cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Two-color flow cytometric measurement of DNA distributions of rat megakaryocytes in unfixed, unfractionated marrow cell suspensions.

The ploidy distribution of megakaryocytes shifts in response to platelet demand and thus provides a sensitive index of megakaryocytopoiesis. Flow cytometry (FCM) is a potentially valuable method for rapid determination of ploidy distributions of megakaryocyte populations; however, because megakaryocytes constitute only a very small proportion of the cells in unfractionated marrow, other rare events, such as cell clumping, complicate FCM analysis. We describe the measurement of cellular DNA distributions of megakaryocytes by two- color FCM in unfixed, unfractionated marrow--a method based on the resistance of megakaryocytes to hypotonic lysis in the cold for at least 2 days. Specific platelet antiserum was used to label megakaryocytes by indirect immunofluorescence with fluorescein (green fluorescence), and DNA was stained with propidium iodide (red fluorescence) in hypotonic citrate solution. The ploidy distribution of megakaryocytes was selectively determined with two-color, green-gated FCM, with which the red and green fluorescence of all cells is analyzed, but only the red fluorescence (DNA content) of cells that specifically bound the platelet antibody is recorded. We demonstrate that this method can readily detect changes in megakaryocyte DNA distributions due to experimental thrombocytopenia or platelet hypertransfusion and, therefore, should be useful for both experimental and clinical investigations of megakaryocytopoiesis.
Watching Neighborhoods Vanish: The Intertwining of Gentrification, Race, Class, and Policy

Housing policy officials’ interest in alleviating displacement faces scrutiny for the effective implementation of housing programs and diversifying neighborhoods. While officials deliberate diversi...
Self-Aligned Capillary-Assisted Printing of Bottom-Gate Electrolyte-Gated Transistors on Plastic

In printed electronics, self-aligned transistors are a key technology toward scalable and low-cost electronics. However, significant misalignment between components restricts transistors to a print...
Patient Selection for Pedal Soft Tissue Augmentation.

Background Pedal fat grafting has been shown to improve pain and functional impairment from forefoot fat pad atrophy. Objectives The authors aimed to determine if patient demographics and foot characteristics play a role in the level of impact that is achieved following surgery. Methods The authors performed a retrospective review of patients who received forefoot autologous fat injections for the treatment of pedal fat pad atrophy. Patient improvement of pain and functional impairment were evaluated for correlation with patient characteristics, including gender, age, BMI, unilateral vs bilateral injections, flexible vs rigid arch, previous foot deformity or surgery, and presence of callus. Results Forty-four patients received fat injections into the ball of their foot; 73% of them were women; their mean age was 61 years, and mean BMI was 26.6 kg/m2; 75% had injections performed bilaterally; 41% had a flexible arch, 73% had a past history of pedal deformity or surgery, and 43% had callus. Only female gender was found to correlate with an improvement in pain from the time of surgery to 12 months later (P = 0.02). Conclusions Bilateral rigid, high arched foot type is a risk factor for foot pain and disproportionately represented among these patients. The only patient characteristic found to be correlated with improvement in pain at 12 months post-surgery was female gender. BMI and laterality of injections impacted the course of improvement after surgery. Given current data, all patients with suspected pedal fat pad atrophy should be considered for soft tissue augmentation. Level of Evidence 4
The State of Vascular Surgery Interest Groups in North America

Background Vascular surgery interest groups (VSIGs) raise awareness and attract medical students to the specialty. There has been a plateauing of applicants interested in integrated programs. The goal of this survey was to assess the activities of VSIGs and identify factors associated with matriculation into vascular surgery residency. Methods A survey was administered to members of the association of program directors in vascular surgery. It inquired about the presence of a VSIG at the corresponding medical schools. The program directors at institutions lacking VSIGs were asked about possible hurdles in establishing one. The rest of the survey focused on the different activities of the VSIG. The VSIGs were divided into low enrollment if less than 10% of the students in that group pursue vascular surgery training and high enrollment if greater than 10% of the students pursue vascular surgery. Chi-squared test was used for comparison. Results There were 65/123 programs that responded (53% response rate). The responses came most commonly from programs in the Northeast (36.9%). Only 37% (n = 24) had a VSIG at their institutions. Lack of time (65.2%) and lack of a student champion (60.9%) were the most common hurdles encountered by the program directors who considered establishing a VSIG. Comparing the 2 groups of VSIGs, there was no difference in terms of the training paradigm, experience of program director, or geographical location. The VSIGs had comparable duration of activity, number of students, and meeting frequency. There was no difference in clinical exposure outside the curriculum between the 2 groups with observation on the wards and in clinic being most common. Endovascular simulation was significantly (P = 0.01) more common in low enrollment (83.3%) compared with high enrollment (33.3%) VSIG. There was a trend in the high enrollment group for more vascular anastomosis training (75% vs. 66.7%) that did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.65). There was no difference between the 2 groups in career development opportunities and education activities. Most VSIGs (75%) operated with a budget of less than $1,000 based on divisional or departmental funding (low enrollment = 66.7% versus high enrollment = 41.7%, P = 0.22). Conclusions Only one-third of the vascular surgery training programs have an associated VSIG. Vascular surgery training programs should promote VSIG formation with equal emphasis on endovascular and open surgery, thus providing medical students an early exposure to the specialty.
Abortion restrictions in the state of Georgia: Anticipated impact on people seeking abortion

