cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
More Accurate Student Modeling through Contextual Estimation of Slip and Guess Probabilities in Bayesian Knowledge Tracing

Modeling students' knowledge is a fundamental part of intelligent tutoring systems. One of the most popular methods for estimating students' knowledge is Corbett and Anderson's [6] Bayesian Knowledge Tracing model. The model uses four parameters per skill, fit using student performance data, to relate performance to learning. Beck [1] showed that existing methods for determining these parameters are prone to the Identifiability Problem:the same performance data can be fit equally well by different parameters, with different implications on system behavior. Beck offered a solution based on Dirichlet Priors [1], but, we show this solution is vulnerable to a different problem, Model Degeneracy, where parameter values violate the model's conceptual meaning (such as a student being more likely to get a correct answer if he/she does not know a skill than if he/she does).We offer a new method for instantiating Bayesian Knowledge Tracing, using machine learning to make contextual estimations of the probability that a student has guessed or slipped. This method is no more prone to problems with Identifiability than Beck's solution, has less Model Degeneracy than competing approaches, and fits student performance data better than prior methods. Thus, it allows for more accurate and reliable student modeling in ITSs that use knowledge tracing.
Agency Costs, Contracting, and Related Party Transactions

We examine related party (RP) transactions using agency and contracting theory as guides. Agency theory suggests opportunistic behavior can generate RP transactions; however, RP transactions can also result from or be managed via contracting. We therefore investigate associations between RP transactions and compensation-based incentives, monitoring mechanisms, and links to executive compensation for a sample of 1,261 firms. We find RP transactions are associated with weaker corporate governance, CEO stock options, and inversely associated with CEO and director's cash compensation. In a direct analysis of CEO compensation, we find a positive association between unexpected CEO compensation and RP transactions with companies the firm partially owns (i.e. investments) suggesting that CEO's are compensated for running more complex organizations. Finally, we examine returns in the period following RP disclosure. The results suggest lower future returns for simple RP transactions involving directors, officers and major shareholders. However, future returns are marginally higher for companies engaged in RP transaction with investments. Our compensation and returns analyses suggest related party transactions with investments appear to be associated with efficient contracting, while simple transactions with directors, officers and shareholders are associated with opportunism.
The rad9 Gene of Coprinus cinereus Encodes a Proline-Rich Protein Required for Meiotic Chromosome Condensation and Synapsis

The rad9 gene of Coprinus cinereus is essential for the normal completion of meiosis. We examined surface-spread preparations of wild-type and rad9-1 nuclei from the meiotic stages of karyogamy through metaphase I, and we determined the primary sequence, structure, and meiotic expression of the rad9 gene. In wild-type C. cinereus , karyogamy is followed by condensation and alignment of homologous chromosomes. Condensation and axial core development largely precede synapsis, which often initiates at telomeres. A diffuse diplotene phase coincides with dissolution of the synaptonemal complex, and subsequently chromosomes further condense as the cells progress into metaphase I. In contrast, although karyogamy and nucleolar fusion are apparently normal in rad91 basidia, only short stretches of synaptonemal complex form. These correlate with stretches of condensed chromatin, mostly at apparent chromosome ends, and regions of presumptive triple synapsis are numerous. rad9-1 basidia enter the diffuse stage of early diplotene, and then 50% of these cells enter metaphase I by the criteria of nucleolar elimination and at least some chromatin condensation. rad9 gene expression is induced after gamma irradiation and during meiosis. The gene has 27 exons and encodes a predicted protein of 2157 amino acids, with a proline-rich amino terminus.
Some biochemical properties of a cryomacroglobulin.

Abstract Cryoglobulin McE precipitated below 30° in the pH range of 5 to 10.5. Immunoelectrophoresis and ultracentrifugation showed it to be an IgMK which aggregated to 24 S and 35 S at pH 7.0. Cryoprecipitation was abolished by disulfide reduction and 6 M urea, both reversible by removal of the agents. Sodium dodecyl sulfate abolished cryoprecipitation irreversibly but not the tendency to aggregate. The carbohydrate content of IgMK (McE) was normal. Amino acid analysis showed low tyrosine (28 moles) and methionine (6 moles) per IgMK (McE) subunit. l -chains were found to have normal anino acid composition, but H-chains had only 6 moles of tyrosine and 3 moles of methionine and tended to form aggregates of 13 S. Nitration with TNM showed that IgMK (McE) had 13 moles of tyrosine per subunit in exposed position, compared to 9 moles in the nitration of normal IgMs, although its total tyrosine content was only 28 moles per subunit, compared to 39 of normal IgMs. These findings are compatible with a deletion in the hypervariable region of the H-chain between residues of 100 and 113.
The Members of the Plakin Family of Proteins Recognized by Paraneoplastic Pemphigus Antibodies Include Periplakin

