cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Molecular Pathology of Gastrointestinal Cancer

The purpose of this review is to discuss important molecular changes that aid decision making in patient management and play a role in emerging treatment strategies for gastrointestinal malignancies. Although screening and surveillance practices have had an impact on the natural history of some tumor types, gastric carcinoma is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in high prevalence regions and colorectal carcinoma is still the fourth leading cause of cancer related death in the United States.
Diakoptics and Piecewise Methods

Limitations on both high-speed core available and computer running time required for solving large-scale power system problems are very serious restrictions that continually confront the power system analyst. Piecewise methods, or methods of tearing as they are also called, hold much promise for the solution of such large scale problems. In this paper, new piecewise methods and algorithms are derived. Variations of these algorithms for practical applications are developed. Both boundary iteration as well as diakoptic methods are described. The major emphasis of this paper is placed on the latter method. The use of elimination and triangular factorization techniques within the piecewise methods is also indicated.
Incidence of Stroke and Season of the Year: Evidence of an Association

Evidence of seasonal variation in the incidence of stroke is inconsistent. This may be a likely consequence of one or more methodological shortcomings of the studies investigating this issue, including inappropriate analytic models, insufficient length of time, small sample size, and a regional (vs. national) focus. The authors' objective was to ascertain whether an association exists between season of the year and the incidence of stroke by using a methodological approach designed to overcome these limitations. The authors used a longitudinal study design involving 72,779 veterans hospitalized for stroke at any Veterans Affairs hospital nationally during the years 1986-1995. These data were analyzed by using time series methods. There was clear evidence of a seasonal occurrence for stroke in general. This seasonal effect was found for ischemic stroke, but not for hemorrhagic stroke. The peak occurrence was in mid-May. Neither the region (i.e., climate) nor the race of the patient substantially modified the seasonal trend. An explanation for this pattern remains to be determined.
On Twenty-First Century Social Transformation: Class, Nation, Gender and Race in a Period of Revolution and Capitalist Crisis

AbstractThis article is an analysis of the Black liberation struggle in the context of current capitalist crisis. The past forty-plus years since 1968 is the periodization embodied in this framework. The analysis is partially a rumination on the current state of Black America and the Black liberation struggle. Some discussion of an emergent black left and the United States Social Forum as a process for social transformation is considered. It is, as well, a look into Black feminist interventions in the Black freedom struggle. Core here is the feminist demand to center race, class, gender in intersectionality. Finally, some thought is given to the interplay and complexities surrounding class and the Black right in the US with implications for the current period.
MO‐F‐WAB‐08: Are Planning Target Volumes Derived From 4DCT Scans Adequate When Treating Lung SBRT with Static Tracking Methods?

Purpose: A unique capability of the CyberKnife system is dynamic target tracking. However, at our institution 68% of lung cancer patients are determined ineligible for this approach. Rather, their tumors are tracked statically using the vertebral column for alignment. The internal target volume (ITV) is delineated on the 4DCT scan and an additional margin is added to account for setup uncertainty. We seek appropriate ITV to PTV expansion needed for patients treated in this manner. Methods: Data from 12 patients (37 fractions) were included in this study. Each patient was treated with dynamic tracking and underwent 4DCT scanning at the time of simulation. The GTV and ITV were contoured and additional margins were added to the ITV to create the PTV. 3D target positions over the course of treatment (1–1.5 hours) were extracted from the log files. Based on these positions, a set of adjusted GTV contours was created and used to calculate the fraction of GTV extending outside of the PTV over the course of treatment (data were integrated over time for each sampling position). Results: Of the 37 fractions included, 35 (95%) show less than 5% of the GTV outside the PTV for a margin of 3.6 mm, and less than 2% of the GTV outside the PTV for a margin of 5 mm. Conclusion: The results of this study provide guidelines for selecting appropriate ITV‐PTV margins when treating lung patients on CyberKnife using spine alignment. We found that a 5 mm ITV to PTV margin is adequate to assure >98% of tumor coverage for 95% of the patients. However, this margin represents a worse case scenario. It does not reflect the fact that target motion due to patient drift is corrected for by spinal alignment. A method for separating the two sources of motion will be investigated. Separate research contract from Accuray Inc.
RELIGIOUS FUNDAMENTALISM, PUNITIVENESS, AND FIREARMS OWNERSHIP

ABSTRACT Previous research finds links between religious fundamentalism and punitiveness and between punitiveness and gun ownership. Utilizing 1988 NORC General Social Survey data, this research tests the idea that religious fundamentalism is related to both religious and civil punitiveness and that such punitive orientations increase the likelihood of firearm ownership. The results suggest that the influence of religion on punitiveness varies by race. We find that religious punitiveness is associated with gun ownership among African Americans while civil punitiveness is associated with such ownership among whites. The results are attributed to the differential roles of religion in the lives of African Americans and White Americans.
Sustainability and Economics of the Advanced High-Temperature Reactor

