cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Image reconstruction and deconvolution techniques applied to ASCA data

The Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astrophysics, ASCA, is a joint Japanese-United State X-ray astrophysics observatory which was launched on February 20th 1993. The scientific payload comprises four identical grazing incidence X-ray mirrors complemented by two charge-coupled devices and two gas scintillation proportional counters as the focal plane detectors. This paper presents the latest work carried out to improve the quality of ASCA images using the Lucy-Richardson deconvolution method. The ability to resolve two point sources is studied under various conditions of separation, relative intensity, and signal-to- noise. The method is also tested with an extended source. The minimum separation which can be resolved is 30 arcseconds, corresponding approximately to the radius of the core of the PSF. There is also some advantage to be gained in the relative orientation of the sources. Sources of unequal intensity must be separated further in order to be resolved, for example, when one source is half the intensity of the other source the minimum separation is 45 arcseconds. A signal-to-noise ratio of 5(sigma) is the lower limit for resolving two sources of equal strength 30 arcseconds apart. Deconvolution of the simulated image of the supernova remnant CAS-A is successfully carried out and the resulting image has about one arcminute resolution, limited by the PSF core width.
Morbidity and mortality after hepatic and pancreatic resections: results from one surgeon at a low-volume urban hospital over thirty years.

Abstract Background Recent reviews of state and national databases suggest that hospital volume is inversely proportional to morbidity after hepatic and pancreatic resection. Volume may be a surrogate marker for factors such as coordination of care and surgeon training. The authors hypothesized that low-volume centers can obtain acceptable outcomes if these requirements are satisfied. Methods A retrospective review was performed of all hepatic and pancreatic resections performed from 1978 to 2008 by 1 surgeon at 1 low-volume institution. The etiology of disease, type of resection, and 30-day morbidity and mortality were assessed. Results One hundred sixty-eight hepatic resections were performed for malignant (76%) or benign (24%) etiologies. Major resections included extended lobectomy (n = 19), lobectomy (n = 58), and segmentectomy (n = 62); minor resections consisted of wedge resections (n = 29). Overall 30-day mortality was 1.8%, and major morbidity was 17.9%; for major hepatic resections, mortality and morbidity were 1.4% and 20.1%, respectively. One hundred fourteen pancreatic resections were performed for malignant (76.3%) or benign (23.7%) etiologies. Major resections included pancreaticoduodenectomy (n = 91), central pancreatectomy (n = 1), and total pancreatectomy (n = 4); minor resections consisted of distal pancreatectomy (n = 18). Overall 30-day mortality was 2.6%, and major morbidity was 27.2%; for major pancreatic resections, mortality and morbidity were 3.1% and 31.3%, respectively. Conclusions Hepatic and pancreatic resections can be performed safely at a low-volume hospital with adequate surgeon training and perioperative systems of care.
Music Improves Patient Comfort Level During Outpatient Bronchoscopy

Study objective: To determine the effect of music during bronchoscopy on patient perception of the procedure. Design: Prospective randomized trial. Setting: University-based bronchoscopy suite. Patients: Twenty-one patients received music (M+), and 28 patients served as controls (M—). Measurements and results: Physiologic responses, subjective patient perceptions, and administered medications were monitored. After the procedure, the technician and the physician both rated their impression of the patients' comfort levels to see how accurately they correlated with actual patient reports. There was no difference in physiologic responses between the M+ and M— groups. The M+ patients reported significantly greater comfort (p=0.02) and less cough (p=0.03) than the M—group, while there was no difference in reported dyspnea P=0.21). Both physicians and technicians were very inaccurate in their assessments of patient level of comfort. Medications given did not differ for the two groups. Conclusion: Music during bronchoscopy is a simple and inexpensive nonpharmacologic way to improve patient comfort.
Cervical carcinoma in the elderly: an analysis of patterns of care and outcome.

BACKGROUND Advanced age often is considered a poor prognostic factor for cervical carcinoma. The authors investigated the patterns of care and treatment outcomes of elderly women with cervical carcinoma. METHODS A hospital-based tumor registry was used to identify patients with invasive cervical carcinoma who were treated between 1986 and 2003. Patients were divided into 2 cohorts: women age < 70 years and women age ≥ 70 years. Survival was examined using the Kaplan–Meier method. Single and multivariate Cox proportional hazards modeling was used to estimate hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS In total, 1582 patients were identified, including 1385 patients age 70 years was 2.1 (95% CI, 1.5–3.0). The hazard ratio for death from cervical carcinoma in the elderly women was 1.6 (95% CI, 1.1–2.5). CONCLUSIONS Age is an important factor in the allocation of treatment and survival for patients with cervical carcinoma. Elderly women with cervical carcinoma are more likely to receive primary radiotherapy, to forego treatment, and to die from their disease. Cancer 2005. © 2004 American Cancer Society.
Kinetics of phase ordering of nematic liquid crystals in a confined geometry.

