cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Primary Surgical Cure of Stage III-B Cervical Carcinoma with Adnexal Metastasis

Management of patients with advanced stage cervical carcinoma remains suboptimal. Primary radiation therapy has been the standard treatment for years. Despite some changes in radiation technique, cure rates for advanced stage cervical cancer remain disappointing. Radiation complications in those patients can also be severe. We report here a case of a patient who presented with renal failure from bilateral ureteral obstruction from stage III-B cervical squamous carcinoma. The patient underwent a primary total pelvic exenteration with low rectosigmoid reanastomosis, urinary conduit construction, and cecal neovagina construction as definitive treatment. She was found to have metastasis to the broad ligament, ovary, and fallopian tube. Surgical margins and lymph nodes were negative. The patient did not receive any radiation therapy or chemotherapy. The patient is alive, healthy, and without evidence of disease 8 years following treatment.
Pre-ceramic polysilazane coatings for cold-rolled steels

Abstract Poly(1,1-dimethylsilazane) (PS 112), selected from various polysilazane species, was applied to cold-rolled steels as a preceramic-type protective coating against corrosion. The temperature for fabricating a continuous, uniform film of PS112 on the steel was critical; at ⩾400°C, pyrolytic conversion of the linear silazane structure into cyclic units caused the development of numerous microcracks, thereby resulting in poor protection. Although a good protective coating was formed at 300°C, the cathodic reaction, H2O + 1 2 O 2 + 2e − → 2OH − , which occurs at corrosion sites of steel underneath the PS112 coating led to the delamination of the film from the steel. The cause of such delamination was not only the formation of corrosion products, but also was strongly associated with alkali-catalyzed hydrolysis of the film at its interface with steel.
On the genus of generalized Laguerre polynomials

belong to one of the three family of orthogonal polynomials, the other two being Jacobi and Legendre. In addition to their important roles in mathematical analysis, these polynomials also feature prominently in algebra and number theory. Schur ([7], [8]) pioneered the study of Galois properties of specializations of these orthogonal polynomials, and Feit [1] used them to solve the inverse Galois problem over Q for certain double covers of the alternating group An; see ([3], [4]) for other related results. Recently Hajir and Wong [5] proved that for n ≥ 5 and for any number field K, the Galois group of L n (x) over K is Sn for all but finitely many α ∈ K. A key ingredient of the proofs is to compute the genus of the function fields in the splitting field of L (t) n (x) over the function field Q(t). As a by-product of this argument, we showed that for n ≥ 5, L n (x) defines an absolutely irreducible plane curve Ln of geometric genus > 1. In light of the importance of L n (x) in algebra and other areas of mathematics, in this paper we determine the exact genus of these curves. Theorem. For n ≥ 1, the equation L n (x) = 0 defines an absolutely irreducible plane curve of geometric genus [(n− 1)/2][(n− 2)/2] = [(−1 + n/2)].
Lessons from next-generation sequencing analysis in hematological malignancies

Next-generation sequencing has led to a revolution in the study of hematological malignancies with a substantial number of publications and discoveries in the last few years. Significant discoveries associated with disease diagnosis, risk stratification, clonal evolution and therapeutic intervention have been generated by this powerful technology. As part of the post-genomic era, sequencing analysis will likely become part of routine clinical testing and the challenge will ultimately be successfully transitioning from gene discovery to preventive and therapeutic intervention as part of individualized medicine strategies. In this report, we review recent advances in the understanding of hematological malignancies derived through genome-wide sequence analysis.
Biomimetic adhesive containing nanocomposite hydrogel with enhanced materials properties

Chemically crosslinked polyacrylamide (PAAm) nanocomposite hydrogels were prepared with inorganic nano-silicate, Laponite, and dopamine methacrylamide (DMA). DMA consists of a biomimetic adhesive side chain covalently linked to a polymerizable methacrylate monomer. Copolymerizing DMA into a PAAm hydrogel strongly enhanced the interfacial interaction between the polymer network and Laponite. Nanocomposite hydrogels demonstrated reduced water content and increased materials properties that were dependent on both the Laponite and DMA contents. While increasing Laponite content alone improved materials properties moderately, these improvements were drastically enhanced when DMA is incorporated as measured by both unconfined compression testing and oscillatory rheometry. DMA-containing nanocomposite hydrogels demonstrated increased stiffness as well as excellent energy dissipation capability. Nanocomposite hydrogels with relatively low DMA and Laponite contents (2 to 3 wt% for each) demonstrated maximum compressive stress, elastic modulus, toughness, and storage and loss moduli values that were over an order of magnitude higher than control gels. DMA-containing nanocomposite hydrogels also demonstrated improved fracture resistance to compressive loading, capable of repeated compressed to 80% strain without rest for over 10 times while exhibiting compressive stress of over 1.1 MPa. The catechol side chain of DMA likely formed strong physical bonds with Laponite, which can dissipate fracture energy while minimizing permanent damage to the network architecture.
Regulation of Cytochrome Oxidase in Human Cells in Culture

