cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Methylation profiling of benign and malignant breast lesions and its application to cytopathology.

Methylation of tumor suppressor genes has been implicated in breast cancer development. However, methylation profiles of different breast lesions, subtypes of carcinoma in particular, have not been examined in detail. In this study, we use methylation-specific PCR (MSP) to generate gene methylation profiles of different breast lesions and to test the clinical utility of such profiles. We examined the methylation status of three genes, RARβ2, RASSF1A, and cyclin D2, on 102 samples of breast tissue, from benign (n = 36), to in situ carcinoma (n = 21), to invasive carcinoma (n = 45). We found that almost all cases of invasive carcinoma (96%) contained at least one methylated gene from our panel, whereas gene methylation was less common among benign lesions (42%) and in situ carcinoma (76%). Of the three genes, cyclin D2 methylation was most specific for malignancy because only 1 of 35 benign cases was methylated at this gene (1 case was not informative). The major histologic subtypes of invasive carcinoma show similar methylation profiles in the genes examined. We next performed MSP analysis on archival breast fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy samples and corresponding surgical biopsy specimens and found a high concordance between the two types of specimens. We then analyzed 17 breast FNA biopsy samples with an indeterminate diagnosis. In this setting, MSP had a high specificity (100%) and modest sensitivity (67%) for identifying malignancy.
The prevention of edema in infants undergoingsulfonamide treatment

I T HAD been noted for some time at the Children's Hospital that infants treated with sulfonamides and adjuvant alkalies became edematous more often than might be expected from the incidence of pulmonary infections. Upon closer examination it was noted that even in the absence of frank pitting edema, many other infants made precipitous and appreciable weight gains, which were as rapidly lost upon recovery and cessation of therapy. It has long been a wellrecognized observation that patients with pneumonia very frequently became edematous and a diuresis was hailed as the first sign of recovery. However, with the advent of the sulfonamides this was noted more often in pulmonary infections and also, interestingly enough, was seen in other infections. The alkali in general use in the Children's Hospital, as elsewhere, was sodium bicarbonate. Because of the well-known importance of the sodium ion in water balance, it was decided to see whether the edema could be prevented by using alkalies with" cations other than the sodium ion. Potassium citrate was chosen because of its high solubility and availability at the time. Without selection, alternating admissions requiring sulfonamide therapy were given either sodium bicarbonate or potassium citrate. The dosage of the sodium bicarbonate ranged from 0.28 to 0.42 Gin. per kilogram. The dose of potassium citrate ranged between 0.44 to 0.70 Gin. per kilogram. In the administration of the drugs the larger doses were given the smaller infants. After this series, a group of children were given a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and potassium citrate. This mixture contained .066 Gm. of potassium citrate and .033 Gm. of sodium bicarbonate in each cubic centimeter. The average dose was 0.42 Gin. of potassium citrate and 0.21 Gm. of sodium bicarbonate per kilogram of body weight. This mixture was used in an attempt to lessen the theoretical chances of toxicity due to the potassium ion and at the same time to obviate the production of edema due to excess sodium. A fourth group was given 10 per cent sodium lactate in dosage of 0.48 Gm. per kilogram of body weight as the alkalinizing agent. The apparent discrepancies in amount of alkali used do not really exist. This is made clear by stating the dosage in moles of cation used per kilogram of body weight. Examples of this are given in Table I. All the alkalies were given by mouth. Very few children were unable to take them in this manner. These infrequent patients are customarily given parenteral one-sixth molar sodium lactate. The pH of the urine was measured with nitrazine paper three times a day. All the alkalies tried, in the dosages given, satisfactorily kept the pH of the urine between 7 and 7.5 or better,
Methacholine challenge – Comparison of an ATS protocol to a new rapid single concentration technique

Bronchial methacholine challenge is well established in asthma diagnostics and research. ATS guidelines propose a five step standard dosimeter (SDM) protocol with incremental concentrations of methacholine to calculate the concentration causing a 20% drop in FEV(1) in an individual (PC(20)FEV(1)). In contrast, the aerosol provocation system (APS) by Viasys automatically determines the administered dose of methacholine by measuring the effective nebulisation time and referring it to drug concentration and nebuliser power. Therefore, it offers a feasible and less time-consuming provocation procedure by applying incremental doses (PD(20)) of methacholine using a single concentration (16mg/mL methacholine, APS-SC). In this study we compared these two methods in 52 young adults (25+/-5.8 years). Following a screening visit, subjects were randomly assigned to undergo either SDM or APS-SC followed by the other method within 1 week. A close correlation between concentration and dosage causing a 20% fall of FEV(1) was found (r=0.69, p 1.0mg as "normal bronchial response". We conclude that the five-step APS-SC is a suitable method, providing reliable results. In clinical practice the APS-SC is a timesaving procedure and less prone to errors since only one dilution of methacholine is necessary compared to the SDM.
The biological speciation and toxicokinetics of aluminum.

