cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Erwinia chrysanthemi EC16 Produces a Second Set of Plant-Inducible Pectate Lyase Isozymes

The enterobacterium Erwinia chrysanthemi causes soft-rot diseases involving extensive tissue maceration in a wide variety of plants and secretes multiple pectic enzymes that degrade plant cell walls and middle lamellae. An E. chrysanthemi mutant with directed deletions or insertions in genes pehX, pelX, pelA, pelB, pelC , and pelE , which encode exo-poly-α-d-galacturonosidase, exopolygalacturonate lyase, and four isozymes of pectate lyase, respectively, was constructed by the marker exchange of a cloned pehX ::Tn phoA fragment into E. chrysanthemi CUCPB5010, a Δ( pelA pelE ) Δ( pelB pelC )::28bp Δ( pelX )Δ4bp derivative of strain EC16. This mutant, E. chrysanthemi CUCPB5012, no longer caused pitting in a standard pectate semisolid agar medium used to detect pectolytic activity in bacteria. Nevertheless, the mutant still macerated leaves of chrysanthemum ( Chrysanthemum morifolium ), although with reduced virulence. The mutant was found to produce significant pectate lyase activity in rotting chrysanthemum tissue and in minimal media containing chrysanthemum extracts or cell walls as the sole carbon source. Activity-stained, ultra-thin-layer isoelectric focusing gels revealed the presence in these preparations of several pectate lyase isozymes with pIs ranging from highly acidic to highly alkaline. Sterile culture fluids containing these isozymes were able to macerate chrysanthemum leaf tissue. Unlike the products of the pelA, pelB, pelC , and pelE genes in E. chrysanthemi EC16, these plant-inducible pectate lyase isozymes were not produced in minimal medium containing pectate. The results suggest that E. chrysanthemi produces two sets of independently regulated pectate lyase isozymes that are capable of macerating plant tissues. Images
Velocity Correlations and Large Scale Motions

For a given shell of galaxies the radial velocity as a function of direction can be expanded in terms of multipoles, the l = 1 term corresponding to the bulk motion, the l = 2 to a quadrupole anisotropy of the velocity field. The l = 0 monopole, even if present is absorbed into the local value of the Hubble constant. However, its absence strongly affects the velocity correlations. It is shown, that from all multipoles only the dipole carries large scale contributions, the other terms arise from local effects. We also present general properties of the velocity correlation functions that can be associated with the large scale velocity fields. The current data indicates that the correlation function is unstable against small perturbations in the radial distances. Optimal observing strategies are also discussed.
Adaptive optics for high-resolution imaging of the living human retina

Summary form only given. The resolution limit imposed by the aberrations of the eye generally prohibits imaging structures in the living retina the size of single cells. Though it is possible to correct defocus and astigmatism with spectacle lenses, additional aberrations such as coma, spherical, and higher order aberrations remain. The authors have constructed an adaptive optical system that measures the wave aberration of the eye and compensates for it with a deformable mirror. A Hartmann-Shack wavefront sensor measures the local slopes of the wavefront in the pupil plane produced by a point source on the retina. The wave aberration is calculated from the wavefront slopes with a least squares technique. The authors compensate for the wave aberration with a deformable mirror that has 37 actuators with each 3-/spl mu/m stroke (Xinetics, Inc.). In one subject with a 6-mm pupil and 632.8-nm light, adaptive compensation reduced the peak to peak-phase error from 2.9 /spl mu/m to less than 0.5 /spl mu/m. A figure shows the retinal point spread function in this subject calculated from the wave aberration when no adaptive correction had been made. Defocus and astigmatism have been removed from the wave aberration because they can be corrected with spectacle lenses.
Krishna at the Garden Party: Crises of Faith in A Passage to India

The novel's key event is the outing to the imageless caves in the Marabar Hills, where Adela Quested, Aziz, and Mrs. Moore encounter the failure of what they most cherish. Words there turn into a booming echo, which unhinges Mrs. Moore "began . . . to undermine her hold on life." Mrs. Moore, who arrived in India confident of her beliefs, becomes frail and bitter, and never returns alive to England. The echo leads Adela Quested to nervous collapse. Briefly the object of British sympathy, she finds herself an outcast and her engagement broken. Aziz comes to despise the British, who victimize him.
Self and Society: The development of collectivism and the culture ideal

T hroughout this book I have argued that the conflicting needs of self and other and of individual and society are the stuff of which moral conflict is made. The function of morality, in this view, is to provide an ideal resolution of conflicting demands, both at the psychological and sociocultural level. One would expect that historical change would bring with it an alteration of this delicate balance. A plethora of ideas and evidence from a number of sources suggests that the culture ideal of human societies has been, and is in the process of undergoing a fundamental revolution in the relative valuation of individual and group. To demonstrate this movement, and accompanying changes in cultural forms, is the central aim of this chapter. In an essay on the psychological implications of collectivism, D.F.Y. Hodefines “collectivism” in a fairly standard fashion: In contrast to individualism, collectivism affirms that to preserve and enhance the well-being of the group is the supreme guiding principle for social action. It demands that the interests of the group must take precedence over those of the individual. (1979, p. 144) This definition sounds remarkably like a societal analog to the popular conception of the term “narcissism”; collectivism, so defined, appears similar to a “group narcissism.” As Part I showed, however, narcissism is not a simple phenomenon that remains stable through time; it passes through a series of developmental transformations. This chapter will attempt to show that something similar is true of collectivism. A brief comparative analysis of the thought of Durkheim and Marx is instructive here.
Chapter 9 - Computational approaches to heats of formation

