cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do Pericardial Bioprostheses Improve Outcome of Elderly Patients Undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement

Background Pericardial bioprostheses have favorable echocardiographic hemodynamics in the aortic position compared with porcine valves; however, there are few data comparing clinical outcomes. Our objective was to assess the late results of the two valve types. Methods We reviewed 2,979 patients aged 65 years or older undergoing aortic valve replacement with pericardial (n = 1,976) or porcine (n = 1,003) prostheses between January 1993 and December 2007. The most common pericardial prostheses were Carpentier-Edwards Perimount and Mitroflow, and the most common porcine valves were Medtronic Mosaic, Carpentier-Edwards, Hancock modified orifice, and St. Jude Biocor. Follow-up extended to a maximum of 16 years (mean, 5.2 ± 3.5 years). Results Survival at 5, 10 and 12 years was, respectively, 68%, 33%, and 21% overall, was 68%, 30%, and 16% for patients with pericardial bioprosthesis, and was 69%, 38% and 27% for the porcine group. In a multivariate model, long-term survival was reduced in patients with diabetes, renal failure, prior myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, and older age, but late survival was not higher in the pericardial valve group. Overall freedom from reoperation was 96%, 92%, and 90% at 5, 10, and 12 years, and freedom from explant was 98%, 96%, and 94% during the same period. The reason for explant was structural valve deterioration in 50 patients (2%). Conclusions Despite the better hemodynamic performance documented in prior investigations, pericardial valves do not confer any survival advantage over porcine valves in patients aged 65 years or older undergoing aortic valve replacement.
Inhibition of Rous sarcoma virus by α-amanitin: Possible role of cell DNA-dependent RNA polymerase form II

Abstract The effect of α-amanitin, an inhibitor of the cell nuclear form II DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, on Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) synthesis in RSV-transformed cells was examined. Utilizing incorporation of [3H]uridine into virions as a sensitive measure of RSV synthesis and of inhibition of synthesis by α-amanitin, inhibition of virus production could be detected within 2 hr after addition of the toxin to the cells. Analysis of the appearance of newly labeled [3H]RNA onto polyribosomes showed early partial inhibition by the toxin at a rate similar to the rate of inhibition of RSV synthesis. Little if any inhibition of ribosomal RNA (rRNA), the product of the nucleolar form I DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, is detectable until several hours after the initial inhibition of RSV is observed. These data indicate that RSV requires the form II polymerase, or an enzyme with a similar sensitivity to α-amanitin, for replication.
Conventional wisdom on measurement: A structural equation perspective.

The applicability of 5 conventional guidelines for construct measurement is critically examined: (a) Construct indicators should be internally consistent for valid measures, (b) there are optimal magnitudes of correlations between items, (c) the validity of measures depends on the adequacy with which a specified domain is sampled, (d) within-construct correlations must be greater than between-construct correlations, and (e) linear composites of indicators can replace latent variables. A structural equation perspective is used, showing that without an explicit measurement model relating indicators to latent variables and measurement errors, none of these conventional beliefs hold without qualifications. Moreover, a "causal" indicator model is presented that sometimes better corresponds to the relation of indicators to a construct than does the classical test theory "effect" indicator model.
The social confrontation episode

Social confrontation is a particular kind of communication episode initiated when one actor signals another actor that his or her behavior has violated a rule or expectation for appropriate conduct within the relationship or situation. A model of social confrontation, developed over a series of studies, is presented. The model identifies the major substantive variations in social confrontation episodes and serves to integrate a number of related phenomena in the study of problematic situations. Social confrontation is portrayed as “issue‐driven” and the model describes the various tracks of development from initiation to resolution based upon the issues of the episode: (1) the legitimacy of the invoked rule, (2) the legitimacy of any superseding rules, (3) whether or not the person actually performed the behavior in question, (4) whether or not the behavior constitutes a violation of the rule, and (5) whether or not the accused accepts responsibility.
Radiation and thermal effects on porous and layer structured materials as getters of radionuclides

Abstract The long term radiation and thermal effects on porous and layer structured materials that may function as getters for radionuclides have been evaluated using accelerated laboratory experiments including energetic electron, ion or neutron irradiation, as well as high-temperature thermal annealing. The materials studied include: zeolites, layered silicates (mica and smectite clays), open framework structured apatite and crystalline silicotitanate (CST) which is an important synthetic ion-exchange material for the chemical separation of high-level liquid radioactive wastes. In situ transmission electron microscopy during irradiation by energetic electrons and ions has shown that all the studied materials are susceptible to irradiation-induced amorphization. Amorphization can be induced by ionization and/or direct displacement processes. Amorphization may be preceded or accompanied with dehydration, layer spacing reduction and gas bubble formation. In the case of zeolites, CST and some layer silicates, radiation effects are significantly enhanced at higher temperatures. In fact, thermal annealing at high temperatures alone can cause complete amorphization of zeolites. Our experiments have shown that amorphization or even partial amorphization will cause a dramatic reduction (up to 95%) in ion-exchange and sorption/desorption capacities of zeolite for radionuclides, such as Cs and Sr. Because the near-field or chemical processing materials (e.g., zeolites or CST) will receive a substantial radiation dose after they have incorporated radionuclides, our results suggest that radiation effects may, in some cases, retard the release rate of sorbed or ion-exchanged radionuclides.
Strain-assisted nanoscale patterning of Co thin films

