cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Water-Soluble Organometallic Catalysts from Carbohydrates. 1. Diphosphinite−Rh Complexes

Cyclohexylidene-protected diphosphinite-Rh complex A derived from α,α‘-trehalose was treated with acidic resin in methanol to get the unprotected complex B, which is water soluble. Preparation of complexes A−C and their applications for hydrogenations show the problems and prospects of using water as a solvent for these reactions.
Selection criteria for emergency medicine residency applicants.

OBJECTIVES To determine the criteria used by emergency medicine (EM) residency selection committees to select their residents, to determine whether there is a consensus among residency programs, to inform programs of areas of possible inconsistency, and to better educate applicants pursuing careers in EM. METHODS A questionnaire consisting of 20 items based on the current Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) guidelines was mailed to the program directors of all 118 EM residencies in existence in February 1998. The program directors were instructed to rank each item on a five-point scale (5 = most important, 1 = least important) as to its importance in the selection of residents. Followup was done in the form of e-mail and facsimile. RESULTS The overall response rate was 79.7%, with 94 of 118 programs responding. Items ranking as most important (4.0-5.0) in the selection process included: EM rotation grade (mean +/- SD = 4.79 +/- 0.50), interview (4.62 +/- 0.63), clinical grades (4.36 +/- 0.70), and recommendations (4.11 +/- 0.85). Moderate emphasis (3.0-4.0) was placed on: elective done at program director's institution (3.75 +/- 1.25), U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) step II (3.34 +/- 0.93), interest expressed in program director's institution (3.30 +/- 1.19), USMLE step I (3.28 +/- 0.86), and awards/achievements (3.16 +/- 0.88). Less emphasis (<3.0) was placed on Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society (AOA) status (3.01 +/- 1.09), medical school attended (3.00 +/- 0.85), extracurricular activities (2.99 +/- 0.87), basic science grades (2.88 +/- 0.93), publications (2.87 +/- 0.99), and personal statement (2.75 +/- 0.96). Items most agreed upon by respondents (lowest standard deviation, SD) included EM rotation grade (SD 0.50), interview (SD 0.63), and clinical grades (SD 0.70). Of the 94 respondents, 37 (39.4%) replied they had minimum requirements for USMLE step I (195.11 +/- 13.10), while 30 (31.9%) replied they had minimum requirements for USMLE step II (194.27 +/- 14.96). Open-ended responses to "other" were related to personal characteristics, career/goals, and medical school performance. CONCLUSIONS The selection criteria with the highest mean values as reported by the program directors were EM rotation grade, interview, clinical grades, and recommendations. Criteria showing the most consistency (lowest SD) included EM rotation grade, interview, and clinical grades. Results are compared with those from previous multispecialty studies.
Partial least squares methods for spectrally estimating lunar soil FeO abundance: A stratified approach to revealing nonlinear effect and qualitative interpretation

[1] Partial least squares (PLS) regressions were applied to lunar highland and mare soil data characterized by the Lunar Soil Characterization Consortium (LSCC) for spectral estimation of the abundance of lunar soil chemical constituents FeO and Al2O3. The LSCC data set was split into a number of subsets including the total highland, Apollo 16, Apollo 14, and total mare soils, and then PLS was applied to each to investigate the effect of nonlinearity on the performance of the PLS method. The weight-loading vectors resulting from PLS were analyzed to identify mineral species responsible for spectral estimation of the soil chemicals. The results from PLS modeling indicate that the PLS performance depends on the correlation of constituents of interest to their major mineral carriers, and the Apollo 16 soils are responsible for the large errors of FeO and Al2O3 estimates when the soils were modeled along with other types of soils. These large errors are primarily attributed to the degraded correlation FeO to pyroxene for the relatively mature Apollo 16 soils as a result of space weathering and secondary to the interference of olivine. PLS consistently yields very accurate fits to the two soil chemicals when applied to mare soils. Although Al2O3 has no spectrally diagnostic characteristics, this chemical can be predicted for all subset data by PLS modeling at high accuracies because of its correlation to FeO. This correlation is reflected in the symmetry of the PLS weight-loading vectors for FeO and Al2O3, which prove to be very useful for qualitative interpretation of the PLS results. However, this qualitative interpretation of PLS modeling cannot be achieved using principal component regression loading vectors.
Target Detection Under Misspecified Models in Hyperspectral Images

In evaluating the performance of detectors such as the orthogonal subspace projection (OSP) detector, it is often assumed that the model under which the detector is constructed is the correct model. However, in practice, the ability to identify all background endmembers might be limited. Consequently, the OSP detector would use only a subset of all background endmembers. In this paper, we consider consequences of using such incomplete information. To this end, we contrast between two detectors, one that uses all endmembers and another one that uses only some endmembers. The remaining endmembers might be unknown or deliberately discarded if we believe that this would improve the detector performance. We provide formulas for detection power of the two detectors. We also calculate their relative efficiency, which is a useful tool for comparison of detectors without directly calculating the detection power. We then show some theorems that help us in understanding relationships between the power detection of the two detectors. We also provide numerical results demonstrating the consequences of our theorems in specific scenarios. We show when the detector using more information is more powerful, but we also show examples of the opposite to be true. Practical consequences of using a given number of endmembers in the OSP detector are evaluated using an AVIRIS hyperspectral image. The results show that using too many endmembers is not beneficial for the OSP detector, and the optimal number of endmembers to be used depends on the size of the target and the desired false alarm level.
Contact dermatitis to botanical extracts.

