cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ferralterin: an iron-sulfur protein functional in enzyme regulation in photosynthesis.

Abstract The chloroplast new protein factor that was recently shown to link light to the activation of fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase was identified as a previously unrecognized iron-sulfur protein. This protein, given the name “ferralterin,” was purified to homogeneity from spinach leaves and from the blue-green alga (cyanobacterium) Nostoc muscorum. Ferralterin from both sources showed a visible absorption peak at 410nm, a molecular weight of about 30,000 and (provisionally) 4 g-atoms per mole each of nonheme iron and acid labile sulfide. The homogeneous ferralterin preparations catalyzed a light-dependent activation of chloroplast fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase that was dependent only on chlorophyll-containing membranes.
Of Babies and Bathwater An Extension of the Business & Society Research Forum on the Fortune Reputation Database

A research forum published in Business & Society in 1995 (Issue 2) analyzed whether Fortune magazine's annual Reputation Survey (FRS) is viable as a corporate social performance (CSP) research database. We examine plausible alternative interpretations for a number of assertions and conclusions by the forum authors, including the premise for Brown and Perry's proposed transformation: that the Fortune data are confounded by the presence of a financial "halo," which biases ratings of nonfinancial attributes. Finally, we examine the appropriate roles of the two primary corporate rating systems in the context of CSP.
Health-related quality of life outcomes after robot-assisted and open radical cystectomy using a validated bladder-specific instrument: a multi-institutional study.

Objective To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQL) using validated bladder-specific Bladder Cancer Index (BCI) and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Body Image scale (BIS) between open radical cystectomy (ORC) and robot-assisted radical cystectomy (RARC). Methods This was a retrospective case series of all patients who underwent radical cystectomy. Patients were grouped based on surgical approach (open vs robot assisted) and diversion technique (extracorporeal vs intracorporeal). Patients completed BCI and BIS preoperatively and at standardized postoperative intervals (at least 2). The primary exposure variable was surgical approach. The primary outcome measure was difference in interval and baseline BCI and BIS scores in each group. The Fisher exact, Wilcoxon rank-sum, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were used for comparisons. Results Eighty-two and 100 patients underwent RARC and ORC, respectively. Compared with RARC, more patients undergoing ORC had an American Society of Anesthesiology score ≥3 (66% vs 45.1% RARC; P = .007) and shorter median operative time (350 vs 380 minutes; P = .009). Baseline urinary, bowel, sexual function, and body image were not different between both the groups ( P = 1.0). Longitudinal postoperative analysis revealed better sexual function in ORC group ( P = .047), with no significant differences between both the groups in the other 3 domains ( P = .11, .58, and .93). Comparisons regarding diversion techniques showed similar findings in baseline and postoperative HRQL data, with no significant differences in the HRQL and body image domains. Conclusion RARC has comparable HRQL outcomes to ORC using validated BCI and BIS. The diversion technique used does not seem to affect patients' quality of life.
WRITING ABOUT VIOLENCE IN THE TUDOR KINGDOMS

Despite differing historiographical traditions, the histories of Tudor England and Ireland often face similar problems, not least how best to narrate and analyse episodes of state and non-state violence in a satisfying way. Latterly, sophisticated models for dealing with this have emerged in treatments of English popular politics. These works succeed in eschewing both inherited ideas of English exceptionalism and the ‘enclosure’ of social history. They also offer a compelling and holistic view of social and political interactions in the past from a number of vantage points. Many recent treatments of sixteenth-century Irish history, by contrast, have centred on atrocity and even genocide. This narrower focus does not preclude important scholarship, but its thematic and methodological limitations hamper that scholarship's broader non-polemical value. The appreciation of Tudor Ireland's status as a political society and the close scrutiny of that political society and its actors is a necessity. It offers just as promising an embarkation point for sophisticated and interesting studies as the study of Tudor English popular politics.
Sound change as nature's speech perception experiment

Abstract Variation in pronunciation observed in speakers today parallels in many details the documented variation in pronunciation over the centuries (sound change). It is reasonable to conclude that there is some necessary link between the two. I argue that diachronic variation emerges for the most part from synchronic variation thus: universal and timeless physical constraints on speech production and perception leads listeners to misapprehend the speech signal. Any such misapprehension that leads the listener to pronounce things in a different way is potentially the beginning of a sound change. If we study sound change we can gain insights into how speech is produced and perceived. I exemplify this point by considering a variety of sound changes that involved voiceless fricatives: so-called spontaneous nasalization, s-aspiration, and nasal effacement. They suggest that one cue to this class of sounds is a special voice quality on that portion of vowels immediately abutting the fricative.
Synthetic Polypeptide Mimics of Marine Adhesives