Employing a time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau model, we investigate the phase ordering kinetics of nematic liquid crystals confined in a narrow pore. We consider various orientations of the surface field and compute domain growth laws and scaling functions. In the absence of any anchoring field we find that (and in contrast to a confined binary liquid mixture) mere confinement of the liquid crystals is insufficient to produce slow growth of the nematic domains owing to the vector nature of the order parameter. In the presence of a strong homogeneous anchoring, the system quickly reaches a nematic state. On the other hand, for homeotropic anchoring, the liquid crystal takes on an XY character and the growth law exponent crosses over from 1/2 to 1/4 as the field strength is increased. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
Indecisive choice theory

Abstract A choice function is ‘decisive’ provided that it selects a non-empty choice set from every constraint set in its domain. If these choice sets are sometimes empty, then the choice function is ‘indecisive’. This paper takes the position that economic rationality and indecisiveness are compatible ideas, and generalizes some familiar methods from revealed preference theory.
Seasonal variation in the structure and red reflectance of leaves from yellow poplar, Red Oak, and Red Maple

The light scattered from leaves was measured as a function of view angle in the principal plane for yellow poplar, red oak, and red maple. The source was a parallel-polarized helium-neon laser. Yellow poplar leaves had the highest reflectance of the three species, which may have been due to its shorter palisade cells and more extensive spongy mesophyll. Prior to senescence, there was a significant decrease, but not total extinction, in the reflectance of the beam incident at 60 deg from nadir on the adaxial side of the leaves of all three species. Low-temperature SEM observations showed differences in the surface wax patterns among the three species but did not indicate a cause of the reflectance changes other than possibly the accumulation and aging of the wax.
Photovoltaic devices from self-doped polymers

Over the last decade, conjugated polymer-based semiconductors have been developed as a novel class of photovoltaic materials that have the potential to lower costs. Solvent based polymers MEH-PPV, MDMO-PPV, P3HT, and P30T have been reported as electron donors in photovoltaic devices. In this research, we studied the use of a water soluble polythiophene - Sodium poly[2-(3-thienyl)-ethoxy-4-butylsulfonate]) [PTEBS] in photovoltaic devices. Solar cells in the configuration of bilayer heterojunctions with TiO 2 were prepared. The water-soluble polythiophene showed significant photovoltaic effect and potential for use in solar cells. The use of this polymer would allow safe, environmentally friendly processing. In addition, due to the covalent bonding of the counterion to the polymer backbone chain simultaneously with electron loss in the doping and oxidation, the water-soluble polymer PTEBS can be self-doped by acids. The appearance and absorption spectra of the self-doped solutions and films have also been investigated. New absorption bands in the ultraviolet and infrared have been observed after acidic doping offering the possibility of improved light harvesting. Experimental results have shown that the polymer can be used as the active layer in photovoltaic applications. These photovoltaic devices had an energy conversion efficiency of 0.23% and a fill factor of 0.41 under the illumination of an 80 mW/cm 2 solar simulator. A simple mechanism has also been proposed to fit the open circuit voltage found in the devices.
Job-shop scheduling using automated reasoning: a case study of the car-sequencing problem

The ‘job-shop scheduling problem’ is known to be NP-complete. The version of interest in this paper concerns an assembly line designed to produce various cars, each of which requires a (possibly different) set of options. The combinatorics of the problem preclude seeking a maximal solution. Nevertheless, because of the underlying economic considerations, an approach that yields a ‘good’ sequence of cars, given the specific required options for each, would be most valuable. In this paper, we focus on an environment for seeking, studying, and evaluating approaches for yielding good sequences. The environment we discuss relies on the automated reasoning program ITP. Automated reasoning programs of this type offer a wide variety of ways to reason, strategies for controlling the reasoning, and auxiliary procedures that contribute to the effective study of problems of this kind. We view the study presented in this paper as a prototype of what can be accomplished with the assistance of an automated reasoning program.
Ion bombardment induced photon and Auger emission for surface analysis

Abstract Impact of heavy ions on surfaces induces Auger electron and photon spectra characteristic of the surfaces. In general such spectra are dominated by decay of excited sputtered particles. Auger decays are very fast so decay may sometimes occur while the particle is under the influence of the surface field, leading to complex spectral features. By contrast, radiative decay is slow so that ejected atoms are in free space before photon emission occurs and the spectra are readily recognized by reference to standard tables. We review the present understanding of both types of spectra and consider the circumstances under which they may be useful for determination of surface properties or surface composition.
Soluble plasma DNA polymerase and guinea pig leukemia

Abstract A soluble DNA polymerase activity is present in plasma of leukemic guinea pigs, and absent in plasma of normal animals. A good correlation exists between the amount of the polymerase activity in plasma and the progression of disease.
How American Middle Schools Differ from Schools of Five Asian Countries: Based on Cross-National Data from TIMSS 1999.

