cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automated nucleotide sequencing reveals substantial disparity between the HLA-A2 genes of bone marrow transplant recipients and donors.

Abstract ABSTRACT: HLA disparity is associated with immunological complications after bone marrow transplant and it has been demonstrated that a single amino acid substitution can dramatically alter the function or allorecognition of an HLA molecule. Current serological methods for typing Class I HLA do not distinguish between most HLA-A2 variants which can differ by 1–8 amino acid residues. HLA-A2 disparity between bone marrow transplant patients and donors was investigated using automated nucleotide sequencing of the entire coding region of HLA-A2 genes. A total of 122 HLA-A2 alleles were sequenced from 47 patient-donor pairs (94 individuals). HLA-A2 disparity was observed in 10 of 47 pairs (21.3%) and consisted of HLA-A∗0201 mismatched with 0202 ( n = 2), 0205 ( n = 3), 0206 ( n = 3), 0217 ( n = 1) or 0221 ( n = 1). Four of 6 (66.7%) non-Caucasian or mixed race pairs were HLA-A2 disparate, while 6 of 36 (16.7%) Caucasian pairs were HLA-A2 disparate ( p = 0.008). Among all individuals HLA-A∗0201 was the most frequently observed allele (90.0%) while 0202 (1.6%), 0205 (2.5%), 0206 (4.1%), 0217 (0.8%) and 0221 (0.8%) were also observed. This study illustrates the diversity of HLA-A2 in non-Caucasian individuals and suggests that HLA-A2 subtyping for applications such as bone marrow transplantation, especially in non-Caucasian or mixed-race donor-recipient pairs, may be important.
Calculation of the cross section for e+-e- (K orbit) pairs by very-high-energy fully stripped heavy ions at perturbational impact parameters.

The cross section for the production of [ital e][sup +]-[ital e][sup [minus]] ([ital K] orbit) pairs by very-high-energy fully stripped heavy ions is calculated for large impact parameters, where perturbation theory is valid. To achieve accuracy a large range of angular momenta and energies is explicitly computed. The remaining high-angular-momentum and high-energy domain are included by means of a modified version of an asymptotic expansion devised by Hall [Phys. Rev. 45, 620 (1934); Rev. Mod. Phys. 8, 358 (1936)]. An approximation to the small-impact-parameter, nonperturbative contribution is taken from previous work to obtain a reliable estimate for the practically important Au[sup 79+] on Au[sup 79+] cross section.
Effects of oxygen on mesophase microstructure and pyrolysis yield in coal liquid asphaltene

Abstract Asphaltene derived from the Catalytic Incorporated coal liquefaction process was oxidized by two methods; 1. (a) heat treatment in air at high temperature for several hours and 2. (b) oxidation over chromyl chloride using the Law and Perkin method. The oxygen contents of the oxidized asphaltenes were analyzed both quantitatively by direct Unterzaucher method and semi-quantitatively by FT-IR spectroscopy. Subsequently the asphaltenes were pyrolyzed under nitrogen. The pyrolysis products were examined both for their microstructures and percent yields. It was found that the addition of oxygen could increase the pyrolysis yield without suppressing mesophase growth as long as the total weight percent of oxygen remained below six percent. Since the coal asphaltenes derived from other known processes are shown to have similar characteristics, the results of this study implies that the optimum products from those asphaltene samples could be obtained as long as the oxygen content for the mesophase formation is kept below the maximum amount of six percent by weight.
Modeling of effects of adhesive interlayers on contact-induced radial cracking in brittle coatings on substrates

The effects of soft adhesive interlayers on contact-induced radial cracking in brittle coatings on supporting substrates were investigated recently. A semiempirical equation for the critical load to initiate radial cracking was derived, which used three fitting parameters obtained by comparison with the finite element results. An analytical model is derived in the present study to illustrate the effects of adhesive interlayers. This is achieved by adopting the analogy between the coating/substrate system and a plate on an elastic foundation. In the presence of an adhesive interlayer, the interlayer/substrate bilayer is treated as the effective elastic foundation. The effective modulus of foundation for the bilayer is derived, and the solution for coating/interlayer/substrate systems can be obtained from the existing solution for coating/substrate systems by replacing the modulus of foundation. Specific results are calculated for critical loads to initiate radial cracks in silicon coatings bonded by adhesive interlayers of different materials and thicknesses to glass substrates. The present analytical solution provides an alternative other than the existing semiempirical equation in predicting the effects of adhesive interlayers.
An Algorithm for Fast Generation of Bivariate Poisson Random Vectors

We present the “trivariate reduction extension” (TREx)---an exact algorithm for the fast generation of bivariate Poisson random vectors. Like the normal-to-anything (NORTA) procedure, TREx has two phases: a preprocessing phase when the required algorithm parameters are identified, and a generation phase when the parameters identified during the preprocessing phase are used to generate the desired Poisson vector. We prove that the proposed algorithm covers the entire range of theoretically feasible correlations, and we provide efficient-computation directives and rigorous bounds for truncation error control. We demonstrate through extensive numerical tests that TREx, being a specialized algorithm for Poisson vectors, has a preprocessing phase that is uniformly a hundred to a thousand times faster than a fast implementation of NORTA. The generation phases of TREx and NORTA are comparable in speed, with that of TREx being marginally faster. All code is publicly available.
Decomposing representations of finite groups on Riemann-Roch spaces

