cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Quantitative Vascular Analysis System for Evaluation of Atherosclerotic Lesions by MRI

An analysis package called QVAS (quantitative vascular analysis system) is presented for the evaluation of atherosclerotic arterial lesions visualized in vivo by magnetic resonance imaging. QVAS permits interactive identification of vessel and lesion boundaries, segmentation of tissue classes within the lesion, quantitative analysis of lesion features, and three dimensional display of lesion structure. The performance of QVAS is demonstrated using images of carotid artery lesions.
A dynamic viscoelastic analysis of crack propagation and crack arrest in a double cantilever beam test specimen

Studies of dynamic crack propagation and arrest in polymeric materials are generally interpreted using rate-independent elastic analyses. To ascertain the importance of the viscoelastic constitutive behavior exhibited by polymers that is neglected in these approaches, a simple mathematical model for dynamic viscoelastic crack propagation in wedge-loaded double cantilever beam (DCB) test specimens has been developed. Computational results have been obtained for four different polymers using a three-parameter solid linear viscoelastic constitutive representation. In comparing these results with rate-independent elastic behavior, it is found that significant differences in the crack propagation/arrest process do exist. However, close correlations can nevertheless be obtained if, in displaying experimental results, proper account is taken of the viscoelastic properties.
Typhlitis; is it just in immunocompromised patients?

Background Typhlitis is necrotizing inflammation of the cecum manifested by febrile right lower quadrant abdominal pain. All cases in literature have been described in immunocompromised such patients with hematological or solid malignancies, patients with neutropenia, patients with AIDS, and patients following immunosuppressive therapy for transplants. Case report We report a case of a 72 year old non-immunocompromised patient who developed fever, nausea, vomiting and severe right lower quadrant pain. Computed Tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis showed circumferential thickening of the cecum as well as inflammatory stranding of the adjacent mesenteric fat. The patient was treated with fluids and antibiotics. The patient's symptoms resolved over a period of few days. Conclusions We believe this case represents an example of typhlitis in non-immunocompromised patient, the first such case reported. Therefore, typhlitis may present in elderly patients even in the absence of neutropenia or immunosuppression.
Nitric Oxide Production by Macrophages Stimulated with Coccidia Sporozoites, Lipopolysaccharide, or Interferon-γ, and Its Dynamic Changes in SC and TK Strains of Chickens Infected with Eimeria tenella

Abstract Nitric oxide (NO) is an important mediator of innate and acquired immunities. In the studies reported here, we quantified NO produced in vitro by chicken leukocytes and macrophages and in vivo during the course of experimental infection with Eimeria, the causative agent of avian coccidiosis, and identified macrophages as the primary source of inducible NO. Eimeria tenella–infected chickens produced higher levels of NO compared with noninfected controls. In Eimeria-infected animals, SC chickens produced greater amounts of NO compared with infected TK chickens, particularly in the intestinal cecum, the region of the intestine infected by E. tenella. Macrophages that were isolated from normal spleen were a major source of NO induced by interferon (IFN)-γ, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and E. tenella sporozoites. Macrophage cell line MQ-NCSU produced high levels of NO in response to Escherichia coli or Salmonella typhi LPS, whereas the HD-11 macrophage cell line was more responsive to IFN-γ. These findin...
A Photon Turnstile Dynamically Regulated by One Atom

Beyond traditional nonlinear optics with large numbers of atoms and photons, qualitatively new phenomena arise in a quantum regime of strong interactions between single atoms and photons. By using a microscopic optical resonator, we achieved such interactions and demonstrated a robust, efficient mechanism for the regulated transport of photons one by one. With critical coupling of the input light, a single atom within the resonator dynamically controls the cavity output conditioned on the photon number at the input, thereby functioning as a photon turnstile. We verified the transformation from a Poissonian to a sub-Poissonian photon stream by photon counting measurements of the input and output fields. The results have applications in quantum information science, including for controlled interactions of single light quanta and for scalable quantum processing on atom chips.
Antithrombotic effects of a synthetic inhibitor of activated factor X, JTV-803, in animals.

Abstract JTV-803, 4-[(2-amidino-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinolin-7-yloxy)methyl]-1-(4-pyridinyl)piperidine-4-carboxylic acid monomethanesulfonate trihydrate, at ≥0.1 mg/kg/h inhibited the increase in plasma thrombin–antithrombin III complex in response to continuous infusion of thromboplastin in rats. JTV-803 inhibited thrombus formation in an arteriovenous shunt model by intravenous infusion at ≥0.3 mg/kg/h and prolonged the occlusion time of photochemically induced arterial thrombus in the middle cerebral artery at >1.5 mg/kg/0.5 h. Activated partial thromboplastin time was prolonged at 10 mg/kg/h. Intravenous administration of JTV-803 prolonged bleeding time at 30 mg/kg/h, a dose 10–100 times higher than the dose that inhibited thrombus formation. Compared with thrombin inhibitor, JTV-803 had less of an effect on the bleeding time. In the arteriovenous shunt model in cynomolgus monkey, JTV-803 prolonged the occlusion time when administered by continuous infusion at 0.3 mg/kg/h or orally at 10 mg/kg. These results suggest that the human factor Xa inhibitor JTV-803 is an orally active anticoagulant that does not affect bleeding time and is useful for the prevention of thrombus.
Karyotypic findings in a colonic villous adenoma