Abstract Objective To explore the impact of restrictive abortion policies in the state of Georgia on the lives of people seeking abortion and how they would manage unwanted pregnancies. Study design We conducted a cross sectional study of English and Spanish-speaking people seeking abortion from three high-volume outpatient abortion clinics in Atlanta, Georgia from April 2019 through August 2019. Participants completed a multiple-choice questionnaire. We used bivariable and multivariable analysis to explore relationships between demographic characteristics and how people would manage their unwanted pregnancies if abortion were illegal in the state. Two researchers (EC and SC) conducted qualitative analysis on free response answers and coded them by key emotion. Results Of the 382 participants, 312 (81.9%) considered at least one way to end their pregnancy if abortion were illegal in Georgia: 252 (66.1%) by traveling to another state, 85 (22.3%) by self-management with medications and/or herbs, and 32 (8.4%) considered self-harm behaviors. When asked how they would feel about not being able to have a desired abortion, 94% reported negative emotions, ranging from “scared” to “enslaved.” Conclusions Limiting access to legal abortion in Georgia would negatively impact the lives of people seeking abortion and has the potential to drive individuals to seek more costly and risky alternatives to end their pregnancy. Implications Restricting abortion in Georgia may cause medically unnecessary delays in care, increased travel time, cost and negative emotional responses to people seeking abortion. Mitigating strategies include legislative challenges to restrictive laws as well as harm reduction education.
Photophysical properties of soluble light-harvesting polyhydrofurans from post-polymerization functionalization of polyketones

Abstract Soluble polyhydrofurans with chromophoric end-groups have been synthesized via post-polymerization modifications of polyketones. The absorption intensity in solution and molecular weight were controlled by manipulation of reaction time after addition of HBr gas, and the chromophoric end-groups exhibited blue emission with a maximum quantum yield of ca. 14%. Precise addition of a dopant decreased chromophore emission quantum yield, presumably by energy transfer from the polymer end-groups to the polymer backbone. Given their solubility, tunability with regard to photophysical properties and molecular weight, the resulting polymers may have applicability to organic-based electronic devices and studies of the solution-processability thereof.
Differences in Reading Motivation Between American and Japanese Students

This cross-cultural study investigated country and gender differences among American (U.S.A.) and Japanese students’ reading motivation. Fourth-grade students (94 from the United States and 102 fro...
Forecasting of Time Series Data Using Multiple Break Points and Mixture Distributions

Stochastic processes have applications in many areas such as oceanography and engineering. Special classes of such processes deal with time series of sparse data. Studies in such cases focus in the analysis, construction and prediction in parametric models. Here, we assume several non-linear time series with additive noise components, and the model fitting is proposed in two stages. The first stage identifies the density using all the clusters information, without specifying any prior knowledge of the underlying distribution function of the time series. In the second stage, we partition the time series into consecutive non-overlapping intervals of quasi stationary increments where the coefficients shift from one stable regression relationship to a different one using breakpoint detection algorithm. These breakpoints are estimated by minimizing the likelihood from the residuals. We approach time series prediction through the mixture distribution of combined error components. Parameter estimation of mixture distribution is done by using the EM algorithm. We apply the method to a simulated data.
The European Court and Civil Society: Conclusion: litigation, mobilization and governance

The European Court of Justice (ECJ) today is one of the main motors of governance in Europe. It has turned a relatively young body of law into a dynamic and coherent legal system governing and protecting public interests and civil society. This reality was exemplified by a vision put forth by Advocate General Trabucchi thirty years ago and reaffirmed by Advocate General Tesauro in the Court's courageous P.v S . decision (ECJ 1996d: paragraph 24): If we want Community law to be more than a mere mechanical system of economics and to constitute instead a system commensurate with the society which it has to govern, if we wish it to be a legal system corresponding to the concept of social justice and European integration not only of the economy but of the people, we cannot disappoint the [national] court's expectations, which are more than those of legal form. (ECJ 1975: 697) All have not welcomed this evolution from the legal to the political, from economic to social justice; some critics have suggested that the Court suffers from “morbid megalomania” or a tendency of “running wild” or engaging in “revolting judicial behavior.” More accurately, one might describe the ECJ as dutiful worker, carrying out the ever challenging and increasingly complex job to which it was mandated almost fifty years ago: “The Court of Justice shall ensure that in the interpretation and application of the Treaty the law is observed” (Article 164 Treaty of Rome).
THE PROSODIC HIERARCHY IN METER

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the prosodic hierarchy in meter. In prosodic hierarchy, the essence of the theory is that utterances are phrased in the same sense that musical passages are phrased. As in music, phrasing in language is hierarchical: The lowest units are grouped into small phrases that in turn are grouped into larger phrases, and so on through several levels. This phrasing, or prosodic hierarchy, governs the way in which sandhi rules may be applied. The prosodic hierarchy of an utterance is determined by its syntactic structure but is not identical to it. The hierarchy is derived from syntactic structure by a set of rules that alter bracketing and provide labels for the various levels of phrasing.
Protein disulfide isomerase exhibits chaperone and anti-chaperone activity in the oxidative refolding of lysozyme.