If G is a finite subgroup of the automorphism group of a projective curve X and D is a divisor on X stabilized by G, then we compute a simplified formula for the trace of the natural representation of G on the Riemann-Roch space L(D), under the assumption that L(D) is "rational", D is nonspecial, and the characteristic is "good". We discuss the partial formulas that result if L(D) is not rational.
Cytogenetics of juvenile type chronic granulocytic leukemia.

Cytogenetic examination of bone marrow cells from three patients with juvenile chronic granulocytic leukemia (CGL) showed 46,XX,3p-,llpS ,t(llp:3p) in one case, 45XY,-E in another, and 45X(X),-C/47,XX,+G in the third. The case with the translocated chromosome originally presented like an acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). An overt clinical picture of juvenile CGL emerged two and a half years later. Serial study of this case revealed no cytogenetic abnormalities until two years after the diagnosis of ALL, when the translocated chromosome was first observed. Unlike the Ph' chromosome in adult type CGL, chromosomal abnormalities in juvenile CGL lack specificity, resembling ALL in this respect. Cancer 39:2017-2024, 1977. N CONTRAST TO THE WELL KNOWN ASSOCIATION I of the Ph' chromosome with adult type CGL, little has been written about cytogenetic abnormalities in juvenile CGL. Recently we made serial observations on bone marrow and blood cells of a 4-year-old child with this condition. The patient had been treated for an original diagnosis of ALL for over two and a half years before the second diagnosis of juvenile CCL was established. We also reviewed the cytogenetic findings of two additional patients seen by us. Abnormalities were found in both. The purpose of this paper is to report the three cases and to discuss correlations between cytogenetic and hematologic findings.
Surface Films of Soybean Lecithin II: Interactions Between Lecithin and Lipid Substances in Mixed Monomolecular Films

Mixed films of lecithin with the fatty acids (stearic, elaidic, and oleic) as well as with the glycerol esters of mono-, di-, and triglyceride have been investigated. Evaluation of these systems has been made utilizing two properties of surface films, their mean molecular areas and their collapse points. It would appear from this investigation that in mixed film systems, lecithin—stearic acid and lecithin—monoglyceride are miscible, but without a significant degree of interaction and as such, form ideal two-dimensional liquids. Lecithin—oleic and lecithin—elaidic acids have been shown to be miscible in mixed film systems but with a significan degree of interaction so that they may be considered to be nonideal two-dimensional liquids. The data for the lecithin—di- and triglyceride systems did not conclusively show whether these systems were ideal or nonideal two-dimensional liquids in mixed surface films.
An ethical examination of the internet census 2012 dataset: a menlo report case study

In 2012, an anonymous individual used basic techniques such as default or no passwords on Internet access equipment to get unauthorized access and install a scanning botnet on hundreds of thousands of commodity network devices around the world. Making efforts to minimize potential harm, this individual still took actions that would never be sanctioned by an academic ethics review board (and violated computer trespass statutes around the globe), to perform an unprecedented internet-wide scan at a scale and speed never seen before. Then, some results and the raw data were published for anyone to access, raising a host of ethical and legal questions. One central question is whether researchers who, but for the illegally obtained data, could not ethically or legally perform the same experiment or produce the same data themselves should use that data. Might the lack of community condemnation for performing such potentially illegal and unethical experiments create a situation where researchers are effectively encouraging law breaking by those willing to risk getting caught to create data that is otherwise not justifiable to create, simply to allow researchers to get around ethical restrictions? In this paper we examine this event in the context of the guiding principles outlined in the Menlo Report in an attempt to better understand the ethical implications of such actions.
Cognitive conflict as a function of socially-induced cognitive differences

The cognitive conflict model described by Hammond (1965) is based on the premise that cognitive differences may cause serious interpersonal conflicts, even in the extreme case of persons who are working together to attain a mutually desired goal. Empirical support for this premise has been obtained in several studies showing effects of cognitive differences upon subsequent conflict, learning, and compromise (e.g., Rappoport, 1965; Todd, Hammond, and Wilkins, 1965; Hammond, Todd, Wilkins, and Mitchell, 1967; Hammond, Bonaiuto, et al., 1967). However, these studies have all been experiments in which persons previously trained in the laboratory to think differently about an uncertain task disagree when they must make joint decisions concerning the task. If the cognitive conflict model is to serve as anything more than a laboratory
Analysis of the Intrinsic Mode Functions