Water soluble copolypeptides containing l-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) and l-lysine were prepared by ring-opening polymerization of α-amino acid N-carboxyanhydride (NCA) monomers. We have prepared a range of different copolymers to probe the effects of functional group composition on adhesive and cross-linking behavior. Aqueous solutions of these copolymers, when mixed with a suitable oxidizing agent (e.g., O2, mushroom tyrosinase, Fe3+, H2O2, or IO4-), formed cross-linked networks that were found to form moisture-resistant adhesive bonds to a variety of substrates (e.g., aluminum, steel, glass, and plastics). It was found that successful adhesive formation was dependent on oxidation conditions, with chemical oxidants giving the best results. Optimized systems were found to form adhesive bonds that rival in strength those formed by natural marine adhesive proteins. Our synthetic systems are readily prepared in large quantities and require no enzymes or other biological components.
Comparison of p-terphenyl and 2,2 dimethyl-p-terphenyl as waveshifters for barium fluoride

p-Terphenyl (PTP) and 2,2' dimethyl-p-terphenyl (DMT) have been investigated for use as wavelength shifters (WLS) for barium fluoride (BaF 2 ). These two organic fluors are attractive due to their: high quantum efficiency, fast fluorescence decay time, and emissions above the wavelength cut-off of borosilicate glass. Measurements of these WLS dissolved in cyclohexane are presented. Coincidence time spectra, and fluorescence decay spectra measured with BaF 2 as the pump source, are shown. The fluorescence decay time and the ratio of fast to slow intensities were measured by a time correlated single photon technique. The increase in signal resulting from using a WLS between the photomultiplier tube (PMT) and the BaF 2 crystal is measured. The motivation behind this work is the development of a gamma-ray spectrometer suitable for high count rate applications. We are investigating the possibility of separating the fast and slow emissions of BaF 2 using optical techniques. For our measurements, PTP an DMT do not facilitate spectral separation due to the nature of their absorption and emissions spectra. A discussion of WLS properties needed to spectrally separate BaF 2 emissions is presented.
The effects of various steroids on the collection of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland of the rat.

introduction NUMEROUS reports have suggested that both the adrenal glands and the gonads might play a role in the control of normal thyroid function (Means, 1948). To our knowledge, however, no complete study, clinical or animal, has been done to determine this possible relationship. Moreover, in many cases the observations which have been made are difficult to evaluate due to great variation in experimental conditions. Gassner and co-workers (1947) and Money et al. (1950) have recently reviewed the literature on this subject. Therefore, further discussion will be omitted from this publication. For some time we have been investigating the factors involved in control of normal thyroid function. In the course of our studies it was found of interest to determine the effects of various adrenal and gonadal substances on the thyroid. The criteria we have used in this investigation were (1) the effect of the compounds on thyroid weight and (2) the collection of radioactive iodine by the thyroid gland.
A novel three-piece anterior mandibular visor osteotomy for genioglossus advancement in surgery for obstructive sleep apnea

Techniques for advancing the base of tongue and modifying the hypopharyngeal airway in obstructive sleep apnea have undergone various modifications since they were first described by Powell and Riley. The purpose of this article is to describe an advancement procedure for the genioglossus muscle utilizing a three-piece anterior visor osteotomy of the mandible as an adjunctive procedure for improving the hypopharyngeal airway in obstructive sleep apnea.
Tobacco Cessation Among Low-Income Smokers: Motivational Enhancement and Nicotine Patch Treatment

INTRODUCTION Despite decades of tobacco use decline among the general population in the United States, tobacco use among low-income populations continues to be a major public health concern. Smoking rates are higher among individuals with less than a high school education, those with no health insurance, and among individuals living below the federal poverty level. Despite these disparities, smoking cessation treatments for low-income populations have not been extensively tested. In the current study, the efficacy of 2 adjunctive smoking cessation interventions was evaluated among low-income smokers who were seen in a primary care setting. METHODS A total of 846 participants were randomly assigned either to motivational enhancement treatment plus brief physician advice and 8 weeks of nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) or to standard care, which consisted of brief physician advice and 8 weeks of NRT. Tobacco smoking abstinence was at 1, 2, 6, and 12 months following baseline. RESULTS The use of the nicotine patch, telephone counseling, and positive decisional balance were predictive of increased abstinence rates, and elevated stress levels and temptation to smoke in both social/habit and negative affect situations decreased abstinence rates across time. Analyses showed intervention effects on smoking temptations, length of patch use, and number of telephone contacts. Direct intervention effects on abstinence rates were not significant, after adjusting for model predictors and selection bias due to perirandomization attrition. CONCLUSIONS Integrating therapeutic approaches that promote use of and adherence to medications for quitting smoking and that target stress management and reducing negative affect may enhance smoking cessation among low-income smokers.
Stereoscopic vision and its asymmetrical underpinnings: A study in vergence measures