Sera of patients with paraneoplastic pemphigus (PNP) characteristically immunoprecipitate five proteins, observations confirmed with the sera examined in this study. The proteins characterized thus far as autoantigens in PNP all belong to the plakin family of proteins and include desmoplakin, the 230 kDa bullous pemphigoid antigen, and envoplakin. The pattern of bands precipitated from metabolically labeled human keratinocyte extracts by each PNP serum was different, suggesting varying titers of antibodies against unique epitopes in various plakin family members. To further characterize this PNP antibody response, we produced fusion proteins of the homologous tail region of five plakin family members, including the recently cloned periplakin. Immunoblotting of equal amounts of each plakin tail-glutathione S-transferase fusion protein with PNP sera revealed a strong reaction with the envoplakin tail domain. Each sera also recognized periplakin, and certain sera recognized desmoplakin and plectin, and, weakly, bullous pemphigoid antigen 1. PNP sera were affinity purified with periplakin and envoplakin tail fusion proteins. Immunoprecipitation and immunoblotting with these affinity purified antibodies revealed shared as well as unique epitopes in the tail domains of these plakins. This study indicates that a homologous region in the carboxy-terminus of plakins, including the newly characterized periplakin, serves as an antigenic site in PNP.
General Crystalline Hartree-Fock Formalism: Diamond Results

A method is presented for performing crystalline Hartree-Fock calculations with a wave-function basis consisting of Gaussian lobe functions. The most important concepts involve (i) the utilization of crystal symmetry in characterizing the first-order density matrix, and in selective computation and efficient storage of the one- and two-electron integrals; (ii) the introduction of a charge-conserving approximation for some of the less important three- and four-center integrals over contracted Gaussian basis functions; and (iii) the imposition of monopole and dipole compensation for the most important neglected two-electron Coulomb integrals. The method is applied to diamond, and calculational results are given for various sets of parameters. The best results include a Hartree-Fock cohesive energy of 0.38 Ry/atom, a virial coefficient ($\ensuremath{-}\frac{2T}{V}$) of 1.0005 for a lattice constant of 3.56 \AA{}, a direct band gap at $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ of 15 eV, and an indirect band gap from $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$ to $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ of 13.7 eV. The(111) Fourier transform of the charge density is 3.29 electrons per crystallographic unit cell.
Production of cardio-active substances by plant tissue cultures and their screening for cardiovascular activity

Semi-purified extracts of six plant tissue cultures were examined for their effects on respiration, heart rate, and blood pressure in anaesthetized rabbits. Ammi visnaga, Cheiranthus cheiri, Digitalis lanata, and Urginea maritima evoked pronounced vasodilatation and bradycardia which ultimately resulted in the death of the animal.
Disaster, Crisis Theory, and Intervention Strategies:

“Crisis” is a concept that has been approached as 1) an environmentally produced situation, 2) an individual's perception of an event, 3) a characteristic clinical syndrome, 4) interaction between a subjective state and an objective environmental situation, and, more recently, 5) a critical role transition. Central to most views is the acute time factor, marked behavioral change, subjective sense of helplessness, generation of organismic tension, and the perception of threat in relativistic and unique terms. This paper suggests a probability formulation of whether or not individuals or groups will experience crisis and discusses both anticipatory and participatory strategies of disaster intervention.
Wnt-reporter expression pattern in the mouse intestine during homeostasis

The canonical Wnt signaling pathway is a known regulator of cell proliferation during development and maintenance of the intestinal epithelium. Perturbations in this pathway lead to aberrant epithelial proliferation and intestinal cancer. In the mature intestine, proliferation is confined to the relatively quiescent stem cells and the rapidly cycling transient-amplifying cells in the intestinal crypts. Although the Wnt signal is believed to regulate all proliferating intestinal cells, surprisingly, this has not been thoroughly demonstrated. This important determination has implications on intestinal function, especially during epithelial expansion and regeneration, and warrants an extensive characterization of Wnt-activated cells. To identify intestinal epithelial cells that actively receive a Wnt signal, we analyzed intestinal Wnt-reporter expression patterns in two different mouse lines using immunohistochemistry, enzymatic activity, in situ hybridization and qRT-PCR, then corroborated results with reporter-independent analyses. Wnt-receiving cells were further characterized for co-expression of proliferation markers, putative stem cell markers and cellular differentiation markers using an immunohistochemical approach. Finally, to demonstrate that Wnt-reporter mice have utility in detecting perturbations in intestinal Wnt signaling, the reporter response to gamma-irradiation was examined. Wnt-activated cells were primarily restricted to the base of the small intestinal and colonic crypts, and were highest in numbers in the proximal small intestine, decreasing in frequency in a gradient toward the large intestine. Interestingly, the majority of the Wnt-reporter-expressing cells did not overlap with the transient-amplifying cell population. Further, while Wnt-activated cells expressed the putative stem cell marker Musashi-1, they did not co-express DCAMKL-1 or cell differentiation markers. Finally, gamma-irradiation stimulated an increase in Wnt-activated intestinal crypt cells. We show, for the first time, detailed characterization of the intestine from Wnt-reporter mice. Further, our data show that the majority of Wnt-receiving cells reside in the stem cell niche of the crypt base and do not extend into the proliferative transient-amplifying cell population. We also show that the Wnt-reporter mice can be used to detect changes in intestinal epithelial Wnt signaling upon physiologic injury. Our findings have an important impact on understanding the regulation of the intestinal stem cell hierarchy during homeostasis and in disease states.
The Currency of Socialism: Money and Political Culture in East Germany

