cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Combined high-resolution XPS and EXAFS study of Ag photodissolution in a-As2S3 thin film

Changes of electronic and atomic structure during silver photodissolution in As 2 S 3 thin film are studied using a combination of high-resolution X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) methods. It is shown that the photodiffusion process starts already under the influence of Al K α and synchrotron X-ray probe radiations, forming a highly disordered metastable structure. Concurrent irradiation with UV/VIS light leads to the formation of a stable uniform ternary phase. The mechanisms of structural transformations and final chemical products are proposed. The influence of surface oxidation on the structure of Ag/As 2 S 3 bilayer is also investigated.
Center and Edge of the World: Frontiers of Site-Specific Performance in Alaska

Chicago performance artist and educator Brian Jeffery staged Look Again 2002: Alaskan Landscapes in Transition , comprised of six site-specific performances and numerous related events. Like other performance art works at the turn of the 21st century, Look Again exemplifies a shift from an artist-centered conception of art to one that is more audience-centered.
Systemic Pythium insidiosum in a pediatric burn patient.

Dori M. Franco *, Judith F. Aronson , Hal K. Hawkins , James J. Gallagher , Leonel Mendoza , Michael R. McGinnis , Natalie Williams-Bouyer f Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States Department of Pathology, Autopsy Division, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States Department of Surgery, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States Biomedical Laboratory Diagnostics, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, United States Department of Pathology, Microbiology Division, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, United States Department of Pathology, Microbiology Division, University of Texas Medical Branch, and Clinical Laboratory Services, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Galveston, TX, United States b u r n s 3 6 ( 2 0 1 0 ) e 6 8 – e 7 1
Genetic and epigenetic alterations of the cyclin‐dependent kinase inhibitors p15INK4b and p16INK4a in human thyroid carcinoma cell lines and primary thyroid carcinomas

BACKGROUND D-type cyclins, in association with the cyclin-dependent kinases CDK4 and CDK6, promote progression through the G1 phase of the cell cycle. CDK activity is modulated by inhibitors such as p15INK4b and p16INK4a. Loss of function of p15INK4b and p16INK4a (multiple tumor suppressor-I and CDK4 inhibitor) determines impairment in the control of the cell cycle and contributes to the transformation of several cell types. METHODS The authors examined 20 thyroid neoplasms (12 papillary carcinomas and 8 follicular adenomas) and 4 human thyroid carcinoma cell lines for gene mutations and epigenetic modifications of the p15INK4b and p16INK4a genes by Southern blot analysis, single strand conformation polymorphism, and a polymerase chain reaction-based methylation assay. RESULTS Abnormalities of p16 were found in the four cell lines studied. In follicular carcinoma (WRO) cells, both the p15 and p16 genes were homozygously deleted. Undifferentiated carcinoma (FRO) cells had a nonsense point mutation at codon 72 (CGA-TGA, Arg-Stop) of p16, whereas the poorly differentiated papillary carcinoma (NPA) line harbored a point mutation at the exon 1-intron 1 boundary that altered the donor splicing site and caused an aberrantly spliced form of p16INK4a. Furthermore, p16 allelic loss was evident in the DNA of both FRO and NPA cells. Finally, p16 expression was absent in the ARO cell line, likely due to a de novo methylation of exon 1 of p16INK4a. Regarding the primary thyroid tumors, a missense point mutation at codon 91 was found in 1 of 12 papillary thyroid carcinomas (GCC-GTC, Ala-Val). No mutations were found in follicular adenomas. However, in 6 of 20 primary tumors there was hypermethylation at exon 1 of p16. CONCLUSIONS The high prevalence of p15 and p16 mutations in the cell lines described suggests involvement of these genes in immortalization in vitro. The p16 defects may have preexisted in a small subclone of the primary tumor that were selected for in vitro. Alternatively, p16 mutations may have arisen de novo during cell culture. Mutations of p15INK4b and p16INK4a do not appear to be critical events in the development of follicular adenomas or papillary carcinomas. However, de novo methylation of the 5´ CpG island of p16 is common in primary tumors, indicating that the function of this gene may be lost as an epigenetic event during disease progression. Cancer 1998;83:2185-2193. © 1998 American Cancer Society.
The historical patterns of occupational attainment of racial minorities in Massachusetts: An analysis of the 1974–2002 Current Population Survey Data

Abstract In the past three decades numerous studies have been conducted to document structural changes in the labor market and their impacts on occupational attainment at the national level. However, few systematic studies have been conducted to assess racial disparity in the labor market at the state level over time. As Massachusetts has become more racially diverse than ever before and is prepared for greater challenges in the global economy, the state has to make sure that its labor force is ready to embrace the challenges. Thus, it is critically important to review the historical patterns of racial disparity in the state labor market over time and to explore factors that may help address occupational disparity. Relying on the human capital theory, this study will use the state data from the Current Population Surveys to assess the extent of labor market segmentation and examine factors that may contribute to racial occupational attainment over time.
Stimulation of mouse brain gamma-hydroxybutyric acid transport by pyridoxal 5'-phosphate.

