cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Proposed Employee Free Choice Act: Strengthening The American Middle Class Or Tyranny By Union Organizations?

Presently before Congress is the proposal Employee Free Choice Act which would amend the National Labor Relations Act in the following ways: (1) By requiring employers to recognize a union after a majority of employees sign authorization cards for union representation. Under the present system the employer is not required to recognize the union on the basis of authorization cards and can ask for a secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board. (2) Provide for mediation and arbitration if the parties are not successful in negotiating a first contract after the union is recognized. The present system does not provide for mandatory impasse resolution procedures for first contract negotiations. (3) Authorize civil fines of up to $20,000 per violation and awards to employees discharged for union activities of “three times back pay.” Under the present law fines for violating the law are much smaller than the proposed legislation and workers can only get back pay, les than what they earned from other employment, during the period after they were wrongfully discharged. Over the past thirty years there has been an increasing inequality of income distribution in the United States and an erosion of employer provided health care and pension benefits for non-union as well as union employees. Strengthening the ability of workers to unionize will have a spillover impact on the members of the middle class, non-union and union in terms enhancing real income gains, as well as preserving and enhancing existing pension benefits and health care.
The Incidence and Survival of Rare Cancers of the Thyroid, Parathyroid, Adrenal, and Pancreas.

With the exception of papillary and follicular thyroid cancer, malignant cancers of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and endocrine pancreas are uncommon. These rare malignancies present a challenge to both the clinician and patient, because few data exist on their incidence or survival. We analyzed the incidence and survival of these rare endocrine cancers (RECs), as well as the trends in incidence over time. We used the NCI’s SEER 18 database (2000–2012) to investigate incidence and survival of rare cancers of the thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, and endocrine pancreas. Cancers were categorized using the WHO classification systems. We collected data on incidence, gender, stage, size, and survival. Time trends were evaluated from 2000–2002 to 2010–2012. We identified 36 types of rare cancers in the endocrine organs captured in the SEER database. RECs of the thyroid had the highest combined incidence rate (IR 8.26), followed by pancreas (IR 3.24), adrenal (IR 2.71), and parathyroid (IR 0.41). The incidence rate for all rare endocrine organs combined increased 32.4 % during the study period. The majority of the increase was attributable to rare cancers of thyroid, which increased in not only microcarcinomas, but in all sizes. The mean 5-year survival for RECs is 59.56 % (range 2.49–100 %). This study is a comprehensive analysis of the incidence and survival for rare malignant endocrine cancers. There has been an increase in incidence rate of almost all RECs and their survival is low. We hope that our data will serve as a source of information for clinicians as well as bring awareness regarding these uncommon cancers.
Facilitated diffusion of VEGF165 through descemet's membrane with sucrose octasulfate

Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) is a promoter of neovascularization and thus a popular therapeutic target for diseases involving excessive growth of blood vessels. In this study, we explored the potential of the disaccharide sucrose octasulfate (SOS) to alter VEGF165 diffusion through Descemet's membrane. Descemet's membranes were isolated from bovine eyes and used as a barrier between two chambers of a diffusion apparatus to measure VEGF transport. Diffusion studies revealed a dramatic increase in VEGF165 transport in the presence of SOS, with little diffusion of VEGF165 across the membrane over a 10-h time course in the absence of SOS. Diffusion studies with VEGF121, a non-heparin binding variant of VEGF, showed robust diffusion with or without SOS. To determine a possible mechanism, we measured the ability of SOS to inhibit VEGF interactions with extracellular matrix (ECM), using cell-free and cell surface binding assays. Binding studies showed SOS had no effect on VEGF165 binding to either heparin-coated plates or endothelial cell surfaces at less than mg/ml concentrations. In contrast, we show that SOS inhibited VEGF165 binding to fibronectin in a dose dependent manner and dramatically accelerated the rate of release of VEGF165 from fibronectin. SOS also inhibited the binding of VEGF165 to fibronectin-rich ECM deposited by vascular smooth muscle cells. These results suggest that fibronectin-rich extracellular matrices serve as barriers to VEGF165 diffusion by providing a network of binding sites that can trap and sequester the protein. Since the content of Descemet's membrane is typical of many basement membranes it is possible that they serve throughout the body as formidable barriers to VEGF165 diffusion and tightly regulate its bioavailability and distribution within tissues.
Giant magnetoresistance, structural and magnetic properties of glass-coated Fe–Ni–Cu microwires