Vergence eye movements are critical in daily routines. These movements navigate three-dimensional space. Convergence and divergence eye movements are used to create and maintain stereoscopic vision. This study investigates differences in vergence eye movements between the left and right eye movement. Eye movements were collected using a costume haploscope design paired with our stimulus-presentation software. The experimental design consists of four stimulus conditions from which convergence and divergence measures are derived. A multi-factorial ANOVA and correlation analyses are used to test for differences in the vergence measures. This study has the potential to highlight the asymmetry between left and right eye vergence movements in individuals while studying multiple stimulus conditions.
Hybrid continuum-particle method for fluctuating lipid bilayer membranes with diffusing protein inclusions

Biological membranes contain many types of embedded proteins whose collective organization and functions depend importantly on the mechanical interplay with the lipid bilayer. We introduce new methods at the level of individual proteins embedded within the bilayer in a manner closely related to the Immersed Boundary Method (Atzberger et al., 2007, [1], Peskin, 2002, [31]). Our approach accounts for the bidirectional coupling between the membranes and proteins, the elastic mechanics of the bilayer, the hydrodynamic interactions, and the thermal fluctuations. For proteins that induce curvature, we show that the bidirectional membrane-protein coupled dynamics has important consequences for the effective diffusivities of embedded proteins. We further show that collective effects arising from different area fractions and curvatures of the embedded proteins impact significantly membrane mechanics. The proposed modeling approach and computational methods are quite general and could be useful in the investigation of a wide variety of phenomena involving membrane-protein interactions.
Irradiation does not modify mechanical properties of cancellous bone under compression.

Background Gamma radiation sterilization can make cortical bone allograft more brittle, but whether it influences mechanical properties and propensity to form microscopic cracks in structurally intact cancellous bone allograft is unknown.
Effect of Oil Spill on Birds: A Graphical Assay of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill's Impact on Birds

The Deepwater Horizon oil spill was an ecologically devastating event in the Gulf of Mexico, which saw the estimated release of over 4 million barrels of oil after flowing for three months in 2010. The US Fish and Wildlife Service provided a data set of 7,229 bird records. We aimed to illustrate the important features of the data set utilizing a blend of analytics and graphics executed through traditional and cloud-based software. It is concluded from the graphs that the areas containing the greatest concentration of birds were nearest to the coasts adjacent to New Orleans and the Deepwater platform. Moreover, the result of the logistic regression confirmed what is seen in bar charts, that the Laughing Gull and Brown Pelican, among many others, were most mortally impacted by the oil spill. Furthermore, additional investigation into the morbidity impact on birds over time indicates a lagging effect. A similar lag is present in the oiling of the birds where a separate time series shows the oiled/not visibly oiled birds alternating in frequency over the collection period.
Theoretical comparison of the performance of gradient elution chromatography at constant pressure and constant flow rate

The theory of gradient elution usually assumes a constant flow rate. This works extends it to gradients performed under constant pressure drop and variable flow rates. The peak capacity is derived under both constant flow rate and constant pressure gradient chromatography by integrating the rate of increase of the peak capacity from the hold-up time to the end of the gradient time. Assuming that the eluent mixture is incompressible, the chromatographic system isothermal, the pressure has no effect on the retention pattern, and neglecting the contributions of the instrument to the total pressure drop and the total peak width, it is found that both modes of gradient elution chromatography are strictly equivalent, provided that the elution time of the last eluted compound and the volume gradient are kept the same in both cases.
Genomic regions controlling corticosterone levels in rats

Abstract Background The identification of genetic factors controlling stress-responsiveness should advance the understanding of susceptibility to psychiatric illness. Methods Rat strains, F344/NHsd and LEW/NHsd, which differ in measures of stress-responsiveness and behaviors modeling psychiatric disorders, were bred to generate F 2 progeny that were used in a quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis to identify genomic regions influencing late-afternoon corticosterone levels. Results Regions on chromosomes 4 and 10 previously identified as influencing autoimmune phenomena were the most significant QTL observed, reaching suggestive significance at the genome-wide level. Congenic animals targeting these regions with F344/NHsd deoxyribonucleic acid on a DA/Bkl genomic background demonstrated corticosterone levels approximating those of F344/NHsd rats and differing significantly from DA/Bkl rats. Conclusions Specific genomic regions influence both corticosterone levels and stress-related disease susceptibility. These findings not only represent the first identification of QTL controlling corticosterone levels but also suggest a mechanism underlying genetic differences in stress-responsiveness.
Introducing Viewpoints – Breast Cancer Research's new style literature appraisal service

Literature awareness is an essential requirement for successful research. Breast Cancer Research has launched a new Viewpoints section, which replaces the Paper Reports section as a means of highlighting important research articles relevant to the biology of breast cancer and bringing them to the attention of the breast cancer community.
Improved Liquid Chromatographic Assay for Serum Fluorouracil Concentrations in the Presence of Ftorafur

