cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis, Characterization, and Thermolysis of C15N12

Synthesis of 1-methyl-2-fluoro-4,5-dicyanoimidazole was done by halogen exchange between 1-methyl-2-bromo-4,5-dicyanoimidazole and potassium fluoride. Halogen exchange between 1-methyl-2-bromo-4,5-dicyanoimidazole and lithium chloride in N-methylpyrrolidinone at 150 degrees C yielded 1-methyl-2-chloro-4,5-dicyanoimidazole, and additional heating to 210 degrees C resulted in the demethylation to yield 2-chloro-4,5-dicyanoimidazole. Thermolyses of the 2-halo-4,5-dicyanoimidazole derivatives (F, Cl) and 1-iodo-2-halo-4,5-dicyanoimidazole derivatives (Cl, Br, I) between 100 and 290 degrees C were found to yield Tris(imidazo)[1,2-a:1,2-c:1,2-e]-1,3,5-triazine-2,3,5,6,8,9-hexacarbonitrile, or HTT, with (C(5)N(4))(3) composition. HTT has been characterized and purified and the crystal structure obtained. Thermolysis of HTT at 490-500 degrees C gives a material with C/N = 1.020. The thermal properties of HTT and its decomposition products show thermal stability to 350 degrees C.
Mostly positive: effects of reminding white teens about Latino and Asian American celebrities

As individuals accumulate media-based experiences with famous exemplars of racial/ethnic outgroups, subsequent reminders of those exemplars may elicit positive attitudes about the group as a whole....
Layer size polydispersity in hydrated montmorillonite creates multiscale porosity networks

Abstract The aluminosilicate layers of the swelling clay mineral montmorillonite, and the saturated pores they delineate, control the mechanical properties and the transport of solutes in many natural and engineered environments. However, the structural basis of montmorillonite porosity remains poorly characterized due to the difficulty in visualizing hydrated samples in their native state. Here, we used cryogenic transmission electron microscopy (cryo-TEM) and cryo electron tomography (cryo-ET) to show that stacking defects within minimally altered, fully hydrated montmorillonite particles define multiscale porosity networks. Variations in layer lateral dimensions over tens to thousands of nanometers cause a range of topological and dynamic defects that generate pervasive curvature and introduce previously uncharacterized solute transport pathways. Observations of long-range rotational order between neighboring layers indicate that the layer-layer interactions that govern clay swelling involve three dimensional orienting forces that operate across nanoscale pores. These direct observations of the hierarchical structure of hydrated montmorillonite pore networks with nanoscale resolution reveal potentially general aspects of colloidal interactions in fluid-saturated clay minerals.
Variants in ALX4 and Their Association with Genitourinary Defects

Background Genitourinary anomalies occur in approximately 1% of humans, but in most cases, the cause is unknown. Aristaless-like homeobox 4 (ALX4) is an important homeodomain transcription factor. ALX4 mutations in humans and mouse have been associated with craniofacial defects and genitourinary anomalies such as cryptorchidism and epispadias. Objectives To investigate the presence and the functional impact of ALX4 variants in patients with genitourinary defects. Materials and methods Two separate patient cohorts were analyzed. One includes clinical exome-sequencing (ES) data from 7500 individuals. The other includes 52 ALX4 Sanger-sequenced individuals with bladder exstrophy-epispadias complex (BEEC). Dual luciferase assays were conducted to investigate the functional transcriptional impact of ALX4 variants in HeLa cells and HEK293 cells. Results A total of 41 distinct ALX4 heterozygous missense variants were identified in the ES cohort with 15 variants present as recurrent in multiple patients. p.G369E and p.L373F were the only two present in individuals with genitourinary defects. A p.L373F heterozygous variant was also identified in one of the 52 individuals in the BEEC cohort. p.L373F and p.G369E were tested in vitro as both are considered damaging by MutationTaster, although only p.G369E was considered damaging by PolyPhen-2. p.L373F did not alter transcriptional activity in HeLa and HEK293 cells. p.G369E caused a significant 3.4- and 1.8-fold decrease in transcriptional activities relative to wild-type ALX4 in HEK293 and HeLa cells, respectively. Discussion and conclusions Our study supports the idea that transcription factors like ALX4 could influence the normal development of the GU tract in humans as demonstrated in mouse models as ALX4 variant p.G369E (predicted pathogenic by multiple databases) affects ALX4 function in vitro. Variant p.L373F (predicted pathogenic by only MutationTaster) did not affect ALX4 function in vitro. Exon-sequence information and mouse genetics provide important insights into the complex mechanisms driving genitourinary defects allowing the association of transcriptional defects with congenital disorders.
Sequential Model-Based Design of Experiments for Development of Mathematical Models for Thin Film Deposition using Chemical Vapor Deposition Process