The effect of a nanometer-scale oscillating surface strain field, due to a buried misfit dislocation array, on the growth of Co on Pt(001) is investigated by examining the structure and magnetic properties of the deposited Co film. $1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ thick Co films are sputter-deposited on epitaxial Pt underlayers in which the strain field is generated by a square array of interfacial misfit dislocations due to the lattice mismatch of the Pt(001) film with the underlying MgO(001) substrate. The strength of the surface strain field is controlled by varying the thickness of the Pt underlayer from $2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}10\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$. Remarkable changes in the magnetic remanence behavior, measured using the $\ensuremath{\Delta}m$ technique, are observed as a function of the thickness of the Pt underlayer. These changes can be attributed to changes in the Co nucleation density and growth morphology associated with the different strength of the surface strain field for different Pt underlayer thicknesses. This indirect approach suggests that nanopatterned, magnetically isolated Co films are produced over a very narrow range of Pt underlayer thickness.
Consistency of error density and distribution function estimators in nonparametric regression

Abstract This paper considers the problem of estimating the error density and distribution function in nonparametric regression models. Sufficient conditions are given under which the histogram error density estimator based on nonparametric residuals is uniformly weakly and strongly consistent, and L 1 -consistent. The uniform consistency with a rate of the nonparametric residual empirical distribution function and the histogram error density estimator is also established.
On the Structure and Dynamics of Monthly Mean Sea Level Anomalies along the Pacific Coast of North and South America

Abstract The behavior and relationship of anomalies of monthly mean sea level, coastal sea surface temperature and alongshore wind stress for the eastern Pacific Ocean during the period 1950–74 have been studied. Sea level and temperature records from Yakutat, Alaska (59°N) to Valparaiso, Chile (33°S) and computed alongshore wind stress at near coastal grid points from Yakutat to Matzatlan, Mexico (23°N) have been utilized. The positive and negative sea level anomalies, corresponding to El Nino-anti El Nino cycles, are well correlated throughout the tropics of both hemispheres and are detectable at the California stations. From Crescent City to Antofagasta, Chile the sea level anomalies were correlated with the Southern Oscillation Index above the 99% significance level. The maximum station separations for which sea level anomalies were correlated among themselves above the 99% significance level varied from 6000 km (Yakutat to San Diego) to more than 12 000 km (Prince Rupert to Matarani). A well-defined ...
Calcium metabolism of the rabbit lens

Abstract The Ca concentration in the rabbit lens is less than that in its bathing aqueous and vitreous humors. This Ca is not distributed evenly in the tissue; it has a higher concentration in the outer peripheral than the inner parts of the organ. About 60% of the total lenticular Ca is present in a layer extending about 0·5 mm down from the outer surface (25% of the total tissue in the lens). When incubated in a solution containing 45 Ca about 40% of the lenticular Ca readily exchanges with the isotope in 3 hr; no further change occurred over the next 21 hr. This exchange appeared to occur across either the anterior or posterior side of the lens. The accumulated 45 Ca was found to be present in a surface layer about 1 mm deep. The remaining 60% of the lenticular Ca was difficult to displace. Incubation for 5 hr in a Ca-free solution containing EDTA or following freezing and thawing resulted in a loss of only an additional 20% of tissue Ca. The remaining ‘immobilizable’ Ca (40%) was present in both the nuclear and peripheral zones of the lens. When the Ca concentration of the external medium is raised, lens Ca rises also, and when the external concentration is reduced the tissue level declines. In the presence of metabolic inhibitors (iodoacetate plus cyanide) lenticular Ca rises. This effect is slow; little change was seen in 5 hr. Ca accumulation in the lens was enhanced by the Ca ionophore A23187 but an effect was not detectable in 5 hr. Incubation in Na-free media or ouabain did not influence Ca accumulation suggesting that a CaNa exchange is not involved in regulation. Quercetin and orthovanadate, which can inhibit Ca-activated ATPase in some tissues were without effect on lens calcium. The phenothiazine trifluoperazine (TFP), however, enhanced accumulation of Ca. Efflux of accumulated 45 Ca from the lens was rapid; 60% in 10 min and 90% in 3 hr. Lanthanum reduced the latter to 60% loss. Efflux of Ca from the lens was unchanged, under experimental conditions, by metabolic inhibitors, by EGTA, verapamil, TFP and vanadate.
Q2S2: Merging Qualitative Information in Sequential DOE

