cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PLEKHA4 Promotes Wnt/beta-catenin Signaling-Mediated G1/S Transition and Proliferation in Melanoma

Despite recent promising advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapies, melanoma patients incur substantial mortality. In particular, inhibitors targeting BRAF-mutant melanoma can lead to resistance, and no targeted therapies exist for NRAS-mutant melanoma, motivating the search for additional therapeutic targets and vulnerable pathways. Here we identify a regulator of Wnt/s-catenin signaling, PLEKHA4, as a factor required for melanoma proliferation and survival. PLEKHA4 knockdown in vitro decreased Dishevelled levels, attenuated Wnt/s-catenin signaling, and blocked progression through the G1/S cell cycle transition. In mouse xenograft and allograft models, inducible PLEKHA4 knockdown attenuated tumor growth in BRAF- and NRAS-mutant melanomas and exhibited an additive effect with the clinically used inhibitor encorafenib in a BRAF-mutant model. As an E3 ubiquitin ligase regulator with both lipid and protein binding partners, PLEKHA4 presents several opportunities for targeting with small molecules. Our work identifies PLEKHA4 as a promising drug target for melanoma and clarifies a controversial role for Wnt/s-catenin signaling in the control of melanoma proliferation.
Euler and the Cubic Basel Problem

In 1734, Leonhard Euler summed the infinite series of reciprocals of the squares, thereby solving a challenge known as the “Basel problem.” He later extended his method to find closed-form sums for...
Novel Therapies in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: from Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase Stimulators to Cardiac Myosin Activators

In this review, our goal was to provide a brief background on the evolution of therapeutic targets for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), summarize the results of recent clinical trials with diverse pharmacological targets, discuss potential limitations of these findings, and provide future perspectives. Despite advances in pharmacological and device therapy, HFrEF still carries a considerably high morbidity and mortality. For the past four decades, the neurohormonal model has been pivotal in the development of efficacious pharmacotherapies for HFrEF. However, recent clinical trials with sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators, and cardiac myosin activators have yielded positive results and created a new spectrum of pharmacologic targets to further improve outcomes in HFrEF. Specifically for SGLT2i, the data point to a class disease-modifying effect with mortality benefit in HFrEF, in addition to a substantial reduction in healthcare resources utilization. We are currently witnessing a paradigm shift away from neurohormonal inhibition as the sole line of disease-modifying pharmacotherapies in HFrEF, as encouraging data emerge about alternative pathophysiologic pathways. Further research is needed to identify the optimal target subpopulations for these therapies and to improve outcomes in patients with HFrEF decompensation.
Robustness of linear systems to parameter variations

The dynamic behaviour of many physical systems can be described by linear time-invariant (LTI) models. Many algorithms are available for synthesizing stabilizing controllers. However in practice, the engineer deals with some uncertain parameters in the model (stability derivative for instance); often, a surprisingly small variation of these parameters results in an unstable closed-loop system, because the controller was designed only for the nominal plant. The stability robustness issue is addressed by defining a parameter margin for a plant with a given controller. It as the smallest l$\sb{q}$-norm of real parameter deviations that produce instability. The l$\sb2$ (Euclidian) norm corresponds to the largest stability hypersphere in parameter space. The l$\sb\infty$ norm corresponds to the largest stability box; it is equal to the inverse of the "structured singular value with repeated real scalar blocks" found in $\mu$ analysis. Our formulation is similar to $\mu$ analysis, with the new feature that all the input data are kept real. We introduce an efficient convex optimization algorithm to compute an accurate lower bound for the l$\sb\infty$ parameter margin. The two-parameter case is solved using a quadratically convergent algorithm, for both the l$\sb2$ and l$\sb\infty$ norms; the special case when the parameters enter linearly in the closed-loop characteristac polynomial is solved exactly for all l$\sb{q}$-norms, providing a generalization of the famous Kharitonov theorem. Several robustness analysis problems can be solved using this approach: discrete-time systems, relative stability, and aperiodicity. For robust control synthesis we assume that the designer can select a finite number of "most sensitive directions" in the parameter space. A heuristic procedure to select them is given. We take the robustness index $J\sb{R}$ as the inverse of the smallest of the one-parameter margins along these directions. We trade it off against a Linear Quadratic Gaussian finite-time performance index $J\sb{P}$ by minimizing, for a given trade-off weight $0\leq\rho<1$, the index $J=(1-\rho)J\sb{P}+\rho J\sb{R}$, using the non-linear optimization routine NPSOL. Numerical synthesis examples illustrate the method.
Secondary Forest Succession Following Abandonment of Mesa Verde