Abstract Experimental data is required to estimate unknown parameters for a mathematical model describing thin film growth and to optimize the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. The most informative experimental data can be obtained by sequential model-based design of experiments (MBDoE), but this requires significant effort to implement compared to factorial design of experiments (DoE). For CVD processes it is not clear which approach is better or more efficient. Here, we compare the effectiveness of sequential A-optimal (MBDoE) with a factorial (DoE) using a case study involving a mechanistic model of thin-film deposition. The sequential A-optimal MBDoE and factorial DoE are compared based on their effectiveness in obtaining accurate parameter estimates and model predictions. Synthetic experimental data is generated from simulations with the true parameters plus noise. The results suggest that the A-optimal MBDoE is slightly better than factorial DoE for estimating model parameters. The parameter estimates from each experimental design approach are used to solve a model-based optimization problem. The results indicate that model-based optimization from the model with parameter estimates obtained by the A-optimal design gives a significantly better estimate of the optimal process conditions than factorial DoE.
Targeted child support enforcement and its association with child support payments: Evidence from a program evaluation

Abstract The Child Support Recovery Unit (CSRU) within the Iowa Department of Human Services is responsible for establishing and enforcing child support orders across the state. As part of a comprehensive effort to actualize services, CSRU and university partners developed and evaluated a positive family support model to maintain relationships with non-custodial parents. This article describes the evolution of the programming and examines the association between targeted child support enforcement initiative (termed Projecting Positivity Promotes Positivity and Cultural Change or Px4C2) and non-custodial parents’ support payments. We use the difference-in-differences framework to estimate the intervention effects on non-custodial parents’ child support. Results from the program evaluation model and payment data suggest a positive association with increased child support payments by 25 dollars on average and a 6.1 percentage point increase in the ratios of child support payments to child support dues. Results suggest that while this new approach was associated with increases for all non-custodial parents, the association was stronger for those who did not have a formal child support enforcement measure or mechanism in place prior to the intervention.
Inspiration of Imitation: Copyright Protection for Stage Directions

This Article addresses copyright protection for stage directions. Copyright law dictates that stage directions are subject to copyright protection, as they are original creative works that can easily be fixed in a tangible medium. Under their union contracts, theatre directors reserve ownership of the copyright in stage directions. Directors who believe that their staging has been misappropriated by a later director can prove infringement through showing access and substantial similarity. The doctrines of merger and scenes a faire, however, limit the extent of that copyright protection. If copyright law fails to fully vindicate a director’s hoped-for rights in stage directions, other legal theories also pose their own hurdles. Ultimately, a director should be able to successfully sue a later director for copyright infringement if the later director closely copies the most striking features of the original director’s staging. Give my regards to Broadway! Remember me to Herald Square!
Evaluation of a Truthful Revelation Auction in the Context of Energy Markets with Nonconcave Benefits

We describe a Vickrey-Clarke-Groves auction of supply and demand bidding in the face of market power and nonconcave benefits in which bidders are motivated to bid truthfully, and evaluate its use for power and gas pipeline auctions. The auction efficiently allocates resources if firms maximize profits. Simulations, including an application to the PJM power market, illustrate the procedure. However. the auction has several undesirable properties. It risks being revenue deficient, can be gamed by cooperating suppliers and consumers, and is subject to the information revelation and bid-taker cheating concerns that make single item Vickrey auctions rare.
Mg(II) heterodinuclear catalysts delivering carbon dioxide derived multi-block polymers

Carbon dioxide derived polymers are emerging as useful materials for applications spanning packaging, construction, house-hold goods and automotive components. To accelerate and broaden their uptake requires both more active and selective catalysts and greater structural diversity for the carbon dioxide derived polymers. Here, highly active catalysts show controllable selectivity for the enchainment of mixtures of epoxide, anhydride, carbon dioxide and lactone. Firstly, metal dependent selectivity differences are uncovered using a series of dinuclear catalysts, Mg(II)Mg(II), Zn(II)Zn(II), Mg(II)Zn(II), and Mg(II)Co(II), each exposed to mixtures of bio-derived tricyclic anhydride, cyclohexene oxide and carbon dioxide (1 bar). Depending upon the metal combinations, different block structures are possible with Zn(II)Zn(II) yielding poly(ester-b-carbonate); Mg(II)Mg(II) or Mg(II)Co(II) catalysts delivering poly(carbonate-b-ester); and Mg(II)Zn(II) furnishing a random copolymer. These results indicate that carbon dioxide insertion reactions follow the order Co(II) > Mg(II) > Zn(II). Using the most active and selective catalyst, Mg(II)Co(II), and exploiting reversible on/off switches between carbon dioxide/nitrogen at 1 bar delivers precision triblock (ABA), pentablock (BABAB) and heptablock (ABABABA) polymers (where A = poly(cyclohexylene oxide-alt-tricyclic anhydride), PE; B = poly(cyclohexene carbonate), PCHC). The Mg(II)Co(II) catalyst also selectively polymerizes a mixture of anhydride, carbon dioxide, cyclohexene oxide and e-caprolactone to deliver a CBABC pentablock copolymer (A = PE, B = PCHC C = poly(caprolactone), PCL). The catalysts combine high activity and selectivity to deliver new polymers featuring regularly placed carbon dioxide and biomass derived linkages.
Abstract 3651: Natural killer cells eradicate galectin-1 deficient glioma in the absence of adaptive immunity