An improved liquid chromatographic assay for serum ftorafur and fluorouracil is shown to be routine, sensitive, and reproducible using 200 μl of serum. Dilute ammonium acetate buffer at pH 10.2 is used for solubilization of the evaporated ethyl acetate extract for injection into the liquid chromatograph. A stability study indicated little or no in vitro formation of fluorouracil from ftorafur under the conditions described. Low serum fluorouracil levels were found after administration of therapeutic doses of ftorafur.
In the Field with Alice Hutchins

Alice Hutchins became a painter in 1957, discovered magnets as an artistic material in early 1967, and later that year encountered Fluxus for the first time, an affiliation that persisted, as did her work with magnets until her death on 25 October 2009 at the age of 92. In this article, author Kathy O’Dell explores Hutchins's work in relation to Fluxus, feminism, performance, and the magnetic field, pointing out how aspects of each of these entities illuminates others through processes of play.
The Demographic Stability of Small Human Populations

of birth and death which prevail in the population over a long time period. We have two basic kinds of data. There are aged skeletal series from large burial sites, and there are censuses from living primitive populations. The former give us direct information from past populations, and the latter give us information from living populations generally assumed to be representative of cultures during the long period of human evolution. Hence, both sources are used to reconstruct human demographic evolution. Most populations of these types are small ones which are not literate and do not keep records sufficient for demographic analysis. We generally have but a single census (or aged skeletal series) and only minor scraps of other information. There is almost never any actual data on age-specific rates of mortality, yet these rates are the fundamental parameters of demography and must be known. With standard theoretical approaches, it has been shown that the age distribution of small groups is unstable from year to year, and may be unreliable as a source from which to determine age-specific death rates (e.g., Moore, Swedlund & Armelagos, 1975; Angel, 1969). It is also known that populations are so subject to extinction, due to statistical fluctuations in births and deaths, that they are too transitory and unstable for useful study (this is based on statistical theory, which can be found in Bartlett, 1960; Pielou, 1969; Keyfitz, 1968). If this is true, then we must avoid the use of typical anthropological data, and are to a great extent prevented from gaining a reasonable knowledge of past demographic patterns. The mathematical models on which these assertions are based use fixed age-specific birth and death rates. Yet there is a wealth of biological and anthropological information to show that these vital processes of a population vary according to population size or density in a negative-feedback way. A population which becomes crowded suffers higher mortality and lowered fertility, and one which is uncrowded enjoys higher fertility and lower mortality. These facts must be incorporated into a realistic demographic model.
The summer people and the natives some effects of tourism in a Vermont vacation village

Abstract A village in northern New England was the setting of fieldwork focused on the interaction between the year-round residents of the community (the natives) and their tourist season guests (the summer people). The annual round of activities is geared to the the presence and absence of the summer people; the most highly valued periods of time are the winter season when only natives are residents of the village. As the marketing of the pastoral image of their village to the summer people progresses, the natives face a dilemma. If they are sucscessful in their marketing endeavors, they will prosper financially but, at the same time, they hasten the corruption of their public ideology—the image they hold of their village. The natives are attempting to salvage their future by exploiting the summer people through a “phony-folk culture” and thereby preserving selected aspects of their traditional culture for themselves. The natives' traditional way of life becomes more and more difficult to maintain as it is distorted and consumed by the summer people.
Suppression of heterocyst differentiation in Anabaena PCC 7120 by a cosmid carrying wild-type genes encoding enzymes for fatty acid synthesis

A cosmid containing a wild-type Anabaena PCC 7120 DNA fragment was found to suppress heterocyst differentiation, creating a Het phenotype in an otherwise wild-type strain. Curing of the cosmid restored the full wild-type Het+ Nif+ phenotype. The cosmid contains at least four genes encoding proteins with significant sequence similarity to enzymes involved in the synthesis of fatty acids. Selection for Nif+ revertants of the suppressed strain yielded modified cosmids, one of which contained a 10.2-kb transposon, Tas1, inserted into the promoter region of a gene encoding a protein with acyl carrier and β-keto reductase domains. This gene, called hetN, was shown previously by Black and Wolk (J. Bacteriol. (1994) 176, 2282–2292) to inhibit heterocyst differentiation when present alone on a plasmid. Oddly, hetN gene transcription is detected later than 6 h into heterocyst differentiation.
Development of an instrument to measure technological caring in nursing

