cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hippocampal microvasculature changes in association with oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract Vascular endothelial dysfunction is a primary phenotype of aging, and microvascular (MV) lesion is mainly associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here we have studied the correlation of MV wall thickness and CA1 pyramidal neuronal pathology in autopsy-confirmed AD brains. Both hyaline (h-MV) and increased cell number (c-MV) associated MV wall thickening was found in age-matched control (AC) hippocampus without significant change in Aβ level (Braak stages 0-III). AC neurons neighboring the h-MV showed lower levels of oxidative DNA/RNA damage and Aβ precursor protein (APP), while the neurons around c-MV showed higher oxidative DNA/RNA damage with increased APP expression. Neurons in AC hippocampus without MV wall thickening (thin wall) showed increased DNA/RNA damage and APP levels compared to AC cases with h-MV and c-MV walls. In the AD hippocampus neurons neighboring h-MV walls showed increased levels of Aβ and decreased number of dendritic spines (at Braak stages IV-VI). C-MV neighboring neurons in the AD cases showed higher levels of DNA/RNA damage with increased APP at stages II - III, followed by lower levels of oxidative DNA/RNA damage, decreased APP and increased Aβ levels with loss of dendritic spines at stages IV-VI. Prolonged treatment of primary human fetal hippocampal neurons with tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP) induced oxidative DNA damage with a sustained increase in APP. Aβ increased rapidly and then decreased overtime. Short-term TBHP treated neurons showed lower levels of superoxide (O2• −) without significant DNA damage. Short-term TBHP treatment induced a gradual decrease in APP but an increase in Aβ levels over time. In conclusion this study indicates that AD hippocampus at Braak stages II-III are characterized by strong oxidative DNA/RNA damage with increased APP in neurons associated with c-MV, while stages IV-VI are characterized by a slow increase in Aβ in neurons neighboring both h-MV and c-MV.
Consonant age of acquisition effects are robust in children's nonword repetition performance

The underlying processes of nonword repetition (NWR) have been studied extensively in both typical and atypical development. Most of the research examining long-term memory effects on NWR has focused on lexical and sublexical variables that can only be computed relative to the lexicon of a specific language (e.g., phonotactic probability). Sublexical variables that can be defined without reference to the lexicon (e.g., consonant age of acquisition; CAoA) have received little attention, although recent work has shown a CAoA effect on NWR in young adults by measuring performance differences when the stimuli comprise consonants acquired later versus earlier in speech development. The purpose of this study was to identify whether this sublexical effect occurs earlier in development. Thirty-one typically developing first and second graders completed NWR, nonword reading, and auditory lexical decision tasks. Nonword accuracy and word–nonword discriminability were consistently lower for items comprising later versus earlier acquired phonemes, even after controlling for vocabulary knowledge, but there were no differences in speed measures. Patterns of performance were similar to the CAoA effects observed in young adults from previous work. Results indicate that the sensitivity of NWR performance to these sublexical long-term memory effects occurs in childhood and reflects adultlike patterns of performance.
Stig Kanger’s Actions and Influence

This essay is mainly historical in character. Thus, a great part of it is devoted to Kanger’s own development of his concepts and theory. For a brief comparison, some aspects of his theory are put in perspective in order to show his originality and influence. This is the case for instance concerning his Do-predicate which is mirrored in Porn’s E-predicate for action (1977). One section is also devoted to extensions and further developments of Kanger’s action theory. Although undertaken by myself and in many respects diverging from his thoughts, these extensions are to a great extent triggered by my intensive discussions with Kanger in the years of 1980–1987. His influence is also plain in publications by (1977) and , 1972, 1977) and Helle Kanger (1966, 1981) as well as by myself (as late as 1997) and others as for instance A. J. I. Jones. This Fenno-Scandian school of Action Theory is also being taught in our universities till this very day.
Tempo Tracking With a Periodicity Comb Kernel.

Automatic tempo extraction and beat tracking from audio is an important ability, with many applications in music information retrieval. This paper describes a method for tempo tracking which builds on current research in the field. In this algorithm, an autocorrelation surface is calculated from the output of a spectral energy flux onset novelty function. The most salient repetition rate is calculated by cross-correlating dilations of a comb-like prototype spanning multiple frames and the autocorrelation surface. The method addresses tempo tracking through time to account for pieces with variable tempos. In order to compare the performance of our method on music with strong and weak percussive onsets we have evaluated it on both classical music with and without percussion and popular music with percussion. Additionally, beats are phase-aligned and superimposed on the signal for aural evaluation. Results show the comb kernel to be a useful feature in determining the correct beat level.
Carbon dioxide laser treatment of cervical stenosis

Fifteen women diagnosed with cervical stenosis were treated by vaporization of scar tissue using the carbon dioxide laser. Ninety-three percent of the cases demonstrated binding constriction of the cervical os to a 2-mm diameter or less and 40% of the cases had either a pinpoint opening or total endocervical obliteration. The technique for laser treatment and the success of the method depend on precise variations of mode, power, beam diameter, and "buttoning" the endocervical mucosal remnant. Twelve of the 15 patients were relieved of stenosis and 9 achieved pregnancy within 2 years of the operative procedure. Critical analysis of possible causative factors in this study revealed that virtually every case of stenosis had been iatrogenic.
Thermodynamics for Physicists