Using multivariate discriminant analysis and the data from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) 1999, this paper made 5 individual comparisons between the U.S. middle school system and 5 Asian middle school systems, which have typically been top ranked in mathematics and science achievement scores. The discriminant analysis was based on variables related to school and classroom environment as well as students' out-of-school life, home background, and self-perceptions about mathematics and science. The results reveal significant differences between American schools and their Asian counterparts. The author explains these differences in terms of the societal difference in the position of schooling in the lives of American adolescents versus the more central position of schooling in the lives of their East Asian counterparts.
Influence of ascertainment strategy on finding sex differences in genetic estimates from twin studies of alcoholism.

Twin studies have yielded contradictory findings about sex differences in genetic influences on the etiology of alcoholism. Studies based on population registers or epidemiological samples have yielded similar estimates of heritability (50-60% of the total variance) for males and females. In contrast, studies of twins identified through treatment settings have found sizeable genetic contributions to alcoholism in males but usually negligible heritabilities for females. We investigated this discrepancy by applying a "simulated" treatment ascertainment strategy to data on alcohol-related disorders collected by structured interviews with a population-based sample of adult twins aged 18-56 years from the Mid-Atlantic Twin Registry. Structural models were used to estimate heritabilities for two definitions of treatment, and these estimates were compared with those obtained from the population-based sample. In males, heritability estimates were similar across sampling methods, but the treatment ascertainment methods yielded higher estimates of common environmental influences. For females, heritability estimates based on a broad definition of treatment were similar to those obtained by using the random ascertainment design. However, estimates based on sampling women who had been in alcohol-treatment programs were (nonsignificantly) lower than those obtained with the other methods. These results provide partial support for the hypothesis that differences in sampling method may account for differences in heritability estimates for alcoholism among studies of female twins. Am. J. Med. Genet. (Neuropsychiatr. Genet.) 96:754-761, 2000.
Outcome of metastatic GIST in the era before tyrosine kinase inhibitors.

Background Treatment of metastatic GIST with imatinib mesylate results in a 2-year survival of approximately 72%. The outcome of patients with metastatic GIST not treated with tyrosine kinase inhibitors is not well defined.
Helospectin I and II evoke vasodilation in the intact peripheral microcirculation

Helospectin I and II, two closely related mammalian neuropeptides of the secretin/glucagons/vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) superfamily of peptides, are co-localized with VIP in nerve fibers surrounding vascular smooth muscle. However, the role if any, VIP receptors play in transducing the vasorelaxant effects of helospectin I and II in the intact peripheral microcirculation is uncertain. The purpose of this study was to determine whether helospectin I and II elicit vasodilation in the intact peripheral microcirculation and, if so, whether this response is mediated, in part, by VIP or pituitary adenylate cyclase activating peptide (PACAP) receptor engagement, and through local elaboration of cyclooxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism. Using intravital microscopy, we found that suffusion of helospectin I and II (each, 1.0 nmol) evoked potent vasodilation and of similar magnitude in the intact hamster cheek pouch microcirculation (P < 0.05). Suffusion of 0.1 nmol helospectin I and II had no significant effects on arteriolar diameter. Pretreatment with VIP(10-28), a VPAC1/VPAC2 receptor antagonist, or PACAP(6-38), a PAC1/VPAC2 receptor antagonist, had no significant effects on helospectin I- and II-induced responses. In addition, pretreatment with indomethacin had no significant effects on helospectin I- and II-induced vasodilation. Collectively, these data indicate that helospectin I and II evoke potent vasodilation in the intact peripheral microcirculation that is not transduced by VIP or PACAP receptors nor through cyclooxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism.
Smoking Is a Marker of Risky Behaviors Independent of Substance Abuse in Injured Drivers

Objective. Smoking has been linked to disease and injury. The purpose of this study is to investigate the smoking habits of motor vehicular driver trauma center patients and their association with previous injury history and risky behaviors. Methods. The studied population included 323 motor vehicular driver injury patients (123 smokers and 200 non-smokers) interviewed as part of a larger study of psychoactive substance use disorders at an adult Level I trauma center. Patients with head injuries, hospital stays of less than two days, and diminished cognition were excluded. Interviews included demographics (age, gender, race, marital status), socioeconomic status (SES; income, education, employment), risky behaviors (seatbelt non-use, drinking and driving, riding with drunk driver, binge drinking), and trauma history information (vehicular, assault, and other injuries). Substance abuse (alcohol and drug dependence) was evaluated in depth using DSM III-R criteria. Smokers and non-smokers were compared in re...
Endovascular management of isolated iliac artery aneurysms.