Sequential sampling refers to a set of design of experiment (DOE) methods where the next sample point is determined by information from previous experiments. This paper introduces a qualitative and quantitative sequential sampling (Q2S2) technique, in which optimization and user knowledge is used to guide the efficient choice of sample points. This method combines information from multiple fidelity sources including computer simulation models of the product, first principals involved in design, and designer’s qualitative intuitions about the design. Both quantitative and qualitative information from different sources are merged together to arrive at a new sampling strategy. This is accomplished by introducing the concept of a confidence function, C, which is represented as a field that is a function of the decision variables, x, and the performance parameter, f. We compare the sampling plans generated by Q2S2 to previously known sample plans on five test functions using various metrics. In each case, the performance of Q2S2 is highly encouraging.© 2007 ASME
Use of Nanoindentation to Determine Biphasic Material Properties of Articular Cartilage

Nanoindentation (NI) has been used with increasing frequency to characterize the mechanical properties of biological tissues. However, the majority of prior studies in this area have focused on hard tissues such as bone, enamel, and dentin [1]. For soft, hydrated tissues and biomaterials, methods of analyzing the force-displacement curves to obtain meaningful information on viscoelastic material properties are still under development. In particular, methods for using NI to quantify the biphasic material properties (aggregate modulus HA , permeability k, Poisson’s ratio ν) of tissues such as articular cartilage have not been established. Such methods could be applied in studies using small animal models to investigate biological and biomechanical mechanisms of articular cartilage degeneration and repair. The overall goal of this study was to develop the use of NI for characterization of the mechanical properties of soft, hydrated materials.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Meandering and Eddy Detachment According to a Simple (Looking) Path Equation

Abstract Nonlinear meandering and “pinching off” process are investigated by solving the path equationAs shown by Pratt and Stern, this dimensioned equation determines the center line latitude l of a slowly-varying, equivalent barotropic, quasi-geostrophic, f-plane jet with cusped velocity profile and center line curvature κ = lxx/(1 + lx2)/. A class of exact solutions consisting of steadily propagating meanders is found having wavelength 2π/k and amplitude a. The meanders form a wave train which can be single-valued (for ak < 2.61) or multivalued (for 2.61 < ak < 8.30) with respect to the x (eastward) coordinate. For ak = 8.30 grazing contact occurs between neighboring meanders and a type of vortex street is formed. The amplitude-dependent dispersion relation for the meanders shows that phase propagation is eastward with speed that increases with decreasing wavelength and/or amplitude, trends observed for Gulf Stream meanders near 72 W by Vazquez and Watts. Numerical solutions are presented for isolated,...
Determining Random Responding to Objective Tests

Formulas are presented for use in determining if an examinee's test score is different from responding at a random (chance) level to test items. The formulas can be used to test an individual examinee's score or to construct confidence intervals around the expected random score. Examples using standardized and teacher-made tests, and implications for test construction are provided.
A study of the mechanism of in vitro cytotoxicity of metal oxide nanoparticles using catfish primary hepatocytes and human HepG2 cells

Nanoparticles (NPs), including nanometal oxides, are being used in diverse applications such as medicine, clothing, cosmetics and food. In order to promote the safe development of nanotechnology, it is essential to assess the potential adverse health consequences associated with human exposure. The liver is a target site for NP toxicity, due to NP accumulation within it after ingestion, inhalation or absorption. The toxicity of nano-ZnO, TiO(2), CuO and Co(3)O(4) was investigated using a primary culture of channel catfish hepatocytes and human HepG2 cells as in vitro model systems for assessing the impact of metal oxide NPs on human and environmental health. Some mechanisms of nanotoxicity were determined by using phase contrast inverted microscopy, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assays, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays, and flow cytometric assays. Nano-CuO and ZnO showed significant toxicity in both HepG2 cells and catfish primary hepatocytes. The results demonstrate that HepG2 cells are more sensitive than catfish primary hepatocytes to the toxicity of metal oxide NPs. The overall ranking of the toxicity of metal oxides to the test cells is as follows: TiO(2)<Co(3)O(4)<ZnO<CuO. The toxicity is due not only to ROS-induced cell death, but also to damages to cell and mitochondrial membranes.
Sonar Class Adaptive Sailing Jib Transfer Bench

Within the disabled community, there are many that enjoy the sport of sailing. To a disabled person, the experience of sailing on the open water can feel liberating, while providing meaningful and entertaining recreation. However, certain disabilities restrict one’s capacity to function as a member of a sailing crew.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Compartmentation of metabolic systems in the regulation of dormancy in fungus spores

