cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE INDUCIBLE G PROTEIN-COUPLED RECEPTOR EDG-1 SIGNALS VIA THE GI/MITOGEN-ACTIVATED PROTEIN KINASE PATHWAY

The edg-1 gene encodes an inducible G protein-coupled receptor (GPR) homologue that is induced during the in vitro differentiation of human endothelial cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the G protein-coupling and -signaling properties of the edg-1 polypeptide. The third cytosolic loop (i3) of edg-1 associates with G(i) alpha and G(o) alpha polypeptides in a guanosine 5'-O-(thiotriphosphate)-sensitive manner. Immunoprecipitation of the edg-1 polypeptide in transfected cells results in the co-precipitation of G(i) alpha 1 and G(i) alpha 3 polypeptides. These data strongly suggest that edg-1 is capable of coupling to the Gi pathway. Overexpression of the edg-1 GPR in human embryonic kidney 293 cells results in the sustained activation of the MAP kinase activity that is blocked by pertussis toxin treatment. Moreover, NIH3T3 cells permanently transfected with edg-1 exhibit enhanced MAP kinase and phospholipase A2 activities. These data suggest that the G(i)/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway is a major signaling pathway regulated by the orphan receptor edg-1.
Can we trust odor databases? Example of t- and n-butyl acetate

Abstract The US EPA has exempted t-butyl acetate from VOC regulations, which increases the likelihood that it may replace other solvents in some settings. This investigation probes its chemosensory properties. In Study 1, subjects (n = 29) sought to detect the odor of t-butyl acetate and of n-butyl acetate in forced-choice testing of stable concentrations, analytically confirmed. Subjects sniffed from cones with a high enough volumetric flow to insure against dilution by nonodorized air. A subject made hundreds of judgments, enough for a psychometric function for each material. The points of 50% detection above chance (“threshold”) occurred at 8 and 2 ppb for t-butyl acetate and n-butyl acetate, respectively. In study 2, subjects (n = 26) sought to detect vapor with the eye via chemesthesis (sensory irritation) in 10-s exposures. Detection at 50% occurred at 177 and 113 ppm for t-butyl acetate and n-butyl acetate, respectively, more than 10,000 times above that for odor detection. The protocols produced results of uncommon precision compared to those in often-misleading archival databases. The nose exhibits much higher sensitivity than the databases indicate. The collections rarely exhibit accuracy better than ±1000%. Collection of accurate data for a VOC can ironically bring on stricter regulation for just it, a situation that calls for a strategy to improve the database by collection of new data, importation of better data, and development of quantitative structure–activity modeling.
Power, Effect Size, and Second Language Research A Researcher Comments…

We are rather raising three central questions for the profession to address, consider, and debate. No syllogisms of the sort Hoye puts forth underlie our article. Although social equality may well contribute to language learning, we are not so naive as to think that mainstreaming, in and of itself, will result in social equality. Social equality will be achieved only when all individuals share equal political and economic access. The school, along with other social institutions, plays a role in either supporting or undermining social equality. When social equality is attained, individuals and social groups will be able to select the language programs that best meet their needs. We envision our article being used in the following manner. A community would set the priorities they believe important based on the questions we raised and others. If a community were to decide that its priorities included native language development, academic achievement, and social integration, then program development would proceed with these priorities in mind. Setting priorities would encourage planners to design innovative programs responsive to community needs, rather than automatically selecting a preexisting model. Our article advocated no approach. We argued rather for a careful weighing of priorities before designing or accepting any approach to minority education.
The Interpretation of the Standard Error of Measurement

urement as a measure of the reliability of test scores has been recommended by some test ex perts (18:222). Since the standard error of measurement applies to a single score, and is stated in terms of test score units, it is much more useful in counseling individuals than the reliability coefficient. Although Kelley pointed out in 1921 (13) that the standard error of meas urement is relatively independent of the range of scores (or ability), a factor which has con siderable effect on coefficients of reliability, this apparently is true only under certain con ditions (17,20,21). Recently the writer, in discussing the relia bility of the Wechsler-Bellevue Intellige ne e Scales (23), had occasion to refer to the stand ard error of measurement of an IQ o bta i ne d with this instrument. Reference was made to several standard statistical texts. It was dis covered that many texts make no reference to the standard error of measurement (3,25,26, 28,30), while others give no definition or inter pretation of it. It is interesting that Cronbach's recent book on psychological testing (1) makes no mention of this measure of reliability. In the recent volume on educational measurement, edited by E. F. Lindquist, R. L. Thorndike, in his excellent chapter on reliability (27), refers to this statistic, but does not discuss its mean ing or use. In view of the lack of information and the ap parent disagreement of interpretation, the writ er felt that other test users and counselors would be interested in a discussion of the mean ing and interpretation of this measure of relia bility. The controversy between Guilford and Garrett (5, 6, 9) apparently has not resolved the issues. Although it appeared that Garrett agreed fundamentally with Guilford, he persist ed in maintaining his disagreement, and in as serting the equivalence of two different inter pretations. The standard error of measurement, vari ously designated as ae, ox , or o1(X), alW, or om is given as
Relations of perceived ethnic disparity to involvement in ethnic and host cultures.