Heats of formation are of significant practical importance in thermochemistry in general. Because experimental values are available for less than 0.1% of the more than ten million compounds known, considerable effort has been expended upon developing computational approaches. The use of density functional and high-level ab initio procedures to calculate ∆H f , which shall be the focus of this chapter, has been increasing steadily in recent years, despite the considerable demands that they (especially the ab initio ) place upon computer resources. While limitations upon molecular size continue to exist, although much less so for the density functional techniques, it is becoming ever more feasible to compute heats of formation with well-accuracy for a variety of systems of practical importance in the area of energetic materials. Within the density functional/ ab initio framework, several different approaches have been used to find ∆H f . These have been described in the chapter. There is the description of the approaches to ∆H f , the computational methodologies— ab initio , density functional, ab initio /empirical and density functional/empirical combinations—liquid and solid phase heats of formation, the applications and discussion on boron and aluminum combustion products and the H/C/N/O/F energetic compounds. An interesting trend concerns the effect of substituting the NF 2 (difluoramine) group for NO 2 . It is likely to produce a higher density, a larger number of moles of gaseous products per gram of compound and efficient ignition/combustion of boron- and aluminum-based propellant formulations. For molecules of energetic interest that are large for Gn (Gaussian-n) or CBS (complete basis set) methodology, the two density functional/empirical procedures discussed are viable options, although they do occasionally produce relatively large errors. Appropriate homodesmic reactions, if possible, can be a useful alternative, or better yet, serve as a check, provided that the required experimental ∆H f (gas) are known with sufficient accuracy.
Scoring hip osteoarthritis with MRI (SHOMRI): A whole joint osteoarthritis evaluation system

Background: To develop a semi-quantitative MR-based hip osteoarthritis (OA) evaluation system (Scoring hip osteoarthritis with MRI, SHOMRI), and to test its reproducibility and face validity. Methods: The study involved 98 subjects with informed consent. Three-Tesla MR imaging of hip was performed in three planes with intermediate-weighted fat saturated FSE sequences. Two radiologists assessed cartilage loss, bone marrow edema pattern, subchondral cyst in 10 subregions, and assessed labrum in 4 subregions. In addition, presence or absence of ligamentum teres integrity, paralabral cysts, intra-articular body, and effusion in the hip joint were analyzed using the SHOMRI system. The reproducibility was assessed with intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC), Cohen’s Kappa values and percent agreement. SHOMRI scores were correlated with radiographic Kellgren-Lawrence (KL) and OARSI atlas gradings, and clinical parameters, the hip osteoarthritis outcome score (HOOS) and hip range of motion (ROM), using Spearman’s rank correlation and ordinal logistic regression. Results: ICC values were in the excellent range, 0.91 to 0.97. Cohen’s Kappa values and percent agreement ranged from 0.55 to 0.79 and 66 to 99%, respectively. SHOMRI demonstrated significant correlations with KL and OARSI gradings as well as with clinical parameters, HOOS and ROM (P < 0.05). Among the SHOMRI features, subchondral cyst and bone marrow edema pattern showed the highest correlation with HOOS and ROM.
Catalytic Pyrolysis of Methane on Mo/H-ZSM5 with Continuous Hydrogen Removal by Permeation Through Dense Oxide Films

A dense SrCe0.95Yb0.05O3 - α thin film (∼2μm) was used to remove H2 during non-oxidative conversion of methane to higher hydrocarbons on Mo/H-ZSM5 in order to overcome kinetic and thermodynamic constraints. At 950 K, these films removed only a small fraction of the H2 produced and hydrocarbon synthesis rates were unaffected by H2 removal. Higher temperatures led to a modest increase in CH4 conversion rates, but also to slightly lower C2–C{12} hydrocarbon selectivities and to higher catalyst deactivation rates. These undesired effects were eliminated by the addition of small amounts of CO2 to the CH4 reactants. The combination of dense SrCe0.95Yb0.05O3-α thin films, chain-limiting catalytic pyrolysis reactions on Mo/H-ZSM5, and CO2 co-reactants led to stable catalyst performance and modestly higher hydrocarbon synthesis rates than in conventional reactors. The improvements achieved by continuous H2 removal are in agreement with predictions of kinetic-transport model simulations in tubular reactors with permeable walls.
Characterization of Cracks Subject to Creep

