cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Starch and chemotaxis. A histological study in the mouse.

Summary Primary interest in inflammation centers around the mechanism by which polymorphonuclear leucocytes emigrate from the circulating blood to an area of injury, a process apparently first designated as “chemotaxis' in 1888. Recent experimental studies have emphasized the role of ions in the pathogenesis of thrombi in the circulatory system following the implantation of plastics. The negatively charged leucocytes are attracted by positively charged plastics. Starch granules have a positive charge and, when implanted subcutaneously in the mouse, attract the negatively charged leucocytes. Sixty minutes after the subcutaneous implantation of starch granules in the subcutaneous tissue of mice polymorphonuclear leucocytes had begun to emigrate to the area. The number of leucocytes rapidly increased for 24 to 72 hours and then progressively decreased. By the 5th experimental day the number of leucocytes had decreased markedly and continued to decrease in their emigration to the granules of starch. The positive ionic charge associated with the granules of starch is neutralized by the adsorption of the negatively charged plasma protein ions. It is suggested that chemotaxis is an electrochemical phenomenon.
The transcription factors HeBlimp and HeT‐brain of an indirectly developing polychaete suggest ancestral endodermal, gastrulation, and sensory cell‐type specification roles

The expression of Blimp and T-brain was characterized during embryogenesis of the indirectly developing polychaete Hydroides elegans. The expression of both genes in the vegetal blastomeres of this lophotrochozoan is restricted to the lateral and oral regions of the blastopore. Both transcription factors also have expression patterns consistent with ancestral neural functions. HeBlimp is expressed in a couple of animal cap cells and exhibits a marked left bias that correlates with earlier development of the left eye in H. elegans. HeT-brain is expressed in animal cap blastomeres and eventually becomes restricted to apical tuft cells of early trochophore stages. The expression of Blimp and T-brain among directly and indirectly developing bilaterians suggests ancestral sensory cell-type specification, gastrulation by invagination, endoderm specification, mesoderm specification, and/or tripartite gut subdivision. These characterizations add to the long-term goal of understanding the regulatory evolution functions that underlies complex life cycles in metazoans.
Writing across the curriculum, writing proficiency exams, and the NNS college student

Abstract The growing trend in American universities toward establishing stricter standards of writing proficiency is an issue that directly affects students who are nonnative speakers (NNSs) of English. Traditionally, institutions have attempted to address NNS writing needs through a variety of means, including special composition courses and Writing Center-based tutorial assistance. However, the adequacy of such methods is now being tested as NNS students attempt to satisfy new and presumably more stringent institutional writing requirements. In brief, where it may once have been possible for NNS students to graduate without being expected to write as often—or as well—as students who are native English speakers (NESs), today's Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) programs mandate (theoretically, at least) that they be held to the same standards of writing proficiency as native speakers. This article explores issues concerning instruction and evaluation of NNS students in institutions employing WAC programs. It examines faculty expectations of NNS writing quality, NNS performance on Writing Proficiency Exams, and support options available to NNS students, and concludes that NNS students ore being held to a double standard that places them at risk. Finally, it discusses alternatives for recognizing and dealing with discrepancies in WAC policies and practices on both the individual and institutional levels.
Collective dynamics of a weakly coupled electrochemical reaction on an array

Experiments on the collective behavior and phase synchronization of weakly coupled populations of nonidentical chaotic electrochemical oscillators are described. The weak coupling has only a small effect on the local dynamics, i.e., through changes in frequency, but it has a strong influence on the collective or overall behavior. With added weak global or short-range coupling, a deviation from the law of large numbers is observed; large, irregular, and periodic mean-field oscillations occur, along with (partial) phase synchronization.
Implementation of a Critical Pathway for Distal Pancreatectomy at an Academic Institution

This study was designed to identify quantifiable parameters to track performance improvements brought about by the implementation of a critical pathway for complex alimentary tract surgery. Distal pancreatectomy is among the more complex general surgical procedures. This is primarily due to the possibility of blood loss from visceral vessels, splenic injury, and significant postoperative complications. The introduction of the laparoscopic approach to the distal pancreas has introduced a further level of surgical expertise required to fully address the clinical needs of this diverse patient population. Critical pathways have been one of the key tools used to achieve consistently excellent outcomes at high-quality, high-volume institutions. It remains to be determined if implementation of a critical pathway at an academic institution with prior moderate experience with distal pancreatectomy will result in performance gains and improved outcomes. Between January 1, 2003 and August 15, 2007, 111 patients underwent distal pancreatectomy. Forty patients underwent resection during the 34-month period before the implementation of a critical pathway on October 15, 2005 and 71 during the 20 months after pathway implementation. Patients undergoing both open and laparoscopic procedures were included. Peri- and postoperative parameters were analyzed retrospectively to identify those that could be used to track performance improvement and outcomes. The two groups were not significantly different with respect to age, sex, race, diagnosis, operative blood loss, or mean operative duration. Postoperative length of hospital stay was significantly shorter when comparing pre- to postpathway implementation (10.2 days versus 6.7 days, P ≤ 0.037). The rate of readmission to the hospital after discharge was significantly lower post pathway (25% versus 7%, P ≤ 0.027). Hospital costs were also reduced. Implementation of a critical pathway for a complex procedure can be demonstrated to improve short-term outcomes at an academic institution. This improvement can be quantified and tracked and has implications for better utilization of resources and overall cost containment while maintaining or improving upon an already high level of care.
A Machian interpretation of the cosmological constant

