cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Control of Substrate Specificity by Active-Site Residues in Nitrobenzene Dioxygenase

Nitrobenzene 1,2-dioxygenase from Comamonas sp. strain JS765 catalyzes the initial reaction in nitrobenzene degradation, forming catechol and nitrite. The enzyme also oxidizes the aromatic rings of mono- and dinitrotoluenes at the nitro-substituted carbon, but the basis for this specificity is not understood. In this study, site-directed mutagenesis was used to modify the active site of nitrobenzene dioxygenase, and the contribution of specific residues in controlling substrate specificity and enzyme performance was evaluated. The activities of six mutant enzymes indicated that the residues at positions 258, 293, and 350 in the alpha subunit are important for determining regiospecificity with nitroarene substrates and enantiospecificity with naphthalene. The results provide an explanation for the characteristic specificity with nitroarene substrates. Based on the structure of nitrobenzene dioxygenase, substitution of valine for the asparagine at position 258 should eliminate a hydrogen bond between the substrate nitro group and the amino group of asparagine. Up to 99% of the mononitrotoluene oxidation products formed by the N258V mutant were nitrobenzyl alcohols rather than catechols, supporting the importance of this hydrogen bond in positioning substrates in the active site for ring oxidation. Similar results were obtained with an I350F mutant, where the formation of the hydrogen bond appeared to be prevented by steric interference. The specificity of enzymes with substitutions at position 293 varied depending on the residue present. Compared to the wild type, the F293Q mutant was 2.5 times faster at oxidizing 2,6-dinitrotoluene while retaining a similar Km for the substrate based on product formation rates and whole-cell kinetics.
Multidimensional analysis of the symptoms of chronic bronchitis and emphysema

Subjective symptoms and experiences were explored within a group of 146 severe, chronic bronchitis and emphysema patients. Eighty-nine symptoms and experiences, derived from initial interviews with 29 patients, were rated according to the frequency of occurrence during breathing difficulties. Key cluster analyses were used to derive a Bronchitis-Emphysema Symptom Checklist (BESC) measuring 11 symptom categories: Helplessness-Hopelessness, Decathexis, Fatigue, Poor Memory, Peripheral-Sensory Complaints, Dyspnea, Congestion, Sleep Difficulties, Irritability, Anxiety, and Alienation. The BESC symptom categories are highly reliable and the relationships among categories are stable across two subgroups of patients. The BESC provides one way to describe how patients cope with and experience chronic bronchitis and emphysema.
The effects of an attentional training procedure on the performance of high and low test-anxious children

Children, ages 9 through 12, who were either high or low in test anxiety were matched on sex and grade level, then randomly assigned to one of three conditions: (1)attentional training, (2)placebo training, and (3)notraining control. The attentional training group was rewarded for successful inhibition of irrelevant responses and correct attending behavior on a task similar to the Stroop Color Word Test. The placebo training group experienced the same training task but received rewards that were not contingent on inhibition of the irrelevant responses. For the younger children, posttraining assessement on the Stroop test revealed that attentional training enabled high test-anxious children to perform as well as low test-anxious children, while high test-anxious children in the placebo and control groups continued to make more errors than low test-anxious children. This effect did not occur for the older subjects. A second test measuring central-incidental learning was included to test for generalization effects of training, but this task yielded nonsignificant results.
ON THE STEREOCHEMICAL COURSE OF HUMAN PROTEIN-FARNESYL TRANSFERASE

The enzyme protein-farnesyl transferase (PFTase) catalyzes the farnesylation of the Ras protein and certain other proteins, using farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) as the prenyl source. Because of the important role of mutant Ras proteins in cancer, inhibitors of PFTase are of great interest as potential novel anticancer agents. The design of such agents would be aided by a greater knowledge of the mechanism of PFTase. We have determined the stereochemical course of PFTase using the two stereospecifically prepared isomers of [1-2H]-FPP as substrates in conjunction with 1H-NMR analysis of the farnesylated peptide products. This confirms that PFTase carries out the transfer of the farnesyl group with inversion of configuration. Combined with the results of studies on fluorinated analogs of FPP as PFTase substrates (Dolence, J. M.; Poulter, C. D. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 1995, 92, 5008), this indicates that the mechanistic course of PFTase is similar to that of the prototypical prenyltransferase enzyme, FPP sy...
Freeboard heat transfer in high temperature fluidized beds

Abstract Average heat-transfer coefficients were measured for horizontal tubes located in freeboard region of air-fluidized beds. The tests were carried out at 300, 500, and 750 °C bed temperatures and atmospheric pressure. Silica sand and limestone with 465 to 1400 μm mean diameters were used as fluidizing particles. Based on the experimental results, a general heat-transfer correlation for horizontal tubes in freeboard were developed which represented the data with an average deviation of 29%.
Clinical Course of 771 Patients with Bilateral Breast Cancer: Characteristics Associated with Overall and Recurrence-Free Survival