The advanced high-temperature reactor is a new reactor concept that combines four technologies in a new way: coated-particle nuclear fuels traditionally used for helium-cooled reactors, Brayton power cycles, passive safety systems and plant designs from liquid-cooled fast reactors, and low-pressure liquid-salt coolants. The new combination of technologies may enable the development of a large high-efficiency, lower-cost high-temperature (700 to 1,000°C) reactor for electricity and hydrogen production. As the peak reactor coolant temperatures approach 700°C, several technologies (Brayton cycles, passive reactor safety systems, available materials, etc.) work together to improve total system performance while significantly reducing costs relative to those for other reactors. A window of performance and lower capital costs exists between these temperatures and the practical temperature limits of materials. The higher temperatures and efficiency of the Brayton power cycle greatly reduce the total heat rejection compared with that achieved in current light-water reactors and may allow economic heat rejection with dry cooling towers, thus radically reducing the water consumption used in energy production. The option for dry cooling is facilitated by the characteristics of Brayton cycles, which reject heat over a temperature range of 40 to 50°C and thus match the requirements of dry cooling systems.
Design of surfactant solutions with optimal macroscopic properties

Abstract This paper addresses the design of surfactant solutions with optimal values of macroscopic properties for a particular application. A theoretically rigorous treatment is adopted to link structural parameters such as surfactant head group size, tail length, and polarity with intermediate fundamental solution properties determining the size, shape and surfactant concentration at which micelles form. Correlations, using fundamental solution properties as descriptors, are then employed to bridge the remaining gap to macroscopic properties of interest such as the HLB, emulsivity, detergency and foaming stability. An inner optimization stage minimizes the Gibbs free energy of solution to identify the fundamental solution properties while an outer optimization stage determines the surfactant molecular structure that optimizes the suitability of a surfactant for a particular application expressed in terms of macroscopic variables. The proposed theoretical, algorithmic and computational framework is illustrated with a simple example.
Energy Management and Control of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

Abstract Charging infrastructure is an important component for the healthy growth of the electric vehicle industry. This article presents an energy management and control study of an electric vehicle charging station. The charging station consists of an AC/DC converter for grid interface and multiple DC/DC converters for electric vehicle battery management. For the grid-side AC/DC converter, a direct-current control mechanism is employed for reactive power, AC system bus voltage, and DC-link voltage control. For the electric vehicle-side DC/DC converters, constant current and constant voltage control mechanisms are developed for electric vehicle charging and discharging management. The article considers energy management needs for charge and discharge of multiple electric vehicles simultaneously in a dynamic price framework. A real-time simulation system is developed to evaluate how the electric vehicle charging station can meet grid-to-vehicle, vehicle-to-grid, and vehicle-to-vehicle charging and dischar...
Morphology and properties of fibers based on polycarbonate/liquid crystalline polymer blends

Polycarbonate-triad-4–co-polybutylene terephthalate liquid crystalline blends were prepared and spun into fibers. It has been shown that fibrillation of the thermotropic liquid crystalline polymer (TLCP) takes place at the given spinning conditions, forming thus “in situ” reinforcement. Continuous fibrils are formed at concentrations between 2.5 and 5% LCP. A degree of miscibility between two phases was observed. The moduli of both as-spun and cold drawn fibers increase almost linearly with increasing concentration of TLCP. Tensile strength was found to decrease and elongation at break to increase with increasing TLCP content. The structure of the cold drawn fibers was not stable with time, causing a relaxation in the observed properties.
A review of the surface climate of the Southern Hemisphere and some comparisons with the Northern Hemisphere

Abstract This review points out features in the annual curves of some climate elements on the Southern Hemisphere which differ from their counterpart on the Northern Hemisphere. Among the topics are the effect on the surface air temperature of the different proportions of land and water at corresponding latitudes, including the decreasing annual temperature range with increasing latitude in the temperature regions of the Southern Hemisphere which is found only in limited open-ocean areas on the Northern Hemisphere. The change of sea level mean pressure in middle and high south latitudes through the year is dominated by a semi-annual wave which changes phase near 60°S from equinoctial maxima in the north to solstitial maxima in the south. A dominant semi-annual wave in the wind and the Antarctic Circumpolar Current is associated with the pressure wave. On the Northern Hemisphere the large land masses in middle and high latitudes impose an overwhelming mean annual wave on the circulation, although locally there are appreciable semi-annual components.
In vivo growth hormone treatment stimulates secretion of very low density lipoprotein by the isolated perfused rat liver.