Abstract Chromosomes from a patient with a villous adenoma of the colon were examined in detail with fluorescent banding. Of the cells analyzed, 73% had a modal chromosomal number of 48–52. The karyotypic findings show clonal evolution, an additional chromosome #8 being the most frequent abnormality, suggesting that this may be the primary chromosomal change, but other changes such as loss of a Y chromosome and the presence of marker chromosome #1 with duplication of the long arm also were observed. Previous cytogenetic data on large-bowel tumors is summarized. We hypothesize that this chromosomal evidence suggests that tubular adenoma, villous adenoma, and adenocarcinoma may be interrelated steps of a growth disorder.
Immigrants-in-context framework: understanding the interactive influence of socio-cultural contexts

Abstract Research on immigrants is associated with many methodological challenges. Drawing from a recent study of domestic violence among four generations of Japanese American women, this paper elucidates approaches to address methodological challenges in research with immigrant populations. Preliminary studies in both the respondents’ country of origin and the United States assisted the identification of socio-culturally rooted manifestations of partners’ violence; the development of an expanded, socio-culturally relevant measure of domestic violence; and the examination of within-group variations in the perception about and coping responses to partners’ violence. Based on the findings of this and other studies of immigrants, this paper proposes the Immigrants-in-Context framework to conceptualize immigrants’ experiences in the context of interactive and transgenerational influences of the socio-cultural factors in the country of origin and those in the country of immigration/residence. This framework may be applicable to other research efforts aimed at understanding social issues affecting immigrant communities.
On-Farm Batch Pasteurization Destroys Mycobacterium paratuberculosis in Waste Milk

A recent dairy survey conducted in 1996 by the National Animal Health Monitoring System suggests between 20 and 40% of dairy herds in the United States have some level of Johne's disease. This figure will continue to increase unless producers implement management regimes that will help control the spread of this disease within their herds. The neonatal calf is the target for infection with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, the causative agent of Johne's disease. Calves become infected via exposure to the bacterium through contaminated feces, bedding, colostrum, and milk. Shedding of viable M. paratuberculosis has been documented in the colostrum and milk of infected dams. This study evaluated the efficacy of on-farm pasteurization to destroy M. paratuberculosis in waste milk fed to calves to circumvent this mode of transmission. In three replicate experiments, waste milk was experimentally inoculated with M. paratuberculosis and heated at 65.5°C for 30 min. No viable bacteria were recovered after 28 wk of incubation. These results suggest that batch pasteurization of waste milk contaminated with M. paratuberculosis was effective at generating a clean product to feed to young calves.
The people part of engineering: Engineering for, with, and as people

The primary goal of engineering education is to prepare students to work as productive engineers in society. This preparation traditionally focuses on developing students' discipline related technical and analytical knowledge, skills, and abilities. However, recent initiatives to develop a more holistic engineer have shed light on an aspect of engineering education that is largely lacking — the development of essential nontechnical knowledge, skills and abilities. In this paper, we propose a framework for considering the people part of engineering to organize these other kinds of knowledge, skills, and abilities that need to be addressed in engineering education. Informed by scholarly literature on development and learning, the framework presented in this work argues for people as central to engineering. We offer a framework on engineering for, with, and as people. Engineering for people requires a sense of the influences, constraints, and criteria people impose on the design and development of engineering solutions. Engineering with people emphasizes working collaboratively with a diverse group of people. Engineering as a person has one recognize the values, beliefs, knowledge, and skills driving the development of engineered solutions. We present examples of pedagogical strategies to integrate the various "people" skills into engineering courses and programs.
Inverse kinematics of a bilateral robotic human upper body model based on motion analysis data

Accurately predicting the movements of the human upper body is an obstacle in simulating human movement. This paper describes the optimization and comparison of three inverse kinematic algorithms designed to predict the pose of a 25 degree of freedom robotic human upper body model (RHBM). Motion analysis data of 10 subjects performing 5 activities of daily living were used to evaluate the performance of each method. The first algorithm used a numerically optimized weighted-least-norm (WLN) solution. The second algorithm maximized the joint angle probability density, using the gradient projection method (GP). The third algorithm used a single layer artificial neural network (NN), trained by Levenberg-Marquart backpropagation using the motion analysis data. Error was evaluated using the root mean square of the difference between calculated and recorded joint angles. The robustness was then tested by progressively excluding subject data from the training set, re-training the algorithms, and evaluating the error for all subjects. The numerically optimized WLN solution showed the highest robustness, and the GP and NN solutions had greater accuracy for the data included in training and lower accuracy for the data excluded from training. The gradient projection method showed greater robustness than the artificial neural network, and has potential to be refined and combined with the weighted least norm solution to increase accuracy and robustness. Future work will investigate combined methods and the ability to predict motion of persons using prostheses.
Masochism: Implications for psychiatric nursing

Psychiatric nurses often encounter patients who seem to be victims of negative circumstances and are unable to reverse these situations. This article explores the phenomenon of masochism as an outcome of the fear of separation or abandonment. A unified theory is presented, and a case is used to demonstrate the theory.
Time of neuron origin and gradients of neurogenesis in midbrain dopaminergic neurons in the mouse.