Part I. Production: 1. Making and unmaking money: monetary theory and economic planning in East Germany 2. Accounting and accountability: financing the planned economy under Honecker, 1971-80 3. Parsimony and the prince: crisis and stability, 1980-5 4. The currency of decline: the disintegration of the East German economy Part II. Consumption: 5. The vehicle of desire: the Trabant, the Wartburg, and the discipline of demand 6. Consuming ideology: the intershops, Genex, and retail trade under Honecker 7. Appealing to authority: the citizens' petition and the rhetoric of decline.
Conservative management of extramammary Paget's disease of the vulva

Patients with extramammary Paget's disease of the vulva at the University of California--Irvine Medical Center and the Memorial Medical Center of Long Beach Women's Hospital between 1976 and 1986 were treated with nonradical surgery. These 14 patients were analyzed in a retrospective fashion to determine if conservative management was successful in eradicating the disease process while preserving appearance and sexual function. All patients were treated with nonradical surgery: skinning vulvectomy with split-thickness skin graft (86%), hemivulvectomy (7%), and simple vulvectomy (7%). In all cases intraoperative frozen-section analysis of surgical margins was performed to determine the extent of disease and outline the margins of resection. No patients had Paget's disease associated with an underlying adenocarcinoma. Three patients developed recurrent Paget's disease. Two of these patients recurred at the site of a positive margin and thus represent persistent disease. Only one patient (7%) had recurrent disease in the face of negative margins. The median duration of follow-up was 50 months. All patients are presently free of disease. The rationale for this conservative management is discussed.
Direct-reaction contributions to projectile-fragment spectra at 10–20 MeV/nucleon

A direct-reaction model is employed to calculate projectile-fragmentation and transfer spectra for15N and12C which result (at the grazing angle) from bombardment of208Pb by16O, in the energy range between 140 and 315 MeV. The results are in approximate agreement with recent data of Gelbke et al. In the case of15N, the spectral widths suggest a change in mechanism from transfer to fragmentation at about 18 MeV/nucleon; the12C data are best fit by fragmentation throughout this energy range.
Tinker to Evers to Chance: semaphorin signaling takes teamwork.

The Rho-family GTPases act downstream of axon guidance receptors, controlling proteins that remodel the cytoskeleton. New work now suggests that these GTPases also team up to regulate activation of the semaphorin-3A receptor itself.
Collective versus mass behavior: a conceptual framework for temporary and permanent migration in Western Europe and the United States.

Present theories treat migration as one basic movement. [In the present paper] conceptualization of economic migration as collective rather than mass behavior has been proposed to overcome present theoretical inadequacies and facilitate empirical analyses. Permanent migration has been correctly regarded as statistically aggregated institutionalized behavior. Temporary international labor migration is however a different phenomenon--one that is more accurately portrayed as a collective product. It is the culmination of nontraditional interactions between three major groups: the migrants their employers and host nation-states. The development of collective behavior including a noninstitutionalized role of the state may be illustrated by Western European guestworkers and United States illegal aliens. Advantages of the conceptualization include easier cross-cultural comparisons guidelines for predictability and recognition of the dual role of the state as both major actor in the migration process and social control agent. (EXCERPT)
Acute Tellurium Toxicity From Ingestion of Metal-Oxidizing Solutions

Tellurium is an element used in the vulcanization of rubber and in metal-oxidizing solutions to blacken or tarnish metals. Descriptions of human toxicity from tellurium ingestion are rare. We report the clinical course of 2 children who ingested metal-oxidizing solutions containing substantial concentrations of tellurium. Clinical features included vomiting, black discoloration of the oral mucosa, and a garlic odor to the breath. One patient developed corrosive injury to the esophagus secondary to the high concentration of hydrochloric acid in the solution. Both patients recovered without serious sequelae, which is typical of tellurium toxicity. An awareness of situations in which children may be exposed to tellurium and its clinical presentation may assist clinicians in the diagnosis of this rare poisoning.
Reaction of enargite (Cu3AsS4) in hot concentrated sulfuric acid under an inert atmosphere. Part III: reaction stoichiometry and kinetics

Abstract Based on the extensive insights gained from the acid bake–leach reaction from our previous experiments, a rigorous experimental plan was designed to investigate the effects of time, temperature, particle size, nitrogen flow rate, sulfuric acid concentration and dosage, and reaction surface area on the extraction of Cu and As from a high-quality enargite sample through sulfuric acid baking and leaching. The baking experiments in the temperature range of 170–200 °C over 1–4 h revealed almost complete Cu and As extraction after 4 h baking at 200 °C, a sulfuric acid to enargite weight ratio (S/E) of 4, nitrogen flow rate ~ 100 mL/min, and particle size P 100 = − 45 μm, and no arsenic was lost to the gas phase. The following reaction is suggested for the sulfuric acid baking of enargite: 4 Cu 3 AsS 4 + 28 H 2 SO 4 = 3 CuO • CuSO 4 + 6 CuSO 4 + 2 As 2 O 3 + 28 H 2 O + 19.5 SO 2 g + 15.5 S Lack of a systematic dependence of reaction rate on particle size and the significant dependence of the rate on sulfuric acid concentration suggest that the rate of the baking reaction is controlled by the internal surface area of cracks at which surface the baking reaction occurs. It is expected that these cracks are formed as a result of a major volume increase during the baking reaction. High nitrogen flow rates encouraged arsenic loss to the gas phase. Decreasing the S/E ratio from 4 to 2 resulted in a decrease in the rate of reaction, while increasing sulfuric acid concentration enhanced the rate. Excess sulfuric acid was found to be necessary for both acceptable reaction rates and also for maximum As retention in the condensed phase. Doubling the reaction surface area did not affect the extraction of Cu and As.
Relation of complement to blood coagulation.

