalis resulted in failure to relearn delayedalternation within 1000 trials; lesions elsewhere had little effect.
The Effect of Sulfonamides upon the Livability of Spermatozoa and upon the Control of Bacteria in Diluted Bull Semen

Summary and Conclusions 1.Twelve sulfonamides were added to bull semen diluted with citrate-phosphate and stored at 20° C. At the level of each drug determined to be optimum for spermatozoan survival, nine of the 12 drugs increased the livability of the spermatozoa over that observed when no sulfonamide was added to the diluent. Of these nine, only two sulfonamides, sodium sulfamethazine and earboxysulfathiazole, were significantly superior to sulfanilamide in maintaining motility of the sperm cells, but they were inferior in controlling bacterial growth. Sulfanilmide slightly decreased the rate of motility, and N 1 -benzoylsulfanilamide exerted a similar but more pronounced effect. No consistent pattern was established by the other sulfonamides. 2.At 20 and at 37.5° C. all of the sulfonamides were effective in reducing bacterial growth at levels which were not harmful to the spermatozoa. Pseudomonas pyocyaneus was not inhibited at these levels. 3.At 5° C. the sulfonamides were only slightly effective in controlling bacterial growth because the pseudomonas group of organisms predominated in the bacterial flora surviving at this temperature.
Induced Catalytic Activity of Fluorided Alumina in the Reactions of Isobutane

The reaction chemistry for the conversion of isobutane on pure and fluorided aluminas was compared to continuous flow experiments. Catalysts with 0, 2.6, 4.5, and 6.5% F were pretreated in flowing oxygen either at 500 or 650{degrees}C. Only the products of dehydrogenation and demethanation were obtained on pure alumina; the rate of reaction was about one order of magnitude higher when the catalyst was pretreated at 650{degrees}C than when it was pretreated at 500{degrees}C. Paraffins, including neopentane, were also produced over fluorided aluminas; on catalysts pretreated at 650{degrees}C while dehydrogenation and demethanation decreased, paraffin formation increased with time on stream (TOS). Over the catalysts with 4.5 and 6.5% F the rate of hydride transfer-producing paraffins exceeded that of initiation (H{sub 2} + CH{sub 4} formation) by a factor of from 2 to 3. All of the catalysts were more active than silica-alumina for isobutane conversion. IR spectra from pyridine adsorbed on catalysts with 0-4.5% F and pretreated either at 500 or 650{degrees}C showed no evidence of a band of 1540-50 cm{sup -1} assignable to pyridinium ion formed by interaction between pyridine and Bronsted acid sites. On the catalyst with 6.5% F this band appeared when the catalyst was pretreated atmore » either 500 or 650{degrees}C. Isobutane can be dehydrogenated and demethanated over the dual acid-base pair sites of the alumina. The increasing paraffin formation with TOS may result from new and additional Bronsted sites introduced during dehydrogenation. 22 refs., 7 figs., 4 tabs.« less
On Charge Transfer in Ion-Atom Collisions at Intermediate Collision Velocities

We study charge transfer at intermediate energies for multielectron ion-atom collisions within the coupled-state impact-parameter method. We point out the importance of assumptions about electronic relaxation by comparing various calculations of cross sections for KK charge transfer in F9+ + Si as a test case. In these calculations, either the unrelaxed Hamiltonian of the atomic model or a relaxed molecular Hamiltonian has been employed, and two-state atomic or molecular basis sets have been used. To correct for the inadequacy of atomic orbitals for close collisions at intermediate energies, we propose to add orbitals of the united atom at the two collision centers. With such an atomic basis set, quasimolecular behavior of the system is represented sufficiently well. We report on results for the collision system H+ + He+ for which calculations with large molecular and atomic basis sets exist.
Evaluating gender differences in prognosis following SPECT myocardial perfusion imaging among patients with diabetes and known or suspected coronary disease in the modern era.

Previous data suggested that diabetic women were at greater risk for future cardiac events than diabetic men. Increasing awareness of coronary artery disease (CAD) in women and advances in the management of CAD may have changed this paradigm. To investigate gender differences in prognosis among patients with diabetes who were clinically referred for single-photon emission computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (SPECT-MPI). Patients with diabetes undergoing SPECT-MPI from 1996 to 2006 were followed for 5 years or until cardiac death or non-fatal myocardial infarction. Clinical characteristics and nuclear parameters were compared with χ 2 and t tests. Multivariable Cox regression controlled for baseline differences and tested the impact of gender on survival. A total of 4,628 SPECT-MPI patients with diabetes (50% women, mean age 63 ± 12 years) were analyzed. There were 380 events, with rates higher in men (10% vs 7%, P < .001). Patients of either gender with abnormal scans had higher event rates than patients with normal scans. There were fewer cardiac events in diabetic females with no known CAD and normal scans compared to similar males (P = .044). However, diabetic males and females with known CAD had similar event rates for all degrees of perfusion abnormalities. Only age, history of heart failure, nuclear perfusion defect, and LVEF predicted survival; gender did not. LVEF ≤ 50% had the strongest association with cardiac events (hazard ratio = 2.518, 95% confidence interval, 1.922-3.298). Cardiovascular outcomes among patients with diabetes, regardless of a history of CAD, were similar in women and men. The size and severity of stress-induced perfusion abnormalities predicted outcomes equally in both genders.
The Political Capital of Foreign Subsidiaries: An Exploratory Model