Abstract This review discusses recent literature on the chemical and physiological factors that influence the absorption, distribution, and excretion of aluminum in mammals, with particular regard to gastrointestinal absorption and speciation in plasma. Humans encounter aluminum, a ubiquitous yet highly insoluble element in most forms, in foods, drinking water, and pharmaceuticals. Exposure also occurs by inhalation of dust and aerosols, particularly in occupational settings. Absorption from the gut depends largely on pH and the presence of complexing ligands, particularly carboxylic acids, with which the metal can form absorbable neutral aluminum species. Uremic animals and humans experience higher than normal body burdens of aluminum despite increased urinary clearance of the metal. In plasma, 80-90% of aluminum binds to transferrin, an iron-transport protein for which receptors exist in many tissue. The remaining fraction of plasma aluminum takes the form of small-molecule hydroxy species and small complexes with carboxylic acids, phosphate, and, to a much lesser degree, amino acids. Most of these species have not been observed in vivo but are predicted from equilibrium models derived from potentiometric methods and NMR investigations. These models predict that the major small-molecule aluminum species under plasma conditions are charged and hence unavailable for uptake into tissues.
A re-examination of the Cu/Ru(0001) system

A thick Ru(0001) film was epitaxially grown by vapor deposition on a Mo(110) surface. Using this clean Ru(0001) film as a substrate, the room temperature absorption and growth of up to 5 monolayers of Cu are studied by AES, LEED and work function change measurements. The results show two-dimensional layer-by-layer growth up to 5 monolayers. The CO chemisorption properties of the Cu/Ru(0001) bilayer at room temperature are also studied as a function of Cu coverage. The CO saturation coverage decreases linearly with Cu coverage, i.e. no ensemble effect is seen.
Extracellular Hydrolytic Enzyme Activities of the Heterotrophic Microbial Communities of the Rouge River: An Approach to Evaluate Ecosystem Response to Urbanization

The potential effects of urbanization on the bioavailability of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) were tested by determining the extracellular enzyme activities of the heterotrophic microbial communities of the Rouge River. The activities of 19 enzymes were monitored across two water samples (river water and groundwater) at different spatial and temporal scales. High phosphatase, esterase, and aminopeptidase activities was observed in site 9 (site most exposed to anthropogenic sources) showed higher concentrations of DOC compared to sites 1 and 8 (sites exposed to less anthropogenic sources), where moderate activities of diverse range of enzymes were observed. High relative contributions of phosphatase, esterase, and aminopeptidase activities to the overall enzyme activity as observed in site 9 stressed the increased importance of peptides as C source for heterotrophic communities and high in-stream carbon processing, which account for high nonspecific extracellular enzyme activities. In contrast, high contribution of glycosyl hydrolases occurred consistently across all sites, which highlights the significance of microbial detrital and plant biomass as carbon sources. Majority of the enzymes showed evidence of activity at various extents during spring and summer. However, higher activities of leucine aminopeptidase, valine aminopeptidase, β-glucosidase, and α-mannosidase were observed in the summer; and alkaline phosphatase and α-glucosidase in the spring. The results presented here suggest a shift in organic carbon bioavailability across all sites of contrasting urbanization, despite similarities in DOC concentrations. Hence, API ZYM technique can be used as an effective indicator of river water and groundwater system health across an urban gradient.
Proliferation and differentiation of smooth muscle cell precursors occurs simultaneously during the development of the vessel wall

Formation of the blood vessel wall depends on the recruitment, proliferation, and differentiation of smooth muscle cell (SMC) precursors. The temporal events associated with the onset of expression of several SMC proteins have been well characterized in mouse and avian species. However, the timing of cell proliferation during this process has not been explored. More importantly, it has not been clear whether commitment to the smooth muscle pathway precludes proliferation during development. In the present study, we have determined the kinetics of replication in developing chick aortae between days 2.5 and 19 and have correlated these data with the expression of various SMC differentiation markers. We found that proliferation of aortic SMC precursors occurs in two waves; an early phase of rapid proliferation (15-17%; between days 4 and 12), and a second phase, when replication was reduced to less than 5% (days 16 to hatching). Proliferation of SMC during the first wave occurred concomitantly with the progressive accumulation of SMC contractile proteins, such as SM alpha-actin, calponin, myosin heavy chain, and the 1E12 antigen. We also found that the relative proliferation capacity within each compartment of the vessel wall, ie., intima, media, and adventitia varies throughout development. Approximately, 55-63% of all replicating cells were found in the tunica adventitia from days 6 to 12, whereas 35% were found in the tunica media (tunica media:adventitia = 1:2). This ratio was inverted after day 12, when most of the replicating cells were located in the tunica media (tunica media:adventitia = 2:1). In addition, we observed a ventral-to-dorsal gradient in the proliferation of SMC precursors between days 2.5 and 5. The ventral-to-dorsal proliferation gradient was similar to the previously described differential expression of two early SMC markers: alpha-actin and the 1E12 antigen. These data support the concept that a polarity exists either in the pool of SMC precursors or, in expression of factors that regulate recruitment of presumptive SMC.
Wealth effects of reserve requirement reductions in the 1990s on depository institutions