Abstract Purpose Despite numerous retrospective and case-control studies, risk factors related to overall survival (OS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) in bilateral breast cancer are still being defined. The aim of our study was to describe tumor properties, patient characteristics, and method of cancer detection for a large cohort of patients with bilateral breast cancer and to assess the associations of these factors with OS and RFS. Patients and Methods A retrospective chart review was conducted at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. Among patients with bilateral breast cancer, we compared primary versus contralateral tumors and synchronous versus metachronous cancers. Patient and second tumor characteristics were evaluated for an association with OS and RFS, as measured from diagnosis of the second tumor. Results Of 11,234 patients with primary breast cancer seen for an initial visit between July 1, 1997, and December 31, 2004, 771 patients (6.9%) were diagnosed with bilateral breast cancer. The 5-year OS rates based on stage of the second tumor were 87.7%, 87.7%, 69.6%, 45.1%, and 23.8% for stages 0, I, II, III, and IV, respectively (P Conclusion This study represents the largest single-institution review of bilateral breast cancer. Numerous second tumor characteristics were associated with survival. The results emphasize the importance of earlier detection and improved staging for contralateral breast cancer.
Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoconstriction

Abstract Swenson, Erik R. Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. High Alt Med Biol 14:101–110, 2013.—Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) continues to fascinate cardiopulmonary physiologists and clinicians since its definitive description in 1946. Hypoxic vasoconstriction exists in all vertebrate gas exchanging organs. This fundamental response of the pulmonary vasculature in air breathing animals has relevance to successful fetal transition to air breathing at birth and as a mechanism of ventilation-perfusion matching in health and disease. It is a complex process intrinsic to the vascular smooth muscle, but with in vivo modulation by a host of factors including the vascular endothelium, erythrocytes, pulmonary innervation, circulating hormones and acid-base status to name only a few. This review will provide a broad overview of HPV and its mechansms and discuss the advantages and disadvantages of HPV in normal physiology, disease and high altitude.
Management ofsupraventricular tachycardia by atrial stimulation

Summary The use of intracardiac pacing for conversionof a supraventricular tachycardia resistant to usual and accepted drug therapy is reported.
Replication of primary HIV-1 isolates is inhibited in PM1 cells expressing sCD4-KDEL.

Abstract Expression of a soluble CD4 molecule (sCD4-KDEL) containing a specific retention signal for the endoplasmic reticulum was shown previously to block propagation of the HIV-1 MN prototype strain in a transformed T cell line. However, the virus present in HIV-1-infected individuals is more closely represented by primary HIV-1 isolates which, unlike the HIV-1 MN strain, have not been adapted to growth in cell lines. To determine if sCD4-KDEL could block replication of primary isolates we used the PM1 cell line that has been shown to propagate primary isolates without adaptation. Here we show that the replication of four primary HIV-1 isolates was strongly inhibited in PM1 cells that expressed sCD4-KDEL under control of the HIV-1 LTR. Infection with primary HIV-1 isolates induced sCD4-KDEL expression driven by the LTR, HIV-1 spread was dramatically reduced, and reverse transcriptase activity in the cell culture supernatants was greatly diminished. sCD4-KDEL, therefore, represents a potent inhibitor of HIV-1 replication for gene therapy-based approaches for the treatment of AIDS.
Establishment of Goniozus emigratus and Goniozus legneri [Hym: Bethylidae] on navel orangeworm, Amyelois transitella [Lep: Phycitidae] in California and biological control potential

The external larval parasites,Goniozus emigratus (Rohwer) andGoniozus legneri Gordh, which were dominant on navel orangeworn,Amyelois transitella (Walker) in south Texas and in Uruguay and central Argentina, respectively, were successfully established at experimental irrigated almod orchard in California's Central Valley in 1979. Both species had been released for 4 months at rates of ca. 2.500 per ha., and both persisted into the 1980 and 1981 harvests, albeit at lower frequencies than were recorded in 1979. Coexistence with an earlier introduced parasite,Pentalitomastix plethorica Caltagirone, occurred at all experimental sites. Separate k-value analyses indicated significant regulation of their navel orangeworm host during the warm summer season. No such tendency was measured withP. plethorica during June, August, and December samples, indicating the need for further examination of this parasite's potential regulative role in different seasons such as mid-spring and autumn.
Band-limited signal extrapolation by truncated Bernstein polynomials

Abstract An algorithm is given for everywhere extrapolating a band-limited signal known only on an interval of arbitrary finite length. The scheme utilizes a finite number of equally spaced samples of the given function and provides a time-limited polynomial approximation. The approximation functions are shown to converge everywhere pointwise and uniformly in any compact interval to the band-limited signal. When the original band-limited signal is also Lebesgue integrable it is also established that the Fourier transform of the approximating signal converges uniformly to the Fourier transform of the original signal.
Structural analysis of autoinhibition in the Ras activator Son of sevenless.

