cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Which activities add value and which don't?

Recognizing that it is important to be able to identify and distinguish those activities that add value from those that do not, this article focuses on developing a link between activities and the creation of value. The article begins by defining value, and then presents a classification for costs and activities. Finally, suggestions for using these categorizations are presented.
Serine/threonine phosphorylation of orphan receptor hepatocyte nuclear factor 4.

We showed previously that hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF-4) defines a new subclass, Group IV, of nuclear receptors. In order to determine whether members of this subclass are phosphorylated, HNF-4 was overexpressed to high levels in insect cells using a baculovirus expression system. The baculovirus-expressed HNF-4 (HNF4.BV) was characterized and compared to HNF-4 overexpressed in transiently transfected mammalian (COS-7) cells (HNF4.COS). The results indicate that both HNF4.BV and HNF4.COS are phosphorylated although HNF4.BV was hypophosphorylated relative to HNF4.COS. Phosphoamino acid analysis showed that HNF-4 is phosphorylated mainly on serine and to a lesser extent on threonine residues. Phosphopeptide mapping revealed 13 phosphopeptides for HNF4.COS, only 9 of which were present in the HNF4.BV sample. DNA-binding studies also showed that HNF4.BV binds DNA with a lower specificity and affinity, as measured by the equilibrium dissociation constant (Kd), than does HNF4.COS. Partial proteolytic digestion experiments also revealed that HNF4.BV and HNF4.COS adopt somewhat different three-dimensional conformations. Since glycosylation of HNF4.BV was ruled out by a number of methods and since HNF-4 expressed in bacteria exhibited an even lower DNA-binding affinity than HNF4.BV, we propose that serine/theronine phosphorylation may play a role in the DNA-binding activity of HNF-4 and, therefore, possibly of other Group IV receptors as well.
Type II superlattice photodetectors for MWIR to VLWIR focal plane arrays

Infrared sensors utilizing Type II superlattice structures have gained increased attention in the past few years. With the stronger covalent bonds of the III-V materials, greater material uniformity over larger areas is obtained as compared to the weaker ionic bonding of the II-VI materials. Results obtained on GaSb/InAs Type II superlattices have shown performance comparable to HgCdTe detectors, with the promise of higher performance due to reduced Auger recombination and dark current through improvements in device design and material quality. In this paper, we discuss advancements in Type II IR sensors that cover the 3 to >30 µm wavelength range. Specific topics covered will be device design and modeling using the Empirical Tight Binding Method (ETBM), material growth and characterization, device fabrication and testing, as well as focal plane array processing and imaging. We demonstrate high quality material with PL linewidths of ~20 meV, x-ray FWHM of 20-40 arcsec, and AFM rms roughness of ~1.2 A over a 20 µm×20 µm area. Negative luminescence at 10 µm range is demonstrated for the first time. Device external quantum efficiency of >30%, responsivity of ~2A/W, and detectivity of 10 11 Jones at 77K in the 10 µm range are routinely obtained. Imaging has been demonstrated at room temperature for the first time with a 5 µm cutoff wavelength 256×256 focal plane array.
Private transfers to cope with a natural disaster: evidence from Bangladesh