The Empirical Mode Decomposition is a process for signals which produces Intrinsic Mode Functions from which instantaneous frequencies may be extracted by simple application of the Hilbert transform. The beauty of this method to generate redundant representations is in its simplicity and its effectiveness. Our study has two objectives: first, to provide an alternate characterization of the Intrinsic Mode components into which the signal is decomposed and, second, to better understand the resulting polar representations, specifically the ones which are produced by the Hilbert transform of these intrinsic modes.
Turnaround: Recognizing decline and initiating intervention

Abstract Recognizing and admitting the severity of a firm's decline is a crucial first step for management. In planning intervention, a good manager needs to be aware that delaying recognition and necessary action could result in losing control to external agents during the turnaround phase. An examination of the cases of 22 firms shows that the mode of intervention between decline and turnaround requires delicate orchestration so as to avoid derailing the process of turnaround.
Interpretation of the linear coefficient of surface-plasmon dispersion

Microscopic theory predicts that the fluctuating charge of free-electron-metal surface plasmons will lie in the tail of the metallic electron gas, and that, as a consequence, the linear coefficient of surface-plasmon dispersion will be negative. The latter prediction is interpreted here using the virial theorem. At larger wave vectors the more rapidly attenuating electric field associated with a fluctuating charge that lies outside the bulk of a metal will move fewer electrons. The virial theorem relates this fact to a lower frequency. Were the fluctuating charge to lie inside a metal, then more of its electric field would move electrons as the field attenuation became more rapid. This, according to the virial theorem, would imply a positive dispersion coefficient.
Sea star and walrus predation on bivalves in Norton Sound, Bering Sea, Alaska

Abstract Pacific walruses (Odobenus rosmarus divergens) and sea stars (Asterias amurensis) are the primary predators on bivalve mollusks in Norton Sound and probably in most of the Bering and Chukchi Seas. Secondary predators in these areas include starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) and king (Paralithodes spp.) and Tanner (Chionoecetes spp.) crabs. Walruses and sea stars consume the same species, but not the same sizes of bivalves. The primary walrus prey are large individuals of several bivalve species, which have no refuge from walrus predation. Sea stars feed on smaller species and on smaller individuals of the large bivalve species. Laboratory experiments and field observations indicate that large bivalves have refuges from sea stars. Large Serripes groenlandicus escape sea star predation by leaping, large Yoldia hyperborea by rapid burrowing into the sediment. Large Mya truncata and Macoma calcarea live too deep in the sediment (>15 cm) for capture by the shallow digging (<10 cm) Asterias amuren...
Introversion and self-reported reason for and times of urge for smoking

Abstract Forty-eight male and female smokers completed the Eysenck Personality Inventory and the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, as well as self-report measures of when and why they smoke. The results of the study are consistent with Eysenck's hypothesis that nicotine and smoking have greater tranquilizing properties in introverts than in extraverts. Reports of smoking for tranquilization correlated positively with introversion and, similarly, introversion correlated positively with reports of a greater desire to smoke in a stressful, as compared to a non-stressful, situation.
Update on molecular techniques for diagnostic testing of infectious disease

The era of diagnostic molecular biology has arrived for small animal clinicians, and it is a near certainty that assays such as the PCR and RT-PCR will become more widely available for a wider array of infectious agents. Already there is an extensive list of infectious diseases of dogs and cats that have been investigated with molecular tools. A partial list is included in box 1. An understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of the molecular techniques and some of the questions these techniques can answer for clinicians can serve practitioners well in their approach to the diagnosis of infectious diseases in dogs and cats. It is likely that additional applications of these tools to small animal medicine will become apparent as investigators use and refine them for their research purposes, or as new uses emerge from human medical applications. Clinicians also are likely to reap the benefits of this knowledge. Because samples often are acquired easily from clinical patients in most practice settings, access to these tools puts all clinicians in the group of discoverers of new, or variations of, infectious diseases and their clinical manifestations.
Mechanisms of intersystem crossing in aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract Three intersystem crossing mechanisms are distinguished. The corresponding rate constants and their dependence on deuterium substitution are compared and related to experimental data for partially deuterated benzenes and naphthalenes.
Alternative fresh beef distribution systems: A Form—space approach

In recent years, new methods of fresh distribution have been adopted and|or tried to increase marketing efficiency. There is uncertainty as to the effectiveness of these new distribution methods compared to the old ones. In this paper, five alternative methods of fresh beef distribution were budgeted for ten regions in the State of Texas. These budgets were analyzed with a multidimension linear programming model. Although all systems entered the optimal solution when wage rates and processing capacities were varied, boxed-beef was clearly the leading system accounting for approximately 75% of the volume.
Plastic deformation and fracture of ultrafine-grained Al–Mg alloys with a bimodal grain size distribution