Physicists know thermodynamics, but many use it only rarely in their research work. Knowledge therefore is not supplemented by intuition [1]. In biomolecular physics, thermodynamics is necessary. Equilibrium problems and dynamic questions call for thermodynamic concepts. In particular, entropy and volume changes during biomolecular reactions may be among the most important clues to the mechanism of a reaction. In the present section, an outline is given of the aspects of thermodynamics that we will need most. The discussion will be brief; further details and generalizations can be found in many texts [2]–[4].
First-Order Subdifferential Calculus

This chapter concerns generalized differential properties of extended-real-valued functions \(\varphi: \mathbb{R}^{n} \rightarrow \overline{\mathbb{R}}\) that are assumed, unless otherwise stated, to be lower semicontinuous around references points.
Palladio's children

1. A Role Model 2. Leaving the Field 3. About Fields 4. Encounters with the Field 5. In the Field 6. Engaging the Field 7. About an Attitude in Making Architecture
Cluster representations and the Wolff algorithm in arbitrary external fields

We introduce a natural way to extend celebrated spin-cluster Monte Carlo algorithms for fast thermal lattice simulations at criticality, such as the Wolff algorithm, to systems in arbitrary fields, be they linear magnetic vector fields or nonlinear anisotropic ones. By generalizing the ``ghost spin'' representation to one with a ``ghost transformation,'' global invariance to spin symmetry transformations is restored at the cost of an extra degree of freedom which lives in the space of symmetry transformations. The ordinary cluster-building process can then be run on the representation. We show that this extension preserves the scaling of accelerated dynamics in the absence of a field for Ising, Potts, and $\mathrm{O}(n)$ models and demonstrate the method's use in modeling the presence of novel nonlinear fields. We also provide a c++ library for the method's convenient implementation for arbitrary models.
Targeting BAF-perturbed cancers.

BAF is a heterogenous chromatin-remodelling complex, frequently mutated in cancer. A study now defines genome-wide localization patterns of three complexes, cBAF, PBAF and previously unknown ncBAF, and reveals the ncBAF complex as a specific vulnerability in synovial sarcoma and malignant rhabdoid tumours.
VOCIFERANDO CONTRA O ILUMINISMO: A IDEOLOGIA DE STEVE BANNON

Resumo A partir das categorias da sociologia cultural, o texto pretende analisar como Steve Bannon, considerado o principal ideologo do governo de Donald Trump, vem construindo poderosas narrativas a partir de simplificacoes binarias do conflito politico, purificando os grupos que encarnariam a “verdadeira America” - nacionalistas, brancos e cristaos - e legitimando a exclusao dos demais. Uma vez que o conflito politico nao se refere somente ao controle de recursos materiais, mas envolve de modo constitutivo disputas pelo significado cultural, procura-se mostrar como a ideologia codificada por Bannon, amplificada de modo poderoso nas performances politicas de Trump, tem sido capaz de produzir efeitos perversos na ordem democratica contemporânea.
José Juan Tablada's Creative Art Writing: Hiroshigué … (1914) and the End of Nineteenth-Century Mexican Landscape Painting

Amidst the violence of the Mexican Revolution, the poet Jose Juan Tablada published Mexico’s first modern artist’s book and art book: Hiroshigue: El pintor de la nieve, de la lluvia, de la luna y de la noche (1914). In design and content, Tablada’s art book was a cultural artifact unlike any other. By drawing on concepts from cultural and literary theory, and art history, I demonstrate how this art book addressed the nation’s cultural crisis and proposed a program for interpreting and reinventing it. En medio de la violencia de la Revolucion mexicana, el poeta Jose Juan Tablada publico el primer libro de arte y libro de artista moderno en Mexico: Hiroshigue: El pintor de la nieve, de la lluvia, de la luna y de la noche (1914). Tanto en materia de diseno como de contenido, el libro de arte de Tablada fue un artefacto cultural sin parangon. Mediante el recurso a conceptos de la teoria del arte y la teoria literaria, ademas de la historia del arte, me propongo mostrar como abordo este libro la crisis cultural de la nacion y como planteo un programa para interpretarla y reinventarla.
Resting-state functional connectivity and inflexibility of daily emotions in major depression.

