cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Importance of Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education Information Technology Projects

University planning requires a set of processes for continuous quality improvement but is often hampered due to the lack of project management across higher education. This paper discusses the benefits of carrying out continuous client feedback and communication processes throughout the lifecycle of information technology projects in higher education to assess and evaluate the condition of a project. The discussion includes the impact of customer participation on IT project performance as part of project quality management. Research shows that quality communication between stakeholders and project team members results in fewer misunderstandings and more precise definitions; however, there is a literature gap when it comes to assessing IT projects within higher education. Confirming expectations to improve customer perceptions of the project process and performance has a positive effect on client satisfaction. The paper emphasizes the importance of transparency on the part of IT in higher education project work, particularly in public universities, by involving higher education staff in all phases of the project, from project prioritization and selection to analysis, design, and implementation of the solution. Best practices for assessment and improving project outcomes are offered, as well as managing project quality and information flow. Future research directions are also offered.
Instruments with Heterogeneous Effects: Bias, Monotonicity, and Localness

In Instrumental Variables (IV) estimation, the effect of an instrument on an endogenous variable may vary across the sample. In this case, IV produces a local average treatment effect (LATE), and if monotonicity does not hold, then no effect of interest is identified. In this paper, I calculate the weighted average of treatment effects that is identified under general first-stage effect heterogeneity, which is generally not the average treatment effect among those affected by the instrument. I then describe a simple set of data-driven approaches to modeling variation in the effect of the instrument. These approaches identify a Super-Local Average Treatment Effect (SLATE) that weights treatment effects by the corresponding instrument effect more heavily than LATE. Even when first-stage heterogeneity is poorly modeled, these approaches considerably reduce the impact of small-sample bias compared to standard IV and unbiased weak-instrument IV methods, and can also make results more robust to violations of monotonicity. In application to a published study with a strong instrument, the preferred approach reduces error by about 19% in small (N ≈ 1, 000) subsamples, and by about 13% in larger (N ≈ 33, 000) subsamples.
Generation of strong magnetic fields for magnetized plasma experiments at the 1-MA pulsed power machine

Pulsed power technology provides a platform for investigating plasmas in strong magnetic fields using a university-scale machine. Presented here are methods for generating and measuring the 1–4-MG magnetic fields developed for the 1-MA Zebra pulsed power generator at the University of Nevada, Reno. A laser coupled with the Zebra generator produces a magnetized plasma, and experiments investigate how a megagauss magnetic field affects the two-plasmon decay and the expansion of the laser-produced plasma in both transverse and longitudinal magnetic fields.
Beyond Test Scores: “School Quality or Student Success” in State ESSA Plans:

BackgroundThe federal Every Student Succeeds Act requires states to develop accountability measures in five indicator areas, including the new “school quality or student success” category. States a...
§ 5:35 Fed. R. Evid. 502--Limitations on Waiver of Privilege and Work Product Immunity

In their first twenty years (1975-1995), the federal rules of evidence changed little. However, changes have accelerated since 1993, with creation of the Evidence Rules Advisory Committee which meets regularly and proposes changes to the rules almost every year. One change, which grew out of the work of a special committee, was the addition of an entirely new provision, Rule 502, which governs waiver of attorney-client privilege. This rule became law in 2008 through congressional enactment (privilege rules must be passed by Congress in order to take effect). Sections 5:35 discusses this new provision. Under "Attorney-Client Privilege and Work Product; Limitations on Waiver: Rule 502," section 5:35 discusses limitations on waiver of privilege and work product immunity.
Local Area Networks (LAN)

Local Area Networks (LANs) are data communications networks within offices, homes, or areas as large as campuses. LANs are based on physical technologies ranging from copper wiring and optical fiber to radio systems. There are a number of commonly used and emerging LAN technologies that offer the opportunity to connect computers and all manner of devices such as sensors and instruments to increasingly pervasive networks. Keywords: local-area network; data communications; optical fiber LAN; wireless LAN
Politics and Prophecy in the Life of Umiliana dei Cerchi

Prophetic power, a topos in hagiographie texts, can be strategically utilised in a variety of ways. Political prophecy, in particular, shows how certain individuals, with their manifold qualities both as saints and as ordinary human beings, touch public life. While prophetic power links the saint with the supernatural, political prophecy grounds the saint in the world both during life and after death. This paper addresses both the political and the prophetic in the oldest extant Life of the thirteenth-century Florentine mystic, Umiliana dei Cerchi, written by the Franciscan friar Vito of Cortona shortly after her death in 1246. In particular, I shall focus on the ways in which the account of her prophetic powers blurs the line between public and private, personal and political. That is, where previously Umiliana's cult has been studied for its political connections, I will concentrate here on Umiliana herself, in life and after death, as representative of political forces.
Performance metrics for fault prognosis of complex systems

This paper presents a methodology for estimating confidence bounds associated with the task of prediction. A data-driven confidence prediction neural network architecture is introduced that accommodates a learning scheme intended to 'shrink' the uncertainty bounds, as more information becomes available. Performance metrics are discussed and statistical techniques are employed to define confidence bounds; the methodology is applied to a typical shipboard process.
Muscle contraction increases interstitial nitric oxide as predicted by a new model of local blood flow regulation.