Among 124 single foreign students residing in the USA, this study examined the relations between perceived ethnic disparity, consisting of physical, cultural, and linguistic dimensions, and ethnic and host culture involvement. The Ethnic Disparity Perception Inventory, a 44-item Likert scale devised to measure perceived ethnic disparity, showed perceived physical disparity (r = .60) and cultural disparity (r = .51) were positively related to ethnic involvement. Perceived cultural disparity (r = -.22) and linguistic disparity (r = -.27) were negatively associated with involvement in the host culture. Multiple regression analysis indicated that, although the findings held for non-White respondents, for White respondents (n = 39) perceived physical disparity (β = .54), not cultural disparity, was a significant predictor of ethnic involvement (Adjusted R2 = .268) and perceived cultural disparity (β = -.37), not linguistic disparity, was a significant (negative) indicator of host culture involvement (Adjusted ...
Teaching Problem Solving Techniques to MBA Students Through Supply Chain Management

This paper describes the use of a supply chain management course to teach problem solving techniques to MBA students. An introduction to problem solving techniques and a step-by-step methodology are presented that can be used in supply chain management courses. We discuss two specific supply chain management cases and provide examples of how these cases can be used to illustrate steps in the problem solving methodology. We also describe how problem solving skills can be reinforced and assessed through case study write-ups. We conclude with some feedback from students who have taken this class.
Theory of scan plane flux anisotropies

When a spacecraft detector measures particle flux as a function of look direction in a plane (the scan plane), anisotropy is often seen. This anisotropy is caused by spatial gradients, by E x B particle drift, and by various spectral and geometric effects. This paper treats all of these effects systematically, starting from the nonrelativistic Vlasov equation. The general analysis is applied to a simple model of an anisotropic distribution to give a relation between the E x B drift, the gradient and the experimentally observed first, second, and third harmonics of the flux as a function of angle in the scan plane. Even with an assumed model, anisotropy observations in one plane alone do not suffice to determine the E x B drift velocity and the spatial gradient independently. If the E x B velocity is assumed (e.g., the corotational velocity in a rotating planetary magnetosphere), the spatial gradient may be deduced, and from it the time rate of change of flux in a nonrotating frame of reference.
Untangling drivers of species distributions: Global sensitivity and uncertainty analyses of MaxEnt

Untangling drivers of systems and uncertainty for species distribution models (SDMs) is important to provide reliable predictions that are useful for conservation campaigns. This is particularly true for species whose habitat is threatened by climate change that enhances the uncertainty in future species distributions. Global sensitivity and uncertainty analyses (GSUA) is a robust method to globally investigate the uncertainty of SDMs and the importance of species distributions' drivers in space and time.Here we apply GSUA to MaxEnt that is one of the popular presence-only SDMs. We consider the Snowy Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus nivosus) (SP) in Florida that is a shorebird whose habitat is affected by sea level rise due to climate change. The importance of intrinsic and exogenous input factors to the uncertainty of the species distribution is evaluated for MaxEnt. GSUA is applied for three projections of the habitat (2006, 2060, and 2100) according to the A1B sea level rise scenario. The large land cover variation determines a moderate decrease in habitat suitability in 2060 and 2100 prospecting a low risk of decline for the SP. The regularization parameter for the environmental features, the uncertainty into the classification of salt-marsh, transitional marsh, and ocean beach, and the maximum number of iterations for the model training are in this order the most important input factors for the average habitat suitability. These results are related to the SP but, in general MaxEnt appears as a very non-linear model where uncertainty mostly derives from the interactions among input factors.The uncertainty of the output is a species-specific variable. Thus, GSUA need be performed for each case considering local exogenous input factors of the model. GSUA allows quantitative informed species-management decisions by providing scenarios with controlled uncertainty and confidence over factors' importance that can be used by resource managers. Display Omitted Global sensitivity and uncertainty analysis was applied to MaxEnt.The uncertainty analysis estimated a very narrow variation of the predicted habitat suitability.MaxEnt appears to be a model characterized by highly interactive input factors.A decrease of the nesting habitat area was predicted for the Snowy Plover due to sea-level rise.
The Macroeconomic Challenges of Scaling Up Aid to Africa

This paper surveys the economic literature on the scaling-up of aid to Africa. It provides a checklist of issues that need to be considered when preparing a long term macroeconomic projection for a country involving the assumption of a significant increase in aid. Such scaling-up scenarios are most likely to be developed in the context of a country's efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) with the support of the international donor community. The paper stresses that when preparing a scaling-up scenario it is critical to have a detailed understanding of the likely use of additional aid flows.
Synapsins I and II are ATP-binding proteins with differential Ca2+ regulation.

