cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of microstructure on intrinsic and extrinsic toughening in an alpha-two titanium aluminide alloy

The toughening mechanisms in the Ti-24A1-11Nb (Ti-24-11) alloy have been identified previously to include crack-tip blunting, bridging, and deflection by the ductileβ phase, while the fracture mechanisms involve the nucleation, growth, and linkage of microcracks with the main crack. By performing appropriate theoretical analyses and critical experiments, the relative contributions of intrinsic and extrinsic toughening mechanisms, including microcrack shielding, crack-tip blunting, bridging, and deflection by theβ phase, to the initiation and crack growth toughness values of the Ti-24-11 alloy have been studied for three microstructures. The results indicate that the microstructure affects not only the amount of toughness enhancement, but also the type of toughening mechanisms present in the Ti-24-11 alloy. The initiation toughness in Ti-24-11 arises from the matrix toughness, crack-tip blunting, and, occasionally, from crack deflection by the ductile phase. As a result, theKIC values increase with the volume fraction of the ductile phase. In contrast, the resistance curve behavior originates from (1) a change of crack-tip singularity, which occurs when the blunted crack extends into the plastic zone, (2) crack bridging by ductile phase and shear ligaments, and (3) microcrack shielding, which occurs mostly at elevated temperatures.
Image format overcomes hardware vendor barriers

The Rockwell Digital Imagery Standard (RDIS) format for images was developed in response to the need for an independent image format device. The Rockwell Digital Image Standard format has been designed to be device independent. The RDIS format releases technical staff from hardware limitations and allows the use of whatever image display system is available to them.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The influence of structural properties on conductivity and luminescence of MBE grown InN

Abstract Within the last few years indium nitride (InN) gained substantial interest due to its controversially discussed apparent band gap and its predicted highest maximum electron mobility among several III–V compounds, including Al(Ga)N and GaAs. The band gap of epitaxial InN has been recently reported to be around 0.7 eV rather than the previously accepted value of 1.9 eV obtained from polycrystalline films. Thus, InN could be a promising material for applications in infrared opto-electronics or high-speed electronics. However, the structural quality of the InN epilayers is still inferior to GaN and needs to be improved. Also, the role of many contaminants in InN and their effect on the epilayer's conductivity and/or luminescence properties is still under investigation. This work describes recent studies of InN growth by molecular beam epitaxy on sapphire (0 0 0 1) substrates. The effect of buffer layer variations including a prior substrate nitridation step is discussed. Structural properties (X-ray diffraction, AFM and TEM images) and chemical profiles (SIMS) will be correlated to Hall data and Photo-luminescence spectra. The role of oxygen and hydrogen as possible donors in InN will be discussed.
Transfer of the public documents library to the National Archives

Abstract The Library of the Public Documents Department, generally considered to comprise the most nearly complete collection of federal government publications in existence, was transferred as an archival unit to the National Archives during the year 1972. Reasons for this relocation were given as the need to preserve the collection and to alleviate the critical problem of space at the former facility. A principal benefit of the transfer was the provision of reference service for scholars desiring access to the materials. This report deals with the problems and progress of the relocation which, at this writing, had not been wholly resolved or concluded. Recommendations for future surveys are proffered. The on-site research for this report was made possible by a small grant-in-aid from the Research Foundation of the State University of New York.
Maternal-fetal transfer of organic and inorganic mercury via placenta and milk

The maternal-fetal transfer of organic and inorganic mercury across the placenta and through mother's milk has been investigated in the rat. It was found that organic mercury is more readily transferable across the placenta than inorganic mercury. However, both forms of mercury were transferred through milk with approximately the same efficiency. It was determined that the mercury concentrations in the placenta and the infant hair are directly related to the infant's body burden of mercury.
Templated bi-metallic non-PGM catalysts for oxygen reduction

Abstract A series of bi-metallic oxygen reduction catalysts derived from pyrolyzed Fe–M (where M = Co, Cu, Ni and Mn) and 4-aminoantipyrine (Fe–M–AAPyr) compounds were prepared using a sacrificial support method (SSM). The influence of the iron interacting with the second metal on the catalytic activity of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) was investigated by adjusting the ratio (Fe–M) from 1:3, to 1:1 and 3:1. This series of materials was analyzed and characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the BET method (BET) in order to establish structural morphology, and rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) experiments were performed to evaluate catalytic activity. The results were then correlated to one another, thereby establishing a composition to function relationship. Data from the ring current was used to execute a mechanistic study of the materials for the ORR, and it was found that supplementation of iron with a second transition metal significantly improved catalytic activity.
A note on the describing function of an element with coulomb, static, and viscous friction