Abstract Glass-coated Fe–Ni–Cu microwires prepared by Taylor's technique exhibit negative magnetoresistance (MR) of 8.15% at 77 K and 6.35% at 300 K in a magnetic field of 9.0 T. The MR is of the same origin found in the granular giant magnetoresistance (GMR) materials and is distinguishable from the giant magnetoimpedance (MI) commonly seen in soft magnetic microwires. MI displays a peak at zero field for RF currents with frequencies less than 20 MHz and it crosses over to a sharp dip at higher frequencies. This crossover is ascribed to the skin-depth-limited response primarily governed by the field dependence of the permeability. Micro-X-ray absorption near edge structure (micro-XANES) spectroscopy data were collected at the K edges of Cu, Ni and Fe and revealed that the Fe atoms in the as-cast sample are in FCC configuration and they remain in the FCC phase throughout the annealing processes. The MR decreases to ∼2.5% as the annealing temperature increases to 500°C. The loss of GMR upon annealing is attributed to the growth of FCC Fe–Ni-rich magnetic particles. The increase in the Fe–Ni particle size also results in higher room temperature coercivity. When the annealing temperature is increased to 500°C, a wasp-waisted hysteresis loop is observed which arises from the locking-in of the domain walls by the directional order of atoms due to diffusion under the influence of the local magnetic field. A magnetically hard glass-coated microwire with coercivity of 600 Oe is obtained after annealing at 700°C for 1 h.
Primary production in the Arctic Ocean, 1998–2006

[1] Sea ice in the Arctic Ocean has undergone an unprecedented reduction in area and thickness in the last decade, exposing an ever increasing fraction of the sea surface to solar radiation and increasing the habitat suitable for phytoplankton growth. Here we use a primary production algorithm that utilizes remotely sensed chlorophyll a, sea surface temperature, and sea ice extent data to quantify interannual changes in phytoplankton production in the Arctic Ocean between 1998 and 2006. Our results show that since 1998, open water area in the Arctic has increased at the rate of 0.07 × 106 km2 a−1 (where a is years), with the greatest increases in the Barents, Kara, and Siberian sectors, particularly over the continental shelf. Although pan-Arctic primary production averaged 419 ± 33 Tg C a−1 during 1998–2006, recent increases in open water area have lead to higher rates of annual production, which reached a 9-year peak in 2006. Annual production was roughly equally distributed between pelagic waters (less productive but greater area) and waters located over the continental shelf (more productive but smaller area). Interannual differences are most tightly linked to changes in sea ice extent, with changes in sea surface temperature (related to the Arctic Oscillation) and incident irradiance playing minor roles. Estimation of primary production in the Arctic will aid the assessment of air-sea CO2 fluxes and improve our understanding of the ecological and biogeochemical changes that could take place if ice cover continues to decrease.
Medicaid managed care and high quality: Can we have both?

MEDICAID HAS EMBARKED on a major transition. Accelerating cost pressures in recent years have prompted states to initiate large-scale conversion of their Medicaid programs from traditional fee-for-service coverage to managed care. As a result, the number of Medicaid enrollees cared for in managed care has increased from approximately 2.5 million in 1991 to more than 13 million in June 1996.1Most of the enrollees have been from the nondisabled, nonelderly, Aid for Dependent Children/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families population.2The fastest growth has been in fully capitated plans, which now care for approximately 70% of the Medicaid managed care market.3 Growth of managed care for those who are privately insured has led to substantial controversy because of the financial disincentives for managed care organizations to provide sufficient medical services when these lead to increased costs. The potential impact of these disincentives on quality of care is arguably
Specifying and Verifying Cross-Organizational Business Models: An Agent-Oriented Approach

Cross-organizational business processes are routine in today's economy. Of necessity, enterprises conduct their business in cooperation to create products and services for the marketplace. Thus business processes inherently involve autonomous partners with heterogeneous software designs and implementations. Therefore, it would be natural to model such processes via high-level abstractions that reflect the contractual relationships among the business partners. Yet, in today's IT practice, cross-organizational processes are modeled at a low level of abstraction in terms of the control and data flow among the participants. This paper makes the following contributions. First, it proposes a simple, yet expressive, declarative way to specify business models at a high level based on the notion of commitments. Second, it shows how such a high-level model maps to a conventional operational model. Third, it provides a basis for verifying the correctness of the operational representations with respect to the declarative business model using existing temporal model checking tools. This paper validates the above claims using the well-known Quote To Cash business process, e.g., as supported by vendors such as SAP and applied in large enterprises. In this manner, this paper helps bridge the gap between high-level business models and their IT realizations.
Isolation of the gene and large-scale expression and purification of recombinant Erythrina cristagalli lectin.

Using polymerase chain reaction, the coding sequence for Erythrina cristagalli lectin (ECL) has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The amplified DNA sequence of ECL is highly homologous to that previously reported for Erythrina corallodendron lectin (ECorL), confirming the absence of introns in the ECL gene. The polypeptide sequences of ECL and ECorL have been compared and five amino acids have been identified that differentiate the two proteins. Recombinant E. cristagalli lectin (recECL) was expressed in E. coli from a genomic clone encoding the mature E. cristagalli lectin gene. Constitutive expression localised recombinant protein in inclusion bodies, which were solubilised, and recECL, subsequently refolded and purified by lactose affinity chromatography. Significant advantages were observed for purification from inclusion bodies rather than from a clone optimised to express soluble protein. A large-scale purification scheme has been developed that can prepare functional recECL from inclusion bodies with a yield of 870 mg/L culture. By the range of characterisation methods employed in this study, it has been demonstrated that recECL is functionally equivalent to native ECL obtained from the E. cristagalli plant. In addition, characterisation of the binding of radiolabelled recECL to cultured dorsal root ganglia demonstrated that recECL binds to a single pool of receptors.
Reducing agents affect inhibitory activities of compounds: Results from multiple drug targets