The range of adaptation of the terminal respiratory apparatus in response to environmental variation is considerably less for human cells than for yeast cells. In addition, availability of oxygen in human cells regulates the content of cytochrome oxidase rather than its activity.
Molecular properties of cereal based breakfast foods

Molecular status of starch in ready-to-eat breakfast cereal foods and its relationship with cereal produkt functional properties such as water solubility index and water absorption index were studied. Gel chromatographic separation of cereal product polymers dispersed in DMSO gave three major fractions. Factions I and II reflected starch content, whereas Fraction III reflected the sugar content in the product formulation. Contents of Fraction I, II and III varied from 0.31 to 3.53 mg, 0.06 to 2.82 mg, and O to 4.63 mg, respectively. Water absorption index increased while water solubility index decreased with increasing Fraction I or Fraction II contents. Conversely, water absorption index decreased whereas water solubility index increased with increasing Fraction III content. Iodine blue values showed that Fraction I and Fraction II mainly composed of amylopectin and amylose, respectively. λmax values of Fraction I and II varied from 511 to 584 nm, 490 to 661 nm, respectively. Iodine binding capacity which was indicative of the amount of amylose present, varied from 0.37% (Kellogg's Corn Flakes) to 2.84% (Kellogg's Honey Smacks).
Properties of cementitious materials in their dry state and their influences on viscosity of the cementitious pastes

Abstract The properties of cementitious materials in their dry state and their influences on viscosity of pastes were studied. The cementitious materials considered were Portland cement, fly ash, and ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS). Both plain and blended mixes were tested, where plain mixes were made of a single material, while blended materials were made of the Portland cement blended with either fly ash or GGBFS. The properties tested for dry cementitious materials included the compression, recompression, swell indices, stiffness modulus, and coefficient of friction as well as the density and void ratio of gently consolidated bulk materials. Viscosity of the pastes, made with the plain and blended cementitious materials at a water-to-binder ratios (w/b) of 0.45 and 0.55 by weight, were measured. Correlations between the properties of the dry materials and viscosity of the pastes were analyzed. The results indicate that the size, shape and angularity of the cementitious materials greatly affect their dry-state properties as well as the flow behavior of the pastes. Cementitious materials that consolidate well in their dry state will produce a less viscous paste. A decrease in dry coefficient of friction and an increase in stiffness modulus will result in a decrease viscosity of the paste.
Mouse tryptophan hydroxylase isoform 2 and the role of proline 447 in enzyme function.

Tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of the neurotransmitter serotonin (5-HT). Once thought to be a single gene product, TPH is now known to exist in two isoforms. Isoform 1 (TPH1) is found in the pineal gland and gut, and isoform 2 (TPH2) is selectively expressed in brain. A single-nucleotide polymorphism in TPH2 results in a proline-to-arginine mutation at residue 447 and substantially lowers catalytic activity. In view of the importance of TPH in determining brain 5-HT function, we cloned TPH2 and produced the P447R mutant to assess the importance of this proline in enzyme function. Catalytically active TPH2 and the P447R mutant were expressed at the predicted subunit molecular mass of 56 kDa. The P447R mutant expressed less than 50% of the activity of TPH2. Mutation of this conserved proline in TPH1 (P403R) also resulted in an enzyme with significantly lower activity than the wild-type enzyme. The P447R mutant had a Vmax 50% lower than that of TPH2. The P447R mutation did not alter the oligomeric assembly of the protein, nor change its responsiveness to cysteine modification. The P447R mutation did not alter enzyme substrate specificity or stability, but conferred slightly enhanced sensitivity to inhibition by dopamine and diminished sensitivity to iron in catalysis. The conserved proline in TPH (residue 447 in TPH2 and 403 in TPH1) plays an important role in enzyme function by regulating Vmax of the catalytic reaction.
Modeling the role of viral disease in recurrent phytoplankton blooms

The recurrent pattern of some phytoplankton species can vary considerably from year to year. Recent experimental work suggests that the contamination of algal cells by viruses can serve as a regulatory mechanism in bloom dynamics. A simple trophic model is proposed that includes virus-induced mortality, and it mimics the actual bloom patterns of several species. The model results are compared to actual data by a combination of nonlinear forecasting techniques.
Process simulation of flue-gas desulfurization systems with organic solvents

This paper describes a flue gas absorption/stripping system which produces concentrated SO/sup 2/ by regenerating the scrubbing liquid thermally. The streams leaving the scrubbing system are either pure enough to be emitted to the surroundings without causing any harm or may even be processed to give a salable product. Three possibilities suggest themselves for treating the concentrated stream produced: reduction to elemental sulfur by contacting it with H/sub 2/S (Claus Process); oxidation and subsequent hydration to give dilute sulfuric acid; drying and liquefaction. To achieve the absorption/stripping goal a simulation program, which uses a tray to tray algorithm, is used. The results of this simulation are evaluated and compared in terms of utility costs. 8 references, 4 figures, 5 tables.
Point Disclinations at a Nematic-lsotropic Liquid Interface