ABSTRACTRelative increases of juniper and pine pollen have previously been observed in post-Puebloan abandonment deposits at Mesa Verde, Colorado, and have been attributed to secondary forest succession. However, the magnitude of these increases could not be determined from pollen percentages.Pollen analysis of soil samples from Mummy Lake, a Pueblo II-III reservoir on Chapin Mesa, Mesa Verde National Park, yielded a pollen diagram extending from Puebloan habitation (A.D. 1000) to near the present. Arboreal pollen increases from 19 percent during habitation to a maximum of 36 percent following abandonment. Lycopodium “tracer” spores were used to estimate fossil pollen/ gram of sediment. During occupation, arboreal pollen averaged about 4000 grains/gram of sediment; post-habitation deposits varied from about 9000 to 14,000 grains/gram. The numbers of arboreal pollen (Pinus, Juniperus and Quercus) increased two to three times following abandonment. I interpret the greater arboreal pollen deposition to resul...
Epilepsy and Autism

Autism was first described in 1943 by Kanner (1943). This landmark paper detailed 11 children whose “condition differs so markedly and uniquely from anything reported so far, that each case merits… a detailed consideration of its fascinating peculiarities.” Kanner saw symptoms which included an inability to relate to others, unusual responses to the environment, stereotyped motor mannerisms, odd communication peculiarities, and a tendency to echo language. Kanner saw only one case of epilepsy in his cohort of 11 patients. The case reports by Kanner are notable for their thoroughness of clinical description.
Samuelson, Paul A.

Paul Samuelson's research contributions to quantitative finance have been foundational and wide-ranging. He was a pioneer in recognizing the importance of option and warrant pricing to finance. His 1965 pricing model introduced geometric Brownian as the prototypical underlying stock price process, developed the partial differential equations for pricing that later produced the Black–Scholes formula, formulated and analyzed the pricing of options that permit early exercise, and introduced the binomial model approximation for geometric Brownian motion. Samuelson was the first to derive the martingale property of properly anticipated speculative price changes in formulating what has come to be known as the efficient market hypothesis. Some of his other contributions include reconciling the axioms of expected utility theory with the Markowitz–Tobin mean–variance criterion of choice, exploring the foundations of diversification and optimal portfolio selection with fat-tailed, infinite-variance return distributions, and using dynamic portfolio-selection models to study the systematic dependence on age of optimal portfolio strategies, in particular, optimal long-horizon investment strategies. Keywords: efficient market hypothesis; options; derivatives; warrants; speculative price; long-horizon investing
Demonstration of Square Root Kalman Filter on Warp Parallel Computer

A parallel algorithm for solving an n-state, m-measurement square root Kalman filter on an (n+m+1)-cell linear array is described. The approach is to combine the time and measurement updates of the covariance matrix and use fast Givens rotations to triangularize an appropriate matrix. The rotations of the rows in this matrix are done in parallel to distribute the computations. The cell-to-cell communication is minimized by arranging the matrix in a near triangular form. We demonstrate the parallel algorithm on Warp for an extended-Kalman filter commonly used in target tracking applications. The Warp implementation is written in a high-level language and achieves two orders of magnitude speedup over the same filter running on a Sun workstation. Efficient algorithm mapping for parallel computations is the key to achieving the high speed filter performance. With the availability of iWarp chips in 1990, the results open new solutions to on-board target tracking and other Kalman filtering applications.
Purifying the Ranks: Ethnic and Minority Policy in the Romanian Armed Forces during the Second World War

During the Second World War, the Romanian Armed Forces joined in the conflict between Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia. The Romanian Army's contribution to the Axis war effort has been largely forgotten or sidelined since the war. Similarly, Romania's minorities and their military service or restriction from military service has been overlooked. Romania's expansion after the First World War greatly increased the number of minorities in the country and also those serving in the military. The way the Romanian Armed Forces dealt with minorities and their contribution to the Romanian war effort should not be forgotten as the true extent and depth of the war on the Eastern Front is being revealed. Romanian nationalist and ethnic policies affected the ranks as much as it shaped the rest of its wartime policy of ethnic ‘purification’.
Effect of H2S on performance of Pd4Pt alloy membranes

The effect of H2S on the performance of a hydrogen separation membrane with the composition Pd4Pt was evaluated at 350, 400 and 450°C. Exposure to hydrogen containing 1000 ppm H2S and 10%He resulted in two performance trends. At 350°C, a continuous decline in flux was observed which was attributed to the growth of sulphide corrosion on the membrane surface linked to surface contamination by stainless steel derived particles. At 400 and 450°C, the H2 flux decreased sharply followed by a slow recovery. This trend was attributed to Pt enrichment of the surface resulting from extraction of Pd through the formation of Pd4Pt. Also at 400 and 450°C, stainless steel based particle contamination was found to modify and/or enhance the corrosive effects of the H2S containing test gas. The implications of the metallic and/or metal sulphide surface contaminant effects are significant in that these contaminants could result in severe performance degradation and ultimately even mechanical failure.
Growth hormone/insulin-like growth factors and hematopoiesis