Synapsins I and II are abundant phosphoproteins that are localized to synaptic vesicles and have essential functions in regulating synaptic vesicle exocytosis. Synapsins contain a single evolutionarily conserved, large central domain, the C-domain, that accounts for the majority of their sequences. Unexpectedly, the crystal structure of the C-domain from synapsin I revealed that it is structurally closely related to several ATPases despite the absence of sequence similarities (Esser, L., Wang, C.-R., Hosaka, M., Smagula, C. S., Sudhof, T. C., and Deisenhofer, J. (1998)EMBO J., in press). We now show that the C-domains of both synapsin I and synapsin II constitute high affinity ATP-binding modules. The two C-domains exhibit similar ATP affinities but are differentially regulated; ATP binding to synapsin I is Ca2+-dependent whereas ATP binding to synapsin II is Ca2+-independent. In synapsin I, the Ca2+requirement for ATP binding is mediated by a single, evolutionarily conserved glutamate residue (Glu373) at a position where synapsin II contains a lysine residue. Exchange of Glu373for lysine converts synapsin I from a Ca2+-dependent protein into a Ca2+-independent ATP-binding protein. Our studies suggest that synapsins I and II function on synaptic vesicles as ATP-binding proteins that are differentially regulated by Ca2+.
Comparison of irrigation efficiency and plant health of overhead, drip, and sub-irrigation for extensive green roofs

Abstract This study was conducted in two phases in a greenhouse in green roof modules. In Phase I, five commercial substrate types or systems were subjected to three irrigation methods (overhead, drip, and sub-irrigation) to determine substrate water distribution and retention. Substrates subjected to overhead irrigation or those with a moisture retention fabric (MRF) retained the greatest amount of water. Sub-irrigation resulted in the least amount of water retention and the most wastewater, except when a MRF was present. Substrate volumetric moisture content exhibited similar results. The MRF was effective in retaining water, but for sub-irrigation a visible water front was not visible as water did not reach the surface via capillary action. Differences can be attributed to the fact that overhead irrigation distributed water over 100% of the area, whereas in many cases the water front radiating from the drip or sub emitters never merged leaving dry areas in between emitters. In Phase II these irrigation methods were assessed to see how they influenced plant growth and health of Sedum album and Sedum floriferum . Repeated measurements were recorded for plant survival, growth index, chlorophyll fluorescence, and substrate volumetric moisture content. Results show that overhead was the most favorable for plant growth and health. Plant dry weights averaged 1.00 g, 0.78 g, 0.40 g, and 0.09 g for Sedum album subjected to overhead, drip, sub- and no irrigation, respectively, when no MRF was used. The inclusion of MRF generally improved results for drip and sub-irrigated plants. Chlorophyll fluorescence values were generally highest for plants subjected to overhead irrigation. Because green roof substrates tend to be coarse to allow adequate drainage, water does not move laterally to a great extent as it would in finer substrates. For this reason, drip and sub-irrigation may not be the most efficient irrigation methods.
The Effect of MgSO4 Treatment Post In Utero Hypoxia on Cerebral Cortical Nuclear Membranes in the Term Guinea Pig Fetus

The Effect of MgSO 4 Treatment Post In Utero Hypoxia on Cerebral Cortical Nuclear Membranes in the Term Guinea Pig Fetus
Non-modularity in aspect-oriented languages: integration as a crosscutting concern for AspectJ

Aspect-oriented (AO) methods and languages seek to enable the preservation of design modularity through mappings to program structures, especially where common (object-oriented) languages fail to do so. The general claim is made that AO approaches enable the modularization of crosscutting concerns. The problem that we address is that it is unclear to what extent such claims are valid. We argue that there are meaningful bounds on the abilities of past, present, and future languages to succeed in this regard---bounds that we need to understand better. To make this idea concrete we exhibit a significant bound: Component integration (Sullivan & Notkin 1992, 1994) is not adequately modularizable in AspectJ
Interaction of Antiferromagnetic Spin Waves with a Bloch Wall

The interaction of an antiferromagnetic spin wave with a 180\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} Bloch wall is studied from the theoretical point of view. Our formulation includes the anisotropy and exchange energies of the crystal together with the characteristics of the wall such as its stiffness and viscosity. The anisotropy is assumed to be of a general orthorhombic form. We show that there exists a bound wall excitation branch as well as a free spin-wave excitation branch, and we derive a restrictive set of relationships between the excitations on two different sublattices. Further, we show that there exist special values of the energy for which the spin waves are degenerate and the restrictions no longer apply. Finally, we determine the change of phase of the spin waves on passing through the Bloch wall as a function of the wavelength, demonstrate that the phase change decreases as the wavelength increases, and compare our results with those of the analogous ferromagnetic case.
High-resolution near-infrared imaging of DNA microarrays with time-resolved acquisition of fluorescence lifetimes.

