cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quality of endoscopy reporting at index colonoscopy significantly impacts outcome of subsequent EMR in patients with > 20 mm colon polyps.

Background and study aims Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is safe and cost-effective in management of patients with colon polyps. However, very little is known about the actions of the referring endoscopist following identification of these lesions at index colonoscopy, and the impact of those actions on the outcome of subsequent referral for EMR. The aim of this study was to identify practices at index colonoscopy that lead to failure of subsequent EMR. Patients and methods Two hundred and eighty-nine consecutive patients with biopsy-proven non-malignant colon polyps (> 20 mm) referred for EMR were analyzed to identify practices that could be improved from the time of identifying the lesion at index colonoscopy until completion of therapy. Results EMR was abandoned at colonoscopy at the EMR center in 71 of 289 patients (24.6 %). Reasons for abandoning EMR included diagnosis of invasive carcinoma (n = 9; 12.7 %), tethered lesions (n = 21; 29.6 %) from prior endoscopic interventions, and overly large (n = 22; 31 %) and inaccessible lesions (n = 17; 24 %) for complete and safe resection whose details were not recorded in the referring endoscopy report, or polyposis syndromes (n = 2; 2.8 %) that were not recognized. Conclusions In our practice, one in four EMR attempts were abandoned as a result of inadequate diagnosis or management by the referring endoscopist, which could be improved by education on optical diagnosis of polyps, comprehensive documentation of the procedure and avoidance of interventions that preclude resection.
Importance and Approach to Manner of Death Opinions in Opioid‐Related Deaths

The majority of opioid-related deaths are accidental. However, the number of opioid-related suicidal deaths is likely under recognized. Presented here is a case of suicide by heroin overdose. The manner of death would have likely been deemed accidental if not for critical information shared by the decedent's family during follow-up telephone interviews between the forensic pathologist and the decedent's family, which included text messages that were sent by the decedent just before his death that were not known at the time of the initial medicolegal death scene investigation. This case highlights that when a forensic pathologist establishes an engaged relationship with the decedent's family, the information elucidated can prove to be invaluable in reaching an informed opinion about the manner of death. For overdose cases, identifying an accurate manner of death allows the design of public health efforts that adequately address the health risks in the community. For aid in the determination of the manner of death for overdose cases, we propose a five-step checklist that may assist forensic pathologists and medicolegal death investigators when approaching similar cases.
Handgrip and general muscular strength and endurance during prolonged bedrest with isometric and isotonic leg exercise training.

Measurements of maximal grip strength and endurance at 40 percent max strength were obtained for 7 men 19-21 years of age, 1-2 days before and on the first recovery day during three 2-week bedrest (BR) periods, each separated by a 3-week ambulatory recovery period. The subjects performed isometric exercise (IME) for 1 hr/day, isotonic exercise (ITE) for 1 hr/day, and no exercise (NOE) in the three BR periods. It was found that the mean maximal grip strength was unchanged after all three BR periods. Mean grip endurance was found to be unchanged after IME and ITE training, but was significantly reduced after NOE. These results indicate that IME and ITE training during BR do not increase or decrease maximal grip strength, alghough they prevent loss of grip endurance, while the maximal strength of all other major muscle groups decreases in proportion to the length of BR to 70 days. The maximal strength reduction of the large muscle groups was found to be about twice that of the small muscle groups during BR. In addition, it is shown that changes in maximal strength after spaceflight, BR, or water immersion deconditioning cannot be predicted from changes in submaximal or maximal oxygen uptake values.
Dissociating Power and Racism: Stokely Carmichael at Berkeley

ABSTRACTAn analysis of Stokely Carmichael’s dissociation of “racism” attempted at UC Berkeley on October 29, 1966 extends the utility of Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca’s “dissociation of concepts” f...
Rules of Expansion: an Updated Consensus Operator Site for the CopR-CopY Family of Bacterial Copper Exporter System Repressors