Abstract Background Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is characterized by aberrant resting-state functional connectivity (FC) in anterior cingulate regions (e.g., subgenual anterior cingulate [sgACC]) and by negative emotional functioning that is inflexible or resistant to change. Methods MDD (N = 33) and control (CTL; N = 31) adults completed a resting-state scan, followed by a smartphone-based Experience Sampling Methodology (ESM) protocol surveying 10 positive and negative emotions 5 times per day for 21 days. We used multilevel modeling to assess moment-to-moment emotional inflexibility (i.e., strong temporal connections between emotions). We examined group differences in whole-brain FC analysis of bilateral sgACC, and then examined associations between emotional experiences and the extracted FC values within each group. Results As predicted, MDDs had inflexibility in sadness and avoidance (p Limitations Other maladaptive behaviors likely also affect the flexibility of negative emotions. We cannot generalize our finding of a positive relation between sgACC FC and inflexibility of sadness to individuals with more chronic depression or who have recovered from depression. Conclusions Our preliminary findings suggest that connections between portions of the ACC contribute to the persistence of negative emotions and are important in identifying a brain mechanism that may underlie the maintenance of sadness in daily life.
The ${\cal {D Q R}}$ algorithm, basic theory, convergence, and conditional stability

We describe a fast matrix eigenvalue algorithm that uses a matrix factorization and reverse order multiply technique involving three factors and that is based on the symmetric matrix factorization as well as on $D$ –orthogonal reduction techniques where $D= \mbox{ diag}(\pm1)$ is computed from the given matrix $A$ . It operates on a similarity reduction of a real matrix $A_{nn}$ to general tridiagonal form $T$ and computes all of $A$ 's eigenvalues in $\frac{4}{3} n^3 + O(n^2)$ operations, where the $O(n^2)$ part of the operations is possibly performed over ${\Bbb C}$ , instead of the 7–8 $n^3$ real flops required by the $QR$ eigenvalue algorithm. Potential breakdo wn of the $DQR$ algorithm can occur in the reduction to tridiagonal form and in the $D$ –orthogonal $DQR$ reductions. Both, however, can be monitored during the computations. The former occurs rather rarely for dimensions $n \leq 300$ and can essentially be bypassed, while the latter is extremely rare and can be bypassed as well in our conditionally stable implementation of the $DQR$ steps. We prove an implicit $DQ$ theorem which allows implicit shifts, give a convergence proof for the $DQR$ algorithm and show that $DQR$ is conditionally stable for general balanced tridiagonal matrices $T_{\rm b}$ .
Laser Joining of Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polymer and Metal with High-Strength and Corrosion-Resistant Bonds

Abstract The combination of thermoplastic composites and metals is a critical methodology to enable the lightweight structures. Due to the high incompatibility of their physical and chemical properties, the bonding strength is always weak. In addition, the reinforced materials of composites, such as carbon fibers, which are electrically conductive and electrochemically noble, would quickly deteriorate the joint strength through galvanic corrosion. In this study, a novel laser joining process was developed for carbon-fiber-reinforced polymer and aluminum and/or steel. Methods of forming a layer that is more chemically inactive than the metal to be joined with composites, i.e. aluminum oxide on aluminum and stainless steel on steel, through laser surface texturing and cladding processes, are evaluated to improve the corrosion resistance of the joints. Furthermore, the laser-induced surface texture on the metals is created to significantly increase the initial joint strengths due to the effect of mechanical interlock. Finally, the corrosion behavior of the joints is investigated through cyclic corrosion tests and the experimental results indicate that the combination of added noble layers and textured surfaces is very promising for achieving high-strength and corrosion-resistance joints.
Minimizing Regret on Reflexive Banach Spaces and Nash Equilibria in Continuous Zero-Sum Games

We study a general adversarial online learning problem, in which we are given a decision set X' in a reflexive Banach space X and a sequence of reward vectors in the dual space of X. At each iteration, we choose an action from X', based on the observed sequence of previous rewards. Our goal is to minimize regret, defined as the gap between the realized reward and the reward of the best fixed action in hindsight. Using results from infinite dimensional convex analysis, we generalize the method of Dual Averaging (or Follow the Regularized Leader) to our setting and obtain upper bounds on the worst-case regret that generalize many previous results. Under the assumption of uniformly continuous rewards, we obtain explicit regret bounds in a setting where the decision set is the set of probability distributions on a compact metric space S. Importantly, we make no convexity assumptions on either the set S or the reward functions. We also prove a general lower bound on the worst-case regret for any online algorithm. We then apply these results to the problem of learning in repeated two-player zero-sum games on compact metric spaces. In doing so, we first prove that if both players play a Hannan-consistent strategy, then with probability 1 the empirical distributions of play weakly converge to the set of Nash equilibria of the game. We then show that, under mild assumptions, Dual Averaging on the (infinite-dimensional) space of probability distributions indeed achieves Hannan-consistency.
Dynamics of Water Molecules and Ions in Concentrated Lithium Chloride Solutions Probed with Ultrafast 2D IR Spectroscopy