Ultrasensitive, near-infrared (NIR), time-resolved fluorescence is evaluated as a detection method for reading DNA hybridization events on solid surfaces for microarray applications. In addition, the potential of mulitiplexed analyses using time-resolved identification protocols is described. To carry out this work, a NIR time-resolved confocal imager was constructed to read fluorescence signatures from the arrays. The device utilized a 780-nm pulsed diode laser, a single-photon avalanche diode (SPAD), and a high-numerical-aperture microscope objective mounted in an epi-illumination format. Due to the small size of the components that are required to construct this imager, the entire detector could easily be mounted on high-resolution translational stages and scanned over the stationary arrays. The instrument response function of the device was determined to be 275 ps (fwhm), which is adequate for measuring fluorophores with subnanosecond lifetimes. To characterize the system, NIR dyes were deposited dire...
Local circuit properties underlying cortical reorganization.

Peripheral denervation has been shown to cause reorganization of the deafferented somatotopic region in primary somatosensory cortex (S1). However, the basic mechanisms that underlie reorganization...
Photonics: How nanocrystals lost their blink.

Semiconducting nanocrystals emit light in many different colours, but they blink on and off at random. The latest nanocrystals emit photons steadily, thanks to the blending of their cores into their outer shells.
Decisionmaking under uncertainty with various assumptions about available information

Six different varieties of methodology are surveyed for choosing one of a fixed number of alternative actions in the context of uncertainty. Within this context a fixed number of possible states of the world can actually hold, where the outcome of each alternative action is dependent on the state of the world. The six approaches differ from each other primarily in their assumptions about the quality and quantity of information that is available regarding: the relative possibility or likelihood of the various states of the world, and the relative utility of the various outcomes defined by (action, state) pairs. The six approaches are illustrated using a single example. Finally, the prospects for an integrated approach to decision support that is sensitive to the quality and quantity of information are discussed, and some fruitful areas for further research are suggested.
Enhancement of ABA responsiveness in wheat embryos by high temperature

Abstract. Mature wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grain often possesses high-temperature dormancy which restricts the grain from germinating at warm temperatures (25–30°C). Isolated embryos from such grain exhibited little high-temperature dormancy when germinated in water. Dormancy was restored by the application of abscisic acid (ABA) to the embryos. The ability of ABA to block germination in isolated embryos was enhanced significantly by elevating the germination temperature. ABA was 100 times more effective in reducing embryonic germination at 30°C than at 15°C. These temperature effects on embryonic response to ABA are a useful system for studying the mechanism of ABA action in seed dormancy.
Chick limbs with mouse teeth: an effective in vivo culture system for tooth germ development and analysis.

Mouse tooth germ development is currently studied by three main approaches: in wild-type and mutant mouse lines, after transplantation of tooth germs to ectopic sites, and in organ culture. The in vivo approaches are the most physiological but do not provide accessibility to tooth germs for further experimental manipulation. Organ cultures, although readily accessible, do not sustain full tooth germ development and are appropriate for short-term analysis. Thus, we sought to establish a new approach that would combine experimental accessibility with sustained development. We implanted fragments of embryonic day 12 mouse embryo first branchial arch containing early bud stage tooth germs into the lateral mesenchyme of day 4-5 chick embryo wing buds in ovo. Eggs were reincubated, and implanted tissues were examined by histochemistry and in situ hybridization over time. The tooth germs underwent seemingly normal growth, differentiation, and morphogenesis. They reached the cap, bell, and crown stages in approximately 3, 6, and 10 days, respectively, mimicking in a striking manner native temporal patterns. To examine mechanisms regulating tooth germ development, we first implanted tooth germ fragments, microinjected them with neutralizing antibodies to the key signaling molecule Sonic hedgehog (Shh), and examined them over time. Tooth germ development was markedly delayed, as revealed by poor morphogenesis and lack of mature ameloblasts and odontoblasts displaying characteristic traits such as an elongated cell shape, nuclear relocalization, and amelogenin gene expression. These phenotypic changes began to be reversed upon further incubation. The data show that the limb bud represents an effective, experimentally accessible as well as economical system for growth and analysis of developing tooth germs. The inhibitory effects of Shh neutralizing antibody treatment are discussed in relation to roles of this signaling pathway proposed by this and other groups previously.
Nonlinear Optical Material Fabrication via Sol-Gel Processing

Nonlinear optical materials which are highly transparent and show large second harmonic generation coefficients were fabricated via the sol-gel process. Nonlinear chromophores were directly incorporated into the silica network by polymerizing chromophore containing organo silanes such as N-[3-(Triethoxysilyl)propyl]-2, 4-dinitrophenylamine (TDP) and 3-(4-Formyl phenoxy)propyl trimethoxy silane (FPT).
Occlusive retinal vascular disease and deafness.