A synaptosomal preparation from mouse brain transported γ-hydroxybutyric acid in a manner displaying saturation kinetics. A Kt of 48 ± 11 µ M was calculated. In the presen
National monument locations and remediation of World War II battle sites

In December 2008, George W. Bush established the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, including eight locations connected with World War II fighting. The executive proclamation designating the monument briefly described the individual sites, mentioning remaining battlefield debris. World War II battle locations in Hawaii and Alaska are currently designated for remediation under different programs of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or Department of Defense (DOD). The Pearl Harbor Naval Complex is a “Superfund” National Priority List site. Former military locations in the Aleutian Islands, involved in Japanese occupation and the U.S. offensive to regain control, are included in DOD's Formerly Used Defense Sites (FUDS) remediation program. These monument sites, the regulatory frameworks of the applicable programs, and the current cleanup status are described. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Managing structure in bits & pieces: the killer use case for XML

This paper asserts that for databases to manage a significantly greater percentage of the world's data, managing structural information must get significantly easier. XML technologies provide a widely accepted basis for significant advances in managing data structure. Topics include schema design, evolution, and versioning; managing related applications; and application architecture.
Serum protein electrophoresis of Oreamnos americanus (mountain goat) and comparison of sera from Canadian and Alaskan Alces alces (moose) and ovis dalli (sheep)

1. 1. Serum proteins of Oreamnos americanus, Alces alces and Ovis dalli were analyzed by starch-gel electrophoresis and radioautography with Fe59. 2. 2. A characteristic protein pattern was found in each species. Oreamnos, Alces and Ovis had two, two and one transferrins respectively with no intraspecific polymorphism. 3. 3. Protein patterns of Canadian and Alaskan subspecies of Alces alces and Ovis dalli are indistinguishable.
Effective viscosity of an ordered suspension of small drops

We employ a method of singularity distribution to determine the effective viscosity of a suspension of small neutrally buoyant drops of one fluid in another viscous fluid. We assume that the interfacial tension is relatively large so that the drops may be considered nearly spherical and consider an instantaneous configuration in which the centers of drops coincide with the lattice points of a periodic cubic array. Under these conditions, the effective viscosity tensor is characterized by only two scalars, α andβ, which we determine for the complete range ofc andK wherec is the volume fraction of the drops andK is the ratio of viscosities. Our numerical results, given for the simple, body-centered and face-centered cubic arrays, are in excellent agreement with those obtained for the rigid particles (K=∞) by Nunan and Keller except forβ for the face-centered cubic array where our results appear to be more accurate. The results are also in agreement with the asymptotic expressions for the dilute arrays (c≪1) for allK. The accuracy of the numerical results is also adequate in most cases to yield the formulas for concentrated arrays of very viscous drops (K≫1).
Effect of self-assembled monolayers on the alignment of liquid crystals

hydrophobic monolayers tend to align liquid crystals homeotropically (molecules perpendicular to thesurface), the hydrophilic monolayers, in general, lead to a planar orientation. The quality of alignmentis found to depend on the degree of hydrophilicity as determined from contact angle measurements.INTRODUCTIONLiquid crystal devices require a preferential orientation of the molecules on the surface.1'2When a perpendicular orientation is required the surface is usually treated with surfactants. Typically,a planar orientation is obtained from mechanically rubbing a polymer coated surface. Although it hasbeen known that surfaces treated with silanes can control the alignment of liquid crystal molecules,no systematic study has been done on different types of silanes to find a correlation between the
Uterine Size and Glycogen Content in Cycling and Pregnant Rats: Influence of Relaxin

Uterine weight and glycogen content were measured at stages of the estrous cycle and in the gravid and nongravid horns of unilaterally pregnant rats. The response of these parameters to administration of a purified preparation of porcine relaxin (relaxin B) was assessed during the estrus-diestrus interval and at Day 15 of gestation. Both uterine weight and glycogen content were greatest at proestrus and estrus and lowest at diestrus-1; when 0.1 mg of relaxin was administered beginning at estrus and injected over a 24 h period, the decline in uterine weight and glycogen was retarded. During gestation uterine weight declined prior to implantation and increased rapidly thereafter to a peak at Day 22 beyond which uterine size decreased through parturition. Uterine glycogen content followed similar increases except that the peak occurred on Day 23 and was sharply defined in advance of parturition at which time a rapid decline was observed. The increases in uterine weight and glycogen were significantly greater in the gravid horn than in the nongravid horn, and on the day of parturition both horns exhibited the highest glycogen concentration in the myometrium alone. Injection of relaxin at Day 15 of gestation increased uterine weight and glycogen content significantly in the myometrium of the nongravid horn without affecting the highly variable parameters in the gravid horn. Since uterine glycogen and tissue growth profiles parallel recently reported RIA relaxin concentrations in rats rather than changes in steroid hormone levels, these data suggest that relaxin may playa significant role in theuterine accommodation and glycogen storage which occur during late gestation.
Watch the Time Carefully: The Use and Misuse of Time Effects in Management Research