Twenty-seven statements make up the Technological Caring Instrument (TCI) which was developed to measure technological caring in nursing. In order to establish a database and its reliability and validity, responses were generated from 193 professional nurses who participated in the study. The results indicate that the TCI has a high internal consistency, construct validity, and sufficient split-half reliability. Cronbach's alpha was 0.8129 with split-half alpha of 0.666 for 14 items in Part 1 and 0.828 for 13 items in Part 2. Significant differences were found between factors (F = 97.0199, P = 0.0000). Factor analysis identified eight items with the first factor revealing nine cluster statements with values of 0.51-0.84. The second factor had two cluster statements with 0.75 and 0.74 values. The independent sample t-test results demonstrated the influence of education, area of expertise, and years of experience on the technological caring of registered professional nurses. The utilization and continued investigation of TCI are suggested.
Water-Soluble Calix[4]resorcinarenes with Hydroxyproline Groups as Chiral NMR Solvating Agents for Phenyl- and Pyridyl-Containing Compounds

A series of water-soluble sulfonated calix[4]resorcinarenes with L-proline, cis-4-hydroxy-d- and -L-proline, trans-4-hydroxy-L-proline and trans-3-hydroxy-L-proline are evaluated as chiral NMR solvating agents. The changes in chemical shifts and enantiomeric discrimination in the 1H NMR spectra of a variety of phenyl- and pyridyl-containing compounds are reported. Substrates associate by insertion of the phenyl or pyridyl ring into the cavity of the calix[4]resorcinarene. Series of compounds with methylbenzylamine and benzyl alcohol units are among those examined. For many compounds, the calix[4]resorcinarenes with the hydroxyproline groups are more effective chiral NMR solvating agents than the corresponding proline derivative. The trans-4- and trans-3-hydroxy-L-proline derivatives are especially effective as chiral NMR solvating agents. Enantiomeric discrimination in the 1H NMR spectra is often large enough to facilitate the analysis of enantiomeric purity.(© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2009)
Experience of primary care by racial and ethnic groups in the United States.

Objectives. The purpose of this study was to examine the experience of primary care by racial and ethnic groups and identify aspects of primary care where significant disparities in experience exist across racial and ethnic groups. Methods. Data for this study came from the Household Component of the 1997-1998 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), a nationally representative survey of the civilian noninstitutionalized population of the United States. Measures were identified within MEPS that denote race, ethnicity, experience of primary care, and socioeconomic covariates associated with access to care. Results. Racial and ethnic minorities experienced worse primary care, particularly in the first-contact aspect, than did white Americans. Their usual sources of care were more likely to be hospital settings than private clinics. They faced greater barriers accessing their usual source of care (USC), finding it more difficult to get an appointment and waiting longer during an appointment. Many of the significant differences persist after adjustment for sociodemographic and health-status characteristics. Conclusions. Racial and ethnic disparity in primary care experience is not simply a reflection of sociodemographic and health-status differences across racial/ethnic groups. Efforts must be made to reduce nonfinancial as well as financial barriers to care and ensure that quality primary care is provided in all settings, public as well as private, and to individuals of all colors.
Recognition of secretory IgA by DC-SIGN: Implications for immune surveillance in the intestine

Secretory IgA (SIgA), the predominant class of antibody in intestinal secretions, serves as the first line of defense against enteric infections. SIgA has also been proposed to function in immune surveillance, given that both SIgA and SIgA-antigen complexes are actively transported by Peyer's patch M cells from the intestinal lumen to sub-epithelial dendritic cells (DCs). The goal of the present study was to identify the receptor(s) potentially utilized by mucosal DCs to recognize and internalize SIgA. We demonstrate that human colostral SIgA is recognized by purified recombinant human DC-specific ICAM-3 grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) in a solid phase binding assay, as well as by DC-SIGN ectopically expressed on the surface of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO-S) cells. The interaction between SIgA and DC-SIGN was specific, given that it was Ca(2+)-dependent and inhibited by mannan. Moreover, SIgA bound to, and was internalized by, endogenous DC-SIGN expressed on THP-1 cells following monocyte to macrophage-like cell differentiation by stimulation with phorbol ester and interleukin-4. These data identify DC-SIGN as a putative receptor for SIgA, and reveal a mechanism by which DCs could collaborate with M cells in immune surveillance at mucosal surfaces.
The association between the relational teaching approach and teacher job satisfaction

This investigation proposed that a relational teaching approach (RTA) is comprised of behaviors indicative of competence, immediacy, and humor. The central research question advanced in this study examined the association between the RTA and teacher satisfaction. The results of a canonical correlation revealed one meaningful canonical root which suggested a significant association between the RTA and an instructor's satisfaction. Apparently, it is within teachers' control to enhance satisfaction with their job by developing a repertoire of interpersonal skills. Implications of these findings are addressed within an instructional framework.
Gender and ethnic differences in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes among Asian subgroups in California