A review of the literature of reported cases of contact dermatitis to a variety of natural herbal extracts is Presented. Natural extracts are commonly used ingredients in many cosmetic preparations and homeopathic remedies. Although the term natural botanical extracts inherently purports to have beneficial and benign properties, these extracts can cause adverse reactions in individuals. As such, dermatologists should be cognizant of these agents as possible sources of allergenicity in patients presenting with contact dermatitis.
Co-localization of superoxide generation and NADP formation in plasma membrane fractions from human neutrophils

In order to resolve discrepancies in the literature concerning the subcellular localization of NADPH oxidase, we disrupted human neutrophils by nitrogen cavitation and fractionated the subcellular organelles on a discontinuous sucrose density gradient. The lightest fraction was 20- to 40-fold enriched for piasma membranes as determined by the marker enzymes alkaline phosphatase and phosphodiesterase I as well as by the ratio of lipid phosphorus to protein. There was a significant decrease in the specific activities of the granule markers myeloperoxidase, lysozyme, andΒ-glucuronidase. An intermediate fraction was enriched in membrane markers but not to the extent the lightest fraction was enriched. This fraction contained more granular contamination, as shown by the marker enzymes. In contrast, the densest bands of the gradient were enriched for granule markers with little contamination by plasma membrane. Superoxide generation and NADP formation were primarily associated with the two membrane-enriched fractions from polymorphonuclear leukocytes stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate. The NADP formation associated with a dense granule fraction observed previously in our laboratory was probably due to a cyanide-stimulated oxidation of NADPH by myeloperoxidase.
Recombination in vivo of pseudorabies vaccine strains to produce new virus strains.

Abstract Herpesvirus suis (pseudorabies virus, PRV) has been the focus of intensive genetic engineering efforts and several effective genetically recombinant modified live virus PRV vaccines have resulted 1,2 . The likelihood and consequences of complementation and/or genetic recombination in vivo between genetically engineered and conventionally derived vaccine strains of PRV are essentially unknown. In this study, two vaccine strains of PRV with complementary gene deletions were co-inoculated into sheep. It reports that avirulent vaccine strains of PRV (genetically engineered and conventionally attenuated) recombined in vivo , resulting in the production of a new and undesirable strain of PRV. The present study exemplifies the need for thorough assessment of genetically engineered micro-organisms in the animal environment.
Control relevant identification of ill-conditioned systems: Estimation of gain directionalyty

Abstract In this paper, we investigate identification of a multi-variable system gain matrix with emphasis on the gain directionality. It is demonstrated that the accuracy of gain directionality has a stronger influence on the closed-loop performance of a model-based controller than that of the individual gain elements. It is also shown that a model accurately fitting all the elements of the gain matrix and its inverse is guaranteed to have accurate gain directionality. Motivated by this finding, we present an experimental procedure, which enables direct identification of the elements of the gain matrix inverse through a closed-loop experiment. Finding model gains that best fit both the open-loop data and closed-loop data can be formulated as a least-squares optimization. Case studies involving 2×2 and 3×3 distillation column control problems reveal that the models identified through the new procedure lead to superior closed-loop performance when compared with the models obtained through the conventional open-loop, single-input single-output identification method.
A dense planar point set from iterated line intersections

Given S1, a starting set of points in the plane, not all on a line, we define a sequence of planar point sets {Si}∞i=1 as follows. With Si already determined, let Li be the set of all the lines determined by pairs of points from Si, and let Si+1 be the set of all the intersection points of lines in Li. We show that with the exception of some very particular starting configurations, the limiting point set Ui=1∞ Si is everywhere dense in the plane.
The influence of decision makers for new technology acquisition

Technological change is a major factor to increase productivity and help organizations to obtain a competitive advantage. In the utilization of new technologies, individual and managerial variables influence directly the use of innovation. There are two important objectives of this study. The first, is to show the rank of the influence of decision makers for a new technology acquisition is different in developed and developing countries' manufacturing organizations and to find out the reasons for this difference. The second objective of this study, is to emphasize the importance of management and technical know-how during the technology acquisition process. As a result, to remain globally competitive, organizations in developed and developing countries have to consider the right combination of people as decision makers and provide comprehensive training programs for each level of employees before making any acquisition decisions.
Synthesis and biological activity of 125I/127I-phenylboronic acid derivatives.