ABSTRACT Copper is broadly toxic to bacteria. As such, bacteria have evolved specialized copper export systems (cop operons) often consisting of a DNA-binding/copper-responsive regulator (which can be a repressor or activator), a copper chaperone, and a copper exporter. For those bacteria using DNA-binding copper repressors, few studies have examined the regulation of this operon regarding the operator DNA sequence needed for repressor binding. In Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus), CopY is the copper repressor for the cop operon. Previously, homologs of pneumococcal CopY have been characterized to bind a 10-base consensus sequence T/GACANNTGTA known as the cop box. Using this motif, we sought to determine whether genes outside the cop operon are also regulated by the CopY repressor, which was previously shown in Lactococcus lactis. We found that S. pneumoniae CopY did not bind to cop operators upstream of these candidate genes in vitro. During this process, we found that the cop box sequence is necessary but not sufficient for CopY binding. Here, we propose an updated operator sequence for the S. pneumoniaecop operon to be ATTGACAAATGTAGAT binding CopY with a dissociation constant (Kd) of ∼28 nM. We demonstrate strong cross-species interaction between some CopY proteins and CopY operators, suggesting strong evolutionary conservation. Taken together with our binding studies and bioinformatics data, we propose the consensus operator RNYKACANNYGTMRNY for the bacterial CopR-CopY copper repressor homologs. IMPORTANCE Many Gram-positive bacteria respond to copper stress by upregulating a copper export system controlled by a copper-sensitive repressor, CopR-CopY. The previous operator sequence for this family of proteins had been identified as TACANNTGTA. Here, using several recombinant proteins and mutations in various DNA fragments, we define those 10 bases as necessary but not sufficient for binding and in doing so, refine the cop operon operator to the 16-base sequence RNYKACANNTGTMRNY. Due to the sheer number of repressors that have been said to bind to the original 10 bases, including many antibiotic resistance repressors such as BlaI and MecI, we feel that this study highlights the need to reexamine many of these sites of the past and use added stringency for verifying operators in the future.
Investigating the effects of explanatory-based food safety training: A model of domain knowledge theory perspective

Abstract Food safety training is essential to reducing foodborne illness; however, limited research has investigated the effects of food safety training content on training effectiveness. Therefore, drawing on the model of domain learning theory, the current study examined the influence of explanatory-based training (EBT; i.e., microbiology and epidemiology knowledge introduction) on the effectiveness of food handlers’ training. Adopting a longitudinal between-subject experimental design and multilevel linear modeling, the study showed that food handlers attending EBT demonstrated significant progress in food safety knowledge acquisition and reported high generalization ability, while only food handlers with high levels of mastery goal-orientation showed increased motivation to learn food safety after attending EBT. Additionally, food safety domain knowledge mediates the relationship between EBT and food handlers’ training effectiveness. This study provides theoretical and practical contributions to food safety training literature by explaining the underlying mechanism that operates between domain knowledge and food safety training effectiveness.
Readability and Suitability of Spanish-Language Hearing Aid User Guides

Purpose The purpose of this study was to evaluate the readability and suitability of Spanish-language hearing aid user guides. Method Hearing aid user guides in English and Spanish were downloaded ...
Using Crowdsourcing to Generate an Evaluation Dataset for Name Matching Technologies

Crowdsourcing can be a fast, flexible and cost-effective approach to obtaining data for training and evaluating machine learning algorithms. In this paper, we discuss a novel crowdsourcing application: creating a dataset for evaluating name matchers. Name matching is the challenging and subjective task of identifying which names refer to the same person; it is crucial for effective entity disambiguation and search. We have developed an effective question interface and work quality analysis algorithm for our task, which can be applied to other ranking tasks (e.g. search result ranking, recommendation system evaluation, etc.). We have demonstrated that our crowdsourced dataset can successfully be used to evaluate automatic name-matching algorithms.
Formation of joint DNA molecules by two eukaryotic strand exchange proteins does not require melting of a DNA duplex

We have examined whether DNA strand exchange activities from nuclear extracts of HeLa cells or Drosophila melanogaster embryos have detectable helicase or melting activities. The partially purified recombinases have been shown to recognize homologous single strand and double strand DNA molecules and form joint molecules in a DNA strand exchange reaction. The joint molecule product consists of a linear duplex joined at one end by a region of DNA heteroduplex to a homologous single strand circular DNA. Using two different partially duplex helicase substrates, we are unable to detect any melting of duplex regions under conditions that promote joint molecule formation. One substrate consists of a 32P-labeled oligonucleotide 20 or 30 bases long annealed to M13mp18 circular single strand DNA. The second substrate consists of a linear single strand region flanked at each end by short duplex regions. We observe that even in the presence of excess recombinase protein or after prolonged incubation no helicase activity is apparent. Control experiments rule out the possibility that a helicase is masked by reannealing of displaced single strand fragments. Based on these findings and other data, we conclude that the human and D. melanogaster recombinases recognize and pair homologous sequences without significant melting of duplex DNA prior to strand exchange.
Chapter 27 Limited dependent variables

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the certain salient themes of the limited dependent variable (LDV) literature. LDV's are usually explained in terms of some economic model or rationalizing scheme for which (1) their range is intrinsically a finite discrete set and any attempt to extend it to the real line not only does not lead to useful simplification but befouls any attempt to resolve the issues at hand and (2) even though their range may be the real line their behavior is conditioned on another process. Examples of the first type are the models of occupational choice, entry into labor force, entry into college upon high school graduation, the utilization of recreational facilities, the utilization of modes of transport, and childbearing. Examples of the latter are models of housing prices and wages in terms of the relevant characteristics of the housing unit or the individual—commonly referred to as “hedonic price determination.”
What is the American model really about?Soft budgets and the Keynesian Devolution

