cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Financing as mother's milk for international biotechnology start-ups

This paper uses interviews of biotechnology investors and entrepreneurs to investigate the role of four investor types and eight financing vehicles across four stages of firm evolution. The choice of financing vehicle can have a differential impact on speed to market, control of direction, degree of technological risk, and capability development. This framework will be helpful for entrepreneurs, policymakers, academics and the international trade community in anticipating the impact of financing on firm and technology development – particularly as biotechnology firms are developing the next generation of drugs, therapeutics, devices, tools and diagnostics for curing human disease.
Glial cells as a model for the role of cobalamin in the nervous system: impaired synthesis of cobalamin coenzymes in cultured human astrocytes following short-term cobalamin-deprivation.

Abstract The conversion of cyanocobalamin to adenosyl- and methylcobalamin is impaired in cobalamin-deficient cultured human glial cells. In contrast cultured human skin fibroblasts retained their ability to synthesize coenzyme forms when grown in cobalamin-deficient medium. Cells were pre-conditioned by growing in cobalamin-deficient media for six weeks and then subcultured in medium containing either free or transcobalamin II-bound 57Co-cyanocobalamin. Although both coenzyme levels were low in cobalamin-deficient glial cells, the decrease in methylcobalamin was more marked than that of adenosylcobalamin. Methionine synthase and Cbl reductase activities were markedly decreased in cobalamin-deficient glial cells but were unchanged in fibroblasts cultured in cobalamin-deficient medium. Our data suggest that in glial cells, cobalamin coenzyme synthesis and function is exquisitely sensitive to short-term cobalamin deprivation. Glial cells apparently synthesize and secrete transcobalamin II since antibodies directed against the transport protein inhibit the uptake of free cobalamin.
Competing risks of cancer mortality and cardiovascular events in individuals with multimorbidity

Background: Cancer patients with cardiovascular and other comorbidities are at concurrent risk of multiple adverse outcomes. However, most treatment decisions are guided by evidence from single-outcome models, which may be misleading for multimorbid patients. Objective: We assessed the interacting effects of cancer, cardiovascular, and other morbidity burdens on the competing outcomes of cancer mortality, serious cardiovascular events, and other-cause mortality. Design: We analyzed a cohort of 6,500 adults with initial cancer diagnosis between 2001 and 2008, SEER 5-year survival ≥26%, and a range of cardiovascular risk factors. We estimated the cumulative incidence of cancer mortality, a serious cardiovascular event (myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization, or cardiovascular mortality), and other-cause mortality over 5 years, and identified factors associated with the competing risks of each outcome using cause-specific Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Following cancer diagnosis, there were 996 (15.3%) cancer deaths, 328 (5.1%) serious cardiovascular events, and 542 (8.3%) deaths from other causes. In all, 4,634 (71.3%) cohort members had none of these outcomes. Although cancer prognosis had the greatest effect, cardiovascular and other morbidity also independently increased the hazard of each outcome. The effect of cancer prognosis on outcome was greatest in year 1, and the effect of other morbidity was greater in individuals with better cancer prognoses. Conclusion: In multimorbid oncology populations, comorbidities interact to affect the competing risk of different outcomes. Quantifying these risks may provide persons with cancer plus cardiovascular and other comorbidities more accurate information for shared decision-making than risks calculated from single-outcome models. Journal of Comorbidity 2014:4(1):29 – 36
Direct force measurement in normal and oblique impact of plates by projectiles

Abstract An experimental investigation of the forces produced by the penetration and perforation of thin aluminum and steel plates by cylindro-conical and hemispherically-tipped projectiles at 0, 15, 30 and 45° angles of incidence has been performed. Additionally, force histories were recorded for normal impact on Lexan, nylon and ceramic targets by conically-tipped strikers. Similar tests on Kevlar were not successful owing to the generation of voltages by rubbing of fibers that completely overwhelmed the transducer signal. A piezoelectric crystal bonded to the tail of the 12.7 mm diameter, 30 g projectiles followed by an inertial mass and a trailing wire provided the instrumentation. The strikers were propelled by means of a pneumatic gun at velocities ranging from 45 to 170 ms−1. Displacement data obtained from high-speed photography for selected runs allowed curve fits to an analytical function which were compared to the directly recorded force histories. The effects of changes in initial velocity, angle of obliquity and striker tip on the peak force have been analyzed. A simple model has been developed for the perforation of plates by hemispherically-tipped projectiles at oblique incidence, and comparisons have been made with the measured force histories. A model was also devised to predict the peak forces obtained for oblique impact by cylindro-conical projectiles. The peak forces obtained experimentally were found to be relatively independent of the initial projectile velocity for shots where perforation occured. For the tests at speeds below the ballistic limit, the maximum forces were approximately proportional to the initial velocity.
Emphasizing Fear of Crime in Models of Neighborhood Social Disorganization

The place of fear of crime in traditional models of neighborhood social disorganization is rather ambiguous. This paper discusses the literatures on social disorganization theory and fear of crime, arguing for a model of social disorganization that explicitly incorporates fear of crime rather than ignoring it, assuming it, or using proxies for it. After providing an overview of the links between the social disorganization and fear of crime literatures, this paper elaborates on Robert Bursik's (1988) framework to show how a dynamic model of social disorganization may incorporate fear of crime. Specifically, this paper more closely examines the idea that fear of crime is the point of departure for a reciprocal effect feedback loop in social disorganization theory. This paper also claims that a dynamic model of social disorganization can include the concept of fear of crime as a mediator between community-level structures and the intervening social control variables that causally precede crime. Other criminological approaches to fear of crime are also explored and the implications for future research are discussed.
The effects of tamoxifen on the osteopenia induced by sciatic neurotomy in the rat: a histomorphometric study.