High-throughput screening (HTS) of large compound libraries has become a commonly used method for the identification of drug leads, and nonphysiological reducing agents have been widely used for HTS. However, a comparison of the difference in the HTS results based on the choice of reducing agent used and potency comparisons of selected inhibitors has not been done with the physiological reducing agent reduced glutathione (GSH). Here, we compared the effects of three reducing agents-dithiothreitol (DTT), β-mercaptoethanol (β-MCE), and tris(2-carboxyethyl)phosphine (TCEP)-as well as GSH against three drug target proteins. Approximately 100,000 compounds were computationally screened for each target protein, and experimental testing of high-scoring compounds (~560 compounds) with the four reducing agents surprisingly produced many nonoverlapping hits. More importantly, we found that various reducing agents altered inhibitor potency (IC(50)) from approximately 10 μM with one reducing agent to complete loss (IC(50)>200 μM) of inhibitory activity with another reducing agent. Therefore, the choice of reducing agent in an HTS is critical because this may lead to the pursuit of falsely identified active compounds or failure to identify the true active compounds. We demonstrate the feasibility of using GSH for in vitro HTS assays with these three target enzymes.
Discrete-time observer based H/sub infinity / norm bounding control

The authors give an observer-based control that guarantees stability and a uniform H/sub infinity / norm bound. The approach is based on the use of discrete algebraic Riccati equations (DAREs) and provides both upper and lower bounds on the H/sub infinity / norm of the resulting closed-loop system. This approach relies on the solution of the state feedback problem, and introduces a novel generalized algebraic Riccati equation (GARE) to develop the results for the optimal feedback case. The results are found to be completely analogous to the continuous-time ARE based design results. >
A case of polyomavirus-associated nephropathy presenting late after transplantation

Polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN), an important cause of allograft failure in renal transplant recipients, is usually diagnosed within 12 months of renal transplantation. Bansal et al. present a case of PVAN that developed more than 80 months after transplantation, however, highlighting the fact that PVAN can occur late after transplantation and should be considered in any renal transplant recipient who experiences a change in renal function. Background A 36-year-old white female, who had received a deceased-donor kidney transplant for end-stage renal disease secondary to reflux nephropathy 8 years previously, was referred to a transplant clinic for evaluation following an increase in her serum creatinine level from 123.8 µmol/l to 185.6 µmol/l (1.4 mg/dl to 2.1 mg/dl) over the preceding 9 months. Her immunosuppression regimen included mycophenolate mofetil, ciclosporin and prednisone, with ciclosporin trough levels ranging from 100 ng/ml to 150 ng/ml, as detected by fluorescence polarization immunoassay, over the preceding year. The following possible causes of subacute renal failure were ruled out: post-obstructive nephropathy, altered hemodynamics (hypotension and renal artery stenosis), and toxicity from medications other than calcineurin inhibitors. Potential etiologies such as acute T-cell-mediated rejection, acute and chronic antibody-mediated rejection, polyomavirus-associated nephropathy, and calcineurin inhibitor nephrotoxicity were considered. Investigations Physical examination, urine and blood analysis, analysis of human leukocyte antigen antibodies by flow cytometry (Luminex®, Luminex Corporation, Austin, TX), ultrasound of the transplanted kidney, polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of BK virus in the serum, and biopsy of the transplanted kidney with staining for simian virus 40 antigen. Diagnosis Polyomavirus-associated nephropathy with advanced nephrosclerosis and moderate to marked hyaline arteriolosclerosis. Management Reduction of immunosuppression by discontinuation of mycophenolate mofetil, dose reduction of ciclosporin, and initiation of leflunomide.
Disagreement is unpredictable

Abstract Given common priors, no agent can publicly estimate a non-zero sign for the difference between his estimate and another agent’s future estimate. Thus rational agents cannot publicly anticipate the direction in which other agents will disagree with them.
Greening the cloud using renewable-energy-aware service migration

Cloud computing is the new paradigm of operation in information technology. While cloud computing infrastructures have benefits, their energy consumption is becoming a growing concern. Data centers, which are used to provide the infrastructure and resource pool for cloud computing, consume a large amount of energy. Future energy consumption predictions of these data centers are even bigger concerns. To reduce this energy consumption, and hence the carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emission of cloud computing, and information technology in general, energy-efficient methods of operation have to be investigated and adopted. In addition, renewable energy usage in place of non-renewable can also reduce carbon emission. However, due to its intermittency and volatility, renewable energy cannot be used to its full potential. In this study, we introduce the renewable-energy- aware cloud service and virtual machine migration to relocate energy demand using dynamic and flexible cloud resource allocation techniques, and help overcome the challenges of renewable energy. Results from a U.S.-wide cloud network infrastructure show that, using simple migration techniques, up to 30 percent nonrenewable energy can be replaced by renewable energy, while consuming only a small amount of extra resources and energy to perform demand relocation.
A Role for the MRN Complex in ATR Activation via TOPBP1 Recruitment