Abstract The growth hormone/insulin-like growth factor (GH/IGF) system plays an essential role in cell growth and tissue differentiation during development. However, the role of GH/IGF-I in the regulation of production of red blood cells, is not completely understood. Erythropoiesis is regulated mainly by erythropoietin. The combination of erythropoietin and GH/IGF-I results in growth of red blood cell colonies that are less than the sum of each factor alone. GH/IGF-I membrane receptors have been detected on rat and human erythrocytes. GH/IGF-I stimulate erythropoiesis under various in vitro and in vivo conditions. There seems to be a relationship between hemoglobin/hematocrit and GH/IGF-I as established by in vitro and in animal experiments. We begin with a brief introduction to the function and regulation of GH/IGF-I and of hematopoiesis. Thereafter, we discuss the result of research done on this topic starting from in vitro results, followed by the presentation of classical studies in animals and finally we discuss the result of studies done on children and adults. We focus mainly on hemoglobin/hematocrit and how it is affected in children and adults with or without growth hormone deficiency. A summary of our current understanding of the relationship between GH/IGF-I and hematopoiesis is provided.
Optimal Cooling and Warming Rates in the Preservation of Herpes Simplex Virus (Type 2)

Fast rates of cooling and warming were optimal for survival of herpes simplex virus, type 2. Under these conditions cryoprotectants were not necessary for virus preservation.
Measurement of sarcolemmal vesicle orientation by beta-adrenergic receptor binding.

Abstract To assess the orientation (inside-out vs. outside-out) of purified cardiac sarcolemmal vesicles, we developed a new method utilizing the known outward-facing binding site of the β-adrenergic receptor. We compared the binding of the lipid-insoluble ligand 3H-CGP-12177, which binds to β-adrenergic receptors on outside-out sarcolemmal vesicles only, to the binding of the lipid soluble ligand 125I-iodocyanopindolol, which binds to β-adrenergic receptors in sarcolemmal vesicles of either orientation. The ratio of CGP to ICYP binding is equal to the fraction of outside-out sarcolemmal vesicles. Sidedness measurements by β-adrenergic receptor-binding showed similar mean values but less scatter than sidedness assessments by measurement of 3H-ouabain-binding or Na+, K+-ATPase activity in the presence or absence of membrane permeabilizing agents.
An ‘economics proof’ of the supporting hyperplane theorem

Abstract Based centrally on the economic concept of a cost function, an ‘economics proof’ (by induction) is given of the supporting hyperplane theorem.
''I'm Just Trying to Find my Way Like Most Kids'': Bisexuality, Adolescence and the Drama of One Tree Hill

This essay offers a narrative reading of the representation of bisexuality on One Tree Hill by examining the character Anna Tagaro. Grounding this reading in observations about bisexuality, media representation and adolescent identity formation processes, the essay exposes Anna’s representation as both a viable coming out story for an adolescent audience and a systematic erasure of bisexuality as a valid social identity. The displacement of political activism with friend and ally Peyton creates a representation that functions both as liberating and constraining simultaneously. Moreover, Anna’s inclusion as the only Latina character in an all white, all heterosexual cast offers an intersectional representation of race and sexual identity. This conflict between progress and constraint in the representation of youth identity choices offers scholars ample data for future studies in teen television and sexuality.
A Mixture Rasch Model With a Covariate: A Simulation Study via Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo Estimation

Mixtures of item response theory (IRT) models have been proposed as a technique to explore response patterns in test data related to cognitive strategies, instructional sensitivity, and differentia...
Motivational effects of smoked marijuana: behavioral contingencies and high-probability recreational activities.

Abstract Fifteen adult male research volunteers, in five groups of three subjects each, lived in a residential laboratory for up to 20 days. All contact with the experimenters was through a networked computer system, and subjects' behaviors were monitored continuously and recorded. During the first part of each day, subjects remained in their private rooms doing planned work activities, and during the remainder of each day, they were allowed to socialize. One or two cigarettes containing active marijuana (1.3–2.7% Δ 9 -THC) or placebo were smoked during both the private work period and the period of access to social activities. Two- or three-day contingency conditions requiring subjects to engage in a low-probability recreational activity in order to earn time that could be spent engaging in a high-probability recreational activity were programmed during periods of placebo and active marijuana smoking. During placebo administration, the contingency requirement reliably increased the amount of time that subjects spent engaged in the low-probability instrumental activity and decreased the time spent engaged in the high-probability contingent activity. During active marijuana administration, however, the increase in instrumental activity were consistently smaller than observed under placebo conditions. The decreases in high-probability contingent activity were similar across drug conditions. Smoking active marijuana was thus observed to produce instrumental decrements under motivational conditions involving recreational contingencies.
Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) investigations of Mn-oxide rich cathodic material from spent disposable alkaline batteries

