cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Extra-transcriptional functions of RNA Polymerase III complexes: TFIIIC as a potential global chromatin bookmark.

Abstract RNA polymerase III (Pol III) is one of three eukaryotic transcription complexes, and was identified as the complex responsible for production of transfer RNA and a limited number of other small RNAs. Pol III transcription at tRNA genes (tDNAs) requires the binding of two transcription factor complexes, TFIIIC and TFIIIB. Recent evidence points to a larger role for the Pol III transcription system in various other nuclear processes, including effects on nucleosome positioning, global genome and sub-nuclear organization, and direct effects on RNA polymerase II (Pol II) transcription. These effects are perhaps mediated by recruitment of a host of other chromatin proteins, including Pol II transcription factors and chromatin enzymes. Extra-TFIIIC sites (ETC sites) are chromosomal locations bound by TFIIIC without the rest of the Pol III complex, and bound TFIIIC alone is also able to mediate additional functions. These so called “extra-transcriptional effects” of the Pol III system are reviewed here, and a model is put forth suggesting that the TFIIIC transcription factor may act as a stably bound, global “bookmark” within chromatin to establish, maintain, or demarcate chromatin states as cells divide or change gene expression patterns.
Compromise Maximum Likelihood Estimators for Location

Abstract This article describes a new approach for constructing robust location estimators. These estimators are constructed to be nearly optimal in small sample sizes simultaneously for two or more possible underlying shapes of the density of the data. The estimators are weighted averages of the maximum likelihood estimators for the densities considered, where the weights depend on the sample through the likelihood functions. Because of this relationship to the usual MLE's, these estimators are called compromise maximum likelihood estimators (CMLE's). For the CMLE's to exhibit good robustness properties, the densities used to construct the CMLE's should be chosen to, in a sense, “span” a reasonable range of possible underlying distributions of the data encountered in practice. For example, to construct CMLE's with the usual robustness properties, that is, which perform well both for narrow-tailed Gaussian data and for data containing outliers or from wide-tailed distributions, the CMLE's might be constru...
Local Structural Changes Around Charged Dangling Bonds

Tight-binding total energy calculations are used to describe the changes in local structure following either electron or hole capture by a neutral dangling bond in computer generated a-Si:H models. After the change in charge state, the structure is allowed to relax by a steepest descent energy minimization procedure. Generally the local bond angles increase (decrease) rapidly by 310°in transitions from the D0 to the D+ (D-) configurations. The displacement of nearest neighbor atoms and nearby H atoms is large (more than 0.2 A), but displacement of distant atoms is generally much smaller. Calculated optical transition levels have the D- level below D0 and the D+ level above D0. The fast relaxation of the charged defect configurations suggest a smooth energy surface for the relaxation.
TCT-461 Bivalirudin Versus Unfractionated Heparin in Percutaneous Coronary Intervention for Stable Angina: A Randomized Clinical Trial (STATUS-PCI)

Few direct comparisons between unfractionated heparin (UFH) monotherapy vs. bivalirudin (Angiomax, The Medicine's Company Inc., Parsippany, NJ) for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with stable angina exists in the modern era of dual anti-platelet therapy. STATUS-PCI is a
Coexpression of interleukin-8 receptors in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

background Interleukin 8 (IL-8) is an important cytokine involved in tumor growth and angiogenesis in a variety of malignancies. We hypothesize that IL-8 plays an important role in the cellular proliferation and angiogenesis seen in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and set out to identify its receptors, IL-8RA and IL-8RB. methods Immunohistochemical analysis was performed on specimens from 38 HNSCC patients with stage I to IV disease and control tissues. results All of cancer specimens demonstrated positive staining for IL-8RA. The IL-8RA staining of microvessel endothelial cells was seen in 51%. The IL-8RB pattern was similar to the IL-8RA pattern in that 97% of cancer sections demonstrated positive cancer cell staining, and 74% of the specimens demonstrated positive staining for microvessel endothelial cells. conclusion Our studies demonstrate that IL-8 receptors are expressed by cancer cells and microvessel endothelial cells in HNSCC, suggesting that IL-8 may act in an autocrine/paracrine fashion to stimulate cellular proliferation and angiogenesis.
High temperature annealing effects on chromel (Ni90Cr10) thin films and interdiffusion study for sensing applications

Abstract Metal embedded thin film thermocouples are very attractive for various applications in harsh environments. One promising technique to embed thin films micro sensors is diffusion bonding, which requires high temperatures and pressures typically in a vacuum. In this study, high temperature annealing effects on chromel (Ni90Cr10) thin film, an important sensor material as one of the components in type K thermocouple, were investigated in a diffusion bonding environment. Annealing was carried out at 800 °C for one hour in a diffusion bonder under vacuum without applying pressure. Under such conditions; surface, interface and interdiffusion phenomena were investigated using different characterization techniques including X-ray Diffraction, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy, and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy. Results indicate that the present combination of dielectrics is quite reliable and Ni90Cr10 films of 500 nm thickness can be used for applications at least up to 800 °C due to a protective thin chromium oxide layer formation on top of the sensor film during annealing.
Pharmacokinetic analysis in serum of genistein administered subcutaneously to neonatal mice