Abstract Three iodinated phenylboronic acids have been synthesized: 4-iodophenylboronic acid (2a), 3-(4-iodoben-zenesulfonamido)phenylboronic acid (5a) and 3-(5-dimethylamino-6-iodo-1-naphthalenesulfonamido)-phenylboronic acid (6a). The corresponding no-carrier-added 125I derivatives 2b, 5b and 6b have been prepared in good yield by selective displacement of the tributylstannyl group. Compound 6b was concentrated in vitro preferentially in HT-29 human colon carcinoma cells compared to V79 Chinese hamster lung fibroblasts and showed selective retention in PaCa-2 human pancreatic cancer cells grown as solid tumor xenografts in the nude mouse.
Constraints imposed by experimental petrology on possible and impossible magma sources and products

Experimental petrology can be used in forward and inverse approaches. The forward approach defines the compositions of liquids generated by partial melting of possible source rocks at various depths. The inverse approach determines conditions for multiple-mineral saturation at the liquidus of primitive magmas, correlates them with residual minerals of possible source rocks, and thus provides estimates of depths and temperatures required for their derivation. Review of a selection of forward and inverse results is followed by evaluation of petrological and geophysical processes in layered mantle and in subduction zones. Physical constraints imposed by solidus curves and geotherms present problems for models that derive basalts from deep mantle reservoirs, separated from overlying convecting layers. Magmas from mantle are limited to compositions less siliceous than basaltic andesite, with rare exceptions. Granite liquids cannot be generated from normal peridotite, nor from oceanic crust at mantle pressures in subduction zones. In continental crust, hydrous granite liquid is generated at depths of less than 30 km. Basaltic andesite and picritic basalt are parental magmas for the calc-alkaline series. Andesite is not primary from subcontinental depths, and can be generated as liquid in continental crust only if temperatures exceed about 1100 degrees C. Calc-alkaline magmas may contain components from mantle peridotite, subducted oceanic crust, and continental crust.
Integrin organization: linking adhesion ligand nanopatterns with altered cell responses.

Abstract Integrin receptors bind to adhesion ligand (e.g. arginine–glycine–aspartic acid or RGD containing peptides) on extracellular matrix and organize into high-density complexes which mediate many cell behaviors. Biomaterials with RGD nanopatterned into multivalent “islands” (∼30–70 nm diameter) have been shown to alter cell responses, although the length scale of pattern features is orders of magnitude smaller than adhesion complexes. In this work, we employ together for the first time an extensive data set on osteoblast responses as a function of ligand nanopatterns, a computational model of integrin binding to ligand nanopatterns, and new measures of integrin organization on the cell surface. We quantify, at multiple length scales, integrin organization generated in silico as a function of RGD nanopattern parameters. We develop a correlative model relating these measures of in silico integrin organization and in vitro MC3T3 preosteoblast cell responses as functions of the same RGD nanopatterns: cell spreading correlates with the number of bound integrins, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation correlates with small, homogeneously distributed clusters of integrins, and osteogenic differentiation correlates with large, heterogeneously distributed integrin clusters. These findings highlight the significance of engineering biomaterials at the nanolevel and suggest new approaches to understanding the mechanisms linking integrin organization to cell responses.
Sampling for particulate trace element determination using water sampling bottles: methodology and comparison to in situ pumps

Procedures for routine collection and analysis of particulate trace elements from 5-10 L samples filtered from rosette-mounted GO-FLO bottles were evaluated during the GEOTRACES intercalibration cruises of 2008–09. Issues important in obtaining reliable and consistent distributions of particulate trace elements were investigated: the effect of particle settling in sampling bottles; type, performance, and elemental blanks of filters; filter digestion procedures; and ICP-MS analytical procedures. We determined that gentle mixing of sampling bottles just before filtration, and limiting filtration time to 1–2 h, minimizes settling artifacts. Among those tested, 0.45 µm polysulfone filters had the best particle loading characteristics, blanks, and physical attributes for routine use at sea. Maximum filter loading, requiring use of 25 mm filters at open ocean stations, was critical to achieve low blank corrections; most elements had < 10% correction for a process filter blank. Heated digestion in nitric and hydrofluoric acids was necessary to effect dissolution of all particulate elements. Reproducibility, evaluated through replicate sampling, is very good overall, and analytical reproducibility was < ±4%. Using the optimized methods, GO-FLO—filtered particulate elemental profiles for Al, P, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Ba compared well to those collected by in situ pumping at the SAFe station (eastern N. Pacific) and at Santa Barbara Basin (coastal California, USA), with no systematic bias for either sampling system. The methodologies evaluated here demonstrate that low-volume methods can be used to determine distributions of particulate trace elements on ocean basin-scale hydrographic cruises, with efficiency, precision, and high spatial resolution.
960-90 Ventricular Fibrillation Induction Efficacy of Low Energy T-Wave Synchronized Shocks in Patients with Nonthoracotomy ICDs