The deformation response of small, semi-elliptical, indentation-induced surface cracks in fine-grain alumina has been monitored using crack opening and surface displacement measurements. Results indicate values of the secondary creep exponent, n, between 1.5 and 2, and a temperature dependence consistent with creep data. However at temperatures ⪞1400 C, crack tip damage in the form of grain boundary cavities exert a strong influence on the displacement field as predicted by recent theories. Use of the stress intensity factor as a loading parameter, based on Newtonian-viscous behavior, does not produce adequate correlation with experimental results and is therefore unsuitable for non-linear creeping polycrystals.
Probing molecular associations of field‐collected and laboratory‐generated SOA with nano‐DESI high‐resolution mass spectrometry

Aerosol samples from the 2010 CalNex field study in Bakersfield (BF) and Los Angeles (LA) were analyzed using positive mode nanospray-desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (nano-DESI-MS). Secondary organic aerosol (SOA) produced in a photochemical chamber by photooxidation of diesel (DSL) fuel and isoprene (ISO) under humid, high-NOx conditions, was analyzed for comparison. Three groups of organic compounds with zero, one, or two nitrogen atoms in their molecular formulas (0N, 1N, 2N) were compared in detail. The composition of ambient SOA exhibited greater overlap with DSL than with ISO. The overlap of the chamber experiments with the BF data was relatively consistent throughout the day while the overlap with LA data increased significantly in the noon-6pm sample, consistent with the SOA plume arriving from downtown Los Angeles. BF samples were more oxidized, contained more organic nitrogen, and had more overlap with the chamber data compared to LA samples. The addition of gaseous ammonia (NH3) to the DSL experiment was necessary to generate many of the 2N compounds observed in BF. This analysis demonstrates that DSL and ISO were important sources but cannot account for all of the observed ambient compounds indicating that other sources of organics were also likely important.
Robustness and constraints of ambient noise inversion

One of the most dominant sources of error in the estimation of sonar performance in shallow water is the geoacoustic description of the sea floor. As reviewed in this paper, various investigators have studied the possible use of ambient noise to infer some key parameters such as the critical angle, geoacoustic properties, or bottom loss. A simple measurement approach to infer the bottom loss from ambient noise measurement on a vertical line array (VLA) is very attractive from environmental and operational perspectives. This paper presents a sensitivity study conducted with simulations and measurements that demonstrates mitigating factors to maximize the accuracy of estimated bottom loss. This paper quantifies the robustness and operational constraints of this measurement approach using an ambient noise model that accounts for wind, shipping, and thermal noise. Also demonstrated are the effects of unaccounted water absorption, array tilt, nearby ship interference, flow noise, calibration error, and array deformation on sonar performance estimation. VLA measurements collected during the Asian Seas International Acoustics Experiment in May-June 2001 were also processed to validate the approach via comparisons with measured bottom loss and transmission loss.
Constitutive overexpression of the 27,000 dalton heat shock protein in late passage human breast cancer cells.

We present evidence that the mechanisms controlling induction of heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) and mRNA expression of the 27,000 molecular weight heat shock protein, hsp27, are diverse in human breast cancer cells. Heat shock accumulation of hsp27 RNA is associated with the activation of HSF in MDA-MB-231 cells. We have later passage MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines with elevated, constitutive expression of hsp27 mRNA, perhaps due to hsp 27 gene amplification. Estradiol and heat shock treatment no longer affect the level of hsp27 mRNA in these cells. Heat induction of HSF is inhibited in cells overexpressing hsp27, although metal ions and amino acid analogs are still capable of activating HSF. These cells will provide a useful system for characterizing alternative pathways in HSF inhibition and activation.
Benefit of adjuvant brachytherapy versus external beam radiation for early breast cancer: impact of patient stratification on breast preservation.

Purpose Brachytherapy after lumpectomy is an increasingly popular breast cancer treatment, but data concerning its effectiveness are conflicting. Recently proposed "suitability" criteria guiding patient selection for brachytherapy have never been empirically validated. Methods Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results–Medicare linked database, we compared women aged 66 years or older with invasive breast cancer (n=28,718) or ductal carcinoma in situ (n=7229) diagnosed from 2002 to 2007, treated with lumpectomy alone, brachytherapy, or external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). The likelihood of breast preservation, measured by subsequent mastectomy risk, was compared by use of multivariate proportional hazards, further stratified by American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) brachytherapy suitability groups. We compared 1-year postoperative complications using the χ 2 test and 5-year local toxicities using the log-rank test. Results For patients with invasive cancer, the 5-year subsequent mastectomy risk was 4.7% after lumpectomy alone (95% confidence interval [CI], 4.1%-5.4%), 2.8% after brachytherapy (95% CI, 1.8%-4.3%), and 1.3% after EBRT (95% CI, 1.1%-1.5%) ( P P =.84 for interaction), although ASTRO "suitable" patients did show a low absolute subsequent mastectomy risk, with a minimal absolute difference in risk after brachytherapy (1.6%; 95% CI, 0.7%-3.5%) versus EBRT (0.8%; 95% CI, 0.6%-1.1%). For patients with ductal carcinoma in situ, EBRT maintained a reduced risk of subsequent mastectomy (HR, 0.40; 95% CI, 0.28-0.55; P P P P Conclusions In this study era, brachytherapy showed lesser breast preservation benefit compared with EBRT. Suitability criteria predicted differential absolute, but not relative, benefit in patients with invasive cancer.
The effect of fish oil supplementation on plasma α-tocopherol, retionol, lipid and lipoprotein levels in normolipidemic subjects