Based on multiple rounds of household survey data collected in the year after the 1998 massive flooding in Bangladesh, we investigate the role of private transfers as a social coping response to natural disasters. We also explore the role of private transfers (gifts) as an informal insurance mechanism to smooth consumption in the face of an adverse covariate shock caused by the flooding. The level of transfers made is shown to be altruistically calibrated to the severity of flood exposure. As an indicator of the economic importance of such gifts, the amount of transfers received is shown to significantly contribute to reducing household consumption variability. We discuss the policy implications of our findings in a developing country context.
Spirituality, well‐being, and quality of life in people with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective. To evaluate spirituality, well-being, and quality of life (QOL) among people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. Questionnaires assessing positive and negative affect, depression, QOL and spirituality were completed. Disease activity was assessed by rheumatologic examination. Results. Women (n = 62) had a mean (± SD) age of 53.0 (± 13.0) years with 12 (± 13) swollen and tender joints (STJ). Men (n = 15) were 61.9 (± 13.0) years with 7 (± 11) STJ. Disease activity was associated (P < 0.05) positively with depression (r = 0.23), pain (r = 0.26), poorer self-ratings of health (r = 0.29) and physical role limitations (r = 0.26). Spirituality was associated directly with positive affect (r = 0.26) and higher health perceptions (r = 0.29). In multiple regression, spirituality was an independent predictor of happiness and positive health perceptions, even after controlling disease activity and physical functioning, for age and mood. Conclusion. Spirituality may facilitate emotional adjustment and resilience in people with RA by experiencing more positive feelings and attending to positive elements of their lives.
Implementation of a Programmable Field and Custom Coherence Illuminator for Extreme Ultraviolet Microlithography

Here we summarize recent upgrades to the existing Fourier-synthesis custom coherence Sematech Berkeley Micro Exposure Tool illuminator that provide increased illumination field uniformity and enable dual-domain control of illumination field size and spatial coherence.
Cellular and Molecular Basis of Age-Related Sarcopenia

Sarcopenia, the decline in muscle bulk and performance associated with normal aging, is an important component of frailty in the elderly. The gradual loss of both motor nerves and muscle fibers during senescence appears to be the major problem. Atrophy (especially in fast-twitch fibers) and impaired function of the surviving cells also contribute to sarcopenia. Although skeletal muscle has the capacity to regenerate itself, this process is not activated by the gradual age-related loss of muscle fibers. The endocrine, autocrine, and paracrine environment in old muscle is less supportive of protein synthesis, reinnervation of muscle fibers, and satellite cell activation, proliferation, and differentiation. Lifelong exposure of DNA to free radical damage results in accumulation of somatic mutations in nerves and muscle fibers. Reduced protein synthesis leads to atrophy, and slower fractional protein turnover contributes to longer retention of proteins that may have been damaged by free radicals. Many genes a...
Durability of tissue valves

During the last decade the number of patients undergoing tissue rather than mechanical valve replacement has increased to a point that more than three-quarters of implants are bioprostheses.1 Three main reasons underlie this change in practice. First, bioprosthetic valves are usually the implant of choice in elderly patients, who represent a steadily increasing proportion of patients undergoing valve replacement.1 Second, there is increasing recognition that the excellent durability associated with mechanical valves does not appear to confer a significant long-term survival benefit over bioprostheses in most patients, with consensus guidelines emphasizing the importance of informed patient consent when making a decision that is focused on a choice between the relatively distant risk of reoperation of bioprosthetic valves versus the linear lifetime hemorrhagic and thromboembolic sequelae of mechanical valves.2,3 Third, in the last 2 decades there have been few advances in mechanical valve technology whereas several incremental improvements appear to have enhanced durability of bioprostheses.4 This review focuses on recent outcome and durability data for secondand third-generation bioprostheses in current use, in an attempt to help clinicians more accurately predict the lifetime risk of reoperation faced by individual patients undergoing bioprosthetic valve implantation in contemporary practice.
Physical effects underlying the transition from primitive to modern cell membranes

To understand the emergence of Darwinian evolution, it is necessary to identify physical mechanisms that enabled primitive cells to compete with one another. Whereas all modern cell membranes are composed primarily of diacyl or dialkyl glycerol phospholipids, the first cell membranes are thought to have self-assembled from simple, single-chain lipids synthesized in the environment. We asked what selective advantage could have driven the transition from primitive to modern membranes, especially during early stages characterized by low levels of membrane phospholipid. Here we demonstrate that surprisingly low levels of phospholipids can drive protocell membrane growth during competition for single-chain lipids. Growth results from the decreasing fatty acid efflux from membranes with increasing phospholipid content. The ability to synthesize phospholipids from single-chain substrates would have therefore been highly advantageous for early cells competing for a limited supply of lipids. We show that the resulting increase in membrane phospholipid content would have led to a cascade of new selective pressures for the evolution of metabolic and transport machinery to overcome the reduced membrane permeability of diacyl lipid membranes. The evolution of phospholipid membranes could thus have been a deterministic outcome of intrinsic physical processes and a key driving force for early cellular evolution.
Relationship of second-order lacunarity, Hurst exponent, Brownian motion, and pattern organization

