cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Microfabricated interferometer and integrated fluidic channel for infrared spectroscopy of aqueous samples

Components of a microspectrometer for operation in the IR range has been designed, fabricated, and characterized. An adjustable Fabry-Perot interferometer is used to select the resonant frequency of the system through electrostatic actuation, allowing tuning for certain optical frequencies to pass. Silicon microfabrication techniques are employed for the fabrication of the device. The intended use of the device is for spectroscopic study of liquids in biomedical and environmental applications; therefore, a sample containment chamber has been integrated into the device. The device was designed using finite element modeling to determine the stress distribution on the silicon nitride membrane due to deflection and the voltage required for the suitable displacement of the membrane to which one mirror is attached. The devices have been fabricated using a combination of processing steps to sputter gold mirrors on nitride membranes, to deposit electrodes and spacers using evaporation and photosensitive polyimide, to etch channels and sacrificial layers, and to bond chips to obtain a resonant cavity. Optical characterization was performed with an FTIR spectrometer. Initial results presented here support the feasibility of the approach in developing standalone microspectrometers for analysis of aqueous samples including biological fluids.
Homogeneous Deformation Of Internally Balanced Compressible Hyperelastic Materials

It is common nowadays to implement principles of continuum mechanics to describe the behavior of advance engineering materials. Continuum mechanics take into account the mapping of material pointsXdescribed in reference (undeformed) configuration into x described in current (deformed) configuration due to action of physical factors e.g. force or heat. The gradient of this mapping is denoted by F. It is common to model the behavior of the material in terms of stored energy function that for hyperelastic material expressed in terms of F; W(F). In practice, material behavior may consist of elastic response combined with some other type of nonelastic response such as plastic flow or biological growth. Therefore, it is common to decompose the deformation gradient at each material point such as F = F^ . F* (1) where F^ is elastic response and it is determined by the rules of variational calculus. The nonelastic response F is subjected to some kind of time dependent evolution law. Pence et al. (2013) have introduced a radically new way of viewing material using this concept. Actually, they consider the case where arguments of variational calculus apply to both factors and can be used to determine the decomposition itself. Preliminary indications is that this will offer great benefit in the modeling of complex material especially as regards to the development of singular surfaces that can be interpreted as locations of concentrated microstructural rearrangement. The extension of this internally balanced material models to include compressible hyperelasticity is investigated Hadoush et al. (2013). In this work the homogeneous deformation; dilatation, uniaxial and simple shear are examined for the two special cases of Blatz-Ko material model. It is found that the new theory retrieves conventional hyperelasticity for certain limiting cases.
Spring and summer food habits and habitat use of the Europena pine marten (Martes martes) on the island of Micorca, Spain

The food habits and habitat use of pine marten (Martes martes L.) on the Balearic Island of Mincorca were studied from March-August 1990. In a 28.2 km2 area, a series of hiking trails/forest roads were used to collect pine marten faeces bi-monthly and study te species' differential use of habitats. A total of 28 different food items were identified in 723 faeces. Small mammals were the most important food overall, constituting 34% of the volume During March-April, small mammals were the principal food consumed (63% of volume), followed by birds (19%). In May-June, birds were the main food (40%), then small mammals. Plant material and insects were the most important foods in July-August, both made up 68% of the pine marten diet. The abundance of certain foods and the degree of difficulty in obtaining them appear to be important factors that govern pine marten food selection in Minorca. Habitat use was studied along 12 routes totalling 32.6 km. Pine marten showed preference in March-April for Coastal Shrubland habitat, while during May-June they were found most in the Upland Pine type. During July-August, the Upland Pine and Open Pine habitats were most frequented by pine marten. According to bimonthly food habits data, habitat use seems largely determined by the abundance and availability of their prey items in the available habitat types. Martens may concentrate hunting efforts in areas different from when they are not hunting. The Minorcan pine marten differs from continental populations in its wide use of shrublands, in addition to forests.
Flow over a “Killer” Weir Design Project

Flow over a sharp–crested weir can create dangerous countercurrents downstream under high tailwater conditions. A comprehensive experimental design project in open–channel hydraulics used in a senior/graduate course and in a freshman exploratory experience is illustrated. This applied problem allows the instructor to demonstrate hydraulic jumps, aerated versus nonaerated nappes, similitude and modeling, and the need for experimentation in hydraulics. A series of experiments requires students to compare their predictions of several parameters to those measured, and asks them to design a supplemental structure for the weir to reduce the power of the frontal vortex such that people are ejected and carried downstream to calmer water. The student designs are then tested in the flume during class. During the course of the project, spontaneous discussions occur about the extent to which engineers should be held liable for designs that may increase the likelihood of death. The experiments have been well received and have even saved the life of one student who was swept over a dam and caught in the roller downstream.
Tracer kinetic analysis of incorporation of glucose and adenine by yeast cells.