Summary The MRN (MRE11-RAD50-NBS1) complex has been implicated in many aspects of the DNA damage response. It has key roles in sensing and processing DNA double-strand breaks, as well as in activation of ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated). We reveal a function for MRN in ATR (ATM- and RAD3-related) activation by using defined ATR-activating DNA structures in Xenopus egg extracts. Strikingly, we demonstrate that MRN is required for recruitment of TOPBP1 to an ATR-activating structure that contains a single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) and a double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) junction and that this recruitment is necessary for phosphorylation of CHK1. We also show that the 911 (RAD9-RAD1-HUS1) complex is not required for TOPBP1 recruitment but is essential for TOPBP1 function. Thus, whereas MRN is required for TOPBP1 recruitment at an ssDNA-to-dsDNA junction, 911 is required for TOPBP1 "activation." These findings provide molecular insights into how ATR is activated.
31P NMR spectroscopy in benzoxazine model compounds and benzoxazine chemistry ― main chain and end group studies

Abstract Using 31P NMR spectroscopy after phosphorylation, different phenols are easily discriminated. Proposed phenolic model compounds from benzoxazine reaction/polymerization are phosphorylated with 2-chloro-1,3,2-dioxaphospholane directly in an NMR tube. The dimer and oligomer structure of benzoxazine is different from that of monomer, that is, the breaking of the oxazine ring upon polymerization results in the formation of Mannich bridge structure linking phenolic groups together. Different electronic environment in the phosphorus derivatives of the methylamine-based benzoxazine model dimer and oligomers allows comparison of these 31P NMR spectra with the 31P-NMR spectra of the compounds from traditional benzoxazine polymerization provides useful end group information. Phenolic functional groups in benzoxazine dimer and oligomers, e.g. phenolic end groups and phenolic groups on the backbone, are studied.
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial of corticosteroids for hyperemesis due to pregnancy.

Abstract Objective Hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of nausea and vomiting due to pregnancy for which there is no proven pharmacological treatment, is the third leading cause for hospitalization during pregnancy. Corticosteroids are commonly used for the treatment of nausea and vomiting due to cancer chemotherapy–induced emesis and might prove useful in hyperemesis gravidarum. Methods A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in 126 women who previously had not responded to outpatient therapy for hyperemesis gravidarum during the first half of pregnancy. Intravenous methylprednisolone (125 mg) was followed by an oral prednisone taper (40 mg for 1 day, 20 mg for 3 days, 10 mg for 3 days, 5 mg for 7 days) versus an identical-appearing placebo regimen. All women also received promethazine 25 mg and metoclopramide 10 mg intravenously every 6 hours for 24 hours, followed by the same regimen administered orally as needed until discharge. The primary study outcome was the number of women requiring rehospitalization for hyperemesis gravidarum. Results A total of 110 women delivered at our hospital and had pregnancy outcomes available for analysis; 56 were randomized to corticosteroids and 54 were administered placebo. Nineteen women in each study group required rehospitalization (34% versus 35%, P = .89, for corticosteroids versus placebo, respectively). Conclusion The addition of parenteral and oral corticosteroids to the treatment of women with hyperemesis gravidarum did not reduce the need for rehospitalization later in pregnancy.
The United States and the European Trade Union Movement, 1944-1951

In this study of U.S. postwar policy toward the reconstruction of Europe's trade unions, Romero demonstrates the weaknesses of the American strategy to reshape European societies in the likeness of American social pluralism. Using Italy as a case study, he shows how the U.S. government cooperated with the American Federation of Labor to support friendly anti-Communist unions. Originally published in 1993. A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value. ""A superb integration of national and international history.""--Journal of American History ""A fascinating and scholarly study in cold war history, equally expert in both American and Italian history.""--International History Review ""Must reading for all who seek a more sophisticated understanding of how countries interact, each under the influence of its own political culture.""--American Historical Review ""[Romero] has provided an excellent synthesis and successfully blended the international and internal, Italian and American facets of a complicated and important story, and done so in a readable and interesting text.""--Sidney Tarrow, Cornell University
The Interpretation of the Component Structure of Event‐Related Brain Potentials: An Analysis of Expert Judgments

