cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
VEGFR2 activity on myeloid cells mediates immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment.

Angiogenesis, a hallmark of cancer, is induced by vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF). As a result, anti-VEGF therapy is commonly employed for cancer treatment. Recent studies have found that VEGF expression is also associated with immune suppression in cancer patients. This connection has been investigated in preclinical and clinical studies by evaluating the therapeutic effect of combining anti-angiogenic reagents with immune therapy. However, the mechanisms of how anti-VEGF strategies enhance immune therapy are not fully understood. We and others have shown selective elevation of VEGFR2 expression on tumor-associated myeloid cells in tumor-bearing animals. Here we investigated the function of VEGFR2+ myeloid cells in regulating tumor immunity and found VEGF induces an immunosuppressive phenotype in VEGFR2+ myeloid cells including directly upregulating the expression of programmed cell death 1-ligand 1 (PD-L1). Moreover, we found that VEGF blockade inhibits the immunosuppressive phenotype of VEGFR2+ myeloid cells, increases T cell activation and enhances the efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade. This study highlights the function of VEGFR2 on myeloid cells and provides mechanistic insight on how VEGF inhibition potentiates immune checkpoint blockade.
Farewell to the Mirage

Letting go of objectives provides a psychological challenge because without them it might seem that we are left drifting without guideposts. This culminating chapter argues against the false security of objectives by celebrating the alternative pathways to achievement that are more effective than objectives. In particular, it offers lessons in how to inform how you live your own life by the myth of the objective. Rather than guiding your life by overarching objectives, great achievements and great happiness may be better reached through riding the winds of serendipity and following your nose towards what you find most interesting. Strangely, to do something great may require letting go of what that exact great something is. But the empowering message is that it’s okay to not know where exactly you’re heading, and that by abandoning objectives you may more likely encounter treasures, whatever they may be.
Identifying and Profiling the Yuppie Baby Boomer Segment

This paper presents a relatively simple instrument for identifying and profiling the yuppie baby boomer market segment in a given market area. The demographic, sociographic and psychographic profiles that emerge from a real administration of this instrument on a metro household panel establish the internal and external validity of this psychographic segmentation instrument.
Molecular Characterization of the 1,4-Dihydropyridine Receptor in Skeletal Muscle

Calcium antagonists have been successfully used for the treatment of several cardiovascular disorders, such as coronary heart disease, supraventricular arrhythmias, and hypertension. The most selectively acting drugs belong to one of three chemical groups: 1,4-dihydropyridines (DHP), phenylalkylamines, and benzothiazepines. These drugs inhibit L-type Ca2+ channels [1-3] by binding at distinct but allosterically interacting sites [4-6]. The drug receptor is believed to comprise part of the L-type Ca2+ channel. Pharmacological, electrophysiological, and radioligand binding studies have provided evidence for the existence of pharmacologically relevant receptors in various tissues [4-6]. However, until very recently the identity of the DHP-binding polypeptide has been an enigma.
Models of consensus for knowledge acquisition

Models of consensus are used in the knowledge acquisition process to determine what knowledge is built into a system. Unfortunately, in some cases, the consensus position is incorrect. This paper develops two analytic models of consensus that can be useful in the knowledge acquisition process. The first employs the binomial model to study the probability that using the consensus judgment for knowledge acquisition is correct or incorrect. That basic model is extended to account for both different levels of expertise and unequal prior odds. Conditions are found to indicate when the consensus model should be used in knowledge acquisition. The second model is a Bayesian model of the use of consensus judgment and knowledge acquisition. The Bayesian approach also finds that, in some cases, consensus judgment is not correct. Conditions similar to those for the binomial model are found to be appropriate for determining when the probability that the consensus is correct is greater than the probability that it is incorrect.
Some Unusual Histochemical Properties of Kangaroo Skin

Some of the most unique features of the kangaroo, leaping marsupial, may be observed at the microscopic level. Previously, histochemical technics have demonstrated alkaline phosphatase in the Meissner corpuscle of another marsupial, the North American opossum (Winkelmann (1)), and now the study of kangaroo skin has demonstrated several observations of enzyme reactivity that are noteworthy.
Solution Nuclear Magnetic Resonance: Spin‐1/2 Nuclei Other than Carbon and Proton

There are 22 spin- nuclei other than hydrogen and carbon, some with more than one spin- isotope. Four of these, 15N, 19F, 29Si and 31P, have been of major importance in chemistry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and are the subject of an extensive literature. Many spin- nuclides have had more specialized uses, such as 3H, 77Se, 109Ag, 113Cd, 119Sn, 125Te, 129Xe, 195Pt, 205Tl, and 207Pb. A few have been of limited use, generally due to poor sensitivity: 57Fe, 89Y, 103Rh, 169Tm, 171Yb, 183W, 187Os and 199Hg. Spin- nuclei generally produce sharp spectral lines, which may allow a wealth of fine structure from spin–spin coupling to be observed. This coupling, along with chemical shift information and dipolar coupling information (nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE)) are used in a variety of ways to obtain structural information and solve chemical problems. After a brief discussion of analytical techniques, the history, experimental practices, physical properties, relaxation properties, chemical shift referencing, applications and literature references for each nuclide are presented.
Removing edges from hypercubes to obtain vertex-symmetric networks with small diameter