Abstract Dormancy in fungus spores can be due to a variety of causes relating to structural, physiological, or biochemical functions. Based on data reported here and earlier, compartmentation of endogenous reserves or of enzymes is proposed as the mechanism controlling dormancy in spores ofMyrothecium verrucaria andTrichoderma reesei. Spores of both organisms contain a pool(s) of reserves composed of trehalose, amino acids, as well as unidentified compounds. Addition of hot water extracts of these reserves to spores results in rapid increases in respiratory activity and germination. This observation coupled with other data showing the stimulation of endogenous respiration by heat, freezing, or azide demonstrates that dormancy is due primarily, if not entirely, to sequestering or compartmentation of the endogenous reserves and not of the enzymatic systems involved in utilization of metabolites for germination. Presumably these reserves are contained within the vacuoles. Data on the interactions of treatments that stimulate endogenous respiration and on the effects of metabolism of exogenous substrates indicate that the transport pathways within the cell, from the pools or from the plasma membrane, to the loci of initial metabolism are not identical and that the total regulatory system is composed of a number of separable processes. It appears probable that examination of the spores of other fungi will show that compartmentation of reserves is not of uncommon occurrence and is not an unusual cause of dormancy.
Exponential functionals of integrated processes

Abstract This paper derives a limit distribution result involving exponential functionals of integrated processes. This implies the availability of an additional class of functions for which the limit behavior of the average of a function of an integrated process is well-established.
Evidence for unconventional superconductivity in the nonoxide perovskite MgCNi 3 from penetration depth measurements

The London penetration depth $\ensuremath{\lambda}(T)$ was measured in polycrystalline powders of the nonoxide perovskite superconductor ${\mathrm{MgCNi}}_{3}$ by using a sensitive tunnel-diode resonator technique. The penetration depth exhibits distinctly non $s$-wave BCS low-temperature behavior, instead showing quadratic temperature dependence, suggestive of a nodal order parameter.
From Armed Conflict to Disaster Vulnerability

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to estimate the effect of armed conflict on the vulnerability to natural hazards. Design/methodology/approach – The authors employ panel estimates of disaster deaths on a lagged indicator of the presence of armed conflict. Findings – Disaster deaths following armed conflict are on average 40 percent higher compared to disasters that are chronologically detached from armed conflict events; a legacy of armed conflict accounts for roughly 14 percent of the approximately five million disaster deaths between 1961 and 2010. Practical implications – A global estimate of the relationship between armed conflict and disaster vulnerability can help disaster management planners identify policy priorities associated with disaster prevention and management. Originality/value – The analysis reinforces the findings in previous qualitative studies of a causal link between armed conflict and increased disaster vulnerability and provides a quantitative estimate of the average magnitude...
Small stationary reformers for H2 production from hydrocarbons

Abstract This paper describes the activities performed in ENEA (Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Environment) during the last years in order to investigate the hydrogen production from largely available hydrocarbons, such as natural gas [1] and LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), aimed at feeding Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cells (PEFC) in the 1–5 kW electric power range. Reformers in such a size will be used for small domestic CHP systems (residential, hotels, offices, shopping centres) and for APU on boats and caravans. A significant part of the problems related with residential CHP based on PEFC occurs in the fuel processor [2] : start-up time is to be reduced, efficiency and reliability are to be increased. For this purpose ENEA has tested two LPG fed small reformers with a hydrogen production capacity of about 1 Nm3/h of H2 equivalent, both based on the steam reforming process. The reformer test station was provided with instrumentation in order to evaluate the performances of the reformer in terms of H2 yield, CO content of the syn-gas, thermal and energy balance. The experimental results show the feasibility of such a reformer and indicate the lines for further improvements. In particular the methanation process looks like more suitable than PSA for reformate gas purification in reformers of such a size. The quality of the reformate gas, in term of low CO content, is quite good for feeding PEMFC. The duration and the stability of the start-up time must be improved. The reformer efficiency range is 75–85%.
Immunocytochemical Distribution of the Cannabinoid CB1 Receptor in the Primate Neocortex: A Regional and Laminar Analysis

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta9-THC) has profound effects on higher cognitive functions, and exposure to Delta9-THC has been associated with the appearance or exacerbation of the clinical features of schizophrenia. These actions appear to be mediated via the CB1 receptor, the principal cannabinoid receptor expressed in the brain. However, the distribution of the CB1 receptor in neocortical regions of the primate brain that mediate cognitive functions is not known. We therefore investigated the immunocytochemical localization of the CB1 receptor in the brains of macaque monkeys and humans using antibodies that specifically recognize the N- or C-terminus of the CB1 receptor. In monkeys, intense CB1 immunoreactivity was observed primarily in axons and boutons. Across neocortical regions of the monkey brain, CB1-immunoreactive (IR) axons exhibited considerable heterogeneity in density and laminar distribution. Neocortical association regions, such as the prefrontal and cingulate cortices, demonstrated a higher density, and exhibited a unique laminar pattern of CB1-IR axons, compared with primary sensory and motor cortices. Similar regional and laminar distributions of CB1-IR axons were also present in the human neocortex. CB1-IR axons had more prominent varicosities in human tissue, but this difference appeared to represent a postmortem effect as similar morphological features increased in unperfused monkey tissue as a function of postmortem interval. In electron microscopy studies of perfused monkey prefrontal cortex, CB1 immunoreactivity was predominantly found in axon terminals that exclusively formed symmetric synapses. The high density, distinctive laminar distribution, and localization to inhibitory terminals of CB1 receptors in primate higher-order association regions suggests that the CB1 receptor may play a critical role in the circuitry that subserves cognitive functions such as those that are disturbed in schizophrenia.
Stability analysis of a class of noise perturbed neural networks.