This article assesses how management researchers have used, and in some cases misused, time effects in their research designs, data analyses, and interpretations. Drawing from a content analysis of studies appearing in the Academy of Management Journal and Administrative Science Quarterly over the years 1988-1992, five different approaches for defining and operationalizing time effects are identified. Evaluation within and across these five approaches reveals three recurring patterns of “time series errors. ” The implications of these “errors “for studies with, and on time are provided.
Markov chain model for performance analysis of transmitter power control in contention based wireless MAC protocol

We have developed a three-state discrete-time Markov-chain model for the performance evaluation of contention-based medium access control (MAC) protocol. The proposed Markov-chain model is then used to analyze the carrier sense multiple access (CSMA) type MAC protocol for its delay and throughput characteristics with and without transmitter power control. Using simulations, the conditional capture probability (p cap ), which gives a measure of the effectiveness of transmitter power control due to the capture effect, is quantified and experiments are performed to validate these simulated data for the p cap . To analyze the effect of transmitter power variation, the Markov-chain model is modified by incorporating the p cap . Numerical results show significant throughput as well as delay performance improvement using transmitter power control.
An analytical model of urban housing markets

Abstract Most models of urban housing markets are of the simulation (descriptive) variety, apparently because these markets were felt to be so imperfect as to preclude extremal behavior, hence the use of analytically-rich optimization techniques. In this paper, housing markets are split into two parts: an allocation subsystem which distributes housing to households and a construction subsystem which distributes resources to construction in various sub-markets. It is shown that when certain restrictions on prices are satisfied, the allocation subsystem can be characterized as operating on the extremal principle of maximizing aggregate revenue to housing suppliers. The allocation subsystem is modelled using transportation techniques and the dual variables are used as the interface between the allocation subsystem and the construction subsystem. It is assumed that, after allowing for start-up lags, communication and competition are sufficiently great for the construction subsystem to operate in an optimal manner also, and it is modelled via linear programming. The overall system is made dynamic by using sequential processing. An illustration of the allocation model is given and policy implications of the model are discussed.
Variation of Superparamagnetic Properties with Iron Loading in Mammalian Ferritin

The average blocking temperatures of ferritin molecules containing differing amounts of iron were determined by Mossbauer spectroscopy. The results imply that the magnetic anisotropy of the ferritin core particles is a function of particle volume. By addition of57Fe to ferritin core particles it was determined that, at a given temperature within the superpara-magnetic temperature region, the “last-in” ferric ions have average relaxation times that are shorter than those of the bulk ferric ions.
Discontinuous creep deformation in a type 316 stainless steel casting

A static cast ingot of type 316 stainless steel was tested at 811, 866, and 922 K. Creep curves for this material under certain temperature and stress conditions show instantaneous increase in strain. In the open literature this increase has been called “strain burst” or “jump”. The number of “bursts” per curve varied from 0 to 3, and the instantaneous strain was as large as 2 pct. The bursts generally occurred at high stresses and at the two lower test temperatures, 811 and 866 K. The rupture time for specimens showing bursts was lower than for specimens without them. The creep-rupture strength of the static casting was approximately 40 MPa lower than that for wrought material. The rupture time of the casting was a strong function of specimen location. The fine grained structure near the ingot edge produced longer rupture time compared with the coarse grain structure. Microprobe analysis showed significant variation in chromium, nickel, and molybdenum across the dendritic regions. The inhomogeneous distribution of the potent creep-strengthening element molybdenum has been suggested as responsible for the strain bursts.
Transport of dissolved carbon and CO2 degassing from a river system in a mixed silicate and carbonate catchment

Summary Assessing the origin, transformation and transport of terrestrially derived carbon in river systems is critical to regional and global carbon cycles, particularly in carbonate terrains, which represent the largest carbon reservoir on the earth’s surface. For this reason, we evaluated sources, cycling, and fluxes of dissolved organic and inorganic carbon (DOC and DIC) and riverine CO 2 degassing to the atmosphere in the Santa Fe River in north-central Florida, a sub-tropical river that flows across two distinct hydrogeological settings of a region dominated by carbonate karst. One setting occurs in the upper river catchment, where the carbonate Floridan aquifer is confined by the siliciclastic Hawthorn Group, while the other setting occurs in the lower catchment where the river flows across the unconfined Floridan aquifer. The upper catchment is characterized by DOC-rich and DIC-poor water and the DIC has more variable and lower δ 13 C values compared to the lower catchment. The river in the upper catchment degasses more CO 2 to the atmosphere (1156 g C m −2 yr −1 ) than in the lower catchment (402 g C m −2 yr −1 ) because soil respired carbon and organic matter decomposition increase dissolved CO 2 concentration, much of which is consumed during carbonate dissolution reactions in the lower catchment. The CO 2 flux from the water surface to the atmosphere during a flood event is three times greater than during base flow, suggesting that excess precipitation flushes soil organic carbon to the river through interflow and enhances the loss of terrestrial carbon via river water to the atmosphere. Our values of CO 2 fluxes to the atmosphere lie within the range of fluxes from the world’s rivers, but fluxes from the carbonate dominated region are at the low end, while fluxes from the siliciclastic region are at the high end. These results indicate that catchment lithologies, particularly whether carbonate or siliciclastic, as well as flow, are critical to carbon budgets in rivers and thus are linked to the global carbon cycle.
Changes in the distribution of intermediate-filament types in Japanese quail embryos during morphogenesis.