Key points The metabolic theory of blood flow regulation suggests that, when tissue cells experience a reduction of oxygen supply, they produce metabolic vasodilators, which increase the lumen of arterioles and hence local blood flow. A century of intensive research has not found a single metabolic vasodilator to account for observed flow changes, therefore current thought is that there are many vasodilators. We have proposed an alternative hypothesis based on the interaction of two well-known molecular mechanisms for generation and removal of the intercellular signalling radicals nitric oxide (NO) and superoxide. The proposed mechanism of regulation predicts a sharp increase in NO concentration in the intercellular space at the onset of muscle contraction. Experiments with the NO-sensitive fluorescent indicator DAF-FM, loaded into the intercellular space, confirmed the rapid response of the NO-related signal at the beginning of contractions and rapid washout of the indicator after their termination. Abstract The prevailing metabolic theory of local blood flow regulation suggests the dilatation of arterioles in response to tissue hypoxia via the emission of multiple metabolic vasodilators by parenchymal cells. We have proposed a mechanism of regulation, built from well-known components, which assumes that arterioles are normally dilated in metabolically active tissues, due to the emission of NO by the endothelium of microvessels. Regulation of local blood flow aims at preventing an excessive supply of oxygen (O2) and glucose to the tissue and thus provides an adequate supply, in contrast to the metabolic regulation theory which requires permanent hypoxia to generate the metabolic vasodilators. The mediator of the restrictive signal is superoxide anion (O2−) released by membrane NAD(P)H oxidases into the interstitial space, where it neutralizes NO at a diffusion-limited rate. This model predicts that the onset of muscle contraction will lead to the cessation of O2− production, which will cause an elevation of interstitial NO concentration and an increase in fluorescence of the NO probe DAF-FM after its conversion to DAF-T. The time course of DAF-T fluorescence in contracting muscle is predicted by also considering the washout from the muscle of the interstitially loaded NO indicator. Experiments using pulse fluorimetry confirmed an increase in the interstitial concentration of NO available for reaction with DAF-FM during bouts of muscle contraction. The sharp increase in interstitial [NO] is consistent with the hypothesis that the termination of the neutralizing superoxide flow into the interstitium is associated with the activation of mitochondria and a reduction of the interstitial oxygen tension. The advantage of the new model is its ability to explain the interaction of metabolic activity and local blood flow through the adequate delivery of glucose and oxygen.
International Trade and Aggregate Fluctuations in Granular Economies

This paper proposes a new channel through which international trade affects macroeconomic volatility. We study a multi-country model with heterogeneous firms that are subject to idiosyncratic firm-specific shocks. When the distribution of firm size follows a power law with exponent sufficiently close to -1, the idiosyncratic shocks to large Þrms have an impact on aggregate volatility. Opening to trade increases the importance of large Þrms to the economy, thus raising macroeconomic volatility. We next explore the quantitative properties of the model calibrated to data for the 50 largest economies in the world. Our simulation exercise shows that the contribution of trade to aggregate suctuations depends strongly on country size: in an economy such as the U.S., that accounts for one-third of world GDP, international trade increases volatility by about 3.5%. By contrast, trade increases aggregate volatility by some 30% in a small open economy, such as Belgium or Poland. The model performs well in matching the elasticity of macroeconomic volatility with respect to country size observed in cross-country data.
Co-development of wetland soils and benthic invertebrate communities following salt marsh creation

The development of wetland soil characteristics andbenthic invertebrate communities were evaluated increated Spartina alterniflorasalt marshes inNorth Carolina ranging in age from 1 to 25 years-old.A combination of measurements from different-agecreated marshes as well as periodic measurements overtime on two marshes were used to (1) document rates ofwetland pedogenesis, especially soil organic matter,and, (2) explore relationships between soil andbenthic invertebrate community development. Soilmacro-organic matter (MOM, the living and dead rootand rhizome mat), organic C and N increased and bulkdensity decreased during the 25 years following marshestablishment. The most dramatic changes in bulkdensity, MOM, C and N occurred within the upper 10 cmof the soil with lesser changes below this depth.Created marshes were sinks for organic C (90–140g·m-2·yr-1) and N (7–11g·m-2·yr-1) but not for P (0–1g·m-2·yr-1). The density of benthicinvertebrates (>250 μm) and subsurface-depositfeeding oligochaetes also increased over time oncreated salt marshes. Invertebrate and oligochaetedensity were strongly related to MOM content(r2= 0.83–0.87) and soil organic C(r2= 0.52–0.82) and N (r2= 0.62–0.84). Thesefindings suggest that, in created salt marshes,development of the benthic invertebrate community istied to marsh soil formation, especially accumulationof organic matter as MOM and soil. Field studies thatmanipulate the quantity and quality of soil organicmatter are needed to elucidate the relationshipbetween salt marsh pedogenesis and benthicinvertebrate community development.
Vascular consequences of passive Aβ immunization for Alzheimer's disease. Is avoidance of "malactivation" of microglia enough?