Europeans tend to view the American success story of the 1990s through the prism of free-market public relations, as a triumph of falling wages, rising inequality, and increasing "flexibility" in labor markets. This is an illusion. If it were not, the United States would not now be in its present difficulties. The American return to full employment is bet - ter understood as the result of greatly expanded spending in the social sectors: health care, education, housing and pensions, notably, which in conjunction with the bubble in informa- tion technologies created the effective demand necessary to absorb the unemployed. Now that the bubble has collapsed the American model is in danger, as interlocking mechanisms of public and private finance all come under pressure. But the period of American success still holds lessons for Europeans considering how best to cope with their continuing sco- urge of mass unemployment.
Pattern coding of spatial order information in short-term memory

Three experiments were conducted to extend the finding that, whereas phonemic coding is employed for short-term temporal order recall, coding of temporal-spatial patterns is employed for short-term spatial order recall. In Experiment 1 subjects employed pattern coding for spatial order information even though item information had to be retained as well as spatial order information. In Experiment 2 temporal and spatial order recall were differentially affected by various interpolated tasks; temporal order recall was disrupted by tasks demanding vocalization, whereas spatial order recall was disrupted by tasks demanding processing of spatial information. In Experiment 3 a change in the method of response led subjects to employ pattern coding for temporal order recall without eliminating phonemic coding.
Sampling minimal frequent boolean (DNF) patterns

We tackle the challenging problem of mining the simplest Boolean patterns from categorical datasets. Instead of complete enumeration, which is typically infeasible for this class of patterns, we develop effective sampling methods to extract a representative subset of the minimal Boolean patterns (in disjunctive normal form - DNF). We make both theoretical and practical contributions, which allow us to prune the search space based on provable properties. Our approach can provide a near-uniform sample of the minimal DNF patterns. We also show that the mined minimal DNF patterns are very effective when used as features for classification.
Insights into mRNA transport in neurons

Many large or morphologically complex cells compartmentalize information by targeting either mRNAs or proteins to specific domains and maintain the localization of these molecules over time. These distinct cellular domains can function to determine cell polarity, define embryonic axes, or contribute to cellular memory. Although much is understood about how proteins move and are targeted in cells, our understanding of the mechanisms of RNA transport and localization are at an early stage.
WAVE3 , an actin-polymerization gene, is truncated and inactivated as a result of a constitutional t(1;13)(q21;q12) chromosome translocation in a patient with ganglioneuroblastoma

Neuroblastoma (Nb) is a malignancy of the sympathetic nervous system which affects children in their first decade. It is the most common extra-cranial solid tumor in children with an incidence of approximately 1 in 8–10 000 live births annually and accounts for approximately 10% of all children's cancers. Ganglioneuroblastoma is a relatively benign form of Nb and consists of a mixture of fibrils, mature and maturing ganglion cells, as well as undifferentiated neuroblasts. During routine cytogenetic analysis of patients with different manifestations of neuroblastoma we have identified one patient with ganglioneuroblastoma that carries an apparently balanced t(1:13)(q21:q12) reciprocal translocation. Positional cloning of the translocation breakpoint on chromosome 13 resulted in the mapping of the breakpoint between coding exon 2 and exon 3 of WAVE3, a member of WASP gene family. Although the breakpoint region on chromosome 1 was localized to within 2 kb of genomic sequence, no gene was found to be interrupted on this chromosome. The WAVE3 transcript is mainly expressed in the nervous system and, like all the members of the WASP gene family, WAVE3 is a key element in actin polymerization and cytoskeleton organization. WAVE3, therefore, is important for cell differentiation and motility and its expression is lost in a number of low grade and stage 4S tumors. From analysis of its expression pattern and function, WAVE3 is a candidate tumor suppressor gene, at least in some forms of neuroblastoma.
“Spreading the Wealth”: How Principals Use Performance Data to Populate Classrooms

There is evidence that school leaders are using test score data for decisions about everything from the curriculum to what is served for lunch. Research suggests that staffing too is data-driven, with principals using test score data to hire, assign, and develop their teachers. Semi-structured interviews with principals and other school actors in 10 case study elementary schools show that while principals report using test score data as they assign students to classes, they are not using the assignment process as a strategy for overall school improvement, but instead to ensure within-class heterogeneity and a sense of “fairness” among teachers.
The Extraordinarily Rapid Expansion of the X-Ray Remnant of Kepler's Supernova (SN 1604)