A kinetic model of adenine and glucose incorporation into log phase yeast cells has been developed, and experimental tests of certain predictions of the model validate it. The cellular pool of purine nucleotides is 6 × 10−3 μmoles per 107 cells, the turnover time of this pool is 21.8 minutes, and the rate of incorporation into nucleic acids is 4.86 × 10−2 μmoles per hour per 107 cells. Corresponding figures for glucose are given. The model should be useful in other kinetic studies and the method of applying it is explained.
TV advertising of OTC medicines and its effects on child viewers

The influence of over-the-counter (OTC) medicine commercials on children's choices concerning use of OTC medicines was investigated in two experiments. In the first, 115 third and fourth graders were exposed to commercials for six different OTC medicines or commercials for other products. They were then asked to recommend either a medicine or nonmedicine remedy for a child and an adult with various illnesses and/or problems. The OTC medicine commercials appeared to influence children's recommendations only with respect to use of sleeping pills. In the second experiment 234 third and fourth graders were exposed to either fever and cold medicine commercials, all of which were directed toward the child viewer, or nondrug commercials. Only the fever medicine commercials appeared to influence the children. It was concluded that OTC medicine commercials do not, in general, influence children's choices concerning use of those medicines. Possible exceptions to this general case are noted.
FT-Surface-Enhanced Raman Scattering of Phenylalanine Using Silver-Coated Glass Fiber Filters

ABSTRACT A simple and facile method has been developed to produce surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) active surfaces. Tollen's reagent was used to coat silver onto the surface of glass fiber filters. Using a Fourier transform (FT) Raman instrument, strong surface-enhanced Raman signals have been observed for L-phenylalanine on these surfaces. The use of an FT-Raman instrument combined with this new SERS method allows for a method with both high sensitivity and selectivity. A linear dependence of the Raman signal on L-phenylalanine concentration (0.01–1.0 mM) has been demonstrated. The SERS technique presented here is both novel and promising for biochemical analysis.
Effect of steroid hormone treatment on aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in the Syrian hamster kidney.

Abstract Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) activity was determined in castrate and intact male Syrian hamster kidney and liver microsomes following in vivo treatment with either diethylstilbestrol (DES) or 17β-estradiol as well as other steroid hormones. After 1 month of estrogen treatment, there was a 5-fold decline in AHH activity in castrated hamster kidneys compared with untreated castrate levels. the amount of AHH activity in the kidney was depressed more than 75% of untreated castrate levels even after the estrogen had been withdrawn for 6 days. Consistent with a nearly 2.5-fold higher renal AHH activity observed in intact male hamsters compared to castrates was the finding of a 1.7-fold elevation in the activity of this enzyme after treatment of castrated animals with androgen[5α-dihydrotestrosterone (5α-DHT)] for 1 month. Moreover, following withdrawal of estrogen from intact hamsters, the increase in AHH activity in the kidney essentially paralleled the rise in serum testosterone levels. In castrated animals, the depression of AHH activity by estrogen was partially reversed by concomitant 5α-DHT treatment. However, no appreciable changes were seen in liver AHH activity with androgen treatment in the presence or absence of estrogen. Similarly, the level of AHH activity, which was nearly 7- and 14-fold higher than intact and castrate kidney levels, respectively, was not altered by estrogen treatment. Neither progesterone nor cortisone had any effect on the levels of AHH activity in either the kidney or liver. Therefore, AHH activity in the male hamster kidney, but not the liver, is responsive to both estrogens and androgenic hormone.
Continuous mappings on subspaces of products with the κ-box topology

Abstract Much of General Topology addresses this issue: Given a function f ∈ C ( Y , Z ) with Y ⊆ Y ′ and Z ⊆ Z ′ , find f ¯ ∈ C ( Y ′ , Z ′ ) , or at least f ¯ ∈ C ( cl Y ′ Y , Z ′ ) , such that f ⊆ f ¯ ; sometimes Z = Z ′ is demanded. In this spirit the authors prove several quite general theorems in the context Y ′ = ( X I ) κ = ∏ i ∈ I X i in the κ-box topology (that is, with basic open sets of the form ∏ i ∈ I U i with U i open in X i and with U i ≠ X i for i ∈ I ). A representative sample result, extending to the κ-box topology some results of Comfort and Negrepontis, of Noble and Ulmer, and of Husek, is this. Theorem Let ω ⩽ κ ≪ α (that means: κ α , and [ β α and λ κ ] ⇒ β λ α ) with α regular, { X i : i ∈ I } be a set of non-empty spaces with each d ( X i ) α , π [ Y ] = X J for each non-empty J ⊆ I such that | J | α , and the diagonal in Z be the intersection of Z × Z . Then (a) Y is pseudo- ( α , α ) -compact, (b) for every f ∈ C ( Y , Z ) there is J ∈ [ I ] α such that f ( x ) = f ( y ) whenever x J = y J , and (c) every such f extends to f ¯ ∈ C ( ( X I ) κ , Z ) .
Tissue‐specific induction of sister chromatid exchanges by ethyl carbamate in mice

Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) techniques were used to analyze the genetic effects of ethyl carbamate (urethane) in cultured mouse-bone marrow cells, and in several different mouse tissues in vivo. Ethyl carbamate concentrations up to 5.0 mg/ml were ineffective in causing a significant elevation of SCE in vitro. After in vivo drug administration, bone marrow, liver and spermatogonial cells all revealed significant dose-related increases in SCE. Baseline and relative incremental levels of SCE were somatic vs germ tissue-specific. Regenerating liver cells exhibited significantly greater absolute SCE values than all other tissues examined. Marrow cells revealed intermediate values, while germ cells were the least sensitive in SCE responsiveness. Spermatogonia required a fourfold higher dose, over that effective in somatic tissues, to promote an approximate doubling of the baseline SCE level. In vivo SCE analysis affords sensitive risk assessments for different tissues. Thus, this approach should be generally useful for studying compounds with questionable mutagenic potential, and/or those exerting target organ specificities of related biological activity (eg, toxicity, carcinogenesis).
The Highly Conserved MraZ Protein Is a Transcriptional Regulator in Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT The mraZ and mraW genes are highly conserved in bacteria, both in sequence and in their position at the head of the division and cell wall (dcw) gene cluster. Located directly upstream of the mraZ gene, the Pmra promoter drives the transcription of mraZ and mraW, as well as many essential cell division and cell wall genes, but no regulator of Pmra has been found to date. Although MraZ has structural similarity to the AbrB transition state regulator and the MazE antitoxin and MraW is known to methylate the 16S rRNA, mraZ and mraW null mutants have no detectable phenotypes. Here we show that overproduction of Escherichia coli MraZ inhibited cell division and was lethal in rich medium at high induction levels and in minimal medium at low induction levels. Co-overproduction of MraW suppressed MraZ toxicity, and loss of MraW enhanced MraZ toxicity, suggesting that MraZ and MraW have antagonistic functions. MraZ-green fluorescent protein localized to the nucleoid, suggesting that it binds DNA. Consistent with this idea, purified MraZ directly bound a region of DNA containing three direct repeats between Pmra and the mraZ gene. Excess MraZ reduced the expression of an mraZ-lacZ reporter, suggesting that MraZ acts as a repressor of Pmra, whereas a DNA-binding mutant form of MraZ failed to repress expression. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis suggested that MraZ also regulates the expression of genes outside the dcw cluster. In support of this, purified MraZ could directly bind to a putative operator site upstream of mioC, one of the repressed genes identified by RNA-seq.
Synthesis and Characterization of Oligo(poly(ethylene glycol) fumarate) Macromer

A novel oligomer based on alternating fumaric acid and poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) units was synthesized and characterized. End group analysis by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy showed that the oligo (PEG fumarate) (OPF) had end PEG chains and multiple fumarate groups along its macromolecular chain. According to thermal characterization by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), the crystallinity of OPF was found to be lower than PEG. The molecular weight and the degree of oligomerization of OPF determined by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) revealed that the conversion of OPF was substantially affected by the steric factors associated with large PEG chains. OPF was cross-linked using radical polymerization in the presence of either a chemical initiator or photoinitiator. As the OPF cross-linked, the unsaturated fumarate bonds disappeared and the PEG proton peak broadened in the NMR spectra. The cross-linked OPF gel showed swelling behavior that was dependent on the molecular weight of P...
Effects of the conformation of polyacrylic acid on the dispersion-flocculation of alumina and kaolinite fines

Conformational characteristics of polyacrylic acid (PAA) adsorbed on alumina were studied along with stability of its suspension in order to delineate the mechanism by which polymer conformation affects the stability of fines. Fluorescence spectroscopy, with pyrene as the probe, was used to monitor the conformation of the polymer at the solid-liquid interface. The stability of these fines with PAA in coiled, stretched and coiled-transformed-to-stretched conformations was investigated. With PAA in coiled and stretched forms, the suspensions were slightly flocculated. Under the coiled-to-stretched conditions, achieved through manipulation of polymer conformation, flocculation was drastically enhanced at lower polymer concentrations, while a stable dispersion was observed at higher polymer concentrations. This difference in dispersion-flocculation behavior is explained on the basis of a concentration-dependent conformational transition. Enhanced flocculation of kaolinite was also achieved by manipulation of polymer conformation.
Long and spatially variable Neolithic Demographic Transition in the North American Southwest

In many places of the world, a Neolithic Demographic Transition (NDT) is visible as a several-hundred-year period of increased birth rates coupled with stable mortality rates, resulting in dramatic population growth that is eventually curtailed by increased mortality. Similar processes can be reconstructed in particular detail for the North American Southwest, revealing an anomalously long and spatially variable NDT. Irrigation-dependent societies experienced relatively low birth rates but were quick to achieve a high degree of sociopolitical complexity, whereas societies dependent on dry or rainfed farming experienced higher birth rates but less initial sociopolitical complexity. Low birth rates after A.D. 1200 mark the beginning of the decline of the Hohokam. Overall in the Southwest, birth rates increased slowly from 1100 B.C. to A.D. 500, and remained at high levels with some fluctuation until decreasing rapidly beginning A.D. 1300. Life expectancy at 15 increased slowly from 900 B.C. to A.D. 700, and then increased rapidly for 200 y before fluctuating and then declining after A.D. 1400. Life expectancy at birth, on the other hand, generally declined from 1100 B.C. to A.D. 1100/1200, before rebounding. Farmers took two millennia (∼1100 B.C. to ∼A.D. 1000) to reach the carrying capacity of the agricultural niche in the Southwest.
SU-E-J-11: Characterization of Interfractioanal Anatomical Variations in Post-Operative Radiation Therapy for Prostate Bed.