The role of inflammation in Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been controversial since its first consideration. As with most instances of neuroinflammation, the possibility must be considered that activation of glia and cytokine networks in AD arises merely as a reaction to neurodegeneration. Active, healthy neurons produce signals that suppress inflammatory events, and dying neurons activate phagocytic responses in microglia at the very least. But simultaneous with the arrival of a more complex view of microglia, evidence that inflammation plays a causal or exacerbating role in AD etiology has been boosted by genetic, physiological, and epidemiological studies. In the end, it may be that the semantics of "inflammation" and glial "activation" must be regarded as too simplistic for the advancement of our understanding in this regard. It is clear that elaboration of the entire repertoire of activated microglia – a phenomenon that may be termed "malactivation" – must be prevented for healthy brain structure and function. Nevertheless, recent studies have suggested that phagocytosis of Aβ by microglia plays an important role in clearance of amyloid plaques, a process boosted by immunization paradigms. To the extent that this clearance might produce clinical improvements (still an open question), this relationship thus obligates a more nuanced consideration of the factors that indicate and control the various activities of microglia and other components of neuroinflammation.
Longitudinal prediction of sexually transmitted diseases among adolescents: results from a national survey.

Abstract Background: Although adolescent use of condoms has been increasing, incidence of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) among young people remains high. To identify adolescent behavioral risk factors for acquiring STDs, this study assessed adolescent self-reports of acquired chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis, and trichomoniasis within 1 year after a baseline interview. Methods: We used data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Adolescent Health for this study. Data were collected in the homes of survey respondents, using audio-computer-assisted self-interview (audio-CASI) technology and interviews. Participants were enrolled in grades 7–11 from 134 U.S. schools. A cohort of 4593 sexually experienced adolescents was followed for 1 year. We conducted separate analyses for both genders. Results: About 3.1% of the male adolescents and nearly 4.7% of the female adolescents reported having had at least one STD after the baseline interview. For both genders, self-reported STD infection before baseline interview was the best predictor of self-reported STD infection 1 year after baseline interview. Female adolescents were more likely to report diagnosis with an STD after baseline if they self-identified as a minority race (other than Asian) and perceived that their mother did not disapprove of their having sex. Female adolescents were less likely to report STDs if they perceived that adults care about them. No additional variables predicted STD diagnosis after baseline for male adolescents. Conclusions: We conclude that past history of STD infection is the most important indicator of subsequent STD infection among adolescents. Thus, this study suggests the benefit of specific clinical efforts designed to promote preventive behavior among adolescents newly diagnosed with an STD.
Substrate analogues to study cell-wall biosynthesis and its inhibition

It has been known for more than 30 years that Lipid II is an intermediate in peptidoglycan synthesis. Recently, it has become apparent that it is also an important target of numerous antibiotics, including the glycopeptides, the lantibiotics and ramoplanin. It is also utilized by sortases in the construction of Gram-positive cell walls. Recent progress has been made in the synthesis of peptidoglycan intermediates that can be used to study enzymes which make peptidoglycan. These intermediates also enable studies to probe the mechanism of action of a variety of substrate-binding antibiotics.
Gated and Ungated Electron Transfer Reactions from Aromatic Amine Dehydrogenase to Azurin

Abstract Interprotein electron transfer (ET) occurs between the tryptophan tryptophylquinone (TTQ) prosthetic group of aromatic amine dehydrogenase (AADH) and copper of azurin. The ET reactions from two chemically distinct reduced forms of TTQ were studied: an O-quinol form that was generated by reduction by dithionite, and an N-quinol form that was generated by reduction by substrate. It was previously shown that on reduction by substrate, an amino group displaces a carbonyl oxygen on TTQ, and that this significantly alters the rate of its oxidation by azurin (Hyun, Y-L., and Davidson V. L. (1995) Biochemistry 34, 12249–12254). To determine the basis for this change in reactivity, comparative kinetic and thermodynamic analyses of the ET reactions from the O-quinol and N-quinol forms of TTQ in AADH to the copper of azurin were performed. The reaction of theO-quinol exhibited values of electronic coupling (H AB) of 0.13 cm−1 and reorganizational energy (λ) of 1.6 eV, and predicted an ET distance of approximately 15 A. These results are consistent with the ET event being the rate-determining step for the redox reaction. Analysis of the reaction of the N-quinol by Marcus theory yielded anH AB which exceeded the nonadiabatic limit and predicted a negative ET distance. These results are diagnostic of a gated ET reaction. Solvent deuterium kinetic isotope effects of 1.5 and 3.2 were obtained, respectively, for the ET reactions fromO-quinol and N-quinol AADH indicating that transfer of an exchangeable proton was involved in the rate-limiting reaction step which gates ET from the N-quinol, but not theO-quinol. These results are compared with those for the ET reactions from another TTQ enzyme, methylamine dehydrogenase, to amicyanin. The mechanism by which the ET reaction of theN-quinol is gated is also related to mechanisms of other gated interprotein ET reactions.
Observations of Nonthermal Emission from Early-Type Stars