Abstract The classical model for the activation of the nucleotide exchange factor Son of sevenless (SOS) involves its recruitment to the membrane, where it engages Ras. The recent discovery that Ras•GTP is an allosteric activator of SOS indicated that the regulation of SOS is more complex than originally envisaged. We now present crystallographic and biochemical analyses of a construct of SOS that contains the Dbl homology-pleckstrin homology (DH-PH) and catalytic domains and show that the DH-PH unit blocks the allosteric binding site for Ras and suppresses the activity of SOS. SOS is dependent on Ras binding to the allosteric site for both a lower level of activity, which is a result of Ras•GDP binding, and maximal activity, which requires Ras•GTP. The action of the DH-PH unit gates a reciprocal interaction between Ras and SOS, in which Ras converts SOS from low to high activity forms as Ras•GDP is converted to Ras•GTP by SOS.
Combustion and gasification of coals in fixed-beds

Abstract Fixed-bed processes are commercially used for the combustion and conversion of coal for generation of power or production of gaseous or liquid products. Coal particle sizes in fixed-bed processes are typically in the mm to cm diameter range, being much larger than in most other coal processes. This review provides a broad treatment of the technology and the science related to fixed-bed systems. Commercialized and developmental fixed-bed combustion and gasification processes are explored, including countercurrent, cocurrent, and crosscurrent configurations. Ongoing demonstrations in the U.S. Clean Coal Technology program are included. Physical and chemical rate processes occurring in fixed-bed combustion are summarized, with emphasis on coal devolatilization and char oxidation. Mechanisms, rate data and models of these steps are considered with emphasis on large particles. Heat and mass transfer processes, solid flows, bed voidage, tar production and gas phase reactions were also considered. Modeling of fixed-bed processes is also reviewed. Features and assumptions of a large number of one- and two-dimensional fixed-bed combustion and gasification models are summarized while the details of a recent model from this laboratory are presented and compared with data. Research needs are also discussed.
Digital optical processor based on symbolic substitution using holographic matched filtering.

We propose a digital optical arithmetic processor design based on symbolic substitution using holographic matched and space-invariant filters. The proposed system performs Boolean logic, binary addition, and subtraction in a highly parallel manner; i.e., the processing time depends on word size but not array size. Algorithms for performing binary addition and subtraction in parallel are presented. A skew problem occurring when symbolic substitution is applied to binary addition and subtraction with space-invariant systems is addressed, and its solution is suggested. Crosstalk in symbolic substitution is described, and new symbols which can prevent the crosstalk are introduced. System analysis and fundamental limitations of the proposed system are also presented in terms of processing time, overall light efficiency, and the maximum array size of the input data plane. The performance of the proposed system with that of the current electronic supercomputers has been compared by combining information about the processing time and maximum array size.
Modeling validation of key life test for hybrid electric vehicle batteries

This paper describes a battery model for hybrid electric vehicle applications. The model is able to predict battery performance and thermal behavior in response to inputs such as drive and test profiles, including 40-season equivalent key life tests (KLTs). In order to balance the dynamic driving simulation responsiveness and accuracy with computing efficiency over lifetime duration simulations, the present model is built on a semi-empirical basis with sufficiently detailed descriptions of multiple chemical–physical behaviors in effect during cycling and storage. A set of computing processes are running concurrently to address real-time power capability, response, and ageing, which are represented by cumulative key stress factors. This paper focuses on model validation against actual KLT data, and it meanwhile describes the importance of KLT for hybrid and electric battery implementation. The present model is also designed to offer functionality for incorporation into vehicle-level simulations in a Matlab/Simulink environment. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Impact of Electrostatic Deposition of Anionic Polysaccharides on the Stability of Oil Droplets Coated by Lactoferrin

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of three anionic polysaccharides (low methoxyl pectin (LMP), high methoxyl pectin (HMP) and alginate) on the physicochemical properties and stability of lactoferrin (LF)-coated lipid droplets. LMP, HMP and alginate were shown to adsorb to the surfaces of LF-coated droplets at neutral pH, which was primarily attributed to electrostatic attraction between anionic groups on the polysaccharide molecules and cationic patches on the protein surfaces. In the absence of polysaccharide, the LF-coated droplets were highly unstable to aggregation when heated above about 60 °C at pH 7, presumably because thermal denaturation of the adsorbed proteins increased droplet attraction. The addition of either LMP or HMP prior to heating greatly improved the thermal stability of the emulsions, with no aggregation being observed from 30 to 90 °C. On the other hand, the presence of anionic polysaccharides had little effect on emulsion stability or even promoted emulsion i...
A designer's perspective of the Hawk multiprocessor operating system kernel