Abstract The optical properties of a thin film of liquid crystal, with one of its surfaces bounded by the isotropic liquid of the same compound, reveal the existence of point defects in the liquid crystal. Particular sample geometries are examined in which the detailed structure of the optical patterns seen with polarized light can be analyzed to develop a qualitative picture of the structure of the liquid crystal layer near the defects. Changes in the optical pattern induced by an electric field are also analyzed. The observations indicate that the defects are point disclinations at the sirface of the liquid crystal, of the kind recently described by deGennes, rather than line disclinntions emerging from the liquid crystal.
Effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol on the disposition of d-amphetamine in the rat

Abstract Δ 9 -Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), 10 or 50 mg/kg, administered intragastrically one hour before intraperitoneal injection of 14 C- d -amphetamine, 4 mg/kg, did not modify the disappearance from the blood or the tissue distribution of amphetamine in fasted rats. Furthermore, THC did not influence the urinary excretion of unchanged amphetamine or its major metabolite, p-hydroxyamphetamine, in these animals. However, when the interval between drug treatments was increased to two hours, THC, 10 mg/kg, minimally reduced the rate of disappearance of 14 C-amphetamine from the blood of fasted rats. This effect was much more pronounced in rats which had food available throughout the experiment. THC also inhibited the urinary excretion of total radioactivity as well as 14 C-amphetamine metabolites in fed but not in fasted animals during the first 4 hours following 14 C-amphetamine injection. In addition, fasted rats excreted significantly more total radioactivity and unchanged 14 C-amphetamine than fed rats during the 0 – 4 hour urine collection interval. The pH of urine collected during this and all other periods was significantly more acid for faster than fed rats. It is concluded that THC can inhibit amphetamine metabolism in rats depending upon the time interval between the administration of the two drugs and the dietary state of the animals.
Engaging in the Debate: A Critique of "Blueprint III".

The purpose of this article is to engage in the debate about Blueprint III regarding practice and graduate education in school psychology. We use school-based consultation as a lens to uncover meaning and context in the Blueprint and give particular attention to the Blueprint authors' foregrounding of prevention as a basis for school psychological services, a comprehensive consultation model for school psychological services, integration of concepts derived from positive psychology and public health in school psychology, and culture in school-based consultation. We offer suggestions to address barriers that may impede implementation of some of the worthwhile initiatives delineated in the Blueprint and develop approaches to strengthen graduate education. We conclude with a proposed agenda for research that may ground, justify, and enhance the preservice and inservice implications of Blueprint III, resulting in a substantial and well-founded impact on the field. As the authors of Blueprint III intended, we ...
A comparison of nonlinear filtering approaches with an application to ground target tracking

With an application to ground target tracking, two groups of nonlinear filtering approaches are compared in this paper: Gaussian approximation and Monte Carlo simulation. The former group, consisting of the extended Kalman filter (EKF), Gauss-Hermite filter (GHF) and unscented Kalman filter (UKF), approximates probability densities of nonlinear systems using either single or multiple points in a state space, while the latter group, being particle filters, estimates probability densities using random samples. There are two sources contributing to nonlinearity in the ground target tracking problem: terrain and road constrained kinematic modeling and polar coordinate sensing. When tracking ground maneuvering targets with multiple models, one faces another problem, i.e., non-Gaussianity. This paper also compares interacting multiple model (IMM)-based filters IMM-EKF, IMM-GHF and IMM-UKF with particle-based multiple model filters for their capability in handling the non-Gaussian problem. Simulation results show that: (1) all the filters achieve a comparable performance when tracking non-maneuvering ground targets; (2) particle-based multiple model filters are superior to IMM-based filters in maneuvering ground target tracking.
Design and validation of a virtual environment for experimentation inside the small intestine

Designing a precise and reliable localization system for wireless capsule endoscopy (WCE) has always been a challenging problem due to the complicated in-body environment and uncontrollable movement of body tissue. Knowing the motion information of the capsule would greatly enhance the localization accuracy. However, design and validate any motion tracking algorithm inside small intestine faces a lot of difficulties since any experimentation on the human being is extremely costly and restricted by law. Having a virtual environment that looks and functions exactly like small intestine would facilitate the process of verifying the performance of existing algorithms without going into the real human body. In this paper, we establish a virtual testbed that emulates the contraction of intestinal lumen and the transition of endoscopic capsule. Under this emulation environment, a velocity estimation algorithm based on a feature detection algorithm (ASIFT) and on a velocity estimation algorithm (MDR) is designed and implemented and its performance has been evaluated. Experimental results showed that our proposed emulation environment is able to provide reliable platform for motion detection validation.
Fillers for polysiloxane (“silicone”) elastomers

Abstract Polysiloxane elastomers having the structure [SiRR′–O–] x have long been used as high-performance materials, but only when reinforced with relatively large amounts of filler. This has generally been silica that had been prepared either in the gas phase or in aqueous solution. The present review describes some alternative fillers that have been developed more recently for a variety of polymers, with some comments on their possible advantages and disadvantages.
Gender Differences in College Preparedness: A Statewide Study