Proceedings: AACR Annual Meeting 2014; April 5-9, 2014; San Diego, CA Natural killer (NK) cells safeguard against early tumor formation by seeking out and destroying transformed target cells in a process referred to as NK immunosurveillance. While it is clear that malignant brain tumors such as glioblastoma (GBM) evade NK-mediated tumor suppression, the precise mechanisms by which this occurs remain unknown. We now show that shRNA-mediated knockdown of the β-galactoside-binding lectin, galectin-1 (gal-1), in malignant glioma cells leads to the failure to form lethal intracranial tumors in RAG1-/- mice, a mouse strain devoid of adaptive immunity. However, gal-1 deficient glioma growth is fully restored on implantation into the brain of severely immunocompromised NOD-scid IL2Rg null mice, which lack both adaptive and innate immune function, thus implicating the innate immune response in the early rejection of gal-1 deficient glioma. Immunodepletion of NK cells in RAG1-/- or C57BL/6J mice using anti-asialo GM1 or anti-NK1.1 antibodies permit the growth of large gal-1 deficient gliomas, while macrophage depletion with clodronate liposomes only permits limited tumor growth. This combined result suggests that NK cells and macrophages may work together to achieve gal-1 deficient glioma rejection. Antigen-specific IFN-γ ELISpot assays using splenocytes from immunocompetent C57BL/6J mice indicate that gal-1 deficient glioma is cleared prior to the onset of an adaptive anti-tumor immune response. Flow cytometric analysis of brain tumor-infiltrating immune cells reveal that gal-1 deficient gliomas contain significantly more macrophages and granzyme B+ NK cells compared to gal-1 expressing gliomas. In-vitro experiments further show that gal-1 deficient glioma cells are inherently over 3-times more sensitive to NK-mediated tumor lysis, fail to suppress pro-inflammatory (M1) microglial activation, and secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-12p70, and CXCL2. We conclude that glioma-derived gal-1 is a powerful inhibitor of NK-mediated cytotoxicity in-vivo, and predict that its suppression will be of therapeutic value in the treatment of human malignant brain tumors by dramatically heightening anti-tumor NK immunosurveillance. Citation Format: Gregory J. Baker, Viveka Nand Yadav, Peter Chockley, Robert Doherty, Michael Ritt, Sivaraj Sivaramakrishnan, Maria G. Castro, Pedro R. Lowenstein. Natural killer cells eradicate galectin-1 deficient glioma in the absence of adaptive immunity. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 3651. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-3651
Comments at the Wharton School Conference on 'Fixing the Housing Finance System'

What is the low-cost efficient way of providing housing finance? In introductory economics we learn that competitive firms with no government subsidies will through competition reach the low-cost efficient outcome. But those theorems rarely hold for financial intermediaries. We have learned that banks are "special" and that federal deposit insurance and a central bank are acceptable government interventions. But would I argue that they are not the only acceptable form of government intervention. Both theory and empirical evidence suggest that government sponsored enterprises ("GSEs") are an important supplement to the banking system. The mortgage finance system is too important to be left to one set of institutions.
Aristotle’s Logic at the University of Buffalo’s Department of Philosophy

We begin with an introductory overview of contributions made by more than twenty scholars associated with the Philosophy Department at the University of Buffalo during the last half-century to our understanding and evaluation of Aristotle’s logic. More well-known developments are merely mentioned in order to make room to focus on issues at the center of attention from the beginning: existential import and, more generally, the analysis of categorical propositions. I include a list of the UB scholars, a list of collaborators and supporters from fellow institutions, a bibliography of relevant publications by UB scholars, and a bibliography of important related works.
Serum concentrations of bisnorbiotin and biotin sulfoxide increase during both acute and chronic biotin supplementation

In addition to the pharmacokinetic interest, serum concentrations of biotin and biotin metabolites are important because biotin in serum might interfere with assays that use avidin-biotin detection systems. With acute and chronic oral administration of biotin the serum concentration of biotin increases. Because of limited specificity of bioassays or avidin-binding assays used in previous studies, the proportion of the increase attributable to biotin metabolites (if any) remains unknown. To address these questions 15 adults consumed 1,200 microg biotin daily for 14 days. Blood samples were obtained before biotin ingestion and at 3 hours after biotin ingestion on the first day ("acute supplementation") and the fourteenth day ("chronic supplementation"). Biotin, bisnorbiotin, and biotin sulfoxide were measured with a chemically specific high-pressure liquid chromatography/avidin-binding assay. Serum concentrations of biotin, bisnorbiotin, and biotin sulfoxide increased approximately fiftyfold with acute supplementation of biotin; each increased further with chronic supplementation. With acute supplementation the proportion of the total attributable to metabolites did not decrease significantly, suggesting that pathways for biotin catabolism are not easily saturated. With chronic supplementation the proportion of the total attributable to metabolites did not increase significantly, suggesting that biotin catabolism was not substantially induced. We conclude that on a mole basis the contribution of biotin metabolites is important, and we provide an estimate of the biotin and biotin metabolite concentration that might be encountered in individuals who self-select large biotin supplements.
Mitigation of hematologic radiation toxicity in mice through pharmacological quiescence induced by CDK4/6 inhibition