The Hawk operating system kernel was specifically designed and implemented to support real-time applications on the SANDAC V embedded multiprocessor. The kernel provides a tasking model for program decomposition and supports message passing, synchronization, as well as other ancillary services. The kernel primitives have a Unix™-like system call interface to the C language and were designed to provide users a choice of level of abstraction, yet perform efficiently and behave predictably. Many design choices were limited by the type of environment the system was intended to support, namely, hard-real-time for missions of short duration. The system has been implemented and has supported applications for nearly two years. Measurements of kernel performance are herein reported. This paper is an overview of the Hawk kernel and a look backward at the decisions that were made in its design.
Social discovery using longitudinal spatial smartphone sensing

A new generation of social discovery and crowd-sourced location-based services promise to integrate mobile computing into our lives more than ever. An essential component in these services is the neighbor or peer selection, that is also needed for peer-to-peer (P2P) mobile applications and multiplayer mobile gaming. One major challenge is posed by the interpretation of the information collected by the smartphones (about nearby devices, locations) to bring the user closer to context-awareness and informed peer selection. We introduce a framework and a corresponding application (ConnectEnc) for mobile peer rating using a multi-dimensional metric scheme based on encounter and location sensing. ConnectEnc maintains a history of discovered nearby devices and locations, and rates them using an array of metrics ranging in complexity from simple (encounter frequency) to complex and novel (location vector and matrix similarity). We have developed and deployed ConnectEnc application on Android and Nokia N810 platform to measure the link between the scores of proposed filters and device selection by the user. Results from the deployment shows that statistically high correlation exists between ConnectEnc recommendations and user selections. Our framework is distributed, modular and can serve as a peer selection platform for other mobile protocols based on specific requirements. It runs on individual devices and does not require data sharing or interaction; and hence can bootstrap other recommendation, cooperation or reputation systems.
Dynamic fields generated by rapid crack growth

Stresses and strains near a rapidly propagating crack tip are affected by the mass density of the material. This paper starts with a brief summary of analytical results for near-tip dynamic fields as predicted by linear elastic fracture mechanics. Next, exact expressions are derived for dynamic crack-line strains, for mode-III crack propagation in a nonlinear elastic material and in an elastic perfectly-plastic material. These expressions are valid on the crack line from the moving crack tip to the moving boundary with the region of linearly elastic deformation. For steady-state crack growth, a critical strain criterion is used to compute the relation between external load and crack tip speed. The required external load increases with crack-tip speed.
Pancreatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia

Pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasias (PanINs) are microscopic lesions of the pancreas. Traditionally viewed as a benign metaplasia of small ducts, evidence suggests that PanINs are neoplastic and that some PanINs progress to invasive ductal adenocarcinoma. The primary diagnostic challenge is distinguishing PanINs from other lesions, including invasive ductal adenocarcinoma, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm, and cancerization of benign ducts. PanINs are the most common of the pancreatic cancer precursor lesions, yet they remain poorly understood and are so small that they are almost clinically undetectable. Further study is required to define the role of PanINs in the carcinogenesis and early detection of pancreatic cancer.
Correlation of the structure of amino-substituted anthraquinones to cytotoxicity in cultured Chinese hamster cells

A number of substituted anthraquinones (SAQs) are currently being tested as cancer chemotherapeutic agents because of their structural similarity to Adriamycin (ADR) and other DNA-intercalating antibiotics. In this study, the effect of SAQs on the induction of cytotoxicity of asynchronous Chinese hamster cells in culture was studied and compared to those produced by ADR and dihydroxyanthraquinone (DHAQ), a SAQ previously shown to be more effective than ADR. SAQs produced cytotoxicity that was dependent upon the concentration and duration of drug exposure. A correlation was noted between the activity of a compound (the concentration required to produce a certain level of cell kill) and the presence of a particular triangular arrangement of one nitrogen atom and two oxygen atoms. There was also a correlation between chemical structure and antitumor activity in the murine P388 leukemia model system. This correlation between chemical structure and biological activity may aid in the development of new SAQs with greater potential as cancer chemotherapeutic agents.
Relationship of octanol/buffer and octanol/water partition coefficients to transcellular diffusion across brain microvessel endothelial cell monolayers

Abstract The importance of lipid solubility on the rate of passage of solutes across the bovine blood-brain barrier (BBB) was studied with an in vitro BBB model. The model consisted of primary cultured bovine brain microvessel endothelial cell monolayers mounted in a side-by-side diffusion cell. Nine compounds (sucrose, mannitol, urea, glycerol, butyrate, thiourea, caffeine, antipyrine, propanolol) with different octanol/water partition coefficients were selected in order to provide a wide range of lipid solubility. Time- and concentration-dependence, and the effect of bovine serum albumin on the rate of transport of these compounds across the monolayers was determined. Consistent with in vivo studies, a significant positive correlation between transcellular diffusion and octanol/buffer or octanol/water partition coefficients was observed. The passage of these compounds across the monolayers was also concentration-dependent, non-saturable, and reduced in the presence of bovine serum albumin. Results demonstrate that these compounds undergo passive diffusion across the monolayers in which the rate of transfer across the monolayers depends directly on their lipid solubility and indirectly upon molecular size. In addition, serum albumin is an apparent factor in determining the passive permeability of the monolayers.
Between Religion and Desire: Being Muslim and Gay in Indonesia