Incremental ventricular pacing or alternating current have been traditionally used to induce ventricular fibrillation (VF) while testing defibrillating function of the ICD. The available data are limited on ventricular fibrillation induction efficacy of the low energy T-wave shocks. To determine this, we analyzed data in 14 patients with Medtronic ICDs (7219C 9 pts, 7219D 2 pts, PCD 3 pts) who had undergone a total of 110 VF induction attempts either at time of ICD implant or during follow-up noninvasive EPS. The underlying heart disease was coronary in all patients with prior myocardial infarction in 10 patients. The LV ejection fraction was 30 ± 12% (range 15–64%). QT interval 440 ± 57 ms (range 360–560 ms) and QTc interval 449 ± 49 ms (range 336–520 ms) The low energy synchronized shocks (0.2–2 J) were delivered to the T wave of last of the 8 beat paced train at 400 ms with Sl-T delays ranging between 290–340 ms. Of 110 attempts with T wave shocks, the inducible arrhythmia was VF in 69%. nonsustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) in 15%, monomorphic VT in 2% and none in 14%. The VF induction efficacy was 75% (69 of 92 attempts) for T-wave shock energy of g0.6 J compared with 50% (9 of 18 attempts) for T-wave shock energy of ≤ 0.6 J (P l 0.05). In contrast, the VF induction efficacy was unaffected by S1-T delays ranging from 290–330 ms. It was 80% 14/5) at S1-T delay of 290 ms, 80% (4/5) at S1-T delay of 300 ms, 70% (44/66) at S1-T delay of 310 ms, 78% (7/9) at S1-Tdelay of 320 ms, 74% (17/23) at S1-T delay of 330 ms and 0% (0/2) at S1-T delay of 340 ms. In no patients incremental ventricular pacing or alternating current had to be used to induce VF. We conclude that a low energy (1–2 J) shock, when synchronized to the paced-T wave withS1-T delays of 290–330 ms, induces VF in over 70–80% of the attempts. This precludes the need for prolonged ventricular bursts or the use of alternating current and should, thus, be the preferred modality of choice while inducing VF to check ICD function.
Customer contact and the evaluation of service experiences: Propositions and implications for the design of services

A contingency framework is developed as a means of understanding the relationship between the level of customer contact and service satisfaction. Level of contact is defined as the extent of interpersonal interaction between the service customer and the service provider's boundary personnel. Consistent with Oliver (1997), perceived service satisfaction reflects the customer's judgment that the service delivered a plausible level of consumption-related fulfillment. The article offers a series of research propositions derived from prior research and writings from the marketing, psychology, and operations literatures. Implications for the design of service strategies in efforts to improve customer satisfaction are also discussed. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Anxious Moments: Openings in Negotiation

Even experienced negotiators often feel anxiety about beginning a new negotiation. Subjects in this study described these opening moments with vivid imagery and metaphors, among them: lurking wolves, alligators, tightropes, and rushing trains. People's deep-seated worries can be triggered by several factors: doubts about personal competence, fear about the attitudes and behavior of other parties, and the inevitable uncertainty about what path negotiation will take. The author compares openings in other contexts, notably in the arts, to illustrate how the impact of anxiety need not be entirely negative. These feelings can also spark creativity and support constructive relationships.
Comparison of the effects of pyridine and its metabolites on rat liver and kidney

In order to evaluate the possibility that the metabolism of pyridine may be important for its toxic actions, pyridine was compared with pyridine N-oxide, 2-hydroxypyridine, 3-hydroxypyridine, 4-hydroxypyridine and pyridinium methyliodide in rats given equal molar doses of the chemicals i.p. Hepatotoxicity was assessed by measuring serum sorbitol dehydrogenase, nephrotoxicity by determining increases in blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine, and influence on xenobiotic metabolism by measuring changes in p-nitrophenol hydroxylase and ethoxyresorufin and benzyloxyresorufin dealkylase activities. After a single dose of 2.5 mmol/kg, pyridinium methyliodide was the only compound that was lethal whereas 2-hydroxypyridine was the only one that caused significant hepatotoxicity. Pyridine, pyridine N-oxide, 3-hydroxypyridine and 4-hydroxypyridine were effective inducers of xenobiotic metabolism. Thus the metabolites of pyridine may play a role, either singly or collectively, in the actions of pyridine.
Ergodicity and mixing of non-commuting epimorphisms

We study mixing properties of epimorphisms of a compact connected finite-dimensional abelian group X. In particular, we show that a set F, with |F| > dim X, of epimorphisms of X is mixing if and only if every subset of F of cardinality (dim X) + 1 is mixing. We also construct examples of free non-abelian groups of automorphisms of tori which are mixing, but not mixing of order 3, and show that, under some irreducibility assumptions, ergodic groups of automorphisms contain mixing subgroups and free non-abelian mixing subsemigroups.
The Interaction of Nonbonding Orbitals in Carbonyls