Objective We reviewed our experience with endovascular treatment of isolated iliac artery aneurysms (IAAs). Methods Medical records for consecutive patients undergoing endovascular IAA repair from 1995 to 2004 were reviewed. Computed tomography (CT) angiograms were used to assess IAA location, size, and presence of endoleaks after endovascular repair. Rates of primary patency and freedom from secondary interventions were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier life-table method. Results From July 1995 to November 2004, 45 patients (42 men), with a mean age of 75 years, underwent endovascular repair of 61 isolated IAAs: 41 common iliac, 19 internal iliac, and one external iliac. Five patients (11%) were symptomatic, although none presented with acute rupture. The mean preoperative IAA diameter was 4.2 ± 1.7 cm. Fifteen patients (33%) had prior open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Local or regional anesthesia was used in 28 cases (62%). Thirty-four patients (75%) were treated with unilateral iliac stent-grafts, eight (18%) with bifurcated aortic stent-grafts, and three (7%) with coil embolization alone. Perioperative major complications included one early graft thrombosis that eventually required conversion to open repair and one groin hematoma that required operative evacuation. On follow-up, late complications included one additional graft thrombosis and one late death after amputation. No late ruptures occurred after endovascular repair, with a mean follow-up of 22 months (range, 0 to 60 months). The mean postoperative length of stay was 1.3 ± 1.0 days. On postoperative CT scans obtained at 1, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months, aneurysm shrinkage was noted in 18%, 29%, 57%, 67%, and 83% of IAAs, respectively, compared with the baseline diameter. One hypogastric aneurysm enlarged in the presence of a later identified type II endoleak. Five endoleaks were noted (4 type II, 1 indeterminate) at 1 month, with four other endoleaks (1 type II, 1 type III, 2 indeterminate) identified on later CT scans. At 2 years, primary patency was 95%, and freedom from secondary interventions was 88%. Conclusions Endovascular repair of isolated IAAs appears safe and effective, with initial results similar to those after endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.
The C 4 H Zeeman Effect in TMC-1: Understanding Low-Mass Star Formation

We have searched for the C4H Zeeman effect toward the cold dense TMC-1 cyanopolyyne peak (CP) core and obtained an upper limit of 14.5 ± 14 μG for a magnetic field B = |B| cos θ, where θ is the angle between the field and the plane of the sky. C4H is particularly suited to the detection of small dense cores that result from the evolution of magnetized clumps undergoing ambipolar diffusion (AD) to smaller denser cores that directly form stars. These are the so-called quasi-static models. We discuss three distinct types of model for such systems, those of the Mouschovias, Shu, and Myers groups, respectively. We see no indications of line-broadening or high densities in the core, such as those predicted to follow the ambipolar diffusion and free-fall contractions, but the dearth of observational data for B fields in low-mass protostars makes it difficult to form definite conclusions from our results. We also discuss several models emphasizing recent formulations of large-scale (100 pc) flows of supersonic turbulence that appear to surmount earlier difficulties such as too large a star formation (SF) rate and the need for a magnetically subcritical initial cloud. Possible reasons for the null result on the C4H Zeeman effect are that (1) in the case of the quasi-static models, TMC-1 CP has not evolved yet to the onset of dynamic collapse, which follows the much longer AD phase, and (2) there is a weak |B| field throughout the Taurus complex and it is directed close to the plane of the sky, whereas the Zeeman effect is sensitive only to line-of-sight (circular) polarization. In the supersonic turbulence models, the subsonic nature observed for the C4H emission lines argues that the energetic turbulence that formed TMC-1 CP has passed by TMC-1 CP at least a Myr ago (the crossing time for the energetic turbulence to traverse the clump).
Heparin induced thrombocytopenia and re-thrombosis associated with warfarin and fondaparinux in a child.

An 11 year-old female developed heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) with thrombosis during therapy for lower extremity deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Transition from bivalirudin, a direct thrombin inhibitor (DTI), to warfarin resulted in extensive re-thrombosis, and fondaparinux therapy similarly failed. She was then treated with argatroban, and transitioned successfully to warfarin after nine weeks. The risk of re-thrombosis was ultimately reduced by allowing time for the thrombogenic potential to abate. The argatroban/warfarin transition was monitored with chromogenic factor X levels. This case highlights several difficult problems in pediatric thrombosis.
A light and electron microscopic study of the distribution and effects of water-soluble radiographic contrast medium after retrograde infusion into the rat submandibular gland

Abstract For microscopic visualization, horseradish peroxidase (HRP; 10mg/ml) was added to the contrast medium. Some glands were infused with saline solution containing HRP. During continuous infusion, the intraglandular pressure was recorded. Infusion was stopped at different phases of the pressure curve and the glands fixed by vascular perfusion. Morphological alterations, principally dilatation of the intralobular ducts, were most pronounced in the intercalated duct segment. HRP was first observed in the lumina of the intralobular ducts and acini but gained access to the intercellular spaces through the apical junctional complexes and subsequently surrounded various cellular components. Eventually the tracer was found in blood and lymphatic vessels. Because of an uneven distribution of the tracer and variation in the degree of filling in different areas of the same gland, the development of the intraglandular pressure could not be directly correlated with specific morphological alterations but is thought to reflect all events occurring in the tissue at a particular time.
Delay of Gratification: Impulsive Choices and Problem Behaviors in Early and Late Adolescence