Abstract Second-order lacunarity metrics are related to the Hurst exponent H . Fractional Brownian motion with H =0.5 is used as a benchmark for quantifying patterns. Local versus global correlation, and implications for pattern organization, are discussed.
A new electromechanical-coupling phenomenon in the electro-optic ceramic PLZT7/65/35

A new electromechanical-coupling phenomenon has been detected in the electro-optic ceramic PLZT7/65/35 with the aid of a dual-beam laser-interferometer system. Specifically, when a low-amplitude d.c. voltage is applied across a virgin specimen of the material, the specimen will deflect in the direction opposite to the positive direction of the voltage with no measurable accompanying axial strain. The observation remains valid when the polarity of the voltage is switched. When a.c. voltages are applied, the vibrational patterns and the sense of the mechanical displacements depend on the frequency ranges of the applied voltages. In particular, they change when the specimen goes through those specific mechanical resonances with nodal ringsonly, and not those with nodal ringsand nodal diameters.
Monodeiodination of 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine and 3,3',5'-triiodothyronine to 3,3'-diiodothyronine in vitro.

To study conversion of 3,5,3′-triiodothyroinine (T3) and 3,3′,5′-triiodothyronine (rT3) to 3,3 - diiodothyronine (T2) in vitro, T3 or rT3 was incubated at pH 7.35 with homogenates of several rat tissues (liver, kidney, muscle, heart, lung, spleen, intestines, and brain) for 15 min at 37 C. The T2 generated during incubation was measured in an ethanol extract of the incubation mixture by a specific RIA of T2; T4, T3, and rT3 crossreacted in the T2 RIA only to an extent of 0.006, 0.2, and 0.04%, respectively. T2 was produced regularly when T3 or rT3 was incubated with liver or kidney homogenates; other tissues generated little or no T2 under similar conditions. Studies with liver homogenates revealed that production of T2 from both T3 and rT3 was influenced significantly by tissue and substrate concentrations, temperature, pH and duration of incubation. T3- as well as rT3-monodeiodinating activities were unaffected by large doses (≥3 μM) of sodium iodide, diiodotyrosine, and methimazole, but were inhibited ...
Voices of the Minority: Japanese Immigrant Mothers’ Perceptions of Preschools in the United States

Japanese immigrants have been living in the United States for nearly 150 years. Yet, despite the continued presence of this population, there is not a lot of research to suggest why Japanese families have not become more active participants in preschools across the United States (US). In an attempt to understand this phenomenon, this paper examined the voices of nine Japanese immigrant mothers living in the US and articulates their major concerns and ideas; it also provides suggestions to early childhood professionals regarding these insights. Fundamental to this study is the belief that both Japanese parents and preschool teachers need to make a sincere effort to learn and employ communicative strategies and to acquire fundamental knowledge for building effective relationships. Data were drawn from semi-structured interviews and conducted over 12 months of fieldwork. Implications for early childhood professionals are explicated and briefly discussed.
Toxin Production in Naturally Separated Liquid and Solid Components in Preparations of Heated Surface‐Ripened Cheese Inoculated with Clostridium botulinum