Abstract We examined the distribution of intermediate filaments in early quail embryos in order to determine whether these cytoskeletal proteins play a role in the epithelial-mes-enchymal transitions that commonly occur during embryo-genesis, e.g., the separation of neural-crest cells from the neural epithelium. The distribution of cytokeratins, vimentin, and desmin was examined in frozen sections of quail embryos at stages during which dramatic reorganizations of tissues take place. All embryonic tissues were found to contain either vimentin or cytokeratins, but the distribution of these cytoskeletal proteins was characteristic neither of the cellular organization (e.g., epithelium vs. mesenchyme) nor of the germ-layer derivation of the tissues. Cytokeratin monoclonal antibodies stained most embryonic epithelia (defined here as being sheet-like tissue with an underlying basement membrane), including epidermis and extraem-bryonic membranes derived in part from the ectoderm, splanchnopleure and kidney tubules derived from mesoderm, and endoderm. Cytokeratin antibodies did not stain some epithelia, including the neural tube, neural plate, and dermatome/myotome. Whereas the cytokeratin antibodies exclusively stained epithelia, the vimentin antibodies labeled both epithelial (the neural tube, dermatome/myotome, and somatic and splanchnic mesoderm) and mesenchymal tissues (the sclerotome and neural-crest cells), regardless of their germ-layer derivation. In early embryos, antibodies against desmin only stained the myotome and, in 4-day embryos, the heart and mesenchyme around the pharynx. As the distribution of intermediate filament types did not reflect tissue organization or germ-layer derivation, we propose that the distribution of intermediate filaments in early avian embryos reflects the motile capacity of an embryonic cell and/or the presence of specialized cell junctions, i.e., desmosomes.
Formation and Evolution of Frontal Rainbands and Geostrophic Potential Vorticity Anomalies

Abstract A viscous semigeostrophic model is developed and used to study the formation and evolution of frontal rainbands in association with the dry and moist geostrophic potential vorticity (GPV) anomalies. The numerical results show that when moist GPV (MGPV) becomes negative in the saturated region (but the flow is still stable to viscous symmetric perturbations), banded substructures can be generated internally by a positive feedback between the moist circulation bands and geostrophic forcing anomalies in association with the generation of mesoscale GPV anomalies. In addition to the previous diagnostic results for idealized forcings, the new aspect here is that the large-scale moist ascent evolves into much finer multiple moist bands as soon as the positive feedback begins to generate banded substructures in the forcing and GPV fields. When MGPV is positive, multiple rainbands can only be generated externally by preexisting GPV or MGPV anomalies. These rainbands can be self-maintained by a weak feedba...
Post-mortem degradation of gap filaments at different post-mortem pHs and temperatures.

Super-stretched muscle fiber bundles (<10 min post mortem) were incubated at one of four combinations of temperature and pH (pH 5.5, 37°C; pH 5.5, 0–4°C; pH 7.4, 37°C; pH 7.4, 0–4°C) for 1 h prior to fixation and embedding for transmission electron microscopy. These tissues were compared with controls fixed immediately after stretching. Disruption of gap filament ultrastructure was greatest in those muscle bundles incubated at pH 5.5 and 37°C. It was determined that pH had a greater influence upon gap filaments than did temperature and that pH 5.5 caused more gap filament disruption than pH 7.4. Other structural alterations of the stretched muscle included more glycogen granule disruption at pH 7.4 and pulling of groups of thick filaments toward the Z-lines within a sarcomere. A pulling of alternate thick filaments toward opposite Z-lines was not observed. It was concluded that gap filament disruption may occur very rapidly in post-mortem muscle.
A scanning system for chest radiography with regional exposure control: Theoretical considerations

Conventional chest radiography is limited by the presence of scattered radiation and the small useful exposure range of radiographicfilm. A computer‐assisted scanning system to minimize these two effects is outlined. The system uses a small beam of radiation swept over the patient’s chest in a raster pattern to expose a conventional film cassette, while a slit collimator scanning between the patient and the film serves to reject scatteredphotons. A microcomputer measures beam attenuation by the patient with a detector placed behind the film which in turn automatically adjusts the x‐ray tube output to minimize excursions in film exposure as the beam scans. A formalism which relates the patient transmission and film exposure distribution is developed and a system transfer function is given. It is shown that such a system operates as a spatial filter which attenuates film contrast for structures of spatial frequency less than the inverse scanning beam width. By manipulating the software parameters of the feedback network, it is possible to alter this filter and produce radiographs with low spatial frequency enhancement, attenuation, or contrast inversion.
Contact Hypersensitivity in MHC Class II-Deficient Mice Depends on CD8 T Lymphocytes Primed by Immunostimulating Langerhans Cells