A 5D Machian generalization of Einstein's theory of gravitation is described in which the cosmological constant appears as the contribution of the rest of the universe to the gravitational field of an “isolated” source. This work amounts to a Machian interpretation of the Kaluza-Klein theory. The standard cosmological models are derived in this framework, and it is shown that - in conformity with the interpretation presented here - the cosmological constant does not directly contribute to the geometric description of the universe as a whole.
Zap's Prague: the city, the nation and Czech elites before 1848

Karel Vladislav Zap, who came of age during the 1830 revolutions in Europe, belonged to a generation of Czech elites determined to promote national consciousness while actively carving out a space within Prague's middle-class social milieu. Zap, as his topographies of the city demonstrate, also called on his countrymen to claim the city and its structures from their German-speaking neighbours, thus contributing to a dynamic that would continue throughout the century.
The phenylalanine hydroxylase content of livers of various vertebrates.

Abstract 1. 1. The activity of the enzyme phenylalanine hydroxylase was measured in the liver of seven species in the class Pisces, four in the class Aves and seventeen in the class Mammalia. 2. 2. No correlation exists between enzyme activity and animal weight or phylogenetic classification. 3. 3. The rat possesses the highest activity of all the mammals studied.
Radical local excision in the treatment of malignant tumors of the shoulder girdle (the Tikhov-Linberg operation): report of a case.

A patient with secondary chondrosarcoma of the scapula complicating diaphyseal aclasia treated by resection of the shoulder girdle by the method of Tikhov-Linberg is reported. Good function in the dependent arm and hand were preserved. This technique of radical local excision for tumors of low grade malignancy about the shoulder girdle is occasionally a desirable alternative to an interscapulothoracic amputation.
Seasonal studies on the relative importance of different size fractions of phytoplankton in Narragansett Bay (USA)

The composition and productivity of four different size-fractions ( 100 μm) of the phytoplankton of lower Narragansett Bay (USA) were followed over an annual cycle from November, 1972 to October, 1973. Diatoms dominated the population in the winter-spring bloom and in the fall, the summer population was dominated by flagellates. The nannoplankton ( 20 μm) were the most important. Nannoplankters domnated in the summer. The yearly mean assimilation numbers for the different fractions were not signfficantly different. During the winter-spring bloom, however, the assimilation numbers for the netplankters were significantly higher than those for the nannoplankton fraction. Temperature accounted for most of the variability in assimilation numbers; a marked nutrient stress was observed on only two occasions. Growth rates calculated from 14C uptake and adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-cell carbon were generally quite high; maxima were >1.90 doublings per day during blooms of a flagellate in the summer and of Skeletonema costatum in the fall. The series of short cycles observed in which the dominant species changed were related to changes in the physiological state of the population. Higher growth rates were generally observed at times of peak phytoplankton abundance while lower growth rates were observed between these peaks. The high growth rates and assimilation numbers usually found suggest that the phytoplankton in lower Narragansett Bay was not generally nutrient-limited between November, 1972 and October, 1973. Nutrient regeneration in this shallow estuary, therefore, must be very rapid when in situ nutrient levels are low.
Capillary electrochromatography — a high-efficiency micro-separation technique

Abstract Capillary electrochromatography (CEC) is a novel separation technique in which mobile phase transport through a capillary (50–200 μm I.D.) packed with stationary phase particles is achieved by electroosmotic flow (EOF) instead of a pressure gradient as in HPLC. Electroosmotic flow allows the usage of smaller particles and longer columns than in HPLC because of the absence of backpressure. Separation is achieved by partitioning between mobile and stationary phase and—in the case of charged analytes—by differential electrophoretic mobilities. In the reversed-phase mode, capillary electrochromatography has the potential to yield efficiencies five to ten times higher than standard RP-HPLC. For this reason CEC has started to create high interest among chromatographers. This paper will discuss the theoretical background of CEC, demonstrate the feasibility of CEC as a high-efficiency reversed-phase separation technique, compare theoretically achievable results to those obtained in practice and present fundamental studies on operational parameters such as dependence of EOF and efficiency on pH and organic modifier content.
The Effect of Protein Desorption on Biotherapeutics Aggregation: Neutron Reflectivity Study