SUMMARY Occasional solid-liquid separation of soft surface-ripened cheese packed into test tubes was examined for differences between the components with regard to growth and toxin production of Clostridium botulinum. Botulinum toxin was found in three tubes showing liquid-solid separation; in each case the toxin was present in the solid but absent from the liquid cheese portion. Two mechanisms were found to be responsible for the peculiar distribution of toxin in liquid-solid separated cheese: 1) the liquid portion possessed antimicrobial activity preventing the growth of C. botulinum whereas the solid component was antimicrobially inactive; 2) the particles in the solid cheese were able to adsorb botulinum toxin, thus preventing diffusion of preformed toxin into the liquid layer. Separation into a solid and liquid layer could be achieved deliberately by increase of the moisture content of the cheese preparation, or by mixing of thoroughly ripened cheese with relatively fresh cheese. However, in these tubes the toxin—when present—was distributed in essentially equal quantities in the adjacent solid and liquid components.
Influence of Protein Standardization by Ultrafiltration on the Viscosity, Color, and Sensory Properties of Skim and 1% Milk

Permeate and retentate (concentration factor ca. 2x) from UF of skim milk were combined, and cream was added to produce skim milk (0.1% fat) and 1% milk with a range of true protein contents (1.0 to 4.8%) within each fat level. A panel that had been trained for descriptive sensory analysis evaluated the appearance, aroma, flavor, and textural attributes of milks. Relative viscosity and Hunter color values for whiteness (L value), greenness to redness (a value), and blueness to yellowness (b value) increased when either protein or fat was increased. The rate of change of L, a, and b values as protein content changed was greater for skim milk than for 1% milk and was greater as protein contents decreased. Sensory scores for several descriptors of appearance, texture, and flavor had a stronger positive correlation with objective measurements of whiteness than with objective measurements of viscosity. Thus, the judgment of panelists about milk texture and flavor in milks that differed in protein content was influenced more by appearance than by viscosity. As the protein content of skim and 1% milk was increased from 2.9 to 4.8% true protein, the sensory properties of the milks were made more like those of higher fat milk, particularly those of skim milk, mainly because of whiter appearance. Panelists perceived changes in the sensory characteristics of both skim and 1% fat milk when the true protein content was increased by 0.9%, the smallest increase that was studied in the experiment.
FASTDXL: A Generalized Screen to Trap Disulfide-Stabilized Complexes for Use in Structural Studies

Structural studies of macromolecular complexes have produced extraordinary insights into a wide variety of biological processes. Unfortunately, as structural biologists pursue larger and more challenging assemblies, weakly stable and/or nonspecific interactions can become significant roadblocks to structure determination. We have developed a rapid and effective pool-based screen, termed FASTDXL (focused array screening technique for disulfide X-linking), to produce and identify disulfide-stabilized protein-nucleic acid assemblies. A significant strength of FASTDXL is that it can take advantage of prior structural knowledge about molecular interactions, but does not necessarily rely upon it. A detailed application of the approach to the difficult problem of trapping a bacterial primase-ssDNA complex is described, validating the method as a route toward obtaining diffracting crystals suitable for structure determination.
FoxO3a Serves as a Biomarker of Oxidative Stress in Human Lens Epithelial Cells under Conditions of Hyperglycemia

Background Forkhead box ‘O’ transcription factors (FoxOs) are implicated in the pathogenesis of type2 diabetes and other metabolic diseases. Abnormal activity of FoxOs was reported in the glucose and insulin metabolism. Expression of FoxO proteins was reported in ocular tissues; however their function under hyperglycemic conditions was not examined. Methods Human lens epithelial cell line was used to study the function of FoxO proteins. Immunofluorescence, flow cytometry and Western blotting were employed to detect the FoxO proteins under the conditions of hyperglycemia. Results In this study we examined the role of FoxO3a in hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress in human lens epithelial cells. FoxO3a protein expression was elevated in a dose- and time-dependent fashion after high glucose treatment. Anti-oxidant defense mechanisms of the lens epithelial cells were diminished as evidenced from loss of mitochondrial membrane integrity and lowered MnSOD after 72 h treatment with high glucose. Taken together, FoxO3a acts as a sensitive indicator of oxidative stress and cell homeostasis in human lens epithelial cells during diabetic conditions. Conclusion FoxO3a is an early stress response protein to glucose toxicity in diabetic conditions.
Hybrid Mercuric Iodide (HgI2) - Gadolinium Orthosilicate (GSO) Detector for PET