Abstract Reserves banks hold against deposits do not earn interest and hence, represent an implicit tax on deposits. Thus, adjustments to reserve requirements might be expected to influence the value of depository institutions because they would affect the present value of future implicit taxes on the institutions. This paper measures the share price response of banks to two unique reserve requirement adjustments in the early 1990s. The results indicate that not all of the benefit from the reduction in the implicit tax resulting from the lowering of reserve requirements was passed on to depositors and borrowers. The larger banks tended to experience strong favorable valuation effects.
Effects of maternal HIV on children's psychosocial adjustment with peers and with their mother

A longitudinal assessment of young adolescents' psychosocial outcomes affected by maternal HIV/AIDS was undertaken, focusing on both parent–child psychosocial ties and peer relationships. Data were taken from the Parents and Children Coping Together (PACT) study, a 15-year study assessing mothers with HIV/AIDS and their well children every six months. Families (N = 118) who participated in PACT II and PACT III are included in the current analyses, who were assessed every six months for 36 months in PACT II, and every six months for 18 months in PACT III (providing 11 time points of data across eight years). Growth curve modeling was applied to assess the associations of maternal health on adolescent's psychosocial outcomes. In terms of their relationship with their mothers living with HIV (MLH), adolescents' psychosocial functioning was negatively impacted by maternal illness, specifically viral load count and vitality levels, whereas several indicators of increased maternal illness (including viral load,...
Autoradiographic image intensification: applications in medical radiography

The image of an 80 to 90 percent underexposed medical radiograph can be increased to readable density and contrast by autoradiographic image intensification. The technique consists of combining the image silver of the radiograph with a radioactive compound, thiourea labeled with sulfur-35, and then making an autoradiograph from the activated negative.
QTL Mapping of Resistance to Stalk Tunneling by the European Corn Borer in RILs of Maize Population B73 × De81

Considerable effort has been expended toward the genetic characterization of native resistance to stalk tunneling by the European corn borer [ECB; Ostrinia nubilalis (Hubner)], indicative of the importance of this pest and the difficulty in obtaining conclusive results. In this study, 191 recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of B73 maize (Zea mays L.) (susceptible to stalk tunneling by ECB) x De811 (resistant) were evaluated for stalk tunneling, anthesis, and plant height in Iowa at two locations in 1998 and one location in 1999 with the objectives of (i) determining the genetic relationship between these traits and (ii) mapping quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with resistance to stalk tunneling. The genotypic correlation between plant height and stalk tunneling (r g = 0.1) was negligible, but the correlation between stalk tunneling and anthesis was very high (r g = -0.8) necessitating the adjustment of the means of former with the latter. Ten QTL for stalk tunneling adjusted for anthesis associated with 42% of the phenotypic variation were observed in the mean across trials, only one of which was observed in each of the individual trials. The lack of consistent QTL detection across environments is a common characteristic among studies of ECB tunneling and underscores a major problem of breeding for resistance. QTL observed in F 3 lines of the same cross and in RILs of B73 x B52 are linked to three QTL each for the mean across trials herein, providing further evidence of association between these genomic regions and resistance to stalk tunneling.
The timing of urban infrastructure and housing improvements by owner occupants

Abstract Housing in developing countries depends primarily on improvements and expansion by owner occupants. A survey of Lima households suggests that economic ability to improve matters less than willingness which, in turn, is inspired by access to water and sewerage systems. Opportunities for installing a home workshop may also be important. Seventeen types of improvement in squatter settlements and ‘popular urbanizations’ are examined using a variety of econometric tests. Differences in income mainly determine which type of improvement households choose to make. The rate of improvement, however, roughly doubles with access to infrastructure, and the effect far outweighs access cost. Consequently, the earlier that infrastructure is installed, the faster will housing conditions in general improve. This conclusion is confirmed by smaller surveys in Lusaka, Medellin, Nairobi, Rawalpindi and Tunis.
Actions of piperidine alkaloid teratogens at fetal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors

Teratogenic alkaloids are found in many species of plants including Conium maculatum L., Nicotiana glauca, Nicotiana tabaccum, and multiple Lupinus spp. Fetal musculoskeletal defects produced by alkaloids from these plants include arthrogyropisis, scoliosis, torticollis, kyposis, lordosis, and cleft palate. A pharmacodynamic comparison of the alkaloids ammodendrine, anabasine, anabaseine, anagyrine, and coniine in SH-SY5Y cells and TE-671 cells was made. These alkaloids and their enantiomers were more effective in depolarizing TE-671 cells which express the human fetal-muscle type nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) relative to SH-SY5Y cells which predominately express autonomic nAChRs. The rank order of potency in TE-671 cells was: anabaseine>(+)-anabasine>(-)-anabasine > (+/-)-anabasine>anagyrine>(-)-coniine > (+/-)-coniine>(+)-coniine>(+/-)-ammodendrine>(+)-ammodendrine. The rank order potency in SH-SY5Y cells was: anabaseine>(+)-anabasine>(-)-coniine>(+)-coniine>(+)-ammodendrine>anagyrine>(-)-anabasine>(+/-)-coniine>(+/-)-anabasine>(-)-ammodendrine. The actions of these alkaloids at nAChRs in both cell lines could be distinguished by their maximum effects in depolarizing cell membrane potential. The teratogenic action of these compounds may be related to their ability to activate and subsequently desensitize nAChRs.
Starch Granule Size and the Domestication of Manioc (Manihot Esculenta) and Sweet Potato (Ipomoea Batatas)1