The binary hypercube Q n has a small diameter, but a relatively large number of links. Because of this, efforts have been made to determine the maximum number of links that can be deleted without increasing the diameter. However, the resulting networks are not vertex?symmetric. We propose a family of vertex?symmetric spanning subnetworks of Q n , whose diameter differs from that of Q n by only a small constant factor. When n=2k, the cube?connected cycles network of dimension n is a vertex?symmetric spanning subnetwork of Q n+lg n . By selectively adding hypercube links, we obtain a degree 6 vertex?symmetric network with diameter 3n/2. We also introduce a vertex?symmetric spanning subnetwork of Q n?1 with degree log2 n, diameter 3n/2?2, log2 n?connectivity and maximal fault tolerance. This network hosts Q n?1 with dilation 2(log2 n)?1.
A Concise History of Bolivia

In its first Spanish edition, Herbert Klein's A Concise History of Bolivia won immediate acceptance within Bolivia as the new standard history of this important nation. Surveying Bolivia's economic, social, cultural and political evolution from the arrival of early man in the Andes to the present, this current version brings the history of this society up to the present day, covering the fundamental changes that have occurred since the National Revolution of 1952 and the return of democracy in 1982. These changes have included the introduction of universal education and the rise of the mestizos and Indian populations to political power for the first time in national history. This second edition brings this story through the first administration of the first self-proclaimed Indian president in national history and the major changes that the government of Evo Morales has introduced in Bolivian society, politics and economics.
Recent Results from Cobe

The Cosmic Background Explorer or COBE 1, NASA’s first space mission devoted primarily to cosmology, carries three scientific instruments to make precise measurements of the spectrum and anisotropy of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation on angular scales greater than 7°and to conduct a search for a diffuse cosmic infrared background (CIB) radiation with 0.7° angular resolution. The observing strategy is designed to minimize and allow determination of systematic errors that could result from spacecraft operations, the local environment of the spacecraft, and emissions from foreground astrophysical sources such as the Galaxy and the solar system. Data from the Far-InfraRed Absolute Spectrophotometer (FIRAS) show that the spectrum of the CMB is that of a blackbody of temperature T= 2.73 ± 0.06 K, with no deviation from a blackbody spectrum greater than 0.25% of the peak brightness. Data from the first year of the Differential Microwave Radiometers (DMR) show statistically significant CMB anisotropy. The anisotropy is consistent with a scale invariant primordial density fluctuation spectrum and with the gravitational potential variations required to cause the observed present day structure. Infrared sky brightness measurements from the Diffuse InfraRed Background Experiment (DIRBE) provide new conservative upper limits to the CIB. Extensive modeling of solar system and galactic infrared foregrounds is required for further improvement in the CIB limits.
A Survey of Network Coding and Applications

Common networks with source, internal, and destination nodes put data packets in queues for forwarding.Network coding aims to improve network throughput and energy consumption by combining received data packets before forwarding. In this survey, we will explore various network coding schemes, along with the behavior of network coding in applications. Sensor, wireless routing, and distributed storage networks can benefit greatly from network coding implementations. Flooding is a procedure in distributed systems which broadcasts a message to all nodes in the network. NC-Flooding is introduced, which uses network coding to possibly decrease the message complexity and/or time complexity of flooding.
Using common-pool resource design principles to assess the viability of community-based fisheries co-management systems in American Samoa and Hawai’i

Abstract Community-based fisheries co-management provides a promising path to improve both environmental sustainability and social justice, but the outcomes of co-management programs to date have been mixed. This paper examines two fisheries co-management programs, American Samoa's Community-based Fisheries Management Program (CFMP) and Hawai’i's Community-based Subsistence Fisheries Area (CBSFA) legislation, using a framework of design principles derived from common property theory. The two programs provide an interesting contrast; while American Samoa's CFMP program has been successfully implemented in eleven communities, the Hawai’i program has struggled, with no CBSFA fully implemented for over 20 years. The purpose of this analysis is threefold: to utilize the design principles to assess the likelihood that a given fisheries co-management program will have a successful outcome; to test the design principles to determine how well these principles can serve as predictors for the outcomes seen in these two different programs; and to develop recommendations for how these design principles might be used to strengthen these two programs, as well as improve other fisheries co-management programs and policies in the future. The analysis reveals that the design principles provide a useful framework through which to assess co-management programs. Our analysis reveals that the principles can provide important insights for understanding the differential outcomes of the two programs as well as provide guidance for how these and other programs can be strengthened in the future.
Is there cash in that trash?: : factors influencing industrial symbiosis exchange initiation and completion

