cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metadiscourse in L1 and L2 English

The pervasive phenomenon of metadiscourse – commentary on the ongoing discourse – is beginning to take its rightful place among the major topics of discourse studies. This book makes simultaneous contributions to the theory of metadiscourse, corpus-based methods of studying such phenomena, and our knowledge of metadiscourse use in written English. After comprehensively reviewing previous research, it introduces a more rigorous and empirical approach to metadiscourse studies. Adel presents a new model of metadiscourse based on Jakobson’s functions of language, and other conceptual tools, including explicit features for defining metadiscourse, a taxonomy of the functions it serves, and maps of the boundaries between it and related phenomena. A large-scale study of writing by L1 and L2 university students is presented, in which the L2 speakers’ overuse of metadiscourse strongly marks them as lacking in communicative competence. This work is of interest both to linguists and to educators concerned with writing in English.
Preclinical and early clinical study of forodesine hydrochloride (FH) in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

5657 Mammalian purine nucleoside phosphorylase (PNP) deficiency in humans produces a relatively selective depletion of T cells. FH, a potent inhibitor of PNP, was designed based on the transition-state analog structure stabilized by the enzyme. Previous studies demonstrated that FH with dGuo inhibits the proliferation of T-lymphocytes (PNAS 98:4593, 2001). Based on these observations, we conducted a phase I clinical trial of FH in patients with advanced T-cell malignancies. Significant antileukemic activity was correlated with an increase in plasma FH (median 5 μM), dGuo (median 14 μM), and an accumulation of intracellular dGuo triphosphate (dGTP) (Gandhi et al, Blood, Aug 30, 2005 Epub). High accumulation of dGTP in T-cells may be dependant on activity of deoxynucleoside kinases. Deoxycytidine kinase (dCK) is an enzyme that catalyses the conversion of dGuo to its monophosphate, which is then converted to dGTP. Because B-CLL cells have high dCK activity, we hypothesized that they would be sensitive to FH. This postulate was tested in primary CLL lymphocytes during in vitro investigations. Lymphocytes from 11 patients with CLL were incubated with FH (2 μM) in the presence of 10 μM dGuo. These CLL cells showed a wide variation in the endogenous dGTP levels (0.3 μM –4 μM). After incubation with FH and dGuo, cells from 8 of these 11 patients had an elevation in the intracellular dGTP to a median 15 μM at 8 hr (range, 6-119 μM), without any effect on other deoxynucleotides. This increase in dGTP was associated with DNA damage-induced p53 stabilization, phosphoryla tion of p53 at ser15, and increase in the expression level of p21 protein. The dGTP accumulation was related to induction of apoptosis measured by activation of caspase 3 and cleavage of PARP. Based on these results, availability of oral formulation, and to validate these in vitro data during clinical trial, a phase II study of FH in patients with fludarabine-refractory CLL has been initiated. FH is administered orally at a dose of 200 mg/day for 7 days each wk for 4 wks. So far, 2 patients have been enrolled in this protocol, and one has been studied for pharmacodynamic end points prior to treatment and at 24, 48, 72, and 96 hrs after start of therapy. There was a significant increase in the intracellular dGTP, which achieved a plateau of about 80 μM by 3 days. This was associated with a dramatic increase in the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and induction of apoptosis as measured by annexin V. In conclusion, in vitro studies with FH suggested that CLL cells accumulate dGTP and undergo apoptosis. Furthermore, preliminary results of the pharmacodynamic studies in this first clinical trial of a PNP inhibitor in CLL demonstrate the potential clinical efficacy of oral FH.
Adaptive Workload Balancing for Storage Management Applications in Multi Node Environments

Cluster file systems provide access for multiple computing nodes to the same data via a storage area network with the same performance as a local drive. Such clusters allow applications distributed over multiple nodes to access storage via parallel data paths. Also storage management applications can take advantage of this parallelism by distributing the data transfers over multiple nodes. This paper presents an approach for client/server oriented backup solutions. The workload is distributed over multiple client nodes for successive backups to a storage repository server by an adaptive approach. An outlook is given how the method can be applied also for distributing workload of several clients to multiple servers.
High‐Efficiency Silicon Solar Cells Demand New Process Tools

Laser-based tools are becoming an essential part of new crystalline silicon cell lines which are configured for high-efficiency performance. Different tooling types are required on a case-by-case basis, depending on the level of process development undertaken and how fast cell producers move to implement the laserbased tools within high-throughput production lines.
The inadequacy of external pelvimetry

I N THE present paper I wish to confine my remarks to external pelvimetry and to consider especially the four maneuvers that are employed as a routine procedure by most obstetricians. I refer to the determination of the length of the interspinous diameter, the inter&&al diameter, the intertrochanterio diameter and the external conjugate or Baudeloque’s diameter. That these procedures are wholly inadequate for determining the true diameters of the pelvic inlet becomes increasingly evident to me as our work in roentgen pelvimetry progresses. Furthermore the measurements obtained by external pelvimetry may be misleading. This is no new conception. Ever since the time of Baudeloque various observers have questioned the value of these procedures. Criticism has been directed especially toward the method of determining the length of the true conjugate by the subtraction of certain figures from the length of the external conjugate.
Health effects of adolescent pregnancy: implications for social workers.