In this study, the authors investigated the extent to which boys and girls differed in their college-ready performance in reading, in math, and in both subjects for the 2006–2007 school year for the state of Texas (n = 1,099 high schools). Also examined were the extent to which boys and girls differed in their performance on the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) and the American College Test (ACT) for the 2005–2006 and 2006–2007 school years. Differences in criterion scores, as well as how many boys and girls actually took these exams, were examined in addition to their average scores. Statistically significant differences were present between the college-ready scores of boys and of girls in reading, math, and in both subject areas. Of special note is that less than one-third of all students were deemed to be college-ready in both subject areas. Statistically significant differences also were revealed between boys and girls in the percentage taking the SAT or ACT, in the percentage meeting the SAT or ACT criterion, and in their SAT average scores, but not in their ACT average scores. Implications of these findings are discussed.
Robust Stochastic Predictions of Dynamic Response During and Monitoring of Structures

This paper presents a general probabilistic framework for handling both modeling and excitation uncertainty when predicting structural response by using mathematical models. The fundamental probability models representing the structure's behavior are specified by the choice of a stochastic system model class which involves a set of inputoutput probability models for the structure and a prior probability distribution over this set. Robust predictive analyses use the entire model class with the probabilistic predictions of each model being weighted by its prior probability, or if structural response data is available, by its posterior probability from Bayes’ Theorem for the model class. Additional robustness to modeling uncertainty comes from combining the robust predictions of each model class in a set of candidates weighted by the prior or posterior probability of the model class, the latter being computed from Bayes’ Theorem. This higher-level application of Bayes’ Theorem automatically applies a quantitative Ockham razor that penalizes the data-fit of more complex model classes that extract more information from the data. Robust analyses involve integrals over high-dimensional spaces that usually must be evaluated numerically by Laplace's method of asymptotic approximation or by Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods.
The displaced ganglion cell in the avian retina: developmental and comparative considerations.

Quantitative and qualitative aspects of the retinal displaced ganglion cells (DGC's) were studied in the chick embryo, hatchling and adult, using retrograde labeling techniques. Retrograde axonal transport following discrete injections of horseradish peroxidase into the dorsolateral optic tectum was demonstrated from day 10.5 of incubation. The labeled retinae revealed numerous DGC's at all stages studied, with an average of 1183 cells labeled in 10.5 day embryos and as many as 9500 labeled in hatchlings. These population estimates imply that at least this many DGC's were present at these ages (many cells could have gone unlabeled by our procedures). More localized injections in adults, revealed an average of 2238 cells. In every instance in which orthotopic ganglion cells were labeled, numerous DGC's were similarly labeled. The DGC's were distributed throughout the retinae in embryos and hatchlings, but often tended to be most numerous in the peripapillary regions. In adults, this tendency was even more marked. These results demonstrate that the DGC, has a direct tectal projection in the chicken, in contrast to the almost exclusive, ectomamillary (EM) projection which has been demonstrated in the pigeon. It is speculated that this disparity may be due to species differences, which could be manifested by a dual tectal-EM projection in the chicken. The differential distribution of the DGC in these species (peripheral in the pigeon, peripapillary or panretinal in the chicken) supports this speculation.
Single-crystal elasticity of β-Mg2SiO4 to the pressure of the 410 km seismic discontinuity in the Earth's mantle

The complete set of elastic stiffness coefficients of a single crystal of Mg2SiO4 in the modified spinel (wadsleyite) structure are reported at eight pressures from ambient to 14 Gigapascals (GPa). All moduli vary linearly with pressure within the resolution of the data. Third-order Birch-Murnaghan equation fits to aggregate elastic moduli yield values of 170 (±2) GPa and 4.3 (±0.2) for the adiabatic bulk modulus and its first pressure derivative, and 115 (±2) GPa and 1.4 (±0.2) for the shear modulus and its pressure derivative. These data, together with previous results for α-Mg2SiO4, enable us to make the first in situ determination of the velocity increase due to the α-β transition at the pressure (∼ 13.8 GPa) of the 410 km discontinuity. The room-temperature velocity increase at the transition pressure is 9.8% for compressional waves and 12.4% for shear waves.
Lovastatin reduces glomerular macrophage influx and expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 mRNA in nephrotic rats