Abstract Genistein, the principal soy isoflavone, was previously shown to induce uterine adenocarcinomas by 18 months of age in female CD-1 mice following administration by subcutaneous injections on postnatal days 1–5. A serum pharmacokinetic analysis of genistein in male and female mice treated identically showed that: maximal concentrations of total (conjugated+aglycone) genistein in females (6.8±1.4 μM) and males (3.8±1.1 μM, mean±SD) were comparable to those previously reported from dietary exposures in adult rats or in human infants consuming soy formulas; the average fraction present as active aglycone (31%) was similar to those in fetal and neonatal rats from placental and lactational exposures; and elimination half-times were longer than those in rats (three- to seven-fold) and adult humans (two- to three-fold). These results are consistent with a diminished capacity for enzymatic conjugation of genistein, based on the ontogeny, as an important determinant of estrogenicity in neonatal mice.
Congenital absence of the vas deferens and unilateral renal agenesis: implications for patient and family

Background and aims At routine groin surgery in male paediatric patients occasionally the vas deferens may be absent. This finding usually leads to investigations to establish the status of the contralateral vas deferens and the status of the kidneys. It is not uncommon to find either an ipsilateral renal agenesis or congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens. The latter finding prompts a test for cystic fibrosis. We report three patients who upon investigation were found to have the rare combination of congenital bilateral absence of the vas deferens and unilateral renal agenesis, and discuss the possible embryological basis, the clinical management and the long-term implications of these findings.
CHOICE AND STABILITY OF YOUNG CHILDREN'S PREFERENCES FOR PHYSICAL-ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING CHARACTERISTICS

Summmy.-The present study investigated preschool children's (17 boys and 30 girls) environmental preferences in size, shape, color, complexity, texlure and lighting. Using a guided story-walk as a prop, each characteristic was presented to the child in simplified contexts incorporating the theme of home and its surroundings. Young children discriminate, in selected fashion, in their preferential responses to physical-environmental characteristics of the environment, with color and texture serving as salient dimensions for the boys and girls and also among the 24 younger children, aged 3 to 4 yr. Stability of choices across the two settings characterized the preferences of both younger and older preschool children. Children's knowledge and use of physical settings has emerged over the last several decades as a major focus of research inquiry (Barker, 1968; Hart, 1979, Siegel & Cousins, 1983; G. T. Moore, 1985; Frost & Sunlin, 1985; R. C. Moore, 1986). While data accumulate, several broad conclusions may be drawn from the growing literature. As van Vliet (1985) observes, "in the drama of children's lives, the physical environment is a requisite stage providing children with access to different character casts and opportunities for different role repertoires" (p. 65). Moreover, studies have shown that not only do physical settings influence children's behavior (G. T. Moore, 1986) but that organismic factors such as the child's developmental starus (Cousins, Siegel, & Maxwell, 1983), as well as sex (Marhews, 1986) appear as important determinants in the child's understanding and use of its environment. Knowledge of children's awareness and response to physical setting, while growing, nevertheless, is presently restricted, particularly, for younger children. Most directed inquiries of children have been conducted during the middle childhood years and later. Consequently, we lack comparable data on how young children, as sources of information, perceive and interpret their environment. METHOD The present study was undertaken to explore preschool children's choices, utilizing a preference paradigm, of physical characteristics (size, shape, color, complexity, texture, lighting) commonly associated with environmental settings. Utilizing a guided story-walk as a prop, each characteristic was sys
Hospital mortality risk adjustment for heart failure patients using present on admission diagnoses: improved classification and calibration.

Background and objective Heart failure patient mortality rates are a focus of hospital quality assessment. This study examines whether comprehensive use of diagnoses identified as present on admission improves methods for comparing hospital mortality rates. Research design California hospital mortality rates are assessed using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Inpatient Quality Indicator for heart failure, which uses selected diagnoses identified as present on admission. These rates are compared with rates calculated using comprehensive adjustments for diagnoses identified as present on admission. Models are compared to assess the accuracy of classification and to compare differences in hospitals identified with lower or higher than expected mortality. Subjects The study included 91,511 discharge records for patients with heart failure from 365 California hospitals for patients discharged in 2007. Results Every aspect of statistical model performance (discrimination, classification, calibration, and explanatory power) was improved by using more comprehensive adjustments for diagnoses identified as present on admission. The number of hospitals originally identified with higher than expected mortality was reduced by 50%. Conclusions More comprehensive use of diagnoses identified as present on admission improves the performance of mortality risk adjustment methods, and these improvements meaningfully change the results of hospital mortality rate comparisons.
Re Orient: Change in Asian Societies

Acknowledgments List of Tables Introduction 1. Globalisation and Insulation in Asia 2. State, Society, Individual 3. Human Rights 4. Ethnic Minorities 5. Economic and Social Development 6. Patterns of Population Change 7. Environmental Impact 8. Family Matters 9. The World of Work 10. Media, Communication, Censorship 11. Using and Creating Knowledge Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index
Reversible inhibition/activation of olefin metathesis: a kinetic investigation of ROMP and RCM reactions with Grubbs' catalyst.