SummaryInactivation of the complement of plasma by aging or by treatment with zymin or with ammonia blocks conversion of prothrombin to thrombin while leaving ample reactive prothrombin.
Electron thermalization in gas mixtures

Our theoretical procedure for calculating thermalization times and the evolution of the process of electron thermalization in rare gases and diatomic molecules has been extended to the case of mixtures of Ar and ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ and of Xe and ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$. The results are compared with the time delays for the recombination luminescence decay measured in Ar-${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ and Xe-${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ mixtures. Calculated values of thermalization times agree well with the experimental time-delay data.
Recovery of rats with dorsomedial hypothalamic nucleus lesions (DMNL rats) from body weight restriction: effect of duration of postoperative prerestriction period.

Abstract The present study was performed to see whether somatic and underlying metabolic-adaptive responses of DMNL rats and sham-operated controls (CON) to body weight restriction and subsequent refeeding could be influenced by the duration of ad lib feeding between lesion production and start of restriction. In contrast to previous studies (42 and 55 days, respectively) this time was reduced to 25 days. Restriction was similar, i.e., 27 days. DMNL rats show the same adaptive capacity in most parameters as do restricted CON. However, this response was at a lower level of absolute body weight, appropriate, so it appears, for their DMNL-induced lower body weight. In some parameters different responses were noted, however, suggesting that the time of ad lib feeding following the DMNL does indeed affect adaptive responses. Notably, this is the case in both DMNL and CON commensurately. Linear growth was reduced by restriction in the present but not in the two previous studies. Food intake showed a pronounced “overshoot” on refeeding but did not previously. Efficiency of food utilization was normal in the present study but depressed previously. A rise in plasma free fatty acids was not evident but was so in previous experiments. We concluded that, although DMNL rats respond to food restriction and recovery like similarly-treated CON, the duration of the ad lib feeding before restriction and/or the absolute age of the animals at that time, do indeed affect some parameters. This may be related to the fact that different aspects of the DMNL syndrome declare themselves in a sequential rather than a simultaneous manner.
Monte Carlo Simulations for Two-Dimensional Quantum Systems

The Trotter-Suzuki transformation has been used to obtain the classical representation ford-dimensional lattice systems with boson and fermion degrees of freedom. A Monte Carlo algorithm for the equivalent (d+1)-dimensional classical system is presented. Numerical results are shown for the Heisenberg-spin-glass, the XY model and the spinless fermion lattice gas in two dimensions.
Endogenous adenosine protects preconditioned heart during early minutes of reperfusion by activating Akt.

Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) is thought to protect by activating survival kinases during reperfusion. We tested whether binding of adenosine receptors is also required during reperfusion and, if ...
Pentose utilization and transport by the ruminal bacterium Prevotella ruminicola

Plant cell wall polysaccharides are primarily composed of hexose or hexose derivatives, but a significant fraction is hemicellulose which contains pentose sugars. Prevotella ruminicola B14, a predominant ruminal bacterium, simultaneously metabolized pentoses and glucose or maltose, but the organism preferentially fermented pentoses over cellobiose and preferred xylose to sucrose. Xylose and arabinose transport at either low (2 μM) or high (1 mM) substrate concentrations were observed only in the presence of sodium and if oxygen was excluded during the harvest and assay procedures. An artificial electrical potential (ΔΨ) or chemical gradient of sodium (ΔpNa) drove transport in anaerobically prepared membrane vesicles. Because (i) transport was electrogenic, (ii) a ΔpNa drove uptake, and (iii) the number of sodium binding sites was approximately 1, it appeared that P. ruminicola possessed pentose/sodium symport mechanisms for the transport of arabinose and xylose at low substrate concentrations. Pentose uptake exhibited a low affinity for xylose or arabinose (>300μM), and transport of xylose exhibited bi-phasic kinetics which suggested that a second sodium-dependent xylose transport system was present. Little study has been made on solute transport by Prevotella (Bacteroides) species and this work represents the first use of isolated membrane vesicles from these organisms.
ON THE ANALYSIS OF PERIODIC DELAY DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS WITH DISCONTINUOUS DISTRIBUTED DELAYS

