cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Coblator Arytenoidectomy in the Treatment of Bilateral Vocal Cord Paralysis

A 77-year-old female with bilateral vocal cord paralysis and dependent tracheostomy status after total thyroidectomy presented to clinic for evaluation of decannulation via arytenoidectomy. Preliminary data suggests coblation versus standard CO2 laser ablation in arytenoidectomy may provide benefits in terms of decreased tissue necrosis and patient outcome. The patient elected to proceed with arytenoidectomy by coblation. The initial procedure went well but postoperative bleeding required a return trip to the operating room for hemostasis. In the coming months the patient's tracheostomy tube was gradually downsized and eventually capped. She was decannulated eight months after surgery, speaking well and without complaints. Details of the surgical procedure and outcome will be discussed.
Generic knowledge strategies in the U.S. pharmaceutical industry

The purpose of this study is to identify groups of firms with similar generic knowledge strategies, determine how these strategies change over time, and compare profit margins of the groups. Knowledge strategies of 21 U.S. pharmaceutical firms are analyzed from 1977 to 1991. Cluster analysis is used to group firms over different time periods based on: (a) balance between internal and external learning, (b) preference for radical or incremental learning, (c) learning speed, and (d) breadth of knowledge base. Our findings indicate that there are four generic knowledge strategy groups: ‘Explorers’, ‘Exploiters’, ‘Loners’, and ‘Innovators’. Most firms remain in the same knowledge group over time. The firms in the ‘Innovator’ and ‘Explorer’ groups tend to be more profitable than the firms in the ‘Exploiter’ and ‘Loner’ groups.
Data-level parallel solution of min-cost network flow problems using ϵ-relaxations

Abstract We discuss the data-parallel implementation of the ϵ-relaxation algorithm for the solution of min-cost network flow problems. For transportation problems a Gauss-Seidel variant is implemented on the two-dimensional communication grid of a massively parallel Connection Machine CM-2. For arbitrary network topologies - i.e. transhipment problems - we implement a Jacobi algorithm using the hypercube communication network. A new parallel flow-calculation procedure increases the level of parallelism at every iteration of the algorithm and improves its performance. Extensive computational results are reported with network problems with up to 1 million arcs.
An integrated mobile microwave communications system for the massachusetts turnpike

A communications system was conceived and designed which would meet the special requirements of modern toll road operations simply and within reasonable costs.
Nandinin: An acylated free cyanohydrin from Nandina domestica

Abstract The leaves of Nandina domestica have yielded a new cyanogenic compound, characterized here as the 3-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl) −2-propenoic acid 4′-ester of 4-(β- d -glucopyranosyloxy)-α-hydroxybenzeneacetonitrile.
Cellular Catabolism of the Iron-Regulatory Peptide Hormone Hepcidin

Hepcidin, a 25-amino acid peptide hormone, is the principal regulator of plasma iron concentrations. Hepcidin binding to its receptor, the iron exporter ferroportin, induces ferroportin internalization and degradation, thus blocking iron efflux from cells into plasma. The aim of this study was to characterize the fate of hepcidin after binding to ferroportin. We show that hepcidin is taken up by ferroportin-expressing cells in a temperature- and pH-dependent manner, and degraded together with its receptor. When Texas red-labeled hepcidin (TR-Hep) was added to ferroportin-GFP (Fpn-GFP) expressing cells, confocal microscopy showed co-localization of TR-Hep with Fpn-GFP. Using flow cytometry, we showed that the peptide was almost completely degraded by 24 h after its addition, but that lysosomal inhibitors completely prevented degradation of both ferroportin and hepcidin. In addition, using radio-labeled hepcidin and HPLC analysis we show that hepcidin is not recycled, and that only degradation products are released from the cells. Together these results show that the hormone hepcidin and its receptor ferroportin are internalized together and trafficked to lysosomes where both are degraded.
Hypermodelling: an integrated approach to dynamic system modelling

Models used in simulation tend to be disconnected from reality and from related models. Ideally, we should like to interact with models as if they were web assets containing extensive hyperlinking and cross-connections. In practice, these inter-connections with respect to the human-model interface are lacking and need to be improved. For example, interacting with a term within a mathematical model is rarely possible. Without such interaction, the full semantics of the term, including its real-world meaning, appearance, and source code implementation, are difficult to identify. The same model may appear in several separate locations: electronic documentation, formula-oriented software, slides, source code. Without the proper connections, model semantics can drift. Also, multiple models are generally required to view different aspects of reality, and to ensure that the right model medium is used for the people that need to understand that model. We introduce the term, hypermodel, to include interaction within models, among models, and between human and model. The discussion of hypermodelling is presented with a special focus on research performed at the University of Florida over the past 20 years.
Stable Inhibition of Specific Estrogen Receptor α (ERα) Phosphorylation Confers Increased Growth, Migration/Invasion, and Disruption of Estradiol Signaling in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells

Elevated phosphorylation of estrogen receptor α (ERα) at serines 118 (S118) and 167 (S167) is associated with favorable outcome for tamoxifen adjuvant therapy and may serve as surrogate markers for a functional ERα signaling pathway in breast cancer. It is possible that loss of phosphorylation at S118 and/or S167 could disrupt ERα signaling, resulting in aggressive ERα-independent breast cancer cells. To this end, MCF-7 breast cancer cells were stably transfected with an ERα-specific short hairpin RNA that reduced endogenous ERα. The resulting cell line was stably transfected with wild-type ERα (ER-AB cells), or ERα containing serine to alanine mutation at S118 or S167 (S118A cells and S167A cells, respectively). These stable cell lines expressed approximately equivalent ERα compared with parental MCF-7 cells and were evaluated for growth, morphology, migration/invasion, and ERα-regulated gene expression. S118A cells and S167A cells exhibited increased growth and migration/invasion in vitro. Forward- and side-scatter flow cytometry revealed that S167A cells were smaller in size, and both S118A and S167A cells exhibited less cellular complexity. S118A and S167A cells expressed pancytokeratin and membrane localization of β-catenin and did not express vimentin, indicating retention of epithelial lineage markers. Expression of ERα-target genes and other genes regulated by ERα signaling or involved in breast cancer were markedly altered in both S118A and S167A cells. In summary, attenuated phosphorylation of ERα at S118 and S167 significantly affected cellular physiology and behavior in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, resulting in increased growth, migration/invasion, compromised expression of ERα target genes, and markedly altered gene expression patterns.
Design and development of a metal oxide based electronic nose for spoilage classification of beef

Abstract A metal oxide sensor-based electronic nose system consisting of nine sensors was designed and used to analyze the volatile compounds emanating from beef strip loins (M. Longisimmus lumborum ) stored at 4 °C and 10 °C. Two statistical techniques, i.e., linear discriminant analysis (LDA) and quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) were used to develop classification models from the collected sensor signals. The performances of the developed models were validated by two different methods, i.e., leave-1-out cross validation and bootstrapping. Also, each classification model was developed using 6 and 10 features. The classification models classified meat samples based on the microbial population into “unspoiled” (microbial counts 10 cfu/g) and “spoiled” (microbial counts ≥ 6 log 10 cfu/g). For the meat samples stored at 10 °C, the highest classification accuracies obtained by LDA method with leave-1-out and bootstrapping validations were 83.8% and 89.1%, respectively. On the other hand, classification by QDA and subsequent validation by leave-1-out and bootstrapping provided highest accuracies of 81.5% and 93.2%, respectively. For samples stored at 4 °C, the LDA method provided highest classification accuracies of 80% and 86.6% using leave-1-out and bootstrapping validation, respectively. The highest classification accuracies obtained for the samples stored at 4 °C were 85% and 96% by using QDA method with leave-1-out and bootstrapping validations, respectively.
Microscale Temperature Measurements at the Triple Line of an Evaporating Thin Film

Thin-film evaporation from a meniscus in a confined space, which is the basis for many two-phase cooling devices, is experimentally investigated. The meniscus formed by heptane, a highly wetting liquid, on a heated, fused quartz substrate is studied. Microscale infrared temperature measurements performed near the thin-film region of the evaporating meniscus reveal the temperature suppression caused by the intensive evaporation in this region. The high spatial resolution (∼6.3 μm) and high temperature sensitivity (∼20 mK) of the infrared camera allowed for accurate measurements. The effects of meniscus thickness and applied heat flux on the thin-film heat transfer distribution and rate are also explored.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
The natural history of untreated duodenal and ampullary adenomas in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis followed in an endoscopic surveillance program

Background: Endoscopic surveillance is recommended for patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) because of the high prevalence of duodenal adenomas and the risk of periampullary cancer. The aim of this study was to assess the natural history of untreated duodenal and ampullary adenomas in FAP patients during surveillance. Methods: One hundred fourteen FAP patients who had 2 or more surveillance examinations were followed for a mean of 51 months (range, 10 to 151 months). Results: Duodenal polyps progressed in size in 26% (25 of 95), number in 32% (34 of 106), and histology in 11% (5 of 45) of patients. Morphology and histology of the main duodenal papilla progressed in 14% (15 of 110) and 11% (12 of 105) of patients, respectively. The histologic progression was mild except for one patient who developed a periampullary cancer. Conclusions: A minority of FAP patients had progression of endoscopic features and histology of duodenal polyps or the main duodenal papilla when followed over 4 years. An endoscopic surveillance interval of at least 3 years may be appropriate for the majority of untreated patients with FAP. Factors that stratify patients as being at the highest risk of periampullary cancer and thus requiring more intensive surveillance are yet to be determined. (Gastrointest Endosc 1999;49:358-64.)
Modelling land use changes and their impact on soil erosion and sediment supply to rivers

