cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Short-term in vitro and in vivo bioassays: their role in estimating the toxic potential of inhaled complex mixtures for humans.

Experimental pathology and toxicology has frequently advanced because of the addition of newdiagnostic tools. During the last decade, bronchoalveolar lavage has emerged as a very usefultool in the assessment of lung injury. It is applicable to both animal models exposed toinhaled particles and gases in a laboratory and to humans encountering exposures to the sameagents in occupational and urban environments. Information can be gathered from BALrelating to the extent and type of lung injury and the mechanisms involved. Needed are moreextensive comparisons of injury as judged by other approaches with the results of BAL. Forexample, short-term bioassay results can be integrated with industrial hygiene andepidemiology results as was done in a recent study of talc and granite dusts (Beck, 1987). It isalso likely that other constituents of BAL can be quantified which will help make bioassaysutilizing BAL more specific and sensitive. The use of BAL in short-term animal assays can bean important source of information regarding the toxicity of new and poorly characterizedinhaled particles.The cells contained in BAL are worthy of further study since macrophages and otherphagocytic cells occupy a central role in the pathogenesis of lung injury. These cells preventinfection, are involved in particle clearance, but also contribute to lung disease when activatedand/or damaged. Continuing development of new methods will inevitably lead to additionalinsights into how macrophages are involved in environmental lung injury.
Methodological Problems in Predicting Teacher Effectiveness

DESPITE AN extensive literature on teacher ef fectiveness which has accumulated over the years, one of the central points on which reviewers agree is that very limited progress has been made toward prediction and assessment (1, 8, 14, 17, 20). The number of studies in which objective procedures for evaluation have been used represent only a small fraction of the total (15), and of these, the variables measured have often been limited in breadth and pe ripheral in importance.
Instructional design principles and Al techniques for development of ICAI

Abstract Combination of artificial intelligence (AI) methods and instructional design principles is proposed for the development of pedagogically effective intelligent computer-assisted instruction (ICAI). After a brief review of AI methods and techniques used to develop an ICAI system, specific instructional design suggestions are proposed for the development of future ICAI systems. They are: (a) combining knowledge representation techniques and task analysis procedures for the development of a knowledge base; (b) modeling student learning behaviors for the different stages of learning process; (c) using selected learner variables in the inference process of instructional diagnosis and prescription; (d) developing an instructional strategy knowledge base independent of the instructional diagnostic and prescriptive rule base; (e) developing theory-based and empirically validated instructional diagnostic and prescriptive rules; and (f) considering human-computer interface issues.
No Beauty or Truth Excluded

In this essay, I challenge the ableist and prejudicial assumptions that underlie common Scripture interpretations of people with disabilities. I assert that the lived experiences of this marginalized group, as well as the insights from the emerging field of disability studies, must be brought to the center in interpreting Scripture. The groundbreaking work of Nancy Eiesland, Donald Senior, and other theologians and disability thinkers offers valuable support to this contention.
Time-Transgressive Problems of California Cenozoic: ABSTRACT

A significant change from dextral to sinistral populations of Globigerina pachyderma occurred at the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary in southern California, as recorded in deep-water deposits. By using modern populations as a basis for comparison, it can be shown that this represents a major shift from dextral warm temperate to sinistral subarctic populations, and it defines a point in time which should coincide more dependably with the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary than a boundary based upon benthic species. Use of this method shows that the upper limit of the Wheelerian Stage, which is based on the upper limits of the Epistominella pacifica-Uvigerina peregrina faunas, ranges from more than 200 meters below to more than 300 meters above the Pliocene-Pleistocene boundary. > A second problem is recorded in the Eocene of the Santa Barbara embayment. Planktonic Foraminifera suggest that the Eocene Narizian Stage, based primarily on benthic species, is as young as late Eocene in the Santa Rosa Hills and as old as middle Eocene elsewhere. Similarly, planktonic Foraminifera indicate that the Ulatisian Stage, also based upon benthic species, is early to middle Eocene in some places and is entirely middle Eocene in others. End_of_Article - Last_Page 644------------
Utilizing population controls in rare-variant case-parent association tests.

There is great interest in detecting associations between human traits and rare genetic variation. To address the low power implicit in single-locus tests of rare genetic variants, many rare-variant association approaches attempt to accumulate information across a gene, often by taking linear combinations of single-locus contributions to a statistic. Using the right linear combination is key—an optimal test will up-weight true causal variants, down-weight neutral variants, and correctly assign the direction of effect for causal variants. Here, we propose a procedure that exploits data from population controls to estimate the linear combination to be used in an case-parent trio rare-variant association test. Specifically, we estimate the linear combination by comparing population control allele frequencies with allele frequencies in the parents of affected offspring. These estimates are then used to construct a rare-variant transmission disequilibrium test (rvTDT) in the case-parent data. Because the rvTDT is conditional on the parents’ data, using parental data in estimating the linear combination does not affect the validity or asymptotic distribution of the rvTDT. By using simulation, we show that our new population-control-based rvTDT can dramatically improve power over rvTDTs that do not use population control information across a wide variety of genetic architectures. It also remains valid under population stratification. We apply the approach to a cohort of epileptic encephalopathy (EE) trios and find that dominant (or additive) inherited rare variants are unlikely to play a substantial role within EE genes previously identified through de novo mutation studies.
Effects of positively charged lipids on interfacial behavior in spread monolayers: Thermodynamic studies with DOCA, a synthetic lipid