We establish robustness stability results for a specific type of artificial neural networks for associative memories under parameter perturbations and determine conditions that ensure the existence of asymptotically stable equilibria of the perturbed neural system that are near the asymptotically stable equilibria of the original unperturbed neural network. The proposed stability analysis tool is the sliding mode control and it facilitates the analysis by considering only a reduced-order system instead of the original one and time-dependent external stimuli.
Effect of antioxidants on lipid peroxidation in iron-loaded rats

Indirect evidence has suggested that lipid peroxidation is associated with iron overload in vivo. As a measure of lipid peroxidation, pentane expired in the breath of rats loaded with an accumulated dose of either 100 mg or 186–200 mg of iron injected intraperitoneally as iron dextran was measured over a 7 to 8 week period, and the effect on pentane production of feeding antioxidant-supplemented diets was determined. By the seventh week of feeding the diets, rats fed 0.3% L-ascorbic acid produced 17% less (P=0.03) pentane than did rats fed the basal antioxidant-deficient diet, whereas rats fed 0.004% dl-α-tocopherol acetate produced 92% less (P ethoxyquin > butylated hydroxyanisole > butylated hydroxytoluene > propyl gallate ∼ no antioxidant. After removal of either ethoxyquin or N,N′-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine from the diets for 1 week, pentane production increased to a high level. The total amount of lipid soluble fluorophores in individual spleens of rats fed N,N′-diphenyl-p-phenylenediamine, ethoxyquin, dl-α-tocopherol acetate, ascorbic acid and no antioxidant were correlated significantly with the corresponding total integrated amount of pentane produced by the individual rats over the 7 to 8 week period. This study has provided some of the most direct evidence to date that lipid peroxidation is associated with iron overload in vivo.
The impact of the oil crisis associated with the Persian Gulf conflict on the United States

Abstract This paper analyzes the effects of the Persian Gulf conflict on the level of economic activity, employment and inflation in the United States. Impacts on other countries are not examined in this study. Many of the impacts are difficult to quantify objectively. One factor that can be subjected to analysis is the increase in US government expenditures associated with Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The analytical results of the investigation suggest that the method of financing the increase does make a difference in how the US economy is affected. In two of the three cases considered (i.e. deficit financing and 80% financing by coalition partners), output, personal consumption expenditures, and disposable income increase, but these increases are partly associated with higher prices (i.e. inflation). In the third case (i.e. tax-offset scenario), output, personal consumption expenditures, and disposable income decline, but prices actually fall. Moreover, the magnitudes of the changes are directly proportional to the size of the expenditure increase.
Doctor message can alter patients' behavior and attitudes regarding inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer.

Background: Patients with extensive ulcerative (UC) or Crohn's (CD) colitis have an increased risk of colon cancer and require colonoscopic surveillance. This study explores patient attitudes and behavior regarding inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colonoscopies, and colon cancer risk. Methods: In all, 514 patients with UC or CD colitis for at least 7 years and at least one-third of the colon involved participated in this cross-sectional questionnaire study performed at three tertiary referral IBD clinics. Results: In all, 288 patients were female, 262 had UC, and 252 had CD. The mean age was 48 (range, 20–88) and mean number of years with symptoms was 20 (range, 7–51); 70.8% reported “my doctor” as an extensive information source. The mean perceived lifetime risk of developing colon cancer without having routine colonoscopies was 56% (SD 24.193). We developed and validated a scale of 10 important messages that IBD patients remember doctors discussing with them (“Doctor Told Scale”). Higher scores correlated with better quality of life (P < 0.001) and positive descriptors of colonoscopies and IBD (P < 0.001). Patients with higher scores perceived a higher chance of getting colon cancer without having surveillance colonoscopies (P < 0.001) and were more likely to report that the correct surveillance interval is every 2 years (P < 0.01). Conclusions: Patients who remember their doctor's messages are more likely to have a positive outlook about colonoscopies and IBD, have a better quality of life, undergo surveillance colonoscopies at the correct interval, and perceive cancer risk more realistically. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2012)
A simple algorithm for localized construction of non‐matching structural interfaces

A simple and effective algorithm for the modular construction of non-matched interfaces is presented for the partitioned solution of large-scale structural problems. The formulation is based on a recently developed four-field variational principle, which introduces a connection frame between the interfaced partitions. A key result of the present study is a frame nodal placement criterion that uniquely determines the frame discretization into piecewise linear elements so that the interface patch test condition is satisfied a priori. The method is demonstrated with several 2D and 3D example problems.
Illness-related worry among cancer patients: prevalence, severity, and content.