The potential for surface runoff and soil erosion is strongly affected by land use and cultivation. Therefore the modelling of land use changes is important with respect to the prediction of soil degradation and its on-site and off-site consequences. Land use changes during the past 250 years in the Dijle catchment (central Belgium) were analysed by comparing four historical topographic maps (1774, 1840, 1930 and 1990). A combination of land use transformation maps and biophysical land properties shows that certain decision rules are used for the conversion of forest into arable land or vice versa. During periods of increasing pressure on the land, forests were cleared mainly on areas with low slope gradients and favourable soil conditions, while in times of decreasing pressure land units with steep and unfavourable soil conditions were taken out of production. Possible future land use patterns were generated using stochastic simulations based on land use transformation probabilities. The outcome of these simulations was used to assess the soil erosion risk under different scenarios. The results indicate that even a relatively limited land use change, from forest to arable land or vice versa, has a significant effect on regional soil erosion rates and sediment supply to rivers. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Genetic Control of Susceptibility to the Avian Leukosis Complex 1. The Leukosis-Sarcoma Virus Group

Abstract Genetic studies of resistance to naturally occurring lymphoid leukosis and etiologically related neoplasms induced by the avian leukosis-sarcoma viruses were conducted in seven diallel cross experiments. Three inbred White Leghorn lines were crossed in each experiment, and the mortality of the lines was compared under conditions of artificial exposure which induced a high mortality and natural exposure in which low mortality occurred. The data were analyzed by a weighted least-squares method. No artificial exposure method was found which would increase specific mortality and provide efficient criteria of resistance under all circumstances. It was concluded that genetic resistance to lymphoid leukosis is a highly complex trait, but that at least one simply inherited mechanism of resistance existed which acted at the level of virus infection. Other complex factors govern the birds ability to cope with this infection.
Detection of DNA oligonucleotides on nanowire array electrodes using chronocoulometry

We present data on the electrochemical detection of DNA oligonucleotides on a three-dimensional array system, and address the problems associated with the miniaturization of the electrode system and the increase in surface area. An anodic aluminum oxide-based template synthesis method is used to fabricate nano-arrays of gold wires. The free-standing wire arrays are then derivatized with a mixed monolayer of thiolated DNA oligonucleotides and mercaptohexanol spacer molecules. A hexamine ruthenium(III) chloride redox marker is used to measure the charge associated with the electrode surface before and after hybridization of complementary target DNA strand. The increase in surface area from a planar gold electrode to our array system requires the use of uncompensated resistance measurements.
Abstract 2775: Meat intake, genetic variation in carcinogen metabolic enzymes, and prostate cancer risk in a multiethnic case-control study of non-Hispanic Whites, African Americans and Hispanics

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Background: The role of meat and meat-induced carcinogens in prostate cancer (PCa) is still inconclusive. The process of cooking meat increases the content of chemical carcinogens such as heterocyclic amines (HCAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are metabolized to active carcinogens, or detoxified by metabolic enzymes in the liver and the prostate. Study objectives: We tested whether diets high in red or white meats are associated with PCa risk, taking into account cooking practices, and whether polymorphisms in carcinogen metabolism genes modify these associations. Methods: We used data and DNA samples from the California Collaborative Prostate Cancer Study, a multiethnic, population-based study of non-Hispanic White, African American and Hispanic men (717 localized PCa cases, 1,140 advanced PCa cases, and 1,096 controls). We considered nutrient density (g/ 1000 kcal / day) adjusted variables that captured intake of red meat, poultry, and processed meat, taking into account cooking methods, levels of doneness, and estimated meat mutagens, obtained using the CHARRED database. We considered the following polymorphisms: CYP1A2 -154 A>C, CYP1B1 L432V, CYP2E1 -1054 C>T, COX2 -765 G>C, EPHX1 Y113H, GSTP1 I105V, UGT1A6 T181A and the NAT2 predicted phenotype. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios for PCa risk adjusting for age, body mass index, total calorie intake, family history of PCa, saturated fat intake, pack-years of cigarette smoking, total fruit consumption and total vegetable consumption. Results: Diets high in baked poultry, were inversely associated (Ptrend = 0.028), whereas diets high in pan-fried red meat (Ptrend = 0.040) and well done red meat (Ptrend = 0.016) were positively associated with advanced PCa risk. Estimated meat mutagens (PhIP, MeIQX) were positively associated with advanced PCa risk only among Hispanic men (Ptrend = 0.022 and 0.04, respectively). The UGT1A6 T181A polymorphism modified the associations of localized PCa risk with consumption of high temperature cooked, well done, or oven broiled poultry and with estimated PhIP, suggesting positive associations between these exposures and localized PCa risk only among carriers of 1 or 2 copies of the Alanine allele. Conclusions: Diets high in red or white meat cooked with high temperature methods may be modifiable risk factors for advanced PCa, and risk factors for localized disease among carriers of selected metabolic enzyme variants. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2775. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-2775
Cyclophosphamide protection in NZB/NZW disease. Mechanisms and therapeutic regimens.