Abstract The effects of supplementation with MaxEPA fish oil (FO) on the plasma concentrations of α-tocopherol, retinol, lipids and lipoproteins in young male subjects were studied. Ten normolipidemic adult male volunteers (25–39 y) supplemented their usual Western diets for 6 wk with 18 g MaxEPA FO per d. Blood samples were collected prior to supplementation, after 6 wk of supplementation, and 10 wk following cessation of the supplement. There was a significant increase (21%) in plasma α-tocopherol concentration after 6 wk of FO supplementation which returned to baseline 10 wk after cessation of the supplements. Plasma retinol increased by 14% and plasma triglyceride (TG) concentration decreased by 28% after 6 wk of supplementation. When FO was taken as a supplement to a typical Western diet significant increases in the concentrations of total cholesterol (TC) (7%), low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (10%) and high-density-lipoprotein (HDL-C) (10%) in normolipidemic subjects were observed. Despite animal data indicating an increased need for dietary vitamin E with FO supplementation, in this clinical trial, the FO supplement administed in this study increased plasma α-tocopherol. This increase in due to the 1.35 mg of α-tocopherol added by the manufacturer which appears sufficient to maintain plasma vitamin E levels in the presence of increased PUFA intake, at least over a 6 wk period. Retinyl ester content in eight commercial FO products other than MaxEPA ranged from 2 to 2450 μg/g FO, with a mean of 315 μ/g. The α-tocopherol content in 12 other FO capsules available to consumers for over the counter purchase ranged from 18 to 2241 μg/g FO, with a mean of 1025 μg/g. The effects of ingesting FO supplements with a low content of α-tocopherol on the plasma levels of α-tocopherol needs to be further examined.
Monitoring Underground Explosions

Seismological means for detecting and identifying underground nuclear explosions have improved steadily during the past ten years. A technique exists for separating explosions from earthquakes. The problem now is lowering the threshold and understanding the occasional problematic event.
Reassessing the effect of growth options on leverage

Abstract Results of empirical studies of the trade-off theory of capital structure indicate that an important, stable factor is missing from traditional leverage regression models. Our review of theory leads us to the hypothesis that the missing factor is related to profitable growth options (GOs). Specifically, the relationship between optimal leverage and the market-to-book assets ratio (MB), a measure of GOs, is negative and highly convex. In tests of static trade-off theory, we find that a convex (inverse exponential) transformation of MB substantially increases adjusted R2 in leverage regressions, and partially subsumes the explanatory power of median industry leverage. Using the transformed MB variable also yields stronger results in tests of dynamic trade-off theory, including analyses of leverage evolution, speed of adjustment, and external financing activity.
Reduction of Sample Heterogeneity through Use of Population Substructure: An Example from a Population of African American Families with Sarcoidosis

Sarcoidosis is a granulomatous inflammatory disorder of complex etiology with significant linkage to chromosome 5, and marginal linkage was observed to five other chromosomes in African Americans (AAs) in our previously published genome scan. Because genetic factors underlying complex disease are often population specific, genetic analysis of samples with diverse ancestry (i.e., ethnic confounding) can lead to loss of power. Ethnic confounding is often addressed by stratifying on self-reported race, a controversial and less-than-perfect construct. Here, we propose linkage analysis stratified by genetically determined ancestry as an alternative approach for reducing ethnic confounding. Using data from the 380 microsatellite markers genotyped in the aforementioned genome scan, we clustered AA families into subpopulations on the basis of ancestry similarity. Evidence of two genetically distinct groups was found: subpopulation one (S1) comprised 219 of the 229 families, subpopulation two (S2) consisted of six families (the remaining four families were a mixture). Stratified linkage results suggest that only the S1 families contributed to previously identified linkage signals at 1p22, 3p21-14, 11p15, and 17q21 and that only the S2 families contributed to those found at 5p15-13 and 20q13. Signals on 2p25, 5q11, 5q35, and 9q34 remained significant in both subpopulations, and evidence of a new susceptibility locus at 2q37 was found in S2. These results demonstrate the usefulness of stratifying on genetically determined ancestry, to create genetically homogeneous subsets—more reliable and less controversial than race-stratified subsets—in which to identify genetic factors. Our findings support the presence of sarcoidosis-susceptibility genes in regions identified elsewhere but indicate that these genes are likely to be ancestry specific.
Churg-strauss syndrome: an update.

Churg-Strauss syndrome is an uncommon disease of unknown cause described initially by Churg and Strauss in 1951. Even though it was initially thought to be a variant of polyarteritis nodosa, its pathological, clinical, and laboratory features show that it is related to the small vessel vasculitides, and it is now classified as an antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitis. The presence of asthma, usually of adult onset, along with other allergic symptoms, peripheral and tissue eosinophilia, is specific to this disease. These features usually help clinicians distinguish it from other types of small vessel vasculitis and should alert clinicians about its presence. Two different clinical subtypes defined by the presence of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies recently have been recognized. Recent advances in the treatment and pathophysiology of Churg-Strauss syndrome are reviewed in this article.
Psychometric testing of four transtheoretical model questionnaires for the behavior, completing health care proxies.