Water and ion dynamics in concentrated LiCl solutions were studied using ultrafast 2D IR spectroscopy with the methyl thiocyanate (MeSCN) CN stretch as the vibrational probe. The IR absorption spectrum of MeSCN has two peaks, one peak for water associated with the nitrogen lone pair of MeSCN (W) and the other peak corresponding to Li+ associated with the lone pair (L). To extract the spectral diffusion (structural dynamics) of W and L species, we developed a method that isolates the peak of interest by subtracting the 2D Gaussian proxies of multiple interfering peaks. Center line slope data (normalized frequency-frequency correlation function) for 2D bands from the W and L are fit with triexponential functions. The fastest component (1.1-1.6 ps) is assigned to local hydrogen bond length fluctuations. The intermediate timescale (∼4.0 ps) corresponds to the hydrogen bond network rearrangement. The slowest component decays in ∼40 ps and corresponds to ion pair and ion cluster dynamics. The very similar W and L spectral diffusion indicates that the motions of the water and ions are strongly coupled. Orientational relaxations of the W and L species were extracted using a new method to eliminate the effects of overlapping peaks. The results show that MeSCN bound to water undergoes orientational relaxation significantly faster than MeSCN bound to Li+. The orientational and spectral diffusion results are compared. A Stark coupling model is used to extract the root mean square average electric field caused by the ion clouds along the CN moiety as a function of concentration.
Technology use and preferences for mental health self-management interventions among older veterans.

Objectives The United States Department of Veterans Affairs offers numerous technology-delivered interventions to self-manage mental health problems. It is unknown, however, what barriers older military veterans face to using these technologies and how willing they would be to use technologies for mental health concerns. Methods Seventy-seven veterans (Mage = 69.16 years; SD = 7.10) completed interviews in a concurrent mixed methods study. Interviewers asked about technology ownership and described four modalities of delivering self-management interventions: printed materials, DVDs, Internet, and mobile apps. Interviewers obtained feedback about each modality's benefits, barriers, and facilitators. Participants ranked their self-management modalities preferences alone and compared with counseling. Multivariable adjusted logistic regression and qualitative analyses were conducted to investigate the reasons contributing to preferences. Results Most reported owning a computer (84.4%), having home Internet (80.5%), and a smartphone (70.1%). Participants preferred printed materials (35.1%) over mobile apps (28.6%), Internet (24.7%), and DVDs (13.0%). Lower computer proficiency was associated with preferring DVDs; higher proficiency was associated with Internet and mobile interventions. Residing in an urban area was associated with mobile apps. When counseling was an option, 66% identified this as their first preference. Qualitative findings showed veterans' desire for information, training, and provider support with technology. Conclusions Older veterans reported high technology ownership rates but varied preferences for self-management interventions. Notably, two-thirds preferred some form of technology, which points to the importance of ensuring that providers offer existing technology-delivered interventions to older veterans. Veterans' strong preference for counseling emphasizes the need for human support alongside self-management.
Using Adaptive Computer-based Instruction to Teach Staff to Implement a Social Skills Intervention.

This study evaluated the effectiveness of an adaptive, computer-based staff training software program called Train-to-Code (TTC) to teach the administration of a social skills intervention. The sof...
High Order Approximation with Multivariate Generalized Gauss–Weierstrass Singular Integrals

This research and survey chapter deals exclusively with the study of the approximation of generalized multivariate Gauss–Weierstrass singular integrals to the identity-unit operator. Here we study quantitatively most of their approximation properties. The multivariate generalized Gauss–Weierstrass operators are not in general positive linear operators.
Unconditionally energy stable and first-order accurate numerical schemes for the heat equation with uncertain temperature-dependent conductivity.

In this paper, we present first-order accurate numerical methods for solution of the heat equation with uncertain temperature-dependent thermal conductivity. Each algorithm yields a shared coefficient matrix for the ensemble set improving computational efficiency. Both mixed and Robin-type boundary conditions are treated. In contrast with alternative, related methodologies, stability and convergence are unconditional. In particular, we prove unconditional, energy stability and optimal-order error estimates. A battery of numerical tests are presented to illustrate both the theory and application of these algorithms.
Specialized proresolution mediators in the bladder: annexin-A1 normalizes inflammation and bladder dysfunction during bladder outlet obstruction.

To our knowledge, this is the first study of proinflammation-resolving pathways in the bladder, which is the basis of a new pharmacological genus-dubbed “resolution pharmacology” aimed at reducing ...
Challenges to Virtue Perspectivism

A 2-level basic knowledge structure is based on a distinction between animal knowledge and reflective knowledge, and a corresponding distinction between competences that are not reason-based such as basic trust and competences that are reason-based such as intellectual virtues. Whereas the first type of competence aims to stop the infinite regress of sources or bases for our beliefs, the second type of competence aims to avoid vicious circularity through having an endorsing perspective on our animal competences. To avoid the infinite regress and vicious circularity, this perspective must be comprised of explicit beliefs that are better justified than the implicit beliefs from which they are derived, and the implicit beliefs must be formed non-rationally. These problems remain, however, because there is no clear distinction between animal or unreflective knowledge and reflective knowledge. A 3-level basic knowledge structure is based on an additional distinction between pre-reflective epistemic states (reactions) and unreflective epistemic states (implicit beliefs) at the level of animal knowledge. This distinction allows us to interpret basic trust as a source rather than basis for knowledge that is rooted in pre-reflective reactions that are part of our first nature.
Dynamic Task Parallelism with a GPU Work-Stealing Runtime System