High school students were offered a monetary incentive for participating in research. They were given a choice between a smaller fee immediately or a larger fee one week later. Compared to students who delayed gratification, those who chose the immediate fee showed more self-regulatory deficits. They showed greater involvement with cigarettes, alcohol, and marijuana, had a poorer self-concept and underperformed academically. A replication study with middle-school students and different reward parameters yielded equivalent results. Younger adolescents who chose the immediate monetary incentive showed a similar pattern of problem behaviors as the high school students. The findings indicate that this simple choice-delay procedure yields an unobtrusive behavioral measure of self-regulation and offers a developmentally appropriate extension of the delay-of-gratification paradigm for use with older children and adolescents.
Primary care in the United States: practice‐based innovations and factors that influence adoption

Purpose – This study aims to explore the use of specific innovations in primary care practices. The research seeks to examine whether a relationship exists between environmental factors and organizational characteristics and the level of innovation in primary care practices in Virginia.Design/methodology/approach – The study utilized multiple secondary data sets and an organizational survey of primary care practices to define the external environment and the level of innovation. Institutional theory was used to explain the connection between innovations in primary care practices and institutional forces within the environment. Resource dependency theory was used to explain motivators for change based on a dependence on scarce financial, human, and information resources.Findings – Results show a positive association between organizational size, organizational relationships, and stakeholder expectations on the level of innovation. A negative association was found between competition and the level of innovat...
Simulations of Heat Conduction in Sub-Micron Silicon-on-Insulator Transistors Accounting for Phonon Dispersion and Polarization

In recent years, the Boltzmann transport equation (BTE) has begun to be used for predicting thermal transport in dielectrics and semicondutors at sub-micron scales. Most studies make a gray assumption and do not account for phonon dispersion or polarization in any detail. In this study, the problem of heat generation in a sub-micron silicon-on-insulator (SOI) transistor is addressed. A model, based on the solution to the BTE incorporating full phonon dispersion effects, is presented and used to study the SOI self-heating problem. A structured finite volume approach is used to solve the BTE. The results from the full phonon dispersion model are compared to predictions using the Fourier diffusion equation and also to predictions from the solution to the BTE using a semi-gray model which appears in literature. Significant differences are found between the models and confirm the need for an accounting for phonon dispersion and polarization effects.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
TCT-816 Anticipated Utilization of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Reflects Cautious Optimism of the U.S. Interventional Cardiology Community

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is the first major addition to the treatment of valvular heart disease in more than a decade, and the number of patients eligible for valve replacement is likely to increase significantly. As a consequence, little is known about expectations within the
Cloning and characterization of angiocidin, a tumor cell binding protein for thrombospondin‐1

Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a matrix protein that has been implicated in mechanisms of tumor progression. Our laboratory previously showed that the CSVTCG (cys-ser-val-thr-cys-gly) sequence of TSP-1 functioned as a tumor cell adhesion domain and CSVTCG peptides as well as an anti-peptide antibody possessed anti-metastatic activity in a murine model of lung metastasis. In a subsequent study, a putative TSP-1 binding protein from lung carcinoma was isolated by CSVTCG-peptide affinity chromatography. In this study, we present the full-length cDNA of this binding protein isolated from a prostate cancer cell (PC3-NI) cDNA library. The purified recombinant protein, termed angiocidin, is a potent inhibitor of tumor growth of Lewis Lung carcinoma in vivo and tumor invasion and angiogenesis in vitro. In addition, the recombinant protein inhibits tumor and endothelial cell proliferation and induces apoptosis. The activity of angiocidin both in vivo and in vitro is partially dependent on its TSP-1 binding activity, since an angiocidin deletion mutant missing a high affinity-binding site for TSP-1 failed to inhibit tumor growth in vivo and was less active in its anti-tumor and anti-angiogenic activities in vitro. These results suggest that the anti-tumor activity of TSP-1 reported in many studies may be mediated in part by binding proteins such as angiocidin. Such proteins may function as tumor-suppressor proteins, which limit the growth of tumors by inhibiting angiogenesis and cell matrix interaction.
Soft sphere model for nuclear quadrupole resonance: Application to M2SnCl6 (M = K+, Rb+, Cs+)

Abstract The soft sphere model for 35Cl NQR has been applied to the antifluorite, Fm3m salts K2SnCl6, Rb2SnCl6, and Cs2SnCl6. The model parameterizes the contribution to the EFG from close packed ions by including a negative “overlap” term in addition to the usual point ion term. The form of the overlap term is exponential and includes ionic size and softness parameters computed from Hartree-Fock-Slater charge densities. Sternheimer antishielding and overlap strength are taken as adjustable parameters. When the simple point ion model is fit to the NQR frequency in the potassium salt, it underestimates the frequencies in the rubidium and cesium salts by about 4%. When the soft sphere model is fit to the frequencies in the potassium and cesium salts it underestimates the frequency in the rubidium salt by 2%. Unlike the point ion model, it predicts increasing CI NQR frequency with cation size in this series, consistent with the trend of the experimental data.
Expression of the human β3 integrin subunit in mouse smooth muscle cells enhances IGF-I-stimulated signaling and proliferation