Past work on industrial symbiosis (IS) includes a wealth of case studies across diverse settings, including industrial estates, economic regions, and IS networks. Though this work provides needed insight into factors shaping IS, much of it has been descriptive in nature. Relatively few findings have been subjected to hypothesis development and testing. In this study, we develop and empirically test a number of hypotheses on factors influencing IS exchange development, using a unique national-level IS data set of 1,322 individual material resource-based exchanges facilitated through the United Kingdom's National Industrial Symbiosis Programme. Our findings affirm and extend the literature in a number of ways. In particular, we found that a firm's number of identified waste streams decreased the likelihood of initiating an exchange, but increased the likelihood of completing it once initiated. We also found, counter to the literature, that diversity among partnering firms reduced the likelihood of both initiating and completing an IS exchange. Finally, we found that higher economic value exchanges were more likely to be initiated, but less likely to be completed. We discuss implications and conclude with a number of avenues for future research.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Head and Neck Cancer Involving the Base of the Skull

Tumors invading the skull base pose a difficult problem for the treating radiation oncologist. When confronting these highly complex tumors where the gross tumor abuts the optic apparatus or brain stem, the physician often has to make a difficult choice regarding coverage of the tumor, i.e., underdosing portions of the tumor to protect the critical normal tissues versus accepting the risk of late complication while ensuring full coverage of the tumor. This situation is often encountered in advanced T4 disease originating either in the paranasal sinuses or the nasopharynx. In this case report, the author presents a case in which difficult decisions were made when treating a complex, locally advanced, T4 nasopharyngeal cancer that invaded the skull base.
Ovarian, hormonal, and reproductive events associated with synchronization of ovulation and timed appointment breeding of Bos indicus-influenced cattle using intravaginal progesterone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone, and prostaglandin F2α

The objectives of this study were to 1) compare cumulative pregnancy rates in a traditional management (TM) scheme with those using a synchronization of ovulation protocol (CO-Synch + CIDR) for timed AI (TAI) in Bos indicus-influenced cattle; 2) evaluate ovarian and hormonal events associated with CO-Synch + CIDR and CO-Synch without CIDR; and 3) determine estrual and ovulatory distributions in cattle synchronized with Select-Synch + CIDR. The CO-Synch + CIDR regimen included insertion of a controlled internal drug-releasing device (CIDR) and an injection of GnRH (GnRH-1) on d 0, removal of the CIDR and injection of PGF2alpha (PGF) on d 7, and injection of GnRH (GnRH-2) and TAI 48 h later. For Exp. 1, predominantly Brahman x Hereford (F1) and Brangus females (n = 335) were stratified by BCS, parity, and day postpartum (parous females) before random assignment to CO-Synch + CIDR or TM. To maximize the number of observations related to TAI conception rate (n = 266), an additional 96 females in which TM controls were not available for comparison also received CO-Synch + CIDR. Conception rates to TAI averaged 39 +/- 3% and were not affected by location, year, parity, AI sire, or AI technician. Cumulative pregnancy rates were greater (P < 0.05) at 30 and 60 d of the breeding season in CO-Synch + CIDR (74.1 and 95.9%) compared with TM (61.8 and 89.7%). In Exp. 2, postpartum Brahman x Hereford (F1) cows (n = 100) were stratified as in Exp. 1 and divided into 4 replicates of 25. Within each replicate, approximately one-half (12 to 13) received CO-Synch + CIDR, and the other half received CO-Synch only (no CIDR). No differences were observed between treatments, and the data were pooled. Percentages of cows ovulating to GnRH-1, developing a synchronized follicular wave, exhibiting luteal regression to PGF, and ovulating to GnRH-2 were 40 +/- 5, 60 +/- 5, 93 +/- 2, and 72 +/- 4%, respectively. In Exp. 3, primiparous Brahman x Hereford, (F1) heifers (n = 32) and pluriparous cows (n = 18) received the Select Synch + CIDR synchronization regimen (no GnRH-2 or TAI). Mean intervals from CIDR removal to estrus and ovulation, and from estrus to ovulation were 70 +/- 2.9, 99 +/- 2.8, and 29 +/- 2.2 h, respectively. These results indicate that the relatively low TAI conception rate observed with CO-Synch + CIDR in these studies was attributable primarily to failure of 40% of the cattle to develop a synchronized follicular wave after GnRH-1 and also to inappropriate timing of TAI/GnRH-2.
Exact matrix elements for one-photon emission from hydrogenic bound states

The present Rapid Communication makes two points. (1) The exact matrix elements for the transitions between two hydrogenic states accompanied by the emission or absorption of one photon have been calculated in closed form without resorting to multipole expansions. Thus, retardation is taken into account exactly. (2) In addition to using these exact matrix elements to calculate transitions probabilities, one can make estimates of the contribution to second-order processes of these matrix elements. In particular, it can be shown that the total contribution of bound-state matrix elements to the electromagnetic shift of the ground state is finite without renormalization.
Small nasal defects

The nose occupies an important feature of a person's central face. The size, shape, and proportions of the various characteristics of the face provide a visual basis suggesting the character of the person. Scars, asymmetries, and any abnormalities of the central face are easily recognizable and noted by even a casual observer. Over the centuries, therefore, much attention has been paid to reconstruction of facial and nasal abnormalities of both acquired and congenital etiologies. The purpose of this article is to address the reconstruction of smaller defects of the nose, encompassing surface areas of 1.5 to 2 centimeters.
Middle Ear Resonance and Acoustic Immittance Measures in Children