Purpose: To quantitatively characterize the interfractional anatomic variations in post‐operative radiation therapy (RT) for prostate bed, so that appropriate strategy that can fully address these variations can be developed. Methods: A total of 102 daily pre‐treatment CT acquired using an in‐room CT (CTVision, Siemens) for 10 patients treated with post‐operative IG‐IMRT of prostate bed. Prior to each fraction, patients were repositioned to correct for interfractional translational shifts based on the alignment of both anterior rectal wall and surgical clips between the daily CT and the planning CT. The PTV was assumed to be the volume enclosed by the 95% prescription isodose surface generated for the conventional four field box. Contours of the PTV, rectum and bladder on each daily CT were generated by populating the planning contours using an auto‐segmentation tool based on deformable registration (ABAS, Elekta) with manual editing. Interfrcational variations in the volumes, shapes and positions of these contours were obtained. The displacement of the center of mass (DCOM) with respect to the isocenter was used to measure interfractional organ motion, and the maximum overlap rate (MOR) was used to measure organ deformation. Results: Interfractional variations in the volumes of rectum and bladder were in the range of 50–270% (average 116±41%) and 30–180% (average 67±26%), respectively. The averages of DCOM for rectum are: ‐ 0.35±0.46cm (lateral, varying from −1.58 to 1.23cm), −0.33±0.99cm (longitudinal, varying from −2.4 to 1.8cm), and −3.41±1.14cm (vertical, varying from −5.56 to −0.99cm). These values for bladder are: −0.20±0.50cm (lateral, varying from −1.48 to 0.61cm), 3.63±1.10cm (longitudinal, varying from −5.7 to 3.1cm), and −0.31±0.97cm (vertical, varying from −1.68 to 2.77cm). Conclusions: Large interfractional changes in organ volumes, shapes and positions are seen in post‐operative RT for prostate bed. These changes cannot be accounted for by the current standard practice of IGRT repositioning. This work is supported partially by MCW Cancer Center Fotsch Foundation.
The equal flow problem

Abstract This paper presents a new algorithm for the solution of a network problem with equal flow side constraints. The solution technique is motivated by the desire to exploit the special structure of the side constraints and to maintain as much of the characteristics of pure network problems as possible. The proposed algorithm makes use of Lagrangean relaxation to obtain a lower bound and decomposition by right-hand-side allocation to obtain upper bounds. The lagrangean dual serves not only to provide a lower bound used to assist in termination criteria for the upper bound, but also allows an initial allocation of equal flows for the upper bound. The algorithm has been tested on problems with up to 1500 nodes and 6000 arcs. Computational experience indicates that solutions whose objective function value is well within 1% of the optimum can be obtained in 1%–65% of the MPSX time depending on the amount of imbalance inherent in the problem. Incumbent integer solutions which are within 99.99% feasible and well within 1% of the proven lower bound are obtained in a straightforward manner requiring, on the average, 30% of the MPSX time required to obtain a linear optimum.
Search for Interstellar Silicate Absorption in Spectrum of VI Cyg No. 12

Hackwell, Gehrz and Woolf1 have reported observations, extending to 11 µm, of the galactic centre and three reddened B stars. They report a measurable amount of absorption at 11 µm in the direction of the galactic centre which they attribute to interstellar silicates. No definite absorption feature was observed in the case of the reddened B stars, presumably because there is not enough interstellar extinction in the line of sight to these stars.
The amino terminal half of the nicotinic β-subunit extracellular domain regulates the kinetics of inhibition by neuronal bungarotoxin

Subtypes of nicotinic receptors previously reported to be unaffected by neuronal bungarotoxin (NBT), including $\alpha $3$\beta $4-containing and muscle type ($\alpha $1$\beta $1$\gamma \delta $) receptors, are shown to be inhibited by this toxin, but with rapid kinetics of onset and recovery. This inhibition is in contrast to the slow and prolonged inhibition of $\alpha $3$\beta $2-containing receptors, suggesting that the beta subunits determine the kinetics of NBT inhibition of $\alpha $3 receptors. We have coexpressed chimeric beta subunits with $\alpha $3, and our results show that the first 121 amino acids of the beta subunit extracellular domain are sufficient to regulate the kinetics of NBT inhibition. This domain is also an important determinant of whether cytisine will act as a full agonist or a partial agonist of nictonic receptors formed with $\alpha $3.
Attentional modulation in perception of visual motion events

Identical visual targets moving across each other with equal and constant speed can be perceived either to bounce off or to stream through each other. This bistable motion perception has been studi...
Corrigendum to “Long-term trends in the demography of the Allen Cays Rock Iguana (Cyclura cychlura inornata): Human disturbance and density-dependent effects” [Biological Conservation 132 (2006) 300–310]