AbstractThe present study assessed the prevalence, severity, and other parameters of illness-related worry among 83 cancer patients receiving active treatment for their illness. Participants completed questionnaires assessing a variety of worry dimensions. In addition, a family member of each patient completed a brief questionnaire regarding their perception of the patient's illness-related worry. Nurse ratings of patients' clinic-related behaviors were obtained. Fifty-one percent (n = 43) of patients reported worry to be at least “somewhat of a problem. ” Fifteen percent (n = 12) reported it to be a significant to severe problem. Significant correlations included patients self-rating of worry and: nurse rating of clinic behavior, total score on a Worry Content Scale, ability to stop worrying once started, and impact of worry on mood and functioning. Rating by the significant other of how much of a problem worry-was for the patient and whether the patient was a worrier preillness was also significantly co...
Cyclic nucleotides and lipolysis in rat fat cells. Interaction between calcium ionophore A23187 and FCCP, uncoupler of oxidative phosphorylation.

Abstract The interaction between calcium ionophore A23187 and carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone (FCCP) has been studied at the level of cyclic-AMP (cAMP), cyclic-GMP (cGMP) and lipolysis in isolated rat fat cells. Ionophore A23187 (1–10 μM) stimulated cGMP accumulation and glycerol release without affecting cAMP level. FCCP (1–100 μM) inhibited the effect of A23187 on cGMP level and glycerol release, but did not affect or increase cAMP. Thus a correlation exists between the changes of cGMP levels and lipolysis and a dissociation of lipolysis from cAMP.
Tin and zinc diffusion into gallium arsenide from doped silicon dioxide layers

Abstract This paper describes the pyrolytic deposition of tin and zinc doped silicon dioxide layers on gallium arsenide. Doped layers of different thickness are used as solid sources for diffusion experiments at 1000°C. The conditions for “infinite” and “finite” sources are established. With multilayer sources it is possible to obtain npn structures from a single diffusion operation.
Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase from Arabidopsis thaliana: a protein histidine kinase that phosphorylates serine residues

Pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK) is the primary regulator of flux through the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase complex (PDC). Although PDKs inactivate mitochondrial PDC by phosphorylating specific Ser residues, the primary amino acid sequence indicates that they are more closely related to prokaryotic His kinases than to eukaryotic Ser/Thr kinases. Unlike Ser/Thr kinases, His kinases use a conserved His residue for phosphotransfer to Asp residues. To understand these unique kinases better, a presumptive PDK from Arabidopsis thaliana was heterologously expressed and purified for this investigation. Purified, recombinant A. thaliana PDK could inactivate kinase-depleted maize mitochondrial PDC by phosphorylating Ser residues. Additionally, A. thaliana PDK was capable of autophosphorylating Ser residues near its N-terminus, although this reaction is not part of the phosphotransfer pathway. To elucidate the mechanism involved, we performed site-directed mutagenesis of the canonical His residue likely to be involved in phosphotransfer. When His-121 was mutated to Ala or Gln, Ser-autophosphorylation was decreased by 50% and transphosphorylation of PDC was decreased concomitantly. We postulate that either (1) His-121 is not the sole phosphotransfer His residue or (2) mutagenesis of His-121 exposes an additional otherwise cryptic phosphotransfer His residue. Thus His-121 is one residue involved in kinase function.
ICT for Good: Opportunities, Challenges and the Way Forward

ICT seems well understood as a tool and an infrastructure for delivering information and services for the society and for allowing communications through interactions among the service users —mostly, the digital society. Using ICT for ensuring better life requires far more than good infrastructure, ICT know-how and the various techniques and tools in place. If ICT has to address the real problems of the society, it should be at a rescue being environment-friendly, with real and tangible impact, sustainable, seamless, down to the grass-roots and above all with reproducible experiences. In this paper, we introduce a different perspective of looking into and using ICT, which we call ICT for Good (ICT4G). It is about using ICT for addressing problems of societies with low ICT penetration and changing a society’s life for the better. More specifically, based on our observation of current promises ICT gives to society, we discuss ICT4G’s distinguishing aspects, opportunities it offers, challenges it imposes along with preliminary roadmap for its realization. A high-level correlation of what we pointed out with a relevant case study (i.e., the eGIF4M1) is presented.
Permeability of Uniform and Mixed-Size Tire Chips under Different Loading Conditions