Archaeological studies of plant remains have indicated that an increase in seed size is frequently correlated with both intensive cultivation and domestication of seed crop plants. To test if starch granules of domesticated root crops are significantly larger than those of wild or less intensively cultivated plants, archaeological and modern specimens of manioc and sweet potato were sampled for starch granules, and granule size was compared across a temporal sequence. The results indicate that a gross generalization can be made that modern specimens of both manioc and sweet potato yield larger starch granules than some archaeological specimens. It does appear, however, that modern domesticated manioc roots produce significantly larger-sized starch granules than those of its purported wild ancestor. Additionally, there exist two lines of evidence that the coastal Peruvian and lowland Neotropical regional types of manioc differ from one another and have been separate for several millennia. These findings indicate that manioc may have been domesticated more than once.
Direct spectrophotofluorometric analysis of aromatic compounds on thin-layer chromatograms

Abstract A simple method has been introduced by means of which fluorescence spectra can be obtained directly from a thin-layer chromatogram. The usefulness and sensitivity of the method have been demonstrated for a wide variety of polycyclic compounds. Some of the spectral differences between the dry and wet spots have been found to be useful analytically. The ease of applicability of the method has been proved through the characterization of the spots obtained from the thin-layer chromatogram of a coal-tar-pitch basic fraction. Benzo(h)quinoline, methylbenzo(h)-quinoline, dimethyl(or ethyl)benzo(h)quinoline, benz(c)acridine, and methylbenz(c) acridine have been identified in the sample.
The international airline industry: globalization, regulation and strategic alliances

Abstract International air passenger traffic has grown rapidly in recent years. This paper hypothesizes that while economies of scale and scope are inducing global consolidation of the international airline industry, it is the ongoing reform of the imperfectly competitive, regulatory environment and the fledgling international strategic alliances recently negotiated by various carriers that will ultimately determine the fate of the globalization process. The most competitive air carriers will emerge in countries that most successfully manage the transition from the restrictive bilateral system to ‘open skies’ multilateralism.
Applications of approximate word matching in information retrieval

As more online databases are integrated into digital libraries, the issue of quality control of the data becomes increasingly important, especially as it relates to the effective retrieval of information. The need to discover and reconcile variant forms of strings in bibliographic entries, i.e., authority work, will become more difficult. Spelling variants, misspellings, and transliteration differences will all increase the difficulty of retrieving information. Approximate string matching has traditionally been used to help with this problem. In this paper we introduce the notion of approximate word matching and show how it can be used to improve detection and categorization of variant forms.
On the mechanism of 5-bromouracil inhibition of DNA synthesis and cell division

Abstract HeLa cells grown in the presence of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) had a delayed second division, after which only a small fraction of BU-tolerant cells continued to divide indefinitely. In contrast, cells grown in the presence of BUdR plus the potent inhibitor of thymidine synthesis, fluorodeoxyuridine (FUdR) (BF cells) divided once and only once, although they incorporated only slightly more BU than cells grown for one generation in BUdR alone. When the distribution of pyrimidine oligonucleotide sequences containing 3 H-thymidine (or BUdR) from cells treated in both ways was studied, an unexpected radioactive peak appeared between the di- and trinucleotide peaks in the pyrimidine oligonucleotide profile of DNA obtained from BF cells, BU-tolerant cells, and cells grown for more than one generation in BUdR alone, but not from control HeLa cells or ones treated with FUdR alone. The biological significance of this peak remains unresolved, but it is suggested that the peak material might be associated with the control of DNA synthesis and/or cell division in HeLa cells.
Exhaled nitric oxide levels rise and then fall during the first three months of immunotherapy