IT IS NOW a standard procedure to use the sinusoidal-analysis, or describing-function, method in the investigation of quasilinear servomechanisms. The Nyquist criterion is applied to determine the stability conditions, and the Nyquist diagram provides some information as to the type of equalization that should be employed.1 These techniques may be used even when the describing-function of the nonlinear element is both frequency and amplitude sensitive, but this requires the graphing of a family of describing functions.2 This complication may be avoided by isolating the frequency-sensitive and amplitude-sensitive portions of the describing function into separate terms. In the trivial case, the describing function Ho? may be represented as $H_o{\prime} = H_{n}H_{o}\eqno{\hbox{(1)}}$ where Ho is amphtude dependent and frequency independent, and Hn is amplitude independent and frequency dependent. Unfortunately, this easy separation of terms canot be achieved for the describing function of an element with coulomb, static, and viscous friction, a type of element present in many servo systems. This paper with show, however, that an equivalent result is achieved by means of an equivalent, block-diagram representation of Ho?.
Impacts of sample preparation methods on solubility and antilisterial characteristics of essential oil components in milk.

ABSTRACT Essential oil components (EOCs) have limited water solubility and are used at much higher concentrations in complex food matrices than in growth media to inhibit pathogens. However, the correlation between solubility and activity has not been studied. The objective of this work was to characterize the solubility of EOCs in solvents and milk and correlate solubility with antilisterial activity. The solubilities of four EOCs, thymol, carvacrol, eugenol, and trans-cinnamaldehyde, in water was significantly increased in the presence of 5% (vol/vol) ethanol. In milk, the solubility of EOCs was lower than in water, with lower solubility in higher-fat milk. EOCs applied to milk as stock solutions (in 95% aqueous ethanol) enabled quicker dissolution and higher solubility in milk serum than other methods of mixing, such as end to end, and greater reductions of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A after 0 and 24 h. When the EOC concentration detected in milk serum was above the minimum bactericidal concentration, complete inhibition of L. monocytogenes in tryptic soy broth resulted. Therefore, the antilisterial properties in milk could be correlated with the solubility by comparison to the minimum inhibitory or bactericidal concentrations of EOCs. While the EOCs applied using ethanol generally had solubility and activity characteristics superior to those of other mixing methods, ethanol is not used to a great extent in nonfermented foods. Therefore, mixing methods without an organic solvent may be more readily adaptable to enhancing the distribution of EOCs in complex food systems.
Derivation of Mouse Trophoblast Stem Cells from Blastocysts

Specification of the trophectoderm is one of the earliest differentiation events of mammalian development. The trophoblast lineage derived from the trophectoderm mediates implantation and generates the fetal part of the placenta. As a result, the development of this lineage is essential for embryo survival. Derivation of trophoblast stem (TS) cells from mouse blastocysts was first described by Tanaka et al. 1998. The ability of TS cells to preserve the trophoblast specific property and their expression of stage- and cell type-specific markers after proper stimulation provides a valuable model system to investigate trophoblast lineage development whereby recapitulating early placentation events. Furthermore, trophoblast cells are one of the few somatic cell types undergoing natural genome amplification. Although the molecular pathways underlying trophoblast polyploidization have begun to unravel, the physiological role and advantage of trophoblast genome amplification remains largely elusive. The development of diploid stem cells into polyploid trophoblast cells in culture makes this ex vivo system an excellent tool for elucidating the regulatory mechanism of genome replication and instability in health and disease. Here we describe a protocol based on previous reports with modification published in Chiu et al. 2008.
Noise correction of turbulent spectra obtained from Acoustic Doppler Velocimeters

Abstract Velocity spectra are essential in characterizing turbulent flows. The Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) provides three-dimensional time series data at a single point in space which are used for calculating velocity spectra. However, ADV data are susceptible to contamination from various sources, including instrument noise, which is the intrinsic limit to the accuracy of acoustic Doppler processing. This contamination results in a flattening of the velocity spectra at high frequencies ( O ( 10 ) Hz ) . This paper demonstrates two elementary methods for attenuating instrument noise and improving velocity spectra. First, a “Noise Auto-Correlation” (NAC) approach utilizes the correlation and spectral properties of instrument noise to identify and attenuate the noise in the spectra. Second, a Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) approach utilizes a modal decomposition of the data and attenuates the instrument noise by neglecting the higher-order modes in a time-series reconstruction. The methods are applied to ADV data collected in a tidal channel with maximum horizontal mean currents up to 2 m/s. The spectra estimated using both approaches exhibit an f−5/3 slope, consistent with a turbulent inertial sub-range, over a wider frequency range than the raw spectra. In contrast, a Gaussian filter approach yields spectra with a sharp decrease at high frequencies. In an example application, the extended inertial sub-range from the NAC method increased the confidence in estimating the turbulent dissipation rate, which requires fitting the amplitude of the f−5/3 region. The resulting dissipation rates have smaller uncertainties and are more consistent with an assumed local balance to shear production, especially for mean horizontal currents less than 0.8 m/s.
Effect of STAT5b on Rat Liver Alcohol Dehydrogenase