We have previously demonstrated in hepatocyte suspensions prepared after in vivo GH deprivation [hypophysectomy (hypox)] that rates of esterification of [1-14C]oleic acid into triglyceride (TG) and phospholipid (PL) were diminished, and that these esterification rates were correspondingly restored by repletion with recombinant GH. The current studies were designed to determine if GH exerts a similar effect on the secretion of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), the primary plasma carrier of TG. We assessed rates of secretion of VLDL lipid and apoprotein by perfused livers prepared from cortisol/T3-replaced hypox female rats in the presence and absence of recombinant human (h) GH infusion. We also determined rates of synthesis and secretion of VLDL TG from infused [1-14C]oleic acid. After hypox, rates of secretion of VLDL lipid (TG, PL, and cholesterol) and apoprotein (total) were significantly decreased. In addition, VLDL secreted under these conditions was depleted of PL, relative to the other lipid com...
Efficient hydrologic tracer-test design for tracer-mass estimation and sample-collection frequency. 2. Experimental results

Effective tracer-test design requires that the likely results be predicted in advance of test initiation to ensure tracer-test success. EHTD-predicted breakthrough curves (BTCs) for various hydrological conditions were compared with measured BTCs obtained from actual tracer tests. The hydrological conditions for the tracer tests ranged from flowing streams to porous-media systems. Tracer tests evaluated included flowing streams tracer tests conducted in small and large surface-water streams, a karst solution conduit, and a glacial-meltwater stream and porous-media systems conducted as natural-gradient, forced-gradient, injection-withdrawal, and recirculation tracer tests. Comparisons between the actual tracer tests and the predicted results showed that tracer breakthrough, hydraulic characteristics, and sample-collection frequency may be forecasted sufficiently well in most instances as to facilitate good tracer-test design. Comparisons were generally improved by including tracer decay and/or retardation in the simulations. Inclusion of tracer decay in the simulations also tended to require an increase in set average tracer concentration to facilitate matching peak concentrations in the measured BTCs, however. Both nonreactive tracer and reactive tracer predictions produced recommended sample-collection frequencies that would adequately define the actual BTCs, but estimated tracer-mass estimates were less precise.
Sample Grain Influences the Functional Relationship Between Canopy Cover and Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) Burrow Abandonment

Abstract Change in vegetation structure alters habitat suitability for the threatened gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus). An understanding of this dynamic is crucial to inform habitat and tortoise management strategies. However, it is not known how the choice of the sample grain (i.e., cell size) at which vegetation structure is measured impacts estimates of tortoise–habitat relationships. We used lidar remote sensing to estimate canopy cover around 1573 gopher tortoise burrows at incrementally larger sample grains (1–707 m2) in 450 ha of longleaf pine (Pinus palustris) savanna. Using an information theoretic approach, we demonstrate that the choice of grain size profoundly influences modeled relationships between canopy cover and burrow abandonment. At the most supported grain size (314 m2), the probability of burrow abandonment increased by 1.7% with each percent increase in canopy cover. Ultimately, detecting the appropriate sample grain can lead to more effective development of functional relations...
The effects of the excitatory amino acid antagonist kynurenic acid on synaptic transmission to supraoptic neuroendocrine cells.

Abstract The magnocellular neuroendocrine system of the mammalian hypothalamus regulates numerous physiological functions by releasing] the peptide hormones oxytocin and vasopressin from the neurohypophysis. Although several susbstance are known to promote hormone release, relatively little research has been aimed at testing the hypothesis that excitatory amino acids (EAAs) mediate synaptic transmission in this neuroendocrine system. In the present experiments, intracellular recordings in slices of rat hypothalamus revealed that kynurenic acid, a specific antagonist of EAA receptors, strongly and reversibly blocked excitatory postsynaptic potentials (EPSPs) in supraoptic neurons. The profound antagonism of EPSPs by kynurenic acid strongly suggests that EAAs may be an important class of fast excitatory neurotransmitter within this central regulatory nucleus.
Incorporating Public Policy Creation and Analysis Activities Into a Mechanical Engineering Curriculum

While it is easy to recognize that mechanical engineers can lend their expertise to public policy makers as they create public policy related to science and technology, it is not as clear as to how to introduce mechanical engineering students to public policy activities. The undergraduate curricula in most mechanical engineering programs are considered full, and there are always additional topics that people wish to add. Educators are likely to hesitate before removing material from their programs in order to add material on public policy. Yet, there are techniques that can be used to incorporate aspects of public policy into a standard mechanical engineering curriculum without the removal of much, if any, current content.In this paper, several techniques for introducing mechanical engineering students to the process of public policy creation will be discussed. While these methods will not make the students experts in policy, they can introduce students to the tools that they need to influence the public policy creation process. These techniques include a comprehensive semester-long project in a technical elective course, a short policy analysis paper for development in a required or elective course, incorporation of public policy considerations in a capstone design project, policy discussions or debates in relevant courses, and a focus on public policy development in extracurricular activities.In their education, students should not only become technically proficient, but also learn how to track current events and trends, communicate their knowledge effectively, gain knowledge on applying proper engineering ethics, and be aware of the environmental and social context of their work. Through these knowledge areas and skills, students will gain the fundamental working knowledge that they need to influence public policy creation. It may be noted that these are also desirable outcomes for a student’s educational program as defined by ABET. Therefore, finding opportunities in a mechanical engineering program’s curriculum to address public policy creation activities also benefits the program by helping it more completely fulfill ABET accreditation requirements.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
A survey of expert opinion on low probability earthquakes