Previous [3H]thymidine studies in Nisslstained sections in rats established that the substantia nigra pars compacta and the ventral tegmental area originate sequentially according to an anterolateral to posteromedial neurogenetic gradient. We investigated whether that same pattern is found in mice in the dopaminergic neurons in each of these structures. Using tyrosine hydroxylase immunostaining combined with [3H]thymidine autoradiography, the time of origin of dopaminergic midbrain neurons in the retrorubral field, the substantia nigra pars compacta, the ventral tegmental area, and the interfascicular nucleus was determined in postnatal day 20 mice. The dams of the experimental animals were injected with [3H]thymidine on embryonic days (E) 11–E12, E12–E13, E13–E14, and E14–E15. The time of origin profiles for each group indicated significant differences between populations. The retrorubral field and the substantia nigra pars compacta arose nearly simultaneously and contained the highest proportion of neurons, 49 to 37%, generated on or before E11. Progressively fewer early-generated neurons were found in the ventral tegmental area (20%), and the interfascicular nucleus (8.5%). In addition, anterior dorsolateral neurons in the substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area were more likely to be generated early than the posterior ventromedial neurons. These findings indicate that mouse and rat brains have nearly identical developmental patterns in the midbrain, and neurogenetic gradients in dopaminergic neurons are similar to those found in Nissl studies in rats.
Characterization of the effect of Froude number on surface waves and heat transfer in inclined turbulent open channel water flows

Abstract Interfacial heat transport in open channel turbulent flows is strongly dependent on surface waves that can appear as a result of the interaction of bulk turbulence with the free surface. The paper describes wave/heat transfer phenomena in inclined turbulent open surface water flows. The experiments were conducted in a regime of transition from “weak” to “strong” turbulence, in which the stabilizing influences of gravity and surface tension are relatively small against the disturbing effects of turbulence. A key role of the Froude number, Fr ⊥ , built through the surface-normal component of g has been revealed. As Fr ⊥ grows, the wave amplitude grows, and the frequency spectrum shifts towards shorter waves. These changes lead to a heat transfer improvement, enough to double the heat transfer coefficient. The experimental data have been compared with calculations based on a “ K – e ” model. As a result, the range of applicability of the standard model has been established as Fr ⊥ Fr ⊥
Treatment of hyperlipoproteinemia with pantethine: A review and analysis of efficacy and tolerability

Abstract The purpose of this review was to investigate the effectiveness and tolerability of pantethine in the treatment of hyperlipoproteinemia using all published literature to date. Using Medline (January 1966 through December 2002), all published studies involving human subjects, which examined the effect of pantethine on serum lipids, were obtained by using the search terms in combinations of “pantethine and cholesterol” and “pantethine and lipids.” The mean percent differences from baseline at months 1 through 4 were calculated for total serum cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and serum triacylglycerols. Qualitative and quantitative data on adverse reactions were compiled. Twenty-eight clinical trials were identified providing a pooled population of 646 hyperlipidemic subjects. The average study sample size was 22.3 subjects with a mean age of 52.8 years. The average study trial length was 12.7 weeks with a median pantethine dosage of 900 mg/d. The mean percent decrease from baseline for total serum cholesterol across months 1 through 4 was 8.7%, 11.6%, 12.6%, and 15.1%. The mean percent decrease from baseline for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol across months 1 through 4 was 10.4%, 15.2%, 17.7%, and 20.1%. The mean percent decrease from baseline for serum triacylglycerols across months 1 through 4 was 14.2%, 15.8%, 23.7%, and 32.9%. The mean percent increase from baseline for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol across months 1 through 4 was 6.1%, 7.8%, 10.7%, and 8.4%. The adverse reaction rate was 1.4 per 100 subjects, with the majority being classified as gastrointestinal complaints of mild severity. Pantethine, a naturally occurring physiological compound, offers an effective therapeutic option in treating patient populations with total serum cholesterol levels greater than 200 mg/dL and/or serum triacylglycerol levels greater than 150 mg/dL. However, the full benefit of pantethine may not be attained until at least 4 months from the commencing of supplementation. Pantethine is a well-tolerated therapeutic agent that deserves much more attention than it has recently received.
Modeling and Analysis of a Small Diameter Pneumatic Boring Tool