Abstract Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques were used to investigate the spent cathodic material of a single common brand of disposable alkaline batteries. Mn-oxide particles are anhedral and irregular in shape and compose an estimated 99–95% of the 2 (0.00–1.52 wt%), TiO 2 (0.49–4.58 wt%), MnO (65.85–92.06 wt%), ZnO (1.00–7.53 wt%), K 2 O (4.97–20.48 wt%) and SO 3 (0.43–2.21 wt%). Discrete prismatic zinc crystals occur and vary from a maximum of approximately 0.8 μm long × 0.15 μm wide, to 100 nm long × 20 nm wide. Titanium metal was also observed in samples and composes approximately 0.25–1.0% of the
Fundamentals of Electromagnetics 1: Internal Behavior of Lumped Elements

This book is the first of two volumes which have been created to provide an understanding of the basic principles and applications of electromagnetic fields for electrical engineering students. Fundamentals of Electromagnetics Vol 1: Internal Behavior of Lumped Elements focuses upon the DC and low-frequency behavior of electromagnetic fields within lumped elements. The properties of electromagnetic fields provide the basis for predicting the terminal characteristics of resistors, capacitors, and inductors. The properties of magnetic circuits are included as well. For slightly higher frequencies for which the lumped elements are a significant fraction of a wavelength in size the second volume of this set, Fundamentals of Electromagnetics Vol 2: Quasistatics and Waves, examines how the low-frequency models of lumped elements are modified to include parasitic elements. Upon completion of understanding the two volumes of this book, students will have gained the necessary knowledge to prog ess to advanced studies of electromagnetics.
A comparative, vapor‐phase (G.L.C.‐M.S.) study of various derivatives of prostaglandins A and B

The isomeric prostaglandins, A and B, can be readily distinguished by differences in the mass spectra of their derivatives. The mass spectra of the PGA1- or PGA2-methyl ester (ME)-trimethyl silyl (TMS) ether derivatives have a prominent ion at [M − 71]+ or [M − C5H11]+ while those of the PGB1- or PGB2-ME-TMS derivatives have a predominant ion at [M − 99]+ or [M − C6H11O]+ in addition to that at [M − 71]+. Ions of similar origin characterize the spectra of the PGA1- or PGA2-TMS ether-TMS ester and PGB1- or PGB1-TMS-TMS derivatives, respectively. The fragmentation of other derivatives of PGA1, PGA2, PGB1 and PGB2 such as the ME-t-Bu-DMS (t-butyl-dimethylsilyl ether); ME-MO (methoxime)-TMS; ME-MO-Ac (acetate), and ME-Ac are also described comparatively. The composition of important ions was confirmed by deuterium labeling and/or high resolution mass spectroscopy, where appropriate. The potential advantages and limitations of the derivatives for quantitative analysis of prostaglandins by the specialized technique of multiple ion detection (MID) are described.
Toward Millisecond Scanning Beam Radiography

The rapid scanning beam Rotating Aperture Wheel (RAW) device is capable of achieving about 1,000 beam passes per second over each point in the field of view, allowing millisecond exposure times. Screen-film images of a chest phantom were obtained with exposure times of tens of milliseconds at scan speeds of a few hundred beam passes per second. These are the shortest exposure times ever achieved by a nongrid, purely scanning beam anti-scatter device. Because the scanning beam speed and exposure times were not synchronized for this study, well understood overlap artifacts appeared on the original radiograph. However, this artifactual density variation was subtracted, and the noise variation caused by the different quantum fluence in the alternating regions was imperceptible. A number of artifact correction methods are discussed. Finally, the application of various RAW device configurations to the millisecond exposure times used for cardiac cineradiography are outlined.
Revisiting the predictive validity of emotional intelligence: self-report versus ability-based measures

Abstract In response to general press assertions that training emotionally intelligent children will lead to great rewards, this study examined the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and academic achievement in college students, using both self-report and ability-based measures of EI. Specifically, the Mayer, Salovey, Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT, an ability-based measure) and the Bar-On Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i, a self-report measure) were used to predict academic achievement. Achievement was operationalized as the respondents’ cumulative GPA. Results indicated that EI is not a strong predictor of academic achievement regardless of the type of instrument used to measure it. However, a construct validity examination revealed that the MSCEIT correlated highly with indices of cognitive ability but minimally with personality dimensions. In contrast, the EQ-i failed to correlate with indices of cognitive ability but correlated substantially with numerous personality dimensions.
Family-Based Intervention in Residential Long-Term Care

Abstract Family care for older adults is often conceptualized as a 'career,' and one of the key transitions that may occur during the course of caregiving is the placement of an older relative in a residential long-term care facility (most commonly a nursing home). This literature review critiques and synthesizes existing intervention strategies designed to promote family involvement following institutionalization. In particular, two types of family-based interventions are identified that have received scientific evaluations in the literature: group-based and family-staff partnership approaches. Specific studies on each of these types (N= 11) are summarized and critiqued. Key research and practice recommendations are also offered to guide the future evaluation of programs to assist families adapt to the long-term care experience.
Wave interactions with 2D structures on/inside porous seabed by a two-domain boundary element method