Four individual high-resolution X-ray images from ROSAT and the Einstein Observatory have been used to measure the expansion rate of the remnant of Kepler's supernova (SN 1604). Highly significant measurements of the expansion have been made for time baselines varying from 5.5 to 17.5 yr. All measurements are consistent with a current expansion rate averaged over the entire remnant of 0.239% yr-1,which, when combined with the known age of the remnant, determines the expansion parameter m, defined as R ∝ tm, to be 0.93. The error bars on these results include both statistical (first pair of errors) and systematic (second pair) uncertainty. According to this result, the X-ray remnant is expanding at a rate that is remarkably close to free expansion and nearly twice as fast as the mean expansion rate of the radio remnant. The expansion rates as a function of radius and azimuthal angle are also presented based on two ROSAT images that were registered to an accuracy better than 05. Significant radial and azimuthal variations that appear to arise from the motion of individual X-ray knots are seen. The high expansion rate of the X-ray remnant appears to be inconsistent with currently accepted dynamical models for the evolution of Kepler's SNR.
Immunohistochemical Localization of Transforming Growth Factor-Alpha in Suckling Porcine Intestine

The distribution of transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFα), a member of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family, was studied immunohistochemically in small intestinal tissues of suckling pigs which
Analyzing Single Fiber Fragmentation Test Data by Using Stress Transfer Model

Among the test methods to evaluate the bonding between fiber and matrix, the single fiber fragmentation (SFF) test or single fiber composite (SFC) test method is the simplest in terms of the experimental setup, and therefore commonly used. But the analysis of the SFF test data at the saturation state brings a quantity, called critical length, which is not unambiguous. Different approaches to the definition of critical length in the literature also always raised new questions and criticism. In this study we will review the analysis of the SFF test data and show different approaches to the analysis of the SFF test data by using an original stress transfer model between fiber fragments and matrix. We will show a completely new approach to the analysis of SFF test data by studying the case at which stress transfer between fiber fragments and matrix is limited by interfacial shear stress. This new approach will give us a more reliable interfacial shear strength (IFSS) that can be considered as the measure of f...
The influence of cyclic nucleotides on hybridoma growth and monoclonal antibody production

The influence of cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP, known regulatory mediators of cellular response, on hybridoma growth and monoclonal antibody production is studied. The cGMP-treated cells exhibited 41% higher specific antibody secretion rate, resulting in 52% higher antibody yields. Addition of 1 mM cAMP inhibited cellular growth but enhanced the specific production rate by 37%.
VACATION AND WELL-BEING: A STUDY OF CHINESE TOURISTS

Abstract Based on the theoretical foundation of subjective well-being and theories of happiness, the current study conducted a longitudinal quasi-experiment in Southeast China to investigate the effect of vacation on the different dimensions of subjective well-being. The results showed that Chinese tourists’ chronic subjective well-being did not change after the vacation. Their occasion-specific subjective well-being, however, shows a pattern where their sense of well-being was boosted immediately after the vacation and faded after two months. Theoretical contributions and practical implications for Chinese public policy makers, tourism managers, and tourists are discussed.
Studies on conditions for the polarographic determination of glucose with glucose oxidase

Abstract Results are presented on the effect of several variables on a method for the determination of glucose using a polarograph with a Clark-type O 2 electrode and glucose oxidase. Glucose concentration [ G ] was proportional to the rate of O 2 consumption |− Δ O 2 / Δt | in the 5–800 μg/ml range. With fixed [ G ], |; ΔO 2 / Δt | increased proportionately with enzyme concentration [ E ] in the 0–1.0 mg/ml range. Glycerol [ Gy ] added to stabilize enzyme solutions and facilitate analysis of particulate samples depressed the rate of O 2 consumption in a linear fashion. When [ G ], [ E ], [ Gy ] were varied by changing the final volume in the reaction chamber, values for |− Δ O 2 / Δt | declined hyperbolically. Results indicate that the method offers considerable potential for adaptability to a wide range of analytical conditions.
Liver-Derived Systemic Factors Drive β Cell Hyperplasia in Insulin-Resistant States

Integrative organ crosstalk regulates key aspects of energy homeostasis, and its dysregulation may underlie metabolic disorders such as obesity and diabetes. To test the hypothesis that crosstalk between the liver and pancreatic islets modulates β cell growth in response to insulin resistance, we used the liver-specific insulin receptor knockout (LIRKO) mouse, a unique model that exhibits dramatic islet hyperplasia. Using complementary in vivo parabiosis and transplantation assays, as well as in vitro islet culture approaches, we demonstrate that humoral, nonneural, non-cell-autonomous factor(s) induces β cell proliferation in LIRKO mice. Furthermore, we report that a hepatocyte-derived factor(s) stimulates mouse and human β cell proliferation in ex vivo assays, independent of ambient glucose and insulin levels. These data implicate the liver as a critical source of β cell growth factor(s) in insulin-resistant states.
The Influence of Tte Substrate Surface on the Nucleation and Growth of Superconducting Thin Films