H throughbond )) Wechselwirkung analysiert. Bei den tiefliegenden nichtbindenden Orbitalen der Carbonylgruppen scheint der zweite Faktor zu dominieren. Gerust-cr-Orbitale und nichtbindende Sauerstofforbitale sind stark miteinander gemischt. An isolated carbonyl group is characterized by two 'lone-pair' orbitals, described as equivalent in the valence structure 1. In any molecular orbital description of a carbonyl group, symmetry adapted combinations of these two equivalent lone-pairs must be taken, resulting in the s and fi type lone-pairs of 2. The latter orbitals are D 1 2 nonequivalent and possess widely differing energies. There is little doubt that the highest occupied u molecular orbital of simple aldehydes and ketones is p type. It is this orbital which is most directly involved in (n, n*) electronic transitions and in the mass spectral reactions of such compounds. In molecules containing several equivalent carbonyl groups the 'nonbonding ' p orbitals must be combined into more delocalized wave functions. These molecular orbitals, degenerate in the absence of any interaction, may as a result of interaction between the individual nonbonding orbitals be differentiated in energy. The energy splitting between these molecular orbitals is the prime operational measure of the extent of orbital interaction. Experimentally, this splitting may be obtained by ascertaining the ionization potentials of the appropriate orbitals. Through the technique of photoelectron spectroscopy [l] such measurements have become feasible. Whenever nonbonding orbital interaction was considered in the past, that interaction was judged small1). This is now not in accord with either theoretical or experimental results. Lone-pairs, double bonds and other isolated subunits of a molecule interact significantly with other such units by direct through-space and indirect through-bond mechanisms. These interactions are easily analyzed [3] [4]. In particular we have had some success with an analysis of nitrogen lone-pair interactions. Thus in 1,4-diazabicyclo[2.2.2]octane we predicted a large gap of 1.57 eV
Barrier Island Configuration

The 11 Virginia barrier islands are undergoing rapid changes in shore-line configuration. If this trend continues for another 100 years, two capelike features will develop. The process responsible for this island-chain pattern may be a standing edge wave trapped between Assateague Island and Cape Charles.
The synthesis and characterization of lanthanum phosphite phenylphosphonate mixed derivatives

Abstract Mixed derivatives of general formula La2(O3PH)3−x(O3PC6H5)x·yH2O have been synthesized from both aqueous and ethanolic solutions. The mixed derivatives are single phase layered compounds made up of randomly dispersed phosphite and phenylphosphonate groups throughout the layer, as determined by X-ray powder diffraction, IR, TGA and 31P MAS NMR. Two representative mixed derivatives prepared in aqueous media, La2(O3PH)1.75(O3PC6H5)1.25·2.3H2HO and La2(O3PH)2.36(O3PC6H5)0.64·1.9H2O, and one mixed derivative formed from ethanol solution, La2(O3PH)2.45(O3PC6H5)0.55·2.7H2O, are described in detail. The aqueous phase mixed derivatives have interlayer spacings (d) equivalent to phenyl-phenyl abutments (∼15 A), whereas the phase formed in ethanol has a d-spacing consistent with a phosphite-phenyl abutment (∼11 A). The factors involved in preparing mixed derivatives are discussed.
Adaptive shape transform for color image querying

Spectral (color) and spatial (shape) features available in pictures are sources of information that need to be incorporated for advance content-based image database retrieval. The adaptive shape transform approach developed in this research is originated from the premise that a two-dimensional (2D) shape can be recovered completely from a set of the orthogonal Radon transform-based projections. For search consistency, it is necessary to identify the region(s) of interest (ROI) before applying the Radon transform to shape query. ROI’s are detected automatically by means of saliency map-based segmentation. The Radon transform packs the shape information of a 2D mess along the projection axis of known orientation, and generates a series of one-dimensional (1D) functions from color channels for projection angles ranging from 1° to 180°. The optimal number of projections for a particular shape is determined by imposing the Kullback-Leibler distance (KLD) histogram comparison as the similarity metric between the query and database images. The Radon transforms with the shortest and longest lengths yield the most distinctive shape attributes for the object classes being queried. For translation- and rotation-invariant retrieval, the principal component analysis is utilized as the preprocessing tool in the spatial plane. Size invariance is achieved by normalizing the Radon transforms in the (R, G, B) color channels independently. The proposed algorithm was tested on a wide range of complex shaped objects imaged in 24-bit color with different spatial resolutions. The KLDs between two images are calculated in the longest and shortest directions of the Radon transform, and then are added together to find the similarity measure corresponding to the query and database pictures. Higher measures indicate two dissimilar shapes, while smaller values represent two similar ones. Experimental results show that the method is robust and accounts for high noise immunity.
Provenance in Comparative Analysis: A Study in Cosmology

Provenance - the logging of information about how data came into being and how it was processed - is an essential aspect of managing large-scale simulation and data-intensive projects. Using a cosmology code comparison project as an example, this article presents how a provenance system can play a key role in such applications.
Clusterin protects granulosa cells from apoptotic cell death during follicular atresia.