Abstract A positively charged lipid, dioleoyl- N -(3-trimethylammonio propyl)carbamoyl glycerol chloride, DOCA, has been synthesized in order to obtain a cationic compound which mimics as closely as possible the behavior of naturally occurring phospholipids on monolayers. This compound has been shown to form liquid phase monolayers with thermodynamic characteristics comparable to those of related phospholipids. Surface pressure-area studies in mixtures with a negatively charged lipid indicate excellent miscibility and a very pronounced excess free energy of mixing. Fluorescence quenching studies demonstrate a pronounced association of the water-soluble anion, I - , at the DOCA headgroup from very dilute iodide subphase concentrations. This behavior suggests a very high surface potential generated by the cationic headgroup in DOCA.
Rift-related Jurassic basaltic phreatomagmatic volcanism in the central Transantarctic Mountains : precursory stage to flood-basalt effusion

The Middle Jurassic Kirkpatrick flood basalts and comagmatic Ferrar intrusions in the Transantarctic Mountains represent a major pulse of tholeiitic magmatism related to early stages in the breakup of Gondwana. A record of the volcano-tectonic events leading to formation of this continental flood-basalt province is provided by strata underlying and only slightly predating the Kirkpatrick lavas. In the central Transantarctic Mountains, the lavas rest on widespread (≥7500 km2) tholeiitic pyroclastic deposits of the Prebble Formation. The Prebble Formation is dominated by lahar deposits and is an unusual example of a regionally developed basaltic lahar field. Related, partly fault-controlled pyroclastic intrusions cut underlying strata, and vents are represented by the preserved flanks of two small tephra cones associated with a volcanic neck. Lahar and air-fall deposits typically contain 50–60% accidental lithic fragments and sand grains derived from underlying Triassic – Lower Jurassic strata in the upper part of the Beacon Supergroup. Juvenile basaltic ash and fine lapilli consist of nonvesicular to scoriaceous tachylite, sideromelane, and palagonite, and have characteristics indicating derivation from hydrovolcanic eruptions. The abundance of accidental debris from underlying Beacon strata points to explosive phreatomagmatic interaction of basaltic magma with wet sediment and groundwater, which appears to have occurred in particular where rising magma intersected upper Beacon sand aquifers. Composite clasts in the lahar deposits exhibit complex peperitic textures formed during fine-scale intermixing of basaltic magma with wet sand and record steps in subsurface fuel-coolant interactions leading to explosive eruption. The widespread, sustained phreatomagmatic activity is inferred to have occurred in a groundwater-rich topographic basin linked to an evolving Jurassic rift zone in the Transantarctic Mountains. Coeval basaltic phreatomagmatic deposits of the Mawson and Exposure Hill Formations, which underlie exposures of the Kirkpatrick Basalt up to 1500 km to the north along strike in Victoria Land, appear to represent other parts of a regional, extension-related Middle Jurassic phreatomagmatic province which developed immediately prior to rapid outpouring of the flood basalts. This is consistent with models which assign an important role to lithospheric stretching in the generation of flood-basalt provinces.
Atypical hydrogen uptake on chemically-activated, ultramicroporous carbon

Abstract Hydrogen adsorption on ultramicroporous carbon was investigated at near-ambient temperatures using volumetric and gravimetric methods. The results showed that the main process, physisorption, is accompanied by a slow process of different nature, that causes slow uptake at high pressures and hysteresis on desorption. The combined result is unusually high levels of hydrogen uptake at near-ambient temperatures and pressures (e.g. up to 0.8 wt.% at 25 °C and 2 MPa). The heat of adsorption corresponding to the slow process leading to high uptake (17–20 kJ/mol) is higher than usually reported for carbon materials; the adsorption kinetics is slow, and the isotherms exhibit pronounced hysteresis. These unusual properties were attributed to contributions from polarization-enhanced physisorption induced by traces of alkali metals residual from chemical activation. The results support the hypothesis that polarization-induced physisorption in high surface area carbons modified with traces of alkali metal ions is an alternate route for increasing the hydrogen storage capacity of carbon adsorbents.
Effects of form of internal structure on recall and matching with prose passages

Prose passages, each containing either contingent uncertainty (CU) or interaction uncertainty (IU) information on one of three different topics, were presented on learning trials for either recall or matching test trials. For recall, performance with CU passages significantly exceeded that with IU passages, thus confirming and extending previous work with lists of discrete nonsense syllables. For matching, the prediction that IU passages would be more easily discriminated than CU was not confirmed. In fact, the weight of the evidence supported the reverse. Persistent, sometimes significant, interaction between kind of uncertainty and topic of the passage occurred. Topic differences were explored, but not resolved.
Growth factors in benign prostatic hyperplasia: Basic science implications