Adolescent pregnancy carries significant risks to the health of the pregnant adolescent and her child. These risks, which include pregnancy complications, low birth weight, and infant mortality, ar...
Complex Queries in DHT-based Peer-to-Peer Networks

Recently a new generation of P2P systems, offering distributed hash table (DHT) functionality, have been proposed. These systems greatly improve the scalability and exact-match accuracy of P2P systems, but offer only the exact-match query facility. This paper outlines a research agenda for building complex query facilities on top of these DHT-based P2P systems. We describe the issues involved and outline our research plan and current status.
Formal Proofs of Hypergeometric Sums

Algorithmic methods can successfully automate the proof, and even the discovery, of a large class of identities involving sums of hypergeometric terms. In particular, the Wilf-Zeilberger (WZ) algorithm is a uniform framework for a substantial class of hypergeometric summation problems. This algorithm can produce a rational function certificate that can, on the face of it, be used to verify the result by routine algebraic manipulations, independently of the working of the algorithm that discovered it. It is therefore very natural to consider using this certificate to produce, by automated means, a rigorous deductive proof in an interactive theorem prover. However, naive presentations of the WZ method tend to gloss over trivial-looking but rather knotty questions about zero denominators, which makes their rigorous formalization tricky and their ultimate logical justification somewhat obscure. We describe how we have handled these difficulties to produce rigorous WZ proofs inside the HOL Light theorem prover.
Aging Delays Resolution of Acute Inflammation in Mice: Reprogramming the Host Response with Novel Nano-Proresolving Medicines

Aging is associated with an overt inflammatory phenotype and physiological decline. Specialized proresolving lipid mediators (SPMs) are endogenous autacoids that actively promote resolution of inflammation. In this study, we investigated resolution of acute inflammation in aging and the roles of SPMs. Using a self-resolving peritonitis and resolution indices coupled with lipid mediator metabololipidomics, we found that aged mice had both delayed resolution and reduced SPMs. The SPM precursor docosahexaenoic acid accelerated resolution via increased SPMs and promoted human monocyte reprogramming. In aged mice, novel nano-proresolving medicines carrying aspirin-triggered resolvins D1 and D3 reduced inflammation by promoting efferocytosis. These findings provide evidence for age-dependent resolution pathways in acute inflammation and novel means to activate resolution.
Assessment of urethral support using MRI-derived computational modeling of the female pelvis.

Introduction and hypothesis This study aimed to assess the role of individual anatomical structures and their combinations to urethral support function.
An optimal location management scheme for minimizing signaling cost in Mobile IP

Mobile IP is a solution for mobility on the global Internet. However, it does not extend well to highly mobile users. Mobile IP regional registration Is proposed to reduce the number of location updates to the home network, and reduce the signaling delay. This paper introduces an optimal regional location management mechanism for Mobile IP that results in the minimum signaling cost. A novel discrete analytical model is developed which captures the mobility and packet arrival pattern of a mobile terminal. This model does not impose any restrictions on the shape and the geographic location of Internet subnets. Given the average total location update and packet delivery cost, an iterative algorithm is then used to determine the optimal size of regional networks. Analytical results are also obtained to demonstrate how the optimal value changes under various parameters.
Molecular Mechanisms of Cross-inhibition Between Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptors and P2X Receptors in Myenteric Neurons and HEK-293 cells

Nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) and P2X receptors are ligand-gated cation channels that mediate cholinergic and purinergic fast synaptic excitation of enteric neurons (1,2). nAChRs are a member of the Cys-loop receptor family which includes 5-HT3 receptors and GABAA receptors which are also expressed by enteric neurons. Cys-loop receptors are composed of 5 subunits and each subunit has four transmembrane domains and extracellular N and C-terminal tails (3,4). Neuronal nAChRs are composed of two α and three β subunits; there are eight neuronal α (α2–α9) and three neuronal β (β2–β4) nAChR subunits (3). In the ENS, the predominant nAChR subtype is composed of α3 and β4 subunits and acetylcholine (ACh) acting at nAChRs is the primary fast excitatory neurotransmitter in the ENS (1,5). P2X receptors belong to a different family of ligand-gated cation channels. P2X receptors are composed of three subunits; each subunit has two transmembrane domains and intracellular N and C-terminal tails. P2X receptors are homomeric or heteromeric receptors composed of one or combinations seven (P2X1–P2X7) subunits (6–9). Enteric neurons express P2X2, P2X3, P2X5 and P2X7 subunits (10–13). ATP acting at P2X receptors contributes to fast synaptic excitation in subsets of enteric neurons and ATP and ACh are co-transmitters at many synapses in the ENS (14–16). Because P2X receptors and nAChRs are structurally different, they have been assumed to function independently. However, nAChRs and P2X receptors co-expressed by myenteric neurons are linked by a mutually inhibitory mechanism where simultaneous receptor activation causes an excitatory response that is smaller in amplitude than the response that should occur if the receptors functioned independently (of one channel inhibits responses mediated by the other channel, resulting in fewer channels opening than expected, also referred to as cross-inhibition (17,18). This functional interaction occurs between nAChRs and P2X receptors composed of P2X2, P2X3 and P2X4 subunits expressed in HEK-293 cells (19). Functional interactions between nAChRs and P2X receptors are not limited to myenteric neurons as similar interactions occur in guinea pig ileum submucosal neurons (20) and guinea pig (21) and rat sympathetic neurons (22) and in rat PC-12 cells (23). The interaction is also not limited to nAChRs as P2X receptors interact functionally with other Cys-loop family members including 5-HT3 receptors (24,25) and GABAA receptors (26,27). This study examined molecular mechanisms responsible for P2X2 and α3β4 nAChR interaction because these receptors expressed by myenteric neurons and because ACh and ATP mediate fast synaptic excitation at synapses in anally-directed pathways in the myenteric plexus (14,28). We used HEK-293 cells because they do not endogenously express P2X2 and α3β4 nAChRs so they provide a mammalian cell system to investigate specific domains of the receptors which may be responsible for receptor cross-inhibition.
Effect of absorption on visibility profiles or circularly polarized backscattered laser beam (particle size measurement)