Particles in biotherapeutics are disadvantageous, as they are believed to be responsible for an adverse immunogenic response in patients, making investigation of factors leading to protein instabilities a high priority. The exposure of protein therapeutics to various interfaces during manufacturing, storage and shipment procedures can be a potential cause of the formation of insoluble particulates observed in final formulations. One of the proposed mechanisms for interface-induced aggregation is desorption of protein microparticles from protein films previously formed on the walls of various pipes and containers. Therefore, the surface-associating properties of proteins on pharmaceutically relevant materials can play an important role and should be taken into consideration while developing a protein-stabilizing strategy. Neutron reflectivity (NR) bears the potential as a powerful and non-invasive tool to investigate the structural properties of the films during adsorption/desorption of biomolecules on various surfaces, both under static and flow conditions.Here we present the results of NR measurements on Silicon Oxide (SiO2) films exposed to alpha-chymotrypsinogen A (aCgn) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) at high concentrations. The initial observations on the adsorption behavior of these two proteins indicate significant similarities: they both adsorb into a dense protein phase resting on a well-hydrated intervening sub-layer. However, the structural characteristics of the protein layers formed upon desorption are strikingly distinctive. Finally, we are able to investigate the changes in the solution structure of the desorbed proteins by complimenting our studies with CD, fluorescence quenching and SANS techniques. These findings serve as the first crucial steps toward providing a link between protein adsorption/desorption dynamics and particle formation.
Edge-recognizable domination numbers

For any undirected graph G, let C(G) be the collection of edge-deleted subgraphs. It is always possible to construct a graph H from C(G) so that C(H)=C(G). The general edge-reconstruction conjecture states that G and H must be isomorphic if they have at least four edges. A graphical invariant that must be identical for all graphs that can be constructed from the given collection is said to be edge-recognizable. Here we show that the domination number and many of its common variations are edge-recognizable.
Extent of surgery in the management of locally advanced sinonasal malignancies.

Background. The relative importance of surgery within multimodality regimens commonly used to treat advanced sinonasal malignancies remains unknown. Methods. One hundred two patients with locally advanced sinonasal cancers treated with proton beam radiation therapy with or without surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Extent of surgery and outcome variables of local control, disease-free survival, and overall survival were evaluated. Patterns of failure were also assessed. Results. Extent of surgery correlated with disease-free survival and overall survival rates. Local control rate, however, was independent of the degree of surgical resection achieved. Overall, treatment failure most commonly resulted from distant metastases, which occurred in 30% of patients and also correlated with extent of surgical resection. Tumor type-specific outcomes reveal differences associated with the extent of surgery achieved. Conclusion. High-dose radiotherapy with proton beam resulted in excellent local control rates in patients with locally advanced sinonasal cancer, irrespective of the extent of surgery. Complete resection, however, was predictive of improved disease-free survival and decreased rate of distant metastasis. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck, 2008
Computer-aided detection of breast masses depicted on full-field digital mammograms: a performance assessment.

Objectives: To investigate the feasibility of converting a computer–aided detection (CAD) scheme for digitised screen–film mammograms to full-field digital mammograms (FFDMs) and assessing CAD performance on a large database. Methods: The database included 6478 FFDM images acquired on 1120 females, with 525 cancer cases and 595 negative cases. The database was divided into five case groups: (1) cancer detected during screening, (2) interval cancers, (3) “high-risk” recommended for surgical excision, (4) recalled but negative and (5) negative (not recalled). A previously developed CAD scheme for masses depicted on digitised images was converted and re-optimised for FFDM images while keeping the same image-processing structure. CAD performance was analysed on the entire database. Results: The case-based sensitivity was 75.6% (397/525) for the current mammograms and 40.8% (42/103) for the prior mammograms deemed negative during clinical interpretation but “visible” during retrospective review. The region-bas...
Reports and communications: the codeRead system

Most social science research uses data that originate, in one form or another, as written or spoken text. Quantitative researchers code these data very strictly, categorizing answers to questions into fixed groups. In contrast, qualitative researchers typically code free-form text by marking it up according to a set of ideas about the nature and content of the text. This article suggests the use of some elementary techniques from the field of statistical natural language processing to partially automate the process of coding large quantities of free-form textual data. The article presents CodeRead, a set of tools that implement these techniques. The system’s principal innovation is its ability to generate coding rules from a precoded sample of text. This capacity allows for the analysis of much longer textual data than was previously practical. It also insures that the rules used for coding such data are specific and uniformly applied.
Comparative analysis of the performance of Aspergillus flavus on resistant and susceptible maize genotypes during infection