The quality of epitaxially grown superconducting thin films is dependent on the nature of the substrate surface. In this study, the surface of oriented SrTiO{sub 3} single crystals was modified by mechanical polishing, thermal annealing and chemical etching. A study of the YBa{sub 2}Cu{sub 3}O{sub 7-x} thin films grown on these substrates showed that high quality superconducting films were obtained when the substrate surface was highly oriented in the direction and was also microscopically smooth. 7 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.
Bulk YBa2Cu3O(x) superconductors through pressurized partial melt growth processing

A novel pressurized partial melt growth process has been developed for producing large pieces of bulk Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductors. During long-time partial melt growth stage, an additional driving force for solidification is obtained by using pressurized oxygen gas. The microstructure and superconducting properties of the resulting samples were investigated. It was found that this new technique can eliminate porosity and inhomogeneity, promote large-scale grain-texturing, and improve interdomain coupling as well.
On the Support Properties of Scaling Vectors

Abstract C. K. Chui and J. Z. Wang [ J. Approx. Theory 71 (1992), 263–304] derived support properties for a scaling function generating a function space V 0 ⊆ L 2 (open face R). Motivated by this work, we consider support properties for scaling vectors. T. N. T. Goodman and S. L. Lee [ Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 342, No. 1 (Mar. 1994), 307–324] derived necessary and sufficient conditions for the scaling vector {φ 1 , … , φ r }, r ≥1, to form a Riesz basis for V 0 and develop a general theory for spline wavelets of multiplicity r > 1. We consider conditions under which linear combinations of scaling functions generate V 0 . These conditions also characterize all other scaling vectors that generate the same V 0 . In addition, we describe the scaling vectors of minimal support for V 0 . Next, we give sufficient conditions on the two-scale symbol for scaling vectors under which a given matrix refinement equation can be solved. A spline-wavelet example illustrates these results. For the single scaling function φ, the support of φ is characterized by the degree of the two-scale symbol. The situation is more complicated in the scaling vector case. We prove a result that gives the support of the scaling vector under certain conditions on the coefficient matrices. This result is illustrated by an example of fractal wavelets derived by J. Geronimo, D. Hardin, and P. Massopust [ J. Approx. Theory 78, No. 3 (1994), 373–401].
Process robustness of single lap ultrasonic welding of thin, dissimilar materials

Abstract Fusion welding processes, such as resistance welding and laser welding, face difficulties in welding thin layers of dissimilar materials. Ultrasonic welding overcomes many of these difficulties by using high frequency vibration and pressure to input energy into the affected area to create a solid state weld. This paper presents a process robustness study of ultrasonic welding of thin metal sheets. Quality of the welded joints is evaluated based on mechanical tests and the quality criterion is then applied to evaluate the weldability. These results were used to determine both the optimal weld parameters and the robust operating range.
Indigenous Education and Human Rights

The right to an education that is consonant with and draws upon the culture and language of indigenous peoples is a human right which is too often overlooked by governments when they develop and implement programmes whose purported goals are to improve the social, economic and political status of these peoples. Educational programmes for indigenous peoples must fully respect and integrate human rights protections, particularly rights to cultural continuity and integrity. Racist attitudes dominate many government development programmes aimed at indigenous peoples. Educational programmes for indigenous peoples are often designed to forcibly assimilate them and destroy the uniqueness of their language, values, culture and relationship with their native lands. Until indigenous peoples are empowered to develop educational programmes for their own communities that reflect and promote their values and culture, their human rights are likely to remain threatened by governments that use education as a political mechanism for coercing indigenous peoples to adapt to a majority culture that does not recognize their rights, and that seeks to destroy their ability to sustain and pass on to future generations their language and culture.
Low‐frequency plasma oscillations at Mars during the October 2003 solar storm

[1] The powerful x-class flare which occurred on the Sun on 28 October 2003 had important effects on plasma environments throughout the solar system. We present here observations of the effects at Mars from the Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Magnetometer/Electron Reflectometer experiment. In particular we focus on the changes in the nature of the magnetic oscillations observed at an altitude of 400 km (MGS's current orbital altitude) during the passage of the solar storm. We find that strong, regular oscillations are observed in both the B∥ and B⊥ components of the magnetic field at all solar zenith angles. We emphasize in particular the powerful, coherent oscillations observed in the normally quiet nightside region. These oscillations carry power at the proton gyrofrequency and at and below the oxygen gyrofrequency. This implies that ions of planetary origin are interacting with the solar wind plasma and raises the possibility that significant atmospheric loss may occur during the passage of large solar storms at Mars.
A visual canonical adjacency matrix for graphs

Graph data mining algorithms rely on graph canonical forms to compare different graph structures. These canonical form definitions depend on node and edge labels. In this paper, we introduce a unique canonical visual matrix representation that only depends on a graph's topological information, so that two structurally identical graphs will have exactly the same visual adjacency matrix representation. In this canonical matrix, nodes are ordered based on a Breadth-First Search spanning tree. Special rules and filters are designed to guarantee the uniqueness of an arrangement. Such a unique matrix representation provides persistence and a stability which can be used and harnessed in visualization, especially for data exploration and studies.
Urodilatin and four cardiac hormones decrease human renal carcinoma cell numbers.

