cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Support vector regression for determining the minimum zone sphericity

Several methods have been investigated to determine the deviation of manufactured spherical parts from ideal geometry. One of the most popular is the least squares technique, which is still widely employed in coordinate measuring machines used by industries. The least squares algorithm is optimal under the assumption that the data set is very large and has the inherent disadvantage of overestimating the minimum tolerance zone, resulting sometimes in the rejection of good parts. In addition, it requires that the data be distributed normally. The support vector regression approach alleviates the necessity for these assumptions. While most fitting algorithms in practice today require that the sampled data accurately represent the surface being inspected, support vector regression provides a generalization over the surface. We describe how the concepts of support vector regression can be applied to the determination of tolerance zones of nonlinear surfaces; to demonstrate the unique potential of support vector machine algorithms in the area of coordinate metrology. In specific, we address part quality inspection of spherical geometries.
Dosimetric Consequences of Intrafraction Prostate Motion

Purpose To analyze characteristics of intrafraction prostate motion, monitored using the Calypso system, and investigate dosimetric consequences of the motion for different clinical target volume (CTV) to planning target volume (PTV) margins. Methods and Materials Motion characteristics were analyzed for 1,267 tracking sessions and 35 patients. Using prostate-PTV margins of 0, 1, 2, 3, and 5 mm, dose metrics for the prostate gland, bladder, and rectum were evaluated for scenarios including patient population, individual patients showing the greatest motion during the course of treatment, and the individual session with the largest overall movement. Composite dose distributions incorporating motion blurring were calculated by convolving static intensity-modulated radiotherapy plans with corresponding motion probability functions. Results For prostate-PTV margins of 2 mm or greater, intrafraction motion did not compromise prostate dose coverage for either the patient population or individual patients. For the patient showing the largest overall movement, the prostate equivalent uniform dose was reduced by only 17.4 cGy (0.23%), and the minimum prostate dose remained greater than 95% of the nominal dose. For margins less than 2 mm, the prostate dose–volume histogram in the same patient was slightly compromised, and the equivalent uniform dose was reduced by 38.5 cGy (0.51%). Sparing of the bladder and rectum was improved substantially by reducing margins. Conclusions Although significant motion can be observed during individual fractions, the dosimetric consequences are insignificant during a typical course of radiotherapy (30–40 fractions) with CTV–PTV margins of 2 mm or greater provided that the Calypso system is applied for pretreatment localization. Further reduction of the margin is possible if intrafraction realignment is performed.
The selective interruption of nucleolar RNA synthesis in HeLa cells by cordycepin.

Cordycepin is an analogue of adenosine lacking the 39-OH. When incorporated into a growing RNA molecule, cordycepin prevents further elongation, thus producing a prematurely terminated RNA molecule. When HeLa cells are exposed to low concentrations of cordycepin, DNA and protein synthesis are unaffected during short exposure periods. The synthesis of completed ribosomal and ribosomal-precursor (45S) RNA is significantly depressed. Partially completed 45S ribosomal precursor molecules accumulate in the nucleolus. 18S ribosomal RNA can be cleaved from these incomplete precursors, while 32S ribosomal precursor cannot be produced from partially snythesized 45S molecules. The synthesis of transfer RNA is also reduced in the presence of cordycepin. The synthesis of the nuclear heterogeneous RNA species is unaffected by the drug while the cytoplasmic heterogeneous RNA is slightly reduced.
A seismograph for microseisms

At the Fordham meeting of the Eastern Section of the Seismological Society of America it was strongly urged by Dr. Frank Wenner that microseisms be studied by means of an instrument designed especially for that purpose. A small research-fund given by friends in Saint Louis has made it possible for the Department of Geophysics of Saint Louis University to carry out this suggestion. A comparatively simple and relatively inexpensive seismograph has been designed for this purpose by the senior author and built in the shops of the junior author.
Vaccinia virus blocks gamma interferon signal transduction: viral VH1 phosphatase reverses Stat1 activation.

We have analyzed the effects of vaccinia virus (VV) on gamma interferon (IFN-γ) signal transduction. Infection of cells with VV 1 to 2 h prior to treatment with IFN-γ inhibits phosphorylation and nuclear translocation of Stat1 and consequently blocks accumulation of mRNAs normally induced by IFN-γ. While phosphorylation of other proteins in the IFN-γ pathway was not affected, activation of Stat1 by other ligand-receptor systems was also blocked by VV. This block of Stat1 activation was dose dependent, and although viral protein synthesis was not required, entry and uncoating of viral cores appear to be needed to block the accumulation of phosphorylated Stat1. These results suggest that a virion component is responsible for the effect. VV virions contain a phosphatase (VH1) that is sensitive to the phosphatase inhibitor Na3VO4 but not to okadaic acid. Addition of Na3VO4 but not okadaic acid restored normal Stat1 phosphorylation levels in VV-infected cells. Moreover, virions containing reduced levels of VH1 were unable to block the IFN-γ signaling pathway. In vitro studies show that the phosphatase can bind and dephosphorylate Stat1, indicating that this transcription factor can be a substrate for VH1. Our results reveal a novel mechanism by which VV interferes with the onset of host immune responses by blocking the IFN-γ signal cascade through the dephosphorylating activity of the viral phosphatase VH1.
Pulse Pressure and Arterial Compliance Prior to Pregnancy and the Development of Complicated Hypertension during Pregnancy