Abstract Growth hormone (GH) enhances rat liver alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) due to an increase in enzyme synthesis, which is mediated at the level of transcription. Previous studies have shown that the effect of GH in enhancing activation of the ADH promoter is mediated by C/EBPβ binding to region −22 to −11 relative to the start of transcription. In this study, STAT5b and C/EBPβ were found to bind to adjacent nucleotide sequences on a region between −226 and −194. Expression vectors for both STAT5b and C/EBPβ independently activated the promoter. Furthermore, the expression vector for the GH receptor also activated the ADH promoter, and this effect was abrogated by mutations of the adjacent STAT5b and C/EBPβ binding sites. These observations indicate that the enhancing effect of GH is mediated by both STAT5b and C/EBPβ.
Genomic dosage effects on heterosis in triploid maize

The genetic basis of hybrid vigor or heterosis has been debated for more than a century. A popular hypothesis to explain this phenomenon is that there are different slightly deleterious recessive homozygous alleles in the two parents and that these alleles are complemented in the hybrid so that the biomass and fertility exceed both parents. To address the complementation hypothesis in a direct manner, heterosis was examined in diploid inbreds and reciprocal hybrids and compared with matched triploid inbred derivatives and two types of triploid hybrids that differ in the number of genomes from the different parents. Complementation of recessive mutations would occur equally in the two types of triploid hybrids predicting that, if this complementation were the sole basis of the heterotic response, the two types of triploid hybrids would be equivalent for hybrid vigor. However, the reciprocal diploid hybrids were similar for six of nine measured traits, but the two types of triploid hybrids differed significantly for eight of the same traits. Importantly, the triploid hybrids differed in the level of high-parent heterosis relative to the derived triploid inbreds. Also, the differences observed between the reciprocal triploid hybrids correlated strongly with differences observed between the inbreds, either at the diploid or triploid level, in a manner explicable by genome dosage rather than parent of origin effects. The findings of this study suggest that a major component of heterosis is a mechanism that is modulated by dosage-sensitive factors that involves allelic diversity across the genome.
Feelings, direction of attention, and expressed evaluations of others

Abstract Noting the occasional inconsistency in the results of studies of the effects of negative affect on thoughts and actions in social situations, it is suggested that: (1) self-regulatory mechanisms sometimes intervene to determine what people experiencing unpleasant feeling will say (and maybe think) about others around them; and (2) at least some of these mechanisms may have to be activated by relatively high-level cognitive processing and are not always operative. More specifically. the theoretical analysis presented here holds that many different kinds of negative affect will prime thoughts having a negative meaning, including unfavourable judgements of others. However, negative affect does not always lead to openly expressed negative opinions and actions. It is proposed that attention to one's moderately unpleasant feelings tends to moderate the effect of negative affect on subsequent negative thoughts and actions by activating “higher-level” cognitive processing so that consideration is given t...
Electromechanical coupling effects on the dielectric properties and feerroelectrpc phase transition in lithium thallpum tartrate

Dielectric, piezoelectric and elastic properties of LiTlC4H4O6 · H2O have been studied over the temperature range 4.2 to 300°K. It has been shown that at low temperature the dielectric constant K11 is very sensitive to the mechanical boundary conditions. At 10°K, close to the Curie point, the free dielectric constant Kx11 is ∼ 5 × 103, whilst the clamped constant Kx11 is only ∼ 30. Both the elastic compliance sE44 and the piezoelectric constant d14 become exceedingly large close to Tc and appear to have the highest magnitude yet measured in any ferroelectric. An analysis of the Helmholtz free energy shows that the unusually large electromechanical coupling effect plays an important role in stabilizing the ferroelectric phase at lower temperature.
A technique for achieving prerestorative minor tooth movement with orthodontic separators

This article describes 2 patient treatments in which a simple technique was used to realign teeth before restorative procedures. Elastic separators were used to tip the desired tooth into its original position. This restored a normal crown contour and improved the tooth's long-axis alignment. The procedure is simple and inexpensive, and treatment time relatively quick compared with other orthodontic procedures.
Hypothesis Tests for a Population Mean

Normal distributions are very important in making statistical inferences because they provide a reasonable approximation to the distribution of many different variables. There are many different normal distributions that are distinguished by their mean and standard deviation. The mean of a normal distribution describes where the distribution is centered, and the standard deviation describes how much the distribution spreads out around the center. Figure 1 illustrates how mean and standard deviation of a normal distribution determine the normal curve. For example, the normal curves in black and red have the same standard deviation but different means, thus the spreads of the two curves are the same, but the centers of the distributions are different. On the other hand, the black and green curves have the same mean, but different standard deviations.
Human milk fortifiers in very low birth weight infants