Abstract Seven experts in the field of earthquakes independently submitted their estimates of the probability per year of earthquakes of various sizes at each of eleven nuclear power reactor sites in the United States. In general, very large differences appeared among the predictions for every site, and the dominating seismic factors in each expert's judgment varied widely. Comparison indicates that the Safe Shutdown Earthquake values accepted by the Atomic Energy Commission for peak horizontal acceleration correspond approximately to that acceleration having a median (or average) probability of occurrence per year at the site of about 10 −4 , if the opinions of these seven experts are used as the data base.
Intracellular movements of fluorescently labeled synaptic vesicles in frog motor nerve terminals during nerve stimulation

Abstract We stained synaptic vesicles in frog motor nerve terminals with FM1-43 and studied changes in the shape and position of vesicle clusters during nerve stimulation. Each stained vesicle cluster appeared as a fluorescent spot. During repetitive nerve stimulation the spots gradually dimmed, most without changing shape or position. Occasionally, however, a spot moved, appearing in some cases to stream toward and coalesce with a neighboring spot. This suggests the existence of translocation mechanisms that can actively move vesicles in a coordinated fashion between vesicle clusters. Within single clusters, we saw no signs of such directed vesicle movements. Flourescent spots in terminals viewed from the side with a confocal microscope did not shrink toward the presynaptic membrane during nerve stimulation, but dimmed uniformly. This suggests that vesicles continuously mix within a cluster during destaining and provides no evidence of active vesicle translocators within single vesicle clusters for moving vesicles to the presynaptic membrane.
The effects of forest on stream water quality in two coastal plain watersheds of the Chesapeake bay.

Abstract Forest had varying effects on stream nutrients in two coastal plain basins of the Delmarva Peninsula, USA. In the Choptank basin, forest was strongly associated with low stream total nitrogen (TN) and nitrate (NO3−) concentrations (r2∼0.70), and forest placement along first order streams was important in maintaining low stream nitrogen (N) concentrations (r2∼0.35). In addition, a multiple regression model explained ∼40% of the stream total phosphorus (TP) variance and indicated that forest directly adjacent to streams (0–100 m) acted as a TP source and forest further away (100–300 m) from streams acted as a TP sink. In contrast, stream nutrients in the nearby Chester basin demonstrated a strong relationship with soil hydrologic properties. Forest had no significant effect on stream N and P because the finer-textured soils, higher stream slopes, and higher runoff potential of the Chester basin appeared to result in less baseflow compared to that in the Choptank basin. This reduced the opportunity for forest to intercept N via plant uptake and denitrification in the high runoff potential soils of the Chester basin. The high percentage of stormflow (40%) coupled with high stream slopes resulted in high soil erosion potential, which may explain the higher TP stream concentrations measured in the Chester compared to that in the Choptank. Differences in the hydrologic pathway appear to explain the different effects of forest on water quality in these two basins.
On the Financing and Investment Decisions of Multinational Firms in the Presence of Exchange Risk

In recent years, several papers [Mossin [13], Hamada [7], Rubinstein [14]] have addressed the normative implications of the CAPM (developed by Sharpe [15], Lintner [9] and Mossin [12]) for the capital budgeting and capital structure decisions of a value maximizing firm. The model has been extended by Chen and Boness [3] to analyze the effects of uncertain inflation and by Adler and Dumas [1] to study optimal international acquisitions.
Weightbearing and nonweightbearing ankle dorsiflexion range of motion: are we measuring the same thing?

Background: Ankle dorsiflexion range of motion has been measured in weightbearing and nonweightbearing conditions. The different measurement conditions may contribute to inconsistent conclusions regarding the role of ankle dorsiflexion in several pathologic conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between ankle dorsiflexion range of motion as measured in weightbearing and nonweightbearing conditions. Methods: We compared ankle dorsiflexion range of motion as measured in a weightbearing versus a nonweightbearing position in 43 healthy volunteers. Measurements were taken separately by two examiners. Results: Weightbearing and nonweightbearing ankle dorsiflexion measurements produced significantly different results (P < .0001). The two measurements correlated moderately (r = 0.6 and r = 0.64 for examiners 1 and 2, respectively; P < .001). Conclusions: Weightbearing and nonweightbearing ankle dorsiflexion measurements produce significantly different results and only a moderate cor...
On the stability of a well stirred isothermal crystallizer

Abstract Theoretical information is obtained concerning the cycling process occurring in stirred crystallizers. This is found on the basis of a linear stability analysis of the equations describing the crystal size distribution and the solute supersaturation. Instead of utilizing the method of moments as several others have done, we apply the Laplace transform directly to the size distribution equation. The information concerning the stability is obtained from the Laplace transform in two cases: (1) the case in which the rate of growth is size independent and (2) the case in which the rate of growth is size dependent for small crystals and size independent for large crystals. The second case has not been previously treated. In the first case instability occurs when the steepness of the nucleation curve b divided by the steepness of the growth-supersaturation curve g is larger than 21. In the second case the critical value of the ratio b/g is smaller than 21 and depends upon the specific form of the growth rate. The cycling time is in the first case approximately 2·5 times the residence time, while in the second, this cycling time is increased.
Selective Release of MicroRNA Species from Normal and Malignant Mammary Epithelial Cells