Abstract The interaction of water waves with porous seabed or partially/fully buried porous/rigid structures is studied based on the potential theory and Darcy's law. A two-domain boundary element method (BEM) based on a desingularized integral equation is developed to fully account for the interactions at the soil–water interface and other structural boundaries. The numerical solutions are obtained by using two different methods, iteration method and global-matrix method. Both are shown to be accurate compared to the analytic solution in the case of flat porous seabed of finite thickness. The developed computer program was utilized to study various ocean-engineering applications, such as wave propagation over flat porous seabed, wave scattering by a series of rigid/porous submerged mounds, and wave induced seepage force on a fully/partially buried pipeline. In the case of fully buried pipeline, the exact numerical solution was compared with the so-called no interaction (NI) approximation, which was previously used by many authors. The limitation of the NI approximation is discussed. A long-wave (LW) approximation analogous to the inertia–force expression in Morison's formula is newly developed and proven to be practically very useful in predicting wave induced seepage forces on arbitrarily shaped, fully submerged slender structures. Based on the NI–LW approximation, analytic expressions for the second-order difference-frequency seepage force by bichromatic incident waves are developed.
Religion, the African Concept of the Individual, and Human Rights Discourse: An Analysis

Notions of right, wrong, and moral are difficult to comprehend since these notions differ throughout the world, given the different cultures in which they are found. This difficulty is further complicated by inevitable social changes that characterize modern societies; changes that have sometimes challenged these notions as a consequence of secularization and pluralism, with some stemming from religious influences. Given this fact, one who chooses to live by cultural prescription may often find oneself in conflict with notions of social justice in another cultural setting. The need to understand cultural norms of a given society, community, or ethnic group is therefore necessary in order to interrogate notions of right, wrong, and moral in a given context. In this article I examine the tension between the African concept of the individual and the notion of the human rights to highlight possibilities in reconciling human rights values to the African social cultural context in effort to promote the common g...
An analysis of the reassembly of denatured creatine kinase from monkey brain.

Abstract Creatine kinase isolated from monkey brain was characterized with respect to denaturation/inactivation and renaturation/reactivation/reassociation in order to determine the mechanism of reassembly. Enzyme unfolded in 8 m urea exhibits several characteristics of denatured protein: complete loss of enzymatic activity, decrease in intrinsic fluorescence with a red shift in the emission maximum and loss of circular dichroism at 220 nm. The renatured protein reassembles to its apparently native condition as judged by these criteria, but small differences of uncertain origin persist. Dependence of activity and fluorescence on denaturant concentration indicate that inactivation is more sensitive to urea than is unfolding; spectral changes at the intermediate urea concentrations suggest formation of aggregated protein. Upon dilution, enzyme previously exposed to 8 m urea for 40 min regains 70–80% native activity, independent of protein concentration over the range of 0.56–160 nM. Reactivation kinetics, measured using the assay mixture with and without trypsin, are independent of protein concentration, and are adequately described by a single rate constant, 3.2 × 10 −3 s −1 and 4.2 × 10 −3 s −1 , respectively. Reactivation is completed 20–30 min after initiation of renaturation. Fluorescence changes during refolding are at least biphasic, exhibiting a rapid increase, then a slow decrease completed at approximately 15–20 min after initiating refolding. Reassociation is measured by competitive hybridization between dimerizing B subunits and M subunits to form MB heterodimer. The time dependent decay in heterodimer formation during competitive dimerization shows that reassociation is completed between 60 and 90 min after initiation of reassembly. These results indicate that the brain isozyme of creatine kinase, like the muscle form, is composed of subunits which do not require association for expression of catalytic activity. Furthermore, a comparison of spectral data and susceptibility to trypsin inactivation between the muscle and brain isozymes supports previous suggestions that in the native state, the brain isozyme is a conformationally looser, more open protein.
The Evolution of a Technical College Regional Library Network

ABSTRACT The South Carolina Information and Library Services Consortium (SCILS) began with three public two-year college libraries in 1995. Since then, nine other public two-year college libraries have joined SCILS. In 2004, Sirsi's buyout of Data Research Associates (DRA) in 2001 was the impetus for SCILS to migrate to Sirsi. Migration to a more dynamic ILS resulted in many comprehensive technical services policy and procedural changes within SCILS. This paper traces the founding of SCILS through its subsequent growth within the context of ILS migration.
Probing the effect of electron donation on CO2 absorbing 1,2,3-triazolide ionic liquids

Development of the next generation materials for effective separation of gases is required to address various issues in energy and environmental applications. Ionic liquids (ILs) are among the most promising material types. To overcome the many hurdles in making a new class of materials technologically applicable, it is necessary to identify, access, and scale up a range of representative substances. In this work, CO2 reactive triazolide ILs were synthesized and characterized with the aim of developing a deeper understanding of how structural changes affect the overall properties of these substances. It was found that substituents on the anion play a crucial role in dictating the physical properties for CO2 capture. Depending upon the anion substituent, CO2 capacities between 0.07 and 0.4 mol CO2 per mol IL were observed. It was found that less sterically-hindered anions and anions containing electron donating groups were more reactive towards CO2. Detailed spectroscopic, CO2 absorption, rheological, and simulation studies were carried out to understand the nature and influence of these substituents. The effect of water content was also evaluated, and it was found that water had an unexpected impact on the properties of these materials, resulting in an increased viscosity, but little change in the CO2 reactivity.
The Future of Hurricane Prediction