The effects of a 3-week treatment with the nonsteroidal “antiestrogen” tamoxifen were determined on cortical and trabecular bone mass of the tibiae of growing male rats that had undergone unilateral sciatic neurotomy (USN). USN resulted in decreases in cortical area (−11.3%), cross-sectional area (−8.4%), and periosteal bone formation rate (−32.6%) in cortical bone, indicating that the disuse osteopenia results in a decrease in bone formation in cortical bone. USN significantly reduced the amount of trabecular bone in our metaphyseal sampling site (−75%), markedly increasing the amount of bone surface lined by osteoclasts (+65%) without affecting the surface lined by osteoblasts. These results suggest that trabecular bone disuse osteopenia is due, at least in part, to increased bone resorption. Tamoxifen treatment significantly reduced the loss of trabecular bone, restoring resorbing surface length to the control (sham-operated) animal levels. Tamoxifen treatment of sham-operated animals increased trabecular bone area and surface by 35.7% (±10.5) and 41.8% (±7.8), respectively, and reduced resorbing surface by 21.5% (±11.6) compared with sham-operated placebo-treated rats. Tamoxifen had no significant effect on cortical bone parameters in the sham-operated group. The results indicate that tamoxifen is able to reduce the trabecular bone loss that results from USN, but has no effect on cortical bone disuse osteopenia, or on trabecular bone formation. Moreover, tamoxifen treatment of control (intact) animals inhibited the normal levels of bone resorption occurring in these rapidly growing animals.
Subwavelength Nonlinear Plasmonic Nanowire

We investigate numerically, by means of the finite-difference time-domain method, the propagation characteristics of surface plasmon-polariton (SPP) modes excited in an optical nanowire consisting of a chain of Ag spheres embedded in dielectric shells made of materials with optical Kerr nonlinearity. It is demonstrated that, in the linear limit, the nanowire supports two SPP modes, a transverse and a longitudinal one, separated by Δλ = 20 nm. Furthermore, the dependence of the transmission characteristics of these SPP modes, on both the pulse peak power and Kerr coefficient of the dielectric shell, is investigated. Nonlinear optical phenomena, such as power dependence of mode frequency, switching, or optical limiting, are observed and discussed.
Nitrogen bond strain effects in the chemistry of ring-amino boron hydrides

Abstract Compounds of the types (R 2 NBH 2 ) 2 and R 2 NB 2 H 5 are fairly stable even though the BNB bond angles are far less than tetrahedral; however, when the N bonds are further strained, as in the ring-amino boron hydrides (C 3 H 6 NBH 2 ) 2 and C 3 H 6 NB 2 H 5 , the result is instability. Attempts to make the still more N-strained (C 2 H 4 NBH 2 ) 2 and C 2 H 4 NB 2 H 5 lead instead to opened-ring products. The full comparison has included synthesis of the new compounds. C 5 H 10 NBH 2 (assoc.; m.p. 110°; b.p. est 202°), C 5 H 10 NB 2 H 5 (liquid; b.p. est. 148°), C 4 H 8 NBH 2 (assoc.; m.p. 34°; b.p. est. 194°), C 4 H 8 NB 2 H 5 (m.p. −63.5°; b.p. est. 122°), (C 3 H 6 NBH 2 ) 2 (m.p. 51·8°; b.p. est. 186°), C 3 H 6 NB 2 H 5 (m.p. −45·4°; −45·4°; b.p. est. 101°), C 2 H 5 NHB 2 H 5 (m.p. −96.4°; b.p. est. 87°), and n -C 3 H 7 NHB 2 H 5 (glass softening −146 to −142°; b.p. est. 121°). The corresponding NBH 3 complexes were observed; and the mono-strained C 2 H 4 NH·BH 3 proved to be pairly stable.
Microwave-assisted one-pot radiosynthesis of 2′-deoxy-2′-[18F]fluoro-5-methyl-1-β-d-arabinofuranosyluracil ([18F]-FMAU)