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) in body fluids are candidate diagnostics for a variety of conditions and diseases, including breast cancer. One premise for using extracellular miRNAs to diagnose disease is the notion that the abundance of the miRNAs in body fluids reflects their abundance in the abnormal cells causing the disease. As a result, the search for such diagnostics in body fluids has focused on miRNAs that are abundant in the cells of origin. Here we report that released miRNAs do not necessarily reflect the abundance of miRNA in the cell of origin. We find that release of miRNAs from cells into blood, milk and ductal fluids is selective and that the selection of released miRNAs may correlate with malignancy. In particular, the bulk of miR-451 and miR-1246 produced by malignant mammary epithelial cells was released, but the majority of these miRNAs produced by non-malignant mammary epithelial cells was retained. Our findings suggest the existence of a cellular selection mechanism for miRNA release and indicate that the extracellular and cellular miRNA profiles differ. This selective release of miRNAs is an important consideration for the identification of circulating miRNAs as biomarkers of disease.
Polyethyleneimine as a transmembrane carrier of fluorescently labeled proteins and antibodies

Polyethyleneimine (PEI) has been used previously as a nonviral DNA transfer vector. In this article, we demonstrate its use as a vehicle for transmembrane delivery of proteins in cell culture conditions. Linking proteins to PEI required no other treatment beyond mixing them with PEI. The bond between PEI and protein combined at optimal ratios was maintained in electrophoresis, even in the presence of 2.5% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). The optimal time for delivery of proteins was determined to be 24 h. We have successfully delivered an Alexa 488-labeled avidin protein into human glioblastoma cells. A functional antibody against the nuclear protein lamin was delivered into human fibroblasts and reacted with lamin inside live cells. PEI-based delivery of antibodies and fluorescently labeled proteins can be used for fluorescent detection, tracking, and evaluation of cellular protein function in vivo.
Electrical Conductivity of Single Crystalline Nickel Oxide

The electrical conductivity of single crystalline NiO was found to be proportional to the 1/4 power of the oxygen pressure for oxygen partial pressures between 100 and 10−4 atm over the temperature range of 900 to 1200 °C. These results are in agreement with singly ionized cation vacancies as the predominant nonstoichiometric defect. The sum of the enthalpies of formation of nonstoichiometric disorder and activated enthalpy of movement of an electron hole was found to remain constant when thermodynamic equilibrium was maintained. The activated enthalpy of movement of an electron hole, however, was found to obey the “Meyer-Neldel” relationship, that is, it increased as the concentration of electron holes decreased. An argument has been offered for the explanation of the “Meyer-Neldel” rule. This explanation involves consideration of another equilibrium between free electron holes and those trapped at imperfections (such as dislocations) which are not usually considered in the usual theory of point defects in nonstoichiometric compounds. Es wurde gefunden, das die elektrische Leitfahigkeit von einkristallinem NiO im Temperaturbereich von 900 bis 1200 °C fur Sauerstoffpartialdrucke zwischen 100 und 10−4 at exponentiell vom Sauerstoffdruck mit einem Exponenten 1/4 abhangt. Diese Ergebnisse befinden sich in Ubereinstimmung mit einfach ionisierten Kationenlucken als dominierende nichtstochiometrische Defekte. Es wurde gefunden, das die Summe der Bildungsenthalpien der nichtstochiometrischen Fehlordnung und der aktivierten Wanderungsenthalpie eines Elektronenlochs konstant bleibt, wenn das thermodynamische Gleichgewicht aufrechterhalten wird. Es wurde jedoch gefunden, das die aktivierte Wanderungsenthalpie eines Elektronenlochs die „Meyer-Neldelsche” Beziehung befolgt, d.h. sie wachst mit kleiner werdender Konzentration der Elektronenlocher. Eine Erklarung der „Meyer-Neldelschen” Regel wird vorgeschlagen, die ein verschiedenes Gleichgewicht zwischen freien Elektronenlochern und denen an Defekten (wie Versetzungen) getrappten berucksichtigt, was gewohnlich in der ublichen Theorie der Punktdefekte in nichtstochiometrischen Verbindungen nicht berucksichtigt wird.
Protein–protein interactions and posttranslational modifications in mammalian base excision repair