Abstract Rationale Immunotherapy (IT) is designed to modulate allergic airway response. Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) is a sensitive marker of airway inflammation in allergic respiratory disorders. We aim to characterize the pattern of eNO levels in pediatric patients undergoing immunotherapy. Methods Subjects were patients electing to receive immunotherapy (either traditional or rush) at a hospital based pediatric Allergy/Asthma/Immunology clinic. Off-line measurements of eNO were done utilizing Mylar balloons and Seivers 280 NO analyzer. eNO was measured before IT was initiated, and at 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12 weeks. Blood was drawn and Inter-leukin-4 (IL-4) levels were assayed on lymphocyte culture media after 24 hours. IRB approval was obtained. Results Eight subjects received traditional IT and 10 subjects received rush IT. eNO levels in both groups combined averaged 11.5 ppb pre- IT, 15.9 ppb - 1st week and 10.2 ppb - 12th week. Week 2 levels were significantly different (p value=0.05) from pre- IT and 12 week (p value=0.12) levels. Lymphocyte culture IL-4 levels averaged 0.05 pg/ml pre- IT, 0.11 pg/ml - 1st week and 0.08 pg/ml - 12th week. Week 2 levels were not significantly different from pre- IT (p=.06) and 12 week (p=.06) levels. There was no statistical significance between the rush IT and traditional IT groups though trends were similar. Conclusions Initiation of immunotherapy produces strong changes in the human immune system. These changes include an initial significant increase in airway inflammation as indicated by a rise in eNO levels. These changes are moderated as maintenance levels are achieved.
Natural urine concentrations and composition in neotropical bats

Abstract 1. 1. Among neotropical bats with subdivided renal medullae, some natural urine samples are equal in concentration to mean maximum calculated levels. 2. 2. Natural urine osmotic pressures in frugivorous phyllostomids are less than in other phyllostomids which, in turn, are less than in insectivorous bats. 3. 3. Urinary sodium (Na+) concentrations show no difference between frugivorous. insectivorous, and others, but urinary potassium (K+) levels in frugivores are higher than in other bats. 4. 4. Natural urine concentrations are primarily related to diet and secondarily to environmental dehydration pressure.
Redox-dependent conformational changes are common structural features of cytochrome c from various species.

Abstract Discrepant results from X-ray crystallographic and physicochemical studies on the conformations of the two redox states of cytochrome c raise important questions about the nature of redox-dependent conformational changes and whether differences are a common structural features of various cytochrome c species. Comparative studies of cytochrome c from 10 species (horse, cow, sheep, pig, dog, rabbit, chicken, pigeon, tuna, and baker's yeast) in aqueous solutions were carried out using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The second-derivative analysis revealed similar conformational changes in all 10 species upon reduction of the heme iron regardless of the differences in the amino acid sequences. The redox-dependent changes involve the amide I regions ascribed to extended β-structure, β-turn, and α-helix structures. Three species (cow, sheep, and pig) with identical amino acid sequences displayed nearly identical infrared spectra for the oxidized and reduced states, which rules out the possible contribution of experimental error. These results show unequivocally that redox-dependent conformational changes are common structural feature of various cytochrome c species and demonstrate the usefulness of FT-IR spectroscopy as a quick and inexpensive tool in comparative studies of functionally related conformational changes of proteins.
Necessary and sufficient conditions for optimal controls in viscous flow problems

A class of optimal control problems in viscous flow is studied. Main results are the Pontryagin maximum principle and the verification theorem for the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman equation characterising the feedback problem. The maximum principle is established by two quite different methods.
Behavioral management of conversion disorder: Retrospective study

Abstract Objective: To assess whether operant behavioral treatment of conversion disorder provides effective and durable symptom resolution, and to evaluate the prognostic value of duration of symptoms, as to the time required to effect symptom resolution. Design: Retrospective case series (consecutive sample). Setting: Inpatient rehabilitation unit in a tertiary care center. Patients: The first 10 patients with conversion disorder treated by the author. There were 5 men and 5 women, age range 19 to 69 years, mean 32.7 years. The duration of conversion disorder symptoms (all involving gait) ranged from 0.5 to more than 112 weeks (mean 27.8 weeks, median 12 weeks). Follow-up range was 7 to 36 months (mean 20 months). Intervention: All patients were treated as inpatients using a behavioral approach. A ‘pseudo-scientific' explanation of the symtpoms was provided, with an explanation that stressors can exacerbate symptoms. Patients were in a wheelchair when not in therapy, and a physical therapy program was devised, using a treatment sequence based treatment of the analogous neurological condition. Other therapies were also utilized for positive reinforcement of normal function. All patients had psychological evaluation, with treatment as indicated. Patients were hospitalized long enough to restore normal gait and begin psychological treatment. Main Outcome Measures: Functional Independence Measure ambulation score at admission, discharge, and follow-up, and descriptive data, including symptom recurrence after discharge, new neurological symptoms after discharge, new treatment since discharge, and new psychiatric or neurological diagnosis since discharge. Results: All patients attained normal ambulation before discharge ( n = 10, Wilcoxon signed rank test p = .002). At followup, 7 of 9 patients maintained normal ambulation (Wilcoxon signed rank test of pretreatment ambulation score versus follow-up ambulation score p = .1016). Two patients resumed partial dependence on wheelchair use. There was a Spearman correlation coefficient of .68196 ( p = .0298) when comparing duration of symptoms against duration of treatment. No patient had symptom substitution or new diagnosis made during the follow-up period. Conclusions: (1) Behavioral treatment of conversion disorder is effective, and appears to provide a clinically (but not statistically) significant long-lasting resolution of symptoms. (2) There is a strong positive correlation between duration of conversion symptoms and the time required to eradicate them.
Structure of cycloheptaamylose inclusion-complexes: crystal structure of substituted benzoic acid and phenol derivatives