By use of a method based on the laser Doppler anemometry technique and Mie scattering theory, the visibility for a circularly polarized backscattered laser beam is derived and computed. The effect of absorption on the visibility profiles is analyzed. This analysis is made for a fixed real part of the index of refraction of the particles (1.43) and various values of the imaginary part of the index of refraction (5.10/sup -3/, 8.10/sup -3/, 10/sup -2/, 10/sup -1/). It is shown that the technique considered is suitable for particle sizing only when the imaginary part of the index of refraction of the particles is less than or equal to 5*10/sup -3/. For values greater than 5*10/sup -3/ a nonmonotonic relationship exists between the visibility and the size parameter; therefore, the visibility technique in this case is not feasible for particle sizing. >
Radiographic evaluation of the maxillary sinus prior to dental implant therapy: A comparison between two-dimensional and three-dimensional radiographic imaging

Purpose : This study was performed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of panoramic radiography and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in detecting sinus pathology. Materials and Methods : This study was based on a retrospective evaluation of patients who had undergone both a panoramic radiograph and a CBCT exam. A total of 100 maxillary sinuses were evaluated. Four examiners with various levels of expertise evaluated the images using a five-point scoring system. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of the two modalities. The image analysis was repeated twice, with at least two weeks between the evaluation sessions. Interobserver reliability was assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, and intraobserver reliability was assessed using Cohen’s kappa. Results : Maxillary sinus pathology was detected in 72% of the patients. High interobserver and intraobserver reliability were observed for both imaging modalities and among the four examiners. Statistical analyses using ROC curves demonstrated that the CBCT images had a larger area under the curve (0.940) than the panoramic radiographs (0.579). conclusion : Three­dimensional evaluation of the sinus with CBCT was significantly more reliable in detecting pathology than panoramic imaging. (Imaging Sci Dent 2015; 45: 169-74)
Energy expenditure of children and adolescents with severe disabilities: a cerebral palsy model

Spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy (SQCP) is a severe disability that is associated with abnormal physical activity, body composition, and food intake and with frequent malnutrition. This study examined the pattern of dietary intake, anthropometry, and energy expenditure in a group of subjects with SQCP aged 2-18 y and a normal control group. The energy expenditure pattern was determined from resting energy expenditure (REE, n = 61 SQCP; n = 37 control group) by using indirect calorimetry and from total energy expenditure (TEE, n = 32 SQCP; n = 32 control group) by using the doubly labeled water method. Physical activity, including the chronic spasticity of SQCP, was estimated from the ratio of TEE to REE. Abnormal growth and body composition were common and dietary intake was markedly overreported in the children with SQCP. Children with SQCP were divided according to body fat stores determined by triceps-skinfold-thickness measurements. The children with low fat stores had a lower REE adjusted for fat-free mass compared with the SQCP and control groups with adequate fat stores. TEE was significantly lower for the SQCP group than for the control group. The ratio of TEE to REE, indicating energy for nonbasal needs, was significantly lower in the SQCP children than in the control group, with the adequately nourished SQCP children having lower ratios than the more poorly nourished SQCP group. The nonbasal energy expenditure, such as for physical activity and spasticity, of children with SQCP was low. The nutrition-related growth failure and abnormal pattern of REE are likely related to inadequate energy intake.
Patient navigation: An update on the state of the science