Regular administration of cyclophosphamide to NZB/NZW female mice effectively protects against the nephritis that is thought to be a model for human SLE nephritis. Reductions in serologic, histologic, and immunofluorescent parameters of the disease are correlated. Intermittent as well as continuous administration of the drug is effective without the development of leukopenia. Possible mechanisms of drug action and a modified approach to therapy of immune complex disease are discussed.
The similarities between cognitive dissonance and guilt: Confession as a relief of dissonance

It is proposed that dissonance is similar to the feeling of guilt. If they are in fact analogous, and confession relieves guilt, then one implication is that confession would relieve dissonance. This experiment tested this prediction using a standard induced compliance paradigm. Forty-five undergraduate subjects were assigned to either a no-choice condition, a choice-confession condition, or a choice-no-confession condition. The results indicate that confession does relieve dissonance. Further, as predicted, a negative correlation was found between attitudinal shift and guilt. The implications of the findings concerning the mechanisms of confession are discussed.
The Effect of Text Translation on Perceived Musical Tension in Debussy’s Noël des enfants qui n’ont plus de maisons:

The primary focus of the present study was to investigate the effect participants’ (N = 100) knowledge of a text translation may have on their perceived musical tension while listening to a piece of choral music sung in another language. When examining the graphs that show the group mean responses of the participants, control (without text translation) versus experimental (with text translation), it is clear that there are many similarities between the groups. Any differences that may be attributable to an understanding of the text while tracking tension in this musical selection are minimal and most likely individualized by participant. A secondary goal of the study was to observe the impact of having half the participants begin recording their responses with the dial pointer of the Continuous Response Digital Interface (CRDI) positioned either at the left of the tension curve-continuum or positioned at middial. Group data for participants’ who started with their dials on the left, versus those who start...
Clofentezine toxicity and fate in the bulb mite Rhizoglyphus echinopus (Acari: Acaridae)

Clofentezine was toxic to bulb mite, Rhizoglyphus echinopus (Fumouze and Robin), eggs and larvae; however, it was not toxic to adults alone or in the presence of piperonyl butoxide. When adults were exposed to radioactive clofentezine, the acaricide was absorbed, metabolized and excreted. After 48 h exposure, 49.8% of the recovered radiocarbon was parent compound with 37.1, 9.1 and 3.6% detected in the container rinse, mite rinse and internal fraction, respectively. Homogenates of adults extensively metabolized clofentezine. The most active fraction was the 12 000 g supernatant plus glutathione followed in decreasing order by the supernatant, supernatant plus NADPH and the whole homogenate, each of which metabolized at least 16% of the acaricide. In the presence of piperonyl butoxide, in vitro metabolism of clofentezine by each of these active fractions was increased approximately 10%. Although it is possible that rapid metabolism could have contributed to the lack of toxicity of clofentezine to bulb mite adults, it is more likely that another major mechanism was involved. Perhaps adult bulb mites lack the sensitive target found in immature mites.
A Shifting Paradigm: Preservice Teachers’ Multicultural Attitudes and Efficacy

Effective teaching in multicultural settings requires the awareness and ability to adapt to diverse needs and viewpoints. Teachers’ multicultural efficacy may be gained from coursework or interactions within diverse communities. In this study the authors determined preservice teachers’ multicultural efficacy using the Multicultural Efficacy Scale (MES) and its relationship to education and personal characteristics. Study results revealed average levels of multicultural attitudes and efficacy and no relationship to coursework and personal characteristics. The authors did find a significant relationship to political worldviews. Results suggest that other variables may be making personal characteristics less influential on views of diversity.
American Workers and the Future of Minimum Wage Politics

This essay provides a detailed, worker-oriented assessment of the new federal minimum wage law. Using a class-analytic approach and empirical findings generated by the 1987-1989 campaign to increase the federal minimum wage, I examine specific provisions of the new law and key political-economic variables evident in the struggle to pass it. I conclude by offering strategic observations on key trends likely to shape future campaigns to increase the federal minimum wage.
Boosting Restraint Norms: A Community-Delivered Campaign to Promote Booster Seat Use

Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a theoretically grounded community-delivered marketing campaign to promote belt-positioning booster seat (BPB) use among vulnerable populations when disseminated by community members. Methods: A prospective, nonrandomized community intervention trial was conducted to evaluate the “Boosting Restraint Norms” social marketing campaign delivered by community partners in Norristown, Pennsylvania (intervention community), between October 2008 and November 2008. York, Pennsylvania, served as the comparison community. In total, 800 vehicles with 822 children aged 4 to 7 years were observed for BPB use, the primary outcome of interest, at baseline (September 2008) and at 6 months after intervention (April 2009). Results: During the study period, a 28 percent increase in the prevalence of BPB use at 6 months was observed in the intervention community with no change in the prevalence of BPB use in the comparison community. After adjustment f...
The need for information and some aspects of information retrieval systems construction