Abstract Several species of the genus Aspergillus are mycotoxigenic, producing carcinogenic aflatoxins in crops like peanuts and maize. Development of fungal-resistant maize cultivars is one strategy used to decrease contamination. Successful development and identification of resistant maize genotypes require evaluation of resistance including the performance of both fungus and maize during infection. In this study, we employed an RNA based quantification method using qRT-PCR to relatively quantify viable fungal tissue as well as compare the performances of both host and pathogen at different time points after inoculation. Our results suggest that A. flavus actively proliferates in both genotypes past 2 days after inoculation (dai); however, in resistant Mp313E maize growth is suppressed and reduced by 7 dai. In addition to these differences in growth, the expression profile of the aflatoxin biosynthetic pathway genes suggests that onset of aflatoxin production is earlier in the Va35 maize genotype compared to the resistant counterpart.
Structure of the Galerie des Machines, Paris, 1889

L'A. etudie la structure et l'architecture de la Galerie des Machines de l'Exposition Universelle de Paris (1889), qui fut a l'epoque le plus grand immeuble du monde
Benchmarking student diversity at public universities in the United States: accounting for state population composition

Regions rely at least partially on the internal production of a qualified workforce in order to maintain their economic competitiveness. Increasingly, at least from a university or corporate point of view, a qualified workforce is viewed as one that is racially and ethnically diverse. However, the conceptualization and measurement of ethnic and racial diversity in higher education appear to be often based on normative values rather than solid benchmarks, making any regional comparisons or goals difficult to specify. Ideally, at least as a starting point, public state universities would, while attempting to increase overall student diversity, benchmark their progress against the state population composition. This paper combines enrollment data from the National Center for Education Statistics with US Census Bureau population estimates data to provide a point of comparison for state universities. The paper has two goals: first a university-level comparison of diversity scores, as measured by the interaction index and second, an analysis of how university student population composition compares to that of the population the university was originally intended to serve—the state population.
Climate change or climate cycles? Snowpack trends in the Olympic and Cascade Mountains, Washington, USA

Climate change could significantly influence seasonal streamflow and water availability in the snowpack-fed watersheds of Washington, USA. Descriptions of snowpack decline often use linear ordinary least squares (OLS) models to quantify this change. However, the region’s precipitation is known to be related to climate cycles. If snowpack decline is more closely related to these cycles, an OLS model cannot account for this effect, and thus both descriptions of trends and estimates of decline could be inaccurate. We used intervention analysis to determine whether snow water equivalent (SWE) in 25 long-term snow courses within the Olympic and Cascade Mountains are more accurately described by OLS (to represent gradual change), stationary (to represent no change), or step-stationary (to represent climate cycling) models. We used Bayesian information-theoretic methods to determine these models’ relative likelihood, and we found 90 models that could plausibly describe the statistical structure of the 25 snow courses’ time series. Posterior model probabilities of the 29 “most plausible” models ranged from 0.33 to 0.91 (mean = 0.58, s = 0.15). The majority of these time series (55 %) were best represented as step-stationary models with a single breakpoint at 1976/77, coinciding with a major shift in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation. However, estimates of SWE decline differed by as much as 35 % between statistically plausible models of a single time series. This ambiguity is a critical problem for water management policy. Approaches such as intervention analysis should become part of the basic analytical toolkit for snowpack or other climatic time series data.
Tolerance to relaxation in rat aorta: comparison of an S-nitrpsothiol with nitroglycerin

Tolerance and cross-tolerance to the relaxant effects of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) and nitroglycerin were examined in rat aortic rings. Nitroglycerin-tolerant rings remained fully responsive to SNAP and sodium nitroprusside. Thus, reduced metabolic activation of nitroglycerin, rather than impaired guanylate cyclase activity, appeared to be the operating mechanism for nitrate tolerance in this preparation. Under similar conditions, SNAP incubation induced less tolerance than nitroglycerin. S-nitrosothiols, therefore, appear to be less tolerance-producing than nitroglycerin.
Comparison of the Metabolism of Sodium Iodide and 3,5-Diiodosalicylic Acid in Dairy Cattle

Abstract Three cows were dosed orally twice daily with diiodosalicyclic acid (DI 131 S) and NaI 125 plus Ce 144 as a nonabsorbed marker. Ruminal absorption and abomasal secretion of iodine from NaI were greater (P Four additional cows fed 15mg iodine daily as KI or DIS received single doses of NaI 131 in one period followed by DI 131 S in a later period. Average seven-day I 131 excretions from NaI compared to DIS doses were 13.5 and 3.3% (P 131 from the NaI 131 dose in milk and feces and less in the urine than those fed DIS. However, iodine supplements had no effect (P>.25) on excretion of the DI 131 S dose. Thyroxine metabolism was not influenced by DIS fed to two cows dosed with I 131 -labelled thyroxine in a single reversal test. It is suggested that urinary excretion as the glycine conjugate rapidly cleared DIS from the system. As a result, the abomasum, thyroid, and mammary gland had less iodine available from DIS than from NaI. The stability of DIS in trace-mineralized salt must be weighed against its relative unavailability compared to iodide.
Sequential and dose-dependent alterations in rat bronchiolar epithelium during O,O,S-trimethyl phosphorothioate induced delayed toxicity