This study established a normal middle ear resonance estimated from sweep frequency tympanometry (250–2000 Hz) and established normal equivalent ear canal volume, static acoustic admittance, and ty...
Thermal investigations of nanoaluminum/perfluoropolyether core–shell impregnated composites for structural energetics

Abstract An operationally simple blendable approach to producing structural energetic composites loaded with nanoaluminum (n-Al) particles coated by perfluoropolyethers (PFPE) yields shape moldable, structurally flexible materials. The epoxide system of poly(ethylene glycol) diglycidyl ether (PEG-DGE) and triethylenetetramine (TETA) are partially cured with an energetic blend of n-Al/PFPE core–shell particles and mechanically mixed and produce a homogeneous composite material whereby energetic potency is indefinitely shelf-stable. The composites are characterized by a suite of thermal techniques using DSC, TGA, and SDT in addition to open flame burn rate and heat of combustion measurements. This composite system may further expand the use of energetic materials with tailorable exothermic properties.
The detection and measurement of base and nucleotide excision repair in cell-free extracts of the yeast saccharomyces cerevisiae

Abstract Excision repair of DNA is a major cellular mechanism to correct DNA lesions produced by a variety of physical and chemical agents. The availability of a cell-free system is expected to provide a powerful tool with which to study the complex biochemical pathways of excision repair in eukaryotes. Here we describe such a cell-free system in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae that supports both nucleotide excision repair (NER) and base excision repair (BER) in vitro . Detailed methods and protocols are provided for the preparation of yeast cell-free extracts, damaged DNA substrates, in vitro NER assays, and in vitro BER assays, with an emphasis on technical aspects. NER and BER detected in this cell-free system apparently reflect the complete repair pathways.
Managing change for rapid development

The pace of development required to produce software for the World Wide Web threatens to overwhelm our ability to manage change. Unfortunately, when competing in "Web space" we are tempted to regard processes and tools for managing change as overhead that leads to slower execution. But experience shows that appropriate change management techniques can speed software development by improving communications and preventing rework. More than ever, we must keep our focus on the desired outcomes-the right products and technologies delivered to the right customers at the right time-and regard change itself as a factor to be managed, just like technology, resources, and time.
Neutrons, magnets, and photons: A CAREER IN STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY.

The purpose of Reflections articles, it seems, is to give elderly scientists a chance to write about the "good old days," when everyone walked to school in the snow. They enjoy this activity so much that your editor, Martha Fedor, must have known that I would accept her invitation to write such an article, no matter how much I demurred at first. As everyone knows, flattery will get you everywhere. It may comfort the apprehensive reader to learn that there is not going to be much walking to school in the snow in this story. On the contrary, rather than thinking how hard I had it during my scientific career, I find it inconceivable that anyone could have had a smoother ride. At the time I began my career, science was an expanding enterprise in the United States that welcomed the young. Only in such an opportunity-rich environment would someone like me have stood a chance. The contrast between that world and the dog-eat-dog world young scientists confront today is stark.
Improving natural killer cells

Donor lymphocyte infusions after stem cell transplantation have taught the cancer community that human immune cells have the potential power to control growth of and even eliminate a malignant clone. Although infusion of allogeneic T lymphocytes after stem cell transplantation has become part of the treatment algorithm, either to prevent or treat recurrent disease, it carries the risk of acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and does not work well against diseases with high proliferative activity. T lymphocytes can be made more targeted, as we have learnt from the studies with expanded T cells against viral antigens (Ag) [1] and through transfection with chimeric Ag receptors (CAR) recognizing tumor cell Ag [2]. Recently the ‘little brother’ (or sister) of the lymphocyte population, the natural killer (NK) cell, has experienced renewed attention as an immunologically active cell. Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) restriction in the classical sense is not required for NK cells to become activated. In fact they ‘see’ only MHC disparate targets, which will block their inhibitory receptors. The Perugia group was the first to observe that relapse in patients after MHC haplo-mismatched transplant for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) was reduced when killer cell inhibitory receptors (KIR) of donor NK cells were blocked [3]. Analyzes from large studies suggested that such an effect is only seen when T cells are depleted from the graft and the weaker NK-mediated graft-versus-leukemia (GvL) effect has the opportunity to surface. In patients not receiving a transplant, Miller et al. [4] demonstrated that infusion of allogeneic KIR-mismatched NK cells could induce a remission in 5/19 patients with advanced leukemia, further supporting the notion that allogeneic NK cells can display anti-leukemic activity. In addition to their expansion potential, it is also desirable to produce tumor-specific NK cells by genetic engineering. Unfortunately the transfection efficiency of peripheral blood NK cells is very low, although some recent reports using lentiviruses seem to result in better transfection efficiency [5]. Allogeneic clonal cell lines, on the other hand, are much easier to transfect and even allow transfection with ‘safe’ non-viral based vectors and mRNA [6]. The study by Jiang et al. [7] in this issue used the clonal NK cell line NKL to show that transfection with the interleukin (IL)-15 gene broadens and increases the cytotoxic activity of the cells, and augments expression of genes for perforin and granzyme. The study also confirms the high transfection efficiency of cell lines with simple electroporation, which has been shown for NK-92 [8]. Cytotoxic NK cell lines can be expanded under good manufacturing practice (GMP) conditions and infusion into patients appears to be safe, but with clear efficacy data still pending [9]. The study by Jiang et al. [7] further supports the notion that allogeneic NK cell lines represent a promising platform for engineering and ‘customizing’ NK cells to broaden their cytotoxic spectrum and increase their cytolytic activity.
THE GOOD MAN AND THE UPRIGHT CITIZEN IN ARISTOTLE'S ETHICS AND POLITICS