AbstractThe permeability of uniform and mixed-size (volume based) tire chips under various overburden pressures is determined. Tire chips sizes of 5.08, 10.16, and 15.24 cm are used. The permeability tests are conducted using sample layers of 15.24-, 30.48-, and 45.72-cm thickness. The vertical and lateral permeability data of uniformly sized chips under no overburden are in the range of coarse gravel. The mixed-size tire chips have permeability in the range of coarse to very coarse gravel under no overburden. Under overburden, the compressibility of the uniformly sized tire chips increases with tire-chip size and decreases with layer thickness. There is a general trend of decrease in permeability with increase in overburden pressure. In the case of uniformly sized chips under overburden, the 5.08-cm chips have the highest permeability and the 15.24-cm chips have the lowest permeability. The mixed-size tire chips have higher permeability than the uniformly sized tire chips. In general, the permeability of...
Titan's atmosphere - Temperature and dynamics

In the lower atmosphere of Titan IR brightness temperatures exhibit meridional contrast less than approximately 3 K. Seasonal variations are absent because of the large radiative time constant. In the upper stratosphere meridional contrasts are approximately 20 K, consistent with 100 m/s cyclostrophic zonal winds, and the radiative time constant is short, implying a large seasonal variation in the temperature and wind field. The absence of longitudinal thermal structure implies that zonally symmetric flows effect the meridional transport of heat. A simple model yields meridional velocities approximately 0.04 cm/s and vertical eddy viscosities approximately 1,000 sq cm/s in the lower troposphere, and meridional velocities approximately 5 cm/s in the upper stratosphere.
Series of semiregular group divisible designs

Two series of semiregular group divisible designs are given. The first has v=sN + sN−1 , m=s + 1, k = v/s. The second has v = 6t + 6, m = 3, k = 2t + 2. Both series have λ1 =λ2−1. Designs in these series exist for v = 12, 18, 20, 24, 30, etc.
Abstract CN13-03: Intraductal route of breast cancer prevention and therapy: from preclinical studies to Phase I trials

CN13-03 We hypothesized that it is possible to prevent and treat breast cancer by accessing the mammary ductal network through the teat. This intraductal approach, which delivers a high dose of drug locally to the tumors but a low dose systemically, could be an alternative approach to therapy and prevention of breast cancer. Our previous work has demonstrated the effectiveness of intraductal administration of pegylated liposomal doxorubicin, (PLD) and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) using the rat N-methyl N’-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced and the spontaneous, HER2/neu transgenic mouse (neu-N) models of breast cancer. 4-OHT had a preventive effect in the rat MNU-induced models, and PLD had a preventive and therapeutic effect in both the rat and Her2/neu transgenic mouse models (Murata et al, Cancer Res. 2006). Recently we evaluated the effectiveness of other drugs such as carboplatin, methotrexate, Abraxane, 5-Fluorouracil and PLD by whole mount analysis of the treated mammary glands, histopathology following HE1(7 Suppl):CN13-03.
Meta-patterns: revealing hidden periodic patterns

Discovery of periodic patterns in time series data has become an active research area with many applications. These patterns can be hierarchical in nature, where a higher level pattern may consist of repetitions of lower level patterns. Unfortunately, the presence of noise may prevent these higher level patterns from being recognized in the sense that two portions (of a data sequence) that support the same (high level) pattern may have different layouts of occurrences of basic symbols. There may not exist any common representation in terms of raw symbol combinations; and hence such (high level) patterns may not be expressed by any previous model (defined on raw symbols or symbol combinations) and would not be properly recognized by any existing method. In this paper, we propose a novel model, namely meta-pattern, to capture these high level patterns. As a more flexible model, the number of potential meta-patterns could be very large. A substantial difficulty is how to identify the proper pattern candidates. However the well-known a priori properly is not able to provide sufficient pruning power. A new property, namely component location, is identified and used to conduct candidate generation so that an efficient computation-based mining algorithm can be developed. We apply our algorithm to real and synthetic sequences and interesting patterns are discovered.
Accurate visible speech synthesis based on concatenating variable length motion capture data

We present a novel approach to synthesizing accurate visible speech based on searching and concatenating optimal variable-length units in a large corpus of motion capture data. Based on a set of visual prototypes selected on a source face and a corresponding set designated for a target face, we propose a machine learning technique to automatically map the facial motions observed on the source face to the target face. In order to model the long distance coarticulation effects in visible speech, a large-scale corpus that covers the most common syllables in English was collected, annotated and analyzed. For any input text, a search algorithm to locate the optimal sequences of concatenated units for synthesis is described. A new algorithm to adapt lip motions from a generic 3D face model to a specific 3D face model is also proposed. A complete, end-to-end visible speech animation system is implemented based on the approach. This system is currently used in more than 60 kindergartens through third grade classrooms to teach students to read using a lifelike conversational animated agent. To evaluate the quality of the visible speech produced by the animation system, both subjective evaluation and objective evaluation are conducted. The evaluation results show that the proposed approach is accurate and powerful for visible speech synthesis.
Etherification and reductive etherification of 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural: 5-(alkoxymethyl)furfurals and 2,5-bis(alkoxymethyl)furans as potential bio-diesel candidates