Total body irradiation (TBI) can induce lethal myelosuppression, due to the sensitivity of proliferating hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) to ionizing radiation (IR). No effective therapy exists to mitigate the hematologic toxicities of TBI. Here, using selective and structurally distinct small molecule inhibitors of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 (CDK4) and CDK6, we have demonstrated that selective cellular quiescence increases radioresistance of human cell lines in vitro and mice in vivo. Cell lines dependent on CDK4/6 were resistant to IR and other DNA-damaging agents when treated with CDK4/6 inhibitors. In contrast, CDK4/6 inhibitors did not protect cell lines that proliferated independently of CDK4/6 activity. Treatment of wild-type mice with CDK4/6 inhibitors induced reversible pharmacological quiescence (PQ) of early HSPCs but not most other cycling cells in the bone marrow or other tissues. Selective PQ of HSPCs decreased the hematopoietic toxicity of TBI, even when the CDK4/6 inhibitor was administered several hours after TBI. Moreover, PQ at the time of administration of therapeutic IR to mice harboring autochthonous cancers reduced treatment toxicity without compromising the therapeutic tumor response. These results demonstrate an effective method to mitigate the hematopoietic toxicity of IR in mammals, which may be potentially useful after radiological disaster or as an adjuvant to anticancer therapy.
Validation of an 8-14 μm cloud monitor using visual observations of antarctic cloud cover

A cloud monitor instrument, sensing 8-14 μm infrared radiation, has been installed near McMurdo, Antarctica, in order to provide supporting cloud cover information for a high-resolution sky-viewing Fabry-Perot spectrometer experiment. Validation of the cloud monitor observations was performed by a 1 year long comparison with the available 6 h visual cloud observations, expressed in octas (obscured eighths of the sky). The agreement between visual observations and those of the cloud monitor is good--the variation being slightly over one step, or octa--except at the clear sky extreme, which the subjective visual observations tend to overestimate during dark and moonless conditions. Both visual observations and the cloud monitor measurements show an austral winter-summer difference with the winter being clearer.
Reactions to Social Dilemmas as a Function of Group Identity, Rational Calculations, and Social Context

A group identification approach to social dilemmas is proposed, and the results of three studies are presented. Study 1 found that members of real groups were more cooperative than members of contrived groups and that this effect was mediated by group identification. Study 2 showed that participants were more cooperative when their in-group was in the majority and that this effect was moderated by strength of group identity. Study 3 replicated the mediation pattern found in Study 1 using different groups and a more rigorous method. In all three studies, measures of group concern, group trust, normative expectations, concern for personal benefit, estimated futility, and estimated redundancy were also administered. Both group identification and ego incentive motives need to be considered to fully understand people's responses to social dilemmas under varying social circumstances.
Decoherence of Rabi oscillations in laser-generated microplasmas

Characteristic fringe patterns of spectral interference in dynamic Rabi sidebands are used as a means to investigate decoherence phenomena in a highly nonequilibrium underdense microplasma formed in atmosphericpressure oxygen gas in the wake of a strong-field (∼1013 W/cm2) femtosecond pump pulse. The same transient processes in the nonequilibrium plasma work both to create the effective two-level systems producing coherent sidebands and to destroy the coherence and smear the sideband spectral structure; the observed spectral fringe pattern is a result of the trade-off of these two effects. The sidebands generated on a moderately intense (∼1010 W/cm2) picosecond laser pulse reveal the decoherence rate as a function of the pump-pulse intensity and the pump-probe delay time. The rate increases with the pump laser intensity and decreases with the delay with corresponding decoherence times in the range of 750 fs to 3 ps, in good agreement with theory revealing that electron scattering dominates the dynamics for the subnanosecond relaxation processes.
Altering Electromyography Studies: Importance of the Electromyographer's Perception of Patient Pain

Abstract Objective To determine the relation between the patient's actual pain, the electromyographer's perception of patient pain, and whether an electromyogram (EMG) is altered. Design Patients undergoing electromyography reported expected pain and procedure-related overall pain on a 100-mm visual analog scale (VAS). Blinded electromyographers estimated patient pain levels and indicated if they altered the study in any way because of this perception. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine predictors of altering the EMG. Paired t tests were used to compare overall pain with expected pain and electromyographer perception of pain. Setting Tertiary referral center. Participants Referred sample of adult subjects (N=304). Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Patient pain, electromyographer perception of patient pain, and whether an EMG was altered because of the electromyographer's perception of patient pain. Results Mean VAS scores ± SD were 48±25mm for patient-expected pain ( P P Conclusions Patients expect EMGs to be more painful than they are. Electromyographers overestimate patient pain and are more likely to alter their studies when they believe patients are experiencing more pain, independently of whether patients actually have more pain. Improving the communication between electromyographers and patients may prevent unnecessary alterations.
Geohydrologic Factors and Current Concepts Relevant to Characterization of a Potential Nuclear Waste Repository Site in Columbia River Basalt, Hanford Stte, Washington