Abstract Reduced, denatured lysozyme tends to aggregate at neutral pH, and competition between productive folding and aggregation substantially reduces the efficiency of refolding (Goldberg, M.E., Rudolph, R., and Jaenicke, R. (1991) Biochemistry 30, 2790-2797). Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI), a catalyst of oxidative protein folding, has a variety of effects on the yield of native lysozyme during the oxidative refolding of the reduced, denatured protein. Depending on the concentration of lysozyme, the concentration of PDI, and the order in which lysozyme and PDI are added to initiate folding, PDI can produce a substantial increase or a substantial decrease in the recovery of native lysozyme, when compared with the uncatalyzed reaction. In the presence of a glutathione redox buffer, denatured lysozyme (1-10 microM) partitions almost equally between productive folding leading to native lysozyme (50-63%) and non-productive fates including the formation of disulfide cross-linked aggregates. At the higher lysozyme concentrations examined (5-10 microM), substoichiometric concentrations of PDI (0.5-1 microM) exhibit "anti-chaperone" activity; PDI actively diverts most of the denatured lysozyme away from productive folding so that only 17 +/- 9% of the lysozyme is recovered as native enzyme. PDI's anti-chaperone activity results in extensive intermolecular disulfide crosslinking of lysozyme into large, inactive aggregates. On the other hand, if PDI is initially present at a large molar excess (5-10-fold) when denatured lysozyme is diluted to initiate folding, PDI demonstrates a chaperone-like activity that prevents aggregate formation and promotes correct folding. When PDI's chaperone activity is dominant, virtually all of the denatured lysozyme is correctly folded. The schizophrenic chaperone/anti-chaperone nature of PDI activity accounts for a number of observations on in vivo protein folding, including the necessity for maintaining a high concentration of PDI in the endoplasmic reticulum and the formation of disulfide cross-linked aggregates in the endoplasmic reticulum during the expression of disulfide-containing proteins (deSilva, A., Braakman, I., and Helenius, A. (1993) J. Cell. Biol. 120, 647-655).
The use of a radioimmunoassay specific for human chorionic gonadotropin in patients with molar pregnancy and gestational trophoblastic disease.

Abstract Serum human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) activity is compared in 14 patients under treatment for gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) using both a radioimmunoassay (RIA) specific for hCG and a nonspecific rapid solid-phase RIA which measures both luteinizing hormone (hLH) and hCG. The results indicate that the nonspecific RIA is adequate for the diagnosis and management of patients with GTD when the hCG titer is above endogenous hLH levels, but a specific RIA is required to ensure complete remission and to detect early recurrence during follow-up.
A role for cryptochromes in sleep regulation.

Background The cryptochrome 1 and 2 genes (cry1 and cry2) are necessary for the generation of circadian rhythms, as mice lacking both of these genes (cry1,2-/-) lack circadian rhythms. We studied sleep in cry1,2-/- mice under baseline conditions as well as under conditions of constant darkness and enforced wakefulness to determine whether cryptochromes influence sleep regulatory processes.
Martian and terrestrial paleoclimatology: Relevance of solar variability

Abstract Evidence for past Martian rivers is perhaps the most puzzling and inconsistent present planetary problem, conflicting as it does with current conditions on the planet. This paper emphasizes the similar puzzling evidence that the Earth, as well as Mars, was warmer in the past. Neutrino evidence raises the suggestion that the sun was also “warmer” in the past. A hypothetical cause reconciling all effects is episodic change in solar luminosity on a time-scale of a few hundred million years. This paper outlines requirements and consequences of such a working hypothesis, with pro and con arguments. It is important to try to prove or disprove this hypothesis because it has radical implications for current science. For example, it suggests (1) climates of all the planets have been markedly altered simultaneously by solar changes, sometimes catastrophically; (2) solar changes have been a dominant “forcing function” driving biological speculation and evolution on Earth; (3) the concept of geologic uniformitarianism is somewhat modified by cosmic variables; (4) evolution of water-utilizing intelligent creatures near other stars may be less likely than has been thought, due to catastrophic planetary climate reactions to change in stellar luminosity.
Internationalization: Institutions, People and Programmes in Colorado