Glomerular expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and subsequent glomerular macrophage infiltration may play an important role in the development of glomerulosclerosis. Previous studies have shown that lovastatin ameliorates experimental renal disease and reduces MCP-1 expression in serum-stimulated, cultured mesangial cells. We investigated the effects of lovastatin on glomerular MCP-1 expression and macrophage infiltration in rats with puromycin aminonucleoside (PA) nephrosis, an experimental model of renal disease characterized by early macrophage infiltration. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were pretreated for 5 days with either lovastatin (4 mg/kg) or vehicle. At the end of pretreatment, the lovastatin-pretreated rats received a single i.v. injection of PA (50 mg/kg) and continued to receive daily lovastatin thereafter. The vehicle-pretreated rats received i.v. injections of either PA or saline, and continued to receive daily vehicle treatment thereafter. Ten days after PA injection, the vehicle-treated PA rats showed increased (P < 0.05) serum cholesterol (359 +/- 25 mg/100 mL) and urine albumin excretion (343 +/- 95 mg/24 hr), compared with the vehicle-treated control rats (61 +/- 3 mg/100 mL and 2.5 +/- 0.6 mg/24 hr, respectively). Serum cholesterol (193 +/- 22 mg/dL) and urine albumin excretion (255 +/- 68 mg/24 hr) were less in the lovastatin-treated PA rats than in the vehicle-treated PA rats. The number of glomerular macrophages, assessed as ED-1-positive cells, per glomerular profile was increased 77% in the vehicle-treated PA rats (3.3 +/- 0.2) compared with the vehicle-treated control rats (1.8 +/- 0.2) (P < 0.05). By contrast, the number of glomerular macrophages was not elevated in the lovastatin-treated PA rats (2.3 +/- 0.2). Thus, lovastatin in vivo can attenuate glomerular macrophage infiltration. This may represent one mechanism by which lovastatin ameliorates experimental glomerular disease.
Stream sediment loading and rainfall — a look at the issue

This paper investigates the issue of the nature of the relationship between stream loading and storm intensity and whether stream sediment loading can best be explained by storm intensity (rainfall) or whether a more general average rainfall measure is superior. Based on data covering the years 1947 — 1985 for the Iowa River watershed north of Iowa City, a nonlinear relationship between stream sediment loading and rainfall is indicated. Moreover, average monthly rainfall better explains sediment loading than do other measures of storm (rainfall) intensity. Finally, when the structural stability of the estimated relationships are explored, the indications are that the relationships are stable over the sample period.
Returning to Convertibility in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan's system of multiple exchange rates arose when the sum was made inconvertible in 1996. This has caused many real problems to this transition economy, and promises to return to convertibility have been only partially carried out so far. The problems ahead are analyzed in this article.
Controlled Release: A Cultural Analysis of Collegiate Polydrug Use

Social science research on polydrug use among young adult college students is scant, adopts definitions of this practice that are often devoid of sociocultural context, and emphasizes a very narrow range of use patterns. This article, based on ethnographic interviews from a study of collegiate prescription drug misuse, expands this focus by offering a cultural analysis of polydrug use. Two specific types of collegiate polydrug use, simultaneous interaction and sequential management, are examined within a cultural framework that relates these practices to the expression of two complementary values—control and release. The college experience provides young people with a culturally sanctioned “time-out” period that affords freedom from many of the roles, responsibilities, and other constraints that come to structure later adult life. At the same time, college students are expected to meet academic and social demands that require organization, initiative, and direction. Specific types of polydrug use provide young adults with a means to navigate these competing prescriptions that are characteristic of contemporary college life.
The Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome 1 (HPS1) and HPS4 Proteins Are Components of Two Complexes, BLOC-3 and BLOC-4, Involved in the Biogenesis of Lysosome-related Organelles

Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) is a genetic disease of lysosome, melanosome, and granule biogenesis. Mutations of six different loci have been associated with HPS in humans, the most frequent of which are mutations of the HPS1 and HPS4 genes. Here, we show that the HPS1 and HPS4 proteins are components of two novel protein complexes involved in biogenesis of melanosome and lysosome-related organelles: biogenesis of lysosome-related organelles complex-(BLOC) 3 and BLOC-4. The phenotypes of Hps1-mutant (pale-ear; ep) and Hps4-mutant (light-ear; le) mice and humans are very similar, and cells from ep and le mice exhibit similar abnormalities of melanosome morphology. HPS1 protein is absent from ep-mutant cells, and HPS4 from le-mutant cells, but le-mutant cells also lack HPS1 protein. HPS4 protein seems to be necessary for stabilization of HPS1, and the HPS1 and HPS4 proteins co-immunoprecipitate, indicating that they are in a complex. HPS1 and HPS4 do not interact directly in a yeast two-hybrid system, although HPS4 interacts with itself. In a partially purified vesicular/organellar fraction, HPS1 and HPS4 are both components of a complex with a molecular mass of ∼500 kDa, termed BLOC-3. Within BLOC-3, HPS1 and HPS4 are components of a discrete ∼200-kDa module termed BLOC-4. In the cytosol, HPS1 (but not HPS4) is part of yet another complex, termed BLOC-5. We propose that the BLOC-3 and BLOC-4 HPS1·HPS4 complexes play a central role in trafficking cargo proteins to newly formed cytoplasmic organelles.
Variability of GlutathioneS-Transferase Levels and Dimethenamid Tolerance in Safener-Treated Wheat and Wheat Relatives☆