Abstract Base excision repair (BER) averts the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of most endogenously produced DNA damage, including lesions that arise spontaneously due to the intrinsic instability of DNA or modifications that are formed from reactions with intracellular chemicals, such as reactive oxygen species and alkylating agents. Defects in the BER process have been associated with cancer susceptibility and neurodegenerative disorders. In its most simplistic form, BER can be fully reconstituted with a minimum of four human proteins and is completed in just five sequential steps: (i) excision of an inappropriate base by a DNA glycosylase (e.g., uracil DNA glycosylase); (ii) incision of the DNA backbone immediately adjacent to the resulting abasic site by apurinic/apyrimidimic endonuclease 1; (iii) removal of the 5′-abasic terminal fragment, and (iv) repair synthesis to fill the gap by DNA polymerase β; and (v) ligation to seal the remaining nick by DNA ligase 1 or a complex of DNA ligase 3 and X-ray repair cross-complementing 1. However, BER can involve the participation of other proteins as well, such as alternative DNA polymerases or one of several nonessential “auxiliary” factors. In addition, BER operates most efficiently when specific protein–protein coordination occurs. Furthermore, several BER protein activities have been shown to be regulated by posttranslational modification, and some of the physical protein interactions link BER to other DNA transaction pathways. In this review, we summarize the current state of the emerging complexities of mammalian BER, focusing on the growing number of reported protein–protein interactions and posttranslational modifications.
A Multi-hypothesis Filter for Passive Tracking of Surface and Sub-Surface Target Localization

A Multi-hypothesis Iterated-Extended Kalman Filter (MHEKF) for passive sonar tracking and localization of surface and submerged targets using elevation and bearing angle measurements is presented. The MHEKF operates in a multi-depth mode by creating a bank of independently operating range-parameterized Cartesian EKFs, each receiving the same measurement data. The multi-depth mode operation allows the EKF to determine a unique (x, y, z) position solution using elevation and bearing measurements. At the first available measurement, the multi-hypothesis filter logic calculates the number and positioning of the depth banks in the water column from the operational decision radius along with the sensor beam widths and water depth. The bank depths are set in a geometric progression that yields constant coefficient of variation in range calculated with respect to the operational decision region. The MHEKF uses the normalized likelihood from each EKF depth-mode output to recursively update the target track. Any velocity or Doppler information available will reduce track ambiguity that arises when the tracker is expected to distinguish fast moving targets on the surface from slow moving targets at depth.
Hemorrhagic intracranial parenchymal metastases from primary retroperitoneal neuroblastoma.

An unusual case of parenchymal hemorrhagic metastases to the cerebrum and cerebellum in a child with retroperitoneal neuroblastoma is presented. While isolated parenchymal central nervous system (CNS) metastases have not typically been considered in association with neuroblastoma, review of the literature suggests an increased frequency of this manifestation, especially since 1980. Metastatic neuroblastoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of multiple hemorhagic parenchymal brain lesions in the pediatric population.
Mexican and Mexican-American children's funds of knowledge as interventions into deficit thinking: opportunities for praxis in science education

In this case study, I use an ethnographic-style approach to understand the funds of knowledge of immigrant families living in colonias on both sides of the US/Mexico border. I focus on how these “knowledges” and concomitant experiences impact the ways we perceive and treat immigrant students who have all too often been viewed through deficit lenses that relegate them to the lowest expectations and outcomes in the classroom. I find that Mexican and Mexican-American families hold unusually sophisticated and relevant “knowledges” to mitigate their everyday lives. In this paper, I will refer to citizens of Mexico, whether they reside in Mexico or have crossed to the United States legally or without documentation for purposes of work, as Mexican. People who have crossed the border and are living in the US as legal residents or have gained citizenship are referred to as Mexican-Americans. They live a hybrid identity that is varied and dynamic, an issue that adds to the complexity of the content and contexts of this study. These families know and use these “knowledges” on a daily basis, yet they are not recognized by teachers in the US as a starting point to affirm and support immigrant children. Instead, immigrant children are relegated to the non-gifted and lower track classes where science is taught from an abstract and non-contextual and therefore less engaged basis. The approach I outline here, based on insights from my case study, can greatly improve teachers’ abilities to prepare their curricula for diversity in science education and science literacy as well as for broad expectations for student success.
Exploratory analysis of Chinese-American family caregivers' needs and instructional video on dressing stroke survivors

The aims of this project were to explore the needs of family caregivers in the Chinese-American community and to develop training videos for caregivers on dressing stroke survivors. In-depth, semi-structured, open-ended interviews were used to explore the problems of caregivers of stroke survivors. Forty participants were recruited from Chinese-American communities. Verbatim interview transcripts were coded and analyzed. Four main concerns emerged: the impact and adjustment in lifestyle for family caregivers; lack of social activities and failure to seek community support; physical and mental stress and methods to alleviate stress, such as instruction in heavy lifting and guidance for daily activities, which include dressing. An 18-min video was produced to provide instruction on dressing stroke survivors for those who need this information. Also, this article addresses the lack of social activities and information about community or public services.
A reinvestigation of the taxol content of himalayan taxus wallichiana zucc. and a revision of the structure of brevifoliol.