An 8-year-old white girl with a history of vertigo, nausea, and vomiting developed a progressive hearing loss, bilateral retinal arteriolar narrowing in each eye, vasoproliferation, and subsequent intravitreal hemorrhage. An attempt at peripheral retinal ablation with cryotherapy in the left eye resulted in retinal detachment. Spontaneous retinal detachment occurred in the right eye and was successfully repaired. Repeated intermittent hemorrhages occurred despite intraocular diathermy. Three years after onset, visual acuity was R.E.: 6/21 (20/66) and L.E.: light perception. She remains totally deaf. A 20-year-old white woman developed severe bilateral sensorineural hearing loss with poorly functioning labyrinths, followed by midperipheral retinal arteriolar occlusions and vasoproliferation on the optic nerve head. Progressive retinal neovascularization was followed by rubeosis iridis and repeated episodes of intravitreal bleeding. Six years after onset, visula acuity was R.E.: hand motions, and L.E.: 6/3 (20/100). She remains totally deaf. Both patients were of normal gestation, development, and mentality, without evidence of other systemic disease. The cause of this disease was not found.
Large- p T π 0 production in hadronic reactions in terms of the parton model

We show that the parton model adequately describes ..pi../sup 0/ production for Fermilab pp reactions. In addition, we point out that the model directly predicts ..pi../sup 0/ production in p-barp reactions providing extensive tests for experimental verification. We remark that, withstanding these tests, the model may be used to extract ..pi..,K inelastic form factors from ..pi../sup 0/ production data for ..pi..p,Kp reactions.
Conversion potential of marrow cells into lung cells fluctuates with cytokine-induced cell cycle.

Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled marrow cells transplanted into lethally irradiated mice can be detected in the lungs of transplanted mice and have been shown to express lung-specific proteins while lacking the expression of hematopoietic markers. We have studied marrow cells induced to transit the cell cycle by exposure to interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-6, IL-11, and Steel factor at different times of culture corresponding to different phases of cell cycle. We have found that marrow cells at the G1 /S interface of the cell cycle have a three-fold increase in cells that assume a nonhematopoietic or pulmonary epithelial cell phenotype and that this increase is no longer seen in late S/G 2. These cells have been characterized as GFP+ CD45− and GFP+ cytokeratin+. Thus, marrow cells with the capacity to convert into cells with a lung phenotype after transplantation show a reversible increase with cytokine-induced cell cycle transit. Previous studies have shown that the phenotype of bone marrow stem cells flu...
Scientific cyberlearning resources referential metadata creation via information retrieval

The goal of this research is to describe an innovative method of creating scientific referential metadata for a cyberinfrastructure-enabled learning environment to enhance student and scholar learning experiences. By using information retrieval and meta-search approaches, different types of referential metadata, such as related Wikipedia Pages, Datasets, Source Code, Video Lectures, Presentation Slides, and (online) Tutorials, for an assortment of publications and scientific topics will be automatically retrieved, associated, and ranked.
Effects of chemotherapeutic agents on metabolism of human acute leukemia cells in vitro.

Summary1. A method for studying the effects of known anti-leukemic agents on the glycolysis of intact leukemic leukocytes is reported. The possible applications of this method in evaluating other new and theoretically promising agents, and in selecting the most active agent in a particular clinical case, are indicated. 2. Methotrexate and 6-mercaptopurine inhibited the aerobic glycolysis of acute lymphatic leukemia cells. Methotrexate did not inhibit the equally large aerobic glycolysis of acute myelogenous leukemia cells, and 6-mercaptopurine did so only rarely. These metabolic findings parallel general clinical experience. 3. The bearing of these findings on the mechanism of action of certain cancer anti-metabolites (anti-folics and anti-purines) is pointed out.
DNA sequence analysis of human chromosome 21 NotI linking clones

Portions of 16 chromosome 21 NotI linking clones were sequenced. These linking clone sequences represent sequence-tagged restriction sites that are potentially useful for finding genes and for finer genome mapping and sequencing. All of the clones were G+C rich (54 to 83%). CpG and GpC dinucleotide frequencies were very close to the expected values based on base composition and were very similar in 15 of the clones. Most of the NotI linking clones were derived from CpG islands, which are often associated with genes. Five NotI linking clones had a high potential for coding regions; 7 additional clones may also contain coding regions. The NotI linking clones had many short homologous regions, but no extensive homologies either with each other or with GenBank sequences.
Immediate postpartum IUD insertions in a Chinese hospital--a two year follow-up.

Abstract A data set consisting of 199 immediate postpartum IUD insertions performed at the Xuan Wu Hospital, Beijing, China was analysed in terms of insertion route, category of inserting personnel and device type. IUD expulsion and continuation of use were the outcome events of interest in this study. Based on our findings, the following hypotheses were derived for future confirmative studies: lower expulsion rates and hence, higher continuation rates of immediate postpartum IUD insertions are associated with (1) insertions through the abdominal incision wound for women who had a cesarean delivery as compared to immediate (
Persistent antegrade pulmonary blood flow post-glenn does not alter early post-Fontan outcomes in single-ventricle patients.