Abstract Four different ultrafine-grained (ufg) Al–7.5 wt.% Mg alloys were synthesized by consolidation of a mixture of as-received and cryomilled Al–Mg powders with a ratio of 1:9, yielding a bimodal microstructure consisting of coarse grains (grain sizes, d cg , typically of several micrometers) evenly distributed in the ufg matrices (average grain sizes d = 120, 142, 197, and 338 nm). The deformation behavior under uniaxial compression and tension of the as-extruded alloys was investigated. The Ramberg–Osgood equation was used to fit the compressive stress–strain curves of the bimodal ufg alloys. The compressive yield stresses of the ufg matrices with different average grain sizes indicated a reduced slope in the Hall–Petch relation. The plastic deformation of the ufg Al–Mg alloys with a bimodal microstructure was highly localized. The fracture of the alloys was attributed to shear localization under the compressive tests, and to a combination of shear localization, cavitation, and necking under the tensile tests.
The role of soil community biodiversity in insect biodiversity

. 1. This study demonstrates that feedback loops between plants and insects contribute to both plant and insect diversity. Synthesis of several studies reveals that both bottom-up and top-down forces are important for plant and insect communities. 2. Feedback loops between plants and soil organisms contribute to plant and soil diversity. An analysis of multiple systems reveals that pathogens, mutualists, and a wide variety of soil fauna directly influence, and are influenced by, plant diversity. 3. The connection of plant–insect and soil–plant feedback loops leads to the maintenance of all three groups, and the maintenance of these feedback loops crucially affects insect diversity. Examples of the influence of soil community diversity on insect diversity, and the influence of insect diversity on soil community diversity, as well as feedbacks through all three trophic levels are provided. 4. Finally, means of conserving and restoring soil communities to influence the conservation and restoration of insect communities are discussed.
A Supramolecular Tetra‐Keggin Polyoxometalate [Nb4O6(α‐Nb3SiW9O40)4]20−

Giant polyoxometalates with catalytic, magnetic, and antiviral properties, which are in part attributable to their structures, are currently of great interest. Herein is described the synthesis and characterization of 1, a structurally novel tetrameric complex from Keggin ions (see picture). This complex is stable under the physiological conditions of the stomach (pH 1-2), which is interesting since related keggin anions are among the least toxic and yet most potent antiviral agents of the more than 300 polyoxometalates investigated biologically and pharmacologically.
Interdecadal Variations of Annual Precipitation in the Central United States

Abstract Century-long annual precipitation time series at 168 stations in the central United States are analyzed with special attention given to interdecadal variations. The results show statistically significant precipitation variations of interdecadal timescales in the region. In particular, one variation has a quasi 20-yr period, and another one possesses a quasi 12-yr period. The negative phases of the 20-yr variation match with the major drought periods in the region's history, that is, the 1910s, 1930s, 1950s, and the late 1970s. The positive phases of this variation correspond well to the wet periods between the dry epochs. The 12-yr variation shows an amplification after the mid-1960s, while the 20-yr variation shows a reduced amplitude following this time. Concurrent with these changes, the annual precipitation in the region has increased since the mid-1960s. A plausible mechanism connecting the interdecadal variations of annual precipitation in the central plains region and slow timescale variat...
The combination of evidence

This article provides a historical and conceptual perspective on the contrast between the Bayesian and belief function approaches to the probabilistic combination of evidence. It emphasizes the simplest example of non-Bayesian belief-function combination of evidence, which was developed by Hooper in the 1680s.
Minimal cues in the vocal communication of affect: Judging emotions from content-masked speech

Vocal expressions of emotions taken from a recorded version of a play were content. masked by using electronic filtering, randomized splicing and a combination of both techniques in addition to a no-treatment condition in a 2×2 design. Untrained listener-judges rated the voice samples in the four conditions on 20 semantic differential scales. Irrespective of the severe reduction in the number and types of vocal cues in the masking conditions, the mean ratings of the judges in all four groups agreed on a level significantly beyond chance expectations on the differential position of the emotional expressions in a multidimensional space of emotional meaning. The results suggest that a minimal set of vocal cues consisting of pitch level and variation, amplitude level and variation, and rate of articulation may be sufficient to communicate the evaluation, potency, and activity dimensions of emotional meaning. Each of these dimensions may be associated with a specific pattern of vocal cues or cue combinations. No differential effects of the type of content-masking for specific emotions were found. Systematic effects of the masking techniques consisted in a lowering of the perceived activity level of the emotions in the case of electronic filtering, and more positive ratings on the evaluative dimension in the case of randomized splicing. Electronic filtering tended to decrease, randomized splicing tended to increase inter-rater reliability.
Corticosterone and insulin interact to regulate plasma glucose but not lipid concentrations in molting starlings.