John B. Iverson , Sarah J. Converse *, Geoffrey R. Smith , Jennifer M. Valiulis d Department of Biology, Earlham College, Richmond, IN 47374-4095, USA Department of Fishery and Wildlife Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1474, USA Department of Biology, Denison University, Granville, OH 43023, USA Department of Biology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1474, USA
Dynamic Water Vapor and Heat Transport Through Layered Fabrics: Part I: Effect of Surface Modification

An experimental apparatus has been developed to permit simultaneous measurement of temperature change and moisture flux through fabrics during the transient period after one set of fabrics has been exposed to humidity and temperature gradients. Both the water vapor method and the sweat method were used to study the transport of water vapor and water vapor emanating from liquid water in contact with the bottom layer of fabric through several fabrics. Tested fabrics included single fiber and blended fiber fabrics, treated either by hydrophobically or hydrophilically. Analysis of the ex perimental results verified that after either hydrophobic or hydrophilic treatment, the fabrics did not show any significant change in moisture flux when compared to their untreated counterparts using the water vapor method, but did show a significant dif ference when measured by the sweat method. In the sweat case, the dominant factor that controls the water vapor transfer rate is considered to be the wicking ability of the ...
A general method for the synthesis of E and/or Z oligoisoprenoids based on Pd-catalyzed homoallyl-alkenyl and homopropargyl-alkenyl cross coupling and Zr-catalyzed carboalumination

A truly general, versatile, and highly regioselective and stereoselective methodology for the synthesis of terpenoids containing 1,5-diene units of E and/or Z geometry critically involves (a) Pd-catalyzed homoallyl-alkenyl and homopropargyl-alkenyl coupling and (b) Zr-catalyzed carboalumination of alkynes. In each introduction of an E or Z trisubstituted C5 alkene unit, the yield is excellent, and the regioselectivity and stereoselectivity level is >98%. As such, this appears to represent the first general synthetic method accommodating Z alkene units in >95% regioselectivity and stereoselectivity. Its application to some representative terpenoids of both natural and unnatural geometries is discussed.
Effects of cue associations in concept shifts

An orthogonal design was employed to separate the effects of cue associations and cue dimensions in intradimensional (ID) and extradimensional (ED) shifts. Associations between relevant stimulus cues (words) were varied both between and within dimensions (categories). Two control groups were used to measure nonspecific transfer effects. The results obtained with 150 college students as S s were: (a) no difference between ID and ED shifts in trials or errors to criterion in the shift; (b) positive transfer with high association between the relevant cues in original learning and shift learning, and zero transfer with low association; and (c) the analyses of S s' hypotheses supported the results for trials and errors. The relevance of these data to mediational explanations of shift behavior is discussed.
Nonfatal construction industry-related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments in the United States, 1998-2005.

BACKGROUND: This study documented the burden of nonfatal construction industry work-related injuries treated in hospital emergency departments in the United States (US) from 1998 through 2005 and described injured worker demographics and injury characteristics. METHODS: Data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System work-related injury supplement (NEISS-Work) were used to identify and describe construction industry-related injuries. Rates were estimated using data from the Current Population Survey. RESULTS: An estimated 3,216,800 (95% CI 2,241,400-4,192,200) construction industry-related injuries were seen in US emergency departments during the 8-year period; this represented an injury rate of 410/10,000 full-time equivalents and suggests that there are a greater number of construction injuries than reported through the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (BLS SOII). Common characteristics included diagnoses of laceration, sprain/strain, and contusion/abrasion; events of contact with an object/equipment, bodily reaction/exertion, and falls; and sources of injury of parts/materials; structures/surfaces; and tools/instruments/equipment. The upper extremities were most often affected. CONCLUSIONS: These data highlight the high burden of nonfatal construction industry-related injuries. The limitations of national occupational injury data sources inherent in relying on OSHA logs highlight the utility of NEISS-Work data in occupational injury research. While data captured from emergency departments are not immune to factors that influence whether a worker or an employer reports an injury as work-related or files a workers' compensation claim, emergency department data as collected through NEISS-Work do not rely on employer involvement in order to be classified as work-related. Language: en
SU‐E‐J‐179: Prediction of Pelvic Nodal Coverage Using Mutual Information Between Cone‐Beam and Planning CTs

Purpose: To investigate if pelvic nodal coverage for prostate patients undergoing intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) can be predicted using mutual image information computed between planning and cone-beam CTs (CBCTs). Methods: Four patients with high-risk prostate adenocarcinoma were treated with IMRT on a Varian TrueBeam. Plans were designed such that 95% of the nodal planning target volume (PTV) received the prescription dose of 45 Gy (N=1) or 50.4 Gy (N=3). Weekly CBCTs (N=25) were acquired and the nodal clinical target volumes and organs at risk were contoured by a physician. The percent nodal volume receiving prescription dose was recorded as a ground truth. Using the recorded shifts performed by the radiation therapists at the time of image acquisition, CBCTs were aligned with the planning kVCT. Mutual image information (MI) was calculated between the CBCT and the aligned planning CT within the contour of the nodal PTV. Due to variable CBCT fields-of-view, CBCT images covering less than 90% of the nodal volume were excluded from the analysis, resulting in the removal of eight CBCTs. Results: A correlation coefficient of 0.40 was observed between the MI metric and the percent of the nodal target volume receiving the prescription dose. One patient's CBCTs had clear outliers from the rest of the patients. Upon further investigation, we discovered image artifacts that were present only in that patient's images. When those four images were excluded, the correlation improved to 0.81. Conclusion: This pilot study shows the potential of predicting pelvic nodal dosimetry by computing the mutual image information between planning CTs and patient setup CBCTs. Importantly, this technique does not involve manual or automatic contouring of the CBCT images. Additional patients and more robust exclusion criteria will help validate our findings.
Inflammation at the neuromuscular junction in myasthenia gravis