Tout organisme vivant a des besoins qui doivent etre satisfaits pour maintenir son developpement: pour l'homme, le besoin d'information est vital. La satisfaction de ce besoin peut etre realisee, soit en trouvant le plus d'informations existant deja, soit au contraire en produisant cette information (c'est la production scientifique). Le present article etudie la nature du besoin de se procurer de l'information, ses particularites et son influence sur l'activite humaine: des conclusions en sont tirees sur les formes et les methodes a developper pour satisfaire ce besoin. (INTD)
Theory of Flicker and Transient Responses,* II. Counterphase Gratings

The model derived in the preceding paper is applied to new sine-wave flicker data, obtained with 7° circular, uniform-field and counterphase-grating targets, at four adaptation levels ranging from 1.67 to 1670 td. The data from all eight conditions are well fitted by varying two parameters associated with neural-inhibition processes; the major effect of changing the spatial pattern is on the number of neural units involved. But even when lateral inhibition is minimized, low-frequency feedback still dominates the transient responses of the model. These results can be interpreted in terms of spatial and temporal filtering in the outer and inner plexiform layers of the retina.
CHARACTERIZATION OF THE C3H6O+. ION FROM 2-METHOXYETHANOL. MIXTURE ANALYSIS BY DISSOCIATION AND NEUTRALIZATION-REIONIZATION

The C3H6O+· ion formed upon the dissociative ionization of 2-methoxyethanol is identified by a combination of several tandem mass spectrometry methods, including metastable ion (MI) characteristics, collisionally activated dissociation (CAD), and neutralization—reionization mass spectrometry (NRMS). The experimental data conclusively show that 2-methoxyethanol molecular ion, namely, HOCH2CH2OCH 3 +· , loses H2O to yield mainly the distonic radical ion ·CH2CH2OCH 2 + along with a smaller amount of ionized methyl vinyl ether, namely, CH2=CHOCH 3 +· . Ring-closed products, such as the oxetane or the propylene oxide ion are not observed. The proportion of ·CH2CH2OCH 2 + increases with decreasing internal energy of the 2-methoxyethanol ion, which indicates a lower critical energy for the pathway leading to this product than for the competitive generation of CH2=CHOCH 3 +· . The present study also uses MI, CAD, and NRMS data to assess the structure of the distonic ion+ (CH3)CHOCH2· (ring-opened ionized propylene oxide) and evaluate its isomerization proclivity toward the methyl vinyl ether ion.
Effects of delayed rapamycin treatment on renal fibrosis and inflammation in experimental ischemia reperfusion injury.

Ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) has long-term sequelae on kidney allograft function. Early initiation of rapamycin can retard surgical wound healing and recovery from IRI. In contrast, rapamycin may paradoxically retard long-term fibrotic effects of kidney IRI. We, therefore, hypothesized that delayed initiation of rapamycin after kidney ischemia, started after the initial week of wound healing, would decrease the long-term inflammation and fibrosis caused by IRI. C57BL/6 male mice were subjected to either 45 or 60 minutes of unilateral kidney ischemia or a sham operation. Mice were given rapamycin (subcutaneous, 1.5 mg/kg/d) or vehicle starting at 1 week after IRI surgery for 3 weeks. Urine albumin excretion, kidney histology, and kidney cytokine proteins were examined at 4 weeks after surgery. The 3-week treatment course of rapamycin significantly reduced body weight gain in all 3 groups and reduced postischemic kidney weight in both the 45- and 60-minute ischemia groups, but unexpectedly increased urine albumin excretion in all rapamycin-treated sham or IRI mice compared with vehicle-treated mice. Rapamycin treatment showed minimal effects on postischemic kidney fibrosis with variable effects on various cytokine/chemokine protein expressions, namely, decreasing interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and regulated on activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES) while increasing IL-4, keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP-1α), and IL-10 in the ischemic kidney. These data demonstrated that rapamycin reduced mouse body weight and ischemic kidney weight, while increasing urinary albumin excretion. Delayed initiation of rapamycin after IRI had a minimal effect on renal fibrosis and mixed effects on proinflammatory mediator production. These data do not support delayed initiation of rapamycin after IRI to attenuate IRI-induced progressive fibrosis and inflammation, and They raise further caution regarding rapamycin and albuminuria.
Transition (markov) models for the analysis of survival times in clinical research

This paper describes a method to estimate survival time distributions when the survival time is defined as the time from the start of the observation period to the time at the completion of successive occurrences of a response for a predetermined number of times. The method is based on transition (Markov) models (Zeger and Liang, Statistics in Medicine 1992). The survival time distributions are determined using the covariate adjusted transition probabilities. An application using time to achieve remission from a depressive episode in an elderly population is discussed.
Galerkin single-step methods for second-order hyperbolic equations