This paper documents the development, solution, and application of a computational model for the dynamic response of a small diameter, pneumatic tool used for boring horizontal tunnels in the soil. The model consists of (i) the tool component kinematics and kinetics, (ii) mechanics of the tool and soil interactions, (iii) the compressible air dynamics, and (iv) the pressure control valve switching logic. The resulting model is represented by a set of coupled, sixth-order nonlinear difereniial equations. The boring tool design has several unique features, including dual pistonheads and a pilot-pressure actuated spool valve used to control the oscillatory piston. Implementation of these and other tool features in the computational model is discussed at length. The dynamic simulation and associated parametric studies establish the feasibility of the design for small diameter (25.4 mm) horizontal boring tools. Results for this design predict tunneling rates of about 60 meters/hr in a medium clay soil.
Education For Economic Leadership: Vision Is The Key

In recent decades the global political economy has experienced some major restructuring, characterized by the emergence of regional trading blocs, cooperative adjustments within capitalism, stateless corporations, process oriented industries, and a value added notion of entrepreneurship. This paper aims to help leadership educators explore the underlying causes of these "megatrends."The theoretical postulate examined is the assertion that these economic trends reflect a shifting philosophical vision about humanity, specifically toward a greater realization that human nature has a communitarian side that complements its competitive aspect. Economic leaders of the 21st Century will be those individuals, organizations and institutions that empower people through partnership.
Author of one’s fate: Fatalism and agency in Indo-Persian histories:

A shift of worldviews can be observed in the historical writings of three Indo-Persian authors ‘Abd al-Malik ‘Isami, Rizq Allah Mushtaqi and Nizam al-Din Ahmad. Whereas ‘Isami viewed history as the unfolding of events predetermined by divine fate; Nizam al-Din considered human agency to be the main mover of events. Mushtaqi displayed ambivalence between the two. His text can thus be read as the expression of a worldview under disintegration and re-composition in the transition from the Sultanate to the Mughal period. This change of attitude bears similarities to other ‘Early Modern Features’ of the late sixteenth century.
Role of the myogenic response in exercise hyperemia

Abstract The hemodynamic effects of passive decreases in vascular transmural pressure produced by increases in extravascular pressure were compared with the hemodynamic responses to nerve stimulation in the blood perfused in vitro canine gracilis muscle. These studies were performed in an attempt to isolate the proposed contribution of the myogenic response to active hyperemia in skeletal muscle. In order to separate vascular transmural pressure changes from other mechanisms associated with an active muscle, a special muscle perfusion chamber was designed. This chamber allowed pulsatile changes in extravascular pressure to be made in a passive muscle, with similar magnitude and frequency as would occur in an active muscle. Pulsatile changes in extravascular pressure over the range 10 to 50 mm Hg at rates of 2 and 5 pulses per second failed to elicit an active vascular response. Thus these studies fail to support a role for the myogenic response in twitch exercise of canine skeletal muscle.
syn-Oxidative Polycyclizations of Hydroxypolyenes: Highly Stereoselective and Potentially Biomimetic Syntheses of all-trans-Polytetrahydrofurans

Acylperrhenate reagents promote hydroxyl-directed syn-oxidative polycyclizations of primary and secondary hydroxypolyenes, forming bis- and tristetrahydrofuranyl alcohols with excellent trans-stereoselectivity for each tetrahydrofuran ring. The combination of dichloroacetylperrhenate/dichloroacetic anhydride affords stereoselective syn-oxidative bicyclization to bistetrahydrofuranyl alcohol products, whereas trifluoroacetylperrhenate/trifluoroacetic anhydride or trichloroacetylperrhenate/trichloroacetic anhydride are more suitable for stereoselective formation of tristetrahydrofuranyl alcohols from acyclic hydroxytrienes. In the tricyclization reaction chirality induction from a single stereogenic hydroxyl group affords diastereoselective formation of six additional stereocenters in a single step. However, we have found that the growing polytetrahydrofuran chain can exert chelation effects upon the alkoxyrhenium intermediate, thus diminishing the degree of product diastereoselectivity. These syn-oxidative...
The conversation age: the opportunity for public relations

Purpose – The aim of this paper is to describe the opportunity for public relations professionals in the new communications environmentDesign/methodology/approach – The authors developed a point of view, and conducted secondary research to confirm and supplement it.Findings – The communications environment has changed. The new climate requires organizations to engage in a two‐way dialog with their constituencies. “Push” communication has lost effectiveness. In this environment, people trained in public relations are in a unique position to take the lead in forming communications strategies for their organizations or clients.Originality/value – This work is based on the authors' personal views of the current communication environment, and is supported by the views of many of the leading players in the public relations world.
Individual differences in the responses of naive rhesus monkeys to snakes

The authors demonstrated individual differences in inhibited behavior and withdrawal responses of laboratory-born rhesus monkeys when initially exposed to a snake. Most monkeys displayed a small significant increase in their behavioral inhibition in the presence of a snake. A few monkeys had marked responses, and some actively withdrew. Although the responses of the most extreme laboratory-born monkeys were comparable to feral-born monkeys, the responses of the laboratory-born monkeys rapidly habituated. The individual differences in the responses of naive monkeys likely reflect a continuum from orienting to wariness to fear. A neurobiological model is presented that addresses potential mechanisms underlying these individual differences, their relation to fear, and how they may predispose to phobia development.
Integrating expert systems and artificial intelligence in accounting: A description of the academic program at Memphis State University