Studies to determine if CD4+ and/or CD8+ T cells are critical for the initiation and propagation of contact hypersensitivity (CHS) reactions have yielded conflicting results regarding their roles. We studied the induction and expression of CHS to trinitrochlorobenzene (TNCB) using major histocompatibility complex class II-deficient mice that display normal numbers of CD8+ T cells but lack CD4+ T cells. CHS to TNCB, detected as an increase in ear thickness 24 h after epicutaneous challenge, was significantly enhanced in major histocompatibility complex class II-deficient mice compared with wild-type controls. Ear swelling responses in major histocompatibility complex class II-deficient mice were decreased by treatment with anti-CD8 antibody or by injection of wild-type CD4+ T cells. To further characterize mechanisms involved in the initiation of CHS responses, phenotypical and functional characteristics of both freshly isolated and cultured Langerhans cells were studied. Like Langerhans cells from wild-type controls, Langerhans cells from major histocompatibility complex class II-deficient mice upregulated B7-1 and B7-2 costimulatory molecules and enhanced major histocompatibility complex class I expression upon short-term culture. Cultured Langerhans cells induced a 3.5-fold increase in the stimulation of autologous hapten-specific CD8+ T cell proliferation compared with fresh Langerhans cells. Finally, TNP-coupled Langerhans cells from major histocompatibility complex class II-deficient mice primed naive mice to TNCB after transfer. These results demonstrate that hapten-specific CD8+ T cells are sufficient for the expression of CHS and that CD8 priming does not require the presence of CD4+ T cells or major histocompatibility complex class II antigen. Key words: CD8 lymphocytes/MHC class II deficiency.
Purification of the lethal fraction of the venom of the stonefish Synanceja horrida (Linnaeus)

Abstract The fraction of the venom of the stonefish Synanceja horrida (Linnaeus) lethal to mice was purified by several methods. The most effective procedure consisted of starch gel electrophoresis of crude venom, followed by recovery of the lethal fraction from one of the zones by a second electrophoresis into buffer solution. High recovery of lethal material which had been purified up to about ten times was obtained by this procedure. Purification was also accomplished by starch block electrophoresis. Ultracentrifugation led to the appearance of two major peaks, and the lethal material appeared only in the more rapidly sedimenting fraction.
Gray zone BNP levels in heart failure patients in the emergency department: results from the Rapid Emergency Department Heart Failure Outpatient Trial (REDHOT) multicenter study.

Objectives The study purpose was to examine “gray zone” B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) levels (100-500 pg/mL) in terms of associated clinical factors, perceived severity, and outcomes in patients with established congestive heart failure (CHF). Background Although gray zone BNP levels may have diagnostic ambiguity, the implications of these levels in patients with an established diagnosis of CHF have not been examined. Methods REDHOT was a national prospective study in which 464 patients seen in the emergency department with dyspnea had BNP levels drawn. Entrance criteria included a BNP >100 pg/mL; however, physicians were blinded to the actual BNP level. Patients were followed up for 90 days. Results Thirty-three percent had gray zone BNP levels. There was no difference in perceived New York Heart Association class ( P = .32) or admission rates ( P = .76) between the gray zone and non–gray zone groups; 62% of patients with a gray zone BNP were identified as class III or IV CHF. Despite this perceived severity, the 90-day event rate was lower in the gray zone group (19.2% vs 32.9%, respectively, P = .002). Although patients in the gray zone had more symptoms of concomitant pulmonary disease, multivariate analysis could not demonstrate any variable that worsened the prognosis of patients with a gray zone BNP level. Conclusions In patients with established CHF, those with gray zone BNP levels have a better prognosis than those with non–gray zone levels despite being perceived by physicians as having New York Heart Association class III or IV CHF.
Does Science Discriminate Against Women? Evidence from Academia, 1973-1997

This study uses data from the Survey of Doctorate Recipients to evaluate differences in employment outcomes for academic scientists by gender. A decomposition of estimated salary differences shows that over time, gender salary differences can partly be explained by differences in observable characteristics for faculty at the assistant and associate ranks. Substantial gender salary differences for full professors are not explained by observable characteristics. Probit and duration model estimates indicate gender differences in the probability of promotion, making it less likely for women to be promoted to tenure. Between 1973 and 1997, very little changed in terms of gender salary and promotion differences for academics in science. After evaluating potential explanations, the author concludes that gender discrimination similar to that observed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology accounts for unexplained gender disparities.
Inhibition of infant glucocorticoid stress response: Specific role of maternal cues