The purpose of the study was to develop four questionnaires based on the transtheoretical model (TTM) to assess the behavior, completing a healthcare proxy (HCP). The aims were to (a) operationalize the four TTM constructs for completing a HCP and (b) evaluate the psychometric properties of the questionnaires. The questionnaires were constructed and content validity established using an expert panel. Internal consistency values for each questionnaire and subscales within each questionnaire were >.79. Confirmatory factor analysis provided evidence that decisional balance and the processes of change questionnaires each contained two factors. Our data support validity and reliability of the TTM questionnaires related to HCP completion. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 32:606–620, 2009
A US view of terrorism

Purpose – To analyze recent and future terrorism in the world from the viewpoint of the USA.Design/methodology/approach – Actions companies can take to help prevent and manage the negative effects of terrorist attacks are also discussed. A review of the literature from journals, the popular press and government sources was stressed to provide an official and public view of terrorism.Findings – It was found that “terrorism” is pervasive around the world although maybe more concentrated in the Middle East at present. It is seen as annually increasing in number and severity of events. There were minor terrorist events in the USA in the 1990s, but the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 in New York forever changed the view of terrorism by US citizens. The USA subsequently changed its administrative structure, economic infrastructure, beliefs, behaviors, and relations to others in the world. The USA is seen as the main terrorist target in the world and Al‐Qaeda, one of 40 foreign terrorist organizations, i...
A mechanistic study of a topochemical dihydrogen to covalent bonding transformation

Abstract Solid-state decomposition of the dihydrogen-bonded complex LiBH4·TEA (TEA: triethanolamine) into a covalent material was probed via 11B MAS NMR and FT-IR spectroscopies, as well as single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction and optical microscopy. Based on variable-temperature kinetic analysis and H/D exchange experiments, H2 loss appears to occur via rate-limiting proton transfer from the TEA’s OH groups to the BH4– anions at the reactant/product interface. The activation parameters Δ H ‡ =84±10 kJ/mol and Δ S ‡ =−70±26 J/(mol K) are comparable to those found for neutral aqueous hydrolysis of BH4−, suggesting similar mechanisms for the solid and solution decompositions.
Support for and Opposition to Capital Punishment: Some Associated Social-Psychological Factors

As it has become recognized that the issue of deterrence of capital punishment can never be fully resolved, attention has shifted to the retributive functions of capital punishment. To investigate ...
A model for thermoplastic melt impregnation of fiber bundles during consolidation of powder-impregnated continuous fiber composites

Continuous fiber thermoplastic matrix composites were fabricated using a novel powder-impregnation process that combined vacuum assisted resin transfer molding (VARTM) with compression molding. The resulting composite has an average fiber volume fraction of 65%. A model has been developed for the consolidation phase to predict the void fraction of the resulting composite. This model takes into account the fabric unit cell dimensions and material properties and assumes that tow permeability remains constant. The model is compared to experimental values for void fraction for samples prepared using a range of consolidation pressures and dwell times.
Environmental Ascription: High-Volume Polluters, Schools, and Human Capital:

Studies of ascription often focus on the relationship between inherited characteristics such as gender, race, or social class and educational inequalities that limit life chances. This project prop...
A Pediatric Chronic Illness Transition Unit

A four-bed Chronic Illness Transition Unit (CITU) for the care and developmental support of children who require long-term hospitalization is described. The goal is to discharge patients to the home or the best alternative environment as expeditiously as possible. The layout, staffing, and equipment; the importance of regional coordination; and components that increase viability of such a program and unit are discussed. The costs of construction and the projected costs of service are reviewed. It is hoped that others can use this experience to establish pediatric transition units, thereby improving care, developmental stimulation, family support, and placement of children with severe chronic illnesses.
Negotiating for Public Benefits: The Bargaining Calculus of Public-Private Development:

US cities capture public benefits from private developers under several bargaining frameworks: exactions, incentive zoning and public-private developments. These frameworks exist along a continuum ...
A quantitative and qualitative reanalysis of the endocast from the juvenile Paranthropus specimen L338y-6 from Omo, Ethiopia

Based on an analysis of its endocast, Holloway (1981 Am J Phys Anthropol 53:109-118) attributed the juvenile Omo L338y-6 specimen to Australopithecus africanus (i.e., gracile australopithecines) rather than to Paranthropus (Australopithecus) boisei (robust australopithecines) favored by other workers (Rak and Howell (1978) Am J Phys Anthropol 48:345-366). Holloway's attribution was based on the specimen's (1) low cranial capacity, (2) gracile-like meningeal vessels, (3) gracile-like cerebellar hemispheres, and (4) absence of an enlarged occipital/marginal (O/M) sinus system. Recent work, however, has shown that criteria 1 and 2 are not useful for sorting gracile from robust australopithecines (Culotta (1999) Science 284:1109-1111; Falk (1993) Am J Phys Anthropol 92:81-98). In this paper, we test criterion 3 by quantifying the endocranial cerebellar and occipital morphology repro- duced on the Omo L338y-6 endocast, and comparing it to seven endocasts from South and East African early hominids. Our preliminary results show that metric analysis of this specimen cannot be used to sort it preferentially with either robust or gracile australopithecines. Finally, we demonstrate that, contrary to previous reports, the Omo L338y-6 endocast reproduces an enlarged left occipital sinus (criterion 4). This observation is consistent with the original attribution of the Omo specimen to robust australopithecines (Rak and Howell (1978) Am J Phys Anthropol 48:345-366). Furthermore, if Omo L338y-6 was a robust australopithecine, this discovery extends the occurrence of an enlarged O/M sinus system to one of the earliest known paranthropines. Am J Phys Anthropol 110:399-406, 1999. r 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Network analysis reveals complex interactions in heat shock response in the malaria parasite