Abstract Glutathione S -transferase (GST) levels were quantified in shoots of wheat and wheat relatives to determine if variation existed for GST levels, with or without treatment with herbicide safeners, and if GST levels could be used as an accurate biochemical marker for wheat seedling tolerance to the herbicide dimethenamid. Wheat lines and relatives were either unsafened or treated with the safeners fluxofenim (CGA-133205) or cloquintocet-mexyl (CGA-185072). GST levels were assayed using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay utilizing a maize GST antibody (GST-ELISA) and an enzyme activity assay using dimethenamid as a substrate (GST-D). In general, the GST-ELISA indicated that significant GST was present constitutively (in untreated plants) and that the two safeners increased GST levels to a similar extent. In contrast to the GST-ELISA, the GST-D assay generally detected little or no constitutive GST-D activity; fluxofenim increased GST-D activity more than cloquintocet-mexyl. Tolerance to dimethenamid in fluxofenim-safened wheat seedlings in the greenhouse was correlated with GST-D activity ( r 2 = 0.51) but not with GST-ELISA ( r 2 = 0.03). These data suggest that screening wheat and wheat relatives for safener-increased GST-D activity can be used as a biochemical marker to predict and select for increased wheat seedling tolerance to dimethenamid.
Measurement of full-field curvature and geometrical instability of thin film-substrate systems through CGS interferometry

Large deformation behavior prior to and after bifurcation of thin W films on much thicker Si substrates is investigated by recourse to coherent gradient sensing (CGS), which is an optical, full-field and vibration-insensitive technique. Since fringes obtained by CGS represent the contours of gradient in out-of-plane displacement through appropriate optics, curvature of the wafer can be obtained directly from the fringe number density. The measured curvatures in two orthogonal principal directions, whose values agree reasonably with both analytical and numerical predictions based on large deformation theory, clearly show that the equilibrium shape of the wafer changes from a sphere to an ellipsoid when bifurcation occurs. In contrast to the one-dimensional scanning method, which provides only a single normal (or direct) curvature component, twist (or shear) as well as normal components of curvatures can be obtained as the wafer is rotated with respect to its flat zone. A classical Mohr's circle representation is also used to rationalize evolution of the twist curvatures. Finally, local curvature variations due to non-uniform film stresses can be captured by full-field curvature maps using image processing analysis.
Can Health Equity Coexist With Housing Inequalities? A Contemporary Issue in Historical Context

The housing policies established by the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, Federal Housing Administration, and the Veterans Administration transformed the American housing market. However, these policies intentionally excluded communities of color from the postwar American housing boom by defining them as contaminants eroding national property values. Hence, racially restrictive federal housing policies established an inequitable generational trajectory for residents in communities across the United States. Public health practitioners are faced with the monumental challenge of addressing health disparities that were in part created by non-public health policies. The purpose of this article is to examine how federal housing policies historically contributed to creating the built environment and therefore establishing a foundation for health disparities. These pervasive, exclusionary policies and the generational stigma associated with this issue raise serious questions about the ethics of contemporary policies, practices, and research aimed at achieving health equity.
Synthesis of configurable linear feedback shifter registers for detecting random-pattern-resistant faults

In this paper we describe an optimized BIST scheme which has a configurable 2-D LFSR structure. A synthesis procedure for this test generator is presented. Experimental results show that the hardware overhead is considerably reduced compared with 2-D LFSR generators. The experiment result shows that compared with the non-configurable 2-D LFSR, the average number of flip-flops is reduced by 79% for five benchmark circuits. The average number of faults detected by the configurable 2-D LFSR is 9.27% higher than that of the conventional LFSR and 0.57% higher than that of the non-configurable 2-D LFSR.
Majority and Token Minority Group Relationships: Power Acquisition and Communication

Kanter's theory of numerical imbalance states that the successful integration of an organizational member whose social category (e.g.. sex. race) is different from the workgroup majority is an inverse function of the degree of imbalance in the numerical proportion of majority to minority members. This paper challenges this stand, arguing that individual responses to the token minority role and the majority member's role can vary when other sources of status and power are considered.
Synthesis of minimum roundoff noise fixed point digital filters

Beginning with an external specification of a digital filter, structures which minimize roundoff noise are investigated. After fixing the probability of overflow through an l_{2} scaling procedure, roundoff noise is studied via the internal structure of the filter using a state variable formulation. An output noise variance formula in terms of the internal structure is derived. Conditions for minimizing this output noise are established and realizations which meet these conditions are constructed. A new set of filter invariants called second-order modes are defined and shown to play a definitive role in minimal noise realizations. From these invariants, for example, one can calculate the minimal output noise variance of a given external specification. Numerical results are given which compare these new filter structures with the usual parallel and cascade connections of second-order filters, both theoretically and through simulations. For narrow-band filters, these new structures can be orders of magnitude better (in terms of output noise variance). One drawback of these new structures is a large increase in the number of multipliers needed to realize them. However, by applying the theory to subfilters connected in parallel and cascade, a good compromise between output noise and number of multipliers is obtained.
Orthostatic hypotension in older people