To better define the pathogenic mechanisms in the antibody-mediated autoimmune disease myasthenia gravis (MG), we analyzed the morphology and electrophysiology of the neuromuscular junction in anconeus muscle biopsy specimens from eight patients with MG and seven control subjects. There were inflammatory cells at the neuromuscular junction in seven of the eight biopsies from MG patients. The endplate index (length of the postsynaptic membrane divided by the length of the apposed presynaptic membrane) was abnormally reduced in all the MG patients, and fiber type grouping, suggestive of reinnervation, was present in six of the eight MG patients. Intracellular recording revealed diminished amplitude of miniature endplate potentials and miniature endplate currents in the MG patients compared with the controls. The time constant of decay of miniature endplate currents did not differ from that of controls, suggesting no change in mean channel open time of the acetylcholine receptor. The endplate receptor sensitivity to iontophoretically applied acetylcholine was also decreased in MG patients compared with controls. The quantal content of neurally evoked endplate potentials was reduced in six of the eight MG patients, demonstrating abnormal presynaptic function as well. The presence of inflammatory cells at the neuromuscular junctions of limb muscles in MG reconciles an apparent disparity between the animal model of MG, experimental autoimmune myasthenia gravis, and the human disease. This study also demonstrates a frequent presynaptic component to the abnormal neuromuscular transmission in MG.
Association mapping of straighthead disorder induced by arsenic in Oryza sativa

Straighthead is a physiological disorder in rice (Oryza sativa L.) resulting in sterile florets, poorly developed panicles and yield loss. Because of its sporadic nature and unidentified causes for the disorder, molecular marker assisted selection is essential for resistance improvement in breeding programmes. To take advantage of recent advances in gene-mapping technology, we executed a genome-wide association mapping to identify genetic regions associated with straighthead disorder using 547 accessions of germplasm from the USDA rice core collection. Straighthead was evaluated in arsenic treated soil and genotyping was conducted with 75 molecular markers covering the entire rice genome about every 25 cM. A mixed-linear model approach combining the principal component assignments with kinship estimates proved to be particularly promising for association mapping. The extent of linkage disequilibrium was described among the markers. Six markers were found to be significantly associated with straighthead, explaining 35% of the total phenotypic variation. However, only two SSR markers, RM413 and RM277 on chromosome 5 and 12, respectively, have a significant association with low rating indicating straighthead resistance. Confirmation of the marker-straighthead association using segregating populations is necessary before marker-assisted selection can be applied.
Induction and repression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α transcription by coregulator ARA70

In an effort to understand transcriptional regulation by the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), we investigated the ability of a number of transcriptional coactivators to enhance PPARα:retinoic acid receptor (RXR) mediated transcription. We identified ARA70, a coactivator of the androgen receptor and PPARγ, as a ligand-enhanced coactivator of PPARα in the prostate cancer cell line DU145. In prostate cancer cells, ARA70 demonstrated the strongest enhancement of PPARα transcription among the coactivators examined. Mutation of the N-terminal of the PPARα ligandbinding domain dramatically reduced the ability of ARA70 to enhance PPARα:RXR transcription. ARA70 was able to physically interact with both the wild-type and mutant PPARα as determined by coimmunoprecipitation. However, in the adrenal cell line Y1, ARA70 behaved as a repressor of PPARα while still able to coactivate PPARγ.
Perspective: Don't be superficial

Severe psoriasis carries cardiovascular risks. Dermatologists should consider more than just patients' outer layers, argues Henning Boehncke.
Cries along the chain of accumulation

Abstract What good does adding the always-problematic prefix “global” to environmental justice do? By maintaining a rights-based urgency while linking disparate sites of injustice by exposing their positions along a chain of accumulation, a global environmental justice agenda might connect marginalized communities, residents, and workers, with consumers, activists, and one another, around the world.
Coding properties of two conformations of tryptophanyl-tRNA in Escherichia coli.