Thousands of Indonesian men now identify as both “gay” and “Muslim.” How do these men understand the relationship between religion and sexuality? How do these understandings reflect the fact that they live in the nation that is home to more Muslims than any other? In this article, I address questions such as these through an ethnographic study of gay Muslims. I argue that dominant social norms render being gay and being Muslim “ungrammatical” with each other in the public sphere that is crucial to Muslim life in Indonesia. Through examining doctrine, interpretation, and community, I explore how gay Muslim subjectivity takes form in this incommensurability between religion and desire.
Thermal management in hybrid silicon lasers

We review thermal management challenges in hybrid silicon lasers. Several technologies are discussed and experimentally verified to reduce device thermal impedance.
A Homolog of NO APICAL MERISTEM Is an Immediate Target of the Floral Homeotic Genes APETALA3/PISTILLATA

To understand how homeotic genes affect morphogenesis and differentiation, their target genes must be identified. In Arabidopsis flowers, the homeotic protein heterodimer APETALA3/PISTILLATA is necessary for petal and stamen formation. Here, AP3/PI function was put under posttranslational control to analyze its immediate effect on the floral mRNA population, with indirect effects blocked by cycloheximide. Using differential display, a target gene of AP3/PI was identified (NAP: NAC-LIKE, ACTIVATED BY AP3/PI), which is homologous to genes required for meristem establishment and separation of floral organs. The expression pattern of NAP and the phenotypes caused by its misexpression suggest that it functions in the transition between growth by cell division and cell expansion in stamens and petals.
Attitudes Toward Risk: Experimental Measurement in Rural India

A study was made to determine whether differences in behavior between farmers of different wealth levels are the consequence of different attitudes towards risk or of different constraint sets such as limitations on credit or on access to modern inputs. Attitudes towards risk were measured in 240 households using two methods: an interview method eliciting certainty equivalents and an experimental gambling approach with real payoffs which, at their maximum, exceeded monthly incomes of unskilled laborers. The interview method is subject to interviewer bias and its results were totally inconsistent with the experimental measures of risk aversion. Experimental measures indicate that, at high payoff levels, virtually all individuals are moderately risk-averse with little variation according to personal characteristics. Wealth tends to reduce risk aversion slightly, but its effect is not statistically significant.
Plasma levels of parent compound and metabolites after doses of either d-fenfluramine or d-3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) that produce long-term serotonergic alterations.

Abstract Plasma levels of parent compounds and metabolites were determined in adult rhesus monkeys after doses of either 5 mg/kg d -fenfluramine (FEN) or 10 mg/kg d -3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) i.m. twice daily for four consecutive days. These treatment regimens have been previously shown to produce long-term serotonin (5-HT) depletions. Peak plasma levels of 2.0±0.4 μM FEN were reached within 40 min after the first dose of FEN, and then declined rapidly, while peak plasma levels (0.4±0.1 μM) of the metabolite norfenfluramine (NFEN) were not reached until 6 h after dosing. After the seventh (next to last) dose of FEN, peak plasma levels of FEN were 35% greater than after the first dose while peak NFEN-levels were 500% greater. The t 1/2 for FEN was 2.6±0.3 h after the first dose and 3.2±0.2 h after the seventh. The estimated t 1/2 for NFEN was more than 37.6±20.5 h. Peak plasma levels of 9.5±2.5 μM MDMA were reached within 20 min after the first dose of MDMA, and then declined rapidly, while peak plasma levels (0.9±0.2 μM) of the metabolite 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) were not reached until 3–6 h after dosing. After the seventh (next to last) dose of MDMA, peak plasma levels of MDMA were 30% greater than the first dose while peak MDA levels were elevated over 200%. The t 1/2 for MDMA was 2.8±0.4 h after the first and 3.9±1.1 h after the seventh dose. The estimated t 1/2 for MDA was about 8.3±1.0 h. Variability in plasma levels of MDMA and MDA between subjects was much greater than that for FEN and NFEN. This variability in MDMA and MDA exposure levels may have lead to variability in the subsequent disruption of some behaviors seen in these same subjects. There were 80% reductions in the plasma membrane-associated 5-HT transporters 6 months after either the FEN or MDMA dosing regimen indicating that both treatments produced long-term serotonergic effects.
Thermal Stress Development During Vacuum Arc Remelting and Permanent Mold Casting of Ingots