Malaria is a serious infectious disease that affects 300-500 million people in the world. The proteins involved in heat shock response in the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum have long been considered as promising vaccine and drug targets. Our comprehensive network analysis reveals that about 103 heat shock proteins are associated with over 900 other proteins. They may play roles in a wide variety of cellular processes in parasite growth, development, and pathogenesis.
Pretreatment Serum Phenylalanine Levels As a Predictor of the Severity of the Mutation in the Phenylalanine Hydroxylase Gene and Phenylalanine Tolerance in Patients with Phenylketonuria

Abstract Phenylketonuria (PKU) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by the deficiency of hepatic phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH). This study was designed to determine the correlation between pretreatment serum Phe levels and dietary Phe tolerance in patients with PKU, >2 years of age. Pretreatment serum Phe levels during the neonatal period were obtained 2-3 hours postprandially and analyzed by ion exchange chromatography in thirty seven patients with classic PKU after a positive newborn screening Guthrie test. PAH mutations were classified as severe, intermediate, or mild on the basis of expression analysis of the mutant alleles in eukaryotic cells. Phe tolerance was calculated as the amount of dietary Phe intake in mg/kg body weight per day given as natural protein,while maintaining serum Phe levels within the range of 2-6mg/dL. Phe tolerance by patients within the three groups was 18mg/kg/day in the mild group. A strong correlation between pretreatment serum Phe levels and Phe tolerance was observed (p
Accuracy of salivary estriol testing compared to traditional risk factor assessment in predicting preterm birth

Objective: The objective was to compare the predictive accuracy (percentage of correct vs incorrect predictions) of salivary estriol levels (SalEst; Biex, Inc, Dublin, Calif) with that of the modified Creasy score for predicting preterm labor followed by preterm delivery. Study Design: A triple-blinded prospective trial was conducted at 8 US centers. Results: Among 601 evaluable patients, serial salivary estriol testing correctly predicted the appropriate outcome 91% of the time and the Creasy scoring method correctly predicted the appropriate outcome 75% of the time (McNemar test P < .001). Among subjects with Creasy scores ≥10 (high-risk group, n = 152), use of salivary estriol testing correctly predicted the end point 87% of the time, compared with only 7.2% correctly predicted by modified Creasy scoring (McNemar test P < .001). Conclusion: Salivary estriol assessment was more accurate in predicting outcome than was modified Creasy scoring. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 1999;180:S214-8)
Copper brazing response of some advanced high strength steel grades

Abstract Sheet steels are commonly used in automotive powertrain applications wherein formed and assembled components undergo a copper brazing operation as part of the manufacturing process. For high performance applications including transmission pump housings and turbines, specially processed microalloyed steels have been developed and specified in order to develop the desired mechanical properties after exposure to brazing temperatures of ∼1100 °C. New families of advanced high strength steel (AHSS) sheet are currently being developed and implemented. These are typified by increased alloy levels and exhibit unique property combinations that are particularly suited to auto body applications requiring the dual characteristics of high formability and high strength. Here it is considered that such grades may also be suited to powertrain components requiring high initial formability coupled with high final strength after copper brazing. That is, transformation strengthening during cooling after brazing is envisioned as a potential strengthening mechanism available with these new steels. In this work, initial screening results are reported to elucidate the response of some experimental AHSS to a simulated copper brazing operation during which the steels are taken into the austenitic temperature range and subsequently cooled at moderate rates to ambient conditions.
Effect of Varying Temperature Regime on Phyllochron in Four Warm-Season Pasture Grasses

Using accumulated temperature measures to predict plant development may provide guidance on timing of management practices to minimize competition between warm and cool-season components of mixed pastures. However, temperature and plant development relationships for warm-season pasture grasses common in the southern Great Plains of the USA have not been extensively studied. Under controlled environment conditions, base temperature (Tbase) values were determined for Big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman), Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans, (L.) Nash), Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx) Nash) and, Sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx) Torr). Measures of the accumulated temperature requirement for the phyllochron (leaf appearance interval) were made under a range of temperature regimes for these same species. Mean Tbase was 8.1&degC and differences among species were not significant (P > 0.05). Within temperature regimes mainstem leaf appearance was closely and linearly related to accumulated temperature above Tbase. Increase of 7.5&degC in night temperature increased phyllochron by a mean of 43%, but similar increase in day temperature only increased phyllochron by 16%. Phyllochron increased by 6.4&degC leaf-1 for each 1&degC increase in daily mean temperature within the range of 15.0&degC to 22.5&degC. If accumulated temperature measures are to monitor reliably the development of warm-season grasses, allowance must be made for changes in phyllochron as the growing season progresses.
A capacity planning process for performance assurance of component-based distributed systems