Observations of a distance-limited sample of 44 Wolf-Rayet (WR) and 25 OB stars were made at 6 cm with the VLA. The stronger sources were reobserved at 2 cm and 6 cm. Based on the criteria of source strength, variability, spectral index, and spatial extent, we conclude that the emission from 5 OB stars and 2 WR stars is produced by nonthermal processes. The ratio of probable nonthermal emitters to probable thermal emitters in our sample is 0.6 in the OB stars and 0.2 in the WR stars.
Shear localization during metal cutting

Abstract The occurrence of catastrophic shear-type chips during metal cutting has been analyzed. A model which incorporates a simpl heat transfer analysis and material properties such as the strain-hardening rate, the temperature dependence of the flow stress and the strain rate sensitivity of the flow stress was developed in order to establish the tendency towards localized flow. Using data published in the literature, it was found that non-uniform flow in metal cutting is imminent when the ratio of the normalized flow softening rate to the strain rate sensitivity is equal to or greater than 5. This trend is identical with that found for flow localization and shear band formation during lower strain rate deformation as found in torsion and isothermal forging.
GB Virus C (GBV-C) Infection in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Seropositive Women with or at Risk for HIV Infection

Background GB virus C (GBV-C) may have a beneficial impact on HIV disease progression; however, the epidemiologic characteristics of this virus are not well characterized. Behavioral factors and gender may lead to differential rates of GBV-C infection; yet, studies have rarely addressed GBV-C infections in women or racial/ethnic minorities. Therefore, we evaluated GBV-C RNA prevalence and genotype distribution in a large prospective study of high-risk women in the US. Results 438 hepatitis C virus (HCV) seropositive women, including 306 HIV-infected and 132 HIV-uninfected women, from the HIV Epidemiologic Research Study were evaluated for GBV-C RNA. 347 (79.2%) women were GBV-C RNA negative, while 91 (20.8%) were GBV-C RNA positive. GBV-C positive women were younger than GBV-C negative women. Among 306 HIV-infected women, 70 (22.9%) women were HIV/GBV-C co-infected. Among HIV-infected women, the only significant difference between GBV-negative and GBV-positive women was age (mean 38.4 vs. 35.1 years; p<0.001). Median baseline CD4 cell counts and plasma HIV RNA levels were similar. The GBV-C genotypes were 1 (n = 31; 44.3%), 2 (n = 36; 51.4%), and 3 (n = 3; 4.3%). The distribution of GBV-C genotypes in co-infected women differed significantly by race/ethnicity. However, median CD4 cell counts and log10 HIV RNA levels did not differ by GBV-C genotype. GBV-C incidence was 2.7% over a median follow-up of 2.9 (IQR: 1.5, 4.9) years, while GBV-C clearance was 35.7% over a median follow-up of 2.44 (1.4, 3.5) years. 4 women switched genotypes. Conclusions Age, injection drug use, a history of sex for money or drugs, and number of recent male sex partners were associated with GBV-C infection among all women in this analysis. However, CD4 cell count and HIV viral load of HIV/HCV/GBV-C co-infected women were not different although race was associated with GBV-C genotype.
Radiologic recognition of adriamycin cardiotoxicity.

A case of congestive heart failure in a child with Wilms' tumor treated with Adriamycin is presented and discussed. The role of Adriamycin in the production of cardiotoxicity is reviewed.
DSP-4 treatment produces abnormal tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive fibers in rat hippocampus.

Abstract DSP-4 has been used as selective toxin for central norepinephrine (NE) systems. The depletion of NE by DSP-4 is thought to result from neurotoxic destruction of locus coeruleus terminals and axons. We have used tyrosine hydroxylase immunocytochemistry (TH-IR), silver stains for neural degeneration, and electron microscopy to examine the morphological effects of DSP-4 treatment on the rat hippocampus. Animal survived for either 2 or 5 weeks after DSP-4 treatment. DSP-4 depleted hippocampal norepinephrine levels to 15% of control values. Abnormally enlarged TH-IR fibers were found in the hippocampus of DSP-4-treated animals. No evidence of fiber degeneration was found following light or electron microscopic examination of the dentate hilus in DSP-4-treated animals. These data suggest that DSP-4 treatment does not destroy NE terminals, but may produce an intraneuronal lesion leading to an accumulation of TH and a depletion of norepinephrine within the terminal fields.
Using an expert system to interface mainframe computing resources with an interactive video system

An expert system called SEIB (sustaining-engineer-in-a-box) has been developed to allow routine lithography troubleshooting to be performed by manufacturing personnel, reducing their dependence on sustaining engineers. SEIB is a multi-media, multi-interface expert system, capable of utilizing interactive video images, PC-based information, and database information contained within a mainframe computer-aided manufacturing (CAM) system. SEIB utilizes a custom expert system contained within a DVIR interactive video platform. This allows for quick resolution of problems without engineering intervention. Because of its design, the system can be easily adapted to any functional area in the fabrication facility.
Infrastructure pricing policies and the public revenue in African countries