We examined the relationship between prepregnant pulse pressure (PP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO)/PP, a measure of arterial compliance, and development of complicated hypertension (CH) during pregnancy with the goal of identifying a potential predictor of CH. Twenty nulliparous participants were studied before pregnancy; 17 had normal pregnancies (control; CTL) and 3 CH. Blood pressure monitoring was performed using tonometry. Cardiac output was determined by Doppler echocardiograph. Data are expressed as mean ± SD. Prepregnant PP was significantly higher in CH participants (CH: 58.3 ± 6.3, CTL: 46.2 ± 1.7 mm Hg; P = .02). Cardiac output /pulse pressure was significantly lower in CH participants (CH: 6.9 ± 1.8, CTL: 10.6 ± 2.8; P = .04). Mean arterial pressure was not significantly different. Increased PP before pregnancy may suggest increased risk for CH. With accurate prediction of CH before pregnancy, initiation of preventative measures could begin earlier, either prior to or in early pregnancy, potentially increasing preventative efficacy and decreasing CH.
DEVELOPMENT ALTERS THE MOLECULAR REGULATION OF PULMONARY VASCULAR REACTIVITY IN THE SHEEP. ▴ 328

Early in gestation, pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) is higher than it is near-term due to the small number of pulmonary arteries. With advancing gestation, PVR decreases as new arteries grow, increasing the cross-sectional area of the pulmonary vascular bed. PVR is higher in the near-term fetus than in the newborn or adult. Fetal pulmonary arteries have a thicker smooth muscle layer than do similar size adult pulmonary arteries. This greater muscularity is responsible for the higher PVR and augmented pulmonary vascular reactivity in the near-term fetus. From the fetus to the adult, there is a decrease in nitric oxide (NO)- and a loss of endothelin-1 (ET-1)-mediated pulmonary vasodilation. In the adult, ET-1 is a pulmonary vasoconstrictor. To understand the molecular events underlying these physiological responses, ovine cDNA fragments for endothelial NO synthase (eNOS, the enzyme responsible for NO synthesis), big ET-1 (the precursor of ET-1), endothelin converting enzyme-1(ECE-1, the enzyme responsible for the conversion to ET-1), and the two ET receptors, ETa and ETb, were cloned. RNase protection assays and in situ hybridization were performed on lung tissue from fetal (100, 120, and 140 days' gestation), newborn, and adult sheep. All five genes are developmentally regulated. eNOS gene expression increased near term and in the newborn, and then decreased in the adult. ET-1 and ECE-1 gene expression increased from 100 to 120 days' gestation with no further increase near term. ET-1 expression decreased in the newborn and in the adult (>10-fold). ECE-1 expression decreased 3-5-fold in the adult. Similarly, ETa and ETb gene expression increased by 120 days' gestation, and then decreased in the newborn and adult. The decrease in ETb expression (>10-fold) was greater than the decrease in ETa expression (3-5-fold). These changes in gene expression explain, in part, the age-related pulmonary vascular responses to NO and ET-1. Development alters the molecular regulation of pulmonary vascular tone.
Increased Optical Magnification From 2.5 to 4.3 With Technical Modification Lowers the Positive Margin Rate in Open Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy

Purpose: We compared the positive surgical margin rate of 2.5× and 4.3× optical loupe magnification with associated technical improvement during open radical retropubic prostatectomy.Materials and Methods: From January 2, 2004 to September 16, 2005, 511 consecutive patients underwent open radical retropubic prostatectomy, as performed by 1 surgeon. Because 10 patients refused authorization for a retrospective chart review, 501 were evaluable. For the first 265 patients 2.5× power loupes were used and for the subsequent 236 we used 4.3× power loupes. We used the chi-square test for univariate analysis, followed by multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for commonly recognized predictors of positive surgical margins in the 2 successive cohorts. Focusing on the apex, which was the most commonly reported site of positive surgical margins, we include operative video segments mimicking 4.3× magnification to demonstrate the surgical precision possible at 4.3× for managing the periurethral fascial ban...
Cytokine gene expression in splenic macrophages and Kupffer cells following haemorrhage.