Optimal stimulation of signal transduction and biological functions by IGF-I in porcine smooth muscle cells (pSMC) requires ligand occupancy of the alphaVbeta3 integrin. Binding of heparin-binding domain (HBD) of vitronectin (VN) to the cysteine loop (C-loop) region of beta3 is required for pSMC to respond optimally to IGF-I stimulation. Mouse smooth muscle cells (mSMC), which express a form of beta3 whose sequence within the C-loop region is different than porcine or human beta3, do not respond optimally to IGF-I, and IGF-I stimulated beta3 and SHPS-1 phosphorylation which are necessary for optimal IGF-I signaling were undetectable. VN also had no effect on IGF-I stimulated the cell proliferation. In contrast, when human beta3 (hbeta3) was introduced into mSMC, there was an enhanced VN binding in spite of an equivalent amount of total beta3 expression, and IGF-I-dependent beta3, and SHPS-1 phosphorylation were detected. In addition, there was enhanced IGF-I-stimulated Shc association with SHPS-1, Shc tyrosine phosphorylation, Shc and Grb2 association, and MAP kinase activation leading to increased cell proliferation. These enhancements could be further augmented by adding a peptide containing the HBD of VN. To determine if these changes were mediated by the C-loop region of beta3, an antibody that reacts with that region of beta3 was utilized. The addition of the hbeta3 C-loop antibody abolished VN-induced enhancement of IGF-I signaling and IGF-I-stimulated cell proliferation. These results strongly support the conclusion that optimal SMC responsiveness to IGF-I requires ligand interaction with the C-loop domain of hbeta3.
Intervalence transfer in the mixed-valence ion (bipy)2ClRu(pyz)RuCl(bipy)23+

Abstract The [(bipy) 2 ClRu(pyz)RuCl(bipy) 2 ] 2+ ion ([2,2]; bipy is 2,2′-bipyridine; pyz is pyrazine) undergoes two reversible one-electron oxidations. The near-infrared spectrum of the +3 [2,3] ion exhibits an intervalence transfer (IT) band whose band width and solvent dependence are consistent with a treatment given by Hush. Infrared evidence supports a localized-valence description. A comparison of the [2,3] ion with [(NH 3 ) 5 Ru(pyz)Ru(NH 3 ) 5 ] 5+ suggests that delocalization is too extensive in the latter ion for the Hush treatment to be applicable.
Binary-blazed grating for high-efficient waveguide coupling

Blazed gratings have been identified as potential high efficient, compact, and planar waveguide couplers. The asymmetrical continuous profile of the blazed grating allocates all diffracted light into a single order and produces higher efficiency for waveguide coupling. This asymmetrical continuous profile also brings difficulty to the fabrication process. This is particularly true when the integrated optoelectronics are down-sized and simple fabrication procedures are in demand. In this paper, a binary blazed grating coupler is proposed to facilitate the fabrication process and retain a high coupling efficiency. Computer analyses of the binary blazed grating profile and diffraction distribution are given. Design and fabrication issues of a waveguide coupler are also discussed.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Primary vasculature and hymnosperm systematics

Abstract This paper summarizes current knowledge of the cauline vascular structure in extant and extinct taxa of gymnospermous plants. Vascular architecture in the progymnosperm Archaeopteris is also evaluated. Criteria used for structural determinations include axial bundle or protoxylem architecture, mode of leaf trace emission, branch or bud trace divergence, and characteristic numbers associated with bundle and leaf trace arrangement. Taxa with typical eusteles, those with protosteless and forms with presumed polysteles all have vascular architectures that can be interpreted as conforming to a single basic pattern. Evidence for evolution of the eustele and variations in cauline vascular architecture are analyzed in relation to their potential phylogenetic signifance.
Surgeons and Patients Disagree on the Potential Consequences from Hypoparathyroidism

Objective: To test the hypothesis that surgeons and their patients underestimate the potential negative impact that permanent hypoparathyroidism has on quality of life (QOL).Methods: We used a modi...
Southwestern Internal Medicine Conference: Prevention of Hip Fractures in the Elderly

Hip fracture is a common, morbid, and costly health problem. Because our population is aging, hip fractures will remain a major health concern as we enter the next century. It has been estimated that by the year 2040, 512,000 hip fractures will occur annually in people 50 years or older. A number of factors common in the elderly increase the risk of falling. Falls and age-related changes that influence bone quality increase susceptibility to fracture. In this article, the author focuses on studies that identified risk factors and strategies to reduce falls as well as pharmacologic agents that may reduce fracture risk. Because of the multifactorial etiology of hip fractures, their prevention will ultimately require a combination of pharmacologic approaches to improve bone strength and strategies to prevent falls and limit injury.
Controlled Fusion Experiments at the Naval Research Laboratory

Plasma physics experiments oriented towards controlled thermonuclear fusion which have existed and are developing at NRL are summarized, with particular emphasis on recent technological experiences with the hard-core adaptation of the ?-pinch device. New experiments include a ?-pinch with rapidly tailored magnetic fields and an extended z-pinch initiated with a laser-triggered high voltage streamer. Other active experiments of related interest to CTR are briefly described.
Monte Carlo modeling in CT-based geometries: dosimetry for biological modeling experiments with particle beam radiation