Background Mortality from renal-cell cancer remains a significant problem with an estimated 12 600 deaths in the United States in 2005 even with current treatment(s) of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy. Four cardiac natriuretic peptides, that is, atrial natriuretic peptide, vessel dilator, long-acting natriuretic peptide and kaliuretic peptide have significant anti-cancer effects in breast, pancreatic, prostate and colon adenocarcinomas. Materials and methods These four peptide hormones plus brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), C-natriuretic peptide (CNP) and urodilatin, a peptide hormone formed in the kidney by a different post-translational processing of the atrial natriuretic peptide prohormone, were evaluated for their anti-cancer effects in renal carcinomas. Results Dose–response curves revealed a significant (P < 0·0001) decrease in human renal carcinoma cells with each 10-fold increase in concentration from 1 µm to 100 µm of five of these peptide hormones. There was an 81%, 74%, 66%, 70% and 70% elimination within 24 h in renal carcinoma cells secondary to vessel dilator, kaliuretic peptide, urodilatin, atrial natriuretic peptide and long-acting natriuretic peptide, respectively (P < 0·0001 for each), whereas BNP had no effect and CNP decreased renal cancer cell number by 10% (P = 0·04) at their 100 µm concentrations. Three days after treatment with these peptide hormones, the cancer cells began to proliferate again. The four cardiac hormones and urodilatin decreased DNA synthesis from 65–84% (P < 0·00001), whereas BNP and CNP decreased DNA synthesis 3% and 12% (both non-significant). Western blots revealed for the first time natriuretic peptide receptors (NPR)-A, -B and -C were present in the renal cancer cells. Conclusions These results indicate that urodilatin and the four cardiac hormones have potent anti-cancer effects by eliminating up to 81% of renal carcinoma cells within 24 h of treatment.
Noise and compressibility in lattice-gas fluids.

Computations are reported in which the hexagonal lattice gas is used to simulate two-dimensional Navier-Stokes shear flows. Limitations associated with noise in the initial loading and compressible effects associated with a velocity-dependent equation of state arise and interact with each other. A relatively narrow window in density and flow speed exhibits physical behavior.
Carcase characteristics of quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) slaughtered at different ages

Abstract 1. The present study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between slaughter ages and carcase characteristics of Japanese quail. 2. Chicks were slaughtered at 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 weeks of age. Carcase yield, carcase parts weight, weight of liver, heart, gizzard and alimentary tract were obtained. Protein, fat, dry matter and ash contents of meat were analysed for each sex. 3. Body weight and eviscerated weight were affected by age. Age had no significant effect on the weight of liver, alimentary tract, gizzard and heart. Age had first and second order polynomial effects on breast weight and relative leg weight. Meat compositions of leg and breast were significantly affected by age.
Scheme for enhanced tracking of mobile subscribers in a WiMAX network

In this paper, the base station identification and timing adjust measurements are used to geolocate mobile subscribers in a WiMAX network. The uplink and downlink subframes of the physical layer and management messages of the medium access control layer are examined to extract the necessary data for geolocation. Using a hidden Markov model [1] based algorithm to estimate the track of the mobile subscriber, we demonstrate that the position error can be further reduced by incorporating timing adjust measurements. Simulation results of the proposed scheme are included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the combined use of base station ID and timing adjust measurements.
On the performance mechanisms of Dielectric Elastomer Actuators

Dielectric Elastomer Actuators (DEAs) show promise for robotics and mechatronics applications. They are lightweight, low costs, and have shown good performance in laboratory demonstration. However, these actuators have not been widely applied commercially after more than 10 years of development. One reason is that the mechanisms governing their performance are not completely understood. Hence designing practical actuators is difficult. This paper has the objective of understanding the dominant performance mechanisms of DEAs made with VHB 4905/4910 from 3 M. To do so, an experimental characterization of actuator performance is conducted in terms of force, power, current consumption, work output, and efficiency. Key performance mechanisms of viscoelasticity and current leakage are identified from experimental observations and analytical models are developed. The models explain well the experimental observations and should aid designers in selecting applications that are appropriate for DEAs as well as designing effective DEAs.
An ab Initio Investigation of the Ground and First Two Excited Electronic States of the Difluoromethyl Radical