Captive starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) undergoing a prebasic molt were given exogenous insulin (INS) and corticosterone (CORT), to determine how these counterregulatory hormones would affect glucose and triglyceride concentrations during stress. Experiments were conducted at both morning (11:00) and night (23:00) to monitor daily variation in these responses. Concentrations of CORT, glucose, and triglycerides were measured in blood plasma within 3 min of disturbance (basal) and at 40, 70, and 150 min thereafter (stress-induced) to monitor the effect of injecting saline, INS, CORT, or INS + CORT. Saline injection (which included the stress of handling and restraint) increased CORT concentrations, decreased triglycerides, but had no effect on circulating glucose. Daily variation was not evident in CORT or glucose, but concentrations of triglycerides were higher at night than during the day. INS markedly suppressed glucose concentrations, but had no effect on plasma CORT or triglycerides. Glucose levels did not change in response to stress, but exogenous CORT elicited hyperglycemia during the day. Injected CORT also hastened the recovery of glucose concentrations from INS-induced hypoglycemia at night, and had no effect on circulating triglycerides. Basal concentrations of CORT, glucose, and triglycerides exhibited photoperiodic (mimicking seasonal) changes when combined with data from an earlier study in starlings held on long- and short-day photoperiods. During the prebasic molt, all three measurements were lower compared to other photoperiods. Together, these data suggest that glucose and triglycerides concentrations are regulated differently during molt, but INS and CORT maintain their traditional effects.
Triisopropylsilylethynyl-functionalized dibenzo[def,mno]chrysene: a solution-processed small molecule for bulk heterojunction solar cells

This communication reports the synthesis of a new polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon and its unique packing motif. This molecule is shown to be an efficient electron donor in organic bulk heterojunction solar cells, exhibiting a power conversion efficiency of [similar]2.0%.
Immunophenotype of Ovarian Cancer as Predictor of Clinical Outcome: Evaluation at Primary Surgery and Second-Look Procedure

Abstract Objective. This study was undertaken to evaluate whether immunophenotyping of advanced epithelial ovarian cancer could predict response to initial chemotherapy and whether tumor immunophenotype changed after chemotherapy. Study design. Fifty-four patients with stage III and IV ovarian cancer, treated at the University of Washington Medical Center, had pathology specimens evaluated. A subset of 23 patients also had specimens from a secondary surgery evaluated. Using immunocytochemistry, tumors were immunostained for overexpression of c- erb -B-2, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), p53, and expression of the Ki67-defined antigen (a marker of cellular proliferation), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and P-glycoprotein (P170, a marker of multidrug resistance). Twenty-four patients had a good response to chemotherapy (defined as a negative, or microscopically positive second look), and 30 had a poor response (defined as grossly positive second look or progressive disease). Results. Comparison of tumor markers from the initial and the secondary surgeries revealed that the only significant change was in the Ki67-defined cell proliferation rate, which showed a marked reduction in those with a good response to chemotherapy ( P = 0.002). Comparison of tumor markers at initial surgery between good and poor responders revealed a correlation with p53 expression. Good responders were less likely to have p53 overexpression compared to poor responders, and this result approached significance ( P = 0.058). Comparison of tumor markers at secondary surgery revealed a significant reduction in Ki67-defined cell proliferation rate in good responders compared to poor responders ( P = 0.01). No significant differences were found between good and poor responders for the other tumor markers evaluated. Conclusions. The only tumor markers to predict for response to chemotherapy were p53 at initial surgery ( P = 0.058) and Ki67 indices at secondary surgery ( P = 0.001). Expression of steroid hormone receptors, TNFα, and P-glycoprotein and overexpression of c- erb -B-2 or EGFR are not associated with chemoresistance.
Efficacy of propafenone compared with quinidine in chronic ventricular arrhythmias

Abstract A double-blind, randomized study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of oral propafenone and oral quinidine in suppressing premature ventricular complexes (Ms). Twenty-five men were studied for 3 weeks. Twelve were randomized to the quinidine group and 13 to the propafenone group. Small doses of the drugs were administered for 1 week (200 mg of quinidine every 6 hours or 300 mg of propafenone every 12 hours) and large doses were administered for another week (400 mg of quinidine every 6 hours or 300 mg of propafenone every 8 hours). Strict criteria were used to define responders to antiarrhythmic therapy. For more than 85% reduction in total PVCs per hour: During the low-dose week, 36 % in the quinidine group and 50 % in the propafenone group were responders (difference not significant [NS]), while during the high-dose week 33% and 64% were responders (NS). For more than 95 % reduction of ventricular couplets per hour: During the low-dose week, 45% in each group were responders, while during the high-dose week, 56% and 60% were responders (NS). For 100% abolition of ventricular tachycardia (VT) beats per 24 hours: During the low-dose week, 60% in the quinidine group and 56 % in the propafenone group were responders (NS); during the high-dose week 80% and 67% were responders (NS). There was no significant difference in the 2 groups in incidence of side effects. This study shows comparable efficacy and tolerance of propafenone and quinidine for the control of ventricular arrhythmias in ambulatory patients with diverse forms of heart diseases.
Comment on “Intrinsic n -type Behavior in Transparent Conducting Oxides: A Comparative Hybrid-Functional Study of In 2 O 3 , SnO 2 , and ZnO”

A Comment on the Letter by P\'eter \'Agoston et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 245501 (2009)]. The authors of the Letter offer a Reply.
Comparison of the degradation effects of heavy ion, electron, and cobalt-60 irradiation in an advanced bipolar process

Experimental measurements are reported of the degradation effects of high-energy particles (heavy ion (Br) and electron) and Co-60 gamma-rays on the current gain of minimum-geometry bipolar transistors made from an advanced process. The data clearly illustrate the total-ionizing-dose/particle-fluence behavior of this bipolar transistor produced by an advanced process. In particular, bulk damage from Co-60 gamma rays in bipolar transistors (base transport factor degradation) and surface damage in bipolar transistors from ionizing radiation (emitter-efficiency degradation) have been observed. The true equivalence between various types of radiation for this process technology has been determined on the basis of damage from the log(K/sub 1/) intercepts. >
Condensing effect of palmitic acid on DPPC in mixed Langmuir monolayers.