In this paper, the analysis of delay differential equations with periodic coefficients and discontinuous distributed delay is carried out through discretization by Chebyshev spectral continuous time approximation (ChSCTA). These features are introduced in the delayed Mathieu equation with discontinuous distributed delay used as an illustrative example. The efficiency of the process of stability analysis is improved by using shifted Chebyshev polynomials for computing the monodromy matrix, as well as the adaptive meshing of the parameter plane. An idea for a method for numerical integration of periodic DDEs with discontinuous distributed delay based on existing MATLAB functions is proposed.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
InP-based millimeter-wave PIN diodes for switching and phase-shifting application

Abstract InP-based PIN design, technology and circuit implementation were addressed and successfully applied to millimeter-wave MMIC switches and phase shifters. A wet etchant based via technology was developed and applied to InP MMIC fabrication. MOCVD and MBE material growth was used for PIN realization and PIN specific growth optimization is discussed. Experimentally determined electrical characteristics and good performance is presented for a variety of InP-based PIN MMICs including coplanar and microstrip K a -band SPST switches, W -band microstrip SPST switches and a 90-degree phase shifter.
Effects of host plant hybridization on resistance to willow leaf rust caused by Melampsora sp.

Summary Patterns of resistance to willow leaf rust caused by Melampsora sp. were measured on Salix eriocephala, Salix sericea, and their interspecific hybrids in natural field populations in 1991–94 and on potted plants in common garden experiments in 1994 and 1995. Testing was carried out to establish if the resistance of hybrids was intermediate between pure parental species (additive), equal to one of the parents (dominant), lower than both parents (susceptible), higher than both parents (resistant), or not different than either parent (null hypothesis). Support was generally found for hybrid susceptibility in the field and common garden experiments, with the null hypothesis of no difference having some support. The results from the common garden study suggest that the susceptibility of hybrids seen in the field is due to genetic differences. Hybridization between these species of willows results in increased susceptibility to this pathogen. The variation among years in the relative susceptibility of hybrid and parental willows may be due to environmental effects on the willows or to shifts in the abundance of Melampsora races.
The effects of organic acids on the leaching of heavy metals from mine tailings

Abstract A laboratory study was conducted to determine whether the concentration of heavy metals, zinc (Zn), lead (Pb), and cadmium (Cd), in leachate from mine tailings could be affected by the presence of organic acids exuded by plant roots and microbes in the rhizosphere. Geochemical modeling predicted that some organic ligands found in the rhizosphere have the capability to complex and increase the solubility of Zn. These results were confirmed by batch and column studies in which mine tailings were exposed to 0–10000 μ M organic acids. The leachate was analyzed for Zn, Pb, and Cd content and for organic acid concentration.
Computer-based system for continuous on-line measurements of tissue blood perfusion

Abstract We describe a new system for an almost continuous, on-line measurement of local blood perfusion in living tissue. The technique uses a thermal method based on measurements of the tissue temperature decay after a short pulse (≈ 3 s) of local heating. The instrumentation system consists of six small thermistor microprobes, a probe interface unit and a DEC LSI - 11 23 microcomputer. The system is equipped with six thermistor channels, and the number can be increased with further signal conditioning modules, thereby increasing the locations at which blood perfusion can be measured. The results agree favourably with values for tissue blood flow obtained simultaneously using either the microspheres method or an electromagnetic probe. The system has been in use for three years and there is good reason to believe that it can be reliably applied in many situations where a continuous multichannel monitor of local blood perfusion is necessary.
Modification of prostate implants based on postimplant treatment margin assessment.

Purpose: To quantify the extent of additional source placement needed to perfect an implant after execution by standard techniques, assuming that uniform 5 mm treatment margins (TMs) is the criteria for perfection. Materials and Methods: Ten consecutive, unselected patients treated with I-125 brachytherapy were studied. Source placement is planned just inside or outside of the prostatic margin, to achieve a minimum 5 mm TM and a central dose of 150%–200% of the prescription dose. The preimplant prostate volumes ranged from 24 to 85 cc (median: 35 cc). The number of sources implanted ranged from 48 to 102 (median: 63). Axial CTimages were acquired within 2 h postoperatively for postimplant dosimetry. After completion of standard dosimetric calculations, the TMs were measured and tabulated at 45° intervals around the prostate periphery at 0.0, 1.0, 2.0, and 3.0 cm planes. Sources were then added to the periphery to bring the TMs to a minimum of 5 mm at each measured TM, resulting in a modified implant. All margin modifications were done manually, without the aid of automated software. Results: Patients’ original (unmodified) D90s ranged from 111% to 154%, with a median of 116%. The original V100s ranged from 94% to 99%, with a median of 96%. No patient required placement of additional sources to meet a minimum D90 of 90% or a minimum V100 of 80%. In contrast, patients required from 7 to 17 additional sources (median: 11) to achieve minimum 5 mm TMs around the entire prostatic periphery. Additional sources equaled from 12% to 24% of the initial number of sources placed (median: 17%). By adding sufficient peripheral sources to bring the TMs to a minimum 5 mm, patients’ average V100 increased from 96% to 100%, and the average D90 increased from 124% to 160% of prescription dose. In the course of achieving a minimum 5 mm TM, the average treatment margin for all patients combined increased from 5.5 to 9.9 mm. The number of sources needed to bring the TMs to a minimum 5 mm was loosely correlated with the preimplant prostate volume and the change in prostate volume from implant-related swelling. Adding sufficient sources to achieve minimum 5 mm TMs increased the prostate volume receiving greater than 200% of the prescription dose (V200) from 39% to 58%, and increased the average urethral point dose (2.00 cm inferior to the bladder) from 154% to 171% of the 144 Gy prescription isodose. Conclusions: Minimum 5 mm TMs are not uniformly achieved with current implant techniques. It seems that doing so, even in experienced hands, will require a reappraisal of our implant techniques, or the addition of intraoperative dosimetric analysis with the capacity to substantially modify the implant with extra sources.
The Review Process and the Fates of Manuscripts Submitted to AMJ