Abstract The paper shows that the public revenue constraint on economically and socially desirable programs in Africa could be greatly relaxed through the adoption of cost-reflecting pricing policies for physical infrastructure services — roads and drainage, water and sewerage, electricity, and telecommunications. Currently, the prices of infrastructure services are frequently below both economic costs and what is needed to finance investment, operating and maintenance expenditures. The services generate poor financial returns, and absorb much public finance, when in practice they are capable of earning appreciable surpluses. The paper discusses the benefits of reforming infrastructure pricing policies, the institutional and other difficulties of bringing reforms into effect, and finally makes some proposals. Although much of the analysis relates to Africa, several of its findings apply more generally.
Immunostimulants in Fish Diets

ABSTRACT Various immunostimulants and their methods of application in fish culture are examined in this review. Important variables such as life stage and innate disease resistance of the fish; immunostim-ulant used, its structure and mode of action; and the fish's environment are discussed. Conflicting results have been published about the efficacy of immunostimulants in fish diets. Some researchers have had positive responses demonstrated as increased fish survival, others have not. Generally, immunostimulants enhance individual components of the non-specific immune response but that does not always translate into increased fish survival. In addition, immunostimulants fed at too high a dose or for too long can be immunosuppressive.
Neofusicoccum parvum causes a lethal dieback of Syzygium paniculatum in Florida

(Myrtaceae), a native of Australia, is an important plantin the South Florida ornamental trade where it is used in hedges and trimmedas topiaries. It was relatively free of diseases before Hurricane Wilma in 2005,but has since been affected by a serious dieback disease, primarily in productionnurseries. Symptoms include wilting and death of terminal and lateral branches,and extensive vascular discolouration.Since 2006, the Florida Extension Plant Diagnostic Clinic in Home-stead, FL has received a total of 29 samples of
The signaling adapter protein PINCH is up‐regulated in the stroma of common cancers, notably at invasive edges

BACKGROUND PINCH is an LIM (double zinc finger domain) protein that functions as an adapter at a key convergence point for integrin and growth factor signal transduction. Because no information is available regarding its expression in vivo in human tissues, this study evaluated the distribution and abundance of PINCH in patients with breast, prostate, lung, colon, and skin carcinomas. METHODS A polyclonal antibody was raised to a purified 6-histidine PINCH fusion protein and used to evaluate 74 cases comprising 33 breast carcinomas (21 ductal carcinomas, 6 lobular carcinomas, 4 ductal carcinomas in situ, 2 lobular carcinomas in situ), 22 prostate carcinomas, 5 colon carcinomas, 6 lung carcinomas (3 adenocarcinomas and 3 squamous carcinomas), and 8 skin carcinomas (4 basal cell carcinomas and 4 squamous cell carcinomas) by immunoperoxidase histochemistry of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues. Lysates of frozen tissue from the epithelium of two normal breasts and six breast carcinomas were evaluated by immunoblotting. RESULTS Immunostaining for PINCH was increased in the cytoplasm of fibroblastoid cells in areas of the tumor-associated stroma in all carcinomatous tissues evaluated. The most intense stromal immunostaining for PINCH was noted at invasive edges, particularly in breast carcinomatous tissue. Immunoblotting of lysates from normal breast and breast carcinomatous tissue confirmed that PINCH protein expression was markedly increased in breast carcinomatous tissues. CONCLUSIONS PINCH is up-regulated in tumor-associated stromal cells, particularly at invasive edges, and may be a marker for stroma manifesting the ability to facilitate invasion. Because of this and because PINCH functions as a “molecular switch” in signal transduction, PINCH may be a new target for drug discovery aimed at the tumor-associated stroma. Cancer 2002;95:1387–95. © 2002 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.10878
Solid-state NMR investigation of major and minor ampullate spider silk in the native and hydrated states.

Silks spun from the major (Ma) and minor (Mi) ampullate glands by the spider Nephila clavipes respond to water differently. Specifically, Ma silk supercontracts (shrinks 40–50% in length) while Mi silk does not contract at all when hydrated with water. In the present study, 1H → 13C cross polarization magic angle spinning (CP-MAS), 13C MAS NMR collected with dipolar decoupling, and two-dimensional wide-line separation spectra are presented on Mi silk in its native and hydrated state and comparisons are made to Ma silk. This combination of NMR data demonstrates that water plasticizes Mi and Ma silk similarly, with an increase in chain dynamics observed in regions containing Gly, Glu, Ser, Tyr, Leu, and a fraction of Ala when the Mi silk is hydrated. Resonances that correspond to the poly(Ala) and poly(Gly Ala) motifs of Ma and Mi silk are predominately rigid indicating that water does not penetrate these β-sheet domains.
The architecture of functional neighborhoods within the mammalian cell nucleus.