The metathesis activity of Grubbs' catalyst 1 was investigated in the presence of N-donor ligands (1-methylimidazole [MIM], 4-(N,N-dimethylamino)pyridine [DMAP], pyridine, and 1-octylimidazole [OIM]). Ring opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) reactions of cyclooctene (COE), bulk-ROMP reactions of COE and norbornadiene (NBD), and ring closing metathesis (RCM) reactions of diethyl diallylmalonate (DEDAM) were conducted containing various equivalents of N-donor with respect to catalyst. ROMP reactions could be stopped using MIM (1−5 equiv) and DMAP (2−5 equiv), and slowed with pyridine (1−5 equiv) by factors >100, in benzene solution for 24 h. The stopped reactions could be initiated with excess phosphoric acid (H3PO4), and the reactions proceeded faster than with uninhibited Grubbs' catalyst in the first 4 min after reactivation. Thereafter, the reaction proceeded at the same rate as the reaction with the uninhibited catalyst. ROMP reactions in neat COE and NBD could be inhibited for 72 h using 2 equiv ...
Asplenia syndrome—Risk factors for early unfavorable outcome

As medical and surgical management of congenital heart disease in infancy continues to improve, severe and complex defects are increasingly recognized as the source of mortality and long-term morbidity. The asplenia syndrome has a very poor prognosis; indeed, in 1962, Roberts and associates1 stated that “the finding of asplenia and situs inversus in a patient with congenital heart disease virtually precludes…corrective or even palliative surgical procedures.” As part of a study of embryologic timing of the syndrome,2 we reviewed 519 autopsy cases in an attempt to define risk factors associated with early unfavorable outcome.
Seff-Handicapping and Interpersonal Trade-Offs: The Effects of Claimed Self-Handicaps on Observers' Performance Evaluations and Feedback

Male subjects evaluated the performance of targets who, prior to and during the performance, offered no excuse, claimed intended low effort, claimed anxiety, or claimed drug impairment. Cross-cutting the excuse manipulation was the publicity of the feedback; half the subjects believed their evaluations were private, and half believed they would have to communicate their evaluations to the target. Subjects evaluated objectively equivalent performances more negatively if they came from an excuse-making target than a no-excuse target. Subjects provided less favorable feedback to targets claiming low effort or drug impairment than to those citing anxiety or no excuse. Depending on the handicap claimed, observers either discounted ability (claimed low effort) or inferred lower ability from perceived poorer performance (claimed anxiety or claimed drug impairment). Implications for the interpersonal consequences of self-handicapping and the self-perpetuating nature of such strategies are discussed.
Functional localization of a "Time Keeper" function separate from attentional resources and task strategy.

The functional neuroanatomy of time estimation has not been well-documented. This research investigated the fMRI measured brain response to an explicit, prospective time interval production (TIP) task. The study tested for the presence of brain activity reflecting a primary time keeper function, distinct from the brain systems involved either in conscious strategies to monitor time or attentional resource and other cognitive processes to accomplish the task. In the TIP task participants were given a time interval and asked to indicate when it elapsed. Two control tasks (counting forwards, backwards) were administered, in addition to a dual task format of the TIP task. Whole brain images were collected at 1.5 Tesla. Analyses (n = 6) yielded a statistical parametric map (SPM ?z?) reflecting time keeping and not strategy (counting, number manipulation) or attention resource utilization. Additional SPM ?z?s involving activation associated with the accuracy and magnitude the of time estimation response are presented. Results revealed lateral cerebellar and inferior temporal lobe activation were associated with primary time keeping. Behavioral data provided evidence that the procedures for the explicit time judgements did not occur automatically and utilized controlled processes. Activation sites associated with accuracy, magnitude, and the dual task provided indications of the other structures involved in time estimation that implemented task components related to controlled processing. The data are consistent with prior proposals that the cerebellum is a repository of codes for time processing, but also implicate temporal lobe structures for this type of time estimation task.
The Pilgrim's Progress in the Context of Bunyan's Dialogue with the Radicals

My text from The Author's Apology suggests two reasons for the extraordinary popularity that The Pilgrim's Progress enjoyed for more than two centuries. First, despite its adherence to a rather harsh doctrine of double predestination, which divides the world into the saved and the damned, it is essentially a work of reconciliation, demonstrating the fundamental compatibility of ancient paradigms (“Gospelstrains”) and modern experience (“Novelty”). Second, it invites, even necessitates, the active engagement of its readers, who will enlist their knowledge of the Bible to recognize the “sound and honest Gospel-strains” beneath or behind or within what seems a novel. But that Bunyan felt somewhat ambivalent about this achievement is indicated here, I think, by his choice of the word “seems” to characterize the surface of his book. This ambivalence derives from the author's position midway between the hermeneutical procedures of his chief precursor, Martin Luther, and those of the radical Protestants with whom he had come in contact from the time that he experienced his conversion.
Public health leadership development: factors contributing to growth.