Abstract Objectives [ 18 F]-FMAU is a PET tracer being evaluated for imaging cell proliferation. Current multi-step procedures of [ 18 F]-FMAU synthesis are time-consuming, resulting in low radiochemical yield and inconvenient applications for the clinic. We have previously reported the use of Friedel-Crafts catalysts for an improved synthesis of [ 18 F]-FMAU. In this study, we investigated the efficiency of microwave-assisted radiosynthesis of [ 18 F]-FMAU in comparison with conventional thermal conditions. Methods A simplified one-pot synthesis of [ 18 F]-FMAU was developed under microwave conditions. Various reaction times, temperatures, and microwave powers were systematically explored to optimize the coupling reaction of 2-deoxy-2-[ 18 F]fluoro-1,3,5-tri- O -benzoyl-d-arabinofuranose ([ 18 F]-sugar) and bis-2,4-(trimethylsilyloxy)-5-methyluracil (silylated uracil) in the presence of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst, trimethylsilyl trifluoromethanesulfonate (TMSOTf). Results Microwave significantly enhanced the coupling efficiency of [ 18 F]-sugar and silylated uracil by reducing the reaction time to 10 min (6-fold reduction as compared to conventional heating) at 95 °C. Base hydrolysis followed by high-performance liquid chromatography purification produced the desired [ 18 F]-FMAU. The overall radiochemical yield was 20±4% (decay corrected, n =3). Radiochemical purity was >99% and specific activity was >400 mCi/μmol. The α/β anomer ratio was 1:2. The radiosynthesis time was about 90 min from the end of bombardment. Conclusions A reliable microwave-assisted approach has been developed for routine synthesis of [ 18 F]-FMAU. The new approach affords a simplified process with shorter synthesis time and higher radiochemical yield as compared to conventional heating. A fully automated microwave-assisted synthesis of [ 18 F]-FMAU can be readily achieved under new reaction conditions.
Non-coplanar inverse planning IMRT using the MIMiC system: clinical significance in choice of 2-cm/1-cm mode and single couch vs. multiple couch angles

The IMRT delivery process using MIMiC is extremely effective. In the hands of an experienced practitioner, MIMiC can provide excellent conformity to tumor volume with minimal damage to adjacent critical structures. However, the process is not completely automatic, even though it is an inverse planning process. The choice of machine treatment mode, 1- or 2-cm mode, and the choice of single couch angle vs. multiple, will yield quite different end results, with all prescription parameters being equal. The choice of mode and number of couch angles that yield excellent results of good coverage of the PTV with minimal hot spots and appropriate degree of normal tissue sparing still depends on the clinical experience of the planner. The size, shape, and total length of the PTV and those of the organs of interest dictate the choice. The authors demonstrated some clinical examples with comparative studies of the results of different choice of these parameters. In general, smaller beamlets with multiple couch angles give better PTV conformity, and critical organ avoidance. The down side of these choices are: (a) relatively more scattered hot spots within PTV, (b) longer time required to deliver the treatment, and (c) increased complexity of the process that could increase the chance of human error in treatment delivery.
High-performance liquid chromatography method for serum methotrexate levels in children with severe steroid-dependent asthma

Monitoring of low-dose methotrexate (MTX), as used in severe steroid-dependent asthma, requires a sensitive and reproducible technique which has hitherto not been available. A high-performance liquid chromatographic method for the determination of MTX in serum is reported. The method involves deproteinization with acetone followed by addition of butanol and diethyl ether. The percentage recovery with this method compared with others was high (90 versus 70%). The samples were chromatographed on a reversed-phase ODS column and monitored at 313 nm. The retention time for MTX was 14.7 min. Pharmacokinetics of MTX was studied in five patients (age 3–15 years) with severe asthma who received a weekly oral dose of 10 mg/m2 body surface area. Following administration, the serum disappearance was monophasic with a half-life of 5 h. A metabolite, 7-hydroxymethotrexate was detected in serum after 2 h and reached a maximum concentration after 6 h. This new method will facilitate monitoring of asthmatic patients on methotrexate and allow for dose response and toxicity studies to be conducted.
The extrinsic precursor kinetics of molecular methane adsorption onto Pt(1 1 1)-p(2×2)-O, -n-butylidyne, and -isobutylidyne

Abstract The kinetics of methane trapping on Pt(1 1 1)-p(2×2)-O, - n -butylidyne, and -isobutylidyne were investigated using supersonic molecular beam techniques at surface temperatures between 30 and 84 K. The adsorption behavior was described by a model in which adsorption was forced through an extrinsic precursor. The temperature dependence of the initial adsorption probability suggests that the difference in activation energies for desorption and migration from the extrinsic precursor, E ′ d − E m ′ , depends on the geometry and structure of the adsorbate covering the surface. The activation energy for migration of the extrinsic precursor to a binding site is greatest on the n -butylidyne-covered surface, followed by the isobutylidyne- and the oxygen-covered surfaces, respectively. The high activation energy for reconversion to the extrinsic precursor observed for the extrinsic precursor is consistent with the corrugated gas-surface potential measured in trapping dynamics experiments.
Gas phase attachment of water and methanol to Ag(I) complexes with alpha-amino acids in an ion trap mass spectrometer.