The sequential and dose-dependent effects of O,O,S-trimethyl phosphorothioate (OOS-Me) on rat lung bronchiolar epithelium were investigated using scanning electron microscopy. At 12 h after oral treatment (20 mg/kg), there was a small increase in debris in the bronchioles and, by 24 h, there was much debris as well as phagocytic cells in the bronchioles. After 3 days, there was a decrease in the number of bronchiolar Clara cells as determined by the loss of their characteristic apical bulges. Concomitantly, there was a significant increase in lactate dehydrogenase activity in bronchopulmonary lavage fluid. By day 7, the Clara cells appeared to be reforming and, by day 14, the morphology of bronchiolar epithelium had returned to normal. Dose-dependent studies revealed a threshold dose level of OOS-Me between 10 and 20 mg/kg which produced the observed effects in Clara cells. Both sequential and dose-dependent effects of OOS-Me on Clara cells were correlated with changes in bronchopulmonary lavage lactate dehydrogenase activity.
Radiation pattern analysis of arbitrary wire antennas using spherical mode expansions with vector coefficients

A spherical mode expansion with Cartesian vector coefficients is presented for the study of the radiation patterns of arbitrary wire antennas. Coefficients are obtained by using a spherical harmonic series for the free space Green's function in conjunction with the current distribution obtained with the method of moments. Transverse components of the far field are ultimately obtained yielding a compact pattern representation suitable for rapid retrieval and display. The length of the expansion is shown to be related to the precision specified for the pattern; i.e., more precision requires more terms. A useful truncation criterion is proposed and verified by comparing results obtained for several typical wire antennas. >
Time-Resolved NMR: Extracting the Topology of Complex Enzyme Networks

The use of nondestructive NMR spectroscopy for enzymatic studies offers unique opportunities to identify nearly all enzymatic byproducts and detect unstable short-lived products or intermediates at the molecular level; however, numerous challenges must be overcome before it can become a widely used tool. The biosynthesis of acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) by acetyl-CoA synthetase is used here as a case study for the development of an analytical NMR-based time-course assay platform. We describe an algorithm to deconvolve superimposed spectra into spectra for individual molecules, and further develop a model to simulate the acetyl-CoA synthetase enzyme reaction network using the data derived from time-course NMR. Simulation shows indirectly that synthesis of acetyl-CoA is mediated via an enzyme-bound intermediate (possibly acetyl-AMP) and is accompanied by a nonproductive loss from an intermediate. The ability to predict enzyme function based on partial knowledge of the enzymatic pathway topology is also discussed.
Combinatorics of open covers I: Ramsey theory

Abstract We study several schemas for generating from one sort of open cover of a topological space a second sort of open cover. Some of these schemas come from classical literature, others are borrowed from the theory of ultrafilters on the set of positive integers. We show that the fact that such a schema actually succeeds in producing a cover imposes strong combinatorial structure on the family of open covers of a certain sort. In particular, we show that certain analogues of Ramsey's theorem characterize some of these circumstances.
Homeric Seafaring - by Samuel Mark

Homeric Seafaring SAMUEL Mark 257 pp., 67 b&w figures Texas A&M University Press, College Station, TX 77843‐4354, USA, 2005, $60/£39 (hbk), ISBN 1‐58544‐391‐3This is a detailed study of Mediterran...
Aortic stenosis in a patient with Hurler's syndrome after bone marrow transplantation

We describe a case of severe aortic stenosis in a 16-year-old male with Hurler's syndrome who had prior bone marrow transplantation. The excised aortic valve leaflets showed characteristic pathologic findings of Hurler's syndrome. This is the first case report of aortic valve replacement in a patient with Hurler's syndrome treated with bone marrow transplantation that demonstrates progression of the aortic valve disease despite treatment.
Expression of Insulin-like Growth Factor I Receptor and Survival in Patients with Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

ABSTRACTPurpose: The development of scoring systems that combine pathological and clinical characteristics of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CC-RCC) have improved outcome prediction in patients with CC-RCC. However, these scoring systems represent surrogate markers of the underlying molecular mechanisms of tumor aggressiveness and provide no tangible targets for potential therapy. As such, there is a need to identify molecular prognostic markers and potential targets of therapy for CC-RCC. Recent studies suggest that the insulin-like growth factor-I receptor (IGF-IR) may have prognostic value for patients with CC-RCC.Materials and Methods: Using a large, clinic based cohort of 280 patients who had CC-RCC treated with radical nephrectomy, we tested the hypothesis that the immunohistochemical detection of IGF-IR expression in CC-RCC is associated with poorer cancer specific survival.Results: Kaplan-Meier analysis suggested that patients with IGF-IR positive CC-RCC experienced significantly decreased cance...
Electron capture atmospheric pressure photoionization mass spectrometry: analysis of fullerenes, perfluorinated compounds, and pentafluorobenzyl derivatives.