Abstract Single-step methods, coupled with Galerkin discretizations in space, are applied to second-order hyperbolic equations. These methods are applied directly to the second-order equations. Optimal order convergence estimates are derived.
Information as a social achievement: collaborative information behavior in CSCL

In computer-supported collaborative learning (CSCL) environments, learners in problem solving contexts constantly engage in information seeking, information sharing, and information use. However, these activities have not been well investigated in CSCL research. We have studied information behavior of small groups of middle school students engaged in online math problem solving. More specifically, we examined how participants negotiate and coconstruct their information needs, how they seek information, and how they make sense of discovered information. We argue that for learners in a CSCL environment, information is essentially a social achievement that emerges through the interactions of the group. Information only becomes information for participants when it is interactionally constructed to be meaningful and intelligible in their local situation. Analyzing learners' information behavior from such an interactional perspective can help us understand their practices of doing collaboration and learning. This has significant implications for designing CSCL environments and information resources to support small groups' information behavior and collaborative learning.
Conformational energy analysis of the pentapeptide Ac-Arg-Asn-Cys-Tyr-Asn-NMA from α1-purothionin

Conformational energy analyses were carried out on the pentapeptide RNCYN (Ac-Arg-Asn-Cys-Tyr-Asn-NMA) and on related peptides. RNCYN is a highly conserved amino acid sequence in thionins and viscotoxins. The conformation of the pentapeptide was calculated to be an amphipathic alpha-helix, with the tyrosine and cysteine on the nonpolar side of the helix and the arginine and both asparagines on the polar side. Our results are inconsistent with the conformation determined using the Chou-Fasman prediction method, but are consistent with the conformation determined experimentally (using n.m.r.) for this pentapeptide sequence in alpha 1-purothionin.
Effects of lubricant viscosity on the experimental response of a three-Mass flexible rotor in two types of journal bearings

Abstract Preloaded three-lobe and pressure dam bearings were tested with a three-mass flexible rotor. The oil viscosity was varied. The resulting changes in the instability threshold were measured and were found to depend markedly on oil viscosity. Data were compared with theoretical stability map predictions. The data were typically 50% higher than predicted for the three-lobe bearing and were within ±30% for the pressure dam bearing. Although the predictions are not quantitatively correct, the correct trends are predicted, i.e. the experimental and theoretical stability maps show the same trends for instability thresholds as functions of the Sommerfeld number.
Modifying the chemistry of a macrocyclic cobalt complex by remote site manipulation

A macrocyclic tetraamido ligand 5,6:(3-pyrido)-12,12-diethyl-2,2,9,9-tetramethyl-3,8,11,13-tetraoxo-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclotridecane, H41, has been designed to incorporate CoII and CoIII in the prim...
The strong solid acid, (SG)nAlCl2, as a catalyst for the dehydrochlorination and hydrodechlorination of polychlorinated molecules

Abstract A series of novel, solid strong acids has been prepared by treatment of inorganic oxides with Lewis acids and metal chlorides. The objective is to create four-coordinate, as opposed to the usual six-coordinate, aluminum centers on inorganic oxides which should result in strong acid catalysts. Several novel metal-doped solid acid catalysts combine this strong acidity with metal dopant reactivities to attain the selectivity of non-radical pathways. These new solid acid catalysts exhibit high catalytic activity and selectivity for the dehydrochlorination and hydrodechlorination of various polychlorinated molecules.
Cytokeratin reorganization induced by adenosine diphosphate in kidney epithelial cells

Exogenous adenosine diphosphate (ADP), the most potent mitogen for nontransformed African green monkey kidney epithelial cells of the BSC-1 line, rapidly alters the appearance of the cell monolayer. Examination of the cells with indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies reveals a considerable reorganization of cytokeratin filaments without a major change in the pattern of microtubules or microfilaments. In untreated confluent cells, cytokeratin filaments are predominantly confined to a star-like spot in the perinuclear area, but these can be seen to begin to spread within 2 min after addition of ADP. The effect is particularly notable using anti-cytokeratin 8 antibodies. At 6 h this process is complete and produces a well-developed filamentous network throughout the cell. By 12 h, the network appears to collapse, so that the filaments again form a spot in the perinuclear area, a process that is complete by 24 h. Immunoblotting of total cellular proteins reveals no apparent alterations in the amounts of several species of cytokeratins, including cytokeratin 8 and 18, at 3 or 24 h after exposure to ADP. Other purine and pyrimidine nucleotides which do not stimulate DNA synthesis in these cells fail to alter cytokeratin organization, and there is no apparent alteration in the distribution of vimentin, another intermediate filament protein. The rapid ADP-induced cytokeratin reorganization appears to coincide with the induction of early growth-response gene transcription in these cells and may be correlated with the capacity of ADP to subsequently initiate DNA synthesis. This dramatic and reversible cytokeratin reorganization immediately after exposure to ADP may be an important step in the mitogenic signal transduction pathway.
Unimodality, Independence Lead to NP-Hardness of Interval Probability Problems