Abstract This paper describes Memphis State University's multidisciplinary program for integrating the study of expert systems and artificial intelligence in accounting. The program is offered by the School of Accountancy and the Institute for Intelligent Systems, which is comprised of members of the departments of Psychology, Mathematical Science (Computer Science), Philosophy, and Physics. This paper discusses the philosophy underlying the program and the different objectives for masters and doctoral students. The courses that are available are described and biographical information about the faculty involved in the program is also provided.
Computers and School Reform.

Part of the vision of school reform is to reconstruct schools as “learning communities” in which students and teachers pursue topics of interest. Computers can provide powerful tools for students in learning communities where inquiry, data gathering, interpretation, thinking, and judgment take place. Changing beliefs in educational goals and great support for teachers will be necessary if we are to realize the potential of computers in restructured classrooms. The greatest possibilities exist in new “Professional Development Schools,” where university faculty join school teachers in joint efforts to restructure learning environments. New evaluation procedures are also needed if competencies associated with information retrieval and use are to be assessed.
Perceived vs. Actual Benefits Operating as a Fast-Food Franchisee

Abstract The franchising form of business is experiencing rapid growth. The authors conducted a survey of 355 fast-food franchisees to determine-from two time perspectives-the benefits of operating as a franchisee, compared to independent business ownership. The franchisees' initial thoughts were obtained prior to affiliating with a franchiser, then, subsequently, as experienced franchisees. Their responses are valuable to franchisors and prospective franchisees.
Three-Dimensionally Braided Preform for a Composite Connecting Rod: Concept Development and Demonstration:

The focus of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility of manufacturing near-net-shape (NNS) three-dimensionally braided connecting rod preforms for 4-stroke automobile engines. Based on a design methodology, several design concepts for the NNS manufacturing of connecting rod preforms have been demonstrated. Making use of the concept of geometric hybrid design, the regions of near stress concentration and crack ini tiation were strategically reinforced. A parallel study was also carried out to assess the feasibility of resin impregnation into the dense 3-D fiber network of connecting rod pre forms.By demonstrating the feasibility for NNS manufacturing of the connecting rod preforms, this study has established a foundation for further exploration of large scale manufacturing as well as stimulating more creative use of 3-D braided fibrous structures for the structural reinforcement of automobile components.
Orbital susceptibility of dilute alloys

Abstract An explicit expression is obtained for the change of the orbital (diamagnetic) susceptibility of an electron gas produced by a localized spherical perturbation. The refeult is applied to a study of dilute solutions of Zn, Ga, Ge and As in Cu, but does not help to account for the experimental data. Comments are made on previous theoretical interpretations.
The Measurement of Ultrafine Particles: A Pilot Study Using a Portable Particle Counting Technique to Measure Generated Particles During a Micromachining Process

The accurate measurement of airborne particles in the nanometer range is a challenging task. Because several studies have linked exposures to airborne ultrafine particles to elevated human health risks, the need to assess the concentrations of particles in the workplace that are below 100 nm in diameter is imperative. Several different techniques for monitoring nanoparticles are now available, and others are currently being tested for their merit. Laboratory condensation particle counters (CPC), field-portable CPC, nanometer differential mobility analyzers, electron microscopy, and other novel and experimental approaches to measuring nanoparticles have been recently used in investigations. The first part of this article gives an overview of these techniques, and provides the advantages and disadvantages for each. The second part of this article introduces a portable technique, coupling two particle measurement devices that are capable of characterizing microscale and nanoscale particles in the field environment. Specifically, this pilot study involved the use of a direct-reading CPC and a laser particle counter to measure airborne concentrations of ultrafine particles during a laboratory machining process. The measurements were evaluated in real time, and subsequently, decisions regarding human exposure could be made in an efficient and effective manner. Along with the results from this study, further research efforts in related areas are discussed.
Residential choice, hedonic prices, and the demand for urban air quality

Abstract This paper uses a two-step estimation procedure suggested by Sherwin Rosen to estimate structural demand and supply equations for urban air quality. In the first step, a hedonic price equation is estimated for residential property values for the Washington, D. C., SMSA for 1970. In the second step, a set of marginal hedonic prices is generated. These prices and the quantity of clean air (reciprocal of air pollution) are used as endogenous variables in a simultaneous equation model. Empirical results indicate a price elasticity of demand between −1.2 and −1.4 and a unitary income elasticity.
Pharmacogenomics, Ethics, and Public Policy