Ab initio calculations have been performed to determine the structure and energies of the ground and first two excited electronic states of CHF2. The 6-31+G*, 6-311++G**, aug-ccpVDZ, and aug-cc-pVTZ basis sets were utilized at the MP2 and CCSD(T) levels of theory for the structures and energies of minima and transition states on the ground electronic surface. The 6-31+G*, 6-311++G** basis sets were utilized at the CIS, CASSCF, and MRCI levels of theory for characterization of the excited electronic states. The ground state was found to be pyramidal, the first excited state is possibly dissociative and the second excited state planar. Vertical transition energies for transitions from the ground to the first and second excited states were found to range from 61 355 to 71 372 cm-1 at the CIS level of theory. Shallow local minima on the A state potential energy surface with long C−H bonds of about 2.0 A were located by using two-dimensional potential surface scans. Upon excitation to the B state, the C−H bon...
Cloning and expression of chitinases of Entamoebae

Entamoeba histolytica (Eh) and Entamoeba dispar (Ed) are protozoan parasites that infect hundreds of millions of persons. In the colonic lumen, amebae form chitin-walled cysts, the infectious stage of the parasite. Entamoeba invadens (Ei), which infects reptiles and is a model for amebic encystation, produces chitin synthase and chitinase during encystation. Ei cysts formation is blocked by the chitinase-inhibitor allosamidin. Here molecular cloning techniques were used to identify homologous genes of Eh, Ed, and Ei that encode chitinases (EC 3.2.1.14). The Eh gene (Eh cht1) predicts a 507-amino acid (aa) enzyme, which has 93 and 74% positional identities with Ed and Ei chitinases, respectively. The Entamoeba chitinases have signal sequences, followed by acidic and hydrophilic sequences composed of multiple tandemly arranged 7-aa repeats (Eh and Ed) or repeats varying in length (Ei). The aa compositions of the chitinase repeats are similar to those of the repeats of the Eh and Ed Ser-rich proteins. The COOH-terminus of each chitinase has a catalytic domain, which resembles those of Brugia malayi (33% positional identity) and Manduca sexta (29%). Recombinant entamoeba chitinases are precipitated by chitin and show chitinase activity with chitooligosacharide substrates. Consistent with previous biochemical data, chitinase mRNAs are absent in Ei trophozoites and accumulate to maximal levels in Ei encysting for 48 h.
Demography and Educational Politics in the Suburban Marketplace

The demography of public school enrollment continues to change dramatically, with students of color comprising an increasing proportion of the whole. As such, suburbia, with both White and non-White students, is a place in which integration is more possible in the beginning of the 21st century. Due to the intertwined nature of how these factors affect educational politics in suburban districts, we draw on Hirschman's exit-voice-loyalty framework to examine factors influencing residential and education decisions. Drawing on in-depth fieldwork in seven multiracial suburban districts, this article examines how, and whether, the way in which districts define issues related to increasing diversity shapes the actions they take. The article also examines how district jurisdiction affects the implementation of diversity policies as well as the policies themselves. We argue that policymakers’ decision making, both due to the pressure of exit to less diverse suburban districts and the rising voices of more advantag...
The influence of plasma gas species on the adhesion of thermoplastic to organic fibers

Adhesion between organic fibers and thermoplastics in a composite material is usually weak because of the lack of chemical and mechanical bonding. This study investigated the influence of plasma gas species in a novel technique to improve interfacial adhesion of Kevlar 49 fibers to polycarbonate. Single Kevlar fibers were exposed to radio-frequency plasma discharge in atmospheres of argon, oxygen, and ammonia. Plasma treatment has been shown to generate reactive free radicals on polymer surfaces. The fibers that were coated immediately with a polycarbonate melt while still in the vacuum environment of a plasma reactor showed an increase in interfacial shear strength that was maximum at 4.1 s exposure and decreased at longer exposure times. At 4.1 s exposure, Ar and O2 plasma treatment increased shear strength by 20 and 18%, respectively. NH3 plasma treatment produced only a statistically insignificant increase at 4.1 s of exposure and a significant decrease in adhesion at 8.3 s of exposure. Fibers that were exposed to air for 1 h before coating showed no statistically significant increase or decrease in adhesion. The increase in adhesion of the directly coated fibers was attributed to free radical-initiated formation of covalent bonds between the Kevlar and the polycarbonate. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
The font-size effect on judgments of learning: Does it exemplify fluency effects or reflect people’s beliefs about memory?