The analysis of components of the event-related brain potential (ERP) is accomplished through standardized statistical algorithms. However, visual inspection of ERPs is commonly used to guide the selection of the analytic techniques. Thus, the definitional criteria of components employed by the investigators may interact with the choice of analysis procedures. The present study examines the criteria which investigators employ to define components of the ERP, the relative importance assigned to different criteria, and the consistency with which investigators use the definitional criteria. ERPs are simulated so as to vary systematically the amplitude, latency, duration, and electrode distribution of the P300 component. Ten experienced ERP researchers rated the similarity of 153 pairs of simulated ERPs. The ratings were analyzed by a multidimensional scaling procedure. Eight unidimensional judgments on each of the 18 ERPs were also obtained. The results suggest that ERP investigators are capable of accurately recovering the underlying dimensions of a set of simulated ERPs. Furthermore, the degree of experience in analyzing and interpreting ERPs affects the weighting structure of the underlying dimensions. These findings support the commonly held, but previously untested, belief that judgments of ERPs based on visual inspection can be both accurate and reliable
The Effect of Brand, Agent, and Price on Consumer Evaluation of Travel Services

Abstract Intense competition in the travel industry magnifies the importance of knowing what cues influence potential customers' perceptions of travel services. This research uses an established model to examine how price, brand and store variables (operationalized as vacation price, travel service brand name, and travel agent name) influence consumers' perceptions of travel service quality, perceived service value, and willingness to buy travel services. Results indicate that: (1) price has a substantial direct effect on consumer perceptions of quality and an inverse effect on consumer perceptions of value and willingness to buy, (2) perception of travel agent has a substantial direct effect on perceived quality and value, and (3) the only significant brand effect is the effect of airline brand on perceived quality.
The mechanics and physics of thin film decohesion and its measurement

The intent of this review is to utilize the mechanics of thin films in order to define quantitative procedures for predicting interface decohesion motivated by residual stress. The emphasis is on the role of the interface debond energy, especially methods for measuring this parameter in an accurate and reliable manner. Experimental results for metal films on dielectric substrates are reviewed and possible mechanisms are discussed.
Molten droplet solidification and substrate remelting in microcasting Part II: Parametric study and effect of dissimilar materials

This paper presents a parametric study of relevant processing parameters found in microcasting Shape Deposition Manufacturing (SDM). Microcasting SDM is a novel, layered manufacturing process capable of rapidly manufacturing near net shape, metal objects. The quality of artifacts built with this process depends on proper metallurgic bonding between impacting molten droplets and previously deposited substrate layers, as well as on the final microstructure of the artifact. Numerical simulations are performed to investigate the effect of operating conditions on the metallurgic bonding induced by substrate remelting and on the microstructure determined by the cooling rates during solidification. Particularly, the effect of droplet impinging temperatures, substrate initial temperatures and combinations of copper and stainless steel materials are investigated. Numerical predictions reveal that impinging droplet temperature variations, within the attainable range in microcasting SDM, have a minimal effect on the cooling rates during solidification. However, droplet temperature has a significant effect on the substrate remelting depth. Furthermore, this investigation quantifies the extent to which substrate preheating lowers the cooling rate during solidification and promotes substrate remelting. The study of the interaction between copper and stainless steel materials shows that the cooling rates during solidification of the deposition material and the occurrence of substrate remelting are both highly dependent on the combination of materials.
Nociceptin produces antinociception after spinal administration in amphibians

Nociceptin, also known as orphanin FQ, is a opioid-like neuropeptide that mediates its effects at the nociceptin receptor, a member of the G protein-coupled receptor superfamily. In mammals, nociceptin produces analgesia after spinal administration, however the role of nociceptin and nociceptin receptors in the modulation of noxious stimuli in non-mammalian species has not been examined. In an amphibian pain model using the acetic acid test with Rana pipiens, nociceptin and nociceptin1–13 amide produced dose-dependent antinociception (1–100 nmol), blocked by the nociceptin antagonist, [Nphe1]-nociceptin1–13 amide (30 nmol), but not the opioid antagonist, naltrexone (100 nmol/g, s.c.). Conversely, the antinociceptive effects of mu, delta, and kappa opioid receptor agonists were not blocked by the nociceptin antagonist. Nociceptin and nociceptin1–13 amide were the least potent of the opioid agonists tested. These studies demonstrate that spinal nociceptin receptors and not opioid receptors mediate the antinociceptive effect of nociceptin. Considered with previous findings, these behavioral data supports a role for nociceptin inhibition of spinal nociception in amphibians and perhaps all vertebrates.
Arctic air may become cleaner as temperatures rise

The air in the Arctic is cleaner during summer than during winter. Previous studies have shown that for light-scattering pollutants, this seasonal cycle is due mainly to summer precipitation removing pollutants from the air during atmospheric transport from midlatitude industrial and agricultural sources. With new measurements from Barrow, Alaska, and Alert, Nunavut, Canada, Garrett et al. extended previous research to show that light-absorbing aerosols such as black carbon are also efficiently removed by seasonal precipitation. Precipitation removes these particles from the air most efficiently at high humidities and relatively warm temperatures, suggesting that as the Arctic gets warmer and wetter in the future, the air and snow might also become cleaner.
On the efficiencies of some common quick estimators