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common proliferative disease of the prostate of men in the United States. The histopathology of BPH strongly implicates local paracrine and autocrine growth factors and inflammatory cytokines in its pathogenesis. A complex milieu of growth-regulatory proteins includes members of the fibroblast, insulin-like, and transforming growth factor families. It appears that these proteins and downstream effector molecules, in addition to a variety of interleukins, are overexpressed in BPH and, working together, create a landscape of increased stromal and epithelial growth and mesenchymal transdifferentiation that leads to disease progression. Inflammation, commonly present in BPH, may contribute to tissue injury, and cytokines produced by inflammatory cells may serve to drive local growth factor production and angiogenesis in the tissues as a “wound healing” response. As we begin to unravel the precise mechanisms involved, new treatments for BPH aimed at these interacting pathways may emerge.
Status of Native Freshwater Mussels in Copper Creek, Virginia

Previous freshwater mussel surveys conducted in Copper Creek showed a decline in the fauna from 1980 to 1998. In 2004 and 2005, we sampled 47 sites acquiring relative abundance estimates (measured in catch-per-unit-effort) to assess the current status of the mussel fauna relative to previous surveys. We also obtained absolute density estimates for 4 select sites for comparison with future and past surveys. Of the 25 mussel species reported from this and previous surveys, 16 were represented by living specimens, 5 are extant but may soon be extirpated, and 8 are likely extirpated from the creek. Presence-absence analysis showed a signifi cant decline in species per site since 1980. Absolute density estimates (at Copper Creek river km 3.1) decreased signifi cantly from 4.07 mussels/m 2 in 1981 to 0.63 mussels/ m 2 in 2005. The cause of this faunal decline is likely due to several factors, including, most notably, the loss of riparian buffers. Nearly half of the stream banks in Copper Creek have inadequate riparian vegetation to provide even minimal sediment control. Precipitous declines of the Clinch River fauna (a likely source population for several species) may be another signifi cant factor infl uencing the faunal decline in Copper Creek. Despite these declines, populations of several species may be in a state of recovery. Based on 18 comparable sites, average catch-per-unit-effort in 2005 was 25.16 mussels/hr, signifi cantly higher than the 1998 survey (12.92 mussels/hr).
Firing the Unproductive Employee: Will Civil Service Reform Make a Difference?

Civil service reform included a set of changes intended to facilitate the firing of consistently un productive employees. This article describes the background and logic of these changes, reviews the status of their implementation, and offers preliminary evidence on their consequences for per sonnel management in the federal government.
'All netted together': is there a need for cultural consilience in the face of extinction?

Professor Stephen Hopper has suggested that ‘possibly the most significant future challenge facing plant conservation is the achievement of a global shift in value systems towards acceptance of the old cultural wisdom that humans are part of, not separate from, nature’. Here I examine this challenge for contemporary humanity experiencing increasingly divergent ‘lifeworlds’ and ask if it is possible to be ‘all netted together’, and achieve cultural consilience in the face of increasing plant extinction. The first part of the article explores a hybrid approach to botanical education, where ‘border crossings’ between ‘Pokemon’ and plant-based inquiry might facilitate 21st century urban children to engage more intimately with the living world. The second part highlights how botanic gardens can facilitate expressions of lost botanical knowledge carried through human migration from rural to urban contexts. The article ends with a discussion intended to provoke interdisciplinary discourse between botanical science and botanical education, contextualised within the wider literature that examines the role of botanic gardens.
Röntgenstrahlen in der Medizin. Die ersten Diagnosen mit Hilfe der Röntgenstrahlen. Röntgenlaboratorien

Die X-Strahlen-Aufnahme von Frau Rontgens Hand hatte sofort die Aufmerksamkeit auf die Verwendbarkeit dieser Strahlen insbesondere fur chirurgische Zwecke gelenkt. Der erste Gedanke des praktischen Gebrauches der neuen Methode war naturlich der, Frakturen, Luxationen, Knochenauftreibungen usw. dem Auge sichtbar zu machen und Fremdkorper in Hand oder Arm zu lokalisieren. War man anfangs in der Verwendung der Methode nur auf die Durchleuchtung relativ dunner Korperpartien beschrankt, so setzte die allgemeine Begeisterung der Hoffnung, durch baldige Verbesserung der technischen Hilfsmittel den ganzen Korper durchstrahlen zu konnen, keine Grenzen. Es ist bemerkenswert, das anfangs zu Demonstrationen fast ausschlieslich die Hande durchleuchtet wurden, so das viele solcher „Hande“ beruhmt wurden; Aufnahmen des Fuses wurden sehr selten gemacht1 (Abb. 68).
SCCRO (DCUN1D1) Is an Essential Component of the E3 Complex for Neddylation