There is growing realization that the spatio-temporal positioning of functional sites and factors within the cell nucleus are critical determinants of genomic function and regulation within the interphase cell nucleus. Previous studies from our group identified higher order functional zones of replication and transcriptional activity in chromatin domains replicated in early S phase where actively transcribed genes are enriched. It was proposed that these higher order zones represent the modular basis for the coordinate regulation of genomic replication and transcription in the cell. In this article we review our recent findings concerning the spatio-temporal dynamics of early S phase replicated chromatin domains, sites of gene transcription and associated protein factors. Our findings led us to propose that an important step in activation for transcription in the cell nucleus is the unfolding of regions within the discrete chromatin domains so that transcriptionally active chromatin can interact with the machinery for transcription such as RNA polymerase II and the multitude of additional factors involved in transcription and its regulation. Regulation of transcription from this global perspective likely involves temporal programming for the coordinate and differential unfolding of chromatin regions in accordance with the transcriptional programming of the cell. For example, active genes from different chromatin domains could undergo transcription at common sites or transcription factories. In addition, genes regions from within the same chromatin domains could be active at different transcription factories. All this is likely made possible by the spatial arrangement of the protein factors involved in the replicational and transcriptional processes which form combinatorial arrays that define the functional landscape of the cell nucleus. Our results demonstrate a degree of precision for the higher order spatial arrangement of these combinatorial arrays of functional components. It is thus conceivable that alterations in the spatial organization of these arrays could lead to dysfunction or altered regulation of replicational or transcriptional processes at the global level. Studies of the nuclear matrix associated proteins matrin 3 and SAF-A further suggest that anchoring to the nuclear matrix architecture may be a critical determining factor in the combinatorial properties and for the higher order arrangement of these genomic functional complexes into 3-D network-like arrays.
Coherent with laughter: Subjective experience, behavior, and physiological responses during amusement and joy

Emotion research historically has adopted a fairly homogeneous view of positive emotions. The aim of the current study was to explore how two positive emotions, amusement and joy, differ in subjective, behavioral, cardiovascular, and respiratory characteristics. Thirty-nine participants viewed two film clips, each selected to elicit amusement or joy. As predicted, participants reported more amusement, showed more positive facial expressions and laughter, and exhibited less heart rate deceleration and a larger increase in respiratory amplitude in response to the amusement clip than in response to the joy clip. In addition, subjective, behavioral, and physiological indicators were more closely related in amusement than joy, which was largely attributable to laughter during amusement. The current study adds to a growing literature suggesting the importance of adopting a more nuanced conceptualization of positive emotion.
Biological Phosphonates: Determination by Phosphorus-31 Nuclear Magnetic Resonance

Advanced methods of phosphorus-31 nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy provided a method whereby biological phosphonates and phosphates can be determined on simple lipid fractions of biological origin. The spectra consist of two easily distinguished resonance bands; one corresponds to families of phosphonates, and the other corresponds to families of orthophosphates.
Metabolism to methionine and growth stimulation by 5'-methylthioadenosine and 5'-methylthioinosine in mammalian cells.

Abstract Viable human and murine lymphoblasts, and normal human tissue extracts, converted the thioether nucleosides 5′-methylthioadenosine (MeSAdo) and 5′-methylthioinosine (MeSIno) to methionine. Both MeSAdo and MeSIno, but not homocysteine, supported the short-term growth of human or murine lymphoblasts in methionine deficient medium. However, MeSAdo at concentrations greater than 25 μM inhibited cell growth. MeSIno was non-toxic at concentrations up to 200 μM, and supported the long-term growth of lymphoblasts in methionine-free medium.
Resin acids of Pinus resinosa needles

Abstract The principal resin acids in the needles of Pinus resinosa are the labdane diterpenes, the new 8,13-epoxy-14-labden-19-oic acid (epimanoyl oxide acid), 8,13β-epoxy-14-labden-19-oic acid (manoyl oxide acid), 8(17), E -12,14-labdatrien-19-oic acid (communic acid) and 15-oxo-8(17)-labden-19-oic acid (imbricataloic acid). A survey of needles from representative populations of P. resinosa showed a limited variability in resin acid composition consistent with the uniformity of other traits. The composition of needle resin acids for putative P. nigra x resinosa hybrids strongly suggests the improbability of P. resinosa as the pollen parent.
Changes in Diesel Particulates with Engine Air/Fuel Ratio

Abstract Systematic changes have been observed in the character of diesel exhaust particulates as the engine air/fuel ratio is varied. For air/fuel ratios below 20 the particulates are primarily carbonaceous, cluster into chain-like agglomerates and exhibit high specific optical extinction. Increasing the air/fuel ratio leads to increases in the volatile organic content, to less clustering and to lower specific optical extinction. The specific optical extinction decreases from over 10 m2·g−1 at air/fuel ratios below 20 to less than 5 m2·g−1 for air/fuel ratios above 30.
Estrogen receptor beta immunoreactivity in differentiating cells of the developing rat cerebellum.