Abstract When taken at the appropriate time and place, biorenewable leaves of the abundant Himalayan yew, Taxus wallichiana Zucc., contain significant quantities (0.045–0.130%) of taxol and other useful taxanes including 10-deacetylbaccatin III and brevifoliol. Spectroscopic reexamination of brevifoliol indicates that its structure must be revised to 11 . This makes brevifoliol and recently reported taxchinin A ( 12 ) close molecular relatives.
Suppression of Crystallization of Tantalum Oxide Thin Film by Doping with Zirconium

Metal oxide high dielectric constant materials suffer from crystallization after a high-temperature annealing step, which hinders their applications in future metal oxide semiconductor devices. We observed that when the tantalum oxide thin film was doped with zirconium, its amorphous-to-polycrystalline transition temperature was raised by more than 200°C. The crystal structure and grain size were affected by the dopant concentration, annealing temperature, and film thickness. The doping method changed the crystallization mechanism of the film. Therefore, the doping method is effective in improving the high-k dielectric electrical properties.
Computer-assisted intraoperative navigation during skull base surgery.

Abstract Purpose: In patients with diseases of the cranial base, anatomical landmarks are often obliterated by tumor inflammatory diseases or previous surgery. The surgeon may fail to recognize important anatomical structures or tumor margins, increasing the morbidity of the surgery and downgrading the oncological outcome. Materials and Methods: The ISG Viewing Wand is an intraoperative navigational device that uses a position-sensing articulated arm linked to a computer that allows the surgeon to correlate the anatomy of the patient with the computerized display of the reformatted images of preoperative computerized tomography or magnetic resonance. We used the ISG system in 20 patients undergoing skull base surgery for the treatment of tumor inflammatory diseases and trauma. Results: The use of the ISG wand translated into a decreased need for the resection of vital structures and provided reliable mapping of the boundaries of the paranasal sinuses and tumor margins. Conclusion: Intraoperative navigation is a promising technology that complements the surgeon's interpretation of the surgical field. Further refinements of this technology will ease the incorporation of these intraoperative navigation systems into other surgical procedures.
Embryotoxic effects of three PCB'S in the chicken.

Injection of Arochlor 1242 into chicken eggs on day 0 of incubation severely limited hatchability at levels above 2.5 ppm. The 1254 and 1260 isomers were less effective in this respect, requiring 10 ppm or more. Embryonic mortality occurred during the period of organ formation suggesting an effect on inductive mechanisms. This is supported by observation of several malformations in chicks that developed until day 21. The effects induced by the day 0 injections of the 1242 isomer are permanent as growth rates were severely depressed during the 2 week period following hatching.
Cathepsins L and Z Are Critical in Degrading Polyglutamine-containing Proteins within Lysosomes

In neurodegenerative diseases caused by extended polyglutamine (polyQ) sequences in proteins, aggregation-prone polyQ proteins accumulate in intraneuronal inclusions. PolyQ proteins can be degraded by lysosomes or proteasomes. Proteasomes are unable to hydrolyze polyQ repeat sequences, and during breakdown of polyQ proteins, they release polyQ repeat fragments for degradation by other cellular enzymes. This study was undertaken to identify the responsible proteases. Lysosomal extracts (unlike cytosolic enzymes) were found to rapidly hydrolyze polyQ sequences in peptides, proteins, or insoluble aggregates. Using specific inhibitors against lysosomal proteases, enzyme-deficient extracts, and pure cathepsins, we identified cathepsins L and Z as the lysosomal cysteine proteases that digest polyQ proteins and peptides. RNAi for cathepsins L and Z in different cell lines and adult mouse muscles confirmed that they are critical in degrading polyQ proteins (expanded huntingtin exon 1) but not other types of aggregation-prone proteins (e.g. mutant SOD1). Therefore, the activities of these two lysosomal cysteine proteases are important in host defense against toxic accumulation of polyQ proteins.
A biological study of Phytobia (Amauromyza) maculosa (Diptera; Agromyzidae).

The biology of the recently introduced leaf miner Phytobia maculosa (Malloch) was studied in Hawaii. The several developmental stages are described. Eggs hatched in 3 days at 81°F, in 3.5 days at 76°F, the 3 larval stages required 2.5, 1.7, and 2.7 days, respectively, at about 79°F; and 13–16 days were spent in the pupal stage. Egg fertility was 65% during the first 3 days of oviposition; subsequently it increased to 90% or more. Total number of eggs, commonly laid in groups of 2–4, varied with individual flies and with the host plant. Host plants included 17 genera of the Compositae and 1 of the Convolvulaceae. Oviposition began at sunrise; reached a peak between 10 AM and noon, then declined. Aside from general predators, no natural enemies were found to attack this fly.
Ionic regulation of MEL cell commitment