TNF-alpha, IL-1, IL-6 and TGF-beta are important macrophage-derived mediators which play the pleiotropic role in inflammatory, metabolic, hematopoietic and immunologic processes. Studies have shown that haemorrhagic shock without significant tissue trauma induces profound immunosuppression which is associated with elevated plasma levels of TNF-alpha IL-1, IL-6 as well as TGF-beta. Furthermore, Kupffer cells but not the splenic M phi isolated from post-haemorrhaged animals showed an increased capacity to release inflammatory cytokines in response to LPS stimulation in vitro. However, it remains unknown whether the innate (i.e. in the absence of LPS stimulation) cytokine genes expression in Kupffer cells and splenic M phi is affected by haemorrhage. To determine this, C3H/HeN male mice were bled to and maintained at a mean arterial blood pressure of 35 mmHg for 60 min, and then adequately resuscitated. Splenic macrophages and Kupffer cells were isolated at 1 h after haemorrhage. Total RNA was extracted and cytokine mRNA was detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The results demonstrate that haemorrhage significantly elevated the mRNA accumulation of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, TGF-beta while IL-6 gene expression in Kupffer cells and splenic M phi was only slightly increased. Since Kupffer cells but not the splenic M phi showed increased cytokine release, it could be concluded that the differential regulation of cytokine release by these two macrophage populations following haemorrhage may be due to the divergence of the cytokine at the translational level.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
ACOUSTO-OPTIC TUNABLE FILTERS

Acousto-optic tunable filters are powerful tools for spectroscopy, imaging, and WDM. Gupta traces the development of these devices and discusses current and future applications.
The Incredible Years Series: A Review of the Independent Research Base

The Incredible Years (IY) parent, teacher, and child training series, developed by Carolyn Webster-Stratton, has been studied extensively over the past several decades by the developer, her associates, and by other researchers. While Webster-Stratton has recently summarized much of her work, this paper provides a brief description of the IY programs and focuses on studies published by independent researchers. We review peer-reviewed papers that included either a control group or another intervention group in their design, with particular attention to each training program, combinations of training programs, multicultural applications, and interventions with special populations (e.g., foster parents, children with neurodevelopmental disorders). We also consider the literature on cost-benefit analyses of the program. There is solid evidence for the training program for parents of young children, and the literature provides support for its international applicability, but there is a paucity of independent research addressing the parent programs for children of other ages, the teacher program, the Dina Dinosaur program for young children, and combined programs. We conclude the review with directions for future research and a discussion of the limitations of our own review.
Aortic arch reconstruction utilizing a simple reversed graft trimming technique

We describe a simple method for ascending aorta and heimarch/arch reconstruction that reduces tension, avoids graft kinking, and provides optimal orientation for the proximal anastomosis.
1024. Encapsulation of the NF-kB Decoy Oligonucleotide in Echogenic Liposomes and Its Ultrasound-Triggered Release

BACKGROUND: Echogenic immunoliposomes (ELIP) may be useful tools for early detection of atherosclerosis. Encapsulation of drugs and genes in ELIP can improve their therapeutic efficacy, especially if their release can be triggered at a specific site. NF-kB protein is an important molecule in the regulation of the expression of genes involved in inflammation and vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. Efficient delivery of various NF-kB inhibitors to proliferating cells should therefore contribute to early treatment of atheroma. The aim of this study was three-fold: 1) To develop a method to accurately measure oligonucleotide (ODN) encapsulation within conventional liposomes; 2) To demonstrate encapsulation of NF-kB decoy ODN within ELIP; and 3) To detect release of encapsulated ODN from ELIP upon application of ultrasound.
Transient-state kinetics of apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) endonuclease 1 acting on an authentic AP site and commonly used substrate analogs: the effect of diverse metal ions and base mismatches.

Apurinic/apyrimidinic endonuclease 1 (APE1) is an Mg2+-dependent enzyme responsible for incising the DNA backbone 5′ to an apurinic/apyrimidinic (AP) site. Here, we use rapid quench flow (RQF) techniques to provide a comprehensive kinetic analysis of the strand-incision activity (kchemistry) of APE1 acting on an authentic AP site along with two widely used analogs, a reduced AP site and a tetrahydrofuran (THF) site. In the presence of biologically relevant Mg2+, APE1 incises all three substrates at a rate faster than the resolution of the RQF, ≥700 s–1. To obtain quantitative values of kchemistry and to facilitate a comparison of the authentic substrate versus the substrate analogs, we replaced Mg2+ with Mn2+ or Ni2+ or introduced a mismatch 5′ to the lesion site. Both strategies were sufficient to slow kchemistry and resulted in rates within the resolution of the RQF. In all cases where quantitative rates were obtained, kchemistry for the reduced AP site is indistinguishable from the authentic AP site. N...
Relationship and partner moderator variables increase self-efficacy of performing skin self-examination