This paper focuses on the internationalization of curricula, faculty and campus activities in a case study of colleges and universities in Colorado. ‘Internationalization’ is a recent trend in US higher education and is sometimes given as a reason for hiring foreign-born faculty. A survey was used to explore how the definition and degree of internationalization would vary by institutional mission, goals and size as well as by the interests and expertise of key administrators and staff. None of these factors accounted for the survey results. Instead, the results indicate inconsistencies in institutional definitions of internationalization and in the implementation of resulting programmes. These inconsistencies may be a reason why foreign-born faculty can receive a mixed reception and encounter varied support on US campuses and raise a number of issues for further research on the discourse of contemporary US higher education.
Aspects of caloric, nitrogen and mineral nutrition during growth in nestling eastern bluebirds, Sialia sialis

Abstract 1. 1. Nestling eastern bluebirds experience a drop in live mass after 13 days of age; however, dry mass continues to increase. 2. 2. Caloric density and body concentrations of Fe, Mg, and Na remain constant, Ca and N concentrations increase, and K concentration decreases with nestling age. Daily nutrient accretions in nestling eastern bluebirds are much less than in non-passerines. 3. 3. Quantities of select insects fed to nestlings (to meet daily caloric requirements) do not satisfy certain elemental accretion requirements. 4. 4. Fecal sac Ca levels indicate that nestlings scarcely receive a sufficient quantity of Ca to meet minimal growth requirements.
Flavin levels in the rat retina.

Abstract Exposure of riboflavin and its coenzymes adenine dinucleotide (FAD) and riboflavin-5′-phosphate (FMN) to UV and visable light results in the generation of radicals and photodegradative products that can damage surrounding macromolecules. Vertebrates and invertebrates have lost the ability to synthesize riboflavin and must obtain it or its coenzymes from food. The present study evaluated the relationship between FAD, FMN, and riboflavin concentrations in retina and blood of male Sprague-Dawley rats. Rations were provided in the form of purified diets containing 0, 3, 6, 30, and 300 mg riboflavin kg−1 diet. Analysis of flavins by HPLC showed that saturation levels of FAD, FMN and riboflavin in the retina and blood were achieved with diets containing 3 mg riboflavin kg−1. Retinal flavins were not significantly elevated by further increases in dietary riboflavin concentration, but an unidentified flavin appeared in the blood of rats given rations containing concentrations above 3 mg kg−1. The concentration of this unknown flavin varied in proportion to the level of dietary riboflavin.
Comparison of Frustration and Doping Effects in Generalized Flux Phases

We investigate the doped t-J model close to half-filling and the frustrated Heisenberg model, both in two dimensions, within the variational scheme of the generalized flux phases. We show, that in the doped case the staggered flux state has lower energy, while in the frustrated case the uniform has lower energy, thus an "adiabatic continuation" between the two models would lead to level crossings and different low-energy physics. The optimal fluxes also show different behavior in the doped and frustrated cases. Our results are compared with recent exact diagonalization and quantum Monte Carlo data.
Vertebral abnormalities in white crappies, Pomoxis annularis Rafinesque, from Lake Decatur, Illinois, and an investigation of possible causes

Crappie, Pomoxis annularis, from Lake Decatur, Illinois, were reported to have a high incidence of backbone deformities, an investigation was initiated to determine both the mechanism of vertebral injury and the causative agent. Three groups of fish were collected: normally shaped and abnormally shaped crappies from Lake Decatur and control fish from abnormally shaped crappies from Lake Decatur and control fish from nearby Lake Sangchris. Analysis of organic and inorganic residue levels in fish tissue revealed no significant levels of contaminants in any of the three groups. Evaluation of the mechanical properties, biochemical composition, and density characteristic of vertebral bone showed no significant difference between the three groups. A myxosporidean parasite, found in both normal and abnormally shaped crappies from Lake Decatur, may have been a contributing factor leading to the spinal deformities. We believe that a short-term exposure to organophosphate insecticides, may have occurred causing muscular contractions and resulting in vertebral damage and abnormally shaped fish.
Minimization of polypeptide energy. IX. A procedure for seeking the global minimum of functions with many minima.

A method is presented for locating a series of local minima with decreasing function values; this is a problem that arises in the calculation of stable conformations of polypeptides and proteins. The principle of the method is to seek a solution of the equation f(x) = a with successively lower values of a, and use these as starting points for further minimization. Two methods for solving the equation f(x) = a are presented; one method minimizes a function with one extra variable, while the other converts the search for a solution into a nonlinear programming problem. Neither method is infallible, but both appear to be at least moderately successful in achieving their aims.
Molecular Cloning and Characterization of a Novel Histone Deacetylase HDAC10

The growing number of proteins controlled by reversible acetylation suggests the existence of a large number of acetyltransferases and deacetylases. Here, we report the identification of a novel class II histone deacetylase, HDAC10. Homology comparison indicates that HDAC10 is most similar to HDAC6. Both contain a unique, putative second catalytic domain not found in other HDACs. In HDAC10, however, this domain is not functional. This tandem organization of two catalytic domains confers resistance to the inhibitors trapoxin B and sodium butyrate, which potently inhibit the deacetylase activity of all other HDAC members. Thus, HDAC10 and HDAC6 share unusual structural and pharmacological characteristics. However, unlike HDAC6, which is normally a cytoplasmic deacetylase, HDAC10 resides in both the nucleus and cytoplasm. In the nucleus, when tethered to a promoter, HDAC10 represses transcription independent of its deacetylase activity, indicating that HDAC10 contains a distinct transcriptional repressor domain. These observations suggest that HDAC10 might uniquely play roles both in the nucleus, as a transcriptional modulator, and in the cytoplasm in an unidentified role. Together, our results identify HDAC10 as a novel deacetylase with distinct structure, pharmacology and localization and further expand the complexity of the HDAC family.
The pressure surrounding the lungs