This article explores the concept of political capital in the setting of multinational corporation foreign subsidiaries. Drawing on resource dependence theory, the literature on corporate political activities, and the bargaining power framework, hypotheses are developed examining the antecedents to subsidiary political capital. The article tests hypotheses based on primary data from 91 foreign subsidiaries using path analysis. The empirical results suggest that both ownership of bargaining power resources and the management of those resources through government affairs activities are important in explaining the variation of political capital across foreign subsidiaries.
Optimal therapy of malignant pleural effusions.

A randomized phase III trial of bleomycin, tetracycline and talc following chest tube drainage and a meta-analysis of relative benefit of bleomycin and tetracycline as sclerosing agents were performed to determine the optimal approach to malignant pleural effusion (MPE). Fifty patients were randomized to receive bleomycin (n=16), tetracycline (n=19) or talc (n=16) following chest tube drainage. Treatment groups were balanced for pretreatment characteristics. The study was ended prematurely because of the removal of parenteral tetracycline from the market. Overall, 52% of randomized patients had successful control of effusion 30 days after sclerosis. There were no differences between any of the three treatment groups in terms of 30 day control of effusion, overall survival (6 months), resclerosis rate, pain with sclerosis, fever, or duration of hospitalization (6 days). A meta-analysis was performed using the four previously reported trials of tetracycline vs. bleomycin and revealed a 20.6% advantage to the use of bleomycin (95% C.I. 7.9%-33.3%) (p=0.002). This phase III failed to demonstrate a significant difference between the three agents in terms of control of MPE at 30 days, side effects or survival. However, because of small sample size, this study lacks sufficient power to observe potentially clinically important differences between treatment groups. Inclusion of data from four previous trials in a meta-analysis showed that bleomycin may be superior. The median duration of hospitalization and the overall success rate of all three sclerosing agents in this study argue convincingly that new approaches to palliate MPE are needed.
MODIFIED SYNTHESIS OF 3′-OTBDPS-PROTECTED FURANOID GLYCAL

Thermolytic cleavage of 3′-OH protected thymidine is the most common method of preparing furanoid glycals. We have observed that glycosidic bond cleavage is more facile when the 5′-OH of thymidine was also protected with a silyl group. Addition of trimethylsilyl chloride facilitated cleavage of the glycosidic bond; thus, both modifications are required for the formation of the furanoid glycal. Investigations into the selective deprotection of 5′-silyl versus 3′-silyl and subsequent glycosidic bond cleavage are reported herein.
Mirza Ghalib: A Creative Biography . By Natalia Prigarina. Translated by M. Osama Faruqi. Karachi: Oxford University Press, 2000. 361 pp. $38.00 (cloth).

Mirza Ghalib (1797-1869), nobleman, wit, poet and literateur, was the last great literary figure produced by Mughal India. This biography has two main motifs - the poet's destiny and his creative work.
Dynamic visual acuity during passive and self-generated transient head rotation in normal and unilaterally vestibulopathic humans

To determine whether dynamic visual acuity (DVA) during head rotations on the stationary body can lateralize unilateral vestibular deafferentation and detect non-labyrinthine compensation mechanisms, 15 normal and 11 subjects with unilateral vestibular deafferentation underwent manually imposed and self-generated transient yaw head rotations during measurement of binocular DVA. DVA was measured by a four-alternative, forced choice, staircase procedure with optotype presentation only when head velocity exceeded thresholds of 50° or 75°/s. Eye and head movements were recorded using search coils to characterize ocular motor strategies. During directionally unpredictable, manually imposed contralesional rotation, unilaterally deafferented subjects had decreases in DVA from the static condition of 0.36±0.22 and 0.47±0.53 log of the minimum angle resolvable (logMAR, mean ± SD), respectively, for 50° and 75°/s thresholds, not significantly greater than those of normal subjects (0.26±0.13 and 0.36±0.14, P>0.05). However, during manually imposed ipsilesional rotation, vestibulopathic subjects had decreases in DVA of 0.66±0.36 and 1.08±0.47 logMAR, significantly greater than during contralesional rotation (P<0.01). The DVA reduction difference for the ipsi- and contralesional directions was less during self-generated than during manually imposed head rotations. The directional difference for manually administered head rotations yielded a robust diagnostic measure with essentially no overlap in performance with normal subjects. Diagnostic performance for DVA during self-generated head rotation was poorer. Recordings of eye and head movements made using search coils during DVA testing confirmed a deficient vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR) during ipsilesional rotation, with most unilaterally vestibulopathic subjects employing predictive smooth eye movements and vestibular catch-up saccades. Measurement of DVA during transient head rotation on the body thus reliably can detect and lateralize vestibular pathology and compensatory mechanisms. Extravestibular mechanisms for compensation appear more effective during self-generated than manually imposed head rotations.
Human Brain Activity Time-Locked to Narrative Event Boundaries