AimsTo investigate gender and ethnic type 2 diabetes (DM) prevalences among California Asian subgroups versus other ethnic groups and if risk factors explain these differences.MethodsWe identified the prevalence of DM and associated risk factors, stratified by gender, among Chinese, Filipino, South Asian, Japanese, Korean, Vietnamese, Mexican, Other Hispanic, African American, Caucasian, and Native American adults in a large survey conducted in 2009 (n=46,091, projected n= 26.6 mil).ResultsThe highest age-adjusted DM prevalence was seen in Native Americans (32.4%), Filipinos (15.8%), and Japanese (11.8%) among men and in Native Americans (16.0%) and African Americans (13.3%) among women. Caucasian and Mexican men had higher DM prevalences than women. Age and risk factor-adjusted logistic regression showed DM more likely (relative to Caucasians) among women in Koreans (OR=4.6, p<0.01), Native Americans (OR=3.0, p<0.01), and Other Hispanics (OR 2.9, p<0.01) and among men in Filipinos (OR=7.0, p<0.01), South Asians (OR=4.7, p<0.01), and Native Americans (OR=4.7, p<0.01). No specific risk factors accounted for the gender differences.ConclusionsEthnic and gender differences in DM prevalence persist, even after adjusting for lifestyle and other risk factors; prevalence is high among certain Asian American subgroups. Different diabetes prevention approaches may be needed across ethnic/gender groups.
Tolerance of Some Imported Conifer Seeds to Fumigation with Carbon Tetrachloride2

Overnight or longer exposure to a saturated atmosphere of carbon tetrachloride (about 925 mg per liter) at 24-29 severely injured seeds of species of Pinus, Picea, Larix , and Thuja but apparently not those of Cupressus spp., whether the seeds were germinated shortly after treatment or 9-10 months later. Moreover, 1 or more species of Pinus, Picea , and Larix were injured by a 4-hour exposure. Slight reduction in germination of 2 of 3 species of Picea and I of 3 of Pinus occurred after a 24-hour fumigation with a mixture of 80% carbon tetrachloride-20% carbon disulfide (5: 1 by weight) at a rate of 480 mg per liter of carbon tetrachloride and 96 mg of carbon disulfide.
Programmed subcellular release for studying the dynamics of cell detachment.

As cells move over a substrate, they need to first sever their contact with the matrix by detaching focal adhesions. A setup that allows spatially and temporally controlled release of focal adhesions now facilitates the quantitative measurement of cell movement across a substrate.
Neurofibromatosis type 2 and central neurofibromatosis

Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) is a rare disease, affecting only approximately 1000 patients in the entire United States. The diagnosis requires the presence of bilateral acoustic neuromas, but many other tumors of the nervous system are also present. It is a very different disease from von Recklinghausen's neurofibromatosis, NF1. The remarkable genetic research in recent years has defined the origin of NF2 to be the lack of a specific suppressor protein, known as Merlin. While we await a method to replace this protein, the neurosurgical care of these patients is a formidable problem. The author reviews his personal series of 41 patients with NF2 treated during the past 30 years and presents 10 cases in detail to demonstrate their considerable range of differences and the treatment problems they have posed.
The human HDV-like CPEB3 ribozyme is intrinsically fast-reacting

Self-cleaving RNAs have recently been identified in mammalian genomes. A small ribozyme related in structure to the hepatitis delta virus (HDV) ribozyme occurs in a number of mammals, including chimpanzees and humans, within an intron of the CPEB3 gene. The catalytic mechanisms for the CPEB3 and HDV ribozymes appear to be similar, generating cleavage products with 5'-hydroxyl and 2',3'-cyclic phosphate termini; nonetheless, the cleavage rate reported for the CPEB3 ribozyme is more than 6000-fold slower than for the fastest HDV ribozyme. Herein, we use full-length RNA and cotranscriptional self-cleavage assays to compare reaction rates among human CPEB3, chimp CPEB3, and HDV ribozymes. Our data reveal that a single base change of the upstream flanking sequence, which sequesters an intrinsically weak P1.1 pairing in a misfold, increases the rate of the wild-type human CPEB3 ribozyme by approximately 250-fold; thus, the human ribozyme is intrinsically fast-reacting. Secondary structure determination and native gel analyses reveal that the cleaved population of the CPEB3 ribozyme has a single, secondary structure that closely resembles the HDV ribozyme. In contrast, the precleavage population of the CPEB3 ribozyme appears to have a more diverse secondary structure, possibly reflecting misfolding with the upstream sequence and dynamics intrinsic to the ribozyme. Prior identification of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) in human cells indicated that cleavage activity of the human ribozyme is tissue-specific. It is therefore possible that cellular factors interact with regions upstream of the CPEB3 ribozyme to unmask its high intrinsic reactivity.
Language Onset and Concomitant Speech and Language Problems in Subgroups of Stutterers and Their Siblings

Time of language onset and frequencies of speech and language problems were examined in stutterers and their nonstuttering siblings. These families were grouped according to six characteristics of ...
A double exponentially weigiited moving average control procedure with variable sampling intervals