Previous work from this laboratory has shown that passive contact with ananesthetized lactating dam eliminates the corticosteroid stress response to novelty in 12-, 16-, and 20-day-old rat pups. In the present study, we further examined some of the sensory and developmental aspects of this phenomenon. In two experiments, we asked whether inhibition of the corticosteroid stress response is related exclusively to contact with a maternal stimulus as opposed to other social stimuli. Experiment I compared the effectiveness of contact with an anesthetized dam vs. an anesthetized adult male rat. At 12 and 16 days of age, contact with an adult male was some what effective in reducing stress responsiveness, whereas at 20 days, contact with an adult male was entirely ineffective. At all ages, contact with an anesthetized dam was an effective inhibitor of the stress response. Experiment II compared the relative effectiveness of contact with an anesthetized dam vs. an anesthetized pup was entirely ineffective in inhibiting the glucocorticoid stress response. In Experiment III, the effect of maternal contact was assessed during a period of development when the biological, and presumably social, significance of the lactating-dam stimulus is changing. In this study, 20-, 24-, and 28-day-old rat pups revealed a progressive decrement in the ability of maternal contact to inhibit stress responsiveness. These findings replicate and extend our previous ones by showing that maternal stimuli play a special role in the modulation of pituitary-adrenal activity during development.
Adult Asian acute asthma admissions reassessed: Blackburn 1991-1992

Abstract Two hundred and fifty-five admissions for acute asthma with a minimum 25% PEFR improvement in patients aged 15–44 years were studied in 1991–1992. Two hundred of these patients were in the white ethnic group (84 male; 116 female) with 33 (17·4%) being readmissions (15 male; 18 female). Fifty-five admissions (19 male; 36 female) were in the Indian subcontinent (ISC) ethnic group with 3 (5·5%; all female) readmissions. The readmission rate was significantly higher in the white ethnic group ( χ 2 =4·83; 0·05 P
Facilitating involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous during out-patient treatment: a randomized clinical trial.

Aim This study evaluated two strategies to facilitate involvement in Alcoholics Anonymous (AA)—a 12-Step-based directive approach and a motivational enhancement approach—during skills-focused individual treatment. Design Randomized controlled trial with assessments at baseline, end of treatment and 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after treatment. Participants, setting and intervention A total of 169 alcoholic out-patients (57 women) assigned randomly to one of three conditions: a directive approach to facilitating AA, a motivational enhancement approach to facilitating AA or treatment as usual, with no special emphasis on AA. Measurements Self-report of AA meeting attendance and involvement, alcohol consumption (percentage of days abstinent, percentage of days heavy drinking) and negative alcohol consequences. Findings Participants exposed to the 12-Step directive condition for facilitating AA involvement reported more AA meeting attendance, more evidence of active involvement in AA and a higher percentage of days abstinent relative to participants in the treatment-as-usual comparison group. Evidence also suggested that the effect of the directive strategy on abstinent days was mediated partially through AA involvement. The motivational enhancement approach to facilitating AA had no effect on outcome measures. Conclusions These results suggest that treatment providers can use a 12-Step-based directive approach to effectively facilitate involvement in AA and thereby improve client outcome.
Inpatient outcomes after elective versus nonelective ventral hernia repair

Abstract Background Patients who present emergently with hernia-related concerns may experience increased morbidity with repair when compared with those repaired electively. We sought to characterize the outcomes of patients who undergo elective and nonelective ventral hernia (VH) repair using a large population-based data set. Materials and methods The Nationwide Inpatient Sample was queried for primary International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes associated with VH repair (years 2008–2011). Outcomes were inhospital mortality and the occurrence of a preidentified complication. Multivariable analysis was performed to determine the risk factors for complications and mortality after both elective and nonelective VH repair. Results We identified 74,151 VH repairs performed during the study interval. Of these procedures, 67.3% were elective and 21.6% were performed laparoscopically. Nonelective repair was associated with a significantly higher rate of morbidity (22.5% versus 18.8%, P versus 0.52, P Conclusions Patients undergoing elective VH repair in the United States tend to be younger, Caucasian, and more likely to have a laparoscopic repair. Nonelective VH is associated with a substantial increase in morbidity and mortality. We recommend that patients consider elective repair of VHs because of the increased morbidity and mortality associated with nonelective repair.
Modulation of tumor fatty acids, through overexpression or loss of thyroid hormone responsive protein spot 14 is associated with altered growth and metastasis.

Introduction Spot14 (S14), encoded by the THRSP gene, regulates de novo fatty acid synthesis in the liver, adipose, and lactating mammary gland. We recently showed that S14 stimulated fatty acid synthase (FASN) activity in vitro, and increased the synthesis of fatty acids in mammary epithelial cells in vivo. Elevated de novo fatty acid synthesis is a distinguishing feature of many solid tumors compared with adjacent normal tissue. This characteristic is thought to be acquired during tumor progression, as rapidly proliferating cells have a heightened requirement for membrane phospholipids. Further, overexpression of FASN is sufficient to stimulate cell proliferation. While many studies have focused on the FASN enzyme in cancer biology, few studies have addressed the roles of proteins that modify FASN activity, such as S14.
The Contribution of the Human FEF and SEF to Smooth Pursuit Initiation