Background The bidirectional Glenn cavopulmonary anastomosis (BDG) represents the standard interim procedure in treatment of patients with single-ventricle physiology. Anterograde pulmonary blood flow (APBF) maintained after BDG has been shown both to improve and to complicate postoperative clinical course. We studied its effects on outcome after BDG and eventual Fontan completion. Methods From November 1995 to November 2005, 60 patients underwent BDG and Fontan. All patients had APBF from the ventricle to the pulmonary artery at time of BDG. In group 1 (n = 39) APBF was maintained after BDG, whereas APBF was interrupted at BDG in group 2 (n = 21). Cardiac catheterization data, interstage morbidity, and postoperative outcome variables were recorded. Results Pre-BDG hemodynamics differed only in that the mean pulmonary artery pressure was higher in group 2 (17.0 ± 4.4 mm Hg) than in group 1 (13.8 ± 4.5 mm Hg; p = 0.03). There were no differences between groups 1 and 2 in BDG outcome variables. At pre-Fontan catheterization, group 1 had higher mean pulmonary artery pressure (13.3 versus 10.9 mm Hg, p = 0.01), arterial oxygen saturation (85.8 versus 80.9%, p = 0.0001), and fewer collateral vessels were coil embolized than in group 2 (0.9 versus 1.6, p = 0.02). Mean ventricular end-diastolic pressure was similar between groups. The Nakata index in group 1 remained stable from pre-BDG to pre-Fontan (348 versus 391, p = 0.24), but it decreased in group 2 (375 versus 227, p = 0.046). Conclusions Patients with anterograde pulmonary blood flow after BDG had a modest increase in pulmonary artery growth and arterial oxygen saturations, and decreased collateral vessel formation. This did not, however, confer additional benefit on outcome after BDG or on eventual Fontan completion.
TWO FORMS OF HIERARCHY THEORY IN WESTERN DISCOURSES

In the twentieth century two different forms of hierarchy theory have been frequently conflated. One, the scalar hierarchy, is used in systems science and ecology. It describes constraint relations on dynamics between systems of different scale. It is useful in describing parts and wholes, and processes taking place in such complex structures. The other, the specification hierarchy, is an older discourse dating back to Plato, and, as a theory of development, to Aristotle. In the twentieth century it was relegated to peripheral importance in biology, but has continued to inform social science and psychology. It can be represented as a system of nested classes, the outermost class containing the most general phenomena, the innermost the most highly specified. These integrative levels can be considered as stages of development as well. Each new stage transcends the one before it and integrates it into a new whole. Incredibly, the same statements can be made about a system from these two viewpoints, even thou...
A one-flask, high-yield, stereoselective synthesis of racemic endo-brevicomin

Abstract Treatment of acrolein dimer sequentially with three molar equivalents of ethyllithium and excess methyl iodide followed by aqueous acidic workup provides brevicomin in 69% yield as a 4:1 mixture of endo and exo isomers; a modification allows preparation of a mixture richer in the exo-isomer.
Catastrophic caldera-forming eruptions: Thermomechanics and implications for eruption triggering and maximum caldera dimensions on Earth

Abstract Approximately every 100,000 years the Earth experiences catastrophic caldera-forming “supereruptions” that are considered to be one of the most hazardous natural events on Earth. Utilizing new temperature-dependent, viscoelastic numerical models that incorporate a Mohr-Coulomb failure criterion, we find that eruptive failure of the largest magma chambers is a function of the geometry of the overlying roof and the location of the brittle-ductile transition. In particular, the ductile halo created around the hot magma chamber buffers increasing overpressures and prevents pressure relief via magmatic injection from the magma chamber. The numerical results indicate that as chamber volume increases, the higher temperatures in the host rock and the decrease in the roof aspect ratio cause a shift from reservoir-triggered eruption to an external roof-triggered mechanism. Specifically, as overpressure increases within the largest magma chambers, extensive uplift in the overlying roof promotes the development of through-going faults that may trigger eruption and caldera collapse from above. We find that for magma chamber volumes > 103 km3, and roof aspect ratios (depth/width)
Respiratory enzymes of the silkmoth Antheraea pernyi in relation to metamorphosis and pupal diapause.

1. 1. Wing epidermis from diapausing and non-diapausing silkmoths (Antheraea pernyi) was assayed for NADH [nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (reduced form)] oxidase, NADH- and succinate-cyctochrome c reductases, and cytochrome c oxidase. 2. 2. Diapausing pupae showed a marked decline in activities after pupation and the same subsequent profile of very low activities reported for diapausing Cecropia silkmoths. 3. 3. Non-diapausing pupae showed only a slight and transient decline after pupation and otherwise retained relatively high activities throughout metamorphosis.
The Ethics of Sham Surgery in Clinical Orthopaedic Research