Although patient navigation was introduced 2 decades ago, there remains a lack of consensus regarding its definition, the necessary qualifications of patient navigators, and its impact on the continuum of cancer care. This review provides an update to the 2008 review by Wells et al on patient navigation. Since then, there has been a significant increase in the number of published studies dealing with cancer patient navigation. The authors of the current review conducted a search by using the keywords "navigation" or "navigator" and "cancer." Thirty-three articles published from November 2007 through July 2010 met the search criteria. Consistent with the prior review, there is building evidence of some degree of efficacy of patient navigation in terms of increasing cancer screening rates. However, there is less recent evidence concerning the benefit of patient navigation with regard to diagnostic follow-up and in the treatment setting, and a paucity of research focusing on patient navigation in cancer survivorship remains. Methodological limitations were noted in many studies, including small sample sizes and a lack of control groups. As patient navigation programs continue to develop across North America and beyond, further research will be required to determine the efficacy of cancer patient navigation across all aspects of the cancer care continuum.
How to Stretch Random Functions: The Security of Protected Counter Sums

Let f be an unpredictable random function taking (b+c) -bit inputs to b -bit outputs. This paper presents an unpredictable random function f' taking variable-length inputs to b -bit outputs. This construction has several advantages over chaining, which was proven unpredictable by Bellare, Kilian, and Rogaway, and cascading, which was proven unpredictable by Bellare, Canetti, and Krawczyk. The highlight here is a very simple proof of security.
Effect of opening obstructions on the flow-excited response of a Helmholtz resonator

Flow over cavity-backed openings often results in high-amplitude pressure fluctuations inside the cavity. This phenomenon is known to be caused by periodic vortex shedding from the upstream edge of the opening becoming coupled to a resonance frequency of the cavity. These fluctuations are frequently suppressed in practice by installing a grid in the opening. Analysis of results from large-scale model tests has revealed that even with a grid present, under some circumstances these fluctuations continue to occur, at amplitudes and frequencies similar to those that would be observed for an unobstructed opening. This study is an experimental effort to understand why and under what circumstances this flow-excited resonance continues to occur despite the presence of a grid. Measurements of cavity pressure due to flow over a cavity with obstructions or grids of varying dimensions in the opening were made. Measurements were also made of the flow field in the cavity opening for selected configurations. It was seen that the frequency of the excitation and the amplitude of the response at the large length scale are altered in various ways, depending on the configuration of the grid. Of particular interest is the distinct difference between the results obtained with coarse and fine grids. Flow field results show the effects that a grid has on the flow, including effects on the vortex convection velocity and the energy production distribution.
Sexuality and Security: A Critical Report on the Summit of the Americas

HIV/AIDS has become a leading cause of death among young people throughout the hemisphere, with enormous consequences for families, communities, and entire countries. Rising prevalence rates and the feminization of the disease have the potential to undo much of the progress countries throughout the hemisphere have made on sexual and reproductive health issues and in some countries cripple already inadequate health systems. During the Summit of the Americas, held in Trinidad and Tobago in 2009, a critical opportunity to address the impact of AIDS and the urgent need of both states and civil society to respond was missed.
Risk perceptions associated with a high‐level nuclear waste repository

One of the most significant environmental problems facing the United States, and many other countries, is how to safely store the radiation‐contaminated waste that is a by‐product of nuclear power plants. For several years, the federal government and the state of Nevada have been engaged in a high‐pitched political and scientific battle over the siting of a waste repository at the Yucca Mountain site in that state. Data from a national and regional study confirm that the public has considerable fear of nuclear facilities, particularly a waste repository. This fear exists despite assurances from the scientific community that underground storage could be safe. Part of this fear of risk to health and safety comes from a distrust of government agencies, such as the Department of Energy, to protect the public through adequate control and regulation.
The post‐Zionist war against Israel

This article is a critique of the new ‘post‐Zionist’ or ‘revisionist’ historians of Israel by a major commentator on Middle Eastern affairs. Its author takes issue with both the methods, and principal conclusions, of some of the leading exponents of the so‐called ‘new school’ and of Israeli historical scholarship.
Effect of Oxygen-Radio Frequency Plasma Treatment on Three Dimensional Poly(ε-Caprolactone) Scaffolds

In the present study, the effect of oxygen-based plasma treatment on the three dimensional poly (e-caprolactone) (PCL) was analyzed in terms of surface wettability, surface energy, and surface biocompatibility. The surface treatment was carried out for 1, 3, and 5 minutes durations on three dimensional PCL scaffolds at atmospheric pressure using a radio frequency (RF) plasma treatment system. The solid surface energies of the modified and unmodified PCL scaffolds were calculated by using the Owens-Wendt’s method. To examine the effect of oxygen plasma treatment on cell-scaffold interaction, mouse osteoblast cell line (7F2) was used. Oxygen plasma treatment contributed in decreasing the hydrophobicity of PCL for the 1-min treatment. A change in the surface energy from 39.98 mN/m for untreated to 52.54 mN/m for 1-min treated was observed by the increment in the polar component of surface energy. However, with the extended treatment times (3-min, and 5 min), the hydrophilicity, and the surface energy remained unaffected. The highest mouse osteoblast cells proliferation rate was observed for the 1-minute treated sample.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Extending the Reach of Immunoassays to Optically Dense Specimens by Using Two-Photon Excited Fluorescence Polarization