The advent of pharmacogenomics—the study of how the human genome influences drug response within a person or population—has begun to drive the development of pharmaceuticals in Western medicine today. Although pharmacogenomics promises dramatic improvement in drug safety and efficacy, the field also raises a host of ethical questions. The need to protect informed con - sent and confidentiality and to promote justice and equity—both nationally and globally—requires that one approach pharmacogenomics with an enthusiastic, yet critical, eye. Drawing on the normative values of respect for persons (as both autonomous and relational), human well-being, socioeconomic justice, and human solidarity and the common good, this article offers several concrete suggestions for public policy to help ensure that pharmacogenomics develops in a way that promotes the good of both individuals and the broader society.
Surface chemistry modulates fibronectin conformation and directs integrin binding and specificity to control cell adhesion

Integrin-mediated cell adhesion to proteins adsorbed onto synthetic surfaces anchors cells and triggers signals that direct cell function. In the case of fibronectin (Fn), adsorption onto substrates of varying properties alters its conformation/structure and its ability to support cell adhesion. In the present study, self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) of alkanethiols on gold were used as model surfaces to investigate the effects of surface chemistry on Fn adsorption, integrin binding, and cell adhesion. SAMs presenting terminal CH(3), OH, COOH, and NH(2) functionalities modulated adsorbed Fn conformation as determined through differences in the binding affinities of monoclonal antibodies raised against the central cell-binding domain (OH > COOH = NH(2) > CH(3)). Binding of alpha(5)beta(1) integrin to adsorbed Fn was controlled by SAM surface chemistry in a manner consistent with antibody binding (OH > COOH = NH(2) > CH(3)), whereas alpha(V) integrin binding followed the trend: COOH >> OH = NH(2) = CH(3), demonstrating alpha(5)beta(1) integrin specificity for Fn adsorbed onto the NH(2) and OH SAMs. Cell adhesion strength to Fn-coated SAMs correlated with alpha(5)beta(1) integrin binding (OH > COOH = NH(2) > CH(3)), and experiments with function-perturbing antibodies demonstrated that this receptor provides the dominant adhesion mechanism in this cell model. This work establishes an experimental framework to analyze adhesive mechanisms controlling cell-surface interactions and provides a general strategy of surface-directed control of adsorbed protein activity to manipulate cell function in biomaterial and biotechnological applications.
Inhibition of protein synthesis directed by added viral and cellular messenger RNAs in extracts of interferon-treated Ehrlich ascites tumor cells. Location and dominance of the inhibitor(s).

Abstract Protein synthesis directed by exogenous (viral or cellular) messengers is impaired, but endogenous protein synthesis is not affected in an extract of interferon-treated Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (INT-extract). Protein synthesis directed by exogenous messengers is also impaired in a mixture of an INT-extract with an extract from control cells. This reveals that the impairment is due to one or more inhibitors in the INT-extract. The nondialyzability of the inhibitor(s) is probably an indication of large molecular size. In a not incubated INT-extract much of the inhibitory activity is in the high speed sediment fraction i.e., is presumably bound directly or indirectly to ribosomes. During incubation of the extract most of the inhibitory activity is released into the high speed supernatant fraction. The dose-response curve shows that in our conditions the translation of cellular messengers (from mouse L cells) is as sensitive to impairment by the inhibitor(s) as that of viral messengers (from reovirus or from encephalomyocarditis virus).
Romancing ‘kung fu master’ – from ‘yellow peril’ to ‘yellow prowess’

Present study critically investigates the cinematic depiction of leading Chinese masculine figures in Hollywood film productions, with a specific focus on how the positioning of white female characters romantically involved with Chinese martial arts fighters serves to construct Chinese masculinity. In noted films such as The Tuxedo (2002), Kiss of the Dragon (2001), and Dragon: Bruce Lee Story (1993), Chinese martial arts fighters not only managed to fight off white antagonists but also succeeded in winning the ‘heart’ of white heroines. Drawing on Gestner's theoretical assertion that white women's falling for a man of color signifies the invasive movement of a new masculine discourse into the space traditionally bounded by the ideal of white masculinity, and grounded on Hall's conception of articulation, my critical examination of these three film texts revealed how the privileged cultural and racial position of whiteness was reformulated and rejustified via the strategic dramatic construction of romanti...
Evaluation of a method for estimating pollution concentrations downwind of influencing buildings

Abstract A simple method for estimating enhanced dispersion resulting from the overall effect of buildings is presented and evaluated. A framework for applying the method to general plume dispersion modeling problems is suggested and examples are provided. The Gaussian plume equation has been modified to incorporate building wake enhanced dispersion parameters beyond the wake cavity region, and the resulting ground-level plume centerline concentration estimates are compared to 10 sets of field measurements. The results indicate that the method can provide a good correction for the overall effect of adjacent buildings. The effect of building wake enhanced dispersion on maximum ground-level concentrations is to decrease their values for releases near ground-level and to significantly increase their values for elevated releases. For elevated releases, enhanced horizontal dispersion dilutes the plume more rapidly; enhanced vertical dispersion also rapidly dilutes the plume but it can also bring the plume to ground-level while the in-plume concentrations are still high.
Assessing Leisure Motivators and Satisfaction of International Elderhostel Participants