NVIDIA’s Compute Unified Device Architecture (CUDA) enabled GPUs become accessible to mainstream programming. Abundance of simple computational cores and high memory bandwidth make GPUs ideal candidates for data parallel applications. However, its potential for executing applications that combine task and data parallelism has not been explored in detail. CUDA does not provide a viable interface for creating dynamic tasks and handling load balancing issues. Any support for such has to be orchestrated entirely by the CUDA programmer today.
Potent therapeutic effects of novel DNA-targeted alkylating agents, aniline N-mustards linked to DNA-affinic molecules against human tumor xenografts

AACR Annual Meeting-- Apr 14-18, 2007; Los Angeles, CA 3204 A series of novel DNA-targeted alkylating agents, aniline N-mustards linked to DNA-affinic molecules (i.e., 9-anilinoacridines, acridines, quinolines) via a urea linker, were synthesized for antitumor evaluation. It demonstrates that these agents exhibit potent cytotoxicity against human lymphoblastic leukemia (CCRF/CEM) as well as the solid tumors (mammary MX-1 and colon HCT-116) cell growth in vitro with submicromolar IC50 values. The results revealed that these compounds have little or no cross-resistance to either taxol or vinblastine. It suggested that most N-mustard derivatives were neither a good substrate of membrane of p-glycoprotein nor related to mutated tubulin. The in vivo antitumor therapeutic effects of the target compounds were studied. Nude mice bearing human breast tumor MX-1 were treated with these agents at the dose of 10-150 mg/kg, Q2D×5, via intravenous injection, resulted in tumor total disappearance (or complete remission, CR) with low toxicity (9-17% body weight loss with rapid recovery). BO-1055, BO-1063, BO-1064 and BO-1066 achieved complete tumor remission, whereas BO-1049 achieved CR in parts of the mice. Remarkably, BO-1051, BO-1055, BO-1063, and BO-1065 with only one cycle 5-dose-treatments, complete remission was achieved and maintained for over 70 days without any relapse in 3 out of 3 mice. Interestingly, the apparent tumor-suppression was observed in mice on day-16 (last dose), but complete-suppression was achieved latter suggesting that the newly synthesized agents may have a long duration of action. The therapeutic effects of N-mustard compounds, BO-1049, 1051 and 1055, against human glioma U87 GM s.c. xenograft in nude mice were also examined; BO-1049 (150 mg/kg), BO-1051 (100 mg/kg), and BO-1055 (30 mg/kg), Q2D×5, i.v.-injection, resulted in complete tumor-growth suppression. Remarkably, those mice treated with BO-1051 (100 mg/kg, Q2D×5, n=3), it not only suppressed tumor growth but also continuously shrank tumor to only detectable tumor size (i.e., nearly complete remission) with only one cycle of treatment. Furthermore, this tumor shrinkage effect was observed on 10 and 12 days after the last dose of BO-1051on Day-16 (The treatment started on Day-8). Remarkably, all three compounds (BO-1049, 1051 and 1055) yielded superior therapeutic effects than cyclophosphamide (80 mg/kg, Q2D×5) in a parallel study. These results demonstrated the newly synthesized compounds possess potent antitumor therapeutic efficacy and have potential for clinical applications.
Role of epidermal growth factor in healing of chronic gastroduodenal ulcers in rats

The healing of acetic acid-induced gastric and duodenal ulcers was examined together with biochemical indices of growth in gastric and duodenal mucosa in rats with intact or removed salivary glands after treatment with epidermal growth factor (EGF) or somatostatin, or both. After the extirpation of salivary glands, the healing rate of gastric and duodenal ulcerations was delayed and gastric content of immunoreactive EGF was reduced. This was accompanied by a significant decrease in the contents of deoxyribonucleic acid and ribonucleic acid in the gastric and duodenal mucosa. Repeated administration of EGF either subcutaneously or orally accelerated the healing of gastroduodenal ulcers in rats with intact salivary glands and completely reversed the delay in ulcer healing in sialoadenectomized animals. These effects were also accompanied by a significant increase in the growth parameters of gastric and duodenal mucosa. Administration of somatostatin, which prevented the growth-promoting action of subcutaneous EGF, resulted in a significant decrease in the EGF-stimulated healing of gastric and duodenal ulcerations in both intact and sialoadenectomized rats. Our findings suggest that cell proliferation is an important factor in healing of gastric and duodenal ulcerations and that EGF plays an important role in ulcer healing due to its mitogenic action.
A Dupuit formulation for modeling seawater intrusion in regional aquifer systems

[1] A new formulation is presented for the modeling of seawater intrusion in coastal multiaquifer systems. The formulation is intended for the simulation of three-dimensional regional seawater intrusion starting from a specified salinity distribution. The Dupuit approximation is adopted, and diffusion and dispersion are not taken into account. The formulation is based on a vertical discretization of the groundwater into zones of either constant density (stratified flow) or continuously varying density (piecewise linear in the vertical direction). The zones are separated from each other by curved surfaces, representing interfaces for stratified flow and isosurfaces of the density for variable density flow. During a simulation both the change of the elevations of the surfaces and the change in head are computed through consistent application of continuity of flow; a simple tip and toe tracking algorithm is applied to simulate the horizontal movement of the surfaces. The resulting differential equations are equivalent in form to the differential equation for single-density flow. The density effects are incorporated through the addition of pseudosource terms. This makes it easy to implement the formulation in existing numerical groundwater codes. The main advantage of the formulation is the tremendous reduction of the number of cells needed for a simulation because every aquifer may be represented by a single layer of cells. The accuracy of the formulation is demonstrated through comparison with existing exact solutions and a numerical solution.
Anti-personnel landmine injuries: a global epidemic