Shewhart, cumulative sum (CUSUM), and exponentially weighted moving average (EWMA) control procedures with variable sampling intervals (VSI) have been investigated in recent years for detecting shifts in the process mean. Such procedures have been shown to be more efficient when compared with the corresponding fixed sampling interval (FSI) charts with respect to the average time to signal (ATS) when the average run length (ARL) values of both types of procedures are held equal. Frequent switching between the different sampling intervals can be a complicating factor in the application of control charts with variable sampling intervals. In this article, we propose using a double exponentially weighted moving average control procedure with variable sampling intervals (VSI-DEWMA) for detecting shifts in the process mean. It is shown that the proposed VSI-DEWMA control procedure is more efficient when compared with the corresponding fixed sampling interval FSI-DEWMA chart with respect to the average time to si...
A Study of One-Step Conversion of Continuous- Filament Rayon to Spun Yarn

The character and sources of denier nonuniformities in "direct-spun" yarn were investigated, and the variations were shown to be of two distinct types: long-length variations (10-100 ft. long) that arise from nonrandom breaking of the continuous filaments; and short-length variations (1-3 ft. long) that arise from discontinuous drafting of the broken filaments. The long-length variations, the more important of the two from the standpoint of fabric appearance, were found to result from minor variations in the tow or spinning machine which were greatly magnified by the spinning operation.A simple modification of the direct spinner, known as the "angled, high-speed apron," was de veloped to control the breaking of the filaments over a short region near the input rolls. This simple change in the path and speed of the apron increased the average length of the broken fila ments; increased the strength, elongation, and long-length uniformity of the yarn; improved the appearance of the fabric; and made possible f...
Is International Law Moving towards Criminalization

The International Criminal Tribunals for the former Yugoslavia and for Rwanda reflect an increasing criminalization of international law. This article surveys developments in criminal responsibility for breaches of international law, including acts of corporations and states. The primary focus, however, is on the responsibility of individuals in both international and non-international armed conflicts. While the position during International armed conflicts is generally well developed, that of actions not covered by the Geneva Conventions remains unclear, as exemplified by the question of responsibility under treaties relating to the use of land mines and the use of blinding laser weapons. Non-International conflicts are discussed in most detail, particularly strategies for expanding the obligations arising under international law in relation to ostensibly internal conflicts. The author argues that not only is there a clear trend toward the criminalization of international law, but that the trend is supported by the simultaneous expansion of jurisdiction to prosecute crimes arising from both international and non-International conflicts, In both international and domestic tribunals, which in turn has been spurred by recent developments in customary law.
Self-renewal and solid tumor stem cells

Solid tumors arise in organs that contain stem cell populations. The tumors in these tissues consist of heterogeneous populations of cancer cells that differ markedly in their ability to proliferate and form new tumors. In both breast cancers and central nervous system tumors, cancer cells differ in their ability to form tumors. While the majority of the cancer cells have a limited ability to divide, a population of cancer stem cells that has the exclusive ability to extensively proliferate and form new tumors can be identified based on marker expression. Growing evidence suggests that pathways that regulate the self-renewal of normal stem cells are deregulated in cancer stem cells resulting in the continuous expansion of self-renewing cancer cells and tumor formation. This suggests that agents that target the defective self-renewal pathways in cancer cells might lead to improved outcomes in the treatment of these diseases.
Efficacy of a multigenic protein vaccine containing multimeric HIV gp160 against heterologous SHIV clade C challenges.

Objective:To determine whether multigenic protein immunogens including native, trimeric HIV clade C (HIV-C) gp160 could cross-protect macaques against mucosal challenge with clade C (SHIV-C) mismatched for env.Design:Because AIDS vaccine recipients are unlikely to encounter exactly matched HIV strai
Here, There and Everywhere—Live Virtual Reference

This paper presents a brief history of the Temple University Libraries' live virtual reference service and describes the challenges encountered in launching and maintaining the interactive reference project. The major issues that emerged during the initiative are discussed and include staffing, promotion, technical support, service effectiveness, and the nature of digital interaction. A primary focus is costs associated with the major areas addressed. Technical challenges are also explored, and a distributed staffing model is described for the TalkNow service. Factors that contribute to success are outlined and include management, staff support, and an atmosphere that encourages people to become involved and invested in the service.
Attention Bias in Adult Survivors of Childhood Maltreatment with and without Posttraumatic Stress Disorder

Childhood maltreatment increases risk for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Maladaptive patterns of attention to emotionally salient stimuli warrant examination as possible mediators of the relationship between childhood maltreatment and PTSD. It remains unclear whether persistent attentional biases are differentially apparent in adults who were maltreated as children and either did or did not develop later PTSD symptomatology. The present study examined associations among attention bias, childhood maltreatment, and PTSD in adults. We tested the hypothesis that attentional bias for emotional cues (angry faces, happy faces), measured using the Dot Probe Task, would significantly mediate associations between childhood maltreatment and adult PTSD symptoms in a sample of 161 adults with and without childhood maltreatment histories and/or current PTSD symptoms. We found that attention bias toward happy faces partially mediated the relationship between childhood maltreatment and PTSD avoidance and numbing symptoms.
Structure and tectonics of the northwestern United States from EarthScope USArray magnetotelluric data