Four perspectives on the review processes of scientific journals were employed heuristically to Examine the AMJ review process from 1984 through 1987. Results indicated modest support for hypothese...
SPECTROCHEMICAL ANALYSIS FOR TRACE AMOUNTS OF Ti, B, Zr, AND Be IN 7075 ALUMINUM ALLOY.

The general alloy analysis technique has proven to be very useful in our laboratory. By using a modification of this technique a special analytical problem was solved and is reported here. This problem came about through the metallurgical studies in the Air Force Materials Laboratory on the effect of trace level additions of titanium, boron, zirconium, and beryllium on grain refining and other metallurgical properties for 7075 aluminum alloys. For these studies, it was necessary to determine the concentration level in the base material as well as the concentration after the additions. A point-to-plane technique could have been used but standards were not readily available for concentration levels of interest. Normal solution techniques such as the rotating disk will not provide adequate limits of detection for these low levels. In order to provide greater line intensities for the trace elements it was necessary to change the general alloy technique by increasing the carrier gas flow, current, and the concentration level of the analytical solution. Table I gives the operational parameters used. Synthetic standards were prepared containing the proper amounts of aluminum, zinc, magnesium, and copper for the alloy and using a blank plus increasing increments of the elements of interest. With the blank as the low standard, the following concentration ranges were covered: titanium 10–1010 ppm; boron 6-206 ppm; zirconium 15–1015 ppm; and beryllium 5–95 ppm. Both standards and samples were made up to contain 10 mg/ml of the alloy, 15 mg/ml of sodium chloride, and 0.02 mg/ml of indium, the internal standard. The analytical lines that were used are given in Table II. Duplicate determinations of standards and samples were made on each plate and analytical curves were prepared after correcting for the blank and where necessary the background.
LLT1‐mediated Activation of IFN‐γ Production in Human Natural Killer Cells Involves ERK Signalling Pathway

Natural killer (NK) cell functions are regulated by a delicate balance of signals received through activating and inhibitory receptors expressed on the cell surface. Lectin-like transcript-1 (LLT1), expressed on a subpopulation of NK cells and other immune cells is a ligand for the NK cell inhibitory receptor, NKR-P1A (CD161). Previous studies showed that cross-linking surface LLT1 with a monoclonal antibody stimulated NK cell IFN-gamma secretion but had no effect on cytotoxicity. Here, we have examined the signalling pathways associated with LLT1-stimulated IFN-gamma secretion. We ligated LLT1 on NK92 cells with CD161 on target cells and analysed IFN-gamma production in the presence of pharmacological inhibitors specific for various signalling mechanisms. These results indicate that LLT1 employs Src-PTK, p38 and ERK signalling pathways, but not PKC, PI3K or calcineurin. Phosphorylation studies of the signalling adaptor molecules confirmed that the ERK signalling pathway is associated with LLT1-mediated IFN-gamma production. LLT1 ligation is not associated with any change in detectable IFN-gamma mRNA levels suggesting that LLT1-stimulated IFN-gamma production in NK cells may involve post-transcriptional or translational events.
A major role of the fifth component of complement (C5) in the opsonization of yeast particles. Partial dichotomy of function and immunochemical measurement.

Abstract A major role for the fifth component of complement (C5) in the opsonization of yeast particles is demonstrated. Normal, stored citrated plasma showed a statistically significant decrease in yeast opsonic activity within 36 hr, and reached levels of less than 50% of initial activity by the fourth day of storage. A functional relationship between C5 activity and the decrease in yeast opsonic activity was then demonstrated by three methods: (1) Purified human C5 reconstituted the loss in opsonic activity in 4-day-old citrated plasma; (2) D10B2 Old line (C5-deficient) mouse serum failed to reconstitute yeast opsonic activity of 4-day-old citrated plasma while addition of D10B2 New line (normal C5 levels) mouse serum did; (3) 4-day-old citrated plasma was less than 50% as active as fresh citrated in reconstitution of C5-deficient human serum in yeast phagocytosis. Yeast particles are, thus, shown to differ significantly from previous studies of sheep erythrocytes (1,2) and pneumococci (3,4) in their complement requirements for phagocytosis. Despite the functional deficiency of C5 in yeast phagocytosis, immunochemical measurements of C5 showed no decrease. When a variety of measurements involving the complement system were performed upon stored, citrated plasma, significant differences were found between certain functional activities and hemolytic or immunochemical determinations. Hemolytic and immunochemical parameters remained unchanged throughout the study, but yeast opsonization, human erythrocyte opsonization, and generation of chemotactic activities showed statistically significant decreases. The rates of decline in these three functional activities also differed, suggesting different functional complement requirements for each.
In vivo depletion of CD4+CD25+ regulatory T cells in cats