In many real-life situations, we only have partial information about probabilities. This information is usually described by bounds on moments, on probabilities of certain events, etc. –i.e., by characteristics c(p) which are linear in terms of the unknown probabilities p j. If we know interval bounds on some such characteristics \( \underline{a}_i\leq c_i(p)\leq \bar{a}_i \), and we are interested in a characteristic c(p), then we can find the bounds on c(p) by solving a linear programming problem.
The Xenopus YB3 protein binds the B box element of the class III promoter

Abstract We have isolated a Xenopus cDNA encoding the YB3 protein which binds specifically to the B box promoter element of class III genes. Northern analysis shows YB3 is expressed in a variety of adult tissues. Fractionation of oocyte S150 extracts demonstrates YB3 is present in phosphocellulose fraction IIIC, as well as in the fraction isolated by B box DNA affinity chromatography. Silver staining indicates that YB3, or a protein of the same mobility in SDS gels, is the most abundant component in either fraction.
Energy substrate requirements for in vitro development of early cleavage‐stage bovine embryos

Energy substrate preferences of bovine cleavage-stage embryos produced by in vitro maturation and in vitro fertilization were examined in a chemically-defined (protein-free) culture medium modified hamster embryo culture medium-3, (mHECM3). Few inseminated ova cleaved without energy substrates. Glucose and/or glutamine could not support embryo development, but lactate alone was effective (37% 5-8-cells), equivalent to complex medium TCM-199 (44%). Addition of 11 selected amino acids to lactate increased embryo cleavages, although this treatment was not significantly different from pyruvate alone. Addition of glucose to lactate or to pyruvate depressed development. Lactate + amino acids was significantly better than TCM-199 (54% and 26% > or = 8-cells, respectively). Blastocyst development was evaluated after transferring > or = 8-cell embryos into a complex medium (TCM-199) containing serum. Cleavage-stage embryos produced with pyruvate alone or with lactate + amino acids yielded the highest proportions of blastocysts (36% and 41%, respectively, of inseminated ova). Between 33-63% of blastocysts derived from embryos that were initially developed in mHECM-3 supplemented with various substrates escaped from their zonae (hatched) depending on the treatment, but none of the embryos from the pyruvate + glucose combination hatched. This study shows that optimal energy substrates for bovine cleavage-stage embryo development can be determined using a chemically-defined culture medium, that a simple medium with selected substrates can support early development as well as or better than a complex medium, that a two-step culture system can be used to evaluate blastocyst development from these cleavage-stage embryos, and that timing and hatching of embryos may provide additional information about discriminating between the suitabilities of different substrates for early embryo development.
Non-linear optically active zinc and cadmium p-pyridinecarboxylate coordination networks

Abstract Non-centrosymmetric 1D and 3D coordination networks [Zn(L)2(H2O)]2 · CH3CN · 3H2O (1), and [Cd2.5(L)5] · EtOH · 5H2O (2), have been synthesized hydro(solvo)thermally between Zn(II) or Cd(II) ions and methyl 4-[2-(4-pyridyl)ethenyl]cinnamate (L-Me), respectively. X-ray single-crystal diffractions studies show that 1 adopts a caterpillar-shaped 1D chain structure, while 2 has a complicated 3D structure formed by linking cadmium-carboxylate chains with the L ligands. Both face-to-face and edge-to-face π–π interactions between the L ligands are key to the polar arrangement of the L ligands in 1. The dipole moments of all the L ligands have on the other hand essentially cancelled out in 2, and the polar axis is defined by the cadmium-carboxylate chains. Consistent with their polar structures, powder second harmonic generation measurements indicate that 1 and 2 exhibit powder SHG intensities of 75 and 20 versus α-quartz, respectively.
EXPERIMENTAL EVIDENCE FOR HOST RACES IN MISTLETOE (PHORADENDRON TOMENTOSUM)

In order to test the hypothesis that mistletoes (Phoradendron tomentosum) are differentially adapted for the host species that they occur on, mistletoe seeds from the three most common hosts in central Texas (hackberry, Celtis occidentaliss elm, Ulmus crmsi.folia, and mesquite, Prosopsis glandalosa) were planted onto different individuals of each of the three hosts. Germination of seeds and formation of haustorial disks by seedlings were followed in the subsequent 17 months. Germination of seeds was very high for all nine combinations of maternal (sourc* and seed (experimental) hosts (range 82%-98%). There were no significant differences in seed germination between the two groups when source and experimental hosts were the same species and when they were different species. In contrast development of haustorial disks when source and experimental hosts were the same species was significantly greater than when experimental host and source host species were different. The data suggest that populations of mistletoes are genetically differentiated such that early seedling development is greatest when there is corre
Increased Whole Blood Serotonin Concentrations in Chronic Schizophrenic Patients