Abstract The magnetotelluric component of the EarthScope USArray program has covered over 35% of the continental United States. Resistivity tomography models derived from these data image lithospheric structure and provide constraints on the distribution of fluids and melt within the lithosphere. We present a three-dimensional resistivity model of the northwestern United States which provides new insight into the tectonic assembly of western North America from the Archean to present. Comparison with seismic tomography models reveals regions of correlated and anti-correlated resistivity and velocity that help identify thermal and compositional variations within the lithosphere. Recent (Neogene) tectonic features reflected in the model include the subducting Juan de Fuca–Gorda plate which can be traced beneath the forearc to more than 100 km depth, high lithospheric conductivity along the Snake River Plain, and pronounced lower-crustal and upper-mantle conductivity beneath the Basin and Range. The latter is abruptly terminated to the northwest by the Klamath–Blue Mountains Lineament, which we interpret as an important structure during and since the Mesozoic assembly of the region. This boundary is interpreted to separate hot extended lithosphere from colder, less extended lithosphere. The western edge of Proterozoic North America, as indicated by the Cretaceous initial 87Sr/86Sr = 0.706 contour, is clearly reflected in the resistivity model. We further image an Archean crustal block (“Pend Oreille block”) straddling the Washington/Idaho border, which we speculate separated from the Archean Medicine Hat block in the Proterozoic. Finally, in the modern Cascades forearc, the geometry and internal structure of the Eocene Siletz terrane is reflected in the resistivity model. The apparent eastern edge of the Siletz terrane under the Cascades arc suggests that pre-Tertiary rocks fill the Washington and Oregon back-arc.
Reinventing Regulatory Development at the Environmental Protection Agency

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) develops some of the most complex, far-reaching regulations in the federal government, which require a complex internal rulemaking management system. This paper examines current reforms to this process in the context of addressing obstacles to EPA's rulemaking efforts. The study is important both to the management of one of the most expansive regulatory agencies and to rulemaking management in general. Many of the reforms discussed in this paper could be used by other rulemaking agencies to improve their regulations and management systems as well.
“An adjective is a word hanging down from a noun”: Learning to write and students with learning disabilities

By the upper elementary grades, writing becomes an essential tool both for learning and for showing what you know. Students who struggle significantly with writing are at a terrible disadvantage. Data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress indicate that only 25% of students can be classified as competent writers; students with learning disabilities (LD) have even greater problems with writing than their normally achieving peers and frequently demonstrate a deteriorating attitude toward writing after the primary grades. In this article, we focus on composing and the writing process, and examine the knowledge base about writing development and instruction among students with LD. We address what research tells us about skilled writers and the development of writing knowledge, strategies, skill, and the will to write, and how this relates to students with LD. Next, we summarize what has been learned from research on writing development, effective instruction, and the writing abilities of students with LD in terms of effective instruction for these students. Finally, we indicate critical areas for future research.
The Association Rate Constant for Heme Binding to Globin Is Independent of Protein Structure

Rate constants for CO-heme binding to 35 different recombinant apomyoglobins and several other apoproteins were measured in an effort to understand the factors governing heme affinity and the veloc...
A DSS approach to urban traffic management

Abstract Urban traffic management is a continuous decision process of coordination of all the individual elements (traffic signals, arterial roads, traffic, parking) and the interrelated components of urban transport (private cars, transit, pedestrians, etc.). Its aim is the achievement of maximum efficiency and productivity for the whole system through the application of operating, pricing, regulatory and service policies. For this purpose, many different specific problems have been addressed and several models developed according to the classical system engineering approach. However, the complexity of urban traffic systems and the presence of a large number of conflicting goals and objectives postulated by various groups emphasizes the need for a DSS approach in this field. Thanks to this approach, the integration of different methods and techniques (e.g. Operations Research and Artificial Intelligence) and the effective support of public decision making could be obtained. Moreover, the approach and the scenario considered must also take into account the needs arising from the introduction of new information technologies and strategies in urban transport systems, such as route guidance, integrated traffic control and demand management. In this paper, a general DSS architecture is presented and its main components are analyzed and discussed. In particular, attention is focused on the model base, composed of the following relevant tools: resource optimization models, traffic simulation and evaluation models. The latter are based on cost-benefit effectiveness, multicriteria analysis and goal achievement analysis. Finally, some of the ideas and results attained by the research we are currently carrying out within Drive/EEC and Prometheus/Eureka projects are illustrated.