Electrospray ionization was used to generate gas phase complexes of Ag+ with selected alpha-amino acids. Following storage (isolation without collisional activation) in an ion trap mass spectrometer, the mass spectra produced from the complexes of Ag+ with alpha-amino acids such as alanine, valine and tert-leucine contained peaks consistent with the formation of water or methanol molecule adduct ions. The same adduct ions were not present, however, in the mass spectra generated from the Ag+ complexes with phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan following isolation and storage under similar conditions. For those complexes that showed reactivity, the uptake of water and methanol increased with longer storage times in the ion trap. A preliminary molecular modeling study using phenylalanine demonstrated that the aromatic ring coordinates the Ag+ ion, and the interaction between the metal ion and pi-system, in part, is assumed to prohibit the binding of water or methanol during isolation in the gas phase. This conclusion is supported by a comparison of the adduct formation by the Ag+ complexes with phenylalanine, 4-fluorophenylalanine and alpha-aminocyclohexanepropionic acid. In addition, collision induced dissociation experiments involving the Ag+ complexes of phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan suggest that limiting the coordination of the Ag ion by the complexing molecule (i.e. by loss of a coordinating functional group and/or change in structure due to dissociation) results in the binding of a water or methanol molecule during storage in the ion trap. Surprisingly, the bare Ag+ ion, when trapped and stored under identical experimental conditions, formed neither adduct species, suggesting that the attachment of water or methanol may be due to interactions with a molecular orbital within the Ag+/molecule complex.
Adults in programs for the “academically underprepared”

This chapter considers strengths-based approaches to supporting learning for adults facing challenges in their abilities to engage in and commit to adult learning programs, and offers directions for policy and practice.
Using substrate specificity of antiplasmin-cleaving enzyme for fibroblast activation protein inhibitor design.

Circulating antiplasmin-cleaving enzyme (APCE), a prolyl-specific serine proteinase, is essentially identical to membrane-inserted fibroblast activation protein (FAP) that is transiently expressed during epithelial-derived cancer growth. Human precursive α2-antiplasmin (Met-α2AP), the only known physiologic substrate for APCE, is cleaved N-terminally to Asn-α2AP that is rapidly cross-linked to fibrin and protects it from digestion by plasmin. Identifying a specific inhibitor of APCE/FAP continues to be intensely pursued. Recombinant FAP cleavage of peptide libraries of short amino acid sequences surrounding the scissile bond, -Pro12-Asn13-, indicated that P2 Gly and P1 Pro are required, just as we found for APCE. We examined cleavage of P4−P4′ peptides, using 19 amino acid substitutions at each position and selected ones in P8−P5. Km values determined for peptide substrates showed that P7 Arg has the highest affinity for APCE. Peptide cleavage rate increased with Arg in P6 rather than P5 or native P7. Pla...
Consuming Subjects: Women and the Market in Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South

Criticism on Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South (1854-5) has tended to assume that the novel principally concerns production rather than consumption. The most influential analyses of the novel, fo...
Wave propagation in isotropic- or composite-material piping conveying swirling liquid

Abstract An analysis is presented for the propagation of free harmonic waves in a thin-walled, circular cylindrical shell of orthotropic or isotropic material conveying a swirling flow. The shell motion is modeled by using the dynamic orthotropic version of the Sanders improved first-approximation linear shell theory and the fluid forces are described by using inviscid incompressible flow theory. Frequency spectra are presented for pipes made of isotropic material and composite materials of current engineering interest.
Curing kinetics and optimal cure schedules for underfill materials

The curing reactions and optimal schedules of three promising flip-chip underfill materials under isothermal and nonisothermal treatments are reported. It is found that curing reactions for three-tested underfill materials are autocatalytic, and the cure rate can be well described by the corresponding model. The activation energy, the rate constants, as well as two reaction orders m and n are determined to describe the curing progress. The temperature dependence of the cure degree for each heating rate is also investigated. It is found that the extent of reactions at a given temperature is a function of the heating rate. The glass transition temperature for the underfill UF-II is determined as a function of cure degree. It is found that the glass transition temperature increases with the cure time.
Thermal activation in bistable systems under external periodic forces

Considered is the motion of a Brownian particle in a bistable potential exposed to an external periodic field. Our analysis is based on a systematic Fokker-Planck description of the non-stationary stochastic process. Besides general characteristics, such as the nonmixing property, we present full numerical solutions for probability distributions and the modulation induced rate enhancement. Moreover, approximation schemes for small and large frequencies are considered and their results are compared to the numerical data.
OH sensor based on ultraviolet, continuous-wave absorption spectroscopy utilizing a frequency-quadrupled, fiber-amplified external-cavity diode laser.