This essay deals with Aristotle's complex account in Politics III.4 of the good man and the upright citizen. By this account the goodness of an upright citizen is relative to the city of which he is a citizen, whereas the goodness of a good man is absolute. Aristotle holds that the goodness of a good man and the goodness of an upright citizen are identical in one case only, that of a full citizen of his ideal city. In a non-ideal city the two are always distinct. One would expect, then, that cases would arise where the goodness of an upright citizen would demand, and the goodness of a good man forbid, the very same action. Aristotle, however, never discusses such cases directly, and many scholars have thought that he skirts the issue entirely. I argue, on the contrary, that Aristotle believes that there are cases where a good man will act differently from an upright citizen and that, consequently, he believes, as we would hope he would believe, that there are limits to political obligation.
SonicExploratorium: an interactive exhibit of sonic discovery

In this paper, we describe SonicExploratorium, an interactive exhibit where participants use bimanual interaction to explore various sonic qualities. Participants use two Sphero Robotic Balls to interact with combinations of 4 different audio controls, such as attack, delay, sustain, reverb, etc. Tonal qualities are mapped to colors that are displayed on Geospectral Meters (part of the UI) as well as the Spheros. SonicExploratorium bridges together elements of movement, color, emotion, and sound in a soma-chroma-affective polyphony.
The structure and segmentation of the Southeast Indian Ridge

Abstract The Southeast Indian Ridge (SEIR) spreads at a relatively narrow range of intermediate rates (59–75 km/Ma) but exhibits the full range of slow to fast spreading morphology and segmentation. Satellite gravity data reveal transitions in the structure of the spreading center where it is influenced by the Amsterdam and Kerguelen hotspots and at the Australian–Antarctic Discordance (AAD). Although the spreading rate between the hotspots and the AAD is nearly constant, the ridge exhibits a variety of distinct styles of morphology and segmentation not observed at fast or slow spreading centers. Recently, collected multibeam bathymetry data reveal a transition from East Pacific Rise style overlapping axial highs near 92°E to Mid-Atlantic Ridge style axial valleys with non-transform offsets near 116°E. The intervening segmentation is characterized by propagating offsets coexisting with stationary transforms which exhibit different degrees of temporal stability. Currently, there are 10 transform offsets between the hotspots and the AAD but only five of these have persisted since seafloor spreading stabilized at 35 Ma. The other five appear to have formed since 35 Ma and several more have disappeared by transform shortening or coalesced by along-axis propagation. There is a transition from monotonic offset propagation near the hotspots to oscillatory propagation approaching the AAD. This change in offset stability corresponds to transitions in depth, axial morphology and offset structure. Through much of the transitional region, higher order segmentation is characterized by en-echelon offsets of a diffuse spreading axis that generally lacks a well defined neovolcanic zone. Since the spreading rate is nearly constant, the regional variation in axial morphology and segmentation appears to be controlled by an upper mantle thermal gradient — possibly a result of flux of asthenosphere from the hotspots to the AAD. This is consistent with the gradual increase in average ridge flank depths along this part of the plate boundary but segment scale changes in axial depth reveal spatio-temporal variability in the dynamic topography that are not preserved on older lithosphere. Intrasegment transitions in axial morphology and en-echelon offsets within first order segments suggest that local variations in mantle thermal structure introduce short-lived instabilities in higher order segmentation and dominate the short term evolution of the plate boundary.
Potassium Nutrition Effects on Lint Yield and Fiber Quality of Acala Cotton

Although results from in vitro ovule culture studies have demonstrated a specific K requirement for fiber growth, a direct association between the K status of the cotton (L.) plant and fiber quality has not been established under field conditions. To evaluate this relationship, a single cultivar (1985) and two cultivars (1986 and 1987) were grown with 0, 120, 240, or 480 kg K ha in 10 blocked replicates of each K level on an irrigated, vermiculitic soil. There was a significant seed-cotton yield response to applied K in each year. Lint yield, however, increased relatively more than seed yield, resulting in a greater lint percentage as plant K supply increased. The greater lint percentage reflected increased fiber length and secondary wall thickness (measured as a micronaire index) obtained from plants that received fertilizer K. For both cultivars, the fiber length, micronaire index, fiber strength and percent elongation, and fiber length uniformity ratio (dependent variables) were each positively related to (i) fiber K concentration at maturity, (ii) leaf K concentration at early bloom, and (iii) an index of soil K availability as independent variables in regression analyses. Comparison of cultivar regressions, however, indicated that fiber quality of ‘Acala GC510’ was higher than that of ‘Acala SJ2’ at low fiber, leaf, or soil K levels. We conclude that K supply to cotton fruit is an important determinant of fiber quality under field conditions, and that the K requirement for producing high lint yield with acceptable quality may differ among genotypes.
Euphorbia sap keratopathy: four cases and a possible pathogenic mechanism.