Abstract Clusterin expression is associated with programmed cell death (apoptosis) in many cell types but its exact role has not yet been defined. This study was carried out to determine the cellular localization of clusterin in the ovary and its functional role in the apoptotic cell death of ovarian follicles. A homogenous population of healthy and atretic follicles was obtained by treating immature rats with pregnant mare serum gonadotropin (PMSG). Apoptotic cell death was evaluated by TUNEL. Clusterin expression in the healthy and atretic follicles was examined by immunohistochemical and Western blot analyses, and gene expression was examined by Northen blot analysis. Clusterin protein and its mRNA are only expressed in granulosa cells of atretic follicles obtained from PMSG-treated rats on day 5 of the treatment. Healthy follicles from PMSG-treated rats on day 2 of the treatment do not express clusterin. Theca and stroma cells of both healthy and atretic follicles showed no signs of apoptosis and did not express clusterin. Withdrawal of trophic support from granulosa cells in cultures to induce apoptosis resulted in a dramatic increase in the levels of clusterin and its mRNA compared to cells cultured in serum-supplemented medium. In an attempt to establish the functional role of clusterin in the apoptotic cell death of ovarian follicles, the biosynthesis of clusterin in granulosa cells of healthy follicles was blocked by treatment of cells with antisense oligonucleotide to its cDNA. Treatment of granulosa cells with the antisense oligonucleotide resulted in an increase in the apoptotic cell death compared to the control. These findings indicate that depletion of clusterin can lead to the programmed cell death in ovary, suggesting a functional role for this protein in follicular atresia.
Signaling pathways and cell mechanics involved in wound closure by epithelial cell sheets

Abstract Background: Sheets of cells move together as a unit during wound healing and embryonic tissue movements, such as those occurring during gastrulation and neurulation. We have used epithelial wound closure as a model system for such movements and examined the mechanisms of closure and the importance of the Rho family of Ras-related small GTPases in this process. Results: Wounds induced in Madin–Darby canine kidney (MDCK) epithelial cell monolayers close by Rac- and phosphoinositide-dependent cell crawling, with formation of lamellipodia at the wound margin, and not by contraction of a perimarginal actomyosin purse-string. Although Rho-dependent actin bundles usually form at the margin, neither Rho activity nor formation of these structures is required for wound closure to occur at a normal rate. Cdc42 activity is also not required for closure. Inhibition of Rho or Cdc42 results, however, in statistically significant decreases in the regularity of wound closure, as determined by the ratio of wound margin perimeter over the remaining denuded area at different times. The Rac-dependent force generation for closure is distributed over several rows of cells from the wound margin, as inhibition of motility in the first row of cells alone does not inhibit closure and can be compensated for by generation of motile force in cells behind the margin. Furthermore, we observed high levels of Rac-dependent actin assembly in the first few rows of cells from the wound margin. Conclusions : Wounds in MDCK cell sheets do not close by purse-string contraction but by a crawling behavior involving Rac, phosphoinositides and active movement of multiple rows of cells. This finding suggests a new distributed mode of signaling and movement that, nevertheless, resembles individual cell motility. Although Rho and Cdc42 activities are not required for closure, they have a role in determining the regularity of closure.
The bHLH transcription factor SPATULA regulates root growth by controlling the size of the root meristem

The Arabidopsis thaliana gene SPATULA (SPT), encoding a bHLH transcription factor, was originally identified for its role in pistil development. SPT is necessary for the growth and development of all carpel margin tissues including the style, stigma, septum and transmitting tract. Since then, it has been shown to have pleiotropic roles during development, including restricting the meristematic region of the leaf primordia and cotyledon expansion. Although SPT is expressed in roots, its role in this organ has not been investigated. An analysis of embryo and root development showed that loss of SPT function causes an increase in quiescent center size in both the embryonic and postembryonic stem cell niches. In addition, root meristem size is larger due to increased division, which leads to a longer primary root. spt mutants exhibit other pleiotropic developmental phenotypes, including more flowers, shorter internodes and an extended flowering period. Genetic and molecular analysis suggests that SPT regulates cell proliferation in parallel to gibberellic acid as well as affecting auxin accumulation or transport. Our data suggest that SPT functions in growth control throughout sporophytic growth of Arabidopsis, but is not necessary for cell fate decisions except during carpel development. SPT functions independently of gibberellic acid during root development, but may play a role in regulating auxin transport or accumulation. Our data suggests that SPT plays a role in control of root growth, similar to its roles in above ground tissues.
A micromethod for measuring the activation of estradiol receptors of the rat uterus.

Abstract A method is described to estimate the activation of the estradiol-receptor complexes in the cytosol of the rat uterus. It measures the incorporation of a given amount of [3H]-estradiol complexes into the nuclei. This nuclear uptake is increased after prolonged storage of [3H]-estradiol containing cytosol at 0°C. Experiments have shown that this increase in nuclear uptake is not due to free metabolized estradiol, but that it is proportional to the amount of estradiol receptor complexes, provided they have been stored on ice for the same length of time. It is concluded that the nuclear uptake reflects the degree of activation of the labeled cytosol receptors.
AHARONOV-BOHM SCATTERING OF A WAVE PACKET OF FINITE EXTENSION

The scattering of an electron from a thin, shielded solenoid (Aharonov-Bohm effect) is studied by means of the time-dependentGreen's function of the problem. The structure of theGreen's function reveals in a lucid way the nonidentity of canonical and kinetic angular momentum as the origin of the Aharonov-Bohm scattering. The time development of a Gaussian wave packet is studied in some detail to investigate the validity of certain objections against the original work ofAharonov andBohm. In an appendix some results are given for the case of finite radius of the solenoid and finite shielding potential.
Perceived Quality of Online Shopping: Does Gender Make a Difference?