For service providers of multi-tiered component-based applications, such as web portals, assuring high performance and availability to their customers without impacting revenue requires effective and careful capacity planning that aims at minimizing the number of resources, and utilizing them efficiently while simultaneously supporting a large customer base and meeting their service level agreements. This paper presents a novel, hybrid capacity planning process that results from a systematic blending of 1) analytical modeling, where traditional modeling techniques are enhanced to overcome their limitations in providing accurate performance estimates; 2) profile-based techniques, which determine performance profiles of individual software components for use in resource allocation and balancing resource usage; and 3) allocation heuristics that determine minimum number of resources to allocate software components. Our results illustrate that using our technique, performance (i.e., bounded response time) can be assured while reducing operating costs by using 25% less resources and increasing revenues by handling 20% more clients compared to traditional approaches.
972 Phase I study of cyclophosphamide and docetaxel (taxotere®) in solid tumors

Twelve patients (pts) received cyclophosphamide (CTX) as a 1 hr infusion followed by Taxotere (TXT) as a 1 hr infusion every 21 days. Dose levels were 0: CTX/TXT 600/60 mg/m 2 (6 pts), 1: CTX/TXT 600/75 mg/m 2 (3 pts), 2: CTX/TXT 700/75 mg/m 2 (3 pts). Pts were premedicated with dexamethasone 8 mg B. I. D. at day 0–4 and oral ondansetron. Pts characteristics : tumor types: breast 4, sarcoma 4, colon 3, melanoma 1; med age, 58 yrs (31–72); med Zubrod PS, 1 (0–2); med no. sites 3 (1–5); med no. of prior CT was 1 (0–4). Response 2 PR (breast cancer), 2 SD (breast/sarcoma) Toxicity To date, 9 pts received 18 evaluable courses. Med nadir granulocytes (× 10 3 )/dl: 0.7 (med duration 7 days). Neutropenic fever was seen in 3 pts in 3 cycles. Other GRADE II tox (no. of pts, no. of cycles) : fatigue 4 (9), myalgias 1 (1), nausea 3 (3), diarrhea 2 (2), stomatitis 2 (2), skin (1) Conclusion The results of this ongoing trial showed that the combination of CTX/TXT is well tolerated and with no unexpected toxicities.
Spatially multiplexed optical MIMO imaging system in cloudy turbulent atmosphere

Active optical imaging is preferred over Radio Frequency (RF) counterparts due to its higher resolution, faster area search rate, and relatively easier interpretation by a human observer. However, in imaging through atmosphere one should consider dispersive effects of multiple scatterings and turbulence-induced wave perturbations, which give rise to intensity fluctuations, and wave-front distortions. All these phenomena broaden and distort the spatial impulse response known as the Point Spread Function (PSF). In this paper, a multiplexed Multi-Input Multi-Output (MIMO) imaging system design is introduced. At the transmitter, a computer generated holographic beam-splitter is used to generate arrays of beamlets, providing faster area search rate and a uniformly distributed illumination all over the target. Then at the receiver, an array of photo-detectors is used to collect the reflected rays. While a Monte-Carlo Ray Tracing (MCRT) algorithm, developed at Pennsylvania State University, Center for Information and Communications Research (CICTR), is used to model imaging in multiple scattering turbid media, phase-screens are employed to simulate turbulence-induced wave-front distortions. Hence, a comprehensive frame work is exploited that takes into account possible sources of degradation. Using this frame of work, system performance is analyzed under different meteorological conditions and restoration techniques such as Blind Deconvolution (BD) are used to retrieve the original image by deconvolving PSF and observed image.
Uncertain Family Trajectories: Interactional Consequences of Cancer Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis

Analysis of a corpus of family phone calls reveals how family members routinely address uncertain issues when attempting to understand cancer diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. A large collection of moments are overviewed and organized into three prominent social activities: biomedical reportings about anonymous medical staff; references to doctors in anticipation of explanations; and assessing the care provided by doctors and medical staff. Specific attention is drawn to how reportings include lay depictions about lack of knowledge, ambiguities associated with the passage of time, and emergent troubles with pain and medication. These instances make clear how family cancer journeys are interactionally organized events, comprised of distinct communication practices for raising and resolving illness dilemmas.
The Appearance of Unloading Effects in the Three Stages of Deformation of Single Crystals of Copper

Measurements of reloading characteristics of copper crystals revealed a region of low work-hardening in crystals deformed in stages I and III of the deformation curve. Two conclusions from this are that stage I and II differ in the wave length of the long-range stress and in stage II a significant long-range stress is present. Messungen der Charakteristiken bei erneuter Belastung von Kupfereinkristallen ergaben ein Gebiet schwacher Verfestigung bei Kristallen, die in den Bereichen I und II der Deformationskurven verformt wurden. Daraus wird geschlossen, das sich Bereich I und II in der Wellenlange der weitreichenden Spannung unterscheiden und das im Bereich II eine bedeutende weitreichende Spannung vorhanden ist.
Congenital ptosis: results of surgical management.