The development of an all-solid-state cw laser system for optical absorption measurements of the OH radical in the UV spectral range is described. The tunable output of a 1064-nm external-cavity diode laser is amplified by use of a Nd:doped, double-clad fiber amplifier. The amplified near-IR radiation is frequency doubled by a periodically poled lithium niobate crystal and then quadrupled in a beta-barium borate crystal. The design and operation of the system and measurements of OH absorption in the (2, 0) band of the AΣ+2–XΠ2 electronic transition are discussed.
Evaluating medical students' skills in obtaining informed consent for HIV testing.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate fourth-year medical students’ abilities to obtain informed consent or refusal for HIV testing through a performance-based evaluation method. DESIGN: Student competence was assessed in a standardized patient interaction in which the student obtained informed consent or refusal for HIV testing. A previously validated 16-item checklist was completed by the standardized patient. A subset was independently reviewed and scored by a faculty member to calculate interrater reliability for this report. Student feedback on the assessment was elicited. SETTING: School of Medicine at the University of New Mexico. PATIENTS/PARTICIPANTS: All senior medical students in the class of 2000 were included. INTERVENTIONS: A 10-minute standardized patient interaction was administered within the context of a formal comprehensive performance assessment. MEASUREMENTS and MAIN RESULTS: Seventy-nine students participated, and most (96%) demonstrated competence on the station. For the 15 specific items, the mean score was 25.5 out of 30 possible points (range, 13 to 30; SD, 3.5) on the checklist. A strong positive correlation (rs=.79) was found between the total score on the 15 Likert-scaled items and the score in response to the global item, “I would return to this clinician’ (mean, 3.5; SD, 1.0). Scores given by the standardized patients and the faculty rater were well correlated. The station was generally well received by students, many of whom were stimulated to pursue further learning. CONCLUSIONS: This method of assessing medical students’ abilities to obtain informed consent or refusal for HIV testing can be translated to a variety of clinical settings. Such efforts may help in demonstrating competence in performing key ethics skills and may help ensure ethically sound clinical care for people at risk for HIV infection.
Metacognitive monitoring in moderate and severe traumatic brain injury.

The ability to engage in self-reflective processes is a capacity that may be disrupted after neurological compromise; research to date has demonstrated that patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) show reduced awareness of their deficits and functional ability compared to caretaker or clinician reports. Assessment of awareness of deficit, however, has been limited by the use of subjective measures (without comparison to actual performance) that are susceptible to report bias. This study used concurrent measurements from cognitive testing and confidence judgments about performance to investigate in-the-moment metacognitive experiences after moderate and severe traumatic brain injury. Deficits in metacognitive accuracy were found in adults with TBI for some but not all indices, suggesting that metacognition may not be a unitary construct. Findings also revealed that not all indices of executive functioning reliably predict metacognitive ability. (JINS, 2011, 17, 720–731)
Toxoplasma's arms race with the host interferon response: a ménage à trois of ROPs.

The Toxoplasma gondii virulence factors ROP5 and ROP18 both target immunity-related GTPases (IRGs) to evade immunity. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Etheridge et al. (2014) identify a third virulence factor, ROP17, which forms a complex and synergizes with ROP5/ROP18 to fully disable the IRG system of antiparasite defense.
Solitons or inhomogeneous doping in As F 5 -doped polyacetylene—EPR and dc conductivity evidence

The question of whether several properties of As${\mathrm{F}}_{5}$-doped ${(\mathrm{CH})}_{x}$ are due to solitons or doping inhomogeneities is investigated. For dopant concentrations ranging from 0.3 to 4.0 mol% in cis-${(\mathrm{CH})}_{x}$, the EPR spin susceptibility is found to be essentially independent of temperature from 300 K down to the lowest temperatures measured (100 K) but is proportional to the concentration. In trans-${(\mathrm{CH})}_{x}$ results are found for two dopant concentrations that are completely consistent with those in the cis isomer. From these results we propose that over this concentration range the doping is very inhomogeneous, there being distinct doped and undoped regions with the doped regions being metallic. For concentrations of 0.95 and 16 mol% in cis-${(\mathrm{CH})}_{x}$ the respective temperature dependences of the dc conductivity, $\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}A{T}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}})$ and $\mathrm{exp}(\ensuremath{-}{A}^{\ensuremath{'}}{T}^{\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{4}})$, are taken to support the idea of very inhomogeneous doping. The transition to metallic conductivity, previously interpreted as a semiconductor-to-metal transition throughout the doped sample, is attributed to the crossing of a percolation threshold at which the metallic regions form a metallic continuum. The effect of doping on the degree of isomerization, which is important for interpreting some experiments on cis-${(\mathrm{CH})}_{x}$, is critically examined. A variety of other experimental evidence, particularly evidence that others have advanced in support of the soliton-doping mechanism, is reviewed and shown to be compatible with inhomogeneous doping, in most cases, while incompatible with soliton doping in several cases.
Experimental analysis of porosity-induced ultrasonic attenuation and velocity change in carbon composites

Abstract In this paper, ultrasonic measurement results are presented for analysing the wave propagation in carbon fibre reinforced plastics (CFRP) containing voids. The composite samples studied include laminates fabricated from unidirectional and woven fabric prepregs. The ultrasonic methods stress the utilization of spectral analysis and frequency dependence of the attenuation and phase velocity due to porosity. Morphological parameters of pores are found to play an important role in the proper interpretation of measured data. The measured attenuation shows approximately linear behaviour over the frequency range used. The corresponding phase velocity decreases substantially with increasing void content. In addition, the velocity in porous CFRP is found to be more dispersive than that in void-free composites. The relationship between the ultrasonic attenuation and dispersion is subsequently tested using the local form of the Kramers-Kronig relation. The linear relationship between the void content and the attenuation slope ( d α d f ) is found to hold, but the constant of proportionality is quite different for samples with different pore morphology. This morphology has a large effect on the dispersion of phase velocity. The fractional velocity decrease ( ΔV V 0 ) is correlated with the void content, and its dependence on the frequency and void shape is discussed. The present analysis will aid in the model development of wave propagation in porous composites for detecting and characterizing the porosity in these materials.
The genetic toxicology of 5-bromodeoxyuridine in mammalian cells