Covalent modification of cullins by the ubiquitin-like protein NEDD8 (neddylation) regulates protein ubiquitination by promoting the assembly of cullin-RING ligase E3 complexes. Like ubiquitination, neddylation results from an enzymatic cascade involving the sequential activity of a dedicated E1 (APPBP1/Uba3), E2 (Ubc12), and an ill-defined E3. We show that SCCRO (also known as DCUN1D1) binds to the components of the neddylation pathway (Cullin-ROC1, Ubc12, and CAND1) and augments but is not required for cullin neddylation in reactions using purified recombinant proteins. We also show that SCCRO recruits Ubc12∼NEDD8 to the CAND1-Cul1-ROC1 complex but that this is not sufficient to dissociate or overcome the inhibitory effects of CAND1 on cullin neddylation in purified protein assays. In contrast to findings in cellular systems where no binding is seen, we show that SCCRO and CAND1 can bind to the neddylated Cul1-ROC1 complex in assays using purified recombinant proteins. Although neddylated (not unneddylated) Cul1-ROC1 is released from CAND1 upon incubation with testis lysate from SCCRO+/+ mice, the addition of recombinant SCCRO is required to achieve the same results in lysate from SCCRO–/– mice. Combined, these results suggest that SCCRO is an important component of the neddylation E3 complex that functions to recruit charged E2 and is involved in the release of inhibitory effects of CAND1 on cullin-RING ligase E3 complex assembly and activity.
Localization of ASH1 mRNA Particles in Living Yeast

ASH1 mRNA localizes to the bud tip in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to establish asymmetry of HO expression, important for mating type switching. To visualize real time localization of the mRNA in living yeast cells, green fluorescent protein (GFP) was fused to the RNA-binding protein MS2 to follow a reporter mRNA containing MS2-binding sites. Formation and localization of a GFP particle in the bud required ASH1 3'UTR (untranslated region) sequences. The SHE mutants disrupt RNA and particle localization and SHE 2 and 3 mutants inhibit particle formation as well. Both She3myc and She1myc colocalized with the particle. Video microscopy demonstrated that She1p/Myo4p moved particles to the bud tip at 200-440 nm/sec. Therefore, the ASH1 3'UTR-dependent particle serves as a marker for RNA transport and localization.
Use of mycophenolate mofetil in resistant membranous nephropathy

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome. Optimal therapy for this disease is still debated. We report our experience using mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), an immunosuppressive agent widely used in transplant recipients, to treat 16 nephrotic patients with MN. All patients had biopsy-documented MN; secondary forms were ruled out. Fifteen patients had steroid-resistant disease; cytotoxic agents had failed in 6 patients and cyclosporine therapy had failed in 5 patients. Patients were treated with MMF (dose range, 500 to 2,000 mg) for a mean of 8 months. Six patients experienced a halving of proteinuria, which occurred after a mean duration of 6 months of therapy. Partial remissions occurred in 2 patients. There were no significant changes in mean values for serum creatinine, serum albumin, or proteinuria. Mean cholesterol levels were significantly less. Side effects of MMF were infrequent and generally mild. In summary, MMF appears to reduce proteinuria in some patients with idiopathic MN previously resistant to steroids, cytotoxic agents, or cyclosporine. Further trials with this agent are warranted.
Adhesion study of high reflectivity water-based coatings

Abstract A waterborne polyurethane coating with reflectivity higher than 95% in the visible wavelength range of 380–750 nm has been formulated. The impact of pigment concentration and carboxyl functional dispersing agent percentage on the adhesion of this waterborne polyurethane-based coating to an aluminum substrate is characterized at various pigment weight fractions by peel strength using modified ASTM D 1876-93. The formulated coating was also examined by SEM, UV/vis spectrophotometer with integrating sphere, and ATR–FTIR. Results indicate that the reflectivity of the coating increases with pigment volume concentration while the peel strength decreases. At high pigment-to-binder ratios a change in failure mode from adhesive to cohesive was observed. Further experiments indicate that adhesion increased at high pigment-to-binder ratios due to the presence of carboxyl functional groups of the dispersing agent. The increase in adhesion was identified for the first time and attributed to the interaction of the carboxyl functional groups in the dispersing agent with the aluminum surface.
Semi‐autonomous Telerobotic Manipulation: A Viable Approach for Space Structure Deployment and Maintenance

Future space explorations necessitate manipulation of space structures in support of extra vehicular activities or extraterrestrial resource exploitation. In these tasks robots are expected to assist or replace human crew to alleviate human risk and enhance task performance. However due to the vastly unstructured and unpredictable environmental conditions, automation of robotic task is virtually impossible and thus teleoperation is expected to be employed. However teleoperation is extremely slow and inefficient. To improve task efficiency of teleoperation, this work introduces semi‐autonomous telerobotic operation technology. Key technological innovations include implementation of reactive agent based robotic architecture and enhanced operator interface that renders virtual fixture.
Modulation of guest partitioning within dendrimer-surfactant supramolecular assemblies