AIMS: To report four cases of Euphorbia sap causing anterior segment toxicity. METHODS: Medical records of four patients who presented with Euphorbia sap keratoconjunctivitis were reviewed. Clinical findings were compared with previously published reports. RESULTS: All of these patients experienced a similar clinical course. Initial contact with Euphorbia sap caused punctate epitheliopathy; patients noted immediate burning and photophobia, but no visual loss. In all cases, patients experienced epithelial slough with delayed healing, requiring approximately 9 days to heal the epithelial defect. Patients were treated with topical antibiotics, pressure patching or a bandage contact lens, and final visual acuities were excellent in all cases. A review of the literature revealed that Euphorbia sap contains a diterpenoid diester which exhibits antineoplastic activity in rodents. CONCLUSIONS: Individuals who work with Euphorbia plants should be cautioned to wear eye protection. Patients with Euphorbia sap anterior segment toxicity should be informed that their condition may worsen initially, but that visual outcome is generally excellent. The progressive corneal epithelial sloughing and delayed corneal epithelial healing may be secondary to the antineoplastic effects of Euphorbia sap.
Set-based representations of conjunctive and disjunctive knowledge

Abstract We look at the use of sets as a method of representing information. We study the use of different set operators to implement different semantic operations. Careful distinction is made between conjunctive and disjunctive type information.
Screening for domestic violence. Identifying, assisting, and empowering adult victims of abuse.

PREVIEWDomestic violence is an unfortunate component of many human relationships. Victims are primarily women, but all ages and socioeconomic groups are affected. Primary care physicians are often faced with the difficult task of identifying victims of abuse who may be afraid to disclose information or to ask for help. In this article, Dr Little provides effective, practical suggestions for communicating with and assisting patients whose only alternative is life-threatening silence.
Progress towards recombinant anti-infective antibodies

The global market for monoclonal antibody therapeutics reached a total of $11.2 billion in 2004, with an impressive 42% growth rate over the previous five years and is expected to reach approximately $34 billion by 2010. Coupled with this growth are stream-lined product development, production scale-up and regulatory approval processes for the highly conserved antibody structure. While only one of the 21 current FDA-approved antibodies, and one of the 38 products in advanced clinical trials target infectious diseases, there is increasing academic, government and commercial interest in this area. Synagis, an antibody neutralizing respiratory syncitial virus (RSV), garnered impressive sales of $1.1 billion in 2006 in spite of its high cost and undocumented effects on viral titres in human patients. The success of anti-RSV passive immunization has motivated the continued development of anti-infectives to treat a number of other infectious diseases, including those mediated by viruses, toxins and bacterial/ fungal cells. Concurrently, advances in antibody technology suggest that cocktails of several monoclonal antibodies with unique epitope specificity or single monoclonal antibodies with broad serotype specificity may be the most successful format. Recent patents and patent applications in these areas will be discussed as predictors of future anti-infective therapeutics.
The Rectification Process at Metal-Silicon Surface Barriers

Published explanations for the rectification at metal-semiconductor contacts have ranged from those which attribute the establishment of the diffusion potential (Vd) entirely to work function differences to those which presume a major role for adsorbed gases and surface states. By making direct (differential capacitance) measurements of the barrier height (Vd) and E-I characteristics during fabrication, and as a function of ambient and surface treatment, it is shown that it is possible to rank the variables for the type of etched silicon surfaces commonly used for radiation detector fabrication in the following order of importance; (1) surface treatment, (2) adsorbed gases, (3) work function. It is also shown that the high reverse currents observed in Au-Si structures before exposure to air are directly correlated with a small Vd and that the Vd associated with various surface treatments agrees with the results of Buck. Preliminary work with liquid metal contacts supports the assumption of a secondary role for the work function. A theoretical model based on surface states and interfacial layers of finite thickness is presented to explain the behavior of metal contacts on etched silicon surfaces, including the fact that many metals (e. g., Al) have been observed to form both rectifying and non-rectifying contacts on etched Si.
Graphical knowledge programming with KNAPS