Abstract This descriptive study evaluated the leisure motivations and satisfactions of a group of 36 International Elderhostel participants based on pre-test and post-test results using the Leisure Motivation Scale (Beard & Ragheb, 1983), The primary motives for leisure engagement was the potential for intellectual stimulation and mastery-competence. Intellectual stimulation was indicated to be the greatest source of leisure satisfaction. Social interaction, while not surfacing as a strong leisure motivator, was found to be one of the strongest leisure satisfaction variables. Recognizing leisure motivators and satisfiers of this segment of the population can assist professionals in targeting potential consumer groups, evaluating program effectiveness and designing leisure programs and experiences that address such needs.
Measurement of the Wavelengths of Maximum Intensity for X-Ray Tube Spectra

A new method is described for measuring the wavelength of peak intensity of x-ray tubes. This method employs known absorption data and gives an independent check on crystal spectrometer measurements. For a tungsten target tube, the measured values were: 50.0 kv spectrum peak at 0.337 A, 45.5 kv at 0.367 A, 39.8, kv at 0.416 A, and 33.5 kv at 0.478 A.An important companion result is the variation of intensity with tube potential, at constant wavelengths shorter than the peak wavelengths, for spectra corresponding to tube potentials between 30 and 70 kv.
Effectiveness of a single 3-mg rasburicase dose for the management of hyperuricemia in patients with hematological malignancies.

Effectiveness of a single 3-mg rasburicase dose for the management of hyperuricemia in patients with hematological malignancies
n-Pentenyl 2-amino-2-deoxy glycosides undergo stereoselective coupling under mild, chemospecific conditions

Abstract n-Pentenyl 2-deoxy-2-phthalimido and 2-anisylimino-2-deoxy-D-glucopyranosides undergo ready iodonium ion induced coupling with a variety of sugar alcohols to give β and α disaccharides, respectively, in moderate to excellent yields. The procedure is tolerant of a wide variety of protecting groups.
Late Pennsylvanian seasonality reflected in the 18O and elemental composition of a brachiopod shell

To evaluate the potential for the study of Late Pennsylvanian seasonality, detailed isotopic and elemental analyses were performed on a single specimen of the brachiopod Neospirifer dunbari . Shell preservation was evaluated by petrographic and cathodoluminescence microscopy. Carbonate powders from 112 spots were collected from the sectioned shell for isotopic analyses, and 369 spots on the complementary thin section were analyzed by electron microprobe for chemical composition. In the nonluminescent part of the shell, Mg/Ca ratios were between 0.001 and 0.012, and Na/Ca and S/Ca ratios ranged from 0.003 to 0.012 and 0.003 to 0.021, respectively. Values of δ 18 O vary between -2.3‰ and -1.1‰. Contours of 18 O, Mg, Na, and S concentrations parallel growth bands and reveal a record of 1½ to 2 cycles. Mg, S, and Na contents varied nversely with δ 18 O. This trend is opposite to the expected diagenetic trend and is consistent with the temperature dependences of Mg content and δ 18 O, thus implying preservation of shell chemistry. The ∼1.2‰ range in δ 18 O values suggests a seasonal temperature variation of 5 to 6 °C (assuming no change in the δ 18 O of the water). This high seasonality for the tropical epicontinental sea of Kansas supports climate-model predictions of enhanced continentality in Pangean climate. Detailed stable isotope and element concentration profiles across growth bands of brachiopod shells can provide quantitative records of Paleozoic seasonality.
Establishment of Sister Chromatid Cohesion

The process of sister chromatid pairing, or cohesion establishment, is coupled to DNA replication and fundamental to proper chromosome segregation and cell viability. In the past year, several articles have provided important new insights into cohesion establishment, an activity predicated on the acetyltransferase Ctf7/Eco1. Here, I review new findings that the conversion of chromatid-bound cohesins into a cohesion-competent state involves Ctf7/Eco1-mediated acetylation of the cohesin subunit Smc3. These studies further explore an anti-establishment activity that involves the binding of accessory factors WAPL/Rad61 and Pds5 to the cohesin subunit Scc3/Irr1. The anti-establishment activity of WAPL/Rad61 and Pds5 is temporarily relaxed by Ctf7/Eco1 during S phase to promote sister chromatid pairing. These findings are likely to be of clinical relevance, given the role of cohesion pathways in a wide range of disease states.
NeuroQuest: A Comprehensive Analysis Tool for Extracellular Neural Ensemble Recordings

Abstract Analyzing the massive amounts of neural data collected using microelectrodes to extract biologically relevant information is a major challenge. Many scientific findings rest on the ability to overcome these challenges and to standardize experimental analysis across labs. This can be facilitated in part through comprehensive, efficient and practical software tools disseminated to the community at large. We have developed a comprehensive, MATLAB-based software package – entitled NeuroQuest – that bundles together a number of advanced neural signal processing algorithms in a user-friendly environment. Results demonstrate the efficiency and reliability of the software compared to other software packages, and versatility over a wide range of experimental conditions.
Quantitative Phase Imagery with Total Internal Reflection Holographic Microscopy