Abstract Cycloheptaamylose has been crystallized with 2,5-diiodobenzoic acid as guest. The X-ray crystal structure at 1.2-A resolution with space group C2 and cell dimensions a  19.192 (13), b  24.759 (20), c  15.739 (13) A, and β  109.6 (3)° was solved by using rotation-translation functions. Complexes of other meta-substituted guests were found to be isomorphous, and were solved by using the phases of the cycloamylose of the 2,5-diiodobenzoic acid complex. The complex with 2-bromo-5-tert-butylphenol having a  19.235 (11), b  24.662 (17), c  16.018 (11) A, and β  108.9 (2)° was determined at 1.0 A resolution, and the complexes with m-bromobenzoic acid, m-iodobenzoic acid, m-iodophenol, m-toluic acid, and 2-bromo-4-tert-butylphenol were determined at 2.0-A resolution. In all cases, the guest molecule was disordered. However, by using information from all the structures, it may be concluded that the functionally important carboxylic acid group lies in the primary-hydroxyl end of the cycloheptaamylose molecule. As studies in solution have shown that the hydrogen-bonding groups of guest molecules interact with the secondary-hydroxyl end of the cycloheptaamylose molecule, it is concluded that the structure seen in the crystals here does not correspond to a catalytically active species. Cyclo-heptaamylose exists as a dimer in the crystal by means of extensive hydrogen bonding across the secondary-hydroxyl ends of two cycloheptaamylose molecules. A continuous channel throughout the crystal is achieved by the stacking of these dimer units.
Comparison of mRNA populations coding for phenylalanine ammonia lyase and other peptides from pea tissue treated with biotic and abiotic phytoalexin inducers

Abstract Pea endocarps were treated with optimal concentrations of biotic and abiotic compounds which are potent inducers of phytoalexin production and of certain disease resistance responses. Total cell mRNA which accumulated during induction was translated in vitro with a rabbit reticulocyte protein synthesizing system. Both the synthesis of phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and the two-dimensional separations of total labelled proteins from the various inducer treatments were compared. The increases in the synthesis of the observed specific proteins, induced by the DNA-specific compounds, result from the increased translation activity of mRNAs within the pea tissue. The induction of PAL and other specific proteins by chitosan, a glucosamine polymer in fungal walls, resembled the patterns induced by Fusarium solani f. sp. phaseoli macroconidia. There were only minor differences in protein induction by the F. solani f. sp. phaseoli macroconidia, actinomycin D, 4,5′8-trimethylpsoralen plus 366 nm UV light, and 260 nm UV light. Major shifts in the protein synthesis patterns were found in proteins translated from the RNA from CdCl 2 and quinacrine-treated tissue. Our results suggest that certain abiotic and biotic compounds which induce responses similar to those induced in the authentic “resistance response” may be useful in investigating the mode by which these responses are induced.
Checkbooks in the Heartland: Change over Time in Voluntary Association Membership†

Numerous scholars documented declines in America’s social capital through the mid-1990s but we do not know whether the trend has continued. Further, despite warnings by Robert Putnam and Theda Skocpol that the quality of Americans’ voluntary association memberships has also deteriorated—moving from active, “face-to-face” memberships to passive, “checkbook” memberships—data have not been available to test this claim. In this article, we use both the Iowa Community Survey and the General Social Survey to explore the changing nature of voluntary association membership between 1994 and 2004. We demonstrate that not only are declines in voluntary association memberships continuing in the new century but there has been a shift in the intensity of voluntary association participation over time. We observe a decline in active membership over time and an increase in checkbook membership over time. These findings provide support for Putnam’s claim that checkbook membership is increasing at the expense of more active types of memberships.
Faster analysis of forming problems through use of coarse mesh models for dies

Finite element analysis of bulk forming processes involves geometric checks for contact between objects. When only material flow is to be evaluated, representing dies with the fewest possible elements significantly reduces the time spent by the solver in geometric checks for contact. This paper describes a procedure to coarsen a mesh while retaining important geometric features. A compacted mesh model also results in (a) reduced memory usage, (b) smaller results file, (c) faster visualization, and, (d) faster transmission of files. Results from the finite element analysis of a forging process, performed with a commercial solver, are presented.
Access to third world science in international scientific and technical bibliographic databases

For the past eight years, the author has been examining trends in access to international scientific literature in major international bibliographic databases available on various information systems. A major portion of the research program examined and compared the languages of documents and countries of publication for items published between 1970–1990 and recorded on MEDLINE, PsycInfo, BIOSIS, Chemical Abstracts, and other databases on the DIALOG system. The second phase of this study examines the remaining scientific databases on DIALOG, including MATHFILE and AGRICOLA. A comparison of the international range of MEDLINE and EMBASE has also recently been completed. In order to attempt to assess actual amounts of literature produced, the Unesco statistics for literature production have been studied. In the course of this research, the author encountered a variety of system attributes that affect the ways in which Third World science can be identified. Some of the policies and procedures of database development that affect the inclusion of Third World science have been identified.
Reading Recent Readings of Issues of Wealth and Poverty in Luke and Acts