The quick estimators of location and scale have broad applications and are widely used. For a variety of symmetric populations we obtain the quantiles and the weights for which the asymptotic variances of the quick estimators are minimum. These optimal quick estimators are then used to obtain the asymptotic relative efficiencies of the commonly used estimators such as trimean. gastwirth. median, midrange. and interquartile range with respect to the optimal quick estimators in order to determine a choice among them and to check whether they are unacceptably poor. In the process it is seen that the interquartile range is the optimal quick estimator of scale for Cauchy populations; but the interdecile range is in general preferable. Also the optimal estimator of the location for the logistic distribution puts weights 0.3 on each of the two quartiles and 0.4 on the median. It is shown that for the symmetric distributions, such as the beta and Tukey- lambda with [d] > 0, which have finite support and short tai...
Natural isohemagglutinin productionby the fetus

Natural isothemagglutinins were detected in the serum of 79 of 137 (57 per cent) randomly selected full-term newborn infants. Whether these isohemagglutinins were of the γM or γG type was determined by: (1) comparing isohemagglutinin titers before and after mercaptoethanol treatment of serum, since the latter selectively reduces bisulphide bonds of γM-globulin, thus inhibiting its antibody action; and (2) separating γM-globulins from γG-globulins of sera by Sephadex-gel filtration and testing for isohemagglutinin activity in the serum fractions. Only two infants had serum γA-globulins. Results showed that in a considerable proportion of neonatal sera, isohemagglutinins are of the γM type. Therefore, it is concluded that most fetuses produce their own isohemagglutinins.
Alteration and ore distribution in the Proterozoic Mines Series, Tenke-Fungurume Cu–Co district, Democratic Republic of Congo

Two sediment-hosted stratiform Cu–Co deposits in the Tenke-Fungurume district of the Central African Copperbelt were examined to evaluate the alteration history of the ore-hosting Mines Series and its implications for ore distribution and processing. Core logging and petrography, focused on lithology and timing relationships, outlined a complex alteration sequence whose earliest features include formation of anhydrite nodules and laths, followed by precipitation of dolomite. Later alteration episodes include at least two silica introductions, accompanied by or alternating with two dolomite introductions into the existing gangue assemblages. One introduction of Cu–Co sulfides accompanied the last episode of dolomite alteration, overprinting an earlier generation of ore whose gangue association was unidentifiable. Sulfides and some carbonates were subsequently modified by supergene oxidation, transport, and reprecipitation to 100–200 m depth. Present-day ore distribution resulted from these successive processes. Ore is concentrated in two shale-dominated units on either side of a cavernous silicified dolomite, which is interpreted as the main conduit for the mineralizing fluids. Sulfide ores precipitated at the redox or sulfidation contacts between this dolomite and the shales. Later, supergene fluids dissolved and moved some of the metals, redepositing them as oxides and carbonates. Solubility differences between Cu and Co in supergene conditions caused them to precipitate separately. Thus, modern ore distribution at Tenke-Fungurume results both from original hypogene lithology- and contact-related precipitation and from supergene oxidation, transport, and Cu–Co decoupling. The supergene fluid flow also redistributed gangue minerals such as dolomite, which has an economically important influence on the processing costs of supergene ores.
Non-rigidity in alpha scattering from deformed nuclei

Abstract Phenomenological vibrational wavefunctions have been used to determine the effect of nuclear non-rigidity on inelastic scattering within the ground band and to calculate the cross-section of vibrational levels in strongly deformed nuclei.
Effects of dietary magnesium on fructose-induced insulin resistance and hypertriglyceridemia in hamsters

Fructose (FR)-feeding has been used to induce insulin resistance, hyper-triglyceridemia and hypertension in rats, and recently in hamsters. As compared to chow, the semi-purified diet currently recommended by the American Institute of Nutrition (AIN) contains less magnesium. It was recently proposed that metabolic changes caused by carbohydrate-rich semi-purified diets are due to their low magnesium contents. We tested the effects of two FR-rich (30%, ww) diets containing either 520 mg/kg (FR-AIN) or 2100 mg/kg magnesium (HI-MG-FR-AIN) in Golden Syrian hamsters. After two weeks of feeding, HI-MG-FR-AIN group had higher plasma magnesium levels (1.57 ± 0.0.5 mmol/L vs 1.31 ± 0.07 mmol/L, p < 0.05). However, both groups developed comparable levels of hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and hypertriglyceridemia. These findings suggest that the metabolic changes induced by FR-rich semi-purified diets are not due to their low magnesium contents.
Affect and craving: positive and negative affect are differentially associated with approach and avoidance inclinations.