• Whole blood serotonin concentrations were studied in 33 chronic schizophrenic patients who previously had computed tomographic (CT) brain scans and in 23 healthy volunteers. The chronic schizophrenic patients had a mean serotonin concentration significantly higher than that of the controls. The patients were subcategorized into a group with abnormal CT scan findings (enlargement of cerebral ventricles, cerebral atrophy, or both) and a group with normal CT scans. The patients with abnormal CT scans had significantly higher serotonin concentrations when compared with schizophrenics with normal CT scans and with controls. The chronic schizophrenic patients with normal CT scans did not have significantly elevated serotonin concentrations compared with controls. Furthermore, ventricular size in the total patient group was significantly correlated with serotonin concentration.
Guard row requirement for soil treatment experiments with potatoes as indicated by32P placement

Potato plants 11/2 feet from a column of soil containing 32P accumulated the 32P in the foliage. At distances of 41/2 feet or more no 32P could be detected.
Sum frequency generation studies at poly(ethylene terephthalate)/silane interfaces: hydrogen bond formation and molecular conformation determination.

To better understand the effects of interfacial molecular orientation on adhesion to plastics, the interfaces between poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and different silane coupling agents were probed using sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy. The polymer/air interface was dominated by the ester carbonyl, methylene, and phenyl groups. Upon contacting the PET film with the amino-functional silane 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (ATMS), the ester carbonyl stretch shifted to a lower energy indicating the formation of hydrogen bonds between the polymer surface and the silane molecules. This shift was not observed when silanes that contained no hydrogen bond donors, such as (3-glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxysilane and n-butyltrimethoxysilane, were placed into contact with the PET surface. Further evidence of silane ordering at the interface was observed as vibrational peaks attributed to the C−H stretching of the silane methoxy headgroups dominated the PET/silane spectra. It was determined that t...
Characterization of the Structure of a Novel Refractory Alloy Glass – Ni60Nb37Sn3

Bulk forms of Refractory Alloy Glasses (RAGs) of the composition Ni60Nb37Sn3 have recently been synthesized as part of a larger project for potential use in structural applications. Modeling efforts of such metallic glasses have traditionally involved the use of hard sphere models without regard to potential electron density fluctuations of individual components. X-ray characterization of these materials (in both reflection and transmission modes) provided scattering data necessary for subsequent radial distribution analysis, which gives structural information such as nearest neighbor distances and packing characteristics. A model radial distribution function (RDF) was constructed based upon a hard sphere space filling assumption and compared to the RDFs obtained from experimental scattering data. The experimental RDFs showed no difference from the model RDF within the limit of experimental error, with regard to nearest neighbor distances and coordination numbers of the first two nearest neighbors. Additionally, transmission mode scattering experiments from a white beam x-ray source (E = 2 to 40 keV) demonstrated a through thickness amorphous structure of 2mm thick samples. Converted line profiles from the two-dimensional diffraction patterns from this experiment also showed agreement with reflection mode experiments. Samples of Vitreloy-106 (Zr57Nb5Cu15.4Ni12.6Al10) of similar thicknesses were used as standards due to the well-known behavior of this particular class of metallic glasses.
Radiofrequency impedance measurements at 2 MHz on YBa2Cu3O7 epitaxial films

Abstract Measurements of the temperature dependence of the rf electrical impedance of YBa2Cu3O7 epitaxial films of 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0 μm thickness are reported. The contactless 2 MHz ac measurements yield both the real and the imaginary parts of the impedance. The temperature dependence of the real part of the impedance shows a peak in the resistance just below T c for all the sample thicknesses, and we interpret this as being due to a Kosterlitz–Thouless (K[sbnd]T) transition. The imaginary part gives the change in the kinetic inductance. From an analysis of the data near the K[sbnd]T transition temperature an effective superconducting thickness of the sample is determined.
SPAM for a Manipulator by Best Next Move in Unknown Environments

We propose a SPAM (simultaneous planning and mapping) technique for a manipulator-type robot working in an uncertain environment via a novel Best Next Move algorithm. Demands for a smart decision to move a manipulator such as humanoid arms in uncertain or crowded environments call for a simultaneous planning and mapping technique. In the present work, we focus more on rapid map generation rather than global path search to reduce ignorance level of a given environment. The motivation is that the global path quality will be improved as the ignorance level of the unknown environment decreases. The 3D sensor introduced in the previous work has been improved for better mapping capability and the real-time rehearsal idea is used for -space cloud point generation. Captured cloud points by 3D sensors, then, create an instantaneous -space map whereby the Best Next Move algorithm directs the local motion of the manipulator. The direction of the Best Next Move utilizes the gradient of the density distribution of the -nearest-neighborhood sets in -space. It has a tendency of traveling along the direction by which the point clouds spread in space, thus rendering faster mapping of -space obstacles possible. The proposed algorithm is compared with a sensor-based algorithm such as sensor-based RRT for performance comparison. Performance measures, such as mapping efficiency, search time, and total number of -space point clouds, are reported as well. Possible applications include semiautonomous telerobotics planning and humanoid arm path planning.