Injuries and fatalities caused by anti-personnel landmines have become a global epidemic. Over 250 000 people alive today have been injured by landmines, many of whom required amputations. Civilians, including a large percentage of women and children, are injured at least as frequently as are military personnel. An estimated 10 000-100 000 additional people are killed or injured by landmines each year. There are presently in excess of 100 million active landmines buried or scattered throughout the world, and every day, an additional 5000 are put in place. The majority are in poor, underdeveloped, war-torn countries whose populations are already traumatized by conflict. At the cost of $300-000 per mine, the governments of these countries can not afford the process of de-mining their land, nor can they provide adequate emergency medical care and rehabilitation for landmine victims. The presence of mines in agricultural fields, near water supplies, along roadways and around villages, prevents the use of these essential resources, severely impacting on economic development. Health professionals are urged to support national and international legislation to completely ban the manufacture, sale and use of anti-personnel landmines.
Cognitive-emotional training as an intervention for major depressive disorder.

Background There is an urgent need for more effective treatments for major depressive disorder (MDD). As understanding of the cognitive and affective neuroscience underlying psychiatric disorders expands, so do opportunities to develop interventions that capitalize on the capacity for brain plasticity. Cognitive training is one such strategy. In this article, we report a proof-of-concept study of a novel cognitive-emotional training exercise designed to enhance cognitive control for emotional information processing and targeting components of the neural networks that have been implicated in MDD. Methods Twenty-one participants with MDD in a current episode were randomly assigned to one of the two treatment conditions: 11 participating in a cognitive-emotional training paradigm (emotional faces memory task (EFMT)) involving eight sessions over 4 weeks, and 10 participating in an active control condition (control training, CT). Assessments of MDD symptoms, negative affective bias in cognitive processing, and neurocognition (attention and working memory) were administered at baseline and after 4 weeks. Results Participants in the EFMT group exhibited a greater reduction in MDD symptoms compared to the CT group, and 6 of the 11 EFMT participants achieved clinical response (≥50% reduction in symptoms). EFMT participants also exhibited changes in negative affective bias in the hypothesized direction whereas the CT participants did not. Both groups exhibited similar, small improvements in attention and working memory. Conclusions Cognitive-emotional training may represent a feasible and effective intervention strategy for MDD. This proof-of-concept study highlights the need for future studies to fully understand the effectiveness, and mechanisms of effect, of these training strategies.
Learning and memory deficits in rats following exposure to 3,3′-iminodipropionitrile☆

Rats were examined using a learning and memory test battery 4 weeks following exposure to 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN). Initial testing revealed deficits in olfactory discrimination and passive avoidance (PA) conditioning. In order to dissociate learning and performance effects, additional tests were conducted. First, to rule out the possibility that IDPN reduced the aversiveness of foot shock, rats were tested in a simple shock sensitivity paradigm. The results indicated no change in shock sensitivity produced by IDPN. Second, to determine if the hyperactivity produced by IDPN was responsible for deficits in conditioning, several additional tests were conducted including (a) repeated-trials active avoidance (AA) and PA conditioning, (b) a PA study which included both a 1- and 24-hr training-testing interval, and (c) long-delay flavor-aversion conditioning. Rats treated with IDPN required more conditioning trials to reach criterion on both AA and PA procedures suggesting that they were capable of performing the required response but acquired those responses at a much slower rate. The deficits in PA conditioning were similar at both the 1- and 24-hr training-testing interval. Finally, the effects of IDPN on flavor-aversion conditioning depended on the delay separating flavor intake and lithium administration during conditioning. Rats treated with IDPN demonstrated robust flavor aversions when trained with a 30-min but not with a 6-hr delay. In summary, the neurotoxic profile of effects produced by IDPN must be expanded to include a prominent cognitive component characterized by protracted deficits in learning and memory capacity. The present experiment illustrates how chemically induced disruption of learning and memory produced by IDPN can be experimentally dissociated from associate neurological symptoms using a simple, routine battery of neurobehavioral tests.
Electroless copper coating of cenospheres using silver nitrate activator

Abstract Electroless Cu-coating of fly ash cenosphere particles is demonstrated in the present investigation. The electroless Cu-coating process is modified by replacing the conventional PdCl 2 activator with AgNO 3 activator to reduce the overall cost of the coating process. The cenosphere particles are characterized by scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy, auger electron spectroscopy (AES), X-ray diffraction analysis, and focussed ion beam (FIB) microscopy during and after the coating process. Relatively uniform and continuous coating thickness of ∼350 nm is obtained under the given coating conditions. The possible mechanism of electroless Cu-coating of cenosphere particles utilizing AgNO 3 activator is suggested. Cu-coated fly ash particles find applications in manufacturing conducting polymers for EMI-shielding applications.
A picture is worth a thousand words: energy systems language and simulation