Objective This study compares pre- and posttest Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI-Self) scores for public health leaders who completed the Regional Institute for Health and Environmental Leadership (RIHEL) training program at least 2 years earlier; it seeks to identify factors contributing to changes in practices and overall leadership development for public health and environment leaders. Participants/setting Sixty-seven alumni who completed the yearlong RIHEL program between 1999 and 2002 participated through mailed surveys and phone interviews. Main outcome measures The Leadership Practices Inventory, an alumni leadership development survey, and interviews provided evidence for positive change in leadership practices. Results Alumni experienced significant increases in pre- to post-LPI scores, collaborative leadership practices, and communication skills consistent with those taught in the RIHEL program. Women presented higher Encourage the Heart scores than men. Years of public health service negatively correlated with Total Change scores of LPI. The RIHEL program as a training intervention was credited significantly with changes in leadership practices for alumni studied. Nine influencing factors were identified for leadership development and are embedded in a Leadership Development Influence Model. These include self-awareness, a leadership development framework, and skills important in multiple leadership situations. Confidence was both an encouraging factor and a resulting factor to the increased exemplary leadership practices. Conclusion Leadership development in public health must include multiple factors to create consistent increases in exemplary leadership practices. While the study focused on the leadership development process itself, RIHEL training was reported as having a positive, significant impact overall in participant leadership development. This study adds research data as a foundation for training content areas of focus. Studies to further test the Leadership Development Influence Model will allow public health training programs to pinpoint training where it can make a difference to improve leadership development in the public health sector.
Teaching gender and sexuality diversity in foundations of education courses in the US

This article is a summary of comprehensive units on gender and sexuality diversity that the authors have used in teacher education courses in undergraduate and graduate social foundations of education classes over several years. The course lesson plan includes a five‐part analysis of the following categories: biological sex; gender identity/sexual identity; gender roles; sexual behavior; and sexual orientation. The authors have experienced much success and positive student evaluation by using this approach. This is true even in religiously and politically conservative universities. The authors introduce the complexity of biology, gender roles, and gender identity, before addressing human sexuality. This helps to diffuse many stereotypes and misconceptions in the initial lessons.
Measurement of Nonuniform Power Frequency Electric Fields

The performance of free-body electric fieldmeters which have been calibrated for use in nearly uniform power frequency electric fields is examined under nonuniform field conditions. Theoretical and experimental results are presented which indicate that measurements can be made with small error.
Effect of radiofrequency power on laser induced fluorescence and emission spectrometry with an extended-sleeve inductively-coupled plasma torch

Abstract Relative laser-excited fluorescence and emission intensities as a function of RF power were measured for the Ca-I, Ca-II, Ba-I, Ba-II, Mg-I, Mg-H, Na-I and Cu-I lines with an extended inductively-coupled plasma (ICP) torch. In most cases, the relationships were different from those found in previous studies with a conventional short ICP torch. In some cases, unexpected double maxima or minima occurred. A study of the effect of an easily ionized element, potassium, on the fluorescence at the Ca-I and Ca-II lines with the extended-sleeve torch showed a considerably larger ionization interference than exists with the conventional short torch. The extended torch has found some use in laser-excited fluorescence and ICP-excited fluorescence, but researchers should be wary of unexpected variations with power and substantial ionization interferences.
Electric Field-Based Surface Integral Constraints for Helmholtz Decompositions of the Current on a Conductor

A new formulation for electromagnetic scattering from perfect electric conductors is presented. The new EFIE-hd formulation is based on the electric field integral equation (EFIE) and incorporates a Helmholtz decomposition (HD) of the current. Instead of using specialized basis functions, the HD is obtained by imposing appropriate surface integral constraints. It is shown that this strategy allows for the use of a locally corrected Nystrom discretization method for the resulting formulation. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate that the EFIE-hd is frequency stable and provides accurate solutions for the electric and magnetic fields at both high and low frequencies for simply connected structures. Examples for multiply connected structures are also provided.
Determination of the Mueller-Stokes matrix using fourier analysis

Abstract A general Fourier analysis of the Stokes parameters used for extracting the Mueller-Stokes matrix elements is made. The analysis shows that by using an elliptically polarized beam in conjunction with a rotating half-wave plate only a d.c. and fourth harmonic terms arise whose coefficients are the Mueller-Stokes matrix elements.
Determination of moisture and trace impurities in helium by he(23s) flowing afterglow

Abstract The He(2 3 s ) afterglow technique for the determination of trace impurities in helium utilizes the bimolecular, energy-transfer reactions of electronically metastable atoms with impurities and spectroscopic detection of the resulting emissions from molecules and transient fragments. The method has been successfully applied to the monitoring of H 2 O, CO 2 , CO, CH 4 , N 2 , and O 2 in the helium coolant of the high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR). The lower detection limits for these impurities are in the 0.1–10 ppm (cm 3 m -3 ) range using only photomultiplier tube current measurements, with a dynamic range of detection of 2–4 orders of magnitude, depending on the impurity. The apparatus, operating parameters, and methods of calibration are discussed.
Dietary omega-3 fatty acids as potential inhibitors of carcinogenesis: effect on DNA adduct formation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in mice and rats.