Objective We sought to identify relationship and partner-related moderating variables that influence the effectiveness of both a couples and a solo learning intervention designed to increase skin self-examination behavior in a sample of patients at risk for developing melanoma. Methods Patients received a brief intervention designed to teach skin self-examination skills and were randomly assigned into either a solo learning condition where the intervention was administered to the patient alone (n = 65) or a couple learning condition where the intervention was administered to the patient and patient's spouse or cohabiting partner (n = 65). The main outcome measure was skin self-examination self-efficacy, which is the strongest mediator of skin self-examination. The relationship moderator variables measured were quality of relationship, partner motivation, and ability to assist in implementation of the intervention. Results When quality of the marital/partner relationship was high, the beneficial effects provided by the partner being included in the skin self-examination skills training were the highest and patients exhibited higher self-efficacy. Similar effects were observed for those with partners who were motivated to implement the intervention, and for those with partners high in ability to provide support. Limitations Study limitations include the need to evaluate whether the effects can be sustained long term and the exclusion of patients with melanoma without partners. Conclusions The amount of beneficial effects gained by the patient from the skin self-examination intervention was influenced by marital/partner relationships. Clinicians may need to consider these relationship and partner characteristics when communicating to patients about skin cancer screening.
Characterization of Certain Minimal Rank Designs

Dillon asked whether the all-1 vector is in the binary code of a square (symmetric) design with parameters (22m, 22m?1?2m?1, 22m?2?2m?1) and dimension 2m+2. In this paper we show that the answer to this question is yes. This result gives a characterization of designs with these parameters and minimal 2-rank as SDP designs. Our result also allows us to remove a hypothesis from a theorem of Dillon and Schatz relating difference sets in elementary abelian 2-groups to SDP designs. Along the way we prove results about any designs with the parameters of the residual and derived designs. One of the results deals with a divisibility property that characterizes the elliptic and hyperbolic designs.
Forward and backward π− + p → Ko + Λo/Σo at 4 GeV/c

Abstract The angular distributions near 0o and 180o of associated production π− + p → Ko + Λo/Σo have been measured at 4 GeV/c. The slope of the backward peak is about 1 4 that of the forward peak, and the polarization of the forward Λo's is small.
Preliminary radiolarian zonation for Late Devonian through Permian time

Nine time-successive radiolarian assemblages of wide geographic distribution are recognizable in Upper Devonian through Permian rocks. Identification of assemblages in bedded chert terranes provides a means of dating where other evidence is lacking. Changes in nature of these radiolarian populations with time possibly coincided with inferred fluctuations of world sea level.
The Virtual Reality Transurethral Prostatic Resection Trainer: Evaluation of Discriminate Validity

Purpose: To understand how urologists acquire resection skills we analyzed factors correlating with favorable resection metrics in groups defined as experts, residents and novices. We then evaluated discriminate validity by determining factors correlating with proficiency among individuals in the expert, resident and novice groups.Materials and Methods: A total of 136 subjects completed the protocol, including 72 urologists, 45 residents and 19 novices. After a pre-task questionnaire and training video subjects performed a standardized 5-minute resection task. Primary metrics were gm resected, blood loss, irrigant volume used, foot pedal use and differential time spent with orientation, cutting or coagulation.Results: Among experts larger resection correlated with more time spent cutting (p <0.001). In contrast, increased coagulation time correlated with gm resected in the novice group (p = 0.001). The number of transurethral prostate resections that residents reported having done in the real operating ro...
‘Blaming the victim’ vis-à-vis child-focused Western law: implications of evidence-based policy-making for the rescue of Black families

‘Blaming the victim’ policies remain largely intact under the facade of family law and policy construction. Based on empirical evidence, lack of employment for Black men is a major factor in their inability to sustain the Black family as a functional unit. The existence of child-focused family laws has had a devastating effect upon the construction of family policies vis-a-vis Black men. Evidence-based policy-making (EBPM) is intended to provide a means for creating legislation independent of politics. EBPM is predicated on the most rigorous scientific evidence available from recognized experts in relevant fields. Accordingly, policy-makers loyal to the Black family may simultaneously rescue its children and play a pivotal role in its viability.
Travel-time relations for the upper mantle P-wave phases from central Alaskan data

This paper describes the travel-time relations for the upper mantle P -wave phases in the epicentral distance range of 700 to 4500 km. The short-period data analyzed were from underground nuclear explosions in central Aleutian and Nevada regions and from earthquakes located along the north Pacific seismic belts; the data were recorded by the central Alaskan seismic network. The observations could be explained by three linear relations: the first extends from 700 to 1900 km with apparent velocity of 8.29 km/sec, the second is between 1900 and 2850 km with apparent velocity of 10.39 km/sec and the third extends from 2850 to 4500 km with apparent velocity 12.58 km/sec. In the epicentral distance range of 1900 to 2600 km, the first P -wave arrivals from earthquakes in the Aleutian area were found systematically late by 3 to 4 sec compared with those from central Aleutian underground nuclear explosions. This discrepancy in travel times has been interpreted as due to mislocations and errors in origin time for earthquakes in the above area. Also, the well-known 400- and 600-km discontinuities in the upper mantle have been correlated with the sharp changes in travel-time gradients at 1900 and 2850 km, respectively.
La conclusion d' "Indiana"