A key event in the initiation of the dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-induced program of murine erythroleukemia (MEL) cell differentiation is a rise in the level of cytoplasmic calcium ions. Our interest in the present study is whether other inducers of the terminal erythroid differentiation program also act via a calcium-dependent pathway. Inhibition of calcium transport has been found to prevent the induction of MEL cell commitment by DMSO, butyric acid (BA), or hypoxanthine (HX). Enhancement of the calcium flux rate with A23187 or elevation of cytoplasmic calcium levels with FCCP stimulates the kinetics of commitment in response to all three inducers. These results suggest that of the inducers we have tested (DMSO, BA, and HX), all three act to initiate commitment via a common mechanism which involves modulation of cytoplasmic calcium levels.
Remarks on the Generation of Orthogonal Groups over Finite Fields

Abstract The purpose of this paper is twofold: (1) to remove the possible exceptional cases in a theorem of Ishibashi and Earnest on two-element generation of orthogonal groups over finite fields, and (2) to obtain a result on generation by symmetries for orthogonal groups over finite fields of characteristics 2.
Comparison of three stability measures in guayule

Guayule (Parthenium argentatum Gray), a desert shrub native to the Chihuahuan desert of North America, is being domesticated as a potential rubber source. Two Uniform Regional Guayule Variety Trials were conducted in eleven locations using a total of twelve entries. Data from each of these trials were used to compute stability coefficients using the methods of Finlay and Wilkinson (1963), Eberhart and Russell (1966) and Zhang and Geng (1986). Results and interpretations of these methods were compared. Zhang and Geng's method was the most useful because it allowed comparison of entries grown in the two different yield trials. Using this method, the following conclusions were reached: Arizona breeding line AZ101 was significantly less stable than average in biomass and resin yield, ‘11605’ was less stable than average for percent rubber, and ‘Cal-6’ and ‘Cal-7’ were less stable than average for rubber yield. Six entries (‘N565’, ‘N576’, ‘11591’, ‘11605’, ‘11619’ and ‘12229’) were significantly more stable than average for biomass yield, resin yield and rubber yield. Germplasm line N396 was also more stable than average for resin yield and percent resin. AZ101 was more stable than average for rubber percentage and rubber yield. Over all entries, there was a negative correlation between stability and yields of resin and rubber.
Changes in Release Characteristics and Runoff Phosphorus for Soils Amended with Manure

Abstract Application of manure on agricultural land can introduce considerable amounts of phosphorus (P) to natural water resources. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of dairy manure application on 1) P released from surface soil by rainfall, 2) P removed from surface soil by runoff, and 3) soil P available for plants. A technique implementing a Soil Survey Laboratory method and USDA Runoff Model was applied on four Texas and three Utah soils. The application of manure (100 Mg/ha) considerably increased the amount of P released from the surface soil by rainfall, but there was no significant change in the pattern of P release (phosphorus release characteristics). Manure application increased both the runoff and available P for soils. For the Blanket soil (Texas), P released from surface soil by rainfall increased from 1.06 to 30.8 kg/ha/yr. The runoff P (kg/ha/yr) increased from 0.18 to 5.15 for fallow, from 0.16 to 4.71 for cropland, and from 0.13 to 3.88 for grassland. Soil P avail...
Chimeric Rat Na,K-ATPase α1/α3* Isoforms

Na,K-ATPase molecules containing the alpha 1, alpha 2*, and alpha 3* isoforms expressed in HeLa cells exhibit a two- to threefold difference in their K0.5 for Na+ (alpha 1 = alpha 2* < alpha 3*). To investigate the structural basis for this difference, chimeric alpha 1/alpha 3* isoform cDNAs were constructed and expressed in HeLa cells. Na,K-ATPase containing each alpha isoform chimera was analyzed for its Na+ dependence properties. Results of these experiments do not reveal a region in the alpha 1 or alpha 3* isoform that is clearly responsible for the apparent affinity for Na+. It is possible that molecular interactions involving amino acids that span virtually the entire Na,K-ATPase molecule contribute to the determination of this parameter.
Separation of the arterial wall from blood contact using hydrogel barriers reduces intimal thickening after balloon injury in the rat: the roles of medial and luminal factors in arterial healing.

The objective of this study was to clarify the relative roles of medial versus luminal factors in the induction of thickening of the arterial intima after balloon angioplasty injury. Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and thrombin, both associated with thrombosis, and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), stored in the arterial wall, have been implicated in this process. To unequivocally isolate the media from luminally derived factors, we used a 20-μm thick hydrogel barrier that adhered firmly to the arterial wall to block thrombus deposition after balloon-induced injury of the carotid artery of the rat. Thrombosis, bFGF mobilization, medial repopulation, and intimal thickening were measured. Blockade of postinjury arterial contact with blood prevented thrombosis and dramatically inhibited both intimal thickening and endogenous bFGF mobilization. By blocking blood contact on the two time scales of thrombosis and of intimal thickening, and by using local protein release to probe, by reconstitution, the individual roles of PDGF-BB and thrombin, we were able to conclude that a luminally derived factor other than PDGF or thrombin is required for the initiation of cellular events leading to intimal thickening after balloon injury in the rat. We further conclude that a luminally derived factor is required for mobilization of medial bFGF.