The interaction between deuterated dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC-d62) and palmitic acid (PA) in mixed Langmuir monolayers is studied using vibrational sum frequency generation (VSFG) spectroscopy. Palmitic acid is an additive in exogenous lung surfactant preparations such as Survanta and Surfaxin. The effect of PA on the chain conformation and orientation of DPPC in the liquid-expanded and condensed phases is explored. A condensing effect of PA on DPPC is observed with VSFG. At 12 mN/m, DPPC-d62 alone is in the liquid-expanded phase. Adding PA increases the conformational ordering of DPPC chains and causes DPPC to transition from the expanded phase into the condensed phase. At 42 mN/m, DPPC-d62 and PA form a mixed structure in the condensed phase. The presence of PA decreases the chain tilt angle of DPPC, increasing the orientational ordering of DPPC chains. At 42 mN/m, there is also evidence from the frequency red shift of the PO2- symmetric stretch that the carboxyl group of PA forms a hydrogen b...
Ultrasonic Imaging Modalities for Medical Applications

The ability to "see" with sound has long been an intriguing concept. Certain animals, such as bats and dolphins can do it readily but the human species is not so endowed by nature. However, this lack of natural ability has been overcome by developing an appropriate technology. For example, in various laboratories recently, workers were able to obtain true-focused orthographic images in real time of objects irradiated with sound rather than with light. Cross-sectional images have been available for a much longer period of time stemming from the development of pulse-echo techniques first used in the sonar systems of World War I. By now a wide variety of system concepts for acoustic imaging exist and have been or are being applied for medical diagnosis. The newer systems range from tomographic types using computers to holographic ones using lasers. These are dealt with briefly here.
Experimental evaluation of cutting dynamic models in soil bin facility

Abstract Computer Aided Engineering methods in earthmoving machines design and their automation require the development of soil-cutting models. These models both in two or three dimensions, static or dynamic, fitted for frictional or cohesive soils, must be mutually compatible and must function with soil transportation models and with machine locomotion characteristic models. In this work two different methods of soil cutting have been evaluated, both of them based on the classical wedge method, in order to verify their applicability to test conditions in the new soil bin facility of CEMOTER. From experimental results the possibility of using dynamic models of soil cutting in the frequency domain is discussed, to improve earthmoving machinery performance by automation and implementation of open and closed-loop control. After a preliminary analysis of a plane blade under different test conditions in sandy soil, soil cutting theoretical models of a simple implement are compared with respective scale models by tests performed in a soil bin facility at various operating speeds and depths, in order to investigate their applicability and the dynamic behaviour of the soil cutting force.
Lexical priming by pictures and words in normal aging and in dementia of the Alzheimer's type.

Abstract Alzheimer's disease causes a progressive loss of semantic memory, one manifestation of which is a progressive language deficit. In order to delineate the relationship between cognitive processing deficits and language disturbance, word–word and picture–word lexical-decision priming tasks were administered to patients with mild dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) (n = 6), very mild DATs (n = 7), and older normals (n = 23). The mild DATs differed from the other two groups in both tasks. When pictures were used as primes, significant identity priming was seen in the normals and very mild DATs, but not in the mild DATs. The mild DATs showed an aberrant pattern—responses significantly slower with picture primes than with nonsense primes in all three picture–word conditions. This may reflect residual inhibitory activity within a damaged associational network. In the word–word paradigm, the mild DAT subjects demonstrated significant priming both when the prime and target were identical (identity priming, e.g.,dog–dog) and when they were semantically related (semantic priming, e.g.,cat–dog). The other two groups showed no significant priming. These data reinforce other studies which have found that DAT subjects show a supranormal amount of word–word lexical-decision priming. This “hyperpriming” may occur due to partially degraded internal representations which benefit from priming more than intact representations (a cognitive crutch). Both paradigms thus exposed information-processing deficits which distinguished mild DATs from the other two groups. DAT-induced changes in selective attention are probably contributing to these results.
Genetic mapping of loci controlling diethylstilbestrol-induced thymic atrophy in the Brown Norway rat.