Issues of wealth and poverty in the Third Gospel and Acts have attracted a great deal of scholarly interest since the rise of redaction criticism. This essay provides a survey of the most important readings of these issues from the mid 1960s to the present. Readings from a variety of critical perspectives (e.g. redaction, social-scientific, literary, and reader response) are considered. The authors examined in detail are D. Sweetland, D. Kraybill, L.T. Johnson, J. York, M. Prior, R.J. Cassidy, H.-J. Degenhardt, W. Schmithals, W. Stege mann, D.P. Seccombe, T.E. Schmidt, J. Koenig, K.-J. Kim, and S. Garrett.
Managing supply-demand risk in global production: Creating cost-effective flexible networks

Abstract Globalization has led to the creation of hyper-efficient supply chains that work well in a predictable world. However, with globalization comes a world full of uncertainties, and these efficient supply chains often cannot cope with unpredictable fluctuations in demand and supply. These supply-demand imbalances are a major business risk in a vast array of industries—including aerospace and defense, automobiles, chemicals, engineered products, pharmaceuticals, and semiconductors—because capacity is very expensive. Mix flexibility—whereby a plant can produce more than one kind of product—is an attractive antidote to this risk. In this article, we discuss better and worse ways to embrace mix flexibility. To begin, senior executives need to answer two key questions: How do we create flexible plants? And how do we go from flexible plants to a cost-effective flexible network? Successful companies will not blindly apply the same flexibility tactic throughout their business: they will tailor the Four Ps—product design, process design, production technology, and people—to fit the different characteristics of different tiers in their production chains. Successful companies will not sacrifice cost at the altar of flexibility: they will create cost-effective flexible networks by strategically configuring partially flexible networks in a way that delivers almost all the benefits of totally flexible networks.
High pressure thorium-rare-earth carbide superconductors☆

Abstract The high pressure preparation of superconducting thorium sesquicarbide permitted its use as a matrix whereby the effects of the addition of incremental quantities of rare-earth elements on the transition temperature could be studied. Thorium -rare-earth carbide superconducting solid solutions of general formula (Th, R.E.) 2 C 3 ( R . E .  Ho , Er , Lu as well as Sc ) have been synthesized under conditions of high pressure and high temperature. Transition temperatures of 4.1 to 11.7 K were observed and are dependent upon the rare-earth element and the thorium/rare-earth atomic ratio. The occurrence of superconductivity in these systems is limited by the thermodynamic stability of the superconducting phase and the conversion from the superconducting state to one of paramagnetism. Light rare-earth elements such as Ce, Pr, and Nd also form superconducting solid solutions but with depressed transition temperatures. The intermediate rare-earth elements Gd, Tb and Dy form magnetic solid solutions at the concentration levels investigated. The (Th,R.E.) 2 C 3 solid solutions crystallize in the body-centered cubic Pu 2 C 3 ( D 5 c ) structure.
The Stability Analysis Based on EDF Scheduling Algorithm in CAN Bus

The CAN bus scheduling performance can be very important for the design of CAN bus system, it is related to the normal operation of the bus system. The CAN bus scheduling performance is studied and calculated using the classical first order second moment method based on EDF scheduling method; an example of the bus system scheduled by EDF method is used to calculate the stability by this method. MONTE-CARLO simulation is imitated using software programming; by comparing the results above the formula proves correct.
The long journey of stem cell therapeutics

A report on the Euroepistem 2011 meeting 'Epigenomic Programming and Stem Cells for Drug Discovery', Paris, France, 21-22 November 2011.
Colonization and/or mitochondrial selective sweeps across the North Atlantic intertidal assemblage revealed by multi‐taxa approximate Bayesian computation

Intertidal and subtidal communities of the western and eastern coasts of the North Atlantic Ocean were greatly affected by Pleistocene glaciations, with some taxa persisting on both coasts, and others recolonizing after being extirpated on one coast during the Last Glacial Maximum. In the original spirit of comparative phylogeography, we conducted a comparative analysis using mtDNA sequence data and a hierarchical approximate Bayesian computation (ABC) approach for testing these two scenarios across 12 intertidal and subtidal coastal invertebrates spanning the North Atlantic to determine the temporal dynamics of species membership of these two ephemeral communities. Conditioning on a low gene-flow model, our results suggested that a colonization or mitochondrial selective sweep history was predominant across all taxa, with only the bivalve mollusc Mytilus edulis showing a history of trans-Atlantic persistence. Conditioning on a high gene-flow model weakened the support for this assemblage-level demographic history. The predominance of a colonization-type history also highlights concerns about analyses based on single-locus data where genetic hitchhiking may be incorrectly inferred as colonization. In conclusion, driving factors in shifting species range distributions and membership of ephemeral coastal communities could be species-specific environmental tolerances, species interactions, and/or stochastic demographic extinction. Through a re-examination of a long-standing question of North Atlantic phylogeography, we highlight the flexibility and statistical honesty of using a model-based ABC approach.
Determination of left ventricular function by emergency physician echocardiography of hypotensive patients.