Abstract A historical perspective of the energy circuit language is given (sometimes called energy circuit language). Beginning with HT Odum’s first energy flow diagrams used explain the general organization of ecosystems and the flows of energy supporting production and ending with diagrams of the universe, the 50 year evolution of the energy systems language are explored. Changes in the language often resulted from technological changes in the “tools” of Odum’s trade (i.e., the use of drawing software on computers) as well as refinements of his theories related to ecological and general systems theory, hierarchical organization, and energy quality. In all the language represents a coscise way of visualizing systems, describing them mathematically, and developing programs for simulating their dynamic behavior.
Using handhelds as controls for everyday appliances: a paper prototype study

Everyday appliances, including telephones, copiers, and home stereos, increasingly contain embedded computers which enable greater functionality. If the interfaces to these appliances were easy to use, people might benefit from these new functions. Unfortunately, it is rare to find a well-designed appliance interface. This study shows that existing appliance interfaces could be improved by using a remote control interface on a handheld computer.
Magnetic microposts for mechanical stimulation of biological cells: Fabrication, characterization, and analysis

Cells use force as a mechanical signal to sense and respond to their microenvironment. Understanding how mechanical forces affect living cells requires the development of tool sets that can apply nanoscale forces and also measure cellular traction forces. However, there has been a lack of techniques that integrate actuation and sensing components to study force as a mechanical signal. Here, we describe a system that uses an array of elastomeric microposts to apply external forces to cells through cobalt nanowires embedded inside the microposts. We first biochemically treat the posts’ surfaces to restrict cell adhesion to the posts’ tips. Then by applying a uniform magnetic field B0.3 T, we induce magnetic torque on the nanowires that is transmitted to a cell’s adhesion site as an external force. We have achieved external forces of up to 45 nN, which is in the upper range of current nanoscale force-probing techniques. Nonmagnetic microposts, similarly prepared but without nanowires, surround the magnetic microposts and are used to measure the traction forces and changes in cell mechanics. We record the magnitude and direction of the external force and the traction forces by optically measuring the deflection of the microposts, which linearly deflect as cantilever springs. With this approach, we can measure traction forces before and after force stimulation in order to monitor cellular response to forces. We present the fabrication methods, magnetic force characterization, and image analysis techniques used to achieve the measurements. © 2008 American Institute of Physics. DOI: 10.1063/1.2906228
Effect of dialysate volume on peritoneal dialysis kinetics

Effect of dialysate volume on peritoneal dialysis kinetics. The effect of peritoneal dialysate volume on the rates of transperitoneal urea and creatinine equilibration was determined over a 120-min sampling period. Equilibration half-time (t 1/2 ) was prolonged when volume was increased from 1 to 2 to 3 liters. Some data suggest this delay was not attributable to a decrease in peritoneal permeability or blood flow. If that is true, our data indicate that slower urea equilibration with larger dialysate volumes is due to changes in volume/surface area relationships. Because solutes equilibrated more rapidly into 1 liter than into 2 liters, peritoneal clearances using an exchange schedule of 1 liter every 30 min were comparable to those obtained with 2 liters exchanged every 60 min. Therefore, patients susceptible to cardiopulmonary complications may be dialyzed without loss of efficiency by infusing 1 liter every 30 min instead of the usual 2 liters every 60 min. Effet du volume de dialyse sur la cinetique de la dialyse peritoneale. L'effet du volume du dialysat peritoneal sur les vitesses d'equilibration transperitoneale de l'uree et de la creatinine a ete etudie pendant une periode de prelevements de 120 min. Le temps de demi-equilibration (t 1/2 ) est allonge quand le volume est augmente de 1 a 2 et de 2 a 3 litres. Certains faits suggerent que ce retard n'est pas attribuable a une diminution de la permeabilite ou du debit sanguin peritoneaux. Dans ce cas nos resultats indiqueraient que l'equilibration plus lente de l'uree, quand le volume de dialysat est plus grand, serait liee aux modifications du rapport volume/surface. Du fait que les substances dissoutes s'equilibrent plus rapidement dans 1 l que dans 2 l les clearances peritoneales sont comparables dans un programme d'echange d'un litre toutes les 30 minutes a celles obtennes dans un programme d'exchange de 2 litres toutes les 60 minutes. Par consequent il est possible de dialyser les malades exposes a des complications cardiopulmonaires sans perte d'efficacite, en injectant 1 litre toutes les 30 minutes au lieu des 2 litres habituels toutes les 60 minutes.
Formation of supersaturated FeZn alloys by DIR

On decrit la formation de nouveaux grains riches en Zn sur la surface du fer dans des couples de diffusion fer-zinc
Investment in Facility Changeover Flexibility for Early Entry into High-Tech Markets