Total internal reflection holographic microscopy is used to produce quantitative phase images of biological specimens. Quantitative cellular images, algorithmic considerations and optomechanical implementation are presented and discussed. Applications include characterization of membranes, motility and metastasis.
Revisiting caching in content delivery networks

Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) differ from other caching systems in terms of both workload characteristics and performance metrics. However, there has been little prior work on large-scale measurement and characterization of content requests and caching performance in CDNs. For workload characteristics, CDNs deal with extremely large content volume, high content diversity, and strong temporal dynamics. For performance metrics, other than hit ratio, CDNs also need to minimize the disk operations and the volume of traffic from origin servers. In this paper, we conduct a large-scale measurement study to characterize the content request patterns using real-world data from a commercial CDN provider.
Pilot Feasibility Study of Binaural Auditory Beats for Reducing Symptoms of Inattention in Children and Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Introduction The purpose of this pilot study was to explore the potential for the use of binaural auditory beat stimulation to reduce the symptom of inattention in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Methods This pilot study had a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. Twenty participants were randomly assigned to listen to either an audio program on compact disk that contained binaural auditory beats or a sham audio program that did not have binaural beats for 20 minutes, three times a week for 3 weeks. The Children's Color Trails Test, the Color Trails Test, the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA), and the Homework Problem Checklist were used to measure changes in inattention pre- and postintervention. Results Repeated measures analysis of variance was used to analyze pre- and postintervention scores on the Color Trails Tests, Homework Problem Checklist, and the TOVA. The effect of time was significant on the Color Trails Test. However, there were no significant group differences on the Color Trails Test or the TOVA scores postintervention. Parents reported that the study participants had fewer homework problems postintervention. Discussion The results from this study indicate that binaural auditory beat stimulation did not significantly reduce the symptom of inattention in the experimental group. However, parents and adolescents stated that homework problems due to inattention improved during the 3-week study. Parents and participants stated that the modality was easy to use and helpful. Therefore, this modality should be studied over a longer time frame in a larger sample to further its effectiveness to reduce the symptom of inattention in those diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.
AFCD: An Approximated-Fair and Controlled-Delay Queuing for High Speed Networks

High speed networks have characteristics of high bandwidth, long queuing delay, and high burstiness which make it difficult to address issues such as fairness, low queuing delay and high link utilization. Current high speed networks carry heterogeneous TCP flows which makes it even more challenging to address these issues. Since sender centric approaches do not meet these challenges, there have been several proposals to address them at router level via queue management (QM) schemes. These QM schemes have been fairly successful in addressing either fairness issues or large queuing delay but not both at the same time. We propose a new QM scheme called Approximated-Fair and Controlled-Delay (AFCD) queuing for high speed networks that aims to meet following design goals: approximated fairness, controlled low queuing delay, high link utilization and simple implementation. The design of AFCD utilizes a novel synergistic approach by forming an alliance between approximated fair queuing and controlled delay queuing. It uses very small amount of state information in sending rate estimation of flows and makes drop decision based on a target delay of individual flow. Through experimental evaluation in a 10Gbps high speed networking environment, we show AFCD meets our design goals by maintaining approximated fair share of bandwidth among flows and ensuring a controlled very low queuing delay with a comparable link utilization.
Laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery for two or more ipsilateral renal tumors.

Abstract Objectives To review our experience with laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery in the management of two or more synchronous, ipsilateral renal masses. Minimally invasive nephron-sparing procedures are increasingly used for the treatment of select patients with a single, small renal tumor. Methods Since 1998, we have performed laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery in 288 consecutive patients, including laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (n = 200) and renal cryotherapy (n = 88). Of these, 13 patients (4.5%) were treated for synchronous ipsilateral renal masses. Results A total of 27 renal tumors were treated in 13 patients. The patients were divided into four groups on the basis of the treatment. Group 1 (n = 3) underwent en-bloc laparoscopic partial nephrectomy encompassing both tumors; group 2 (n = 2) underwent individual laparoscopic partial nephrectomy of discrete masses during the same procedure; group 3 (n = 2) had one mass treated with partial nephrectomy and the other mass treated with cryotherapy; and group 4 (n = 6) had all tumors treated with cryotherapy. All cases were completed successfully without conversion to open surgery or laparoscopic nephrectomy. The mean overall operative time was 4.3 hours, and the mean blood loss was 169 mL. No intraoperative complications occurred. Three patients had postoperative complications, none requiring re-exploration. One patient in group 4 developed de novo tumors in the treated kidney, located distant from the cryoablated sites. Conclusions Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is an emerging, efficacious laparoscopic treatment option for select patients. Laparoscopic cryotherapy is a useful alternative or adjunct to partial nephrectomy. The judicious combination of these complementary techniques further extends the scope of minimally invasive nephron-sparing surgery.