ABSTRACT Electrostatic interactions are used to create a template-assisted supramolecular assembly consisting of a polymeric dendrimer at the core and amphiphilic substrates on the periphery. The dendrimer generation and the chemical structure of the amphiphiles are varied to construct multiple and distinct microenvironments within the dendrimer–ligand complex for encapsulation of small guest molecules. In particular, these investigations employ a guest molecule that is a neutral fluorescent probe that exhibits an emission wavelength with an extreme sensitivity to the polarity of its surroundings. Partitioning of the fluorophore within the various microregions of the dendrimer–surfactant supramolecular complex is distinguished by the characteristic emission wavelengths of the overlapping Gaussian functions comprising the overall fluorescence spectrum. The observed variations in the prodan emission spectrum suggest interaction of prodan at protonated amino groups (460-nm emission), within dendritic branche...
Multiple substrates for serotonergic modulation of rat locus coeruleus neurons and relationships with kainate receptors

The ultrastructural substrates of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine [5-HT]) immunoreactive terminals with respect to noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus (LC) have only been suggested from immunocytochemical analysis in adjacent tissue sections using antisera directed against tryptophan and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) enzymes. Here, we conducted dual immunoelectron microscopy in the same section of tissue using antisera directed against 5-HT and TH to determine cellular substrates for proposed interactions between these two transmitter systems. Axon terminals containing peroxidase labeling for 5-HT possessed small clear as well as large dense core vesicles. Of 176 5-HT-labeled axons and terminals, 19% contacted TH-labeled dendrites. When a synaptic specialization was detectable, it was more often of the asymmetric type. Electrophysiological studies have also shown that 5-HT selectively attenuates excitatory amino acid-induced activation of neurons in the LC. Thus, to further examine the cellular relationship between 5-HT-labeled axon terminals and excitatory amino acid receptors, we conducted immunogold-silver labeling of an antibody which recognized the three identified members of the kainate receptor (KAr) subunit class (GluR 5,6,7) and peroxidase localization of 5-HT. Similar proportions of 5-HT-labeled terminals (9%) were either apposed to KAr-labeled dendrites or exhibited KAr immunoreactivity. Twenty-four percent of the 5-HT axon terminals examined were apposed by glial processes that contained KAr. These data indicate that 5-HT axon terminals are in direct contact with LC neurons and also suggest pre- and postsynaptic sites for modulation of 5-HT terminals by excitatory amino acid ligands as well as indirect sites via glial processes.
An iterative technique based on the Dunkerley method for determining the natural frequencies of vibrating systems

Abstract The principle underlying the Dunkerley method of obtaining the smallest natural frequency for a multi-degree-of-freedom elastic system is extended by an iterative procedure to simultaneously determine all the frequencies of that system. In obtaining the higher frequencies, the first iteration of the procedure is akin to the Paipetis extension of the Dunkerley method. The method is found to converge quickly when the frequencies are not close to each other, but converges slowly otherwise. For multiplicities or close frequencies, a simple modification of the initial step reinstitutes quick convergence. The method is applied to several classical lumped parameter problems to demonstrate its usefulness.
Satellite prediction of soil δ13C distributions in a southern African savanna

Abstract Stable carbon isotopes have been frequently used to indicate carbon pools and processes in soils, plants, and the atmosphere. Carbon isotope compositions are particularly useful in partitioning soil carbon sources between C 3 and C 4 vegetation because of the distinct δ 13 C distributions for C 3 and C 4 vegetation. Remote sensing is a powerful tool used to identify ecosystem patterns and processes at larger scales. A union of these two approaches would hold promise for spatially continuous estimates of carbon isotope compositions. In the current study, a framework is presented for using high spatial resolution remote sensing to predict soil δ 13 C distributions across a southern Africa savanna ecosystem. The results suggest that if the vegetation–soil δ 13 C relationship can be established, soil δ 13 C distributions can be estimated by high-resolution satellite images (e.g., IKONOS, Quickbird). Despite limitations remote sensing is a promising tool to expand estimates of terrestrial δ 13 C spatial patterns and dynamics.
STUDIES ON CIRCULATING IMMUNE COMPLEXES III. FACTORS GOVERNING THE ABILITY OF CIRCULATING COMPLEXES TO LOCALIZE IN BLOOD VESSELS

The relationship between certain physicochemical properties of circulating immune complexes and their ability to localize in vessel walls during a state of increased permeability was studied. The ability to become deposited was related to the large size of complexes, rather than to their net charge or to a specific affinity between complexes and structures of vessel walls. Soluble complexes with sedimentation rates greater than 19S were capable of being entrapped along the vessel wall membranes, while complexes smaller than this were not. These large complexes were removed rapidly from the circulation, while smaller complexes persisted. Minimal levels of total complexes in the circulation necessary for detectable vascular localization were found to be as low as 15 µg antibody N/ml plasma. In experimental serum sickness, a disease known to be induced by circulating immune complexes, the development of vascular and glomerular lesions occurred almost exclusively in rabbits having large (greater than 19S) circulating immune complexes. Animals with smaller complexes did not show deposition of complexes in glomeruli or development of glomerulonephritis. Their incidence of vasculitis was markedly reduced.
Facilitating successful re‐entries in the United States: Training and development for women returners