La conclusion d’Indiana est analysee ici dans le cadre de la double contrainte presenteepar deux modeles du roman, La Chaumiere indienne de Bernardin de Saint-Pierre, et LaProfession de foi du vicaire savoyard dans l’Emile. Sont mis en evidence, au-dela de correspondances portant sur la methode, le parcours narratif, et la description de la nature, lescontours d’une histoire romantique de la conscience et de l’interiorite, l’importance du typedu paria vertueux, et celle du culte de la simplicite. En esquissant une pastorale utopique quirompt aussi bien avec les lois du roman qu’avec les lumieres et les lois de la modernite, laconclusion de Sand presente une representation sensible d’un espace de liberte, et donne unsens antimoderne au projet romanesque.
Differential Expression of KAI1 Metastasis Suppressor Protein in Renal Cell Tumor Histological Subtypes

Purpose: The similar appearance of renal tumor histological subtypes can complicate differential diagnoses. This problem is most notable for the chromophobe subtype of renal cell carcinoma, which can be histologically indistinguishable from oncocytoma with investigational molecular markers failing to provide reliable differentiation. KAI1 is a metastasis suppressor gene whose expression correlates inversely with the metastatic potential of most solid tumor cancer types. We tested the hypothesis that KAI1 is differentially expressed among renal tumor histological subtypes.Materials and Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for KAI1 protein was performed in 152 nephrectomy specimens, including 48 clear cell, 35 papillary and 31 chromophobe renal cell carcinoma samples, 28 oncocytomas and 10 tumor-free kidneys. Staining was scored as none/minimal, low, moderate or high. KAI1 mRNA levels were compared by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction in an additional 22 chromophobe renal cell ca...
On the role of monoterpene chemistry in the remote continental boundary layer

Abstract. The formation of organic nitrates (RONO2) represents an important NOx (NOx = NO + NO2) sink in the remote and rural continental atmosphere, thus impacting ozone production and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation. In these remote and rural environments, the organic nitrates are primarily derived from biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) such as isoprene and monoterpenes. Although there are numerous studies investigating the formation of SOA from monoterpenes, there are few studies investigating monoterpene gas-phase chemistry. Using a regional chemical transport model with an extended representation of organic nitrate chemistry, we investigate the processes controlling the production and fate of monoterpene nitrates (MTNs) over the boreal forest of Canada. MTNs account for 5–12% of total oxidized nitrogen over the boreal forest, and production via NO3 chemistry is more important than production via OH when the NOx mixing ratio is greater than 75 pptv. The regional responses are investigated for two oxidation pathways of MTNs: one that returns NOx to the atmosphere and one that converts MTNs into a nitrate that behaves like HNO3. The likely situation is in between, and these two assumptions bracket the uncertainty about this chemistry. In the case where the MTNs return NOx after oxidation, their formation represents a net chemical NOx loss that exceeds the net loss to peroxy nitrate formation. When oxidation of MTNs produces a molecule that behaves like HNO3, HNO3 and MTNs are nearly equal chemical sinks for NOx. This uncertainty in the oxidative fate of MTNs results in changes in NOx of 8–14%, in O3 of up to 3%, and in OH of 3–6% between the two model simulations.
Physician input into guardianship cases involving the elderly

The determination of an elderly person's competence in guardianship decisions rests primarily on the written statement of an examining physician. We evaluated this physican input by retrospectively reviewing 40 competency case files of persons over age 60 from the Harris County Probate Courts. Of the 40 physician letters reviewed: 10 (25%) did not include a medical or psychiatric diagnosis; 37 (92.5%) did not include results of a formal mental status exam; 19 (47.5%) of the letters were essentially unsupported statements of incompetence. Finally, 29 (72.5%) of the cases failed to include a statement on prognosis or potential need for reevaluation. The medical information transmitted to the courts in guardianship cases involving the elderly was inadequate for the courts to make informed decisions. Guidelines for evaluation were developed to facilitate the transmission of adequate patient data, and to direct physicians as to what information is needed by the court in making guardianship decisions.
Characterization of the epidemic influenza B viruses isolated during 2004–2005 season in Taiwan

To characterize the antigenic and genetic relationships of influenza B viruses isolated during the 2004–2005 season, a total of 11,707 clinical respiratory samples were tested of which 1572 (13.5%) were positive for influenza (463 type A and 1109 type B influenza). Of the type B viruses, 348 isolates collected in different parts of Taiwan were further analyzed. Viruses belonging to both influenza B lineages, B/Yamagata/16/88 (B/Yam) and B/Victoris/2/87 (B/Vic) were detected, although an increasing number of B/Vic lineage isolates was obtained as the season progressed. Recent B/Vic-lineage isolates were found to have additional amino acid substitutions compared to isolates from previous seasons, indicating that viruses of this lineage continue to evolve significantly and may have the capacity to become the dominant influenza B viruses worldwide. Results presented in this report demonstrate that antigenically and genetically distinct viruses within both B/Vic and B/Yam lineages co-circulate and that reassortment among these two lineages occurs frequently contributing to the genetic diversity of the circulating strains.
Characterization and expression of the human rhoH12 gene product.