Abstract The thymidine analog, BrdUrd, induces many biological responses which are of importance to the filed of genetic toxicology and related disciplines. these include the induction of SCE, specific-locus mutations, and toxicity, inhibition of cell proliferation, and the expression of fragile sites in the human genome. In early models which addressed the mechanisms of the biloogical effects of BrdUrd exposure, two pathways were proposed to account for the induction of the biological responses. Incorporation of the enol form of BrdUrd into the nascent DNA strand after pairing with deoxyguanosine was proposed as one pathway, whereas the incorporation of BrdUrd opposite adenosine in place of thymidine was proposed as the second pathway. Many novel and sophisticated techniques have been applied to the study of the mechanism of the induction of biological effects by BrdUrd leading to a substantial increase in our understanding of these mechanisms. However, the experimental evidence clearly supports the contention that BrdUrd exerts its effects on eukaryotic cells through mechanisms similar to those originally proposed to explain the gentoxicity of BrdUrd.
UDATE1: a computer program for the calculation of Uranium-series isotopic ages

Abstract UDATE1 is a FORTRAN-77 program with an interface for an Apple Macintosh computer that calculates isotope activities from measured count rates to date geologic materials by uranium-series disequilibria. Dates on pure samples can be determined directly by the accumulation of 230 Th from 234 U and of 231 Pa from 235 U. Dates for samples contaminated by clays containing abundant natural thorium can be corrected by the program using various mixing models. Input to the program and file management are made simple and user friendly by a series of Macintosh modal dialog boxes.
I. Twenty years of TF&SC

Our History Volume 1, Number 1, of this Journal appeared in June 1969. Its title was then Technological Forecasting. The words “and Social Change” were added in Volume 2 (1970-71). The cover announced that it was an international journal “devoted to the methodology of exploratory and normative forecasting to encourage applications to planning in an environment of technological and social change.” I had been approached about the concept by Lore Henlein, editor at Elsevier Science Publishing Company. The occasion was Professor James Bright’s 1968 Technological Forecasting Workshop in Lake Placid, New York, where I was one of the speakers. My position at the time was Associate Director of Corporate Planning at the Lockheed Corporation. I was enthusiastic about the idea and, together with Erich Jantsch and Ralph Lenz, started working to launch the quarterly. The first issue featured articles by England’s Nobel Prize laureate Dennis Gabor on normative forecasting, and by America’s Secretary of the Air Force (previously Deputy NASA administrator) Robert Seamans on action and reaction, with particular consideration of competitive and cooperative aspects of the U.S. and Soviet space programs. Academician N. P. Federenko, director of the Central Economic-Mathematical Institute of the Soviet Academy of Sciences, wrote on planning production and consumption in the Soviet Union. G. Bouladon of the Battelle Institute in Switzerland presented a forecast of aviation’s role in future transportation while Czechoslovakia’s Oto Sulc covered a Delphi application in communications technology. The international nature of the Journal was evident from the start. The list of authors in Volume 1 included Theodore Gordon, Yehezkel Dror and Edward Roberts (all now on our Advisory Board), Norman Dalkey and David Novick of The RAND Corporation, and Aurelio Peccei of the Club of Rome. Methodology articles discussed relevance trees (Fischer), input-output analysis (Carter), the technological progress function (Fusfeld), Delphi (Bernstein and Cetron, Dalkey, Martino), simulation gaming (Gordon, Enzer, and Rochberg), state-of-the-art measurement (Dodson), and factor analysis (Rummel). Application articles covered such diverse fields as V/STOL aircraft, electric automobiles, governmental R&D planning, and the university of the future. Martin0 proved to be a prolific contributor from the very beginning. It is
Expression of both P1 and P2 purine receptor genes by human articular chondrocytes and profile of ligand-mediated prostaglandin E2 release.

Objective. To assess the expression and function of purine receptors in articular chondrocytes. Methods. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to screen human chondrocyte RNA for expression of P 1 and P 2 purine receptor subtypes. Purine-stimulated prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) release from chondrocytes, untreated or treated with recombinant human interleukin-1α (rHuIL-1α), was assessed by radioimmunoassay. Results. RT-PCR demonstrated that human articular chondrocytes transcribe messenger RNA for the P 1 receptor subtypes A2a and A2b and the P 2 receptor subtype P 2Y2 , but not for the P 1 receptor subtypes Al and A3. The P 1 receptor agonists adenosine and 5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine did not change PGE 2 release from chondrocytes. The P 2Y2 agonists ATP and UTP stimulated a small release of PGE 2 that was potentiated after pretreatment with rHuIL-1α. PGE 2 release in response to ATP and UTP cotreatment was not additive, but release in response to coaddition of ATP and bradykinin (BK) or UTP and BK was additive, consistent with ATP and UTP competition for the same receptor site. The potentiation of PGE 2 release in response to ATP and UTP after rHuIL-1α pretreatment was mimicked by phorbol myristate acetate. Conclusion. Human chondrocytes express both P 1 and P 2 purine receptor subtypes. The function of the P 1 receptor subtype is not yet known, but stimulation of the P 2Y2 receptor increases IL-1-mediated PGE 2 release.
Novel and emerging mechanisms of antimicrobial resistance in nosocomial pathogens