Purpose To enhance awareness of orthostatic hypotension (OH) in older populations, and guide primary care nurse practitioners (NPs) in the assessment and management of patients with OH. Data sources Electronic data collection was conducted on studies and reviews that were published between 2005 and 2012 in English, and contained information related to the purpose of this article from following databases: PubMed, Scopus, and MEDLINE. Conclusions OH is a syndrome that is accompanied by unfavorable symptoms such as dizziness, and headaches and can impede the individual's daily activities and quality of life. The prevalence of OH is higher in older people because of comorbidities, polypharmacy, and physiological changes that occur with aging. OH is diagnosed with serial blood pressure measurements and the primary goal of management is to relieve unfavorable symptoms and enhance patient safety. Pharmacological management is considered when nonpharmacological interventions fail. Implications for practice OH is not a problem to be taken lightly as it is highly related to the risk of falling and cardiovascular problems, as well as increasing morbidity and mortality rates. NPs can contribute to improving the quality of life for older adults and reducing adverse consequences by understanding OH and adequately managing it.
Long-term effects of human growth hormone (Li) in a pituitary dwarf.

Human growth hormone (Li) was administered for one year to a pituitary dwarf between the ages of and years. The optimal dosage seemed to be 2.5 mg. daily intramuscularly; less frequent injections, even of the same total amount of hormone, were not as effective. An increase in height of 11 cm. ( inches) occurred during the year, compared to a previous yearly rate of 3 cm. ( inches) while the patient was taking sodium l-thyroxine. The fasting blood glucose level did not change, even though the glucose tolerance curve rose to mild diabetic levels during early metabolic studies while the patient was receiving growth hormone in doses up to 10 mg. daily. Later, the curve returned to normal levels during long-term administration of smaller daily doses. During a control period of seven months after the one year of treatment, growth slowed markedly. Undue bony maturation did not occur during or after treatment. When therapy was reinstituted, metabolic changes similar to those noted initially again occurred. The ou...
Phosgene in the Thermal Decomposition Products of Poly (Vinyl Chloride): Generation, Detection and Measurement

An analytical study was made to determine whether carbonyl chloride (phosgene) is formed during the thermal decomposition of poly(vinyl chloride), PVC. Four methods of decomposition were studied: (1) thermal degradation of PVC in a resistively heated furnace, (2) electrical overloading of a PVC clad wire, (3) electrical arcing between electrodes partially covered with PVC, and (4) electric arc initiated flaming combustion in a cup furnace. Results are reported which show that significant quantities of phosgene can be generated from PVC by the electric arc method. Lesser amounts were found in the other scenarios. The measurements, identification and quantification of phosgene in the decomposition product, were obtained through the use of gas chromatography, infrared spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy. While the study was not mechanistic in nature, phosgene is postulated to result from secondary reactions of the PVC products. Reaction mechanisms are suggested.
Current slip rates on conjugate strike‐slip faults in central Tibet using synthetic aperture radar interferometry

This is the published version. Copyright 2006 American Geophysical Union. All Rights Reserved.
Sedentary and Active: Self-Reported Sitting Time Among Marathon and Half-Marathon Participants

Background: Emerging evidence suggests that combined physical activity (PA) and inactivity may be more important for chronic disease risk than PA alone. A highly active yet highly sedentary population is needed to study this interaction. The present purpose is to describe the sitting habits of a group of recreational runners and determine if sitting varies with reported training duration or anticipated running velocity. Methods: Marathon and half-marathon participants completed the Multicontext Sitting Time Questionnaire and reported peak training duration, anticipated finishing time, and demographic information. Sitting time was described across 5 contexts for workdays and nonworkdays. Total sitting time was analyzed by tertiles of training duration and anticipated event running velocity. Results: 218 participants took part in this study. Median reported training time was 6.5 hours per week. Median total sitting time was higher on workdays than nonworkdays (645 and 480 minutes, respectively, P < .0001). ...
How Do Inhibitors Mitigate Corrosion in Oil-Water Two-Phase Flow Beyond Lowering the Corrosion Rate?

Corrosion inhibitors are commonly used to mitigate corrosion in oil and gas pipelines, and the choice of inhibitor for a particular oil field depends on the conditions of the field (oil chemistry, water chemistry, temperature, etc.). To find the optimum formulation for each field condition, extensive laboratory tests are carried out, which include corrosion inhibitor performance, foaming, and emulsification, to name a few. However, corrosion inhibitors can have the additional advantage of altering the wettability of the steel surface from hydrophilic (water wet) to hydrophobic (oil wet) by forming a hydrophobic adsorption layer on the steel surface. In the current work, the ability of chemicals to alter the wettability of the steel is investigated by measuring the static contact angle in a goniometer, as well as the dynamic wetting with a small scale flow apparatus, called a doughnut cell, especially designed for this purpose. The doughnut cell makes it possible to measure the water and oil wetting of a s...
Protective Unfolded Protein Response in Human Pancreatic Beta Cells Transplanted into Mice