Abstract The heterocyclic amine 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5- b ]pyridine (PhIP) is carcinogenic in the CDF 1 mouse, causing lymphomas (spleen and lymph nodes) and in the F344 rat, causing mammary tumours in the female and colon tumours in the male. Dietary fish oil, a rich source of ω -3 fatty acids, exhibits chemopreventive properties in several rodent tumour models. The potential chemopreventive properties of dietary ω -3 fatty acid ethyl ester concentrate (O3C) were tested by evaluating its effects on the formation and removal of PhIP–DNA adducts. In the first experiment, a powdered AIN-76A diet containing 4.0% (w/w) O3C inhibited PhIP–DNA adduct formation in various organs of the CDF 1 mouse, but not in those of the F344 rat. In a subsequent, second experiment, groups of male CDF 1 mice were maintained for 43 days on AIN-76A diets containing the following percentages (w/w) of corn oil ethyl esters and O3C: 7.0 and 0, 5.5 and 1.5, 4.0 and 3.0, and 1.0 and 6.0, respectively. All animals received 0.04% (w/w) PhIP in the diet during weeks 3 and 4. Using 32 P-postlabelling assays, PhIP–DNA adducts were analysed in various organs and white blood cells (WBC) on days 1, 8 and 15 after removal of PhIP from the diet. In the liver, O3C-containing diets inhibited adduct formation at all three time points (40.3–60.0%, 53.4–75.7% and 43.3–64.3% on days 1, 8 and 15, respectively). In the spleen, inhibition was evident only on days 8 (35.4–38.8%) and 15 (38.4–56.5%). O3C diets inhibited adduct formation in the stomach, small intestine and caecum at all three time points (except in the stomach and caecum on day 15) amounting to 18.5–31.5% decreases in the stomach, 40.0–60.3% decreases in the small intestine and 24.4–31.4% decreases in the caecum. The extent of inhibition was not related to O3C concentration. In the colon and WBC, adduct levels were independent of the type of diet. In all organs, adduct levels decreased significantly over time, with day 15 levels being 6.3–31.6% of those on day 1. Rate of adduct removal was independent of the type of diet. It is concluded that dietary O3C inhibits PhIP–DNA adduct formation in a target organ (spleen) as well as in non-target organs (liver and gastrointestinal tract) of the CDF 1 mouse, but that the rate of adduct removal is independent of the O3C content of the diet.
“Standing by” Numbers and Statistics in Organizational Discourse Analysis

“What role, if any, do numbers and statistics have in your work as an organizational discourse analyst, and why?” was the question that Karen Tracy posed to me when putting together this colloquy. ...
In vitro culture of postimplantation hamster embryos.

Abstract In vitro culture of intact rat and mouse embryos has been described extensively, but information on the culture of other species is sparse. The present study examined some culture requirements of early somite stage hamster embryos and assessed the embryotoxic effects of sodium salicylate (SS), a direct acting chemical and cyclophosphamide (CP), a proteratogen, on these embryos. Hamster embryos explanted on gestation days (GD) 8 and 9 were cultured in Waymouth's embryo-hepatocyte co-cultivation medium (WEHC), 70% McCoy's SA medium-30% male rat serum (mmrs) or 100% male rat serum (mrs) for 24 hours under various oxygen concentrations. Embryos cultured GD 8 to 9 in the various media grew and differentiated much as they did in vivo, while embryos cultured GD 9 to 10 grew best in mmrs as compared to embryos at the same stage in vivo. Embryos exposed to SS in mmrs at concentrations of 250, 300, or 400 mg/ml showed dose related embryotoxic-ity which included cns defects, absence of hind limb bud formation, and lack of axial rotation. Hamster embryos co-cultivated with pregnant hamster hepatocytes and treated with 2.S, 6.25 and 12.5 (mg/ml of CP, showed dose-dependent toxicity when compared to co-cultivated controls. Hamster embryos develop extensively in culture over a 24 hour period. This system may therefore provide a valuable tool for evaluating the species differences of a variety of potential teratogens and embryotoxins and allow the comparison of these embryotoxic effects between rat, mouse and hamster during similar stages of organogenesis.
Processing of Emotional Reactivity and Emotional Memory over Sleep

Sleep enhances memories, particularly emotional memories. As such, it has been suggested that sleep deprivation may reduce posttraumatic stress disorder. This presumes that emotional memory consolidation is paralleled by a reduction in emotional reactivity, an association that has not yet been examined. In the present experiment, we used an incidental memory task in humans and obtained valence and arousal ratings during two sessions separated either by 12 h of daytime wake or 12 h including overnight sleep. Recognition accuracy was greater following sleep relative to wake for both negative and neutral pictures. While emotional reactivity to negative pictures was greatly reduced over wake, the negative emotional response was relatively preserved over sleep. Moreover, protection of emotional reactivity was associated with greater time in REM sleep. Recognition accuracy, however, was not associated with REM. Thus, we provide the first evidence that sleep enhances emotional memory while preserving emotional reactivity.
Incoherent Scattering of Radiation by Plasmas. I. Quantum Mechanical Calculation of Scattering Cross Sections