The space radiation environment imposes increased dangers of exposure to ionizing radiation, particularly during a solar particle event (SPE). These events consist primarily of low energy protons that produce a highly inhomogeneous dose distribution. Due to this inherent dose heterogeneity, experiments designed to investigate the radiobiological effects of SPE radiation present difficulties in evaluating and interpreting dose to sensitive organs. To address this challenge, we used the Geant4 Monte Carlo simulation framework to develop dosimetry software that uses computed tomography (CT) images and provides radiation transport simulations incorporating all relevant physical interaction processes. We found that this simulation accurately predicts measured data in phantoms and can be applied to model dose in radiobiological experiments with animal models exposed to charged particle (electron and proton) beams. This study clearly demonstrates the value of Monte Carlo radiation transport methods for two critically interrelated uses: (i) determining the overall dose distribution and dose levels to specific organ systems for animal experiments with SPE-like radiation, and (ii) interpreting the effect of random and systematic variations in experimental variables (e.g. animal movement during long exposures) on the dose distributions and consequent biological effects from SPE-like radiation exposure. The software developed and validated in this study represents a critically important new tool that allows integration of computational and biological modeling for evaluating the biological outcomes of exposures to inhomogeneous SPE-like radiation dose distributions, and has potential applications for other environmental and therapeutic exposure simulations.
Experimental studies of the aging characteristics of the ADSS fiber optic cables

An environmental chamber has been built at Arizona State University (ASU) for purpose of establishing a long-term aging test of All Dielectric Self Supporting (ADSS) fiber optic cable. Six ADSS cables are subjected to UV radiation, salt fog, clean rain and mechanical tension in the aging chamber. This paper briefly compares aging characteristics of six ADSS cables subject to various lengths of time in the chamber.
Synthesis and distribution of cholesterol, and the effect of diet, at the liver endoplasmic reticula and plasma membranes from lean or obese rats.

To determine the significance of changes in cholesterol concentrations in various membranous components of liver cells, lean as well as genetically obese rats were fed diets containing cholesterol. Cholesterol was found to accumulate to a greater extent in the smooth vesicles (versus rough vesicles) of the endoplasmic reticulum, and the highest concentrations were in the plasma membrane fraction. These increases included a significant proportion of esterified cholesterol. Using "C- mevalonate in vivo in rats fed a cholesterol-free diet, it was concluded (from the total activities of the isolated labeled cholesterol up to 180 minutes) that in time the total activity of newly synthesized cholesterol shifts from rough vesicles to smooth vesicles and finally to the plasma membrane fraction. However, I4C-cholesterolincor poration in vivo revealed a pattern of incorporation that was similar for smooth and rough vesicles in rats fed diets with or without cholesterol. Total activity of the rough was always higher. From the analytical data, esterification perhaps takes place at the level of the smooth vesicles (or cholesterol ester accumulation hastens the transi tion of rough to smooth). Polysomal profile analyses indicated that cholesterol feeding resulted in a relative decrease in larger aggregates in obese rats.
A border-aware broadcast scheme for wireless ad hoc network

Under many circumstances, broadcasting is the only way of service discovery, device paging, and even data transfer in wireless ad hoc networks. However, broadcasting may lead to "broadcast storm" problems if it is done by simple flooding in a single common channel. The problems include redundant rebroadcast (overlaying), contention and collision. When the network density is high or the network is getting congested, the problems become severe and may directly lead to degraded performance of the network. We propose a novel broadcast scheme that is simple, highly efficient and scalable. Most importantly, it is a fully distributed scheme which introduces no control overheads (in terms of control traffic), and can adapt to network movement at no extra cost. We evaluate our scheme by OPNET simulation and compare it with existing methods.
Residential Demand Response model and impact on voltage profile and losses of an electric distribution network

This paper develops a model for Demand Response (DR) by utilizing consumer behavior modeling considering different scenarios and levels of consumer rationality. Consumer behavior modeling has been done by developing extensive demand-price elasticity matrices for different types of consumers. These price elasticity matrices (PEMs) are utilized to calculate the level of Demand Response for a given consumer considering a day-ahead real time pricing scenario. DR models are applied to the IEEE 8500-node test feeder which is a real world large radial distribution network. A comprehensive analysis has been performed on the effects of demand reduction and redistribution on system voltages and losses. Results show that considerable DR can boost in system voltage due for further demand curtailment through demand side management techniques like Volt/Var Control (VVC).
Police reform in Russia: the policy process in a hybrid regime

Do hybrid regimes have policy processes distinct from other regime types? This article explores this issue through a case study of police reform in Russia, focusing specifically on the adoption of a new Law on the Police from 2009 to 2011. Drawing on concepts from the comparative policymaking literature, the study traces the policy enactment process and shows how the public parts of the process were largely (but not entirely) a facade behind which the real policy process took place.
Field-Collected and AGDISP-Predicted Spray Flux from an Aerial Application