Fluorescence anisotropy/polarization measurements represent a powerful tool for quantifying biomolecule/ligand complexation. These types of measurements are also at the heart of a wide variety of commercial homogeneous fluoroimmunoassays. In this note, we demonstrate the power of two-photon excited fluorescence anisotropy (2-PEFA) measurements as a tool for quantifying hapten/ antibody association in the presence of a strongly absorbing, nonfluorescent dye. The results of these experiments show that 2-PEFA measurements are intrinsically more sensitive when compared to traditional one-photon excited fluorescence anisotropy (1-PEFA) strategies and 2-PEFA-based measurements allow one to perform accurate hapten/antibody binding measurements in strongly absorbing samples directly under conditions where 1-PEFA measurements fail completely. Overall, the 2-PEFA approach offers significant advantages when compared to traditional 1-PEFA methods especially in strongly absorbing samples. 2-PEFA also opens the door to perform more rapid and reliable polarization/anisotropy-based measurements with minimal sample preparation.
The use of nimodipine in the treatment of mood disorders.

Nimodipine, a dihydropyridine calcium entry blocker, has been shown to protect from neuronal damage due to ischemia by providing for increased postischemic perfusion. Further, it has also been demonstrated to have antiepileptic properties. These two properties--calcium channel blockade and anticonvulsant benefits have been applied with success to mood disorder treatment. Although found helpful nearly a decade ago for uncomplicated mania, nimodipine may have particular benefits for those diagnostic subclasses of bipolar disorder most resistant to therapy, e.g., ultra-rapid-cycling bipolars and brief recurrent depressions.
Inflatable Rovers for Planetary Applications

A new task has recently been initiated at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) to design, fabricate and test an inflatable rover that can be used for various planetary applications, including operation on the Earth's moon, on Mars, on Saturn's moon Titan and on Jupiter's moon, Europa.
Cytotoxicity of glioblastoma cells mediated ex vivo by varicella-zoster virus-specific T cells

Clinical or laboratory evidence of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection has been consistently associated with lower glioma risk in case–control studies, suggesting a protective effect of VZV against glioma. We formulated the following explanatory hypotheses: reactivated VZV preferentially infects and kills gliomas compared to normal parenchyma; and VZV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) cross-react with gliomas. We established an ex vivo model of VZV infection, which showed that glioma cell lines and primary astrocytes were equally permissive to VZV infection and had similar 15% average decrease in viability upon infection. In co-cultures, the relative growth of glioma cells and astrocytes was not affected by the VZV infection. However, VZV stimulated, but not mock stimulated, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from VZV-seropositive individuals recognized and killed HLA class I-matched glioma cells (mean±SE decrease in viability of 26 ± 12%, p = 0.04), but not matched astrocytes. VZV infection of the glioma cells did not affect the T cell-mediated killing. Taken together, these data suggest that ex vivo VZV infection has similar direct effects on glioma cells and astrocytes. The protective effect of prior VZV infection against the incidence of glioma may be mediated by CTL that recognizes epitopes shared by VZV and glioma cells.
The implication of acid concentration in lipid phosphorus determinations.

Abstract The effect of acid concentration in lipid phosphorus determinations by the ascorbic acid reducing method and aminonaphthosulfonic acid reducing method, was reinvestigated in the presence and absence of silica gel G using sulfuric acid, perchloric acid, and a 1:1 mixture of the two acids. The concentration range of each acid or acid mixture within which a constant phosphorus heteropoly blue reading can be obtained with a given concentration of phosphorus is presented for both methods of phosphorus assay. Although the pattern of the three acid effect curves was different, the plateaus (the adequate concentration or volume ranges) of the curves lay in the same pH range of the reaction mixture with the three acids and by the two methods of phosphorus determination. The acid effect was the same with or without silica gel when carefully controlled corrections were made for the amounts of silica gel used. The importance of the proper amount of acid in phosphorus color development is particularly emphasized when perchloric acid or an acid mixture containing perchloric acid is used for digestion of lipids or scrapings from TLC plates because appreciable quantities of perchloric acid may be lost unless the digestion conditions are controlled. Necessary precautions for digestion procedures are discussed.
CIVIC CAPACITY AND SCHOOL/COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS IN A FRAGMENTED SUBURBAN SETTING: THE CASE OF 24:1

This paper uses the “civic capacity” framework to analyze an emerging school–community reform initiative, called 24:1, focused on an inner-ring suburban school district. Contrary to the existing li...
Reversal of Fortunes? Lower-income Urban Neighbourhoods in the US in the 1990s:

This paper offers new empirical evidence about the prospects of lower-income, US urban neighbourhoods during the 1990s. Using the Neighborhood Change Database, which offers a balanced panel of census tracts with consistent boundaries from 1970 to 2000 for all metropolitan areas in the US, evidence is found of a significant shift in the fortunes of lower-income, urban neighbourhoods during the 1990s. There was a notable increase in the 1990s in the proportion of lower-income and poor neighbourhoods experiencing a gain in economic status. Secondly, in terms of geographical patterns, it is found that this upgrading occurred throughout the country, not just in selected regions or cities. Finally, it is found that the determinants of changes in lower-income, urban neighbourhoods shifted during the 1990s. In contrast to earlier decades, both the share of Blacks and the poverty rate were positively related to subsequent economic gain in these neighbourhoods during the 1990s.
Sister chromatid separation: Falling apart at the seams

Cohesion between sister chromatids must be dissolved at the time of chromosome segregation. Recent studies reveal that the principles of cohesion dissolution in mitosis and meiosis are the same, but that there are important differences that stem from the distinct natures of these two processes.
Ro 20-1724: an agent that significantly improves psoriatic lesions in double-blind clinical trials.