The use of HMF remains an important option and has become common practice in all neonatal intensive care units. However, optimal composition of fortifiers is still undefined and more data are needed on safety and long-term benefits. Further research should be directed toward comparisons between different proprietary preparations, evaluating both short-term and long-term outcomes and adverse effects, in search of the best method of fortification.
A shrinking core model for the electro-deoxidation of metal oxides in molten halide salts

Abstract A shrinking core model is developed and applied to the electro-deoxidation of metal oxides (such as TiO 2 , SiO 2 , NiO, Cr 2 O 3 and Nb 2 O 3 ). Among these the reduction of TiO 2 is the most complex due to reduction by formation of a number of lower oxides and perovskite formation under certain experimental conditions. Hence, TiO 2 is chosen as the model material for this reduction. First, a single stage model is adopted for the reduction of TiO 2 to Ti and it is shown that an additional term for the oxygen concentration in the shell must be added to get the accurate values of oxygen concentration unless the concentration at the exterior of the grain is zero. Subsequently, a multi-stage model for the successive reduction of titanium oxides to titanium is proposed. It uses a shrinking core of the oxides in the order starting from TiO 2 to Ti 3 O 5 to Ti 2 O 3 to TiO to Ti. An analytical solution is developed for the transient differential equation resulting in a series solution for the concentration of oxygen in the lower oxides. Subsequently, a solution based on the pseudo-steady assumption is also developed. It is shown that for the parameters chosen, at certain values of dimensionless applied current density, I d , (∼0.1) the transient and pseudo-steady state solutions agree in terms of the dimensionless time it takes for the core to shrink completely. The proposed model could be applied to other metal oxides such as SiO 2 , NiO, Cr 2 O 3 , Nb 2 O 3 and other metal oxides that are reduced using the Fray–Farthing–Chen (FFC) process mechanism. This can be used for a reactor scale model or for performing a parametric study of the current density and the grain size.
UFO: a personal global file system based on user-level extensions to the operating system

In this article we show how to extend a wide range of functionality of standard operation systems completely at the user level. Our approach works by intercepting selected system calls at the user level, using tracing facilities such as the /proc file system provided by many Unix operating systems. The behavior of some intercepted system calls is then modified to implement new functionality. This approach does not require any relinking or recompilation of existing applications. In fact, the extensions can even be dynamically “installed” into already running processes. The extensions work completely at the user level and install without system administrator assistance. Individual users can choose what extensions to run, in effect creating a personalized operating system view for themselves. We used this approach to implement a global file system, called Ufo, which allows users to treat remote files exactly as if they were local. Currently, Ufo supports file access through the FTP and HTTP protocols and allows new protocols to be plugged in. While several other projects have implemented global file system abstractions, they all require either changes to the operating system or modifications to standard libraries. The article gives a detailed performance analysis of our approach to extending the OS and establishes that Ufo introduces acceptable overhead for common applications even though intercepting individual system calls incurs a high cost.
Application Of Guided-Wave Optics In Signal Processing

Research in the use of guided wave optics for signal processing is reviewed, and advantages and limitations of the technology are discussed. The signal processors employ electrooptic and fiber optic components to perform such functions as spectral analysis of radio-frequency signals, correlation and matched filtering, code and waveform synthesis, signal delay and storage, and analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog conversion. In most cases the guided-wave approach is distinguished by the ability to perform a particular function at very high analog bandwidths or digital data rates. In concluding remarks, an effort is made to provide some perspective on competing technologies and to indicate some areas where future research might prove fruitful.
CAD usage in an architectural office: from observations to active assistance

The functionality and resources provided by CAD systems have been increasing rapidly, but productivity growth expected from their use has been difficult to achieve. Although many surveys describe this productivity puzzle, few studies have been conducted on actual CAD users to understand its causes. In an effort to arrive at such an understanding, the first author visited a federal architectural office and observed CAD users in their natural setting. This paper describes preliminary results obtained from the study, which used ethnographic techniques developed by cultural anthropologists. The study revealed that users had leveled-off in their learning and experimentation and were using the CAD system in suboptimal ways. By asking why users were not using many resources available to them to improve performance, the observer uncovered issues of communication and management that needed to be addressed. Based on this understanding, the authors provide explicit recommendations to CAD users and vendors. In addition, they hypothesize that users might benefit from a system that provides active assistance, that is, intervenes spontaneously with advice, assistance, and relevant information while the user interacts with the CAD system. They conclude with some issues revealed by the study that should be considered when developing such active assistance.
Cytopathology of soybean tissue culture cells infected with southern bean mosaic virus