A low energy intensive process for the production of diesel fuel has been delineated from both 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) and its sugar precursor D-(–)-fructose. Alcoholic solutions of the above produced a mixture of potential bio-diesel candidates namely, 5-(alkoxymethyl)furfural, 5-(alkoxymethyl)furfural dialkylacetal, and alkyl levulinate, in the presence of solid acid catalysts. Sulfonic acid functionalized resins, Amberlyst-15 and Dowex DR2030 showed exceptional reactivity and selectivity for these reactions. Production of another potential diesel candidate 2,5-bis(alkoxymethyl)furan has been optimized through both sequential reduction/etherification and one-pot reductive etherification processes. During the metal catalyzed hydrogenation of HMF, platinum showed an exclusive selectivity for the reduction of the carbonyl functionality of HMF. Both Pt and Pt/Sn supported on Al2O3 catalysts have been optimized for the production of 2,5-bis(alkoxymethyl)furan from HMF. The reaction mechanisms of etherification and reductive etherification have been discussed in detail on the basis of intermediates observed during these processes.
Brachyury (T) expression in embryos of a larvacean urochordate, Oikopleura dioica, and the ancestral role of T.

The Brachyury, or T, gene is required for notochord development in animals occupying all three chordate subphyla and probably also had this role in the last common ancestor of the chordate lineages. In two chordate subphyla (vertebrates and cephalochordates), T is also expressed during gastrulation in involuting endodermal and mesodermal cells, and in vertebrates at least, this expression domain is required for proper development. In the basally diverging chordate subphylum Urochordata, animals in the class Ascidiacea do not employ T during gastrulation in endodermal or nonaxial mesodermal cells, and it has been suggested that nonnotochordal roles for T were acquired in the cephalochordate–vertebrate lineage after it split with Urochordata. To test this hypothesis, we cloned T from Oikopleura dioica, a member of the urochordate class Appendicularia (or Larvacea), which diverged basally in the subphylum. Investigation of the expression pattern in developing Oikopleura embryos showed early expression in presumptive notochord precursor cells, in the notochord, and in parts of the developing gut and cells of the endodermal strand. We conclude that the ancestral role of T likely included expression in the developing gut and became necessary in chordates for construction of the notochord.
Effects of surface grade on proximal hindlimb muscle strain and activation during rat locomotion

Sonomicrometry and electromyography were used to determine how surface grade influences strain and activation patterns in the biceps femoris and vastus lateralis of the rat. Muscle activity is generally present during much of stance and is most intense on an incline, intermediate on the level, and lowest on a decline, where the biceps remains inactive except at high speeds. Biceps fascicles shorten during stance, with strains ranging from 0.07-0.30 depending on individual, gait, and grade. Shortening strains vary significantly among grades (P = 0.05) and average 0.21, 0.16, and 0.14 for incline, level, and decline walking, respectively; similar trends are present during trotting and galloping. Vastus fascicles are stretched while active over the first half of stance on all grades, and then typically shorten over the second half of stance. Late-stance shortening is highest during galloping, averaging 0.14, 0.10, and 0.02 in the leading limb on incline, level, and decline surfaces, respectively. Our results suggest that modulation of strain and activation in these proximal limb muscles is important for accommodating different surface grades.
The Role of Gender Identities and Stereotype Salience With the Academic Performance of Male and Female College Athletes

An experiment was conducted to examine factors that moderate the experience of academic identity threat among college athletes who represent a stigmatized group on most college campuses (Yopyk & Prentice, 2005). It was hypothesized that because they are more engaged in academics, female college athletes would be especially threatened by the prospect of confirming the “dumb-jock” stereotype. As predicted, female college athletes performed more poorly when their athletic and academic identities were explicitly linked, but only on moderately difficult test items. The results also revealed that male college athletes performed significantly better (see stereotype reactance and self-affirmation) on more difficult test items when only their athletic identity was primed prior to the test. This is an important finding as there is little research on the impact of positive stereotypes on performance. The discussion focuses on the different motivational processes (i.e. self-affirmation) that impact the academic perfo...
Forces Through Epitaxially Grown Interfaces

Experiments are described in which crystals are grown by molecular beam epitaxy to reveal the character of the forces transmitted through interfaces. Both long range forces carried by the electron liquid in metals, and short range interactions associated with atomic size and misfit, are discussed.
High-Power Monolithically Integrated Traveling Wave Photodiode Array

A novel traveling wave photodiode array (TWPDA) based on back-illuminated InGaAs-InP charge compensated modified uni-traveling carrier photodiodes is demonstrated. A two-element TWPDA with integrated termination resistor has a responsivity of 0.55 A/W and bandwidth of 17 GHz. The saturation photocurrent and the available electrical output power are 114 mA and + 13 dBm at - 3.5-V bias voltage, respectively.