Two double-blind studies comparing the effectiveness of the cyclic nucleotide-attering agent (4-[3-butoxy-4-methoxybenzyl]-2-imidazolidinone) (Ro 20-1724) vs vehicle have demonstrated that this compound can improve psoriatic lesions. Although Ro 20-1724 was not as effective as intensive occlusive treatment of psoriatic lesions with 0.025% triameinolone acetonide, Ro 20-1724 had no adverse systemic or cutaneous effects. Ro 20-1724 and other cyclic nucleotide-altering agents may have therapeutic potential in the future treatment of psoriasis.
Evaluation of the quality of HMCZ Si single crystals with a diameter of 200 mm

We studied the quality of Si single crystals with a diameter of 200 mm grown by the horizontal magnetic field applied Czochralski (HMCZ) method. The dopant impurity fluctuation of HMCZ crystals is less than that of CZ ones when a crystal is grown by setting the seed rotation rate at 15 rpm. The micro-distribution profiles of interstitial oxygen concentration ([O i ]) exhibit the same behavior as those of CZ crystals except for low [O i ]. Moreover, the oxygen precipitation and the grown-in crystal defects of HMCZ crystals exhibit the same behavior as those of CZ ones. We believe HMCZ Si wafers with low [O i ] can be used for ULSI fabrication without any change of the fabrication process.
Development of a New Automatic Gear Selecting Machine for Automobile Transaxle Manufacturing

A new “Automatic Gear Selecting Machine” has been developed for automated selection of transaxle gears with improved capability of detecting nicks on the teeth flanks. This machine, developed on the basis of a double-flank gear rolling tester, is capable of instantly taking measurements of, and making pass/fail determination on, (1) Measurement over balls, (2) Runout, (3) Nick and (4) Tooth-to-Tooth Composite Error. The system also includes a cleaning stand and a flank burnishing equipment through which products under test pass before coming to the double-flank gear rolling tester, and also a selection bench that is controlled to make correct pass/fail judgment. Conventional way of gear selection was been using a gear speeder to detect nicks on transmission gear teeth. However, measurement over balls, runout and tooth-to-tooth composite error could not be measured by the gear speeder and skilled workers were always needed to operate the gear speeder. Introduction of automated system bases on the double-flank gear rolling tester still had a problem that gears having nicks were passed and those having fine dust or burrs, but not nicks, were often rejected. Solutions to this problem lead to the development of a new system described in this paper. The new “Automatic Gear Selecting Machine” demonstrates selecting performance three to four times more efficient than the conventional machine detecting nicks on the gear teeth.
Dianion metallation reactions of n,n-dimethylvanillylamine and n,n-dimethylisovanillylamine

Abstract The utility of dianion chemistry in the synthesis of polyfunctional aromatics is demonstrated by the direct lithiation of the vanillylamine 1 and by the metal-halogen exchange reaction of the bromo isovanillylamines 9 and 10.
Error propagation across levels of organization : From chemical stability of ribosomal RNA to developmental stability

My hypothesis integrates molecular and whole-organism levels of development. A physico-chemical property of nucleotides (their dipole moment), confers structural thermostability on double-stranded sequences, and decreases chemical stability of single-stranded sequences. According to this approach, low ribosomal RNA stability should decrease the precision of protein synthesis and whole-organism developmental stability. Indeed, substitution frequencies in pseudogenes are proportional to the subtraction of the dipole moment of the substituting nucleotide from that of the substituted one, and developmental instability, estimated by morphological fluctuating asymmetry (FA), correlates with mammal 12s rRNA base content of loop (but not stem) regions. In lizards, fit to the single-strand rationale of sequence chemical stability decreases with the level of poikilothermy of the investigated lizard family, suggesting interactions between changes in body temperature, ribosomal structure and developmental instability. Results confirm the hypothesis (less than for 12s rRNA) in: third codon positions of cytochrome B, probably because, unlike rRNAs, specific mRNAs affect only the protein they code; and 16 s rRNA, apparently because its base composition is more affected by genome-wide mutational biases than that of 12s rRNA.
Evolving paradigms of manufacturing: From mass production to mass customization and personalization

Abstract This paper reviews the development of the paradigms of manufacturing, including mass production, mass customization and the emerging paradigm of personalization. In each paradigm, we discuss the contributions of scientific principles, manufacturing technologies and systems operations and how they are integrated together to achieve quality, productivity and responsiveness in manufacturing. We also compare the roles of the consumer in each paradigm.
A Separation Factor Method for the Analysis of Ideal Binary Mixtures in Gas-Solid Adsorption