While other surgical specialties, such as neurosurgery and thoracic surgery, have already broached the ethical discussion surrounding sham surgery as a research method, published discussion regarding the use of the sham orthopaedic model has been limited1. One solution in orthopaedics would be to open up the debate and the decision-making process to the surgeons, as there is no current forum or body to do this2. An essential question in the debate on the ethics of sham surgery concerns resolving the tension between the highest standard of research design (the double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial) and the highest standard of ethics (to do no harm to the patient)3. We use published orthopaedic studies to analyze the ethical issues that pertain to sham surgery as a methodology in orthopaedic research. In addition, we provide a foundation for the orthopaedic surgeon on the subject of sham surgery as a research tool. Our goal is to advance both the discussion and the understanding of the ethical issues surrounding sham orthopaedic surgery as it applies to orthopaedic surgeons and their patients. Few physicians and researchers would deny the existence of the sham (placebo) surgery effect. However, the degree to which the placebo effect impacts outcomes is not completely understood. A comprehensive metaanalysis of research on the placebo effect indicated that subjective outcomes can be attributable to “placebo” effects or bias4,5. Therefore, a study that evaluates treatment outcomes should account for the placebo effect5. These findings are relevant to a discussion involving outcome measures in orthopaedic surgery, as subjective measures such as function and pain are frequently used in clinical orthopaedic studies6,7. These measures are often difficult to gauge objectively. The variable and subjective nature of pain and function lacks the …
Radiation oncology: the use of beams of photons or particles for the treatment of tumors

Abstract Radiation oncology is a medical specialty dealing with the use of radiation beams or sources for the treatment of tumors in humans. Since the birth of the specialty in the late nineteenth century, many of the critical advances in the field have been due to advances in the pure and applied physics of electromagnetic waves, and more recently in the field of applied nuclear physics. The evolution of radiation oncology to the present day will be highlighted by giving selected examples of developments in physics that had major impact on the field, and possible paths for progress in the future will be given.
Simultaneous Deep-Plane Face Lift and Trichloroacetic Acid Peel

Many patients seeking facial rejuvenation require a combination of face lift and chemical peel to achieve optimal results. These procedures traditionally have been separated in time because of fear of skin slough after simultaneous peel and face lift. The recent evolution to deep-plane face lift and peeling agents other than phenol led to this reexamination of the subject.Forty-seven porcine flaps were treated with a variety of chemabrasion agents. As a result, 35% trichloroacetic acid was determined to be a safe agent for use on thick flaps. Thirty-five patients underwent simultaneous modified deep-plane face lift and immediate trichloroacetic acid peel, with 35% being the maximum strength used on undermined areas. This combination proved to be successful, with no complications related to the combination treatment. (Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 93: 86, 1994.)
A survey of long-term observational behavior of various martian features that affect some recently proposed interpretations

Abstract In recent years an unprecedented surge of papers and articles has appeared in which various authors interpret the features and conditions on Mars. In many cases it is obvious that there was little or no personal telescopic acquaitance with the appearance of Mars under very favorable viewing conditions, nor with the complex behavior of various features and phenomena throughout all of the martian seasons. This trend can lead to a dangerous amount of misinformation and confusion. The study of Mars requires a familiarity with several different disciplines that few have met. It requires 15 years to follow Mars through one equivalent year of seasonal changes; at least two or three times 15 years is necessary to discern secular changes from the regular seasonal changes. One needs to peruse a long list of papers in the disciplines of physics, geology, meteorology, and biology to sift the evidence. A consideration of the life history of solar-type stars, the stability of the solar system, and paleoclimatology shows that Mars could never have provided an environment of other than cool to frigid temperatures and a dry climate. Consequently, the role of water on martian geology would have been very insignificant. Water denudation and the formation of marine sedimentary rocks could never have occurred. Some volcanism probably occurred. The canals and angular maria probably are features of extensive crustal faulting. The surface would be highly cratered by asteroid impacts; the round dark dots may represent impact sites. The considerable seasonal differences in maria color, polar cap phenomena, and climate between the northern and southern hemispheres appear to be related to the perihelion and aphelion positions in the orbit. Many proposed explanations of the nature of the various features are simply not supported by the complex observed phenomena. The author proposes some explanations that appear to be in accord with his experience with the planet Mars.
Detection of Minimal Residual Disease in Autologous Grafts

There is increasing evidence that the presence of tumor cells within autologous hematopoietic cell grafts may increase the risk of relapse of disease post-transplant. The sensitive detection of minimal residual disease is therefore central to improving the outcome of autologous transplantation, irrespective of the source of the graft. This review presents a comparative evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of the currently available methods for tumor detection.
Upregulation of nitric oxide synthase in mice with severe hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension

Background The importance of nitric oxide (NO) in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension has been demonstrated using nitric oxide synthase (NOS) knockout mice. In that model NO from endothelial NOS (eNOS) plays a central role in modulating pulmonary vascular tone and attenuating hypoxic pulmonary hypertension. However, the normal regulation of NOS expression in mice following hypoxia is uncertain. Because genetically engineered mice are often utilized in studies of NO, we conducted the present study to determine how hypoxia alters NOS expression in wild-type mice.
Continuous Values are Diagonal