The quantum electrodynamics of the scattering of radiation from an interacting, fully-ionized plasma is treated. The theory includes the effects of quantum statistics and is valid to all orders in many-particle perturbation theory. The scattering cross section is related to the partial conductivities of the interacting system. This reduces the problem of the inclusion of close Coulomb collisions, which lie outside of previous random-phase approximation calculations, to the calculation of collision corrected conductivities. The theory is applicable to degenerate quantum plasmas as well as to classical plasmas.
Measured electron energy and angular distributions from clinical accelerators.

Electron energy spectra and angular distributions, including angular spreads, were measured using magnetic spectrometer techniques, at isocenter, for two clinical linear accelerators: one scanning beam machine, which achieves field flatness by scanning a pencil beam over the desired field at the patient plane, and one scattering foil machine, which disperses the electrons through a graded‐thickness scattering foil. All measurements were made at isocenter (in the patient plane), in air, 1 m from the nominal accelerator source. The energy measurements were confined to electrons traveling along the central axis; any widely scattered electrons were effectively neglected. The energy spectra of the scanning beam machine are all of nearly Gaussian shape and energy full‐width‐at‐half‐maximum intensity (FWHM) of about 5% of the peak mean energy (denoted 〈E 0 〉 * ) . The energy spectra of the scattering foil machine have a variety of forms as a function of energy, including even spectra with double peaks, and spectra which changed with time. The FWHM values ranged from 9%–22% of 〈E 0 〉 * . The angular spread measurements, at isocenter, yielded σ θ x ×〈E 0 〉 * ≊295 mrad‐MeV for the scanning beam machine, and 346 mrad‐MeV for the scattering foil machine, where σθ x denotes the standard deviation of the plane‐projected angular distribution. These angular spreads are 30%–40% smaller than angular spreads reported by others on a very similar machine using the penumbra method. Possible causes of this discrepancy are discussed.
Weld pool flows during initial stages of keyhole formation in laser welding

Weld pool transport phenomena during the transition from conduction-mode laser spot welding to keyhole laser spot welding of titanium were studied by numerical simulation. A range of laser powers were simulated and temperature dependent evaporation recoil pressure and cooling were applied as boundary conditions on the weld pool surface. Simulation results predicted a complex time-varying flow pattern during weld pool development. The surface-normal flow at the weld pool centre oscillated between upwards and downwards during the simulation time due to interaction of competing effects of evaporation recoil and surface tension pressures and laser heating and evaporation cooling. The results show that the laser weld pool flow dynamics play a key role during the transition from conduction-mode laser welding to keyhole welding.
Mutagenic potential of some chemical components of dental materials.

Abstract Chemical compounds that are used in dental materials or related structurally to compounds that are found in dental materials were tested for bacterial mutagenicity by means of the Ames Test. The results of spot tests and plate incorporation tests indicated that 8 of the compounds were not mutagenic. These same procedures showed that one of the chemicals, p-aminophenylacetic acid, is weakly mutagenic. The data also indicated that the addition of liver extracts containing microsomal enzymes enhanced the mutagenic activity of p-aminophenylacetic acid.
Biochemical and Molecular Characterization of Secreted α-Xylosidase from Aspergillus niger*

α-Linked xylose is a major component of xyloglucans in the cell walls of higher plants. An α-xylosidase (AxlA) was purified from a commercial enzyme preparation from Aspergillus niger, and the encoding gene was identified. The protein is a member of glycosyl hydrolase family 31. It was active on p-nitrophenyl-α-d-xyloside, isoprimeverose, xyloglucan heptasaccharide (XXXG), and tamarind xyloglucan. When expressed in Pichia pastoris, AxlA had activity comparable to the native enzyme on pNPαX and IP despite apparent hyperglycosylation. The pH optimum of AxlA was between 3.0 and 4.0. AxlA together with β-glucosidase depolymerized xyloglucan heptasaccharide. A combination of AxlA, β-glucosidase, xyloglucanase, and β-galactosidase in the optimal proportions of 51:5:19:25 or 59:5:11:25 could completely depolymerize tamarind XG to free Glc or Xyl, respectively. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first characterization of a secreted microbial α-xylosidase. Secreted α-xylosidases appear to be rare in nature, being absent from other tested commercial enzyme mixtures and from the genomes of most filamentous fungi.
2-aryloxy-4-alkylaminopyridines: discovery of novel corticotropin-releasing factor 1 antagonists.

An orally active clinical candidate of corticotropin-releasing factor 1 (CRF1) antagonist 1 showed a significant positive food effect in dog and human after oral administration. Efforts to address the food effect issue led us to explore and discover compounds in series 2 as orally active CRF1 receptor antagonists, in which some compounds showed improved physicochemical properties while retaining desired pharmacological properties. Compound 3a (CP-376395) was selected for further development, due not only to its reduced food effects but also its greater efficacy in CNS models. Compound 3a was advanced to the clinic. The synthesis of representative potential candidates and their in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo data are described.
A central role for S-nitrosylation in apoptosis.