Smooth pursuit eye movements function to keep moving targets foveated. Behavioral studies have shown that pursuit is particularly effective for predictable target motion. There is evidence that both the frontal eye field (FEF) and supplementary eye field (SEF) (also known as the dorsomedial frontal cortex) contribute to pursuit control. The goal of the current experiment was to determine whether these 2 areas made different contributions to the initiation of pursuit in response to predictable compared with unpredictable target motion. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) was used in 5 healthy human participants to temporarily disrupt each area around the time of target motion onset. TMS over the FEF delayed contraversive pursuit markedly more than ipsiversive pursuit and this direction-dependent difference was more deeply modulated during pursuit of unpredictable than predictable target motion. By contrast, TMS over the SEF resulted in a much more muted modulation of pursuit latency that was similar across both predictable and unpredictable conditions. Taken together, we conclude that the human FEF, but not the SEF, makes a significant contribution to the processing required during the preparation of contraversive pursuit responses to unpredictable target motion and this contribution is less vital during pursuit to predictable target motion.
Matrices of Formal Power Series Associated to Binomial Posets

We introduce an operation that assigns to each binomial poset a partially ordered set for which the number of saturated chains in any interval is a function of two parameters. We develop a corresponding theory of generating functions involving noncommutative formal power series modulo the closure of a principal ideal, which may be faithfully represented by the limit of an infinite sequence of lower triangular matrix representations. The framework allows us to construct matrices of formal power series whose inverse may be easily calculated using the relation between the Mobius and zeta functions, and to find a unified model for the Tchebyshev polynomials of the first kind and for the derivative polynomials used to express the derivatives of the secant function as a polynomial of the tangent function.
A two-step nearest neighbors algorithm using satellite imagery for predicting forest structure within species composition classes

article i nfo Nearest neighbors techniques have been shown to be useful for predicting multiple forest attributes from forest inventory and Landsat satellite image data. However, in regions lacking good digital land cover information, nearest neighbors selected to predict continuous variables such as tree volume must be selected without regard to relevant categorical variables such as forest/non-forest. The result is that non-zero volume predictions may be obtained for pixels predicted to be non-forest, and volume predictions for pixels predicted to be forest may be erroneously small due to non-forest nearest neighbors. For users who wish to circumvent this discrepancy, a two-step algorithm is proposed in which the class of a relevant categorical variable such as land cover is predicted in the first step, and continuous variables such as volume are predicted in the second step subject to the constraint that all nearest neighbors must come from the predicted class of the categorical variable. Nearest neighbors, multinomial logistic regression, and discriminant analysis techniques were investigated for use in the first step. The results were generally similar for the three techniques, although the multinomial logistic regression technique was slightly superior. The k-Nearest Neighbors technique was used in the second step because many continuous forest inventory variables do not satisfy the distributional assumptions necessary for parametric multivariate techniques. The results for six 15-km × 15-km areas of interest in northern Minnesota, USA, indicate that areal estimates of tree volume, basal area, and density obtained from pixel predictions are comparable to plot-based estimates and estimates by conifer and deciduous classes are also comparable to plot-based estimates. When a mixed conifer/deciduous class was included, predictions for the mixed and deciduous class were confused.
Loss of radiobiological effect of imaging dose in image guided radiotherapy due to prolonged imaging-to-treatment times.

PURPOSE Increased use of cone beam CT guidance in image guided radiotherapy has prompted the inclusion of the imaging dose in treatment plans, thus using imaging beams to treat tumors. Sublethal radiation damage repair during tau(d), the time between imaging and treatment, could reduce the effectiveness of the imaging dose, resulting in tumor underdosage. The theoretical magnitude of this effect was quantified using radiobiological modeling. METHODS The therapeutic effective dose (TED), which, if delivered using only therapeutic beams, would result in the same tumor cell survival as for both the imaging and therapeutic beams, was derived using the generalized linear-quadratic model. The correction factor P(d) by which therapeutic dose can be scaled to compensate for sublethal damage repair was also derived. TED and P(d) are dependent on alpha/beta, sublethal damage repair half-time (T(r)), imaging dose (D(I)) and dose rate (D(I)), therapeutic dose (D(T)) and dose rate (D(T)), and tau(d). TED and P(d) were calculated as a function of tau(d), and each parameter was varied independently while holding the remaining parameters at their reference values. The reference values were based on prostate cancer cells and were D(p) = D(I)+D(T) = 1.8 Gy, D(I)/D(p) = 5%, D(I) = 0.33 Gy/min, D(T) = 1.0 Gy/min, alpha/beta = 3.1 Gy, T(r) = 16 min, and tau(d) = 0 min. Estimates of the expected values of TED and P(d), (TED) and (P(d)), were calculated using tau(d) and D(T) distributions from a few thousand prostate treatment fractions. RESULTS For a typical tau(d) value of 5.0 min and all other parameters set to their reference values, TED was 0.5% lower than the prescription dose D(p). For tau(d) = 20 min and all other parameters at reference conditions, TED dropped by 5% relative to D(p) when D(I)/D(p) was 20% and by 2% relative to D(p) when alpha/beta = 1 Gy or T(r) = 5 min. TED/D(p) varied more with D(T) than D(I) when tau(d) < or = 20 min, varying by up to 1% over 0.05 < or = D(T) < or = 10 Gy/min and by less than 0.1% over 0.05 < or = D(I) < or = 2.0 Gy/min. Under the reference conditions, (TED) was lower than D(p) by 0.5%. For the extreme D(I)/D(p) = 20% and all other parameters at their reference values, setting alpha/beta = 1 Gy resulted in (TED) dropping below D(p) by 2.5% and setting T(r) = 5 min resulted in (TED) dropping below D(p) by 4%. For tumors with a T(r) of 16 min or greater and alpha/beta of 11 Gy, (TED) dropped below D(p) by 0.2% or less. CONCLUSIONS For prostate tumors receiving a reasonable percentage of 5% of their total dose from imaging beams, the theoretical drop in (TED) relative to D(p) was 0.5%. This loss could be accounted for during treatment planning by scaling the therapeutic dose by the expected sublethal damage repair factor (P(d)). For nonprostate tumors with alpha/beta values of 11 Gy, the theoretical drop in (TED) relative to the reference TED was low at 0.2%.
Conceptual design of a thermal process plant Weblab