The development of thermal stresses in ingots during the vacuum arc remelting (VAR) as well as specialized permanent mold casting (PMC) process was modeled via numerical solution of the two-dimensional, nonsteady-state heat conduction and stress equilibrium equations. The numerical analysis was carried out in conjunction with experimental studies of the mechanical properties and microstructure of a cracked VAR titanium aluminide ingot. Numerical solutions were obtained for different values of ingot diameter, crucible-ingot interface heat transfer coefficients, and lengths of the melted-and-resolidified ingot. For both VAR and PMC, model predictions revealed that the maximum tensile thermal stresses are developed at the bottom of the ingot; the magnitude of such stresses increases with ingot diameter and the magnitude of the interface heat transfer coefficients. The microstructural analysis of a cracked ingot indicated that the thermal cracking occurred in the temperature range where the alloy has very little ductility. The predicted development of large tensile stresses correlates well with observations of thermal cracking during VAR of near-gamma titanium aluminide alloy ingots. By contrast, the predicted thermal stresses developed during PMC are lower, thus suggesting an attractive alternative to VAR to obtain sound, crack-free ingots.
Internalization of Formyl Peptide Receptor in Leukocytes Subject to Fluid Stresses

Human leukocytes retract pseudopods under normal physiologic levels of fluid shear stress even in the absence of any other mediator. To gain more detailed understanding of the mechanisms that regulate this cell behavior, we exposed leukocytes to a steady state laminar shear field in a flow chamber and computed the fluid stresses distribution on the surface of individual cells with and without pseudopod. The surface fluid stress distribution on such cell is quite inhomogeneous. We hypothesized that the local fluid stresses on the cell surface serve to regulate pseudopod retraction by way of membrane receptors, especially the formyl peptide receptor (FPR). Comparison of the receptor distribution and the stress distribution over the surface of the cells indicates that the membrane fluid stress alone is not directly correlated with the extent of regional pseudopod retraction, giving further support to the hypothesis that membrane receptors are involved in the mechanotransduction of leukocytes. We observed that after exposure to fluid shear the FPR was internalized to a small intracellular compartment. This internalization appears to be independent of the original location of the receptor on the surface of the cell and the FPR appears to be more derived from multiple locations on the cell, with both higher and lower fluid stresses. The evidence suggests that FPR involvement in the pseudopod-retraction process is not limited to cell surface regions with the highest fluid shear stress, but rather a more global occurrence over the majority of the cell membrane.
Impact of Users&#146; Expertise on the Competition between Proprietary and Open Source Software

Despite the availability of source code, deploying open source software (OSS) in an enterprise environment requires expertise. Recent surveys show that the skills of IT staff in an organization are one of the key factors in OSS adoption decisions. This paper develops a model where users choosing between proprietary software and OSS are heterogeneous in their expertise. The paper finds that as users become more skilled in OSS, the price of proprietary software will decline. Second, the equilibrium market structure is influenced by both users expertise and network effects. It is not surprising that proprietary software can drive OSS out of the market in presence of network effect, but counter-intuitively, this happens when users are highly skilled in OSS. Third, in presence of network effect, OSS may survive in the market only when it is customizable by skilled users and therefore provides significant higher benefits to users than proprietary software.
Effects of Prenatal Treatment with Antiandrogens on Luteinizing Hormone Secretion and Sex Steroid Concentrations in Adult Spotted Hyenas, Crocuta crocuta

Prenatal androgen treatment can alter LH secretion in female offspring, often with adverse effects on ovulatory function. However, female spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta), renowned for their highly masculinized genitalia, are naturally exposed to high androgen levels in utero. To determine whether LH secretion in spotted hyenas is affected by prenatal androgens, we treated pregnant hyenas with antiandrogens (flutamide and finasteride). Later, adult offspring of the antiandrogen-treated (AA) mothers underwent a GnRH challenge to identify sex differences in the LH response and to assess the effects of prenatal antiandrogen treatment. We further considered the effects of blocking prenatal androgens on plasma sex steroid concentrations. To account for potential differences in the reproductive state of females, we suppressed endogenous hormone levels with a long-acting GnRH agonist (GnRHa) and then measured plasma androgens after an hCG challenge. Plasma concentrations of LH were sexually dimorphic in spotted hyenas, with females displaying higher levels than males. Prenatal antiandrogen treatment also significantly altered the LH response to GnRH. Plasma estradiol concentration was higher in AA-females, whereas testosterone and androstenedione levels tended to be lower. This trend toward lower androgen levels disappeared after GnRHa suppression and hCG challenge. In males, prenatal antiandrogen treatment had long-lasting effects on circulating androgens: AA-males had lower T levels than control males. The sex differences and effects of prenatal antiandrogens on LH secretion suggest that the anterior pituitary gland of the female spotted hyena is partially masculinized by the high androgen levels that normally occur during development, without adverse effects on ovulatory function.
Contributions of working muscle to whole body lipid metabolism are altered by exercise intensity and training

To evaluate the contribution of working muscle to whole body lipid oxidation, we examined the effects of exercise intensity and endurance training (9 wk, 5 days/wk, 1 h, 75% Vo2 peak) on whole bod...
How are tonic and phasic cardiovascular changes related to central motor command