ABSTRACT Data from a sample of U.S. consumers are examined for gender-based differences in perceptions about factors affecting the perceived quality of online retailers. Seven electronic retailing (e-tailing) quality dimensions (reliability, accessibility, ordering services, convenience, product content, assurance, and credibility) are derived empirically using factor analysis. We find that women place significantly more importance on assurance than do men. This dimension, dealing with privacy and security, is closely related to trust. We find no gender-based differences in the frequency of online browsing or purchasing, but do find differences in the types of products women and men prefer to buy online.
Decreased influenza virus pathogenesis by infection with germicidal UV-irradiated airborne virus

Abstract Respiratory infections are acquired by the inhalation of airborne microorganisms. To evaluate the effect of germicidal UV-irradiation on airborne contagion, infectious clouds of influenza A/PR8/34 virus were generated and exposed to known intensities of UV. Thereafter, the airborne virus was used to infect mice wherein the pathogenesis of the viral pneumonia was evaluated. Increasing doses of UV inactivated infectious airborne virus in a dose-dependent manner and reduced the mortality rates as compared to an infectious cloud of untreated virus. When a sublethal cloud of infectious virus was used, UV-irradiation modified the viral infection, as quantitated by pulmonary virus titers, from a severe pneumonitis to a milder form of the disease. These data demonstrate the efficacy of germicidal UV-irradiation in disinfection of air by reducing the concentration of viable organisms which, in turn, reduces the severity of respiratory infection when transmitted to the susceptible host.
Serial Hemodynamic Observations in Asymptomatic Children with Valvar Aortic Stenosis

The natural history of valvar aortic stenosis in children is uncertain. This report analyzes serial clinical and catheterization data of nine initially asymptomatic children. The first hemodynamic study was performed at an average age of 6.8 years, and the follow-up study at an average age of 13.1 years. Cardiac indices and left ventricular enddiastolic pressures were consistently normal in all patients. The peak transvalvar pressure difference increased between the initial and final studies in seven out of nine patients. The gradient ranged from 15 to 40 mm Hg (mean 28.2) at the first study, and from 20 to 100 mm Hg (mean 61.6) at the most recent evaluation. Severe stenosis (gradient> 50 mm Hg, normal cardiac output; or calculated orifice <0.7 cm2/m2) developed in five of nine patients during a 6.8 year average follow-up. The obstruction advanced from mild to moderate in two patients; mild obstruction was unchanged in the remaining two. While the onset of symptoms and changes in the electrocardiogram suggested the possibility of severe obstruction in two patients, there was a poor correlation between the presence of symptoms, the results of the electrocardiogram, the results of the chest X-ray, and the transvalvar pressure gradient in any individual patient. The results of this study suggest that a progressive increase in the severity of obstruction may occur commonly, even in young children, and support the application of serial hemodynamic study to routine patient management.
ESR of pseudorotating 6Li3 and 7Li3

ESR spectra assigned to pseudorotating 6Li3 and 7Li3 molecules have been produced by arc lamp photolysis of argon matrices doped with isotopically enriched 6Li or 7Li. The spectrum of 6Li3 consists of seven equally spaced first derivative transitions with relative intensities in good agreement with the expected values for three equivalent I=1 nuclei. The measured hf constant and g value are a=12.21(1) G and go=2.002 82(1). The absence of a stationary trimer spectrum suggests that the ground vibronic state of Li3 is relatively nonlocalized. The average isotropic spin population of the trimer ρ=0.225 is in excellent agreement with the predictions of ab initio calculations. The total isotropic spin population 3ρ≂0.68 suggests an approximately 30% p‐character for the unpaired electron wave function. A comparison of the orbital composition of M, M2, M3, M∞ (M=Li, Na, K) shows (i) a diminishing s‐character with increasing cluster size, (ii) a remarkable similarity between Na and K for all cluster sizes, and ...
The Impact of Time Elapsed Between Endoscopic Ultrasound and Esophagectomy on Concordance of Ultrasonographic and Pathologic Staging of Esophageal Malignancy

Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) is frequently used for staging of esophageal malignancies prior to esophagectomy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of elapsed time between endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) staging and esophagectomy on the accuracy of EUS T- and N-staging. This was a retrospective case series of 45 patients with esophageal malignancy who underwent staging EUS and subsequent esophagectomy at our center without neoadjuvant therapy between 2000 and 2009. The main outcome measurements were accuracy of EUS T- and N-staging when compared with surgical pathology. EUS staging was accurate in 55.6% of patients for tumor stage, and in 75.6% of patients for nodal stage. The median time between EUS and esophagectomy was 26 days (range 3–64). Among patients with surgery performed 3–15, 16–30, and 31–64 days after EUS, EUS tumor staging was accurate in 90.9, 47.4, and 40.0%, respectively (P = 0.02). EUS nodal staging among patients with surgery performed 3–15, 16–30, or 31–64 days after EUS was accurate in 63.6, 84.2, and 73.3% of cases, respectively (P = 0.44). Among the 20 patients for whom T-stage was discordant, 45% were understaged and 55% were overstaged by EUS. There were 11 patients in whom N-stage was discordant; 45.5% were understaged and 54.5% were overstaged. Pathologic T-staging is concordant with EUS T-staging when esophagectomy is performed within 15 days of endoscopic evaluation. Correlation between EUS and pathologic N-staging is unlikely to be affected by length of time between EUS and esophagectomy.
Unfoldase-mediated protein translocation through an α-hemolysin nanopore.