A model is introduced to analyze the manufacturing-marketing interface for a firm in a high-tech industry that produces a series of high-volume products with short product life cycles on a single facility. The one-time strategic decision regarding the firm's investment in changeover flexibility establishes the link between market opportunities and manufacturing capabilities. Specifically, the optimal changeover flexibility decision is determined in the context of the firm's market entry strategy for successive product generations, the changeover cost between generations, and the production efficiency of the facility. Moreover, the dynamic pricing policy for each product generation is obtained as a function of the firm's market entry strategy and manufacturing efficiency. Our findings provide insights linking internal manufacturing capabilities with external market forces for the high-tech and high-volume manufacturer of products with short life cycles. We show the impact of manufacturing efficiency and a firm's ability to benefit from volume-based learning on the dynamic pricing policy for each product generation. The results demonstrate the benefits realized by a firm that works with its manufacturing equipment suppliers to develop more efficient and flexible technology. In addition, we explore how opportunities afforded by pioneer advantage enable a firm operating a less efficient facility to realize long term competitive advantage by deploying an earlier market entry strategy.
A Novel Method of Imaging Calcium Urolithiasis Using Fluorescence

Purpose: In the surgical management of urolithiasis the goal of treatment is not only to remove calculi, but also prevent future stone formation by rendering the patient stone-free/fragment-free. Achieving this goal is often difficult with endoscopic procedures due to the inability to visualize small calculi well even with x-ray or ultrasound. We evaluated fluorescence probes as a novel method of identifying calculi in the urinary tract.Materials and Methods: In vitro calcium stones were incubated with each of the Osteosense™ 680 and Osteosense 750 calcium binding fluorescence probes, and imaged with a near infrared fluorescence imaging system. Using a mouse model calculi were placed in the renal pelvis and the probes were injected intravenously. Imaging was performed at various times after injection.Results: In vitro the Osteosense 680 probe demonstrated high binding affinity for calcium oxalate-struvite, calcium phosphate-struvite and ammonium urate-calcium oxalate-calcium phosphate stones, and lower bi...
Implantation of the rabbit blastocyst: Sequential changes in estradiol and progesterone and their receptors

To determine the temporal relationship of the endocrine events involved in rabbit blastocyst implantation, (1) progesterone (P) and estradiol (E) in plasma and uterine flushings, (2) P and E in the cytosol of endometrium and myometrium, and (3) P receptors (PR) and E receptors (ER) in endometrium and myometrium were examined from days 0 through 7 post coitum by radioimmunoassay and radioreceptorassay. Plasma P levels increased significantly from 0.3 ± 0.06 to 76 ± 9.4 ng/ml (p =
Low-temperature specific heat of K 2 Pt ( CN ) 4 Br 0.3 ·3 H 2 O

The molar heat capacity of ${\mathrm{K}}_{2}$Pt${(\mathrm{CN})}_{4}$${\mathrm{Br}}_{0.3}$\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}3${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$O is reported for the temperature range 0.75-25.7 K. Results of a least-squares fit to data in the range 1.5-6 K include a coefficient for the linear temperature contribution of 2.12 mJ/mole ${\mathrm{K}}^{2}$ and a Debye temperature of 273 K. Higher-order terms were required to fit the data in this range. Possible sources for the linear contribution are those associated with one-dimensional lattice vibrations and/or spin and charge degrees of freedom of a one-dimensional degenerate Fermi gas.
STUDIES OF LIGHT AND CHARGE PRODUCED BY ALPHA-PARTICLES IN HIGH-PRESSURE XENON

The results of measurements of scintillation light induced by alpha-particles in high-pressure Xe are presented. The ratio of N(sub ex)/N(sub i) and the intensity and time characteristics of the luminescence signal have been measured for different densities up to 0.74 g/cc. The role and mechanisms of the electron-ion recombination in high-pressure gas have been investigated. The existence of clusters and self-trapped excitons above 0.6 g/cc has been observed and discussed. This work is a part of a development program of high-pressure Xe detectors for low-energy gamma rays.
Static and fatigue behavior of metal cylinders with enhanced surface property

Abstract Effects of surface property on the static and fatigue strength of metal cylinders is determined by analysis of the redistribution of stress and energy density. Because the mechanical constraints on the material elements in a surface layer differ so drastically from those in the interior or bulk, changes of mechanical properties in a thin surface layer can significantly alter the global behavior of a metal part. Desirable gain in mechanical strength due to surface treatments such as laser spraying, ion implantation, etc. is now well known. Developed in this work is a method for evaluating the enhancement of the static and fatigue life of metals when their mechanical properties in a thin surface layer of material are improved. An extensive increase in the surface layer thickness does not lead to appreciable changes of mechanical strength.
The Abortion Attitudes Paradox: Model Specification and Gender Differences

Rather unexpectedly, prior work has failed to find consistent gender differences in public support for legal abortion. Given that gender differences in public opinion emerge for a wide range of other issue areas, it seems paradoxical that there is no consistent gender difference on the issue of abortion. I propose that this failure to find a consistent gender difference is due to how abortion attitudes are modeled. Controlling for religiosity, which research has shown women to score higher on, results in a small and consistent gender gap in support for legal abortion with women more likely than men to support.