Geologic features are identified that may affect groundwater movement near a repository located in the Columbia River basalt beneath the Hanford Site, Washington State. These include pathways through flow interiors, flow contacts, and bedrock structural discontinuities. Four concepts are considered to describe groundwater movement in basalt. Differences between concepts principally focus on the degree of vertical leakage through basalt flow interiors. The existing geohydrologic data base is preliminary and insufficient to conclusively support one groundwater-flow concept over another. However, it is proposed that available data tend to support the existence of distinct groundwater-flow systems having relatively low vertical leakage under low hydraulic-head gradients except where structural discontinuities are present. A number of geohydrologic characterization activities are underway to reduce the Present uncertainty regarding potential groundwater pathways.
Effect of Drugs of Abuse on Psychiatric Symptoms among Hospitalized Schizophrenics

In a group of 71 inpatient schizophrenics with no other concurrent psychiatric diagnosis except for dependence on one drug, we ascertained the subjective effect their drug of abuse had on their psychiatric symptoms 2 weeks prior to hospitalization. Psychiatric symptoms were assessed by means of the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (Revised) (SCL-90R). Cocaine addicts, but not alcoholics, reported aggravation more often than improvement of symptoms. Alcoholics reported alcohol-induced symptom improvement with a similar frequency as alcohol-induced symptom aggravation.
An adaptive procedure for stabilizing convergence quality in frequency‐constrained design optimization of bar structures supporting non‐structural mass

This paper presents an improved optimality criteria (OC) method for minimum-weight design of bar structures supporting non-structural mass and subjected to multiple natural frequency constraints and minimum gauge restrictions. The convergence quality of the OC method hinges on both the number of active constraints retained and the choice of a proper step size. This being the case, a criterion, which uses previous scaled designs to ‘adaptively’ tune the step size, is established with the purpose of dissolving the (sometimes violent) oscillations of scaled design weights in the iteration history. As the step size is tuned, the convergence rate is descreased. Hence, a modified Aitken's accelerator, which extrapolates from previous scaled designs to obtain an improved one, is used. Its effect is to both increase the overall rate and reduce the net cost of convergence by reducing the number of repeat finite element analyses. The method presented here is used to qualitatively survey the convergence of several OC recursive schemes compositely used to resize and to evaluate the Lagrange multipliers. Design examples are presented to demonstrat the method. The method is adaptable, as it eliminates the need for adjustments of internal parameters during the redesign stage.
TWO SELECTIVE ENRICHMENT MEDIA FOR THE ISOLATION OF SALMONELLA FROM MECHANICALLY DEBONED POULTRY MEAT

Two selective enrichment media were developed for the isolation of salmonellae from foods. The first, experimental broth 1, contained magnesium chloride and sodium cholate as the selective ingredients. The second, experimental broth 2, contained 8 mg/1 sodium sulfadiazine in addition to magnesium chloride and sodium cholate. The two broths were evaluated against conventional selective enrichment media in the isolation of salmonellae from naturally contaminated mechanically deboned poultry meat. Of 100 such samples, 22 were positive for Salmonella after enrichment in selenite cystine broth, 12 were positive after enrichment in tetrathionate broth, 50 were positive after enrichment in experimental broth 1, and 60 samples were positive after enrichment in experimental broth 2. The inhibition of interfering Gram negative organisms was significantly greater in the two experimental broths than in the conventional selective enrichment broths.
Disruption of Prostate Epithelial Differentiation Pathways and Prostate Cancer Development

One of the foremost problems in the prostate cancer (PCa) field is the inability to distinguish aggressive from indolent disease, which leads to difficult prognoses and thousands of unnecessary surgeries. This limitation stems from the fact that the mechanisms of tumorigenesis in the prostate are poorly understood. Some genetic alterations are commonly reported in prostate tumors, including upregulation of Myc, fusion of Ets genes to androgen-regulated promoters, and loss of Pten. However, the specific roles of these aberrations in tumor initiation and progression are poorly understood. Likewise, the cell of origin for PCa remains controversial and may be linked to the aggressive potential of the tumor. One important clue is that prostate tumors co-express basal and luminal protein markers that are restricted to their distinct cell types in normal tissue. Prostate epithelium contains layer-specific stem cells as well as rare bipotent cells, which can differentiate into basal or luminal cells. We hypothesize that the primary oncogenic cell of origin is a transient-differentiating bipotent cell. Such a cell must maintain tight temporal and spatial control of differentiation pathways, thus increasing its susceptibility for oncogenic disruption. In support of this hypothesis, many of the pathways known to be involved in prostate differentiation can be linked to genes commonly altered in PCa. In this article, we review what is known about important differentiation pathways (Myc, p38MAPK, Notch, PI3K/Pten) in the prostate and how their misregulation could lead to oncogenesis. Better understanding of normal differentiation will offer new insights into tumor initiation and may help explain the functional significance of common genetic alterations seen in PCa. Additionally, this understanding could lead to new methods for classifying prostate tumors based on their differentiation status and may aid in identifying more aggressive tumors.
Splicing of messenger RNA precursors is inhibited by antisera to small nuclear ribonucleoprotein