Background Research on reactivity to alcohol and drug cues has either ignored affective state altogether or has focused rather narrowly on the role of negative affect in craving. Moreover, until recently, the relevant analyses of affect and craving have rarely addressed the ambivalence often associated with craving itself. The current study investigated how both negative and positive affect moderate approach and avoidance inclinations associated with cue-elicited craving in a clinical sample diagnosed with substance use disorders.
Antiferromagnetism and superconductivity: Determination of the Cu spin–spin relaxation time T2 and the spin–lattice relaxation time T1 in Gd1.5Ce0.5Sr2Cu2RuO10

Abstract Gd1.5Ce0.5Sr2Cu2RuO10 exhibits antiferromagnetic resonance at 23.9 GHz for applied fields less than 1000 Oe with a spin–spin relaxation time T 2 of approximately 0.45 ns, and with a spin–lattice relaxation time T 1 of at least 320 μs. Since in the homologue, Eu1.5Ce0.5Sr2Cu2RuO10, the Ru atoms evidently fail to exhibit magnetic order, the antiferromagnetic resonance must arise from the cuprate planes. In other homologues, the cuprate planes are known to order ferromagnetically and are stacked in an antiferromagnetic configuration. The large value of T 1 suggests that phonon mediation plays no role in high temperature superconductivity. In addition, the presence of ferromagnetic cuprate planes is inconsistent with spin-fluctuation models of high temperature superconductivity.
Parasitism of Rhizoctonia lamellifera, Small

IN the years preceding 1929, much controversy existed regarding the parasitism of the group of fungi known collectively as Rhizoctonia bataticola. The differences of opinion held by various sections of workers, and postulated principally by Small, Gadd and Briton-Jones, were largely attributable to the use of the one specific name bataticola for what now appears to be a relatively large group of sclerotium-forming fungi. Papers published by Ashby1 in 1927 and Haigh2 in 1930 showed that R. bataticola was a polymorphic fungus possessing a pycnidial stage, Macrophoma phaseoli, and was apparently distinct from two other forms which Haigh styled strain A and strain B. In 1933, I showed3 that strain A was physiologically and morphologically distinct from both strain B and M. phaseoli, and suggested that it should be designated by Small's original binomial R. lamellifera. The question of parasitism I did not touch upon.
Two-dimensional silicon-29 inadequate as a structural tool for branched and dendritic polysilanes

Abstract The 2D silicon-29-silicon-29 INADEQUATE experiment provides connectivity information in systems whose skeleton is composed entirely of Si–Si bonds. We have developed this method to confirm the structure of the first generation dendritic polysilane [(Me3Si)2SiMeSiMe2]3SiMe. The 2D spectrum demonstrates connectivity for each of the three Si–Si bonds in the molecule. This method should be generally useful for dendritic and branched polysilanes.
A simple method of inducing young children to breathe forcefully during fluoroscopic procedures.

Children may be induced to take deep breaths during fluoroscopic procedures by blowing bubbles. This technique is especially valuable in evaluation of diaphragmatic motion.
Studies of metabolism in embryonic development, IV. Protein synthesis in mitochondria and ribosomes of unfertilized and fertilized trout eggs☆

Abstract 1. 1. Parallel studies of protein synthesis in mitocbondria and ribosomes of fertilized and unfertilized eggs were made up to the tenth day of age. The levels and the rates of increase with age of mitochondrial protein synthesis in unfertilized and fertilized eggs were identical; the activity of the ribosomes increased more rapidly in fertilized than in unfertilized eggs. 2. 2. During early stages the protein synthetic capacity of the mitochondria of unfertilized and fertilized eggs greatly exceeded that of the ribosomes. Near hatching the mitochondria and the ribosomes made approximately equal contributions to the protein synthetic capacity of the embryonated egg.
Abstract A104: A screening method for the identification of potentially effective drug-drug combinations reveals a synergistic interaction between Aurora-A inhibitor MK-5108 and Bcl-xL inhibitor navitoclax.

Recent developments in understanding the molecular mechanisms of cancer, coupled with large genomic datasets that detail the heterogeneity of the disease, have together led to a wealth of new cancer targets and therapeutic options. However, the restricted efficacy of these new agents and the emergence of resistance suggest that broader and more durable responses may be achieved through combination of these new drugs. To identify drug-drug combinations that may be effective in particular tumor types, we have developed an unbiased "synthetic lethal" screening approach to survey combination space across a diverse panel of tumor cell lines. We used this approach to test a panel of targeted drugs in all-versus-all fashion across 63 cell lines. Synergistic interactions were observed with the combination of an Aurora-A inhibitor, MK-5108, with navitoclax, an inhibitor of Bcl-2 family survival proteins. This combination, which was synergistic in a subset of the tumor cells, was further examined to identify the molecular determinants of synergy. Several features emerged from this analysis including the observation that Bcl-xL expression levels predict resistance to the single agent Aurora-A inhibitor and to synergy of combined MK-5108 and navitoclax. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):A104. Citation Format: Xueqian Gong, Shaoling Jin, Farhana Merzoug, Xiang S. Ye, MaryJo Lallena, Jian Du, Yue Webster, Xiwen Ma, Christoph Reinhard, Phillip Iversen, Sean G. Buchanan. A screening method for the identification of potentially effective drug-drug combinations reveals a synergistic interaction between Aurora-A inhibitor MK-5108 and Bcl-xL inhibitor navitoclax. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR-NCI-EORTC International Conference: Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics; 2013 Oct 19-23; Boston, MA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Mol Cancer Ther 2013;12(11 Suppl):Abstract nr A104.
Cell division rates of primary human precursor B cells in culture reflect in vivo rates.