Nosocomial pathogens frequently are resistant to antimicrobial agents. Although methicillin-resistant strains of Staphylococcus aureus continue to be a major problem in many hospitals, several new types of resistance determinants have been noted among organisms causing hospital-acquired infections. The mechanisms include extended spectrum beta-lactamases in gram-negative bacilli; resistance to beta-lactams, glycopeptides, and high levels of aminoglycosides among enterococci; quinolone resistance in isolates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus; and the spread of multiple resistance genes simultaneously in gram-negative organisms via Tn21-related genetic elements. These novel mechanisms of resistance complicate the treatment of nosocomial infections by limiting the number of effective antimicrobial agents available to the clinician. It is important for infection control practitioners and microbiologists to work together to detect and control the spread of resistant pathogens in the hospital setting.
Dopant Effect on Local Dielectric Properties in Barium Titanate Based Electroceramics Determined by Transmission EELS

Local electronic excitations of Nb-doped BaTiO3 electroceramic were investigated using low-loss electron energy loss (EEL) spectroscopy with a transmission electron microscope. The variations in electronic structure of the BaTiO3 were monitored as a function of Nb content by using Kramers-Kronig analysis of the low-loss EEL spectra. We found that the valence state of Nb (+5) as compared with that of the Ti (+4) introduces changes in the valence and conduction band states of BaTi1−xNbxO3 samples. The real part of the dielectric function, Re(1/ɛ), displays an increasingly less negative character with higher amounts of dopant and the valence plasmon exhibits “quasi-plasmon” characteristics with the addition of Nb (at 0.0–1.8 at.%). Further, the plasmon energy shifts (by about 0.5 eV) to higher values with Nb additions. Significant changes take place in oscillator strengths of excitations in local (nanometer-scale) regions of the perovskite samples. This investigation demonstrates a method to quantitatively assess electronic properties, at the submicrometer scale, of doped ceramics used in electronic and electrooptical applications.
Substitution of Standard Soybean Oil with Olive Oil-Based Lipid Emulsion in Parenteral Nutrition: Comparison of Vascular, Metabolic, and Inflammatory Effects

Context: Soybean oil-based lipid emulsions are the only Food and Drug Administration-approved lipid formulation for clinical use in parenteral nutrition (PN). Recently concerns with its use have been raised due to the proinflammatory effects that may lead to increased complications because they are rich in ω-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, controlled, crossover study comparing the vascular, metabolic, immune, and inflammatory effects of 24-h infusion of PN containing soybean oil-based lipid emulsion (Intralipid), olive oil-based (ClinOleic), lipid free, and normal saline in 12 healthy subjects. Results: Soybean oil-PN increased systolic blood pressure compared with olive oil-PN (P < 0.05). Soybean oil PN reduced brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation from baseline (−23% at 4 h and −25% at 24 h, both P < 0.01); in contrast, olive oil PN, lipid free PN, and saline did not change either systolic blood pressure or flow-mediated dilatation. Compared with saline, so...
Applying the Cognitive Dimensions of API Usability to Improve API Documentation Planning

This interactive poster explores the application of the 12 cognitive dimensions of API usability to API documentation planning by using the dimensions to identify and characterize the factors that influence the documentation that the users of an API require. Many factors can complicate estimating and planning the documentation an API requires. Even when an API's documentation requirements can be estimated, it can be difficult to present to stakeholders an objective basis for the estimate. The cognitive dimensions of API usability have characterized APIs and their users successfully and they have been used to communicate these characterizations to stakeholders. It follows that the same dimensions could also help identify the documentation that an API requires to provide a satisfactory and successful experience for the software developers who use the API.
A normalized quadtree representation

Abstract The quadtree is a hierarchical data structure used for the compact representation of two-dimensional images. It has the advantages of data compression and fast execution of certain feature computations. However, the quadtree representation of an object is heavily affected by its location, orientation, and relative size. If the image of an object is normalized with respect to its centroid and principal axes, and scaled to a standard size, then its quadtree representation is invariant to rotation, translation, and size change. In addition, the principal moments of objects can be computed from this normalized quadtree representation. These features make it an information-preserving shape descriptor and suitable for tasks such as object recognition.
An Issue of Trust: Are Commercial Databases Really Reliable?