Virus distribution patterns and ultrastructural changes in soybean callus cells after infection with the type, or bean strain, of southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV) were observed. Calli grown in liquid Linsmaier and Skoog (LS) medium were inoculated with SBMV and incubated in fresh LS medium. Calli were sampled at 5, 10, 15, and 20 d after inoculation and examined by transmission electron microscopy. Five days after inoculation, viruslike particles (VLP) measuring 22 to 27 nm in d were observed in the cytoplasm. The particles formed loose aggregates with some tendency to associate in regular patterns. By the 10th d after infection, particles were observed in the vacuoles in similar loose arrangements. Viruslike particles were readily identified in vacuoles because of the absence of ribosomes. Crystalline aggregations of VLP were found from Day 10 to Day 20 in the cytoplasm only. Five days after inoculation particles similar to the VLP observed in the cytoplasm also were present in nuclei. Other cytopathic effects were noted, particularly several types of inclusion bodies. These observations differ considerably from reports of the type strain in intact bean plant tissues in the frequent occurrence of VLP in vacuoles and virus crystals in cytoplasm of soybean callus infected with the same strain of virus.
An essay on sunspots and solar flares

Abstract The presently prevailing theories of sunspots and solar flares rely on the hypothetical presence of magnetic flux tubes beneath the photosphere and the two subsequent hypotheses, their emergence above the photosphere and explosive magnetic reconnection, converting magnetic energy carried by the flux tubes for solar flare energy. In this paper, we pay attention to the fact that there are large-scale magnetic fields which divide the photosphere into positive and negative (line-of-sight) polarity regions and that they are likely to be more fundamental than sunspot fields, as emphasized most recently by McIntosh (1981). A new phenomenological model of the sunspot pair formation is then constructed by considering an amplification process of these largescale fields near their boundaries by shear flows, including localized vortex motions. The amplification results from a dynamo process associated with such vortex flows and the associated convergence flow in the largescale fields. This dynamo process generates also some of the familiar “force-free” fields or the “sheared” magnetic fields in which the magnetic field-aligned currents are essential. Upward field-aligned currents generated by the dynamo process are carried by downward streaming electrons which are expected to be accelerated by an electric potential structure; a similar structure is responsible for accelerating auroral electrons in the magnetosphere. Depending on the magnetic field configuration and the shear flows, the current-carrying electrons precipitate into different geometrical patterns, causing circular flares, umbral flares, two-ribbon flares, etc. Thus, it is suggested that “low temperature flares” are directly driven by the photospheric dynamo process.
Completing the triangle: Taylorism and the paradigms

Taylorism and scientific management, as significant components of productive relations in the USA during the early twentieth century, have been examined by accounting historians representing the major paradigms that hold sway in contemporary historiography – the Foucauldian, the Marxist (labour process), and the economic rationalist (Neoclassical). The great bulk of this work has assumed that the major tenets of scientific management, such as time study, incentive wage schemes, standard costing, and variance analysis, were in common usage during the first two decades of the current century. This paper intends to set the record straight by demonstrating that theory was running far ahead of practice in that the number of actual adoptions of the new methods were not concomitant with the prevalence of scientific management literature. Subsequently, the paper will endeavour to show how the three major paradigms combine to enhance our understanding of Taylorism. Much of what Taylor wrote can be interpreted within a Foucauldian framework; the negative reaction of organised labour was much in the Marxist tradition; and, finally, the lack of applications in practice reflected economically rational action on the part of entrepreneurs (thereby completing the triangle).
THE MURINE Ah LOCUS AND DYSMORPHOGENESIS

Many environmental pollutants and other polycyclic aromatic compounds induce certain cytochrome P-450-mediated monooxygenases which, in turn, metabolize the inducers at increased rates. This induction process, controlled by the Ah locus, is present in almost all tissues of the mouse. Genetic differences that have been shown to be associated with the Ah locus (because of increased steady-state levels of reactive intermediates) include an increased susceptibility to chemical carcinogenesis, mutagenicity, and drug toxicity. There is evidence for the Ah locus in the human. Pregnant mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of 3-methylcholanthrene, 7, 12-dimethyl-benz[a]anthracene, or benzo[a]pyrene on day 7, day 10, or day 12 of gestation, and the uterine contents were examined on day 18. Striking (3- to more than 10-fold) increases in the incidence of stillborns, resorptions, small for gestational age, and malformations were seen in individuals genetically “responsive” at the Ah locus, compared with individuals genetically “nonresponsive” at this locus. These data suggest that a single gene (or small number of genes) controlling the metabolism of foreign compounds in tissues of the individual fetus rather than of the mother may be important in the etiology of certain birth defects.
Some problems arising in analysis of large-scale animal irradiation experiments