Abstract Evidence suggests that processing fluency affects many kinds of judgments. For instance, when words are presented either in large (48 point) or smaller (18 point) font sizes during study, people’s judgments of learning (JOLs) are higher for the words presented in the larger font size. This font-size effect presumably arises because items presented in a larger font size are easier to process at study, which in turn leads to higher JOLs. In the present studies, we evaluated this fluency hypothesis against an alternative one that the font-size effect occurs because people believe that words printed in a large font size are better remembered. In Experiments 1 and 2, we measured differences in processing fluency during study to evaluate whether fluency could account for any of the relationship between font size and JOLs. In Experiments 3a and 3b, college students read about the font-size experiment and then predicted whether hypothetical particpiants would better remember the large or smaller words. In Experiment 4, we evaluated whether the effect occurred for prestudy JOLs, which are made prior to studying the to-be-learned words and hence cannot be affected by processing fluency. Surprisingly, the evidence across experiments supported the belief hypothesis and did not support the fluency hypothesis. Thus, the font-size effect does not exemplify the effect of fluency on JOLs, and more generally, these outcomes suggest that measuring processing fluency is essential for establishing its role in people’s judgments and decision making.
ESOPS: Financial performance and federal tax incentives

Previous research has suggested a relationship between the establishment of employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) and post-adoption improvements in financial performance — presumably as a result of the alignment of employee and stockholder interests. I examine the role of tax incentives on the financial performance of ESOP firms. The results indicate that ESOPs formed prior to the availability of tax incentives provided by the Tax Reform Act of 1986 have experienced significantly greater improvement in financial performance than ESOPs established after passage of the Act. The results are consistent with my hypothesis and suggest that even though ESOPs can be utilized to reduce a firm's federal income tax liability, ESOPs may be more useful to management to reduce agency costs throughout the firm.
Oligopoly models for market price of electricity under demand uncertainty and unit reliability

Abstract Several oligopoly models have been proposed for representing strategic behavior in electricity markets, which include Bertrand, Cournot, and Supply Function Equilibrium (SFE). For the most part, these models are deterministic, with the exception of the SFE originally developed by Klemperer and Meyer. However, their model does not include supply side uncertainties. In this paper, we consider both load and supply side uncertainties (resulting from generator availabilities). We obtain Nash equilibrium solutions for Cournot and SFE models, in which asymmetric firms (whose generating units have different costs and capacities) submit their bids so that each firm’s expected profit is maximized.
Clastogenicity of lead chromate particles in hamster and human cells.

Several insoluble compounds of chromium, such as lead chromate, are respiratory carcinogens in experimental animals and suspected to be so in humans. Lead chromate induces neoplastic transformation in cultured cells but the mechanism of genotoxicity is unknown. We examined the effect of lead chromate on the integrity of chromosomes of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) and human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF) after a 24-h exposure. At 0.4 μg/cm2, 0.8 μ/cm2, 2 μg/cm2 and 8 μg/cm2 lead chromate particles reduced survival of CHO cells to 86%, 62%, 2% and < 1% respectively. These concentrations induced a dose-dependent 4–19-fold increase in the percent metaphases with damage. The HFF cells exhibited higher sensitivity in both cytotoxicity and clastogenicity. The spectrum of damage observed for both cell types was primarily achromatic lesions affecting one or both chromatids. To test for particle dissolution effects, CHO cells were treated for 24 h with either clarified medium that had been incubated for 24 h with lead chromate particles, or clarified medium that had been pre-conditioned by CHO cells treated with lead chromate particles for 24 h. No damage was detected in these cells, indicating that extracellular dissolution into ionic lead and chromate did not contribute to the genotoxicity. This is consistent with a previous study in which scanning electron micrographs illustrated internalization of the particles. These results suggest that clastogenesis may be a mechanism for lead chromate induced carcinogenesis.
Force feedback system using magneto-rheological fluids for telerobotic surgery

Force feedback is a new technology that has great potential in human-machine interfaces. While guiding the end effector of a robot through an environment using a hand-held actuator, force feedback is needed to make the user feel the environment conditions like stiffness along which the end effector moves. This along with the already available visual feedback will allow the user to guide the robot exactly along the path that he or she intends thereby enhancing the performance. Easily controllable actuators that give quick response at the user end are needed here. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of MR fluid devices in such force feedback applications. The force-feedback experiment includes a simple setup that depicts a typical situation wherein a user controls the movement of an external linear hydraulic actuator using a MR sponge damper. Force and displacement sensors sense the environment conditions along which the end effector of the hydraulic actuator moves. This information is then used to control the MR damper to provide appropriate force feedback to the user. The setup is tested with different environments like springs with various stiffnesses and for extreme cases with mechanical stops thereby demonstrating the flexibility in using MR sponge dampers for various force feedback applications.
Policy-Based Management and Sharing of Sensitive Information Among Government Agencies

We propose a set of policy-based technologies to enable increased information sharing among government agencies without compromising information security or individual privacy. Our approach includes: (1) fine-grained access controls that support deny and filter semantics to satisfy complex policy conditions; (2) a sticky policy capability that allows consolidation of information from multiple sources subject to the original disclosure policies of each source; (3) a curation organization that enables agencies to apply and manipulate item-level security classifications and disclosure policies; (4) an auditing system that accounts for the curation history of each information item; and (5) a provenance auditing method that traces derivations of information over time to support evaluations of information quality. Our goal is to present a vision for solving outstanding information sharing problems in government agencies and provide direction for the development of future government information systems.