Future hurricane prediction systems will use high-resolution inner-core observations to perform cloud-resolving analysis and forecasting in massively parallelized high-performance computing facilities.
Simulation of the water management system of a peach canning plant

Abstract A simulation model of the water management system of a peach canning plant was created in order to improve the efficiency of its water use. EXTEND™ software package on an Apple-Macintosh™ computer was used to simulate the water use in the canning plant. In this model, the water system design can be easily modified including water recycling among operations. Simulation of an alternative to the currently used system showed saving of more than 50% in the water use. Water quality attributes were simulated to compare their variations in both designs.
Design of a FASTBUS Programmable Sequencer Module and Memory Module

A programmable sequencer and a memory module have been designed and built to demonstrate high speed operation of the FASTBUS, and to study design implications of the FASTBUS specification. Both are implemented in ECL, and illustrate master and slave operation, arbitration circuit design, and logical and geographical addressing considerations.
A critical evaluation of the effect of electric fields on the residual structure of vapor‐deposited metal films

Thin films of Al, Pb, Bi, and Sn representing a range of bulk crystal structures and low‐melting‐point metals were vacuum‐vapor deposited onto air‐cleaved (001) NaCl substrates in the presence of dc electric fields applied in the plane of the deposit (using detached electrodes) ranging between 102 and 103 V/cm even considering displacement current effects during evaporation. Such experiments, conducted at room temperature (25 °C) within short vaporization periods in order to avoid thermal‐induced enhancement of bulk and surface conductivities in the NaCl substrate, and time‐dependent gradient losses, showed no significant or detectable effects on residual microstructures or crystal structure upon examination and comparison of representative film samples that have an approximate thickness of 1200 A by transmission electron microscopy.
Signaling network of the Btk family kinases.

The Btk family kinases represent new members of non-receptor tyrosine kinases, which include Btk/Atk, Itk/Emt/Tsk, Bmx/Etk, and Tec. They are characterized by having four structural modules: PH (pleckstrin homology) domain, SH3 (Src homology 3) domain, SH2 (Src homology 2) domain and kinase (Src homology 1) domain. Increasing evidence suggests that, like Src-family kinases, Btk family kinases play central but diverse modulatory roles in various cellular processes. They participate in signal transduction in response to virtually all types of extracellular stimuli which are transmitted by growth factor receptors, cytokine receptors, G-protein coupled receptors, antigen-receptors and integrins. They are regulated by many non-receptor tyrosine kinases such as Src, Jak, Syk and FAK family kinases. In turn, they regulate many of major signaling pathways including those of PI3K, PLCγ and PKC. Both genetic and biochemical approaches have been used to dissect the signaling pathways and elucidate their roles in growth, differentiation and apoptosis. An emerging new role of this family of kinases is cytoskeletal reorganization and cell motility. The physiological importance of these kinases was amply demonstrated by their link to the development of immunodeficiency diseases, due to germ-line mutations. The present article attempts to review the structure and functions of Btk family kinases by summarizing our current knowledge on the interacting partners associated with the different modules of the kinases and the diverse signaling pathways in which they are involved.
Reissert compounds and their open-chain analogs in organic synthesis

Reactions of major synthetic interest employing Reissert compounds (1, 2-dihydro-1-acyl-2-cyanoquinolines and 1, 2-dihydro-2-aqyl-1-cyanoisoquinolines) and related heterocyclic species are surveyed. The chemistry of open-chain analogs of Reissert compounds (i.e., derivatives of N-acyl-α-aminoacetonitriles) is described and compared with conventional Reissert compounds.
Muscle loading is necessary for the formation of a functional tendon enthesis

Muscle forces are essential for skeletal patterning during development. Eliminating muscle forces, e.g., through paralysis, leads to bone and joint deformities. Botulinum toxin (BtxA)-induced paralysis of mouse rotator cuffs throughout postnatal development closely mimics neonatal brachial plexus palsy, a significant clinical condition in infants. In these mice, the tendon-to-bone attachment (i.e., the tendon enthesis) presents defects in mineral accumulation and fibrocartilage formation, presumably impairing the function of the tissue. The objective of the current study was to investigate the functional consequences of muscle unloading using BtxA on the developing supraspinatus tendon enthesis. We found that the maximum endurable load and stiffness of the supraspinatus tendon attachment decreased after four and eight weeks of post-natal BtxA-muscle unloading relative to controls. Tendon cross-sectional area was not significantly reduced by BtxA-unloading, while, strength, modulus, and toughness were decreased in the BtxA-unloaded group compared to controls, indicating a decrease in tissue quality. Polarized-light microscopy and Raman microprobe analysis were used to determine collagen fiber alignment and mineral characteristics, respectively, in the tendon enthesis that might contribute to the reduced biomechanical performance in BtxA-unloaded shoulders. Collagen fiber alignment was significantly reduced in BtxA-unloaded shoulders. The mineral-to-matrix ratio in mineralized fibrocartilage was not affected by loading. However, the crystallographic atomic order of the hydroxylapatite phase (a measure of crystallinity) was reduced and the amount of carbonate (substituting for phosphate) in the hydroxylapatite crystals was increased. Taken together, these micrometer-scale structural and compositional changes partly explain the observed decreases in the mechanical functionality of the tendon enthesis in the absence of muscle loading.
Acetylcholine in the brain. II. Chemical measurement of choline esters.