Abstract This paper describes some of the problems that occur in experiments designed particularly to study the effects of irradiation. One of the purposes of such experiments is to provide data that allow an informed judgment on estimates of the risks for man after exposure to radiation. It is no trivial matter to establish whether exposure to agents, such as radiation, increases the probability of a tumor arising de novo or whether the effect is an advancement of the time of appearance of naturally occurring tumors. In many murine tumors, the problem of establishing which of these two possibilities is the case is increased by the high natural incidence. In order to interpret the data from carcinogenesis experiments, a knowledge of the natural history of the tumor of interest is necessary. In this paper we present data that help to elucidate the biology of lung tumors in hybrid B6CF 1 /An1 mice. The rising incidence of many tumors late in life raises the question of whether a common systemic factor is involved. In experiments with female mice, relatively low doses of radiation may sterilize the ovary with subsequent hormonal imbalances that in turn may influence the appearance of tumors in a number of hormone-influenced tissues. We have found that radiation may increase not only the age-specific rates of tumors but also the probability of the number of different tumor types. The possibility of a lack of independence of the occurrences of different tumors complicates the data analysis. To answer some of the questions we have raised, it would be of considerable help to have data on the prevalence of tumors; however, such data usually involve serial killing which is costly. We have examined the possibility of obtaining prevalence data for lung tumors by the determination of the incidence of lung tumors in mice dying from causes other than lung tumors. There appears to be no difference in the prevalence of lung tumors determined by using either this approach or serial killing.
Frontiers in prostate cancer. Telomeres and chaos

New frontiers are emerging in our understanding of the biology of prostate cancer. Four topics are addressed in this article. The first topic addressed is the search for candidate genes for cancer susceptibility that are related to familial forms of prostate cancer. Second, the demonstration of a correlation between prostate cancer, shortened telomere lengths, and the appearance of telomerase activity as well as related findings regarding cellular senescence and immortalilty are presented. Third, epigenetic aspects of tumorigenesis, in particular, the recognition that cancer-related genes only function within the context of certain cell types, are discussed. This tissue specificity is dictated, in part, by the cell matrix structures that serve to hard wire the interaction of the DNA with the external environment. Fourth, concepts recently developed in the fields of complexity and chaos theory are discussed that may offer a better understanding of the fundamental changes in tumor cell morphology and heterogeneity, which are hallmarks of the cancer state. Specifically, the authors discuss the concept that dynamic attractors may dictate the three-dimensional organization of the DNA within the nucleus through interactions with the nuclear matrix. The nuclear matrix is a dynamic scaffolding structure, which temporally and spatially organizes the genome and plays a major role in determining tissue specificity. The authors believe that the new principles and concepts presented in this article will provide additional insight into prostate cancer as well as potential foci for future therapeutic interventions. Cancer 1995 ; 75 : 2027-35.
Heavy ion measurements in the synchronous altitude region

The launch of the P78-2 (SCATHA) satellite in January 1979 has provided a new opportunity to study the energetic ion composition in the high altitude equatorial regions of the earth's magnetosphere. In particular detailed pitch angle distributions were obtained as a function of ion species and energy. The energies measured range from ∼ 90 to 250 keV/nucleon for Z ⩾ 2. Data are presented which were acquired in late March and early April 1979. The relative abundance of He and CNO nuclei are found to be ∼ 10−2 and 5 × 10−4 respectively at L ≅ 5.5. Only an upper limit on the relative abundance of Fe group nuclei of < 3 × 10−7 was obtained. The angular distributions of the heavy ions was found to be very steep for BB0 < 1.5 and then to flatten markedly.
The single parent workshop: An approach to the problem of children of divorce

Abstract A workshop designed to deal with the problems of children of divorce and their parents is described. The workshop utilized (1) an educational format where information about child development, divorce and community resources was discussed in a large group setting and (2) small support groups where individual problems could be discussed and group support could develop. Outcome measures indicated that parents’ ratings of their children's anxiety levels decreased following the workshop. Possible explanations for this finding were reviewed.
Roles of residues 3 and 4 in cyclic tetrapeptide ligand recognition by the κ‐opioid receptor

A series of cyclic, disulfide- or dithioether-containing tetrapeptides based on previously reported potent mu- and delta-selective analogs has been explored with the aim of improving their poor affinity to the kappa-opioid receptor. Specifically targeted were modifications of tetrapeptide residues 3 and 4, as they presumably interact with residues from transmembrane helices 6 and 7 and extracellular loop 3 that differ among the three receptors. Accordingly, tetrapeptides were synthesized with Phe(3) replaced by aliphatic (Gly, Ala, Aib, Cha), basic (Lys, Arg, homo-Arg), or aromatic sides chains (Trp, Tyr, p-NH(2)Phe), and with d-Pen(4) replaced by d-Cys(4), and binding affinities to stably expressed mu-, delta-, and kappa-receptors were determined. In general, the resulting analogs failed to exhibit appreciable affinity for the kappa-receptor, with the exception of the tetrapeptide Tyr-c[d-Cys-Phe-d-Cys]-NH(2), cyclized via a disulfide bond, which demonstrated high binding affinity toward all opioid receptors (Ki(mu) = 1.26 nm, Ki(delta) = 16.1 nm, Ki(kappa) = 38.7 nm). Modeling of the kappa-receptor/ligand complex in the active state reveals that the receptor-binding pocket for residues 3 and 4 of the tetrapeptide ligands is smaller than that in the mu-receptor and requires, for optimal fit, that the tripeptide cycle of the ligand assume a higher energy conformation. The magnitude of this energy penalty depends on the nature of the fourth residue of the peptide (d-Pen or d-Cys) and correlates well with the observed kappa-receptor binding affinity.
Increasing productivity in global firms: The CEO challenge