Abstract This paper introduces KNAPS, a graphical expert system tool for domain experts to program problem-solving strategies, to incrementally test and debug the encoded knowledge, and to generate C programs for maximum efficiency and delivery on small computers. KNAPS provides domain experts who are not trained in computer science the capability to add, update, test, and debug knowledge graphically. The graphical approach forces an explicit representation of knowledge that is highly understandable, easily modifiable, and visually tractable. Moreover, KNAPS has the ability to generate C programs directly from the graphically represented knowledge. The graphs-to-C translation process is 100% automated. In essence, KNAPS offers a practical solution to alleviate the expertise transfer bottleneck in knowledge engineering, to eliminate programming errors resulted from hand-coding knowledge, and to facilitate the deployment of laboratory prototypes into real-world computing environments. KNAPS was developed using KEE and Common Lisp on a Symbolics 3650 workstation.
Identification of the second tonicity-responsive enhancer for the betaine transporter (BGT1) gene

Abstract When certain cells are exposed to a hypertonic solution, transcription of the BGT1 gene is markedly increased. The ensuing rise in betaine transport leads to cellular accumulation of betaine that protects the cells from the stress of hypertonicity. We have previously identified a tonicity-responsive enhancer (TonE1) in the 5′ flanking region of the BGT1 gene. It was recognized, however, that full activation of transcription requires additional sequence upstream from the TonE1. Now we report that there is another TonE (named TonE2) 72 base pairs upstream from the TonE1. TonE1 and TonE2 act synergistically to stimulate transcription of BGT1 in response to hypertonicity.
The Quantum Mechanics Explanation for the Lamb Shift

The popular perturbation method for the kinetic energy relativistic correction to the hydrogen energy levels is divergent. Using a square-root operator associated with the relativistic kinetic energy and the momentum representation, we can solve the divergence problem and recalculate the correction. The new result contains an α5 term, whose value equals 41% of the Lamb shift. This leads to a simple explanation for the Lamb shift based on quantum mechanics rather than quantum electrodynamics.
Salinity effects on seed germination and vegetative growth of greens-type Poa annua relative to other cool-season turfgrass species

Seed germination and vegetative growth stud- ies were conducted to determine relative salinity tolerance of greens-type Poa annua L. com- pared with other cool-season turfgrass spe- cies. Effects of increasing salinity stress on fi nal germination percentage (FGP), germination rate (GR), clipping yield dry weight (CYD), verdure dry weight (VD), root dry weight (RD), and the longest root length (LRL) were evaluated for nine experimental lines of greens-type P. annua, two cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass (P. pratensis L.), three cultivars of creeping bentgrass (Agros- tis stolonifera L.), and one cultivar of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.). Generally, FGP, GR, CYD, VD, and RD declined with increas- ing salinity; LRL increased at lower salinity lev- els but decreased at higher levels. Perennial ryegrass 'Charger II' and creeping bentgrass 'Mariner' exhibited the most salinity tolerance while Kentucky bluegrass cultivars exhibited the least. Salinity tolerance of greens-type P. annua was intermediate; however, some experimental lines exhibited nearly equal salinity tol erance to that of Mariner. Our data suggest greens-type P. annua possesses moderate to good salinity tol- erance during seed germination and vegetative growth relative to other cool-season turfgrass species and has potential to be used on golf courses with moderate salt problems affecting turf establishment and maintenance.
Changes in the activity of transaminases and L-glutamic acid dehydrogenase induced by growth hormone.

Summary 1. Changes in activity of l -glutamic acid dehydrogenase (GAD) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (Gl-Py) in liver, and of glutamic-oxal-acetic transaminase (Gl-Ox) in liver and muscle, were studied in hypophysectomized groups of rats injected with saline or growth hormone for 0, 2, 5, or 10 days, and in corresponding groups of sham-operated rats. 2. Hepatic GAD activity was slightly but significantly higher in hypophysectomized rats than in sham-operated ones, and was not altered by growth hormone in either group. 3. In sham-operated rats, hepatic Gl-Py activity was unaffected by growth hormone in the dose employed (100 μ g./day); in hypophysectomized rats, activity of this enzyme was progressively reduced in the groups treated with growth hormone for 2, 5, and 10 days, only a fourth of the initial activity remaining in the last group. 4. In muscle, progressive reduction of Gl-Ox activity from the high level in hypophysectomized rats to a normal level, previously reported by Bartlett and Glynn (2), was confirmed. In liver, the changes in Gl-Ox activity were more complicated. 5. Incorporation of N 15 from labeled alanine into plasma fibrinogen; proteins of liver, spleen, kidney, and heart; and into collagen from Achilles tendon or tail, was only slightly greater in hypophysectomized rats treated with growth hormone than in untreated ones. Incorporation of N 15 into collagen was less than one-fifth as great as incorporation into fibrinogen. 6. Transfer of N 15 from labeled alanine to glutamic acid, tyrosine, and other amino acids occurred to the usual extent in hypophysectomized rats treated with growth hormone in doses (100 μ g./day) sufficient to produce nearly maximal gain in weight.
Management Development Revisited

Management development is largely expensive but cost has not been properly assessed and the relevance of most programmes has not been calculated. Management development is largely educational. Suggestions are made regarding what could be measured as outcomes: employee morale, increased productivity, improved attendance and time‐keeping, fewer accidents, improved quality, enhanced promotion for participants.
Tactical globalization: learning from the Singapore experiment