Abstract Coding properties of the two conformations of Escherichia coli B tryptophan tRNA were examined. Form I was bound to ribosomes in response to UGG and poly UG, but not to poly AC. Form II did not respond to poly UG, but was bound to poly AC both in the presence and absence of ribosomes at pH 7.2. Form II did not respond to triplet codon composed of A and C in the presence of ribosomes. Form II binding to poly AC in the absence of ribosomes was completely eliminated when assayed at pH 7.8. At pH 7.2 and pH 7.8, form II showed a high level of binding to ribosomes in the absence of polymer. The binding of form II to ribosomes, however, was eliminated by poly U or poly UG, but enhanced by poly AC. Form I participated in in vitro polypeptide synthesis directed by poly UG. Tryptophan from form II was not incorporated into polypeptide in response to either poly UG or poly AC at either pH 7.2 or pH 7.8. These results indicate that the code response of form I is normal while that of form II is abnormal.
Global Carbon Cycle and Climate Change

Kirill Kondratyev and his colleagues present an unusual look at global change issues, with particular emphasis on quantitative models that can capture diverse aspects of the complete Earth system—vegetation, atmosphere, oceans, and human beings. The focus is on the global carbon cycle as a prime indicator of global environmental stresses. It includes some remarkably sharp, and insightful critical analysis of the Kyoto Protocol and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change activity, and provides citations to a large sampling of Russian-language papers mostly unknown elsewhere. The critique of current policy trends is, in many respects, the most interesting part of the book. The authors are skeptical of claims about attribution of recent climate trends to human intervention, but devastating in their demolition of the “skeptics” views that nothing is seriously wrong in the global environmental system. They convincingly bring to bear the most telling observations and facts to make these arguments compelling and clarifying.
Single-fraction intraoperative radiotherapy for breast cancer : Early cosmetic results

Purpose: To evaluate the cosmetic outcome of patients treated with wide local excision and intraoperative radiotherapy for early-stage breast cancer. Methods and Materials: A total of 50 women were treated on a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility of intraoperative radiotherapy at wide local excision. The eligibility criteria included age >60, tumor size ≤2.0 cm, clinically negative lymph nodes, and biopsy-established diagnosis. After wide local excision, a custom breast applicator was placed in the excision cavity, and a dose of 20 Gy was prescribed to a depth of 1 cm. After 18 patients were treated, the dose was constrained laterally to 18 Gy. The cosmetic outcome was evaluated by photographs at baseline and at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Four examiners graded the photographs for symmetry, edema, discoloration, contour, and scarring. The grades were evaluated in relationship to the volume of irradiated tissue, tumor location, and dose at the lateral aspects of the cavity. Results: The median volume of tissue receiving 100% of the prescription dose was 47 cm 3 (range, 20–97 cm 3 ). Patients with ≤47 cm 3 of treated tissue had better cosmetic outcomes than did the women who had >47 cm 3 of treated tissue. Women who had received 18 Gy at the lateral aspects of their cavities had better cosmetic outcomes than did women who had received 20 Gy at the lateral aspects. When comparing the 6- and 12-month results, the scores remained stable for 63%, improved for 17%, and worsened for 20%. Conclusion: Intraoperative radiotherapy appears feasible for selected patients. A favorable cosmetic outcome appears to be related to a smaller treatment volume. The cosmetic outcome is acceptable, although additional follow-up is necessary.
Institutional analysis and the role of ideas in political economy

L'A. montre de quelle maniere l'analyse institutionnelle permet de mettre en lumiere le role des idees au sein de l'economie politique. Il compare l'institutionnalisme historique developpe par K. Marx et celui developpe par Max Weber. Il s'interesse a l'institutionnalisme organisationnel de Frank Dobbin et de Mary Douglas. Il etudie l'influence des «idees» lors de l'elaboration des politiques de stimulation de l'economie aux Etats-Unis. Il estime que les idees peuvent etre envisagees comme des programmes, comme des paradigmes, comme des sentiments publics ou comme des cadres.
A conceptual model for the measurement of the expected value of a supply chain relationship

The objective of this research paper is to describe a conceptual framework for evaluating the expected value of supply chain relationships (EVSCR). Various types of supply chain relationships are defined in the literature. Then borrowing basic valuation concepts from finance theory, a supply chain relationship valuation model is developed. Valuation components and synergy effects are quantified along two dimensions of the relationship – resource complementarity and cooperative effectiveness. The EVSCR model permits the categorisation of five types of business connections and suggests strategies to improve relationships. Firms can predict the value of potential supply chain relationships, better describe the value of existing relationships, and make informed decisions for management action to improve marginal relationships. This valuation framework is new to the supply chain literature and serves to expand the set of tools available to planners and managers to quantify existing and desirable supply chain relationships needed to improve supply chain performance.
JNK and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Mediate Free Fatty Acid-induced Insulin Resistance in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes

Lipid infusion and high fat feeding are established causes of systemic and adipose tissue insulin resistance. In this study, we treated 3T3-L1 adipocytes with a mixture of free fatty acids (FFAs) to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying fat-induced insulin resistance. FFA treatment impaired insulin receptor-mediated signal transduction and decreased insulin-stimulated GLUT4 translocation and glucose transport. FFAs activated the stress/inflammatory kinases c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and IKKbeta, and the suppressor of cytokine signaling protein 3, increased secretion of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and decreased secretion of adiponectin into the medium. RNA interference-mediated down-regulation of JNK blocked JNK activation and prevented most of the FFA-induced defects in insulin action. Blockade of TNF-alpha signaling with neutralizing antibodies to TNF-alpha or its receptors or with a dominant negative TNF-alpha peptide had a partial effect to inhibit FFA-induced cellular insulin resistance. We found that JNK activation by FFAs was not inhibited by blocking TNF-alpha signaling, whereas the FFA-induced increase in TNF-alpha secretion was inhibited by RNA interference-mediated JNK knockdown. Together, these results indicate that 1) JNK can be activated by FFAs through TNF-alpha-independent mechanisms, 2) activated JNK is a major contributor to FFA-induced cellular insulin resistance, and 3) TNF-alpha is an autocrine/paracrine downstream effector of activated JNK that can also mediate insulin resistance.
Stereoselectivity in drug metabolism

Many chiral drugs are used as their racemic mixtures in clinical practice. Two enantiomers of a chiral drug generally differ in pharmacodynamic and/or pharmacokinetic properties as a consequence of the stereoselective interaction with optically active biological macromolecules. Thus, a stereospecific assay to discriminate between enantiomers is required in order to relate plasma concentrations to pharmacological effect of a chiral drug. Stereoselective metabolism of drugs is most commonly the major contributing factor to stereoselectivity in pharmacokinetics. Metabolizing enzymes often display a preference for one enantiomer of a chiral drug over the other, resulting in enantioselectivity. The structural characteristics of enzymes dictate the enantiomeric discrimination associated with the metabolism of chiral drugs. The stereoselectivity can, therefore, be viewed as the physical property characteristic that phenotypes the enzyme. This review provides a comprehensive appraisal of stereochemical aspects of drug metabolism (i.e., enantioselective metabolism and first-pass effect, enzyme-selective inhibition or induction and drug interaction, species differences and polymorphic metabolism).
Making Message Recipients “Feel Right” How Nonverbal Cues Can Increase Persuasion

Nonverbal cues are an inherent component of most persuasive appeals. We use regulatory-fit theory as a framework for understanding the effect of nonverbal cues on a message's effectiveness, and as a foundation for de- veloping a new persuasion technique. We propose that when the nonverbal cues of a message source sustain the motivational orientation of the recipient, the recipient experiences regulatory fit and feels right, and that this experience influences the message's effectiveness. Experi- mental results support these predictions. Participants ex- periencing regulatory fit (promotion-focus participants viewing messages delivered in an eager nonverbal style, prevention-focus participants viewing messages delivered in a vigilant nonverbal style) had more positive attitudes toward a message's topic and greater intentions to behave in accordance with its recommendation than did partici- pants experiencing nonfit. Feeling right was also greater for participants experiencing fit than for those experi- encing nonfit and was associated with greater message effectiveness. Regulatory-fit theory provides a framework formakingprecise predictionsaboutwhenandforwhoma nonverbal cue will affect persuasion. How can gestures and other nonverbal cues be used by the source of a persuasive message to make the appeal more effective? Using regulatory-fittheory toanswer thisquestion,we introduce a new persuasion technique that relates the source's nonverbal cues to the message recipient's motivational orien- tation. We hypothesize that when there is fit between a recipi- ent's orientation toward the message and the source's nonverbal style,therecipientwill''feelright''andthemessagewillbemore effective. The idea of relating a source's nonverbal cues to re- cipients'orientationsisinspiredbyrecentresearchshowingthat written messages can be framed in ways that create fit and in- crease their effectiveness (Cesario, Grant, & Higgins, 2004; Lee & Aaker, 2004). In the present research, we considered whether the source can use nonverbal cues to physically deliver an identical message in different ways in order to fit different re- cipients' orientations. In contrast, most research on nonverbal influence has predicted main effects of nonverbal cues without regard to characteristics of the recipient.
Agreement among observers in the assignment of TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus classification and runoff score

Objective Productive communication among clinical practitioners is essential if recommendations regarding practice are to exist. The durability of vascular procedures is often influenced by factors such as lesion classification and runoff quality. It is the purpose of this article to determine how reproducible these measures are in the hands of various specialists who deal extensively with peripheral arterial disease. Methods The peripheral arteriograms of 100 patients undergoing percutaneous intervention were distributed to six specialists (three vascular surgeons, two interventional radiologists, and one interventional cardiologist). Each was provided with the reference document describing TASC II classification, Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) runoff score, and simplified runoff score. With no further instruction, each individual was asked to assign each angiogram a TASC II class, SVS runoff score, and a simplified runoff score. Comparisons between the scores assigned were made using kappa statistic. Results When using the simplified runoff score for grading peripheral arterial disease, there was excellent correlation among readers (k = 0.81; P = .001), even across different specialties. When using TASC II class to grade lesions, there was a greater degree of variation when compared with the simplified runoff score (k = 0.44; P P P = .001). Conclusions Descriptors of clinical disease severity are not universally reproducible. The simplified runoff score is reproducible when interpreted by multiple readers across different specialties and can be used without further modification. The TASC II classification may need minor alterations in description to obtain good correlation among readers. Before the SVS runoff score can be universally adapted, it will need to be described in much better detail or significantly modified.