Chronic estrogen administration can lead to thymic atrophy in rodents. In this article we report that the Brown Norway (BN) rat is sensitive to thymic atrophy induced by the estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES). By contrast, DES does not induce significant thymic atrophy in the August × Copenhagen-Irish (ACI) strain. The sensitivity of the BN rat to DES-induced thymic atrophy appears to segregate as an incompletely dominant trait in crosses between the BN and ACI strains. In a (BN × ACI)F2 population, we find strong evidence for three major genetic determinants of sensitivity to DES-induced thymic atrophy on rat Chromosome (RNO) 10 and RNO2. Genotypes at these loci, termed Esta1, 2, and 3, do not have a significant impact on the ability of DES to induce pituitary tumorigenesis or inhibit growth of these F2 rats. These data indicate that the genetic factors that control DES-induced thymic atrophy are distinct from those that control the effects of DES on pituitary mass and body mass. The Esta intervals on RNO10 and RNO2 overlap with loci that control sensitivity to radiation-induced thymocyte apoptosis, as well as susceptibility to a variety of allergic and autoimmune pathologies, including allergic encephalitis, arthritis, and glomerulonephritis in rodents. These observations suggest that common genetic determinants may control sensitivity to estrogen-induced thymic atrophy, maintenance of thymocyte homeostasis, and immune function.
An Internet based STEP data exchange framework for virtual enterprises

Abstract In virtual enterprise companies, a wide variety of software systems are used at geographically distributed locations. In this environment of heterogeneous computer based systems, a crucial issue is the data communication and exchange between these systems. The technical objective of the STandard for the Exchange of Product model data (STEP) is to enable the communication of product data between heterogeneous CAD/CAE/CAPP/CAM/CAx systems. The Internet (a global network of computers) allows companies to collaborate electronically. Therefore, the combination of the Internet and STEP will provide an effective and efficient mechanism to support virtual enterprises. Since applications of STEP are still in its infant stage, many systems used in the virtual enterprises do not support it. To implement the data exchange, individual STEP translators for various systems need to be developed. Developing these translators in every virtual enterprise company is neither economic nor possible. A possible solution to this problem is to provide the Internet based services for STEP data translation. This paper introduces an Internet based STEP data exchange framework for virtual enterprises. It demonstrates an avenue for on-line STEP data translation services for virtual enterprises.
Mechanism of a self-templating synthesis of monodispersed hollow silica nanospheres with tunable size and shell thickness

This study clarifies the mechanism of the hollow structure formation in the simple self-templating preparation of monodispersed hollow silica structures; the role of the polarity of washing solvent in creating the hollow structure is emphasized.
Reversal of vertebral deformities in osteoporosis: Measurement error or “rebound”?

Digitized morphometry of vertebral bodies on lateral spine films is used to identify and quantify vertebral deformities or fractures. One problem associated with this method is the phenomenon of "disappearing fractures," which results from the apparent increase in vertebral body heights of previously deformed vertebrae on subsequent radiographs. These have been considered biologically implausible and therefore a result of measurement error. Measurement error is unlikely to be unidirectional, so that a proportion of fractures identified by morphometry is also the result of measurement error. Since some vertebral deformities are real events, some disappearances of deformities detected by morphometry may be real events. In this report, we examine the data from our clinical trial of sodium fluoride in spinal osteoporosis to assess critically the plausibility of two hypotheses: (1) The "rebound" phenomenon results from measurement error. If this is the case, then some fractures of the same magnitude as the rebound must also represent measurement error. (2) Some deformed vertebrae in fact rebound toward their original shape and size, displaying an elastic response to deformation. If this occurs, then some vertebral deformities are transient events, not true fractures. We conclude that the variability inherent in morphometric data obtained from serial spine x-rays results in both disappearing fractures and a high false positive fracture rate. The use of more stringent criteria for defining significant deformities, or true fractures, will minimize these problems. We cannot exclude the second hypothesis, that some vertebral deformities may be transient events, but this needs further study.
Factors associated with high-frequency illicit methadone use among rural Appalachian drug users.

AbstractBackground: In recent years there has been a sharp increase in the use of illicit methadone as well as methadone-related overdose deaths. Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe factors associated with low- and high-frequency methadone use in a cohort of rural Appalachian drug users. Methods: Interviews assessing sociodemographics, illicit drug use and drug treatment, psychiatric disorders, health and sociometric drug network characteristics were conducted with 503 rural drug users between 2008 and 2010. A two-level mixed effects regression model was utilized to differentiate low- (one use per month or less in the past six months) versus high-frequency (daily or weekly use in the past six months) illicit methadone users. Results: The lifetime prevalence of illicit methadone use in this population was 94.7% (n = 476) and slightly less than half (46.3%) were high-frequency users. In the mixed effects regression model, initiating illicit methadone use at a younger age was associated with...
Signal-dependent phase distortion in optical correlators.