New work reveals a key signal transduction pathway through which nitric oxide (NO) regulates apoptosis induced by disparate cellular stresses. Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) is S-nitrosylated by NO, which initiates an interaction with the E3 ligase Siah1, leading to nuclear translocation and ubiquitin-mediated degradation of nuclear target proteins.
Creating Citizens, Making Men: The Military and Masculinity in Bolivia

In Bolivia, young male military conscripts come from the most powerless sectors of society: Quechua, Aymara, and Guarani peasant communities and poor urban neighborhoods. Like recruits from impoverished ethnic groups and working classes elsewhere (Gibson 1986; Zeitlin et al. 1973), they are the foot soldiers who risk death in warfare to a greater degree than members of dominant social groups and frequently suffer emotional abuse at the hands of commanding officers. Their rural communities, mining camps, and urban neighborhoods have also long experienced repression in the military's fight against "internal enemies." Why, then, are these young men frequently eager to serve? And why do many experience social pressure from friends, family members, and their communities to enlist?
Cyclotron radiation transport in burning plasmas

The transport and net loss of cyclotron radiation for burning plasmas represented by the ITER, FIRE and IGNITOR designs are assessed using the CYTRAN radiation transport code. Although cyclotron ra...
Fluoroquinolones in paediatrics.

Fluoroquinolones have a broad spectrum of activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and mycobacterial organisms as well as anaerobes, Mycoplasma, Chlamydia, Ureaplasma, and Legionella spp. They have excellent oral bioavailability, with good tissue penetration, and long elimination half-lives. The experience with fluoroquinolones in paediatrics has been limited because of concerns about arthropathy, based on findings in animal models. However, there has not been a definitive fluoroquinolone-associated case of arthropathy described in the literature. We believe that there are a number of specific paediatric infections in which the clinical efficacy and tolerability of the fluoroquinolones should be further investigated. These include patients with cystic fibrosis who have repeated infections with Pseudomonas spp., patients with pseudomonal and other Gram-negative infections such as urinary tract infections and osteomyelitis, and febrile neutropenic patients. Meningeal infections caused by multiple drug-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae and Gram-negative organisms, gastroenteritis due to enteric pathogens, and mycobacterial infections are other potential conditions where fluoroquinolones should be studied in paediatric patients.
Preventing Childhood Lead Poisoning

Of all the neurotoxins, lead is the longest known and best understood. Because we know so much about what it does, where it is, and what is required to remove it from the presence of children, lead poisoning should also be one of the easiest diseases to eradicate. Despite this, progress in the primary prevention of childhood lead poisoning has been halting and erratic. In this paper, I outline the rapidly advancing state of knowledge on the epidemiology and toxicology of lead, examine some of the reasons for the gap between what is known and what has been accomplished, and outline the steps toward authentic primary prevention. Eradication of childhood lead poisoning is a realizable goal. Its importance is unquestioned; former Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services Louis Sullivan declared in 1991 that it is the most serious environmental disease of North American children.
Free Fisher Informationwith Respect to a Completely Positive Mapand Cost of Equivalence Relations

Given a family of isometries \(\) in a tracial von Neumann algebra M, a unital subalgebra B⊂M and a completely-positive map \(\) we define the free Fisher information \(\) of \(\) relative to B and η. Using this notion, we define the free dimension \(\) of \(\) relative to B, id.
Extended use of topical nasal decongestants

Use of sympathomimetic topical nasal decongestants to treat nasal obstruction is usually restricted to 3 to 5 days to avoid potential rebound swelling (rhinitis medicamentosa). In this study, 10 healthy volunteers used oxymetazoline (long-acting topical nasal decongestant) nightly for 4 weeks. Subjects who used antihistamines, oral or topical decongestants, or systemic steroids or who had active sinusitis were excluded from the study. Weekly history, physical examination, and anterior rhinomanometry revealed no adverse effects. Eight (80%) subjects developed nightly nasal obstruction a few hours before the evening dose; the obstruction resolved within 48 hours if no more decongestant was used. All subjects remained responsive to oxymetazoline 4 weeks and 8 weeks after the study began. This finding suggests that long-acting decongestants may be safely used for longer than the recommended 3 to 5 days without adverse effects if used once nightly.
The Relationship Between Need for Cognitive Closure and the Appreciation, Understanding, and Viewing Times of Realistic and Nonrealistic Figurative Paintings