The rho genes constitute an evolutionarily conserved family having significant homology to the ras oncogene family. These genes have been found in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Drosophila melanogaster, rat, and human; their 21,000-dalton products show strong conservation of structure. In humans, three classes of rho cDNA clones have been identified which differ by virtue of the presence of variable C-terminal domains: rhoH12, rhoH6, and rhoH9. The predicted 193 amino acids of human rhoH12 protein show 88% similarity with those of the human rhoH6 clone, 96.8% similarity with those of the Aplysia rho product, and 81.8% similarity with those of the yeast RHO1 protein. Rat-1 and NIH 3T3 mouse fibroblasts were transfected with clones containing the normal human rhoH12 allele as well as the variants encoding valine in the place of the glycine and leucine in place of the gutamine normally found at residues 14 and 64, respectively. These replacements mirror the changes responsible for oncogenic activation of the related ras-encoded p21 proteins. These mutant rhoH12 clone alleles did not cause focus formation in monolayers or growth in soft agar. However, amplification of normal rhoH12 via contransfection with a dihydrofolate reductase gene resulted in colonies that displayed reduced dependence on serum for growth,more » grew to higher saturation densities, and were tumorigenic when inoculated into nude mice. Normal p21rho proteins was detected in the transfected cell lines as well as in normal cell lines by Western immunoblot and immunoprecipitation analysis with rabbit antibodies raised against the peptide corresponding to amino acids 122 to 135.« less
Impact of change in pore-fill material on P-wave velocity

The problem of predicting the change in seismic velocities (P-wave and S-wave) upon the change in pore-fill material properties is commonly known as substitution. For isotropic rocks, P- and S-wave velocities are fundamentally linked to the effective P-wave and shear moduli. The change in the S-wave velocity or shear modulus upon fluid substitution can be predicted with Gassmann’s equations starting only with the initial S-wave velocity. However, predicting changes in P-wave velocity or the P-wave modulus requires knowledge of the initial P- and S-wave velocities. We initiated a rigorous derivation of the P-wave modulus for fluid and solid substitution in monomineralic isotropic rocks for cases in which an estimate of the S-wave velocity or shear modulus is not available. For the general case of solid substitution, the exact equation for the P-wave modulus depends on parameters that are usually unknown. However, for fluid substitution, fewer parameters are required. As Poisson’s ratio increases for the mineral in the rock frame, the dependence of exact substitution on these unknown parameters decreases. As a result, in the absence of shear velocity, P-wave modulus fluid substitution can, for example, be performed with higher confidence for rocks with a calcite or dolomite frame than it can for rocks with quartz frame. We evaluated a recipe for applying the new P-wave modulus fluid substitution. This improves on existing work and is recommended for practice.
Social Computing and Governance in an Enterprise Service for Managing Business Processes

The enterprise has historically been ambivalent about Social Computing. Although dynamic communities, collaboration, innovation, and the wisdom of crowds were recognized as valuable, doubts about content quality and standards frequently overshadowed the benefits that Social Computing had already demonstrated outside the enterprise. In this paper, we describe how we have been challenged to add governance to an existing enterprise wiki designed for capturing, collaborating on, and evolving best practice business process assets. With the addition of governance, our goal has been to transform a best practice process wiki into an authoritative source for process assets for the enterprise, a repository for registering usage, tracking variations, and linking process assets to one another and to other assets (e.g. accounts) and a vehicle for continual improvement of process assets through annotation, rating, and collaboration. The extensive scope of the content in this project dictates that both the creation and the governance of the content be distributed to the appropriate level of the community. It also requires functions to assist users with leveraging potentially significant amount of user feedback. Overall, the focus of the project has been on maintaining the quality of the content while fostering its continuous improvement and relevance to the community.
Crystalline texture in hafnium diboride thin films grown by chemical vapor deposition

Abstract The texture evolution of hafnium diboride (HfB 2 ) thin films grown by chemical vapor deposition from the single source precursor Hf(BH 4 ) 4 was studied. Films grown on amorphous substrates show a (0 0 0 1) orientation at growth temperatures ⩽700 °C, but a (1 0 1 0) orientation at 800 °C and above. Single-crystal substrates greatly influence the preferred orientation and in-plane texture of the films: (1 0 1 0) orientation is favored on Si (0 0 1), whereas there is a strong tendency to grow in a (0 0 0 1) orientation on Si (1 1 1). At a growth temperature of 950 °C, HfB 2 can be epitaxially grown on Si (1 1 1) substrates.
Narrow soils and intricate soil patterns in Southern New England

Abstract Narrow bands of soils, 5 to 30 m wide, are common in southern New England immediately bordering wet areas, along drainageways, and where soil parent materials overlap or grade into one another. On the basis of detailed observations along 16- and 19-km trenches across representative landscapes, soil bodies less than 30 m wide occupy about 20% of the southern New England area. Yet on recently published soil survey maps such narrow soils seldom are delineated because of scale limitations, and the delineated areas less than 30 m wide occupy only about 1% of mapped areas. Narrow soils in forested areas are often more important than their width would indicate because of their influence on site quality, land use and natural-vegetation distribution.
Set-point boundary control for a Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation

This work is concerned with a set point control problem for a one dimensional Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation. The objective is to design dynamic and static controllers to drive the state of the plant at the ends of the spatial domain to desired constant reference values. To solve this problem we employ the same zero dynamics design methodology recently used to solve a variety of tracking and disturbance rejection problems for linear and nonlinear systems. Since there is not sufficient room here to present complete details of the proofs we outline the main steps and refer to a forthcoming more general work for complete proofs. In this paper we describe both dynamic and static control laws and present a numerical example.
The power of protest: images from South Korea’s road to democracy

This photo essay reflects on the period of my photojournalism career based in Seoul, South Korea, covering the student-led pro-democracy movement of the mid 1980s. The movement succeeded through th...
APCO Project 25 wireless data services for smaller public safety agencies

Digital data messages are very important in modern communication systems and the advanced data technologies that rely on the Internet Protocol have opened the door to a wide range of IP-based applications and services. With this trend in mind, we have implemented a system that will allow smaller law enforcement agencies to enable data services in their cruisers in a cost effective way, with a high level of reliability. Towards this goal, we have implemented an inexpensive Software Defined APCO Project 25 Data Base Station that utilizes the standard IP network interface. This paper describes the overall design of the data base station, its implementation in the preexisting radio network infrastructure, and the testing process. Laboratory tests have produced promising and encouraging results prior to real world deployment.
Intelligent Nutrition Service for Personalized Dietary Guidelines and Lifestyle Intervention

Effective dietary guidelines are essential to combat various chronic diseases. This study aimed to develop an intelligent diet management service for providing personalized dietary guidelines. Unlike existing methods that merely follow dogmatic nutrition guidelines, we proposed a flexible personalized service selection and composition method considering various individual requirements to dynamically deliver a fine-grained meal plan. In addition, intelligent input, which aims to revolutionize the way people on diet selection, is introduced to reduce the users' efforts in food searching. The intelligent input employs image recognition techniques alongside onboard nutritional information to give feedback as to whether a particular food/dish is appropriate or not for a user on a specific diet. Users can thus interact with the diet management system more easily and intuitively via the intelligent input technique. The services generated by the proposed method are expected to potentially improve the overall health and make behavioral change toward healthier life style.
p38 Kinase Is a Negative Regulator of Angiotensin II Signal Transduction in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Effects on Na+/H+ Exchange and ERK1/2

Activation of the Na+/H+ exchanger isoform-1 (NHE-1) by angiotensin II is an early signal transduction event that may regulate vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) growth and migration. Many signal transduction events stimulated by angiotensin II are mediated by the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases. To define their roles in angiotensin II-mediated NHE-1 activity, VSMCs were treated with angiotensin II and the activities of p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) were measured. Angiotensin II rapidly (peak, 5 minutes) activated p38 and ERK1/2, whereas JNK was activated more slowly (peak, 30 minutes). Because angiotensin II stimulated Na+/H+ exchange within 5 minutes, the effects of p38 and ERK1/2 antagonists on Na+/H+ exchange were studied. The MEK-1 inhibitor PD98059 decreased ERK1/2 activity and Na+/H+ exchange stimulated by angiotensin II. In contrast, the specific p38 antagonist SKF-86002 increased Na+/H+ exchange. Two mechanisms were identified that may mediate the effects of p38 and SKF-86002 on angiotensin II-stimulated Na+/H+ exchange. First, angiotensin II activation of ERK1/2 was increased 1. 5- to 2.5-fold (depending on assay technique) in the presence of SKF-86002, demonstrating that p38 negatively regulates ERK1/2. Second, the ability of angiotensin II-stimulated MAP kinases to phosphorylate a glutathione S-transferase fusion protein containing amino acids 625 to 747 of NHE-1 in vitro was analyzed. The relative activities of endogenous immunoprecipitated p38, ERK1/2, and JNK were 1.0, 2.0, and 0.05 versus control, respectively suggesting that p38 and ERK1/2, but not JNK, may phosphorylate NHE-1 in VSMC. These data indicate important roles for p38 and ERK1/2 in angiotensin II-mediated regulation of the Na+/H+ exchanger in VSMC.
Targeted Approaches for the Treatment of Thrombocytopenia