We examine the effect of phase distortion inherent in a spatial light modulator on the performance of an optical correlator. We examine such areas as input plane distortion, input and Fourier plane distortion, effect of phase mismatch between these planes, and the effect of additive white noise. When large distortions are present and the proper compensation is incorporated into the filter, we find a significant enhancement in performance in that the correlation response converges to a δ function and the SNR increases significantly. A theory is presented to explain this behavior.
Vital staining and Barrett's esophagus

tant topic in GI practice because it is an easy, inexpensive, widely available, and safe technique for improving endoscopic diagnosis. With Barrett’s esophagus vital staining may improve our ability to detect columnar epithelium and identify patients at risk for cancer. The accurate diagnosis and estimation of length of Barrett’s esophagus by visual inspection at endoscopy can be very imprecise, with reported sensitivity as low as 60% and false positivity as high as 31%. Furthermore vital staining may help diagnose severe dysplasia and early cancer and therefore aid in selection of patients for more aggressive endoscopic surveillance, mucosal ablation, or surgery. WHAT WE KNOW NOW
Biosynthesis of 11-deoxycorticosteroids by teleost ovaries and discussion of their possible role in oocyte maturation and ovulation.

Abstract Incubations of minced ovarian preparations of the teleost fish Leptocottus armatus, Gillichthys mirabilis , and Microgadus proximus yielded the following metabolites identifiable by their isopolarity and isomorphicity with standard compounds: 11-deoxycorticosterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, androstenedione, and testosterone. In addition, 11-deoxycortisol was found in the incubates of the last two species. Integration of the product yield-time curves indicated that more 11-deoxycorticosteroids were synthesized by Gillichthys ovary than androgens; that the converse was true with Leptocottus ; and that in Microgadus androgens and 11-deoxycorticosteroids were equally important. Preliminary evidence was also obtained of the formation of water-soluble metabolites by Microgadus ovary. Taking into account previous work by other authors, it is proposed that, in teleosts, ovarian 11-deoxycorticosterone and 11-deoxycortisol may act as local hormones mediating the pituitary gonadotropin-induced maturation and ovulation of oocytes.
Globalization and culture: four paradigmatic views

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to show how different philosophical schools of thought view the relation between globalization and culture differently.Design/methodology/approach – This paper places the existing philosophical schools of thought into four broad categories: functionalist, interpretive, radical humanist, and radical structuralist. This paper then shows how each of these four broad categories view the relation between globalization and culture differently.Findings – This paper finds that the functionalist paradigm views globalization and culture as universal, the interpretive paradigm views globalization and culture as particular, the radical humanist paradigm views globalization and culture as a domination ideology, and the radical structuralist paradigm views globalization and culture as causing conflict between classes.Research limitations/implications – This paper assumes that each school of thought can be located in one of the four broad categories of philosophical schools of thou...
Removing Degeneracy of Microlensing Light Curves through Narrowband Photometry of Giants

The standard light curve of a microlensing event provides only two constraints on the five unknown parameters of the lens. We show that narrowband photometry during a microlensing event of a giant star can in addition determine the angular radius of the Einstein ring and the proper motion of the lens. This possibility results from the fact that the extended atmospheres of giants emit the cores of resonance lines primarily from a narrow ring (limb brightening). A considerable fraction of the clump giants in the bulge have a ring radius 1012 cm, within the range of Einstein radii for subsolar mass lenses. The extended thin ring also provides a sensitive probe of possible planetary companions as it sweeps across the lens plane. The ring signature can be detected photometrically, using a narrowband filter centered on resonance lines like Ca II λ3933.
In-vivo efficacy of novel paclitaxel nanoparticles in paclitaxel-resistant human colorectal tumors

Colloidal carriers have been shown to improve tumor therapy by increased drug delivery into tumor sites resulting directly from the enhanced permeability and retention effect (EPR). However, the clinical outcome of tumor therapy is often limited due to multidrug resistance. Several different types of resistance exist with expression of p-glycoprotein being the most commonly described. Paclitaxel entrapped in emulsifying wax nanoparticles (PX NPs) was shown to overcome drug resistance in a human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (HCT-15). In the present studies, the in-vivo efficacy of PX NPs in a HCT-15 mouse xenograft model was demonstrated. Significant inhibition in tumor growth was observed in mice receiving PX NPs treatment. Additionally, mice dosed with Taxol also demonstrated slower tumor growth; however, the efficacy of the Taxol treatment was shown in the in-vitro HUVEC model to be due to the antiangiogenic effect of paclitaxel. It was concluded that the enhanced efficacy of PX NPs over Taxol in the xenograft model was due to both overcoming paclitaxel resistance and an antiangiogenic effect.
Observations on Political Ideology in Complex Societies in the Tropics–and Elsewhere

A number of related themes are teased from the diverse essays composing this volume. The question of whether or not “the tropics” constitutes a unique setting for anthropological investigation is also briefly visited. The paper concludes with discussion of the basic ideological concept underlying the issue of political legitimacy in complex polities.
Dynamic learning for cognitive radio sensing

Spectrum sensing algorithms for cognitive radios that can interpolate and predict the spatio-temporal interference power distribution are proposed using the dictionary learning framework. The algorithms jointly estimate the dictionaries to capture the spatial spectrum measurements as well as their temporal dynamics via parsimoniously chosen atoms. Both batch and efficient online implementations are developed. Numerical tests verify the effectiveness of the novel approach.