Women returners are women who leave the paid workforce for a period of time following the birth of their child(ren) and subsequently seek to return to paid employment. As women returners attempt to re-enter the workforce, many of them are in need of updating their skills or re-training in a new set of skills. In this study, the training and development needs of women returners were examined. The Andragogy in Practice model was used to frame the study and construct a learner analysis of women returners. Implications for designing and implementing training and development programs for women returners in the United States are discussed.
Social Segregation and the Dynamics of Group Inequality

We explore the dynamics of group inequality when segregation of social networks places the initially less affluent group at a disadvantage in acquiring human capital. Extending Loury (1977), we demonstrate that (i) group differences in economic success can persist across generations in the absence of either discrimination or group differences in ability, provided that social segregation is sufficiently great, (ii) there is threshold level of integration above which group inequality cannot be sustained, (iii) this threshold varies systematically but non-monotonically with the population share of the disadvantaged group, (iv) crossing the threshold induces convergence to a common high level of human capital if the less affluent population share is sufficiently small (and the opposite, otherwise), and (v) a race-neutral policy that reduces the cost of acquiring human capital can expand the range over which reducing segregation can be Pareto-improving.
South Korea's Medical Tourism Destination Brand Personality and the Influence of Personal Values

Adopting Aaker's brand personality scale, this study aimed to determine South Korea's medical tourism destination personality. Based on a survey of US consumers, the results indicate that South Korea's medical tourism destination personality comprised three dimensions: sincerity, competence, and ruggedness. Furthermore, sincerity and competence positively influenced consumers' willingness to travel to South Korea for medical care. This study also found that personal values, in particular excitement, self-respect, sense of belonging, and being well respected, were significant positive predictors of South Korea's medical tourism destination personality. Marketing implications of the findings are discussed, and suggestions for future research are offered. This study serves as a starting point for further research on medical tourism destination brand personality.
Alternative Processing of Sterol Regulatory Element Binding Protein During Larval Development in Drosophila melanogaster

Sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) is a major transcriptional regulator of lipid metabolism. Nuclear Drosophila SREBP (dSREBP) is essential for larval development in Drosophila melanogaster but dispensable in adults. dSREBP− larvae die at second instar owing to loss of dSREBP-mediated transcription but survive to adulthood when fed fatty acids. Activation of SREBP requires two separate cleavages. Site-1 protease (S1P) cleaves in the luminal loop of the membrane-bound SREBP precursor, cutting it in two. The NH2- and COOH-terminal domains remain membrane bound owing to their single membrane-spanning helices. The NH2-terminal cleavage product is the substrate for site-2 protease (S2P), which cleaves within its membrane-spanning helix to release the transcription factor. In mice, loss of S1P is lethal but the consequences of loss of S2P in animals remain undefined. All known functions of SREBP require its cleavage by S2P. We isolated Drosophila mutants that eliminate all dS2P function (dS2P−). Unexpectedly, larvae lacking dS2P are viable. They are deficient in transcription of some dSREBP target genes but less so than larvae lacking dSREBP. Despite loss of dS2P, dSREBP is processed in mutant larvae. Therefore, larvae have an alternative cleavage mechanism for producing transcriptionally active dSREBP, and this permits survival of dS2P mutants.
NICMOS3 detector testing: methods and results

A program is currently in process at Rockwell for the production of focal plane assemblies (FPA) for use on the University of Arizona Near Infrared Camera, Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) instrument which is to be installed in the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) during a Space Shuttle mission in 1997. This paper describes the testing approach for the production of the FPA's, the tests to be performed, the test equipment, and facilities used in the built of two prototype FPA's used as engineering evaluation units (EEU). A sample of the data output from the various tests will be discussed for one of the EEU FPA's, both in the intermediate screen tests which will be described, and for the final performance tests.
RRR‐α‐tocopheryl succinate inhibits the proliferation of human prostatic tumor cells with defective cell cycle/differentiation pathways

The RRR-alpha-tocopheryl succinate derivative of vitamin E, referred to as vitamin E succinate (VES), inhibits the proliferation of three metastatic human prostatic cancer cell lines, LNCaP, PC-3, and DU-145. LNCaP is a lymph node-derived androgen-sensitive prostate cell line; these cells are defective for response to transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) but are normal for cell cycle-related tumor suppressor genes: p53 and retinoblastoma (Rb). PC-3 is a bone marrow-derived androgen-insensitive prostate cell line; these cells are defective for both p53 alleles but normal for both Rb alleles. DU-145 is a brain-derived androgen-insensitive prostate cell line; these cells are defective for both p53 and both Rb alleles. VES at 5, 10, and 20 micrograms/ml inhibited DNA synthesis in the three cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. Purified TGF-beta 1 at 1 ng/ml inhibited DNA synthesis of PC-3 cells within 24-72 hours and DU-145 cells at 72 hours but did not inhibit DNA synthesis of LNCaP cells. Previous studies in our laboratory showed that VES growth-inhibited tumor cells secrete biologically active antiproliferative factor TGF-beta s, suggesting that VES's mechanism of growth inhibition may involve the TGF-beta system of growth control.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
DNAism: exploring genomic datasets on the web with Horizon Charts.