Abstract The choline ester content of dog brain has been measured colorimetrically after precipitation by phosphotungstic acid in the presence of added choline. The method gives values which are slightly high by comparison with the frog muscle assay. The two methods give parallel results, the highest values appearing after injection of an anticholinesterase and the lowest in tissue frozen and thawed to induce enzymatic destruction of much Ach. It is concluded that the colorimetric method measures the pharmacologically active substance, together with traces of interfering chromogenic material. The results indicate that the Ach-like activity of brain extracts is due entirely to the presence of one or more choline esters. Pharmacologic evidence is cited indicating that Ach is the predominant choline ester and possibly the only one present.
Socializing Medical Students in an Era of Managed Care: The Ideological Significance of Standardized and Virtual Patients

Health care practitioners come to understand their professional roles through socialization processes. This project investigates value sets that are constructed through interactions between medical students and two important socializing agents: standardized patients and virtual patients. Through in‐depth interviews with medical students and key administrators at two schools as well as an analysis of rhetorical artifacts about the formal curricula at both schools, we explored the ideological aspects of medical instruction as constituted and reinforced, perhaps subtly, covertly, and even inadvertently, through the pedagogical practices of using standardized and virtual patients. Our results highlight how these medical students perceive standardized and virtual patient interactions as an opportunity to manage uncertainty, and confront a primary tension they will face in enacting their professional rotes—being cost effective and efficient while also treating “patients as people.”
Wear of two titanium alloys under repetitive compound impact

Abstract This paper presents results obtained in testing two titanium alloys in compound impact wear. Relative transverse sliding velocity is found to be a significant parameter and distinctive near-surface microstructural features are noted for the two materials. For one alloy preliminary transmission electron microscope (TEM) foil studies indicate the surface layer to be crystalline. TEM replica studies suggest a continuum of deformation in the substrate for both materials.
Multiple Roles and Physical Health among Older Adults: Gender and Ethnic Comparisons

In this article, the role accumulation hypothesis is tested among older Black and White women and men from a national sample. Eight health variables are regressed on multiple roles (employee, spouse, parent, volunteer, homemaker, grandparent, care-giver, and student), gender, ethnicity, age, and education. Regressions are also tested separately by gender and ethnicity for those health variables on which group differences are significant. Multiple roles are significantly linearly associated with better health on all but one of the outcomes for the total sample. Significant interactions show that this association is stronger for men than for women and for Blacks than for Whites; the link between multiple roles and health is weakest for White women. Findings support the role accumulation hypothesis and illustrate the importance of expanding definitions of multiple roles in relation to health among older adults.
Balancing teacher quality and quantity

The world is facing a shortage of trained teachers. According to the 2010 Global Monitoring Report approximately 10.3 million teachers will be needed globally to staff classrooms from Bangkok to Canada. The situation is worse in Sub-Saharan Africa. Estimates suggest that approximately 1.2 million new teachers will be needed in Sub-Saharan Africa alone to achieve universal primary education goals by 2015. Increases in primary school enrollments, drought, and HIV-AIDS have exacerbated the need for well trained teachers. Despite the need, the focus is on balancing quality with quantity. An effective teacher is deemed a critical element, although not the only one, in a student's success in the classroom. This paper focuses on the dilemma of meeting universal primary education goals in Sub-Saharan Africa, while maintaining teacher quality in fragile contexts.
905 ASSOCIATION OF A PLATELET AGGREGATION DEFECT WITH HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA

Hepatocellular carcinoma has been associated with various coagulation abnormalities, including dysfibrinogenemia and production of a biochemically-abnormal prothrombin. A 10 year old girl presented with recent onset of severe epistaxis and was found to have hepatocellular carcinoma. The bleeding time (Ivy method) was prolonged (20 min.) and factor VIII-related antigen was electrophoretically abnormal, while factor VIII-procoagulant activity protein was normal. Platelet aggregation studies demonstrated abnormal and delayed agglutination in the presence of ristocetin (0.8-1.0 mg/ml), with essentially normal agglutination with collagen, ADP, and epinephrine. A major hepatic resection (trisegmentectomy) was performed, and the tumor was completely removed. Substantial bleeding was encountered at operation despite pre-treatment with cryoprecipitate and platelet infusions, but following surgery there were no further bleeding symptoms and the bleeding time and platelet aggregation tests returned to normal. The tumor was established in long-terra culture to seek evidence for a postulated tumor-derived anticoagulant in this patient, possibly acting by interference with von Willebrand's factor. The case demonstrates that the occurrence of severe bleeding in a previously healthy child may be a manifestation of underlying hepatic malignancy.
Teaching CS1 with graphics and C