A mouse monoclonal antibody and human autoimmune sera directed against various classes of small ribonucleoprotein particles have been tested for inhibition of mRNA splicing in a soluble in vitro system. The splicing of the first and second leader exons of adenovirus late RNA was inhibited only by those sera that reacted with U1 RNP. Both U1 RNP-specific human autoimmune serum and sera directed against the Sm class of small nuclear RNPs, including a mouse monoclonal antibody, specifically inhibited splicing. Antisera specific for U2 RNP had no effect on splicing nor did antisera specific for the La or Ro class of small RNPs. These results suggest that U1 RNP is essential for the splicing of mRNA precursors.
Review of Daniel P. Sulmasy, The Rebirth of the Clinic: An Introduction to Spirituality in Healthcare. 1

1. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown, 2007. 246 pp. $24.95 paperback. In recent years the roles of “spirituality” and “religion” in health and medical practice have received much attention. Dozens of st...
When contradictions foster persuasion: An attributional perspective

Abstract Conventional wisdom and past research suggest that contradicting oneself, or changing one's stated opinion, should undermine one's persuasiveness. In contrast to this view, we propose that under specifiable conditions contradicting oneself might offer a persuasive advantage. Across a series of experiments, we find evidence for this contradiction effect and explore its mechanism and boundaries. In particular, we show that contradictions can prompt attributional processing geared toward understanding why a shift in opinion has occurred. When strong arguments are provided, they foster favorable attributions (e.g., the source thought more about the issue and/or gathered new information), which result in increased persuasive impact. When weak arguments are provided, they induce less favorable attributions, which in turn dampen or even reverse the effect. Furthermore, consistent with an attributional perspective, we find that contradictions introduce a persuasive advantage only when they come from a single source and only when trust in that source is high.
DIFFERENTIATION AS EFFECTED BY DIIODO-TYROSINE PLUS CERTAIN OTHER AMINO ACIDS*

The amino acid requirements of young as well as of mature organisms, mainly the mammalian, have been studied from various angles. So-called “incomplete” proteins, lacking one or more essential amino acids, have been used for feeding, and, then again, various combinations of isolated acids have been supplied in the diet. It was recognized early that definite minimum amounts of certain amino acids are required for satisfactory maintenance and that some acids facilitate growth. There have also appeared a few reports (Abderhalden, Emery, McCarrison, Pincherle, etc.) on observations on organisms lower in the phylogenetic scale than the mammals. A few years ago we began to study growth and differentiation processes on amphibian larvae kept on a diet in which an amino acid, or mixtures of amino acids, act as the sole source of N. Our problem is to determine whether or not it is possible for organisms (1) to maintain themselves, (2) to grow, (3) to differentiate—on one, two, three or more amino acids, and whether...
Cell surface charge alterations occurring during dimethylsulfoxide-induced erythrodifferentiation of Friend leukemia cells.

Abstract Dimethylsulfoxide-induced erythrodifferentiation of Friend leukemia cells caused a decrease in net negative cell surface charge which began two days after exposure to the polar solvent and continued throughout the maturation process. Neuraminidase treatment caused a marked reduction in mobility of both untreated and dimethylsulfoxide-treated cells suggesting that sialic acid residues are the major anionogenic moieties of the surface membrane of Friend cells. A decrease in the content of total glycosidically bound sialic acid in dimethylsulfoxide-treated cells also occurred. The findings provide evidence to support an association between erythrodifferentiation of Friend cells and net negative surface charge dependent upon sialic acid residues.
Residues of the insecticides phorate and methomyl in mint hay and oil

Since mint oil is used as a flavouring agent for foods and cosmetics, pesticide residues in the oil are undesirable. The residual behaviour of two pesticides, phorate and methomyl, was studied as replacements for chlorinated hydrocarbon pesticides which leave residues in the oil. Phorate applications of 1.1 kg/ha resulted in oil residues of 0.24 mg/kg total phorate in Oregon samples and 1.69 mg/kg in Washington samples. Less than 1% of the residues in the hay distilled with the oil. Mint oil undergoes a 100- to 1000-fold dilution in commercial use with a corresponding reduction of residues in the final product. No residues of methomyl were found in the oil, even with hay residues as high as 5.34 mg/kg. Residues in hay decreased to half of initial levels in 2 to 4 days, independently of use conditions. It was concluded that the proposed use of phorate or methomyl for control of mint pests does not present a residue hazard. Details of the analytical methods used are also presented.
Variations of total vertical maxillary excess

The long-face syndrome is a well-recognized entity, yet the pathogenesis of this malformation remains obscure and variations are generally not recognized. Fifty lateral cephalometric radiographs of patients who underwent vertical maxillary reductions were studied using the architectural and structural analysis of Delaire. Several subgroups of vertical maxillary excess that had not been recognized previously were identified. The most common dysmorphic type was the classically described long-face syndrome; the next most common consisted of patients who had short upper lips, normal maxillas, and long faces secondary to vertical chin excess. In all, six different variations of vertical maxillary excess were identified. Concomitantly, in the majority of cases there was associated vertical mandibular chin excess. It is suggested that these variations may have differing pathogeneses.
Blood Pressure and Cardiovascular Tone: Role of CGRP Family of Peptides