To establish a characterized model of regulatory T cell (Treg) depletion in the cat we assessed the kinetics of depletion and rebound in peripheral and central lymphoid compartments after treatment with anti-CD25 antibody as determined by cell surface markers and FOXP3 mRNA expression. An 82% decrease in circulating CD4+CD25+ Tregs was observed by day 11 after treatment. CD4+CD25+ cells were also reduced in the thymus (69%), secondary lymphoid tissues (66%), and gut (67%). Although CD4+CD25+ cells rebound by day 35 post-treatment, FOXP3 levels remain depressed suggesting anti-CD25 antibody treatment has a sustainable diminutive effect on the Treg population. To determine whether CD25+ Treg depletion strategies also deplete activated CD25+ effector cells, cats were immunized with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) p24-GST recombinant protein, allowing them to develop a measurable memory response, prior to depletion with anti-CD25 antibody. Anti-FIV p24-GST effector cell activity in peripheral blood after depletion was sustained as determined by antigen-specific T cell proliferation and humoral responses against FIV p24-GST with an ELISA for antigen-specific feline IgG. Furthermore, development of an anti-mouse response in Treg-depleted cats was similar to control levels indicating the retained capacity to respond to a novel antigen. We conclude that despite alterations in CD25+ cell levels during depletion, the feline immune system remains functional. We demonstrate here a model for the study of disease pathogenesis in the context of reduced numbers of immunosuppressive CD4+CD25+ Tregs throughout the feline immune system.
Reply to L. M. Leslie and A. F. Bennett

We appreciate the clarification of prior work of Leslie and Bennett, provided by the authors in their comments on our article. If our references to their work led to misinterpretation, we apologize for being too brief in our discussion. Reviewing the format of their work on systematic error correction is a useful contribution to research in this area. DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0870.1992.t01-2-00007.x
The Physiology of Fetal Membrane Rupture: Insight Gained from the Determination of Physical Properties

Premature rupture of the fetal membranes is a major cause of preterm birth and its associated infant morbidity and mortality. Recently, it has become clear that rupture of the fetal membranes, term or preterm, is not merely the result of the stretch and shear forces of uterine contractions, but is, in significant part, the consequence of a programmed weakening process. Work in the rat model has demonstrated that collagen remodeling, with activation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and apoptosis increase markedly in the amnion at end-gestation, suggesting that these processes are involved in fetal membrane weakening. We have developed fetal membrane strength testing equipment and a systematic tissue sampling methodology that has allowed us to demonstrate that term, non-labored, fetal membranes have a zone of weakness overlying the cervix, which contains biochemical markers of both collagen remodeling and apoptosis. These findings provide strong support for the concept of programmed fetal membrane weakening prior to labor. Our model has also been used to establish the physical properties of individual fetal membrane components (amnion, chorion), determine the sequence of events during the fetal membrane rupture process, and demonstrate that treatment of fetal membranes with TNF or IL-1beta, in vitro, induces weakness and the identical biochemical markers of collagen remodeling and apoptosis seen in the physiological weak zone. The ability to simultaneously correlate macroscopic physical properties with histological and biochemical fetal membrane characteristics, presents a unique perspective on the physiology of fetal membrane rupture.
Mechanical principles of robust and releasable adhesion of gecko

Robust attachment to rough surfaces and controllable detachment are two features that must coexist for gecko to locomote on walls and ceilings. While robust adhesion ensures that the animal can stick reliably in the presence of random surface roughness, the same adhesion must be readily releasable upon its movement. What are the mechanical principles of such robust and releasable adhesion in nature? In this paper, we review some of the most essential results obtained in our previous studies on this question and also add a number of new results aimed to facilitate a more complete understanding. We begin with addressing the shape and size effects in adhesion between single asperities, and then extend the discussion to contact between rough surfaces, focusing on strategies to achieve robust (flaw-tolerant) and releasable adhesion across multiple length scales. Based on the fundamental principles in fracture and adhesion mechanics, we show that flaw tolerant adhesion is controlled by a dimensionless parameter...
From waterfall to rapid prototyping: supporting enterprise-wide adoption of the oncourse collaboration and learning (CL) environment at Indiana University

A critical challenge for Indiana University's IT Training and Education (ITTE) division is supporting the academic community during its adoption of a new enterprise-wide application which combines a course management system (CMS), a collaboration and learning environment (CLE), and electronic portfolios. The process of migration from IU's original CMS to the new Oncourse CL is delicate, complex, and fast-paced. For the past decade, ninety percent of the faculty and students at seven IU campuses have used an IU-developed CMS. Even while some functionality of the new environment remains a moving target, we must train the academic community who may be loyal to, wary of, or unacquainted with the original CMS. Accordingly, as Oncourse CL evolves throughout its 18-month migration, our challenge involves software training and proactive change management. Examination of development and training strategies quickly revealed that standard ITTE practice could not keep pace with the aggressive transition to Oncourse CL. As a result, our project team radically adjusted its methods, adopting a Rapid Collaborative Prototyping (RCP) model based on a more agile approach. We observed two benefits: valuable user input regarding our presentations allowing for rapid improvements, and feedback-driven changes in the very development of Oncourse CL. Our discussion will highlight the benefits of this new approach, using our training products as examples. IU is one of four founding partners of the Sakai community source software development effort to design, build and deploy a new CLE for higher education. Oncourse CL is IU's implementation of it.
HYPOSENSITIVE to LIGHT, an alpha/beta fold protein, acts downstream of ELONGATED HYPOCOTYL 5 to regulate seedling de-etiolation