We examined the influence of central motor command on heart rate, respiration, and peripheral vascular activity. Central command was enhanced or reduced using tendon vibration. Muscle tension was held constant permitting the examination of variation in central command. Experiment 1 demonstrated in 13 college-aged males an enhancement of heart rate and vascular responses to an isometric, extensor contraction when vibration of the flexor tendon was added. Experiment 2 asked whether changes in central command interacted with phasic cardiovascular changes such as stimulus-linked anticipatory cardiac deceleration. Twenty college-aged males performed either an isometric flexor or extensor contraction with or without flexor tendon vibration. As expected, vibration enhanced cardiovascular change with extensor contraction more than with flexor contraction. Relative to control contractions, however, the flexor change was not an absolute decrease in cardiovascular change. More importantly, tendon vibration failed to alter phasic cardiovascular changes. Force and central commands for force induce cardiovascular change, but this change seems independent of phasic changes induced by the anticipation and processing of environmental stimuli.
Death of an Adult—And Its Impact Upon the Child

Morris A. Wessel, a Yale Medical School graduate (1943), gives much of his practice time to children and adolescents with behavior disorders. Currently, he is enthusiastically helping to develop HOSPICE, INC., a greater New Haven community organization with the aim: "to help patients and families face with dignity and meaning that part of life we call death." In 1972, he was the President of the New England Pediatric Society.
Stereo-based 3D Face Modeling using Annealing in Local Energy Minimization

In the past few years, 3D face modeling has gained significant attention. Reliable modeling of the face is necessary for good performance of a 3D assisted face recognition system. In this paper, we model 3D human face from binocular stereo images. The stereo matching problem has been formulated as an energy minimization problem that progressively propagates depth from reliable regions to unreliable regions by an annealing scheme. The concept of smooth 2D grid is used to enable regularizing the final depth solution. In the energy equation, area based matching is used for the data term. The smoothness term relies on annealing. The 2D grid facilitates the estimation of the smoothness parameter, from a correlation profile obtained from neighborhood of the grid node. It is evident from 3D modeling results that the proposed algorithm performs well on images of human faces.
The role of intestinal transplantation in the management of babies with extensive gut resections.

Abstract Background/Purpose: Modern neonatal care, surgical treatment, and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) have improved survival rate for babies with extensive gut resections. The authors examined the role of intestinal transplantation in the treatment of these patients. Methods: The authors reviewed all pediatric intestinal transplants performed for short bowel syndrome at our center (70 transplants performed between Aug 1994 and Feb 2002). Factors affecting patient survival were analyzed. Results: Older patient age at the time of transplant was a significant factor favorably affecting patient survival ( P =.031). Trends toward better survival rates were observed in those transplants performed more recently ( P =.063), in those patients with greater body weight ( P =.084), in those not hospitalized at the time of transplant ( P =.14), and in those without concomitant liver failure ( P =.12). Three-year survival rate for patients greater than age 2 years and without liver failure was 90%. However, 32% of our recipients underwent transplant at age less than one year, and most in this group (75%) had concomitant liver failure. Conclusions: For babies with irreversible intestinal failure, intestinal transplantation is a life-saving option. Results, which have recently improved, are best when transplantation compliments more conservative surgical treatments and TPN. However, there is a subset of patients who have liver disease early requiring urgent transplant. J Pediatr Surg 38:145-149. Copyright 2003, Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.
Theory in Anthropology: Center and Periphery

Sherry Ortner's account of the development of anthropological theory is admirable both because of the complexity of her argument and because it opens up a series of interesting possibilities for theoretical self-criticism among anthropologists. In this essay, I consider a theme which is not directly addressed in Ortner's piece, but which might usefully be considered in relation to it. The theme involves the significance of place in the construction of anthropological theory in the period since World War II.
Comparison of Deionized Water and FC-72 in Pool and Jet Impingement Boiling Thermal Management

High heat fluxes and stringent constraints on surface temperature and its uniformity during thermal management of electrical and electronic components often necessitate use of boiling heat transfer. This paper compares the pool and jet impingement boiling heat transfer characteristics of deionized water and FC-72 at an equivalent fluid saturation temperature of 57°C and for identical experimental conditions. To lower the saturation temperature of water down to 57°C, experiments with water are performed at a reduced absolute system pressure of 0.176 bar. Despite the reduction in pressure, pool boiling critical heat flux with deionized water is found to be 3.6 times larger than with FC-72. Furthermore, jet impingement is seen to enhance boiling heat transport more significantly for water than for FC-72. Consequently, heat transfer coefficients during jet impingement boiling are as much as 3.9 times larger for water compared to FC-72 at identical Reynolds numbers and surface temperatures. The heat transfer advantage of using water is mainly associated with the superior thermophysical properties of this fluid. However, in addition to the large fluid saturation temperature at atmospheric conditions, direct cooling of electronics is frequently not possible using water due to the incompatibility of the fluid with electrical components. To assess the practical utility of subatmospheric deionized water through indirect cooling of electronics, a 1-D heat sink analysis is performed on a multichip module geometry. The overall thermal resistance of the heat sink using water is determined to be around two times lower than that of direct cooling of FC-72 on a silicon substrate. Under saturation condition of the working fluids, dissipation of heat fluxes in excess of ~45 W/cm2 with the multichip module using water is constrained by the chip surface temperature limit.
Thrombin facilitates seizures through activation of persistent sodium current.