Estrogen receptors (ER) play a significant role in the development of some regions of the mammalian brain. Recently, ER-beta (ERβ) mRNA and protein were shown to be expressed in the rat cerebellum. In the present study, the ontogeny of ERβ protein expression was examined in the rat cerebellum during postnatal development. Western blot analysis indicated that a single ERβ-like immunoreactive species of ∼55 kDa was present in protein lysates prepared from the cerebella of female and male Sprague-Dawley rat pups. Immunocytochemical analysis of cerebellar sections from the midline vermis revealed that during development, the expression of ERβ varied with age and cell-type, but not sex. In the developing cerebellum, highest levels of ERβ-immunoreactivity (IR) were detected in neurons during neurite growth, and in some glia during migration. Throughout the first postnatal week, ERβ-IR was localized to differentiating granule cells in the external germinal layer and to migrating glia. Differentiating granule cells expressed detectable levels of ERβ throughout development. In Purkinje cells, ERβ-IR was first detected on postnatal day 6 (P6), with peak intensities of immunostaining coinciding with the initiation of axonal and dendritic growth that occurs between P7 and P8. Expression of ERβ-IR remained high during maturation of Purkinje cell dendrites, and then decreased to a lower level maintained in the adult. From the third postnatal week, ERβ-IR was also detected in the later developing Golgi, stellate, and basket neurons. These results suggest that ERβ may play a role in growth-related mechanisms during differentiation of cerebellar neurons and glia. J. Comp. Neurol. 430:396–409, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A Closed-Form Solution for the Eshelby Tensor and the Elastic Field Outside an Elliptic Cylindrical Inclusion

From the analytical formulation developed by Ju and Sun [1999, "A Novel Formulation for the Exterior-Point Eshelby's Tensor of an Ellipsoidal Inclusion, "ASME Trans. J. Appl. Mech., 66, pp. 570-574], it is seen that the exterior point Eshelby tensor for an ellipsoid inclusion possesses a minor symmetry. The solution to an elliptic cylindrical inclusion may be obtained as a special case of Ju and Sun's solution. It is noted that the closed-form expression for the exterior-point Eshelby tensor by Kim and Lee [2010, "Closed Form Solution of the Exterior-Point Eshelby Tensor for an Elliptic Cylindrical Inclusion, " ASME Trans. J. Appl. Mech., 77, p. 024503] violates the minor symmetry. Due to the importance of the solution in micromechanics-based analysis and plane-elasticity-related problems, in this work, the explicit analytical solution is rederived. Furthermore, the exterior-point Eshelby tensor is used to derive the explicit closed-form solution for the elastic field outside the inclusion, as well as to quantify the elastic field discontinuity across the interface. A benchmark problem is used to demonstrate a valuable application of the present solution in implementing the equivalent inclusion method.
Diabetes mellitus associated with autonomic and peripheral neuropathy after Vacor rodenticide poisoning: a review.

(1981). Diabetes Mellitus Associated with Autonomic and Peripheral Neuropathy after Vacor Rodenticide Poisoning: A Review. Clinical Toxicology: Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 441-449.
Control of substantia nigra pars reticulata neurons by the nucleus accumbens

Abstract In α-chloralose anesthetized, immobilized and ventilated cats stimulation of the nucleus accumbens (NA) evokes either inhibition or brief excitation followed by inhibition of extracellularly recorded spontaneously active or sural driven units in substantia nigra pars reticuiata (SNpr). Inhibition peaked 50–80 msec following the onset of NA stimulation and persisted for about 300 msec. Pharmacologic interventions designed to characterize this inhibition were performed. Bicuculline, 0.01 to 0.1 mg/kg IV, consistently antagonized NA elicited suppression of SNpr ceils. Diazepam 0.5 mg/kg effectively reversed bicuculline actions. Inhibition of spontaneously active units as well as sural excited units was blocked by bicuculline. Strychnine 0.1 to 0.5 mg/kg IV failed to affect inhibition arising from NA. These data suggest that, analogous to the GABAergic striatonigral pathway, inhibition of SNpr cells arising from NA utilizes GABA as a transmitter.
An Auxin-Inducible Element in Soybean SAUR Promoters

The soybean SAUR (Small Auxin-Up RNA) genes are transcriptionally induced by exogenous auxins within a few minutes after hormone application. This response is specifically induced by auxins primarily in epidermal and cortical cells within elongation zones of hypocotyls and epicotyls. We have previously shown that an 832-bp soybean SAUR promoter/beta-glucuronidase (GUS) reporter gene fusion is responsive to auxin in transgenic tobacco plants (Y. Li, G. Hagen, T.J. Guilfoyle [1991] Plant Cell 3: 1167-1175). Similar results were obtained with an 868-bp SAUR 15A promoter-GUS reporter gene in transgenic tobacco (Y. Li, unpublished results). We have now analyzed a soybean SAUR 15A promoter in transgenic tobacco plants using 5' unidirectional deletions, internal deletions and mutations, and gain-of-function assays with a minimal cauliflower mosaic virus 35S promoter. Our results indicate that the distal upstream element/NdeI restriction endonuclease site element (NDE) (B.A. McClure, G. Hagen, C.S. Brown, M.A. Gee, T.J. Guilfoyle [1989] Plant Cell 1: 229-239) in the SAUR 15A promoter is necessary and sufficient for auxin induction. Our results also show that the 30-bp NDE portion of this element is responsible for most, if not all, of the auxin inducibility of the SAUR 15A promoter. The NDE contains two adjacent sequences, TGTCTC and GGTCCCAT, which have been previously identified as putative auxin-responsive elements. We propose that these elements might function independently or together, possibly with an additional element(s), to confer auxin inducibility to the SAUR promoters.
Education and Training for Managerial Jobs