The goal of the τέχνη project is to teach computer science concepts more effectively by infusing large-scale problems in computer graphics into the undergraduate curriculum. Ultimately, this approach would be adopted for all computer science courses in the B.A. curriculum; currently, we are working on the foundational sequence, which includes CS1. For this first course in programming, we present our approach to teaching course concepts using real-world image processing problems in C. The results from our first semester offering are promising, as students produced excellent work and evaluated the class highly.
The conversion of progesterone to 16α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3,20-dione by the normal human testis in vitro

Abstract During the course of our investigations of androgen biosynthesis by the human testis, we have repeatedly isolated several unidentified metabolites of progesterone. Positive identification of these substances had not been possible because of the minute amounts isolated. Larger amounts of these metabolites have been obtained by pooling several identical experiments. 16α-Hydroxyprogesterone has been isolated from corpus luteum and placental blood (1), and other sources previously tabulated (2). The conversion of 4-C 14 -progesterone to the 16α-hydroxy metabolite has been demonstrated in human ovary (2) and hyperplastic human adrenal (3). Similar results were obtained with swine adrenal (4,5,6). Recently, Little et al (7) demonstrated this conversion in the soluble supernatant of fractionated human placental tissue. Most recently, Griffiths et al (8) reported that cryptorchid testes also contain 16α-hydrolase activity. Our communication deals with the isolation, and identification, of 16α-hydroxyprogesterone from incubations of normal human testis with progesterone as substrate.
The Impact of Time Proximity and Level of Generality on Attitude-Behavior Consistency1

This study examines the effects of (1) generality equivalence between attitudinal and behavioral entities and (2) the order and proximity of the attitude and behavior questions on the observed relationship between attitudes and behavior. The behaviors examined are sentence recommendations for six hypothetical defendants. The sample is composed of 185 line probation officers from New York State. The variables chosen conform to Martin Fishbein's model of behavioral intentions. As predicted, the observed relationship is affected by both level of specificity and proximity of the questions. Order of the questions has little effect.
K+ channel inactivation mediated by the concerted action of the cytoplasmic N- and C-terminal domains

We have examined the molecular mechanism of rapid inactivation gating in a mouse Shal K+ channel (mKv4.1). The results showed that inactivation of these channels follows a complex time course that is well approximated by the sum of three exponential terms. Truncation of an amphipathic region at the N-terminus (residues 2–71) abolished the rapid phase of inactivation (r = 16 ms) and altered voltage-dependent gating. Surprisingly, these effects could be mimicked by deletions affecting the hydrophilic C-terminus. The sum of two exponential terms was sufficient to describe the inactivation of deletion mutants. In fact, the time constants corresponded closely to those of the intermediate and slow phases of inactivation observed with wild-type channels. Further analysis revealed that several basic amino acids at the N-terminus do not influence inactivation, but a positively charged domain at the C-terminus (amino acids 420–550) is necessary to support rapid inactivation. Thus, the amphipathic N-terminus and the hydrophilic C-terminus of mKv4.1 are essential determinants of inactivation gating and may interact with each other to maintain the N-terminal inactivation gate near the inner mouth of the channel. Furthermore, this inactivation gate may not behave like a simple open-channel blocker because channel blockade by internal tetraethylammonium was not associated with slower current decay and an elevated external K+ concentration retarded recovery from inactivation.
Analytical block triangulation with sequential independent models

Abstract This paper describes an integrated set of five computer programs designed for the aerotriangulation of a block of photographs. The first program corrects the observed image coordinates for several systematic errors. The second program performs the strip triangulation using sequential independent models. The third and fourth programs carry out the strip transformation and strip adjustment respectively. The fifth, and last, program executes a block adjustment. All programs are coded in FORTRAN IV and are operational on the I.B.M. 7090/7094 and other comparable computer systems using FORTRAN IV.
Fractionation of lipids by successive adsorption and argentation chromatography on adjacent layers

Abstract Two-dimensional chromatography on an adsorbent layer, part of which is impregnated with AgNO 3 provides a rapid and discriminating means of scanning complex mixtures of lipophilic substances. The usefulness of the method is illustrated by the fractionation of a mixture of chemically very similar synthetic compounds. The easy recognition of differences in the lipid patterns of the sera from various species and of the effects of diet on the composition of tissue lipids in one species is demonstrated. Changes in both the patterns of lipid classes and the constituent compounds in each class can be examined.