Abstract In a highly competitive environment global firms face the challenge of increasing productivity to compete with firms sourcing production in low-wage developing countries. This paper presents a new paradigm of production which provides a solution to the productivity challenge. The new paradigm is both a philosophy of management and a set of methods that draw upon the experiences of firms employing quality management and lean production. This approach has proven to yield substantial gains in quality, productivity, and competitiveness. The methods and the requirements to successfully implement it are discussed. How to transplant these systems to developing countries is also considered. The role of the CEO in successful implementation of the New Productivity Paradigm is discussed in the final section.
Closure to “Fatigue Behavior of a Pavement Foundation with Recycled Aggregate and Waste HDPE Strips” by Khaled Sobhan and Mehedy Mashnad

Nilo Cesar Consoli; Luciano Pivoto Specht; and Jorge Augusto Pereira Ceratti Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Federal Univ. of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Osvaldo Aranha, 99, 3. andar, 90035-190, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. E-mail: consoli@ufrgs.br PhD Student, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Federal Univ. of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Osvaldo Aranha, 99, 3. andar, 90035-190, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering, Federal Univ. of Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Osvaldo Aranha, 99, 3. andar, 90035-190, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
The effectiveness of psychiatric treatment for HIV-infected patients

The study sought to determine the effectiveness of a model pmgram of psychiatric care for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients. This was a cohort study of 126 HIV-positive outpatients referred for psychiatric evaluation and treatment (average follow up of 14 months) in a HIV-dedicated primary-care outpatient clinic in the inner city. A global outcome measure (encompassing symptom relief functioning, and HIV-risk behaviors), and a measure of abstinence from alcohol and illicit substances were used. Fifty percent of patients improved, with 19% “nearly well” at follow-up. Abstinence was achieved 48% of the time. Good compliance with treatment and the absence of injection drug use were the primary predictors of good outcomes. Of the compliant patients, 94% improved, with 45.7% being nearly well. Psychiatric treatment of HIV-infected patients is effective when located in the HIV primary-care setting and administered by a multidisciplinary team under the direction of a psychiatrist, using evidence-based interventions.
Cu2Se Nanoparticles with Tunable Electronic Properties Due to a Controlled Solid-State Phase Transition Driven by Copper Oxidation and Cationic Conduction

Stoichiometric copper(I) selenide nanoparticles have been synthesized using the hot injection method. The effects of air exposure on the surface composition, crystal structure, and electronic properties were monitored using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and conductivity measurements. The current−voltage response changes from semiconducting to ohmic, and within a week a 3000-fold increase in conductivity is observed under ambient conditions. The enhanced electronic properties can be explained by the oxidation of Cu+ and Se2− on the nanoparticle surface, ultimately leading to a solid-state conversion of the core from monoclinic Cu2Se to cubic Cu1.8Se. This behavior is a result of the facile solid-state ionic conductivity of cationic Cu within the crystal and the high susceptibility of the nanoparticle surface to oxidation. This regulated transformation is appealing as one could envision using layers of Cu2Se nanoparticles as both semiconducting and conducting domains in optoelectronic...
Complex trauma among psychiatrically impaired children: a cross-sectional, chart-review study

OBJECTIVE: To identify subgroups of severely psychiatrically impaired children on the basis of the complexity of their histories of exposure to abuse and other potential traumatic stressors, and to examine the relationship of complex trauma histories to DSM-IV-TR psychiatric diagnoses. METHOD: In a sample of 397 consecutive inpatient child psychiatry admissions, cluster analysis was used to identify subgroups on the basis of measures of documented physical or sexual abuse, parental impairment (arrest, violence, and/or substance use), and disrupted attachment (ie, out-of-home placement). Data were collected for the years 1992 through 2002. RESULTS: Four subgroups were identified. Two "low trauma" subgroups had infrequent histories of abuse and out-of-home placement but were distinguished by low/moderate versus high levels of parental impairment. Two "complex trauma" subgroups were characterized by histories of either physical abuse or sexual abuse with multiple perpetrators, as well as extensive out-of-home placement and severe parental impairment. All subgroups had similar profiles of psychiatric diagnoses. Complex trauma status was associated with behavior problem severity and lower body mass index over and above the effects of psychiatric diagnoses, gender, and ethnicity. Although abuse history was a factor in subgroup membership, the multiple out-of-home placements variable was the most consistent correlate of externalizing and internalizing problems and psychosocial impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Childhood adversity that may constitute complex trauma was associated with externalizing behavior problems and psychosocial impairment among psychiatrically hospitalized children, and this association cannot be accounted for fully by existing psychiatric diagnoses, gender, or ethnicity. Language: en
Differential requirements for polypeptide chain initiation complex formation at the three bacteriophage R17 initiator regions.