It is proved that every continuous value is diagonal, which in particular implies that every value on a closed reproducing space is diagonal. We deduce also that there are noncontinuous values.
Multi-sources precipitation estimation: Mitigating gaps over radar network coverage

Precipitation is one major parameter for various applications ranging from short term hydrological to long term climate studies. Rainfall measurements from ground-based radar networks are the most common precipitation product used as input of hydrologic models for flood forecasting. However, radar coverage itself is limited by different uncertainty sources such as terrain blockage and beam overshooting, even within fairly dense network. In the present study, a two-step approach for merging radar and satellite rainfall products is evaluated to mitigate an artificially created radar gap in Oklahoma. Real gap areas over radar network cannot be used as a test-bed due to lack of availability of radar rainfall required for validation of generated multi-sources product. Hourly satellite IR based Hydro-Estimator (HE) and radar Stage-IV (ST-IV) for the year 2006 are used in this study. The two steps of merging process are: 1) bias correction of the satellite rainfall product against radar rainfall using the method of ensembles; 2) merging the two, radar and satellite, rainfall products using the Successive Correction Method (SCM) and Bayesian to fill the artificially created gap areas over the radar network. The present study implies that merged radar like product is achievable over radar gap areas using the ensemble bias correction and merging approaches.
Targeted cancer immunotherapy via combination of designer bispecific antibody and novel gene-engineered T cells

Background Redirection of T lymphocytes against tumor antigens can induce dramatic regression of advanced stage malignancy. The use of bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) that bind both the T-cell receptor (TCR) and a target antigen is one promising approach to T-cell redirection. However, BsAbs indiscriminately bind all CD3+ T-cells and trigger TCR activation in the absence of parallel costimulatory signals required to overcome T-cell unresponsiveness or anergy.
Probabilistic internal clock synchronization

We propose an improved probabilistic method for reading remote clocks in systems subject to unbounded communication delays and use this method to design a fault-tolerant probabilistic internal clock synchronization protocol. This protocol masks clock reading failures and arbitrary failures of processes. Because of probabilistic reading, our protocol achieves better synchronization precisions than those achievable by previously known deterministic algorithms. Another advantage of the proposed protocol is that it uses a linear, instead of quadratic, number of messages, and that message exchanges are staggered in time instead of all happening in narrow synchronization intervals. The drift rate of the synchronized clocks is optimal. >
Automatic Mapping of Social Networks of Political Actors from Large Collections of News Stories

To illustrate the use of the semantic network analysis package WORDij 3.0 for automatic social network analysis, this research mapped the social networks of the cabinet members of presidential administrations from Nixon to G.W. Bush large using collections of news stories. Every news story written in the New York Times and Washington Post about each cabinet member during their terms was mined. Network visualizations and centrality statistics were computed as illustrative of main approaches to social network analysis. The method of network data mining reported here is based on having a list of names for which one wants to map social networks from documents. The software processes gigabytes of text to produce standard network data on the actors based on their co-appearance in news stories or other documents on the Web.
Thermal effects on delta-M measurements in magnetic thin films

Thermal effects on delta-M curves have been studied in a series of CoCrPtB thin films. Film thicknesses ranged from 5 nm to 50 nm and K/sub u/V/k/sub B/T values ranged from 29 to 132. Delta-M curves were measured as a function of field step, wait time at each field step, and measuring conditions. If dc-demagnetization remanence (DCD) curves are measured by applying a saturating field before each reverse field, then the delta-M curves depend on field step for all films and on wait time for the film with the smallest K/sub u/V/k/sub B/T. At small field steps, the field step dependence is approximately logarithmic and the rate is approximately the same as the remanent viscosity coefficient. If a saturating field Is applied only at the beginning of the DCD measurement sequence, the field step and wait time dependences are essentially eliminated. For fixed field step and waiting time, the area under the delta-M curve normalized to the remanent coercivity increases linearly with k/sub B/T/K/sub u/V when the repeat saturation method is used. The dependence on k/sub B/T/K/sub u/V is largely eliminated if there is no repeat saturation field.
Use of the pheasant (Phasianus torquatus) to produce a specific anti-chicken serum.

Summary1. Pheasants produce high titers of antibody to chicken serum. 2. This antiserum is highly specific and can be used in identification of mosquito blood-meals.The author wishes to acknowledge the technical assistance of Miss Mary Lofy.
P3D-3 Strain Image Contrast for Differentiating In Vivo Breast Lesions

We are objectively investigating lesion contrast with ultrasound strain imaging of in vivo solid breast lesions. Tissue deformation is performed during real-time strain imaging. A modified block matching algorithm is used to estimate the displacement between frames of radiofrequency (RF) echo data and the gradient of the displacements are computed to form strain images. Displacement estimates from strain image formation are used to compensate for motion, lesion segmentation is performed on each stationary strain image, and strain image contrast is calculated as a function of accumulated strain. Strain image contrast of fibroadenomas are compared to strain image contrast of invasive ductal carcinomas to determine if strain image contrast can aide in distinguishing between most common benign and malignant solid breast lesions