Abstract Although there is present agreement that intrapleural pressure is not uniform throughout the thoracic cavity there is disagreement both as to the magnitude of this difference and as to its significance. A new method has been employed (flow through a Starling resistor) for measuring pleural and esophageal pressure. There appears to be an area in the cephalad thorax, both in the horizontal and vertical head up position, in which end expiratory esophageal and pleural pressure are more negative than in the remainder of the thoracic cavity. The method employed and the possible significance of the findings are discussed.
Influence of transport corrections on the infrared absorption in superconductors

Abstract In order to study the magnitude of the vertex correction in the infrared absorption in a superconductor, we have calculated the and ω dependent response function for a simple Debye model of a superconductor. We have carried out our calculations for no vertex correction and also for the first vertex correction in both the high q and low q limits. The vertex correction calculation includes the influence of transport modifications due to the interference between quasiparticle scattering by phonons and the quasiparticle-external field interaction. This correction is small for all frequencies except those just above the gap. Our calculations indicate that, with vertex corrections, the theory for lead would be in even better agreement with experiment.
Do marmosets care to share? Oxytocin treatment reduces prosocial behavior toward strangers

Cooperatively-breeding and socially-monogamous primates, like marmosets and humans, exhibit high levels of social tolerance and prosociality toward others. Oxytocin (OXT) generally facilitates prosocial behavior, but there is growing recognition that OXT modulation of prosocial behavior is shaped by the context of social interactions and by other motivational states such as arousal or anxiety. To determine whether prosociality varies based on social context, we evaluated whether marmoset donors (Callithrix penicillata) preferentially rewarded pairmates versus opposite-sex strangers in a prosocial food-sharing task. To examine potential links among OXT, stress systems, and prosociality, we evaluated whether pretrial cortisol levels in marmosets altered the impact of OXT on prosocial responses. Marmosets exhibited spontaneous prosociality toward others, but they did so preferentially toward strangers compared to their pairmates. When donor marmosets were treated with marmoset-specific Pro(8)-OXT, they exhibited reduced prosociality toward strangers compared to marmosets treated with saline or consensus-mammalian Leu(8)-OXT. When pretrial cortisol levels were lower, marmosets exhibited higher prosociality toward strangers. These findings demonstrate that while marmosets show spontaneous prosocial responses toward others, they do so preferentially toward opposite-sex strangers. Cooperative breeding may be associated with the expression of prosociality, but the existence of a pair-bond between marmoset partners appears to be neither necessary nor sufficient for the expression of spontaneous prosocial responses. Furthermore, high prosociality toward strangers is significantly reduced in marmosets treated with Pro(8)-OXT, suggesting that OXT does not universally enhance prosociality, but, rather OXT modulation of prosocial behavior varies depending on social context.
Origin of the hydration force: water-mediated interaction between two hydrophilic plates.

We performed molecular dynamics simulations on systems containing phosphatidycholine headgroups attached to graphene plates (PC−headgroup plates) immersed in water to study the interaction between phosphatidylcholine bilayers in water. The potential of mean force (PMF) between PC−headgroup plates shows that the interaction is repulsive. We observed three distinct regimes in the PMF depending on the interplate distances: the small distance regime, intermediate distance regime, and large distance regime. We believe that the repulsive interaction in the intermediate interplate distance regime is associated with the hydration force due to the removal of water molecules adjacent to the headgroups.
Do Methadone Patients Substitute Other Drugs for Heroin? Predicting Substance Use at 1-Year Follow-up

Data were analyzed from the nationwide Treatment Outcome Prospective Study (TOPS) to assess whether current and former methadone patients substitute other drugs for heroin. The sample comprised 513...
Stretching a stiff polymer in a tube

The present paper investigates the force-extension behavior of a stiff polymer under stretching inside a small tube. We develop a theory and perform Brownian dynamic simulations based on a recently developed generalized bead-rod model (GBR) to show that the force-extension relation of such a strongly confined polymer chain can be described by that of an unconfined polymer subject to an effective force which is derived based on Odijk’s theory of a confined polymer chain.
Recent developments in speciation and determination of organometallic compounds in environmental samples

Recent developments in the techniques of speciation and determination of organometallic compounds in the environment are reviewed. There is an increasing trend in the use of high performance liquid chromatography as separation tool, and in the use of plasma-excited atomic emission spectrometry as detector. New techniques have been reported to overcome the historically difficult interface of HPLC to furnace AAS. There are also new techniques in the derivatization of ionic organometallic species for gas chromatography. Tandem analytical systems are getting more and more sophisticated, so are the sensitivity and specificity.
Work in progress: Faculty perceptions of project-enhanced learning in early engineering education: Barriers and benefits