An electron capture (EC) ionization mechanism has been found to be highly efficient in negative-ion atmospheric pressure photoionization (APPI) for the analysis of compounds with positive electron affinity (EA). Using negative-ion APPI, we first report the sensitive detection of natural electrophores with limited polarity, such as fullerenes and perfluorinated compounds, by mass spectrometry (MS). Using direct infusion on a quadrupole time-of-flight (QTOF) mass spectrometer, the limits of detection (LODs) for C60 and perfluoromethylcyclohexane were determined to be 0.15 pg (0.2 fmol) and 1 femtoliter (fL) (∼1.5 pg or 4.3 fmol), respectively. As the EA of the analyte increases, the detection sensitivity is enhanced. Making use of the accurate mass measurement capability of the QTOF mass spectrometer, we were able to investigate the elemental composition of the ions in each spectrum and attribute the observed high sensitivity to an EC-initiated ionization process. The proposed EC ionization mechanism is further supported by the observation of a dissociative EC reaction of pentafluorobenzyl (PFB)-derivatized phenols. The analysis of phenols by EC-APPI of their PFB derivatives resulted in very high sensitivity, with the lowest reported LOD of ∼0.17 pg (0.5 fmol) being for 2,4-dinitrophenol. For future LC/EC-APPI-MS applications, the effect of additives and solvents on sensitivity was also tested and reported. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Compressible two-phase flows by central and upwind schemes

This paper concerns numerical methods for two-phase flows. The governing equations are the compressible 2-velocity, 2-pressure flow model. Pressure and velocity relaxation are included as source terms. Results obtained by a Godunov-type central scheme and a Roe-type upwind scheme are presented. Issues of preservation of pressure equilibrium, and positivity of the partial densities are addressed.
Insulin like growth factor-I independence in rat mammary carcinoma cells: a dominant phenotype in somatic cell hybrid experiments

Normal rat mammary epithelial cells have an absolute requirement for insulin (IN) or insulin-like growth factor-l (IGF-I) for proliferation in serum-free medium. By contrast, serially transplantable rat mammary carcinoma (RMC) cells are IGF-I-independent for continuous growth in vitro. Previously, we demonstrated that IGF-I independence is not mediated by an autocrine loop. Therefore, experiments were carried out to determine if IGF-I independence behaves as a dominant or recessive phenotype in somatic cell hyhridization experiments. IGF-I-independent I-9RMT cells were rendered hygromycin-resistant and IGF-I-dependent MCF-IOA cells were rendered G418 resistant by infection with retroviral expression vectors. Cells of each line were co-incubated in 60 mm dishes and fused with polyethylene glycol. Hybrid cells were selected with media containing hygromycin and G418 in the presence or absence of IN. In three experiments, approximately the same number of colonies emerged in double selection media in the presence or absence of IN. Furthermore, colonies that emerged in IN-containing media, when subcultured, grew equally well in the presence or absence of IN. Thus, fusion of IGF-I-independent RMC cells with IGF-I-dependent human mammary epithelial cells yields hybrids that are IGF-I-independent for growth in serum-free medium.
New results from 1-MA planar wire array experiments focused on the time-gated measurements of cold Kα lines

Previous experiments on the 1-MA “Zebra” generator at the University of Nevada, Reno studied L-shell Cu and Zn emissions from implosions of brass planar wire arrays1. Essentially the results of that study shows how the temporal variation in electron temperature (Te=320–450 eV) correlates with the x-ray burst during the stagnation stage. The purpose of the present study was to expand upon the previous knowledge by investigating the temporal behavior of cold K-shell characteristic lines that originate from the cooler plasma. This will provide understanding of the nature of cooler plasmas and also electron beams. In order to capture the cold Kα lines from the wire material (1.39–1.54 A), the time-gated spectrometer was used with a LiF crystal. The diagnostic suite also included time-integrated spatially resolved spectrometers capturing L-shell and K-shell spectra using a KAP crystal and a LiF crystal, respectively, time-integrated and time-gated pinhole imaging, PCD, XRD, Si-diode signals, and laser shadowgraphy. The WADM is used to analyze the array implosion. Radiation MHD is preformed to understand the origin of strong gradients in the plasma electron temperature. The usefulness of measuring cold Kα lines with time resolution for a better understanding of wire array plasma formation is demonstrated.
La web 2.0 al servicio de la comunidad en un programa de español como lengua de herencia en Estados Unidos