Readers structure narrative text into a series of events in order to understand and remember the text. In this study, subjects read brief narratives describing everyday activities while brain activity was recorded with functional magnetic resonance imaging. Subjects later read the stories again to divide them into large and small events. During the initial reading, points later identified as boundaries between events were associated with transient increases in activity in a number of brain regions whose activity was mediated by changes in the narrated situation, such as changes in characters' goals. These results indicate that the segmentation of narrated activities into events is a spontaneous part of reading, and that this process of segmentation is likely dependent on neural responses to changes in the narrated situation.
Boron-containing polymers as versatile building blocks for functional nanostructured materials

This review aims to highlight recent advances in the emerging field of boron-containing polymers as precursors for nanostructured materials. Boron compounds display highly interesting physical and chemical properties, which are of great potential benefit in the field of materials science. Specifically, combination of the unique characteristics of boron-containing functional groups with the nano-size regime of dendritic structures and the self-assembly of polymers of well-defined architectures, such as telechelic polymers and block copolymers, allows scientists to develop next generation materials for sensing, electronic devices, catalysis, biomedical applications, etc.
Hybrid immune response to parental liver tissue grafts.

Parental-to-Fl-hybrid liver tissue grafts in like-sex donor-recipient combinations survive indefinitely, although several F1 recipients demonstrate an immunological response to the parental graft. Female F1 recipients, particularly those carrying the H-2 b haplotype, respond vigorously to male parental liver grafts. However F 1 female responses to male parental liver tissue grafts differ substantively from the responses of parental females to syngeneic male grafts. C3H male liver grafts are rejected vigorously by F, females as long as the F~ carries the H-2 b haplotype. These findings support previous reports of strong immunological responses to C3H H-Y antigen in female F, and C3H.SW animals, a response which is absent in C3H females. Female F 1 hybrids carrying the H-2 b haplotype do not reject grafts of B 10 or B6 male liver as rapidly as do B10 or B6 parental females. This reduced F, response may be related to the formation of hybrid antigens and consequent alteration of the anti-H-Y response. Alternatively, cells that specifically suppress the anti-H-Y response may be present in F~ hybrids. Factors responsible for suppression appear to be controlled by non-MHC antigens, at least in (C3H × B6 or B10) F 1 hybrids.
The Role of The Cuticle in Water Vapor Conductance by the Eggshell of Broiler Breeders

Abstract The effects of cuticle removal on the water vapor conductance (G) by eggshells from broiler breeders were determined in five experiments. The efficacy of washing eggs in sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) as a means to remove cuticle was demonstrated in Experiment 1. Birds housed in slat litter pens were used in Experiment 2, 4, and 5, while individually caged birds were used in Experiment 3. Conductance measurements before and after cuticle removal were made in desiccators in Experiments 2, 3, and 4, and G measurements, with and without the cuticle, were made in incubators in Experiment 5. Conductance before and after cuticle removal was measured at various time periods between Weeks 33 and 66. Water vapor conductance was increased to a highly significant degree after cuticle removal at Weeks 54, 58, and 61 in Experiment 2. Conductance was significantly higher after cuticle removal at Weeks 42, 46, 50, and 54 and significantly lower after cuticle removal at Weeks 38 and 64 in Experiment 3. Conductance was significantly higher after cuticle removal at Weeks 33, 37, 45, 49, and 61 and significantly lower after cuticle removal at Week 65 in Experiment 4. The greatest changes in conductance with cuticle removal (AG) were + 1.80 at Week 33 and —2.40 at Week 65 in Experiment 4. In Experiment 5, G was significantly higher with the cuticle removed than it was with the cuticle intact at Weeks 48, 54, and 66. It was concluded that the cuticle may either impede or enhance water vapor diffusion as a function of a bird’s age. The influence of the cuticle is, in turn, affected by the humidity of the air surrounding the egg.