Molecular targeting of novel therapies has the promise of inducing very specific biologic effects. In clinical hematology and oncology, molecular targeting of specific cell surface receptors with erythropoietin, G-CSF, or GM-CSF has been used to stimulate erythropoiesis and granulopoiesis, respectively. Although anemia and neutropenia can be corrected with targeted therapy, safe and effective treatment of thrombocytopenia remains an unmet medical need. While platelet transfusions still represent the standard of care for severe thrombocytopenia, there are several negative aspects associated with their use, including issues of availability, transient effectiveness, costs, adverse effects, negative perception by patients, and infection considerations. Despite extensive investigations of cytokines which act primarily on primitive levels of hematopoiesis, pharmacologic interventions to date have failed to elevate platelet counts in a reliable, highly effective, and well-tolerated fashion. Recombinant human interleukin-11 has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia but has only modest efficacy and significant side effects. The identification of c-Mpl as the thrombopoietin receptor has opened new avenues for the therapeutic manipulation of thrombopoiesis. The development of specific c-Mpl ligands, including recombinant human thrombopoietin (rHuTPO), has allowed investigators to target this receptor for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia and other medical disorders characterized by extremely low platelet counts. As a potent stimulator of platelet production, rHuTPO has the potential to reduce the need for platelet transfusions and their attendant complications.
Genetic and Evolutionary Analysis of Mutations in the gusA Gene That Cause the Absence of β-Glucuronidase Activity in Escherichia coli O157:H7

Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 do not exhibit beta-glucuronidase (GUD) activity but carry the gusA gene (uidA) that encodes for GUD. In trans-complementation, the gusA gene cloned from the GUD-positive variant strain 493-89 effectively restored GUD activity in O157:H7 strain 35150. Comparison of gusA sequences from the GUD-negative 35150 strain to that of 493-89 revealed several base mutations, including a guanosine (G) dinucleotide insertion that caused a frameshift in the 35150 gusA gene and introduced a predicted premature termination codon. This explains the absence of GUD activity in O157:H7. A 35150 gusA construct from which the G-G insertion was deleted restored activity in GUD-negative O157:H7 transformants. The G-G insertion was present in all GUD-negative O157:H7 strains but was absent in their GUD-positive variants. The G-G insertion that produced the characteristic GUD-negative phenotype to O157:H7 strains appeared later than the other gusA mutations in the evolutionary emergence of O157:H7.
Appreciating the beauty of science ideas: Teaching for aesthetic understanding

A large literature exists in which scientists describe their field as beautiful and the work they do as inspiring and passionate. Science teaching should strive to foster learning of substantive and powerful science ideas in ways that connect to the beauty inherent in those ideas. Our conception of learning science, that of learning for aesthetic understanding, achieves this goal by building on a framework of aesthetic experiences proposed by Dewey. This study is an articulation of the major components of aesthetic understanding, pedagogy designed to foster it, and the results of a pilot study designed to investigate its effectiveness. Responses to a survey and a semistructured interview are compared for students in two, fourth grade classrooms. The instructional goals were different in each classroom; one taught for the goal of aesthetic understanding, the second for the goal of conceptual understanding. Survey results indicate that the pedagogical moves were effective in scaffolding aesthetic understanding in treatment class students. More interesting, however, are student reports of the quality of the learning experience in the treatment class. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Sci Ed87:574–587, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/sce.1054
Bioactive small molecules reveal antagonism between the integrated stress response and sterol-regulated gene expression

Phosphorylation of translation initiation factor 2alpha (eIF2alpha) coordinates a translational and transcriptional program known as the integrated stress response (ISR), which adapts cells to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. A screen for small molecule activators of the ISR identified two related compounds that also activated sterol-regulated genes by blocking cholesterol biosynthesis at the level of CYP51. Ketoconazole, a known CYP51 inhibitor, had similar effects, establishing that perturbed flux of precursors to cholesterol activates the ISR. Surprisingly, compound-mediated activation of sterol-regulated genes was enhanced in cells with an ISR-blocking mutation in the regulatory phosphorylation site of eIF2alpha. Furthermore, induction of the ISR by an artificial drug-activated eIF2alpha kinase reduced the level of active sterol regulatory element binding protein (SREBP) and sterol-regulated mRNAs. These findings suggest a mechanism by which interactions between sterol metabolism, the ISR, and the SREBP pathway affect lipid metabolism during ER stress.
Central Role of the BvgS Receiver as a Phosphorylated Intermediate in a Complex Two-component Phosphorelay *

Two-component systems use phosphorylation reactions to regulate stimulus/response pathways. In Bordetella pertussis, a human respiratory pathogen, the infectious cycle of the organism is controlled by the BvgAS two-component system. BvgS has similarities to sensor and response regulator components and is an autophosphorylating kinase that phosphorylates BvgA. BvgA, a response regulator, is a DNA-binding protein that activates virulence gene transcription. Three phosphorylated BvgS domains, the transmitter, receiver, and C terminus, are essential for signal transduction. We now demonstrate that the BvgS transmitter is sufficient for autophosphorylation but is unable to phosphorylate the C terminus or BvgA. The BvgS receiver regulates several phenotypes: dephosphorylation of both the BvgS transmitter and C terminus as well as transfer of a phosphoryl group from the transmitter to the C terminus. Our results indicate that BvgAS signal transduction initiates with autophosphorylation of the transmitter followed by phosphotransfer to the receiver. The phosphorylated receiver can donate to the C terminus or to water. The phosphorylated C terminus is then able to transfer the phosphoryl group to BvgA.