This article analyzes the use of the Web 2.0 in a critical community service program in which students of Spanish from a large public institution in the United States were in charge of organizing, planning and delivering a Spanish course to young heritage speakers of Spanish. After a short description of the program and its context, the article analyzes how a class blog and a wiki were implemented as communication and collaboration tools, as well as their strengths and weaknesses in helping achieve the program’s goals. Through these technologies, it was possible to enhance participant interaction and to provide opportunities for self-reflection. In addition, the blog and the wiki helped students develop their Spanish written skills and played a role in the development of other literacies. Suggestions for future service learning programs are included at the end of the article.
Effects Oxandrolone Treatment on the Linear Growth and the Predicted Adult Height

A total of 21 patients with linear growth retardation were treated with low doses of oxandrolone for a period of 8 to 41 months. Nine of the patinets had chromosomal disorders. The other 12 had no chromosomal abnormalities. The effect of oxandrolone on the ultimate adult height was assessed by changes in the ratio of the height age and the bone age, (δHA/δBA), and by the adult height prediction (AHP). In the non-chromosomal group, the ultimate height prediction improved in patients whose initial bone age was greater than 8 1/2 years. In the group with chromosomal disorders, no change in ultimate height prediction occured. In Turner's syndrome, the adolescent growth spurt is much less than in normal children. Therefore, the data were interpreted to signify probable beneficial response to therapy. Evidence suggests that low dose oxandrolone treatment does not compromise ultimate height. Since it may induce an acceleration of growth rate on a short term basis, it can help ameliorate psychological problems due to poor body image in these short patients.
Physicochemical consequences of amino acid variations that contribute to fibril formation by immunoglobulin light chains

The most common form of systemic amyloidosis originates from antibody light chains. The large number of amino acid variations that distinguish amyloidogenic from nonamyloidogenic light chain proteins has impeded our understanding of the structural basis of light-chain fibril formation. Moreover, even among the subset of human light chains that are amyloidogenic, many primary structure differences are found. We compared the thermodynamic stabilities of two recombinant kappa4 light-chain variable domains (V(L)s) derived from amyloidogenic light chains with a V(L) from a benign light chain. The amyloidogenic V(L)s were significantly less stable than the benign V(L). Furthermore, only the amyloidogenic V(L)s formed fibrils under native conditions in an in vitro fibril formation assay. We used site-directed mutagenesis to examine the consequences of individual amino acid substitutions found in the amyloidogenic V(L)s on stability and fibril formation capability. Both stabilizing and destabilizing mutations were found; however, only destabilizing mutations induced fibril formation in vitro. We found that fibril formation by the benign V(L) could be induced by low concentrations of a denaturant. This indicates that there are no structural or sequence-specific features of the benign V(L) that are incompatible with fibril formation, other than its greater stability. These studies demonstrate that the V(L) beta-domain structure is vulnerable to destabilizing mutations at a number of sites, including complementarity determining regions (CDRs), and that loss of variable domain stability is a major driving force in fibril formation.
We All Bantu – We Have Each Other: Preservation of Social Capital Strengths during Forced Migration

Somali Bantu began arriving with refugee status in the United States in 2003, moving into a foreign culture without familial connections to the community and without the financial resources and human capital skills needed to participate effectively in a US context. This resulted in significant challenges for the Bantu and local resettlement agencies. One form of capital they possess within their own communities is social capital. Social capital theories were used to examine to what degree Somali Bantu social capital changed across settings including Somalia, Kenyan refugee camps, and in one US city. Interviews with 11 members of the Somali Bantu community were analyzed in a qualitative study using constructivist grounded theory methods. The results reveal that Somali Bantu social support systems have in some ways remained intact but in other ways have been disrupted by constraints imposed by the environment they now live within. Few are able to bridge to the broader community and are relied on heavily to ...
Multifunctional Probe Array for Nano Patterning and Imaging

This letter reports the design, fabrication, and testing of a multifunctional scanning probe array for nanoscale imaging and patterning. The probe array consists of multiple cantilever probes, with each probe being able to perform a dedicated function such as scanning probe lithography (e.g., dip pen nanolithography and scanning probe contact printing) or scanning probe microscopy (e.g., atomic force microscopy and lateral force microscopy). The bending states of each probe can be controlled by using an integrated thermal electric actuator so that it is possible to engage any individual probe(s) independently for writing or imaging purposes. The multifunctional probe array is therefore capable of performing a rich variety of operations with minimal chemical crosstalk and high registration accuracy. It will eliminate the need for probe chip exchanges and increase the operational efficiency. The probe tips in a given array may be made of different materials. Further, the tip and cantilever may be made of different materials for a given probe. In this work, we focus on the development of a probe array consisting of dip pen nanolithography probes, scanning probe contact printing probes (of various tip sizes), and scanning probe microscopy probes.
Isolation and characterization of three autolytic enzymes associated with sporulation of Bacillus thuringiensis var. thuringiensis