The application of problem-based learning (PBL) to undergraduate engineering education has emerged as an area of research interest over the past few decades, although it does not appear to be the dominant pedagogy for most engineering programs. A related form of active learning is project-enhanced learning (PEL), specifically designed to enhance but not replace traditional teaching methods in engineering science courses. The perceptions of instructors who attempt PEL were examined using extended-term mixed-method approaches, seeking to examine perceived benefits and barriers to PEL as an intervention for improved student learning. Instructors expressed satisfaction with improved student motivation, interaction, and socialization, which may help with student success and retention in engineering. Instructors also expressed concern about losing focus on the challenging analytical course topics, but were able to achieve appropriate balance by designing project tasks to align well with the topics and limiting non-aligned project activity.
Structural analysis of the products of chymotryptic cleavage of the E1 form of Na,K-ATPase α-subunit: identification of the N-terminal fragments containing the transmembrane H1-H2 domain

Chymotryptic cleavage of the Na,K-ATPase in NaCl medium abolishes ATPase activity and alters other functional parameters. The structure of this modified enzyme is uncertain since only one product of selective proteolysis, the 83-kDa fragment of the α-subunit (Ala267–C-terminus) has been identified previously. Here, we applied additional tryptic digestion followed by oxidative cross-linking to identify the products originating from the N-terminal part of the α-subunit. These fragments start at Ala72 or Thr74 and contain the transmembrane H1-H2 domain. Formation of cross-linked product between α-fragments containing H1-H2 and H7-H10 demonstrate that the structural integrity of the membrane moiety is preserved. We also determined that secondary cleavage of the 83-kDa fragment leads to the formation of C-terminal 48-kDa α-fragments with multiple N-termini at Ile582, Ser583, Met584 and Ile585.
Iodination of fibrinogen.

Abstract The iodination of fibrinogen was investigated. Conditions were applied which favor the substitution of iodine. The iodination caused a marked change in the solubility of fibrinogen. The total amount of iodine bound was found to be equal in fibrinogen and fibrin.
Chronically increased intra-abdominal pressure produces systemic hypertension in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: Determine if increased intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) alone can cause systemic hypertension in a chronic canine model. DESIGN: Evaluate effects of increase in IAP with progressive inflation and deflation of an intra-abdominal balloon on systemic blood pressure in experimental and control animals. SUBJECTS: Male dogs weighing 15–25 kg underwent placement of an intra-abdominal balloon which was progressively inflated on a weekly basis in the experimental animals (5) over 4 weeks to 25 mmHg above baseline and kept there for an additional 2 weeks before gradual deflation over 2 weeks. Control animals (5) had the balloon placed but not inflated. Pain was controlled with osmotic analgesic pumps. MEASUREMENTS: The animals were anesthetized, blood pressure (BP) measured and blood drawn for plasma renin activity (PRA), aldosterone, atrial naturetic peptide (ANP), catecholamines, and serum sodium (Na). A right heart catheter was inserted for measuring cardiac output (CO) and pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) at baseline, week 5 (maximal IAP) and week 7 (after balloon deflation). The animals were weighed and urinary bladder pressures recorded weekly before and after abdominal balloon inflation. RESULTS: Systolic (122±3 to 155±5 mmHg, P baseline and returned to control with balloon deflation. Both systolic and diastolic BP rose (P<0.05) above control animals BP at 15 mmHg IAP at 2 weeks and remained elevated until abdominal decompression, at week 7. There were no significant changes in net animal weight, PRA, aldosterone, ANF, catecholamines, Na, CO or PAOP. CONCLUSION: Increased IAP from progressively inflating an intra-abdominal balloon in dogs was associated with significant increases in systolic and diastolic BP that resolved with balloon deflation. Increased IAP may be a cause for systemic hypertension in central obesity and pre-eclampsia.
Absolute photoionization cross sections of the Cs 7D3/2 level measured by use of fluorescence reduction.

A simple technique for measuring absolute photoionization cross sections \ensuremath{\sigma} of excited atoms has been applied to the 7${D}_{3/2}$ level in Cs. Past experiments on excited-state cross sections have relied on measurements of the total number of ions or photoelectrons produced by photoionization to deduce \ensuremath{\sigma}. Our technique is novel in that it utilizes the simple measurement of the reduction in the excited-atom fluorescence due to photoionization to find \ensuremath{\sigma}. We report measurements of cross sections at six different photon energies.
SU-E-T-637: Age and Batch Dependence of Gafchromic EBT Films in Photon and Proton Beam Dosimetry