UNIVERSAL AGREEMENT on how managers should be trained has never been reached. In practice the acquisition of managerial skill and knowledge may be achieved through a variety of methods, ranging from formal education, through various forms of on-the-job training, to experience acquired in an actual management position. The occupation of manager is not a determinate one involving defined similar tasks in the same sense as those of doctors, lawyers, and carpenters. However, even though there is no agreed-upon single method of producing and training managers, it is possible that some systematic relationship does exist between the content and method of managerial training and the various categories of managerial jobs. For example, managers at different levels or in different functional areas within the organization may have, within their own levels or functional areas, similar (or divergent) educational and training experience. In order to investigate the possibility of the existence of patterns in the acquisition of managerial skill, a survey of a sample of manufacturing managers, emphasizing their backgrounds and experience, was conducted. This is a report on the findings of the study.
Effect of an SiC layer on p-i-n amorphous silicon solar cells

Abstract Solar p-i-n junction cells were fabricated on indium-tin-oxide-coated glass and parameters and lifetime were tested for p layers made both of hydrogenated amorphous silicon and of admixtures of SiC. The hydrogenated amorphous silicon cells gave efficiencies of around 6% but the cells with admixtures of SiC showed around 5 1 4 % efficiency, although they gave about 20% higher short-circuit current. The cell lifetime behavior was very similar, suggesting that the dominant factors, as yet unidentified, in determining lifetime were in the i layer.
Prescribed level of caloric restriction in behavioral weight loss programs.

Abstract Thirty-six clients were randomly assigned to three behavioral weight control groups that differed in the magnitude of behavior change prescribed during the initial weeks of treatment. Subjects in a gradual restriction group were instructed to reduce their intake gradually over the first 5 weeks of the program, decreasing daily intake by 200 calories the first week, and an additional 200 calories each subsequent week until reaching a 1000 calorie deficit. Subjects in a moderate restriction group were told to reduce intake immediately by 1000 calories per day and maintain this level throughout the program. Subjects in a large initial restriction condition were told to reduce daily intake by 1500 calories for 3 weeks and then gradually increase to a 1000 calorie a day deficit. All groups were told to maintain the 1000 calorie daily deficit during the latter 5 weeks of treatment and 4 months of maintenance. These different dietary instructions produced no differences in initial weight loss or subsequent weight loss. Compliance to dietary instructions, as measured by self-reported intake and weight loss, was best in the moderate restriction group. A moderate initial caloric reduction of 1000 calories per day may be the level naturally reached by dieters, independent of diet instructions.
Knowledge management: A re-assessment and case

The authors are building a knowledge management system (KMS) for use by several U.S. federal agencies. Its use must harmonize with multiple agency and disciplinary cultures, and also link with the efforts of at least one international agency. In this paper, we present the KMS project’s technological contributions and implementation considerations as a case in knowledge management (KM). We link the public-sector case with our assessment of KM’s current status and future prospects. We find the challenges for KM’s future are in theory, interactivity, integration, the recognition of cultural differences, and the design of marketing programs that respect these differences.
Striatal dopaminergic toxicity following intranigral injection in rats of 2-methyl-norharman, a β-carbolinium analog of N-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium ion (MPP+)

Abstract Methylated β-carboline compounds are mammalian indole metabolites that we have proposed to be endogenous neurotoxins due to their structural similarity to MPP + , the active oxidized product of the dopaminergic toxin, N -methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Several laboratories have demonstrated that MPP + administration into the substantia nigra or median forebrain bundle of rats results in extensive depletion of striatal dopamine and its metabolites. We now report that three weeks after intranigral injection of the β-carboline, 2-methyl-norharman, striatal dopamine, DOPAC, and homovanillic acid (HVA) concentrations ipsilateral to the injection are reduced 41–64% compared to vehicle-injected controls; in individual animals dopamine depletions of 96% were achieved. In addition, at the 2-methylnorharman injection site in the substantia nigra, large lesions and gliosis were apparent under light microscopic examination. This is the first direct demonstration that a 2-methyl-β-carbolinium ion is neurotoxic. It lends further validity to the hypothesis that MPP + -like β-carbolines may be endogenous causative agents in Parkinson's disease.
Ionic liquid anion effects in the extraction of metal ions by macrocyclic polyethers

Abstract As part of a broader effort to determine the factors governing the relative contributions of ion-exchange processes and neutral complex/ion-pair partitioning in the extraction of metal ions into room-temperature ionic liquids by neutral extractants, the effect of ionic liquid (IL) anion on the extraction of alkali and alkaline earth cations by a crown ether from acidic nitrate and chloride media has been systematically examined. Results for a series of 1,3-dialkylimidazolium (C n mim + )-based ILs incorporating hexafluorophosphate ( PF 6 - ), bis[(trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl] imide ( Tf 2 N - ), or bis[(perfluoroethyl)sulfonyl]imide (BETI − ) as the counterion indicate that the choice of anion, in particular its hydrophobicity, can influence the balance among the various possible pathways for extraction, as well as both the extraction efficiency and selectivity. Overall, higher IL anion hydrophobicity is accompanied by a greater tendency toward ion exchange as the predominant mode of extraction. The effect upon extraction efficiency and selectivity is more complex, however, varying markedly with aqueous acidity.