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) belongs to a family of peptides (adrenomedullin, amylin and calcitonin), most of which have significant effects on the cardiovascular system[1]. CGRP is the most potent endogenous vasodilatory peptide and is the most studied of the peptides in this family[2]. CGRP and its receptors are widely distributed throughout the vascular system. Localization of i-CGRP and its receptors in the heart, correlates well with the postulated functions of this peptide (i.e., increase in heart rate, atrial contractility, and increase in coronary blood flow). CGRP and ADM have direct effects on capacitance blood vessels, and administration leads to peripheral vasodilation and reduced vascular resistance. Injection or an infusion of physiological doses of CGRP and ADM has both significant effects on the blood pressure; cardiac performance, and blood supply to critical organs. Effects of CGRP (and its antagonists) have been examined as potential therapeutic agents in controlling hypertension, cardiac failure, cardiac arrhythmia, migraine headaches, Renaud’s syndrome, preeclampsia, etc. Animal studies have revealed that in the presence of progesterone, administration of CGRP can alleviate both premature delivery and preeclampsia-like syndrome. The role of CGRP as a potential therapeutic agent and its mechanism of actions in alleviating pregnancy-induced hypertension will be discussed in detail[3].
Prison privatization: An environmental catch-22

ABSTRACT The viability of prison privatization has been the subject of extensive arguments ranging from the legal and philosophical to the pragmatic. None, however, take an organizational behavior perspective, in which organizations are viewed as active entities, interactively engaged with their environment in order to thrive. Correctional organizations exist in an institutional environment; they were created to serve a set of socially embedded and legally supported beliefs for which we have no empirical basis. Private prison firms, however, must interact with two environments: the institutional environment of corrections and the competitive market environment of business. This situation creates significant conflict for such companies and raises questions about how they will respond to ensure their survival. As private correctional organizations are forced to comply with the survival requirements in both of these environments, they will face an “environmental catch-22”: Actions that they take to promote s...
Traumatic brain injuries: predictive usefulness of CT.

The computed tomographic (CT) scans from 72 patients with traumatic brain injury were reviewed to determined whether a specific type, location, or size of lesion correlated with changes in neurologic function (assessed with the Glasgow Coma Scale [GCS]), patient outcome (assessed with the Glasgow Outcome Scale [GOS]), or catecholamine levels. The lesions were classified as focal or diffuse. GOS changed as a function of lesions size (P = .00004) in the 48 patients with focal hemorrhages, regardless of whether the lesions were intra- or extraaxial, and in the 19 patients with normal CT scans. Patients with lesions larger than 4,100 mm3 had a twofold greater risk of a poor outcome than patients with smaller lesions (100% vs 50%). Patients with normal CT scans were significantly more likely to have mild neurological dysfunction or none than patients with abnormal CT scans (P = .03), but lesion location, skull fracture, and pineal shift were not significant predictors of GCS or GOS scores. A positive relations...
Burying straw men in imaginary graves: A reply to Kewley‐Port, Watson, and Foyle (1988)

Kewley-Port, Watson, and Foyle [J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 83, 1133-1145 (1988)] describe a study that uses several different procedures to measure thresholds for stimuli whose components differ in temporal onset. Unfortunately, misunderstandings and misconceptions (shared with other recent publications) resulted in conclusions that are both unnecessary and unwarranted. The Kewley-Port et al. article is discussed in terms of often replicated published findings on temporal order thresholds, and current misconceptions of perceptual concepts and models.
The morphology of monolayers of three thioalkyl undecanoic acids at the air/water interface

Abstract We have determined the surface pressure vs area (π-A) diagrams for three 11-thioalkyl undecanoic acids, where the alkyl groups were hexyl (C6), decyl (C10), and eicosyl (C20). Both the C6 and the C10 compounds displayed features which are interpreted as a compression followed by a lifting of the sulfur, which results in a straight vertical chain (toothpick) as the final configuration on the water. The C20 compound spreads initially in the toothpick configuration. Attempts to anchor the sulfur on the water with Cd2+, Mg2+, and Fe3+ were ineffective. The 11-thioeicosyl undecanoic acid could be compressed to the greatest surface pressure before collapse. All three compounds gave nearly the identical minimum area, ca. 20A2/molecule. Integration of the work done to compress the compounds from the maximum area to the minimum yields 2.7 ± 0.2 kJ/mole for C6 and 2.9 ± 0.4 kJ/mole for C10; the work required to lift the sulfur off the water is estimated to be 1.0 kJ/mole for C6 and 1.5 kJ/mole for C10.
A Study of the Production and Absorption of Mesotrons in the Substratosphere

In a coincidence-counter experiment carried out in an airplane at altitudes up to 9.3 km (22.9 cm Hg) an attempt was made to observe the production of mesotrons in an 8-cm lead block by some non-ionizing radiation other than photons. From our results it would seem that the number of mesotrons so created is not greater than about five percent of the total number of mesotrons at this altitude. The experiment was also designed to give the absorption of mesotrons in lead of 19-cm and 27-cm thickness as a function of the altitude. From these data and from those obtained previously for 10 cm of lead we have constructed an energy spectrum of the mesotrons at an altitude of 6.7 km. At this altitude about 33 percent of all the mesotrons have energies below 5.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{8}$ ev while at sea level a very small fraction of the mesotrons have energies in this range. This is in accord with the finding of many slow mesotrons in the cloud-chamber experiments of Herzog and Bostick at these altitudes.
Internal energy distributions of tungsten hexacarbonyl ions after neutralization-reionization