Purpose: Gafchrmoic films have undergone significant changes in characteristic over time reflected by HS, EBT, EBT2, EBT3 name. Interand intra- EBT film variability have been studied and found to be significant. However, age and lot/batch type have not been studied in various radiation beams that are investigated in this study. Methods: Thirteen sets of films; 2 EBT, 6 EBT2 and 5 EBT3 films with different lot number and expiration date were acquired. Films were cut longitudinally in 3 cm width and sandwiched between two solid water slabs that were placed in a water phantom to eliminate air gap. Each set of films were irradiated longitudinally at dmax with 6 and 15 MV photon beams as well as in reference condition (16 cm range, 10 cm SOBP) in our uniform scanning proton beam. Films were scanned using an Epson flatbed scanner (ES-10000G) after 48 hours to achieve full polymerization. The profiles were compared with the depth-dose measured with ionization chamber and net optical density (net OD) were calculated. Results: The net OD versus dose for EBT, EBT2 and EBT3 films of different age showed similar trend but with different slope. Even after calibration, differences are clearly visible in net OD inmore » proton and photon beams. A net OD difference of nearly 0.5 is observed in photon but this was limited to 0.2–0.3 in proton beam. This relates to 20% and 15% dosimetric difference in photon and proton beam respectively over age and type of film. Conclusion: Net OD related to dose is dependent on the age and lot of the film in both photon and proton beams. It is concluded that before any set of film is used, a calibration film should be used for a meaningful dosimetry. The expired films showed larger OD variation compared to unexpired films.« less
Biallelic inactivation of the APC gene is associated with hepatocellular carcinoma in familial adenomatous polyposis coli

BACKGROUND Certain primary hepatic tumors have been associated with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), a condition caused by germline mutations of the adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) gene. However, a genetic association between FAP and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been shown. This study tested the hypothesis that biallelic inactivation of the APC gene contributed to the development of HCC in a patient with FAP and a known germline mutation of the APC gene at codon 208, but no other risk factors for HCC. METHODS Total RNA and genomic DNA were isolated from the tumor, and in vitro synthesized protein assay and DNA sequencing analysis were used to screen for a somatic mutation in the APC gene. RESULTS A somatic one–base pair deletion at codon 568 was identified in the wild-type allele of the APC gene. CONCLUSIONS To the authors' knowledge, this study provides the first evidence that biallelic inactivation of the APC gene may contribute to the development of HCC in patients with FAP. Cancer 2001;92:332–9. © 2001 American Cancer Society.
Competition from Fish Farming in Influencing Rent Dissipation: The Crawfish Fishery

As fish farming has emerged to compete with a preexisting common property fishery sector, rent dissipation and consequently welfare losses may be reduced. Fish farming increases the increment to supply resulting in lower prices, which reduces the quantity supplied by the commons. Welfare gains accrue only when marginal cost is rising faster than average cost, which is the usual case in the wild fisheries. Using data from the Louisiana pond and wild crawfishing industries, it was shown that for the year 1978, fish farming of crawfish reduced potential welfare losses by 76 percent.
Effect of monomer structure and solvent on the growth of supramolecular nanoassemblies on a graphite surface.

The self-assembly of high aspect ratio hierarchical surface assemblies, as observed by fluid tapping mode AFM, can be achieved through careful design of the supramolecular interactions between low-molecular-weight adsorbates. Needlelike assemblies of monotopic guanine end-capped alkanes grow on a graphite surface when deposited from a water/DMSO solution. The growth of these assemblies can be monitored by AFM in real time, and the growth rate along the two different axes can be understood (through molecular modeling) in terms of the specific adsorbate−adsorbate interactions along those axes. Additionally, through judicious solvent selection (e.g., use of non-H-bonding solvents such as o-dichlorobenzene), which allows the formation of hydrogen-bonding aggregates in solution and influences the surface−adsorbate interactions, dramatically different surface assemblies of these guanine derivatives are obtained.
Human temporary threshold shift (TTS) and damage risk

Information regarding the relation of human temporary threshold shift (TTS) to properties of steady‐state and intermittent noise published since the 1966 appearance of the CHABA damage risk contours is reviewed. The review focuses on results from four investigative areas relevant to potential revision of the CHABA contours including effects of long‐duration exposure and asymptotic threshold shifts (ATS); equivalent quiet and /or safe noise levels; effects of intermittency; and use of noise‐induced temporary threshold shift (NITTS) to predict susceptibility to noise‐induced permanent threshold shift (NIPTS). These data indicate that two of three major postulates on which the original contours were based are not valid. First, recovery from TTS is not independent of the conditions that produced the TTS as was assumed. Second, the assumption that all exposures that produce equal TTS2 are equally hazardous is not substantiated. The third postulate was that NIPTS produced by 10 years of daily exposure is approximately equal to the TTS2 produced by the same noise after an 8‐h exposure. Based upon several TTS experiments showing that TTS reaches an asymptote after about 8 h of exposure, the third CHABA postulate can be reworded to state the hypothesis that ATS produced by sound of fixed level and spectrum represents an upper bound on PTS produced by that sound regardless of the exposure duration or the number of times exposed. This hypothesis has a strong, logical foundation if ATS represents a true asymptote for TTS, not a temporary plateau, and if threshold shifts do not increase after the noise exposure ceases.
Cardiac Paraganglioma in an Adolescent