OBJECTIVE To determine whether emergency physicians (EPs) with goal-directed training can use echocardiography to accurately assess left ventricular function (LVF) in hypotensive emergency department (ED) patients. METHODS Prospective, observational study at an urban teaching ED with >100,000 visits/year. Four EP investigators with prior ultrasound experience underwent focused echocardiography training. A convenience sample of 51 adult patients with symptomatic hypotension was enrolled. Exclusion criteria were a history of trauma, chest compressions, or electrocardiogram diagnostic of acute myocardial infarction. A five-view transthoracic echocardiogram was recorded by an EP investigator who estimated ejection fraction (EF) and categorized LVF as normal, depressed, or severely depressed. A blinded cardiologist reviewed all 51 studies for EF, categorization of function, and quality of the study. Twenty randomly selected studies were reviewed by a second cardiologist to determine interobserver variability. RESULTS Comparison of EP vs. primary cardiologist estimate of EF yielded a Pearson's correlation coefficient R = 0.86. This compared favorably with interobserver correlation between cardiologists (R = 0.84). In categorization of LVF, the weighted agreement between EPs and the primary cardiologist was 84%, with a weighted kappa of 0.61 (p < 0.001). Echocardiographic quality was rated by the primary cardiologist as good in 33%, moderate in 43%, and poor in 22%. The EF was significantly lower in patients with a cardiac cause of hypotension vs. other patients (25 +/- 10% vs. 48 +/- 17%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Emergency physicians with focused training in echocardiography can accurately determine LVF in hypotensive patients.
Complementary strand relocation may play vital roles in RecA-based homology recognition

RecA-family proteins mediate homologous recombination and recombinational DNA repair through homology search and strand exchange. Initially, the protein forms a filament with the incoming single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) bound in site I. The RecA–ssDNA filament then binds double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in site II. Non-homologous dsDNA rapidly unbinds, whereas homologous dsDNA undergoes strand exchange yielding heteroduplex dsDNA in site I and the leftover outgoing strand in site II. We show that applying force to the ends of the complementary strand significantly retards strand exchange, whereas applying the same force to the outgoing strand does not. We also show that crystallographically determined binding site locations require an intermediate structure in addition to the initial and final structures. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the characteristic dsDNA extension rates due to strand exchange and free RecA binding are the same, suggesting that relocation of the complementary strand from its position in the intermediate structure to its position in the final structure limits both rates. Finally, we propose that homology recognition is governed by transitions to and from the intermediate structure, where the transitions depend on differential extension in the dsDNA. This differential extension drives strand exchange forward for homologs and increases the free energy penalty for strand exchange of nonhomologs.
COMPARISON OF MANOEUVRES USED BY WALKING VERSUS FLYING GRAPHOLITA MOLESTA MALES DURING PHEROMONE-MEDIATED UPWIND MOVEMENT

Abstract While walking upwind to a pheromone source, male oriental fruit moths, Grapholita molesta (Busck) exhibit none of the temporally regular course reversals (counterturns) and resultant zigzag tracks which characterise the tracks of males flying upwind to pheromone. Rather, males walk in a nearly straight line, steering directly upwind, in contrast to flying males, which steer a course alternating back and forth about 15–20° to either side of the windline. These results support the idea that counterturning in males flying to pheromone sources is a mechanism which enhances their visual perception of wind-induced drift. Counterturning would be unnecessary in walking males, which can perceive wind velocity and direction via mechanoreceptors.
Roman Patriotism and Republican Propaganda: Ptolemy of Lucca and Pope Nicholas III

Two impulses dominated northern and central Italy in the late thirteenth century. One was the striving of cities for self-sufficiency and increased power. The other was the papal thrust toward political as well as religious overlordship. Often policies of the papacy and certain cities were linked by memories and fears of imperial interference. Ptolemy of Lucca's histories reflected his keen awareness of this situation. His more theoretical political works, the Determinatio compendiosa' and the continuation of Aquinas's De regimine principum,2 did more: they furnished remarkably supple and sophisticated ideological justifications of the views of municipal patriots and ecclesiastical zealots, and included as well stinging attacks on imperial claims in Italy. On the civic level Ptolemy was a republican, both on grounds of Italian pride and an early acquaintance with Aristotle's Politics. As N. Rubinstein remarks, "Ptolemy of Lucca's re-appraisal of the Politics constitutes the most vigorous formulation Italian communal theory had yet received by the beginning of the fourteenth century."3 Ptolemy, in fact, was the first Italian republican who could justify his position in a theoretically competent way. But on the wider ecclesiastical level he was a vigorous monarchist. His Determinatio was an early and influential exposition of high papalist views, and although written about 1278, it has been called "the key