The internal energy distributions P(e) transferred to W(CO) 6 +· during the kiloelectronvolt collisions that occur upon neutralization-reionization (NR) have been estimated based on the relative abundances of the W(CO) 0−6 +· products present in NR spectra (thermochemical method). The average internal energy of the incipient {W(CO) 6 +· }* ions arising after near thermoneutral neutralization with trimethylamine followed by reionization with O2 is ∼9 eV for 8-keV precursor ions and is mainly deposited during reionization, For comparison, the mean internal energy of {W(CO) 6 +· }* after electron ionization (EO or collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) is ∼ 6 eV. Making the neutralization step endothermic slightly increases the overall excitation gained; however, a large increase in endothermicity (> 16 eV) causes only a modest rise of the average internal energy (<2 eV). The P(e) curve for NR increases exponentially up to ∼ 6 eV and levels off at higher energies.. showing that the probability of imparting large internal energies (6–17 eV) is high. In sharp contrast, the most probable excitation on CAD is ≤6 eV, and the probability of deposition of larger energies declines exponentially. The mean internal energies after CAD and NR decrease steadily when the kinetic energy is lowered. The structure (minima-maxima) observed in the P(e) distribution for El, which most likely originates from Franck-Condon factors, is not reproduced in the distributions for NR or high energy CAD, despite the fact that all three methods involve electronic excitation. Because of the large internal energies transferred upon NR, NR mass spectrometry could be particularly useful in the differentiation of ionic isomers with high dissociation but low isomerization thresholds.
Effects of thiopental on the human somatosensory evoked response

Summary The effect of Thiopental on the human somatosensory evoked response (E.R.) recorded on the scalp was studied in chronic schizophrenic patients. The E.R. was recorded successively before, during and after the intravenous injection of different dosages of Thiopental until after awakening. The changes in the latencies of the main positive peak and the main negative peak and the changes in the amplitude were analyzed quantitatively, comparing with the mean latency and the mean amplitude before injection. I observed a systematic change in latency, which increased and recovery was delayed proportional to the dosage. Among the peaks constituting the major positive peak, the latency of the later peak increased more, regardless of its polarity. The latency of the main positive peak increased without drug induced sleep. On an average, the increase without sleep is the same as the level to which the latency recovered when awakening occurred (125%). The changes in amplitude were inconsistent. There was a tendency to decrease at the beginning, but the individual changes differed markedly among subjects and dosages. Although it can not be applied in all subjects, analysis revealed two phases during the drug induced sleep. The later phase accompanied by characteristic E.R. pattern with augmented the first positive peak was attributed to the postnarcotic sleep. With larger dosages, synchronization of the EEG in beta frequency to the peripheral stimulation occurred first prior to the appearance of E.R.
PREDICTING FAVORITE TV PROGRAM GRATIFICATIONS FROM GENERAL ORIENTATIONS

This article tests the relationships between general orientations to TV and gratifications received from favorite programs named by survey respondents. A telephone survey of 302 adults in Santa Clara County, California, found that orientations corresponding to gratifications received were powerful but not unique in predicting program gratifications in regression equations. Demographics were not systematically associated with either orientations or gratifications. But multiple repetitions of statements used to measure both orientations and gratifications presented response consistency as an alternative explanation for orientations' predictive power. Typologies based on comparative strengths of orientations accounted for this consistency and confirmed the predictive power of general orientations to TV as a medium. Involvement was added to the prediction equations but was related only to entertainment gratifications; the results suggest that involvement might be more appropriately considered a gratification ...
Codimerization of butadiene and ethylene

Abstract The catalytic system CoCl 2 /1,2-bis(diphenylphosphino)ethane/Et 3 Al, in 1,2-dichloroethane, shows high activity and selectivity for the production of cis -1,4-hexadiene from butadiene and ethylene. The temperature of reaction appears to be critical; between 80° and 110° cis -1,4-hexadiene is formed in high yield whereas below 80° more ethylene than butadiene is consumed, with the result that C 8 compounds are produced. Above 110° 1,4-hexadiene is isomerized to 2,4-hexadiene. Ayield of 8 × 10 4 moles of 1,4-hexadiene per mole of CoCl 2 has been obtained at a rate of formation of the diene of 8 mol · l −1 · h −1 The catalytically active species is probably an octahedral complex of a cobalt(I) hydride with Et 3 Al. A reaction scheme is proposed.
A search for high proper motion objects in two γ-ray burst error regions

Deep optical images of small gamma-ray burst error regions have generally resulted in the detection of several faint sources in each error region. It may be possible to identify the neutron star source of a GRB on the basis of a high transverse peculiar velocity if the source is at moderate distance. The results of searches for high proper motion objects in the error regions of GBS1412+78 and GBS2251-02 are reported.