Abstract A correlation formula based on the separation factor is proposed for the mixture concentration in the adsorbed phase of an ideal binary solution in gas-solid adsorption. This formula is shown to apply to two binary systems (viz., 1,3-butadiene and n-butane on cross-linked polystyrene at 25°C, and acetylene and ethane on activated carbon at 25°C) with similar molecular and thermodynamic properties in the two components for each system. Comparison between the calculated and experimental values of the separation factor showed that the assumption of an ideal mixture is justified for each of these two binary systems. Mixture isotherms for the two ideal binary systems are calculated by the proposed correlation formula from the corresponding single-component isotherms. Good agreement between the calculated and experimental mixture isotherm data confirms that a binary system of two components with similar molecular properties (viz., molecular weight, normal boiling point, vapor pressure, number of carbon...
Recent advances in high quantum yield dye sensitization of semiconductor electrodes

Abstract Recent advances in the study of the dye sensitization of semiconductor electrodes are reviewed highlighting the characteristics of dye/semiconductor pairs with a high quantum yield, Φ, for electrons collected as current per photon absorbed by the dye. Photoelectrochemical data, picosecond fluorescence measurements, and flash photolysis results on high Φ systems are discussed in relation to kinetic models of the injection process in order to provide an overall evaluation of the current state of the understanding of the event following excitation of an excited dye adsorbed on a semiconductor surface.
Breast imaging with ultrasound tomography: update on a comparative study with MR

The objective of this study is to present imaging parameters and display thresholds of an ultrasound tomography (UST) prototype in order to demonstrate analogous visualization of overall breast anatomy and lesions relative to magnetic resonance (MR). Thirty-six women were imaged with MR and our UST prototype. The UST scan generated sound speed, attenuation, and reflection images and were subjected to variable thresholds then fused together into a single UST image. Qualitative and quantitative comparisons of MR and UST images were utilized to identify anatomical similarities and mass characteristics. Overall, UST demonstrated the ability to visualize and characterize breast tissues in a manner comparable to MR without the use of IV contrast. For optimal visualization, fused images utilized thresholds of 1.46±0.1 km/s for sound speed to represent architectural features of the breast including parenchyma. An arithmetic combination of images using the logical .AND. and .OR. operators, along with thresholds of 1.52±0.03 km/s for sound speed and 0.16±0.04 dB/cm for attenuation, allowed for mass detection and characterization similar to MR.
Energy-Efficient Low-Latency 600 MHz FIR With High-Overdrive Charge-Recovery Logic

This paper presents a 14-tap 8-bit finite impulse response (FIR) test-chip that has been designed using a novel charge-recovery logic family, called Enhanced Boost Logic (EBL), to achieve high-speed and low-power operation. Compared to previous charge-recovery circuitry, EBL achieves increased gate overdrive, resulting in low latency overhead over static CMOS design. The EBL-based FIR has been designed with only 1.5 cycles of additional latency over its static CMOS counterpart, while consuming 21% less energy per cycle, based on post-layout simulations of the two designs. The test-chip has been fabricated in a 0.13 μ m CMOS process with a fully-integrated 3 nH inductor. Correct function has been validated in the 365-600 MHz range. At its resonant frequency of 466 MHz, the test-chip dissipates 39.1 mW with a 93.6 nW/MHz/Tap/InBit/CoeffBit figure of merit, recovering 45% of the energy supplied to it every cycle.
Anaerobic biotransformation of explosives in aquifer slurries amended with ethanol and propylene glycol

Abstract Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX), and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT) are explosives that are frequently found as environmental contaminants on military installations. Hydrogen has been shown to support the anaerobic transformation of these explosives. We investigated ethanol and propylene glycol as electron donors for providing syntrophically produced H2 for stimulating the anaerobic biodegradation of explosives in contaminated soil. The study was conducted using anoxic microcosms constructed with slurries of the contaminated soil and groundwater. The addition of 5 mM ethanol and propylene glycol enhanced the biodegradation of RDX and HMX relative to the control bottles. Ethanol was depleted within about 20 days, resulting in the transient formation of hydrogen, acetate, and methane. The hydrogen headspace concentration increased from 8 ppm to 1838 ppm before decreasing to background concentrations. Propylene glycol was completely degraded after 15 days, forming hydrogen, propionate, and acetate as end-products. The hydrogen headspace concentrations increased from 56 ppm to 628 ppm before decreasing to background concentrations. No methane formation was observed during the incubation period of 48 days. Our findings indicate the addition of ethanol and propylene to the aquifer slurries increased the hydrogen concentrations and enhanced the biotransformation of RDX and HMX in the explosive-contaminated soil.
The Structure of the Contractile Apparatus in Ultrarapidly Frozen Smooth Muscle: Freeze-Fracture, Deep-Etch, and Freeze-Substitution Studies