Purpose: To determine the visual and cosmetic outcome following the surgical correction of isolated congenital ptosis. Methods: A retrospective review of the outcome of isolated congenital ptosis corrected under the supervision of one surgeon at The Children's Hospital, Camperdown, between January 1983 and January 1993 was examined. Some 65 patients with 80 involved eyes were identified; 30 eyes underwent a levator resection procedure, 40 eyes underwent a brow suspension using donor stored fascia lata, and in 10 eyes a brow suspension was performed using mersilene mesh. Results: In 78 eyes of 63 patients, a good cosmetic result was achieved. In two patients (two eyes) a poor cosmetic result was achieved. These two patients refused further surgery following an undercorrection of their initial ptosis. The recurrence rates for the primary procedures were 16.7% for levator resection procedures, 35% for brow suspension procedures using donor fascia lata, and 30% for brow suspension surgery using mersilene mesh. Some 35.3% of eyes following mersilene slings required further surgery for granulomas and exposed mersilene mesh compared with 6% having similar complications with stored fascia lata. Nine patients (11.25%) had reduced visual acuity (one line or more on the Snellen chart or its equivalent with the other tests used) on the operated side. Only one patient was found to have significant astigmatism. Conclusions: An acceptable cosmetic result was achieved with one operation in 75.3% of cases. In 20.8% of cases a second operation was required and in 3.9% of cases three or more operations were required. This series supports the view that where possible, levator resection is the preferred form of surgery to correct congenital ptosis. When the levator function is inadequate, brow suspension is performed. The use of donor fascia lata resulted in a good cosmetic appearance with a low occurrence of surgical side effects. Amblyopia, when strictly defined, occurred in 11.25% of eyes despite early surgery for severe cases and intensive amblyopia therapy. Management requires repeated follow up for early detection and introduction of occlusion therapy or surgical ptosis correction.
Reversibility of abnormal auditory findings in cerebral hemisphere lesions

Abstract Three cases are presented to illustrate the reversibility of abnormal central auditory function in patients with cerebral hemisphere lesions. In 1 patient, abnormal scores with dichotic simultaneous-binaural and competing sentence discrimination tests in the ear contralateral to the affected hemisphere returned to normal after evacuation of an intracerebral hematoma of the right temporal lobe. In the other 2 cases, abnormal dichotic speech discrimination test scores in the left ear improved for a period of time after decompression and subtotal removal of astrocytomas deep in the parietal lobe of the right hemisphere. Eventually, central auditory test findings became abnormal again in these 2 cases which was consistent with the deteriorating condition of the patients. Findings in these 3 cases indicate that distorted and dichotic speech discrimination tests yield information which may be useful in monitoring the course of patients with reversible as well as progressive lesions of the brain.
Geometry Control and Optical Tunability of Metal–Cuprous Oxide Core–Shell Nanoparticles

Metal–semiconductor hybrid heteronanostructures may exhibit synergistically reinforced optical responses and significantly enhanced optical tunability that essentially arise from the unique nanoscale interactions between the metal and semiconductor components. Elaboration of multi-component hybrid nanoparticles allows us to achieve optimized or diversified material functionalities through precise control over the dimension and morphology of the constituent building units, on one hand, and through engineering their relative geometrical arrangement and interfacial structures, on the other hand. Here we study the geometry-dependent optical characteristics of metal–cuprous oxide (Cu2O) core–shell hybrid nanoparticles in great detail through combined experimental and theoretical efforts. We demonstrate that several important geometrical parameters, such as shell thickness, shell crystallinity, shell porosity, and core composition, of the hybrid nanoparticles can be tailored in a highly precise and controllable...
Determination of the leukaemogenicity of a murine retrovirus by sequences within the long terminal repeat

Determination of the leukaemogenicity of a murine retrovirus by sequences within the long terminal repeat
Voltage and Current Harmonics Caused by Corona

THE FOLLOWING investigation was made to study the effects of corona in producing voltage and current harmonics in transmission systems. In the early work on corona in 1910 a very complete oscillographic study was made of voltage and current. It was found that the current wave of corona loss very much resembled the excitation current wave of a transformer or iron-core reactor. A typical corona wave is shown in Fig. 1. 1 This wave has a very prominent third harmonic.
Barriers to pain management in the rehabilitation of the surgical oncology patient

Virtually every surgical oncology patient faces pain, and it can become a major barrier to rehabilitation and quality of life. Pain must be assessed as to its severity, etiology (somatic, visceral, or neuropathic), causation (directly from malignancy or from treatment side effects), and its impact on daily function. Treatments can include physical modalities, exercise, opioids, adjuvant medications, and interventional techniques. Barriers to treatment may include side effects, finances, and attitudes. New technologies in medication delivery systems, intrathecal pumps, injections, and surgery have greatly strengthened the armamentarium available to manage pain.