We assessed the relationship between Need for Cognitive Closure (NFC) personalities and appreciation, comprehension, and viewing time for realistic paintings depicting objects/scenes and nonrealistic paintings that ambiguously depict objects/scenes. For both types of paintings, liking was positively correlated with degree of understanding. Realistic paintings were better understood, liked, and evaluated for less time than nonrealistic paintings. High and low NFC participants were equal in their liking and comprehension of realistic paintings. However, low NFC participants understood and liked nonrealistic paintings more than high NFC participants. High NFC participants also exhibited an urgency tendency, indicated by their shorter viewing times for both types of paintings as compared with low NFC. We suggest that high NFC is associated with intolerance of and lower appreciation for ambiguous, nonrealistic paintings. This may be due to unwillingness to spend sufficient
The evolution of long interspersed repeated DNA (L1, LINE 1) as revealed by the analysis of an ancient rodent L1 DNA family

All modern mammals contain a distinctive, highly repeated (> or = 50,000 members) family of long interspersed repeated DNA called the L1 (LINE 1) family. While the modern L1 families were derived from a common ancestor that predated the mammalian radiation approximately 80 million years ago, most of the members of these families were generated within the last 5 million years. However, recently we demonstrated that modern murine (Old World rats and mice) genomes share an older long interspersed repeated DNA family that we called Lx. Here we report our analysis of the DNA sequence of Lx family members and the relationship of this family to the modern L1 families in mouse and rat. The extent of DNA sequence divergence between Lx members indicates that the Lx amplification occurred about 12 million years ago, around the time of the murine radiation. Parsimony analysis revealed that Lx elements were ancestral to both the modern rat and mouse L1 families. However, we found that few if any of the evolutionary intermediates between the Lx and the modern L1 families were extensively amplified. Because the modern L1 families have evolved under selective pressure, the evolutionary intermediates must have been capable of replication. Therefore, replication-competent L1 elements can reside in genomes without undergoing extensive amplification. We discuss the bearing of our findings on the evolution of L1 DNA elements and the mammalian genome.
Battery-aware scheduling inwireless mesh networks

Wireless mesh networks recently emerge as a flexible, low-cost and multipurpose networking platform with wired infrastructure connected to the Internet. A critical issue in mesh networks is to maintain network activities for a long lifetime with high energy efficiency. As more and more outdoor applications require long-lasting, high energy efficient and continuously-working mesh networks with battery-powered mesh routers, it is important to optimize the performance of mesh networks from a battery-aware point of view. Recent study in battery technology reveals that discharging of a battery is nonlinear. Batteries tend to discharge more energy than needed, and reimburse the over-discharged energy later if they have sufficiently long recovery time. Intuitively, to optimize network performance, a mesh router should recover its battery periodically to prolong the lifetime. In this paper, we introduce a mathematical model on battery discharging duration and lifetime for wireless mesh networks. We also present a battery lifetime optimization scheduling algorithm (BLOS) to maximize the lifetime of battery-powered mesh routers. Based on the BLOS algorithm, we further consider the problem of using battery powered routers to monitor or cover a few hot spots in the network. We refer to this problem as the Spot Covering under BLOS Policy problem (SCBP). We prove that the SCBP problem is NP-hard and give an approximation algorithm called the Spanning Tree Scheduling (STS) to dynamically schedule mesh routers. The key idea of the STS algorithm is to construct a spanning tree according to the BLOS Policy in the mesh network. The time complexity of the STS algorithm is O(r) for a network with r mesh routers. Our simulation results show that the STS algorithm can greatly improve the lifetime, data throughput and energy consumption efficiency of a wireless mesh network.
Experience with a multiple-choice audience response system in an engineering classroom

This paper presents results and observations from using a multiple-choice audience response system (ARS) in an engineering class with enrollments averaging approximately 60. The system consisted of student-registered infrared transmitters, receivers daisy-chained to an in-class computer, and an associated software. The system allows the students to answer multiple-choice questions, with the software processing the students' answers. We discuss this system's use for ungraded in-class questions intended to provide active learning for students and feedback to both students and instructor regarding how well students are assimilating new concepts and techniques. We also describe the system's use for weekly multiple-choice quizzes. These quiz scores are found to be significantly lower than scores on traditional exams with partial-credit grading, and there is wide individual variation of scores in these two assessment formats. We conclude that an ARS can be a very effective teaching/learning tool and that multiple-choice quizzes can complement traditional assessment techniques
A Constant Turn-Off Time Control for Variable Frequency Thyristor Inverters

A new type of control system is described for thyristor inverters that are used to supply high-frequency power loads where the exact value of the frequency is not critical, such as for induction beating. Commutation is provided by a parallel LC tank circuit which is operated above its resonant frequency. The amount of reactive power is controlled by adjusting the actual operating frequency of the inverter. The control system is designed to maintain a constant turn-off time for each commutation every half-cycle, independent of the frequency. Also, it has a very rapid response to changes in the load conditions, thereby decreasing the chance of a commutation failure and reducing the need for additional safety margin.
The importance of carboxylate ligands in the differentiation of catalase reactivity from Gif ketonization systems

Abstract The presence or absence of certain chelating carboxylic acids such as picolinic acid permits the distinction between ketonization (Gif Chemistry) and oxygen formation (catalase reaction). In the presence of such an acid, evidence is provided for the possible involvement of a III FeOOFe III species as a key intermediate in this hydrocarbon activation chemistry.