A 16-year-old adolescent boy was admitted to a local hospital for surgical repair of an orbital fracture. He was seen by a pediatric cardiologist at 12 years of age for evaluation of palpitations and syncope, which was diagnosed as a vasovagal episode. He has had no subsequent symptoms or other health concerns and has excelled in sports. During recovery from the orbital fracture surgery, he was noted to have irregular heart rhythm and was subsequently referred for outpatient pediatric cardiology evaluation. His vital signs and physical examination were normal. Echocardiogram revealed a 2.5×2.6-cm mass between the anterior aspects of the proximal ascending aorta and main pulmonary artery with no obstruction to blood flow and no additional structural or functional abnormalities (Movie I in the online-only Data Supplement). Chest computed tomography identified small blood vessels from the proximal left and right coronary arteries entering the tumor. Cardiac magnetic resonance sequences were consistent with a high vascular supply to the tumor: hyperintense signal on …
First Report of a Ceratobasidium sp. Causing Root Rot on Canola in Washington State.

Rhizoctonia root rot occurs commonly on canola (Brassica napus L.) in Washington State. Recently, isolates of an additional pathogen were found to be involved in this disease complex. Isolates of an AG-I-like Ceratobasidium sp. were collected from roots and root zone soil in central Washington near Ritzville. Identity of selected isolates was verified by sequencing the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rDNA (GenBank Accession Nos. JQ247570, JQ247571, and JQ247572), with a 90 to 93% identity to AG-I. All isolates also amplified with AG-I-like specific primers (1). Six isolates were included in pathogenicity assays conducted in the greenhouse. There were five replicates of three plants for each treatment and the experiment was conducted twice. Pasteurized soil was infested with ground oat inoculum (1%) and placed into containers (3.8 × 21 cm). Infested soils were seeded with canola, chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.), lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.), pea (Pisum sativum L.), barley (Hordeum vulgare L...
Characteristics of AlGaInP/InGaP broad-area laser diodes

We report the results of the AlGaInP/InGaP broad area laser diodes.the broad area lasers were made with laser cavity- lengths of 250 micrometers to 1.25 mm. The pulsed L-I characteristics of these broad area lasers were measured, as a function of the laser stripe width. The pulse width of the pulsed L-I measurements was 360 nsec and the pulse periods were 10 msec to 5 (mu) sec. The measured pulsed L-I characteristics of the AlGaInP/InGaP lasers were found to be strongly dependent on the duty cycles of the applied voltage pulses, which were attributed to heating effects within the broad area lasers. The threshold current increases with increasing pulse duty cycle, while the external quantum efficiency decreases with increasing duty cycle. Heating effects were negligible only at very low duty cycles of 0.1 percent or below. Similar pulsed L-I measurements were performed on the 850-nm AlGaAs/GaAs broad area lasers. Heating effect was not observed in those measurements because of better heat conduction properties of the AlGaAs cladding layers. The results were carefully analyzed.
LOW P27 EXPRESSION PREDICTS POOR DISEASE-FREE SURVIVAL IN PATIENTS WITH PROSTATE CANCER

AbstractPurpose: p27 is an inhibitor of the cell cycle with potential tumor suppressor function. Decreased levels of p27 protein expression have been correlated with poor prognosis in patients with breast and colorectal carcinomas. Although as many as a third of patients with clinically localized prostate cancer will have relapse after radical prostatectomy, predicting who will have recurrence remains enigmatic. We examined the ability of p27 protein levels to predict outcome in patients with clinically localized disease who underwent radical prostatectomy.Materials and Methods: p27 protein expression was evaluated in 86 patients with clinical stage T1-2 prostate cancer who were treated with radical prostatectomy. Archived paraffin embedded specimens were sectioned and immunostained with p27 antibody, and scored by 2 independent observers in a blinded fashion. The absence or presence of p27 protein was then correlated with biochemical relapse in univariate and multivariate analyses.Results: In a multivari...
Large-scale production of a disulfide-stabilized constitutively active mutant opsin

Previous studies of constitutively activated mutants of opsin in the absence of chromophore were carried out in crude cell membranes because such mutants could not be recovered in a detergent-solubilized form in the active state. We employed a strategy in which a stabilizing disulfide bond allowed for successful purification of a constitutively activated mutant opsin, N2C/E113Q/M257Y/D282C, solubilized in nonionic detergent from mammalian cell culture. The purified mutant opsin is able to activate transducin to a higher degree than opsin and may prove useful for future structural studies of the active state of GPCRs.
A remark on the finite time singularity of the heat flow for harmonic maps

In this paper we study the finite time singularities for the solution of the heat flow for harmonic maps. We derive a gradient estimate for the solution across a finite time singularity. In particular, we find that the solution is asymptotically radial around the isolated singular point in space at a finite singular time. It would be more desirable to understand whether the solution is continuous in space at a finite singular time.