Tactical globalization: learning from the Singapore experiment, by Aaron Koh, Bern, Peter Lang Publishers, 2010, 222 pp., £35.40 (paperback), ISBN 978-3-03910-591-5 As so often happens during times...
Differential conditioning of conditioned enhancement and positive conditioned suppression

Rats, barpressing for sucrose solution, were divided into three groups, each of which was exposed to a different VI schedule. During each session, four long tone CSs and four short light CSs were followed by a food pellet for half of each group. For the other half, the long CS was a tone and the short CS was light. Response rate increased during long CSs and decreased during short CSs regardless of the type of stimulus. It was concluded that conditioned enhancement and positive conditioned suppression could be brought under stimulus control and that the different phenomena were a function of CS duration.
Crafting a change message to create transformational readiness

Explains how we used the change message components of discrepancy, appropriateness, efficacy, principal support, and personal valence and the message conveying strategies of active participation, persuasive communication and management of information suggested by Armenakis and colleagues to help an organization create readiness for a major reorganization. We describe and evaluate our experiences from our initial coaching with the president, through initial management meetings to determine the new business unit’s strategy and structure, to the initial company‐wide announcement of the plans. We conclude with a set of observations and lessons and suggestions for future research on the use of the change message framework.
Fluorescence lifetime measurements of NADH and tryptophan in intact ischemic, intact rabbit myocardium

Ischemia-reperfusion injury is the leading cause of early dysfunction following transplantation. Currently, there are no techniques available to accurately measure ischemic changes during organ storage. Therefore, the interest exists in developing non-invasive monitoring techniques. We used NADH and tryptophan as fluorescent markers, since both are intrinsic fluorophores and excellent indicators for levels of hypoxia and protein denaturation, respectively.
Regulation of cadherin-mediated adhesion in morphogenesis

Cadherin cell-adhesion proteins mediate many facets of tissue morphogenesis. The dynamic regulation of cadherins in response to various extracellular signals controls cell sorting, cell rearrangements and cell movements. Cadherins are regulated at the cell surface by an inside-out signalling mechanism that is analogous to the integrins in platelets and leukocytes. Signal-transduction pathways impinge on the catenins (cytoplasmic cadherin-associated proteins), which transduce changes across the membrane to alter the state of the cadherin adhesive bond.
Synchrotron SAXS study of crystallization and microphase separation in compatible mixtures of tetrahydrofuran-methyl methacrylate diblock copolymer and poly(tetrahydrofuran)

The crystallization and microphase separation of compatible mixtures of tetrahydrofuran−methyl methacrylate diblock copolymers (PTHF-b-PMMA) with a tetrahydrofuran homopolymer (PTHF) were studied by means of synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The crystallization of PTHF microphases in the blend consisting of a PTHF-b-PMMA diblock copolymer and a PTHF homopolymer showed almost no effect on the original phase-separated structures in the amorphous state of the blend before crystallization including, for example, the PMMA interdomain distance. In the blends with PMMA lamellar or cylindrical microdomains, the crystallization temperature on cooling and the crystallinity as well as the melting point on subsequent heating of the PTHF microphase were very sensitive to the PTHF lamellar thickness or the distance between the surfaces of two neighboring PMMA cylinders. After crystallization, the blends with an alternating lamellar structure showed an appreciab...
Exosomes, endogenous retroviruses and toll-like receptors: pregnancy recognition in ewes

Conceptus-endometrial communication during the peri-implantation period of pregnancy ensures establishment of pregnancy. We hypothesized that this dialog involves exosomes, ovine endogenous jaagsiekte retroviruses (enJSRV) and toll-like receptors (TLR) which regulate the secretion of interferon tau (IFNT), the pregnancy recognition signal in ruminants. First, exosomes isolated from uterine flushings from cyclic and pregnant ewes were analyzed for exosomal content and uterine expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSC70). Then, conceptus trophectoderm cells (oTr1) treated with different doses of exosomes were analyzed for the expression of genes involved in TLR-mediated cell signaling. The results revealed that exosomes contain mRNAs for enJSRV-ENV, HSC70, interleukins, and interferon (IFN)-regulatory factors. Exosomal content of enJSRV-ENV mRNA and protein decreased from days 10 and 12 to day 16 of gestation, and uterine expression of HSC70 increased in pregnant ewes compared with cyclic ewes. The oTr1 cells proliferated and secreted IFNT in a dose-dependent manner in response to exosomes from cyclic ewes. The expression of CD14, CD68, IRAK1, TRAF6, IRF6, and IRF7 mRNAs that are key to TLR-mediated expression of type 1 IFNs was significantly influenced by day of pregnancy. This study demonstrated that exosomes are liberated into the uterine lumen during the estrous cycle and early pregnancy; however, in pregnant ewes, exosomes stimulate trophectoderm cells to proliferate and secrete IFNT coordinately with regulation of TLR-mediated cell signaling. These results support our hypothesis that free and/or exosomal enJSRV act on the trophectoderm via TLR to induce the secretion of IFNT in a manner similar to that for innate immune responses of macrophages and plasmacytoid dendritic cells to viral pathogens.