As computer models are increasingly being integrated into modern agricultural operations, the comparison of field-collected data to the model prediction improves the confidence that aerial applicators, researchers, and regulators have in the model. The field-collected data were compared to the AGDISP model predictions for the tests conducted in soybeans and cotton and over a concrete runway on two different days. The meteorological effects on spray movement were then explored by analyzing individual replications in the spray trials. The effect of varying the surface roughness coefficient over the range of values for bare ground (i.e., runways) in the AGDISP model on downwind spray movement was determined. The final analyses presented showed the dramatic decrease in downwind spray movement as a result of increasing canopy height as predicted by the AGDISP model. The AGDISP model predicted 1–6 times higher levels of spray materials than that measured by field samplers. The model predictions were 1–3 times greater than the field collected data in the runway studies and 2–6 times greater in the canopy studies. Surface roughness coefficients over bare ground had minimal impacts as predicted by the AGDISP model. When the actual weather conditions of one of the treatments in this study were input into the AGDISP model, a 1.5 m/s increase in wind speed resulted in a 100% increase in the spray flux at 50 m from the application site. When crop height inputs into the AGDISP model were changed from 0.3 m to 1.3 m, the spray flux decreased by 20-fold, demonstrating the dramatic filtering effect that a canopy can have on a spray cloud and will serve as a stimulus for future studies designed to fully characterize the effect of crop canopy on spray movement.
Extension and validation of a perfectly matched layer formulation for the unconditionally stable D-H FDTD method

In this letter, a modification to the recently proposed unconditionally stable D-H ADI FDTD method is presented that considerably reduces the late-time error induced by the corner cells. The PML boundary is derived from the direct discretization of the modified D-H Maxwell's equations rather than the superposition of uniaxial PML boundaries. An optimal choice of the PML conductivity profile coefficients is proposed. Results show that the reflection error of the PML is limited for increased time step size beyond the Courant-Friedrichs-Lewy stability bound, and maximum reflection errors are 15 to 20 dB lower than the original formulation.
Drive level dependence of doubly rotated langasite resonators with different configurations

The miniaturization of crystal resonators and filters towards the MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) and nano-structured scales demands improvement of nonlinear piez oelectricity theory and a better understanding of th e nonlinear b ehavior of new crystal materials. The nonlin earities affect the quality factor and acousti c behavior of MEMS and nano-structured resonators and filters. Among these nonlinear effects, drive level dependence (DLD), which describes the instability of the resonator frequency due to voltage level and/or power density, is an urgent problem for miniaturized resonators. Langasite, a new promising piezoelectric material, is of recent interest for a variety of applications because of its good temperature behavior, good piezoelectric coupling, low acoustic loss and high Q factor. It has been recently used to make high temperature MEMS. In this article, experimental measurements of drive level dependence of langasite resonators with different configurations (plano-plano, single bevel, and double bevel) are reporte d. The results show that the resonator configuration affects the DL D of the l angasite resonator. The drive sensitivity of resonators with different configurations is determined.
Role of glycocalyx in leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion

The binding of fluorescently labeled microspheres (FLMs, 0.1-μm diameter) coated with antibody (1a29) to ICAM-1 was studied in postcapillary venules during topical application of the chemoattractan...
A quick, gradient Bilingual Dominance Scale

The lack of consistency in how bilingual language dominance is assessed currently impedes cross-experiment comparisons (Grosjean, 1998). We present a paper-and-pencil dominance scale that can be used to quantify the language dominancy of bilingual participants. The scale targets three main criteria important in gauging dominance (Grosjean, 1998; Flege, Mackay & Piske, 2002): percent of language use for both languages, age of acquisition and age of comfort for both languages, and restructuring of language fluency due to changes in linguistic environments. Reaction times from a Spanish/English lexical translation task and filler rates and elongation rates from a Spanish/English sentence translation task support the validity of the scale. The scale can be adapted for nonliterate populations by asking questions verbally and recording responses.
The Modification of Planetary Orbits in Dense Open Clusters

We show that Jovian planets will frequently experience orbital disruption due to interactions with binary stars in their birth clusters. We attack the problem using a Monte Carlo approach and estimate the effective cross section for severe orbital disruption: σ=(230 AU)2. Combining the numerically determined cross section with typical cluster densities n and velocity dispersions v, we find a typical interaction rate of Γ=nσv ≈ 0.13 disruptive encounters per star per 100 million years. This scattering mechanism naturally accounts for extrasolar systems such as 14 Her or 16 Cyg B, in which a Jovian planet is found in an eccentric and reasonably close orbit. This mechanism can also produce systems with extremely small orbits, such as 51 Peg. However, the efficiency is too low to account for the observed frequency of such close systems, and hence some other mechanism for orbital migration is almost certainly at work. Because of mass segregation within the birth cluster, we predict that higher mass stars will have a larger fraction of planets with eccentric orbits than the low-mass stars that comprise the bulk of the stellar population.