Entrepreneurial researchers utilize databases on new and emerging businesses that provide the contact data and other demographic information for research samples. Based on a literature review, the integrity of this data is often assumed, and the vendor's claims as to its accuracy are relied upon. This article tests the accuracy and reliability of one such database, the U.S. New Business database from ReferenceUSA. Specifically, these businesses were contacted to test the validity of the information provided. The research findings suggest that the U.S. New Business database from ReferenceUSA is not a vetted database, and researchers cannot rely on the vendor's promise of accuracy.
Effects of sampling technique on measurements of porewater constituents in salt marsh sediments1

We examined the effect of three methods of porewater extraction on the measured concentrations of seven porewater constituents in vegetated salt marsh sediments. Porewater extraction by standard core sectioning followed by squeezing or centrifuging was compared with two less destructive methods of water collection. The core sectioning technique significantly increased the concentration of total dissolved organic carbon and dimethylsulfide presumably due to root damage by cutting. Sampling technique did not appear to influence interstitial salinity or concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon, dissolved ammonium, soluble sulfides, and dissolved sulfate as long as proper precautions were taken to prevent the loss of reduced compounds.
THE IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE TRADE AGREEMENTS

This paper outlines the current state of international textile trade between developed and developing countries and traces the history of textile trade agreements over the past three decades. Possible future policy scenarios for world trade in these commodities are presented. The general views of different country groups are examined, as well as the perspective of groups within the US. Implications for government policy‐makers and those marketing textile and apparel products are discussed in an effort to meet the challenge of designing an equitable system of trade and achieving the beneficial exchange of textile and apparel products worldwide.
Generation of traveling solitons in one-dimensional monatomic quartic lattices

Generation of traveling soliton waves on a one-dimensional monatomic quartic lattice is investigated using numerical techniques. Solitons are generated by the application of an external forcing function to the end atom of a free chain of monatomic atoms. Multiple traveling solitons are observed to flow down the chain when the strength of the forcing function, applied over a period of time, is beyond a threshold value. Total number of traveling solitons in the chain increases rapidly as the strength of the forcing function is increased beyond this critical value. The amplitudes and velocities of these multiple solitons saturate with the increasing strength of the forcing function. The frequencies and wave vectors of all the traveling solitons on the quartic lattice are independent of forcing functions and lie within a narrow range of values. These results are compared with those for solitons on a one-dimensional monatomic Toda lattice generated using similar forcing functions.
Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium Responses and Requirements in Calcareous Sand Greens

Calcareous sands are widely used in the construction of putting greens in the western USA. Plants growing on these sands frequently exhibit nutrient deficiencies and rapidly changing nutrient levels due to the low nutrient-holding capacity of this medium. Our objectives were to determine the effects of N, P, K, and N x K and P x K interactions on the growth of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera Huds.) in calcareous sand greens. Measurements included visual ratings of turfgrass quality, soil and tissue nutrient levels, and golf ball roll distance. Creeping bentgrass plots receiving 5.5 kg P ha -1 yr -1 had lower quality than the remainder of the treatments (27.5-110 kg P ha -1 yr -1 ). Interactions between P and K were not observed. Ball roll was negatively correlated with soil test P. According to linear plateau regression analysis, soil test P level was 3.0 mg kg -1 soil, and tissue test P was 0.4% for maximum quality. Nitrogen fertilizer treatments increased turfgrass quality with each successively higher treatment. No N x K interactions were observed. No significant effect of K on turfgrass quality was observed; however, K rates increased soil test K, and tissue K showed a weak correlation (R 2 = 0.13) with turfgrass quality. Potassium levels within the soil profile indicated leaching of K through the root zone. Alternative K fertilization methods (foliar, increased frequency, and slow-release forms) may be needed to improve K nutrition of bentgrass growing on calcareous sands.
Enzymes Involved in Fatty Acid and Polyketide Biosynthesis in Streptomyces glaucescens: Role of FabH and FabD and Their Acyl Carrier Protein Specificity†

Malonyl acyl carrier protein (ACP) is used as an extender unit in each of the elongation steps catalyzed by the type II dissociated fatty acid synthase (FAS) and polyketide synthase (PKS) of Streptomyces glaucescens. Initiation of straight-chain fatty acid biosynthesis by the type II FAS involves a direct condensation of acetyl-CoA with this malonyl-ACP to generate a 3-ketobutyryl-ACP product and is catalyzed by FabH. In vitro experiments with a reconstituted type II PKS system in the absence of FabH have previously shown that the acetyl-ACP (generated by decarboxylation of malonyl-ACP), not acetyl-CoA, is used to initiate tetracenomycin C (TCM C) biosynthesis. We have shown that sgFabH activity is present in S. glaucescens fermentations during TCM C production, suggesting that it could contribute to initiation of TCM C biosynthesis in vivo. Isotope incorporation studies with [CD3]acetate and [13CD3]acetate demonstrated significant intact retention of three deuteriums into the starter unit of palmitate an...
Phase I-II trial of acivicin in adult acute leukemia.

Six patients with relapsed or refractory acute leukemia were treated with 9 mg/m2 or 11 mg/m2 of acivicin daily for seven days in a phase I–II trial. No responses were attained and further dose escalation was prohibited by neurotoxicity in 2 of 3 patients who received 11 mg/m2/day. Although acivicin appears to have limited potential as a single agent, laboratory evaluation of leukemic blasts in one patient revealed cell cycle (S-phase accumulation) and metabolic effects which suggest that acivicin may be effective as a modulator of other antileukemia agents such as cytosine arabinoside.