Bone marrow stroma-based cultures provide a powerful model for studying cell division and apoptosis of primary human precursor B cells. Studies using this model are elucidating the mechanisms by which stromal cells inhibit apoptosis of cultured normal precursor B cells and have demonstrated that the apoptotic rate of cultured leukemic precursor B cells can predict clinical outcome in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In contrast to apoptosis, cell division in this model has not been well characterized. In this study, we quantified the rates of cell division in cultured primary human normal and leukemic precursor B cells by labeling precursor B cells with the fluorescent dye carboxyfluorescein diacetate, succinimyl ester. Based on the rate of decreasing fluorescent signal over 3 weeks, normal CD19+, CD10+ precursor B cells divided once every 90.5 hours, a number that correlates well with the known in vivo rate of 65.5 hours. The division rates were similar among different cultures and constant throughout the 3 weeks of culture, suggesting that the variable expansions of precursor B cells seen among different samples and culture durations are not secondary to different cell division rates. Unlike normal cells, cultured leukemic B cells had a heterogeneous division rate that ranged from once every 26–240 hours. These rates correlated well with their respective in vivo proliferation index. These findings indicate that the stroma-based cultures faithfully replicate in vivo cell division rates and can be used to elucidate the pathways that regulate cell division of primary human precursor B cells.
Applications of binary and analog hydrogenated amorphous silicon/ferroelectric liquid-crystal optically addressed spatial light modulators

Analytical and experimental results that show novelty filtering, optical phase conjugation, and real-time edge enhancement by using optically addressed spatial light modulators that comprise amorphous silicon photodiodes and analog and binary ferroelectric liquid-crystal modulators are presented. The advantages of these devices for the above applications include high-speed, low-power operation and high spatial resolution.
Highlights of the 1980 IEEE ISCAS

Below are some of the highlights of the 1980 IEEE International Symposium on Circuits and Systems, to be held at the Shamrock-Hilton Hotel, Houston, Texas on April 28–30, 1980.
System-Level Performance Testing Of Image-Intensified X-Ray Equipment

An evaluation of phantom materials is presented based on attenuation coefficients and measurements of phantom transmission using an image-intensifier system. Thicknesses of acrylic and copper that are equivalent to various anatomical regions are presented along with a copper phantom that simulates the attenuation of several anatomical regions at specific kVp's. Tests for system-level performance of image intensifiers that make use of this phantom are briefly described.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Goal orientations of managers and scientists: An illusory dichotomy

It is the aim of this paper to show through an empirical study that an assertion of axiomatic goal divergence between managers and scientists is an illusory dichotomy. More specifically, it is the hypothesis of this paper that the similarities in goal orientations between managers and scientists in research laboratories greatly outnumber the differences. The study underlying this paper involved a survey of five research institutes. Comprehensive questionnaires that had been validated in two previous studies were distributed to 104 scientists. An 80-percent response was recorded when 83 of the scientists returned their completed questionnaires. Extended interviews were held with eight senior administrators from the five research institutes each of whom completed a questionnaire identical to the one given to the scientists. A one-way analysis of variance supported by a discriminant analysis revealed that the similarities in goal orientations between the managers and scientists greatly outnumbered the differences, and the foregoing hypotheses was accepted. The frequent assertion of axiomatic goal divergence between managers and scientists in research laboratories was not supported by the findings of this study. Considerably more research is required to develop theories and concepts through which the management of scientists can be improved.
Condom use among high-risk heterosexual teens: A longitudinal analysis using the theory of reasoned action

Abstract This paper describes tests of traditional and augmented versions of Fishbein and Ajzen's Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA). applied to condom use among high-risk heterosexually-active teens, drawn from a sexually transmitted disease clinic and a juvenile detention facility. In a longitudinal survey, predictor variables suggested by Ajzen and Fishbein (1980), plus condom use self-efficacy, attitude-norm interaction and gender, were measured at Time l. Condom use at Time 2, 3 months later, was regressed onto these variables. Support was found for the traditional TRA variables, but little support was found for the addition of self-efficacy. Implications for interventions to increase condom use among high-risk teens are discussed.
Potentially curable metastatic colorectal cancer

Although patients with metastatic colorectal cancer have historically had a uniformly dismal prognosis, recent advances in chemotherapeutics and surgical techniques allow many patients to be treated with the potential for long-term survival and cure. Patients with potentially curable disease are those in whom multidisciplinary strategies including surgery can result in safe resection of all metastatic disease with negative margins. Although favorable outcomes using such strategies can increasingly be predicted, the presence of poor prognostic factors does not necessarily represent a contraindication to the use of a potentially curative strategy as long as a margin-negative resection can ultimately be obtained. Further analysis of the innovative strategies and techniques described in this article are needed to maximize cure rates in patients with this disease.