Cells of Bacillus thuringiensis containing refractile spores autolyzed readily when suspended in buffer. The autolysate contained enzymes which lysed vegetative cell walls of the organism. Three enzymes were isolated from the autolysate, and each was purified approximately 30-fold. One enzyme, most active near pH 4.0, was found to be an N-acetylmuramidase. The other two enzymes exhibited pH optima at 8.5. One was stimulated by cobalt ions and the other was not. The cobalt-stimulated enzyme was shown to be an N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanine amidase. The cobalt insensitive enzyme exhibited both N-acetylmuramyl-l-alanine amidase and endopeptidase activity. The amidase activity may reflect incomplete separation of the cobalt-stimulated enzyme. The endopeptidase cleaved the peptide bond between l-alanine d-glutamic acid. A cell wall lytic endopeptidase with this specificity has not been previously reported. All three enzymes were extremely limited in the range of bacterial cell walls which they attacked. Except for cell walls of Micrococcus lysodeikticus, which were lysed by the muramidase, only cell walls of members of the genus Bacillus were attacked.
Cross-cultural research in advertising: An assessment of methodologies

The volume of scholarly work in cross-cultural advertising has been increasing in recent years. This study examines empirical studies in this area from a methodological perspective. Cross-cultural research designs should include many critical facets that do not surface in studies involving single cultures. These facets are discussed within the context of cross-cultural advertising literature. It is apparent from this review that a sharper focus on cross-cultural research tools and considerations can strengthen studies of advertising, lead to more robust results, and increase validity and reliability. Both students and practitioners need meaningful and generalizable findings that will emerge only when strict methodological considerations are adhered to.
Moving from Hands-On to Inquiry-Based: A Biology Course for Prospective Elementary Teachers

o meet the needs of prospective elementary teachers, we offer a specialized biology course, "Hands-On Biology," at the University of NebraskaLincoln (UNL). The original approach to the course, as indicated by its title, was oriented toward hands-on activities transferable to K-8 classrooms. Many teacher preparation institutions offer similar courses and using transferable activities is one of the most popular approaches (Michelsohn & Hawkins 1994). When the course was designed in 1994, the primary objectives were to improve prospective elementary teachers' attitudes toward science and increase self-efficacy in science teaching. With the publication of the National Science Education Standards (National Research Council [NRC] 1996), we re-examined the original goals and design of the Hands-On Biology course. As science teacher educators, our work was guided by Professional Development Standard A, "Professional development for teachers of science requires learning essential science content through the perspectives and methods of inquiry" (NRC 1996, p. 59). In the summer of 1997, we revised the course, focusing on aligning the course's curriculum, instruction and assessment more closely with the Standards.
Clinical Importance of Translocations, Inversions, and Insertions

Robertsonian translocations (RTs) involving two acrocentric chromosomes do not affect the phenotype, apart from occasional male sterility. RTs are about 10 times more frequent in male infertility clinics than in the newborn population (Zuffardi and Tiepolo, 1982). RTs do attach to the sex vesicle (Guichaoua et al., 1990), and this may lead to spreading of inactivation from the XY bivalent into the adjacent autosomal segment. The incidence of RTs is not increased in mentally retarded patient populations. The loss of two acrocentric short arms has no phenotypic effect, indicating that they contain no essential single-copy genes and that loss of some of the multicopy rRNA genes is well tolerated. In a family in which the parents were first cousins and heterozygous carriers of a t(13ql4q), three children were phenotypically normal despite their homozygosity for the translocation chromosome and consequent loss of four of the 10 acrocentric short arms (Martinez-Castro et al., 1984).
Doing it Right or Doing the Right it? Uncertainty, Innovation, and Group Composition

Though theoretical links have been established between group diversity and performance on creative tasks, researchers have had difficulties confirming this view. In this inductive study we argue that part of this difficulty stems from a failure to fully account for the effects of uncertainty on task performance groups. Using qualitative and quantitative data from an RD and, therefore, has a direct effect on task and relational processes in the group. We suggest that the value in diversity for a group is likely to decrease as uncertainty increases, and that only relatively bounded and certain tasks (in particular brainstorming and other forms of creative problem solving) are likely to derive the benefits associated with compositional diversity in groups.
Monsanto--The Launch of Roundup Ready Soybeans

As Monsanto launches Roundup Ready® Soybeans in 1995, its executives must choose a target segment and decide how to position the new product and how to support that position through appropriate tactical decisions regarding price, distribution, and communication. The genetically altered soybeans will not die when sprayed with Monsanto's Roundup®, the world's leading herbicide. A multimedia version of this case is available in CD-ROM format (UVA-M-0619M).
Application of Geology to Tunneling Problems

Geological examination of tunnel sites prior to and during tunneling operations has become established procedure. The geologist should study and appraise carefully all surface and subsurface featur...
Voice Input/Output in Perspective

Lately, quite a lot of effort has been put into the development of voice input and output systems for human-machine communication. In this paper, we point out that while voice I/O is ideal for many applications, there are others for which it is ill-suited and there is a danger that fascination with the technology may well result in its misuse.