This paper presents the conceptual design of a remote experimentation laboratory -a Weblab - for a thermal process plant, based on a systematic model for its planning and development. The adopted approach comprises three layers (physical system, hardware and software), being prescribed the following steps: definition of requirements; system technical specification; conceptual synthesis; analysis, simulation and dimensioning; detailing and documentation; integration and start up. The conceptual solution includes the thermal process plant remote configuration to allow the variation of the experimental setup parameters, offering three variants of control engineering exercises. The presented results provide the basis for the next stage of the Weblab development.
On a classical, geometric origin of magnetic moments, spin angular momentum and the Dirac gyromagnetic ratio

By treating the real Maxwell field and real linearized Einstein equations as being imbedded in complex Minkowski space, one can interpret magnetic moments and spin-angular momentum as arising from a charge and mass monopole source moving along a complex world line in the complex Minkowski space. In the circumstances where the complex center of mass world line coincides with the complex center of charge world line, the gyromagnetic ratio is that of the Dirac electron.
Nutritional evaluation of dried tomato seeds

Two samples of tomato seeds, a by-product of the tomato canning industry were evaluated to determine proximate analysis, amino acid content, and digestibility, TMEn, and protein efficiency ratio. Tomato seeds were also used to replace corn and soybean meal (SBM) in a chick diet on an equal true amino acid digestibility and TMEn basis. Tomato seeds were found to contain 8.5% moisture, 25% CP, 20.0% fat, 3.1% ash, 35.1% total dietary fiber, 0.12% Ca, 0.58% P, and 3,204 kcal/kg of TMEn. The total amounts of methionine, cystine, and lysine in the tomato seeds were 0.39, 0.40, and 1.34%, respectively, and their true digestibility coefficients, determined in cecectomized roosters, were 75, 70, and 54%, respectively. The protein efficiency ratio (weight gain per unit of protein intake) value when fed to chicks at 9% CP was 2.5 compared to 3.6 for SBM (P < or = 0.05). When corn-SBM diets were formulated on an equal true amino acid digestibility and TMEn basis, up to 15% tomato seeds could replace corn and SBM without any adverse affects on chick weight gain, feed intake, or gain:feed ratio from 8 to 21 d posthatch. Tomato seeds at any level in the diet did not significantly affect skin pigmentation. Although the protein quality of tomato seeds may not be as high as SBM, tomato seeds do contain substantial amounts of digestible amino acids and TMEn. When formulating diets on a true digestible amino acid and TMEn basis, tomato seeds can be supplemented into chick rations at up to 15% without any adverse affects on growth performance.
ENZYME AND PATHWAY ENGINEERING FOR SUICIDE GENE THERAPY

While some work remains to be done to establish that these new TK variants function firmly as super suicide genes in vivo, it is important to recognize that they contain multiple amino acid substitutions and would likely never be made by site-directed mutagenesis. Clearly, these results demonstrate the power of random sequence mutagenesis to tailor enzymes such as cytosine deaminase and HSV-1 thymidine kinase for gene therapy of cancers. Mutant HSV-1 TKs also hold promise for use in a wide variety of other applications including as a negative selectable marker for homologous recombination events for cell lineage ablation investigations and for tumor imaging by positron emission tomography. Random sequence mutagenesis coupled with positive genetic selection is a powerful means not only to investigate the contributions of a particular residue to function but also for the generation of enzymes with novel functions for numerous biomedical applications.
Some effects of inclination on elastohydrodynamic squeeze film problems

An analysis is presented for the non-inertial descent of an inclined sinkage element (a rectangular prism) through a viscous fluid onto a rigid surface. The effects of sinkage-element deformability, slip velocity and time-dependent loading conditions are considered. Unlike previous analyses no assumptions are made a priori about the form of the pressure distribution during, or the effect of corners on, inclined sinkage. The results for rigid square plates are compared with those of previous analyses and with the limited amount of experimental data available. Results are also presented for a deformable sinkage element, which is used to model the action of an individual tyre tread element on a wet pavement. An inclination function based on available data on the tyre surface shape in the footprint region is used. The loading function for this case is based on measured values of tyre footprint pressure.