Abstract The initiation specificity of washed E. coli ribosomes in the presence and absence of purified initiation factors and/or S1 protein has been examined in protection experiments using 32P-labelled R17 RNA. We find that the three bacteriophage initiator regions do not exhibit equal requirements for either of these components during initiation complex formation. Specifically, both factors and S1 stimulate ribosome binding to the beginnings of the coat and replicase cistrons to a greater extent than they promote recognition of the A protein initiation site. The differential effects are therefore inversely correlated with the degree of mRNA-16S rRNA complementarity exhibited by the three initiator regions. We also observe that S1 suppresses ribosome binding to spurious sites in the R17 RNA.
Mortality, major amputation rates, and leukopenia after isolated limb perfusion with phenylalanine mustard for the treatment of melanoma

Background: Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) is a treatment for cutaneous melanoma performed by several centers worldwide. The final data analysis of the World Health Organization and European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer in the use of ILP as adjuvant treatment for cutaneous melanoma is pending. ILP is effective to treat recurrent cutaneous melanoma. We determined the published rates of morbidity and mortality of ILP and put that component of the procedure into contemporary perspective.
Reliability and Validity of the Revised California Psychological Inventory's Vector 1 Scale.

This study examined the reliability and validity of the revised California Psychological Inventory's (CPI) Vector 1 (v.1) scale, a measure of introversion-extraversion. The v.1 and other psycho- lo...
Electron mobility of indium arsenide phosphide [In(AsyP1−y)]

Abstract The electron mobility of InP, InAs and of the alloys In(AsyP1−y) is calculated using existing evidence for the band structure of these materials and shown to be determined primarily by a combination of polar optical mode and charged impurity scattering between about 200 and 500°K. The mobility of In(AsyP1−y) as a function of y at room temperature calculated on the basis of these scattering mechanisms agrees within about 30 per cent with the experimental data of Weiss . These calculations are performed without use of adjustable parameters. The experimental information necessary to determine the conduction band structure and the quantities entering the mobility of InP and InAs is available. The band structure and the electron effective mass of the alloys can be established reasonably well from existing experimental evidence. A linear interpolation procedure is used to deduce the remaining quantities entering the mobility. The validity of this procedure can be checked experimentally. The disagreement between theory and experiment in the alloy arises in part from a 25 per cent discrepancy for InAs. When the calculated and experimental mobilities are matched for InAs and InP by adjusting the effective ionic charge, the shapes of the calculated and experimental curves are found to agree fairly well for the entire range of y. This indicates that alloy scattering, arising specifically from the disorder of the lattice, does not play a dominant role in determining the electrical properties of the alloy.
Actin Pedestal Formation by Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli Enhances Bacterial Host Cell Attachment and Concomitant Type III Translocation

Attachment of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) to intestinal epithelial cells is critical for colonization and is associated with localized actin assembly beneath bound bacteria. The formation of these actin "pedestals" is dependent on the translocation of effectors into mammalian cells via a type III secretion system (T3SS). Tir, an effector required for pedestal formation, localizes in the host cell plasma membrane and promotes attachment of bacteria to mammalian cells by binding to the EHEC outer surface protein Intimin. Actin pedestal formation has been shown to foster intestinal colonization by EHEC in some animal models, but the mechanisms responsible for this remain undefined. Investigation of the role of Tir-mediated actin assembly promoting host cell binding is complicated by other, potentially redundant EHEC-encoded binding pathways, so we utilized cell binding assays that specifically detect binding mediated by Tir-Intimin interaction. We also assessed the role of Tir-mediated actin assembly in two-step assays that temporally segregated initial translocation of Tir from subsequent Tir-Intimin interaction, thereby permitting the distinction of effects on translocation from effects on cell attachment. In these experimental systems, we compromised Tir-mediated actin assembly by chemically inhibiting actin assembly or by infecting mammalian cells with EHEC mutants that translocate Tir but are specifically defective in Tir-mediated pedestal formation. We found that an inability of Tir to promote actin assembly resulted in a significant and striking decrease in bacterial binding mediated by Tir and Intimin. Bacterial mutants defective for pedestal formation translocated type III effectors to mammalian cells with reduced efficiency, but the decrease in translocation could be entirely accounted for by the decrease in host cell attachment.