The structure of the smooth muscle contractile apparatus was studied using ultrarapid freezing followed by freeze substitution or by longitudinal freeze-fracture, deep-etch, and platinum-carbon replication. Freeze substitution minimises the detrimental effects of chemical fixation and freeze fracture eliminates them entirely whilst revealing the ultrastructure in three dimensions. Unidirectionally shadowed freeze-fracture replicas of ultrarapidly frozen, relaxed, intact smooth muscle showed a well-preserved actin filament structure the 5.5-nm repeat of the actin subunits was clearly observed. In transversely fractured tissue the thick filaments were revealed, with a distribution comparable to that seen in transverse sections of freeze-substituted muscle. Relaxed muscle permeabilised using Triton X-100 showed a similar structure to that of intact tissue after ultrarapid freezing and examination both by freeze fracture and by freeze examination both by freeze fracture and by freeze substitution; the ratios of actin to myosin were also comparable. In permeabilised, rigorised tissue the structure of the actomyosin complex was revealed in detail; this was especially clear in freeze-substituted muscle. A cross-bridge spacing of 38 nm was measured in freeze-fractured, deep-etched tissue. The structural detail revealed is compatible with a side polar model of the actomyosin interaction and with the sliding filament mechanism of muscle contraction.
CREB binding and activity in brain: regional specificity and induction by electroconvulsive seizure.

Background The transcription factor cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (CREB) orchestrates diverse neurobiological processes including cell differentiation, survival, and plasticity. Alterations in CREB-mediated transcription have been implicated in numerous central nervous system (CNS) disorders including depression, anxiety, addiction, and cognitive decline. However, it remains unclear how CREB contributes to normal and aberrant CNS function, as the identity of CREB-regulated genes in brain and the regional and temporal dynamics of CREB function remain largely undetermined. Methods We combined microarray and chromatin immunoprecipitation technology to analyze CREB-DNA interactions in brain. We compared the occupancy and activity of CREB at gene promoters in rat frontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum before and after a rodent model of electroconvulsive therapy. Results Our analysis identified >860 CREB binding sites in rat brain. We identified multiple genomic loci enriched with CREB binding sites and find that CREB-occupied transcripts interact extensively to promote cell proliferation, plasticity, and resiliency. We discovered regional differences in CREB occupancy and activity that explain, in part, the diverse biological and behavioral outputs of CREB activity in frontal cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. Electroconvulsive seizure rapidly increased CREB occupancy and/or phosphorylation at select promoters, demonstrating that both events contribute to the temporal regulation of the CREB transcriptome. Conclusions Our data provide a mechanistic basis for CREB's ability to integrate regional and temporal cues to orchestrate state-specific patterns of transcription in the brain, indicate that CREB is an important mediator of the biological responses to electroconvulsive seizure, and provide global mechanistic insights into CREB's role in psychiatric and cognitive function.
Structural Dynamics of Cardiac Myosin Binding Protein-C and its Myofilament Binding Partners, Detected by Site-Directed Spectroscopy

We have used site-directed labeling with pulsed dipolar electron-electron paramagnetic resonance (DEER) and time-resolved FRET (TR-FRET) spectroscopies to resolve the structure and dynamics of myosin binding protein-C (MyBP-C)'s cardiac isoform, with implications for the pathophysiology of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). N-terminal cMyBP-C domains C0 through C2 contain binding regions for several muscle protein interaction partners, including myosin heavy chain subfragment 2 (S2), the actin filament, the regulatory light chain (RLC), and Ca2+-calmodulin (CaM). We previously determined the cMyBP-C-induced changes in actin torsional dynamics (Colson et al., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2012 Dec 11; 109(50): 20437-42), and now extend our spectroscopic assays for microsecond protein motion to include distance detection via probes on cMyBP-C itself. We engineered intramolecular pairs of labeling sites within either cMyBP-C or CaM to measure, with high resolution, distance and disorder between either protein's flexible and dynamic regions using DEER and TR-FRET. Changes in distance and disorder were assessed for labeled proteins free in solution and when bound to an interaction partner (e.g., labeled-cMyBP-C titrated with unlabeled S2 or actin, or labeled-CaM titrated with unlabeled cMyBP-C). Understanding conformational transitions in the flexible and dynamic portions of cMyBP-C and CaM provides new molecular insight into defining cMyBP-C's modulatory role in cardiac muscle force development. Acknowledgments: Spectroscopy was performed in the Biophysical Spectroscopy Center at the University of Minnesota, with assistance from Fluorescence Innovations, Inc. (Greg Gillispie, President). This work was funded by an American Heart Association postdoctoral fellowship to BAC and NIH grants to DDT (R01 AR32961, P30 AR0507220, T32 AR007612).
In-pile temperature dependence of the yield strength and growth of zircaloy

Abstract A previously reported growth model is modified and low temperature growth predictions in zircaloy are made to support the proposal that the smaller irradiation damage observed at lower temperature results from the damage sites, or depleted zones, being larger at lower temperatures. This proposal holds that the vacancies making up the zones cannot migrate at the lower temperature and, therefore, cannot condense into small voids or dislocation loops. The larger zones serve as better sinks for interstitials because they have a larger capture radius and, since they contain the same number of vacancies as the smaller, higher temperature zones, they heal faster resulting in less total damage. The resulting theoretical predictions are compared with experimental data and found to be in good agreement.