Background Computational biologists daily face the need to explore massive amounts of genomic data. New visualization techniques can help researchers navigate and understand these big data. Horizon Charts are a relatively new visualization method that, under the right circumstances, maximizes data density without losing graphical perception.
Progressive Scleral Necrosis following I-125 Plaque Radiotherapy for Ciliochoroidal Melanoma with Protruding Extraocular Mass.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to describe the side effects of I-125 brachytherapy in the treatment of uveal melanoma. Methods: This study was conducted as a case report. Results: We report a case of scleral necrosis and protruding episcleral mass following the treatment of uveal melanoma with I-125 brachytherapy. Conclusions: Scleral necrosis after plaque radiotherapy can clinically simulate tumor recurrence with extraocular extension. The management of uveal melanoma requires a careful clinical follow-up, weighing the implications of treatment morbidity and mortality.
Ion Movements Associated with Calcium Release and Uptake in the Sarcoplasmic Reticulum

The release of Ca2 + from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) during the activation of contraction and its uptake during relaxation are essential steps in the excitation-contraction coupling process of vertebrate skeletal muscle. Depolarization of the T-tubule membrane is thought to induce Ca2+ release through a trigger mechanism transmitted to the SR at the junction between the T-tubules and the terminal cisternae (TC), traversed by “feet,” “bridging structures,” or “pillars” [3,4,20]. The specific trigger mechanism of release, however, is not known, although two general classes of coupling mechanism, electrical and chemical messenger, have been proposed.
A single BNP measurement in acute heart failure does not reflect the degree of congestion

Abstract Introduction Multiple studies found a significant correlation between B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) level and clinical severity of heart failure (HF). We aim to study the ability of a single BNP measurement to predict the degree of congestion in acute systolic HF. Methods Patients enrolled in the ESCAPE trial who were admitted with acute systolic HF were divided into tertiles according to baseline BNP level with comparison of the degree of congestion across tertiles using clinical signs of congestion as well as objective parameters of overload checked by the pulmonary artery catheter. Results A total of 251 cases (mean age, 56 years; 75% males) were included in the study after excluding patients with normal (n = 43) or extremely elevated BNP (n = 53) due to the known limited significance of BNP in predicting the degree of congestion in the latter 2 instances. These cases were divided into tertiles as follows: tertile 1, BNP less than or equal to 376 pg/mL; tertile 2, BNP 377 to 792 pg/mL; and tertile 3, BNP greater than or equal to 793 pg/mL. There were significant differences across the BNP tertiles in age (P = .03) and body mass index (P = .003). There were no differences between the 3 BNP tertiles with regard to the presence of rales (P = .533), jugular venous distension (P = .245), positive hepatojugular reflux (P = .224), hepatomegaly (P = .489), ascitis (P = .886), lower extremity edema (P = .068), or S3 gallop (P = .512). With regard to hemodynamic markers of congestion measured via the pulmonary artery catheter, there were no significant differences across the BNP tertiles in the right atrial pressure (P = .148), pulmonary capillary wedge pressure (P = .140), pulmonary artery systolic pressure (P = .155), pulmonary artery diastolic pressure (P = .246), and pulmonary artery mean pressure (P = .607). Conclusion Although longitudinal BNP follow-up may be valuable in reflecting the degree of congestion, looking at a single BNP measurement alone is not a good marker to predict the level of congestion and should not be used as a “stand-alone” test for determining aggressiveness of diuresis. Management should be guided by the entirety of physical examination, laboratory values, and hemodynamic parameters when available.
Involvement of protein kinase C-delta in DNA damage-induced apoptosis.

We have previously shown that the protein kinase C (PKC) signal transduction pathway regulates cell death by the DNA damaging agent cis-diamminedichloroplatinum(II) (cDDP). In the present study we have investigated how PKC influences the sequence of events that are triggered by cDDP-induced DNA damage. cDDP caused activation of caspases-8, -9, -3, -7 and cleavage of PKCdelta. Rottlerin, a selective inhibitor of novel PKCdelta, blocked activation of caspases, proteolytic activation of PKCdelta and cell death induced by cDDP. In contrast, Go 6976, an inhibitor of conventional PKCalpha and betaI, did not prevent cDDP-induced caspase activation and cDDP cytotoxicity. In HeLa cells, PKCdelta was distributed both in the cytosol and heavy membrane (HM) fraction containing mitochondria. While caspase-8 was primarily cytosolic, a small amount of caspases-9, -7 and -3 could be detected in the HM fraction. cDDP caused a time-dependent increase in Cytochrome c release from the mitochondria and processing of both cytosolic and membrane-associated caspases, as well as proteolytic cleavage of PKCdelta. Rottlerin attenuated late but not early release of Cytochrome c by cDDP. It, however, inhibited activation of caspases and proteolytic cleavage of PKCdelta in both cytosolic and HM fractions. The antiapoptotic effect of rottlerin was evident when it was added together with or following cDDP addition but not when added after cDDP was removed from the medium. Thus, the PKCdelta inhibitor acts at an early stage of the cDDP-induced cell death pathway that precedes caspase activation.
Support for model coupling: an interface-based approach