Using nanopores to sequence biopolymers was proposed more than a decade ago1. Recent advances in enzyme-based control of DNA translocation2 and in DNA nucleotide resolution using modified biological pores3 have satisfied two technical requirements of a functional nanopore DNA sequencing device. Nanopore sequencing of proteins was also envisioned1. Although proteins have been shown to move through nanopores4, 5, 6, a technique to unfold proteins for processive translocation has yet to be demonstrated. Here we describe controlled unfolding and translocation of proteins through the α-hemolysin (α-HL) pore using the AAA+ unfoldase ClpX. Sequence-dependent features of individual engineered proteins were detected during translocation. These results demonstrate that molecular motors can reproducibly drive proteins through a model nanopore—a feature required for protein sequence analysis using this single-molecule technology.
An FPGA-based method for a reconfigurable and compact scanner controller

An essential part of a LADAR system is the scanner component. The physical scanner and its electrical controller must often be as compact as possible to meet the stringent physical requirements of the system. It is also advantageous to have a reconfigurable electrical scanner controller. This can allow real-time automated dynamic modifications to the scanning characteristics. Via reconfiguration, this can also allow a single scanner controller to be used on multiple physical scanners with different resonant frequencies and reflection angles. The most efficient method to construct a compact scanner with static or dcynamic re-configurability is by using an FPGA-based system. FPGAs are extremely compact, reconfigurable, and can be programmed with very complex algorithms. We show here the design and testing of such an FPGA-based system has been designed and tested. We show here this FPGA-based system is able to drive scanners at arbitrary frequencies with different waveforms and produce appropriate horizontal and vertical syncs of arbitrary pulse width. Several programmable constants are provided to allow re-configurability. Additionally we show how very few essential components are required so the system could potentially be compacted to approximately the size of a cell phone.
A new compact finite difference scheme for solving the complex Ginzburg-Landau equation

The complex Ginzburg-Landau equation is often encountered in physics and engineering applications, such as nonlinear transmission lines, solitons, and superconductivity. However, it remains a challenge to develop simple, stable and accurate finite difference schemes for solving the equation because of the nonlinear term. Most of the existing schemes are obtained based on the Crank-Nicolson method, which is fully implicit and must be solved iteratively for each time step. In this article, we present a fourth-order accurate iterative scheme, which leads to a tri-diagonal linear system in 1D cases. We prove that the present scheme is unconditionally stable. The scheme is then extended to 2D cases. Numerical errors and convergence rates of the solutions are tested by several examples.
INTERACTIONS BETWEEN METHAQUALONE AND ETHANOL IN RATS AND MICE DURING ACUTE AND CHRONIC STATES

SUMMARY 1. The effects of acute and chronic treatment of methaqualone on ethanol preference, the rate of disappearance of ethanol and on toxicity were studied in mice and rats. 2. Acute treatment with methaqualone showed a dose-dependent suppression in the voluntary intake of ethanol in C57B1/6J mice and rats. No significant change in ethanol intake was observed during chronic methaqualone treatment and withdrawal. 3. Methaqualone pretreatment significantly (P &lt 0.005) delayed the disappearance of ethanol in the blood and brain over a period of 50 to 200 min after a loading dose of 2.0 g/kg, i.p., of ethanol. 4. Methaqualone pretreatment at doses of 140 and 200 mg/kg significantly increased ethanol toxicity by 11% and 28%, respectively. Co-administration of ethanol using 6.0, 7.0 and 8.0 g/kg also reduced the LD50 of methaqualone by 19%, 24% and 40%, respectively. 5. Chronic administration with ethanol decreased the toxicity due to methaqualone. Potentiation of ethanol toxicity by methaqualone may be of clinical importance in view of the narrow range of safety margin of ethanol.
Metabolites from an Antarctic Sponge-Associated Bacterium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa

In an ongoing survey of the bioactive potential of microorganisms associated with marine invertebrates, the culture media of a sponge-associated bacterial strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to contain metabolites which inhibit the growth of several Gram-positive microorganisms. A series of diketopiperazines (1-6) including a new natural product (6) and two known phenazine alkaloid antibiotics (7 and 8) were isolated from the culture broth of this bacterium.
48-Year-Old Woman With Dyspnea, Cough, and Weight Loss

A 48-year-old woman presented to our emergency department with progressive dyspnea, cough with clear sputum, and a 9-kg weight loss. Evaluation at an outside emergency department 6 months previously had revealed a right middle lobe infiltrate on chest radiography (CXR), and she was treated with a 10-day course of levofloxacin for presumed community-acquired pneumonia. Her symptoms continued, and 1 month later, she went to an outside pulmonologist who found bilateral alveolar infiltrates on chest computed tomography (CT).