Background: There is great interest about the possible contribution of ER stress to the apoptosis of pancreatic beta cells in the diabetic state and with islet transplantation. Methods and Findings: Expression of genes involved in ER stress were examined in beta cell enriched tissue obtained with laser capture microdissection (LCM) from frozen sections of pancreases obtained from non-diabetic subjects at surgery and from human islets transplanted into ICR-SCID mice for 4 wk. Because mice have higher glucose levels than humans, the transplanted beta cells were exposed to mild hyperglycemia and the abnormal environment of the transplant site. RNA was extracted from the LCM specimens, amplified and then subjected to microarray analysis. The transplanted beta cells showed an unfolded protein response (UPR). There was activation of many genes of the IRE-1 pathway that provide protection against the deleterious effects of ER stress, increased expression of ER chaperones and ERAD (ER-associated protein degradation) proteins. The other two arms of ER stress, PERK and ATF-6, had many down regulated genes. Downregulation of EIF2A could protect by inhibiting protein synthesis. Two genes known to contribute to apoptosis, CHOP and JNK, were downregulated. Conclusions: Human beta cells in a transplant site had UPR changes in gene expression that protect against the proapoptotic effects of unfolded proteins.
Immunoliposomes That Target Endothelium In Vitro Are Dependent on Lipid Raft Formation

Lipid rafts are plasma membrane microdomains rich in cholesterol, sphingolipids, and cell surface receptors. Recent studies demonstrated the upregulation and localization of two receptors, intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM, CD54) and endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (E-selectin, CD64E), within lipid raft microdomains of inflamed or injured endothelial cells (ECs). We hypothesized that the localization of ICAM and E-selectin within lipid rafts may be essential for drug delivery vehicles labeled with antibodies against ICAM (aICAM) and E-selectin (aE-selectin). To eliminate localization of cell surface receptors, ECs were treated with a cholesterol depleting drug, methyl-β-cyclodextrin. We also tested if antibody mobility and the ratio of aICAM to aE-selectin on immunoliposomes influenced binding to lipid-raft-depleted cells. Liposomes were prepared from either 1,2-dioleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DOPC, C18:1, Tm = −20 °C) or 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphatidylcholine (DP...
Platelet and von Willebrand factor interactions at the vessel wall

The process of platelet thrombus formation contributes to the haemostatic response that prevents excessive blood loss after tissue injury, but may become a life-threatening disease mechanism by causing the acute thrombotic occlusion of atherosclerotic arteries. The participation of platelets in the formation of thrombi is centered on their adhesive properties and the ability to respond to stimuli with rapid activation. Platelet adhesion and activation are multifaceted and modulated by different environmental conditions, suggesting that it should be possible to obtain a selective pharmacological inhibition of the pathways more relevant to athero-thrombosis than to haemostasis. In particular, progress in understanding the structure and function of von Willebrand factor and the mechanisms that underlie its interactions with vascular surfaces and platelets can elucidate important differentiating aspects of normal haemostasis and pathological arterial thrombosis.
ESTIMATING THE MEAN COVER TIME OF A SEMI-MARKOV PROCESS VIA SIMULATION

Consider a semi-Markov process that, after entering state /, next goes to state j with probability P/ y , and given that the next state isy, the time until the transition from / to j occurs is a random variable with distribution F/j having mean m(i,j). Starting in state 0, suppose we are interested in estimating n = E[T], where T, called the cover time, is the time until all of the states 1,2,..., m have been visited. Let fi(i,j) denote the expected time, given that the process has just entered state /, until it enters state j , and suppose that we are able to compute all of the values of i*{i,j) for the pairs i,j of interest. In Section 2, we show how \i can be efficiently estimated by a simulation of the embedded Markov chain with transition probabilities P,j. We then consider the problem of using simulation to estimate E[Tn], the mean time until n of the states 1, . . . ,m have been visited, where 1 < n < m. In Section 3, we present an estimator of E[Tn] that is recommended when n is not too small. A different simulation estimator, which involves a conditional expectation and uses random hazards as control variates, and which is preferable to the estimator of Section 3 when n is small, is presented in Section 4.
Labeled cortical mantle distance maps of the cingulate quantify differences between dementia of the Alzheimer type and healthy aging.

The cingulate gyri in 37 subjects with and without early dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) were studied by using MRI at 1.0 mm3 isotropic resolution. Groups were segregated into young controls (n = 10), age-matched normal controls (n = 10), very mild DAT (n = 8), and mild DAT (n = 9). By using automated Bayesian segmentation of the cortex and gray matter/white matter (GM/WM) isosurface generation, tissue compartments were labeled into gray, white, and cerebrospinal fluid as a function of distance from the GM/WM isosurface. Cortical mantle distance maps are generated profiling the GM volume and cortical mantle distribution as a function of distance from the cortical surface. Probabilistic tests based on generalizations of Wilcoxon–Mann–Whitney tests were applied to quantify cortical mantle distribution changes with normal and abnormal aging. We find no significant change between young controls and healthy aging as measured by the GM volume and cortical mantle distribution as a function of distance in both anterior and posterior regions of the cingulate. Significant progression of GM loss is seen in the very mild DAT and mild DAT groups in all areas of the cingulate. Posterior regions show both GM volume loss as well as significant cortical mantle distribution decrease with the onset of mild DAT. The “shape of the cortical mantle” as measured by the cortical mantle distance profiles manifests a pronounced increase in variability with mild DAT.