Objective An epileptic seizure is frequently the presenting sign of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) caused by stroke, head trauma, hypertension and a wide spectrum of disorders. However the cellular mechanisms responsible for occurrence of seizures during ICH have not been established. During intracerebral bleeding, blood constituents enter the neuronal tissue and produce both an acute and delayed effect on brain functioning. Among the blood components only thrombin has been shown to evoke seizures immediately after entering brain tissue. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that thrombin increase neuronal excitability in the immature brain through alteration of voltage-gated sodium channels.
Are receptor concentrations correlated across tissues within individuals? A case study examining glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor binding.

Hormone receptors are a necessary (although not sufficient) part of the process through which hormones like corticosterone create physiological responses. However, it is currently unknown to what extent receptor concentrations across different target tissues may be correlated within individual animals. In this study, we examined this question using a large dataset of radioligand binding data for glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and mineralocorticoid receptors (MRs) in 13 different tissues in the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) (n = 72). Our data revealed that individual house sparrows tended to exhibit higher or lower receptor binding across all tissues, which could be part of what creates the physiological and behavioral syndromes associated with different hormonal profiles. However, although statistically significant, the correlations between tissues were very weak. Thus, when each tissue was independently regressed on receptor concentrations in the other tissues, multivariate analysis revealed signific...
Direct potable reuse: a future imperative

As a result of population growth, urbanization, and climate change, public water supplies are becoming stressed, and the chances of tapping new water supplies for metropolitan areas are getting more difficult, if not impossible. As a consequence, existing water supplies must go further. One way to achieve this objective is by increased water reuse, particularly in supplementing municipal water supplies. Although water reuse offers many opportunities it also involves a number of problems. A significant cost for nonpotable water reuse in urban areas is associated with the need to provide separate piping and storage systems for reclaimed water. In most situations, the cost of a dual distribution system has been prohibitive and thus, has limited implementation for water reuse programs. The solution to the problem of distribution is to implement direct potable reuse (DPR) of purified water in the existing water distribution system. The purpose of this paper is to consider (a) a future in which DPR will be the norm and (b) the steps that will need to be taken to make this a reality. Following an overview, the rationale for DPR, some examples of DPR projects, technological and implementation issues, and future expectations are examined.
A Human Systems Integration Framework for Air Traffic Management System Design and Acquisition

The Federal Aviation Administration is working to modernize the systems used by air traffic controllers through the agency’s vision of the Next Generation Air Transportation System. These systems are acquired through the FAA’s Acquisition Management System (AMS) process. To date, human factors analysis is included in this process, though improvements can be made in the alignment of human systems integration principles with these systems engineering processes. This paper provides a recommended human systems integration framework to support air traffic management system design, and examines two potential cases in which the framework can be used to support the process.
Regional groupings, discrimination, and erosion of preferences: Effects of EU enlargement on the Mediterranean Basin

Abstract With the spread of regional and bilateral trade arrangements, there is always concern about the discriminatory impact on non-members. For example, the establishment of NAFTA deprived the Caribbean Basin of its preferential status vis-a-vis Mexico in the US market. Or alternatively, the enlargement of the EU from 15 to 25 countries may have adverse discriminatory effects on outsiders. This paper develops a method for assessing the effect of regional integration on non-member (non-integrating) countries that sustain trade diversion and/or lose preferential status in the integrating area. It then applies this methodology to gauge the impact of the 2004 EU Enlargement from 15 to 25 countries on the Mediterranean Basin. The method consists of three sequential steps: (1) determine the commodity overlap in the exports to the EU-15 between the acceding 10 and the Mediterranean countries. This is done by use of correlation coefficients and a specially-devised ‘export-similarity index’; (2) to the extent t...
Negotiating a Friends with Benefits Relationship

Friends with benefits (FWB) refers to “friends” who have sex. Study 1 (N = 125) investigated the prevalence of these relationships and why individuals engaged in this relationship. Results indicated that 60% of the individuals surveyed have had this type of relationship, that a common concern was that sex might complicate friendships by bringing forth unreciprocated desires for romantic commitment, and ironically that these relationships were desirable because they incorporated trust and comfort while avoiding romantic commitment. Study 2 (N = 90) assessed the relational negotiation strategies used by participants in these relationships. The results indicated that people in FWB relationships most often avoided explicit relational negotiation. Thus, although common, FWB relationships are often problematic for the same reasons that they are attractive.