Ambient light has profound effects on early seedling de-etiolation through red and far-red light-absorbing phytochromes and blue and UV-A light-absorbing cryptochromes. Subsequent integration of various light signal transduction pathways leads to changes in gene expression and morphogenic responses. Here, we report the isolation of a new Arabidopsis light-signaling component, HYPOSENSITIVE TO LIGHT or HTL. Both htl-1 and htl-2 alleles displayed a long hypocotyl phenotype under red, far-red, and blue light, whereas overexpression of HTL caused a short hypocotyl phenotype under similar light conditions. The mutants also showed other photomorphogenic defects such as elongated petioles, retarded cotyledon and leaf expansion, reduced accumulation of chlorophyll and anthocyanin pigments, and attenuated expression of light-responsive CHLOROPHYLL A/B BINDING PROTEIN 3 and CHALCONE SYNTHASE genes. HTL belongs to an alpha/beta fold protein family and is localized strongly in the nucleus and weakly in the cytosol. The expression of HTL was strongly induced by light of various wavelengths and this light induction was impaired in elongated hypocotyl 5. HY5 directly bound to both a C/G-box and a G-box in the HTL promoter but with a greater affinity toward the C/G-box. HTL, therefore, represents a new signaling step downstream of HY5 in phy- and cry-mediated de-etiolation responses.
Corrigendum to "Susceptibility contrast in high field MRI of human brain as a function of tissue iron content" [NeuroImage 44/4 (2009) 1259-1266]

The authors regret that the following corrections were left off the original manuscripts: 1. Page 1263, Eq. (1) should be: y 1⁄4 14:62 1− exp −0:04x ð Þ f g þ 4:6 2. Page 1263, right column, in the paragraph that starts with: “Fig. 7A shows the relationship between...”, the sentence “The best-fit lines to the data are given by:...” should be written as: The best fit lines to the data are given by: y=0.058x+10.75 (at 1.5 T), y=0.120x+14.12 (at 3 T) and y=0.319x+19.79 (at 7 T), where x is the iron concentration in ppm and y is the R2⁎ in Hz. 3. Page 1264, Fig. 7(A). The three fitted equations should be: y 1⁄4 0:319xþ 19:79 y 1⁄4 0:120xþ 14:12 y 1⁄4 0:058xþ 10:75 4. Page 1266, Acknowledgments should be: We thank Dr. Matusuda Kant, M.D., Ph.D. and Suan Fulton The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Role of Specific Amino Acid Residues in T4 Endonuclease V That Alter Nontarget DNA Binding

Endonuclease V is a pyrimidine dimer-specific DNA glycosylase−apurinic (AP)1 lyase which, in vivo or at low salt concentrations in vitro, binds nontarget DNA through electrostatic interactions and remains associated with that DNA until all dimers have been recognized and incised. On the basis of the analyses of previous mutants that effect this processive nicking activity, and the recently published cocrystal structure of a catalytically deficient endonuclease V with pyrimidine dimer-containing DNA [Vassylyev, D. G., et al. (1995) Cell 83, 773−782], four site-directed mutations were created, the mutant enzymes expressed in repair-deficient Escherichia coli, and the enzymes purified to homogeneity. Steady-state kinetic analyses revealed that one of the mutants, Q15R, maintained an efficiency (kcat/Km) near that of the wild-type enzyme, while R117N and K86N had a 5−10-fold reduction in efficiency and K121N was reduced almost 100-fold. In addition, K121N and K86N exhibited a 3−5-fold increase in Km, respecti...
III. Abnormalities in the central cholinergic transmitter system of the genetically epilepsy-prone rat

Abstract Seizure-experienced Genetically Epilepsy-prone Rats (GEPRs) have increased acetylcholine content and choline acetyltransferase activity in the thalamus and striatum. These cholinergic differences are accompanied by a slight but statistically significant reduction in acetylcholinesterase activity in the midbrain. In addition, no abnormalities were found in the numbers of specific 3 H-QNB binding sites in the striatum, hippocampus, inferior colliculi or cortex. Other work has shown no difference in muscarinic receptor function as measured by carbachol-stimulated inositol-1-phosphate formation (17). These data suggest a possible presynaptic defect in the striatal and thalamic cholinergic system which may play some role in the seizure-prone state of the GEPR. However, caution must be used in interpreting these cholinergic derangements since more recent findings show no differences in thalamic acetylcholine content in seizure-naive GEPRs. Thus, the original cholinergic abnormalities detected in the seizure-experienced GEPR may be an enduring response to seizure activity.