There is an increasing need in the scientific community for the comprehensive simulation of complex, dynamic, physical systems. Often such simulations are built through model coupling, that is, the merging of existing, component models so that their concurrent simulations affect each other. Model coupling is, however, a nontrivial task that is not adequately supported by existing frameworks which often require direct manipulation of model source code. This work presents an approach to model coupling that avoids this hurdle, allowing for the fast-prototyping of coupled models. Our approach to model coupling allows the scientist to work with a novel model representation, called the Potential Coupling Interface (PCI). The PCI is an abstraction that exposes only those aspects of a model relevant to coupling, and it is the basis for specifying couplings. Specifically, this dissertation contributes (1) the design of a new representation, the PCI, for model coupling interfaces, (2) the design of a domain-specific language, called the Coupling Description Language, for describing the coupling of models in terms of their PCIs, and (3) the implementation of a prototype coupling environment for Hydrological models. We conclude that the use of the PCI model interfaces makes it possible to quickly design and execute prototypes of model couplings for further experimentation and investigation. This dissertation research aims to influence the way in which model coupling is practiced in the scientific community.
3D Printing; Hardware and Software for the Consumer Market

3D printing is an older technology that is just making its way into the consumer market. The story of its emergence into the consumer market is brought about through the efforts of inventors who viewed this technology as a hobby. Since the introduction of desktop 3D printers, the market has exploded with newer and better models created each year. There are many stories of what it can do, but little reason for consumers to adapt to the technology. This paper discusses the emergence of consumer 3D printers into the market. It reviews the history, technology and movements that made its existence possible. It also looks at the technology involved, uses for the technology and how it is being introduced to consumers.
Diffusion of Tetrafluoromethane in Single-Walled Aluminosilicate Nanotubes: Pulsed Field Gradient NMR and Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Diffusion of tetrafluoromethane (CF4) in single-walled aluminosilicate nanotubes was studied by means of pulsed field gradient (PFG) NMR and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. The application of a high magnetic field and high magnetic field gradients allowed 13C PFG NMR measurements of diffusion to be performed under conditions of sufficiently large signal-to-noise ratios for a broad range of CF4 loadings. The PFG NMR data were analyzed to obtain the diffusivities for diffusion of CF4 inside the nanotube aggregates, in which the sorbate displacements exceeded the average length of individual nanotubes. In addition, the corresponding diffusivities under conditions of fast exchange of CF4 molecules between nanotubes or nanotube aggregates and the surrounding gas phase in a nanotube bed were also estimated. The experimental CF4 diffusivities inside the nanotube aggregates were found to be several times smaller than the corresponding diffusivities obtained by MD for diffusion inside the defect-free nanotube...
Comparative metabolic responses of rat kidney and liver to acute doses of fluoride.

SummaryThe metabolic responses of kidney and liver to acute doses of sodium fluoride were compared in the intact rat. In the liver, fluoride caused numerous changes in the concentrations of glycolytic and citric acid cycle intermediates indicating enzyme inhibition by fluoride. In the kidneys, fluoride caused no statistically significant changes in the concentrations of metabolic intermediates, except glucose. It is concluded that in the intact animal the kidney is more metabolically resistant to acute doses of fluoride than the liver.The author wishes to thank Mrs. Muriel Pallay and Mrs. Nadya Smejtek for expert technical assistance.
Who Gives, Who Gains? Progressivity and Preferences

The extent to which popular support for the welfare state depends on income varies greatly across nations and policy domains. We argue and show formally that these variations—largely overlooked yet essential to understanding the politics of redistribution—reflect in part the design of tax and transfer policies in terms of progressivity. When progressivity is high, politics is perceived by income groups as a zero sum game and conflicts over who gets what intensify. When progressivity is low, and tax contributors and benefit recipients overlap, redistributive struggles become politically less salient. We test these predictions both across nations and across policy domains within a sample of advanced industrial democracies. Our findings indicate that the progressivity of the tax and transfer system is a major determinant of the predictive power of income on preferences for redistribution.
Interpretation and Objectivity: A Gadamerian Reevaluation of Max Weber’s Social Science

In this essay, I argue that a common reading of Max Weber’s social science and its treatment of interpretation as either insufficiently or excessively “scientific” on the model of the natural scien...
Gene,Meme and Memetics——A Survey of Memetics in China

Just as gene is indispensable to heredity,meme is found inseparable from cultural transmission and evolution.Out of this analogy,meme and memtics have been born into the academic world.However,the study of meme and memetics in China is unfavorably at the beginning stage,during which a lot of problems remain unsolved,among which the critical one is to seek meme model and make more empirical studies.
An adiabatic/diabatic polarization beam splitter

We demonstrate an on-chip polarization beam splitter (PBS), which is adiabatic for the transverse magnetic mode, and diabatic for the transverse electric mode. The PBS has a simple structure that is tolerant to manufacturing variations and exhibits high polarization extinction ratios over a wide bandwidth.