Gadolinium orthosilicate (GSO), a high density (6.71 g/cm3), high effective Z (59) scintillation detector with faster decay time (60 ns) and higher light yield than bismuth germanate (BGO), was evaluated as a replacement for BGO for a hybrid detection system for high resolution Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The detection system consists of multiple GSO detectors attached to a single photomultiplier tube (PMT) and a HgI2 photodetector attached to each GSO crystal. The PMT signal provides coincidence timing and energy discrimination and the photodetector signal identifies the crystal of interaction. GSO light yield was 1.7 times that of BGO with energy resolution consistent with improved photon statistics (17.8 to 13.8% FWHM). Resolution of GSO coupled to a HgI2 photodetector was 13.6% FWHM. Coincidence timing was 2.3 ns FWHM. Timing between PMT and HgI2 was 136 ns FWHM.
Reengineering a Surgical Service Line: Focusing on Core Process Improvement

Integrating principles from a variety of theory has led to the development of a conceptual framework for reengineering in a clinical care delivery setting to improve the value of services provided to the customer. A conceptual framework involving the identification of three high level core processes to reengineer can provide clarity and focus for clinicians to begin directing reengineering efforts. Those core processes are: clinical management of the patient's medical needs, patient operational processes to support the clinical processes, and administrative decision-making processes to support the implementation of the clinical and operational processes. Improvement in any one of these areas has the potential to increase value, but the concurrent targeting of these core processes for reengineering has provided a synergy that has accelerated the achievement of the desired outcomes in the area of surgical services.
Efficiency losses caused by gradients in solute velocity in packed column supercritical fluid chromatography

Under a few sets of extreme conditions, retention gradients caused losses in apparent efficiency in packed column SFC. Under most practical chromatographic conditions no such losses occurred. The efficiency of five columns were measured both individually and connected in series. Under most conditions, no loss occurred. Under a few sets of conditions, the apparent efficiency of the five columns connected in series was as much as 66 % lower than the sum of the efficiencies of the individual columns measured under the same conditions. To observe a loss, the local retention near the column outlet must be unrealistically high and a steep non-linear change in retention is required. Under some sets of conditions, an approximate form of a recently proposed theory predicted losses similar to those observed.
A new fixation technique for the electron microscopic study of pulmonary surfactant.

Previously reported methods for the electron microscopic visualization of the surface layer (surfactant) of the alveolar lining cells have proved less than ideal and further development in this area is needed. Two percent agar in glutaraldehyde injected into the respiratory tree concurrently with vascular perfusion seems to offer some real advantage over techniques described by others. The combination of glutaraldehyde and agar acts both as an obstruction that holds surfactant against the alveolar surface and as a fixative due to the buffered glutaraldehyde component. This technique offers more consistent results and more extensive demonstration of the surfactant layer over the alveolar surface.
Carbon monoxide mediates vasodilator effects of glutamate in isolated pressurized cerebral arterioles of newborn pigs.

The excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate causes dilation of newborn pig cerebral arterioles in vivo that is blocked by inhibition of carbon monoxide (CO) production. CO, a potent dilator in cerebr...
Bayesian methods for the use of implicit polynomials and algebraic invariants in practical computer vision

Implicit higher degree polynomials in x, y, z (or in x, y for curves in images) have considerable global and semiglobal representation power for objects in 3D space. (Spheres, cylinders, cones and planes are special cases of such polynomials restricted to second degree). Hence, they have great potential for object recognition and position estimation and for object geometric-property measurement. In this paper we deal with four problems pertinent to using these polynomials in real world robust systems: (1) Characterization and fitting algorithms for the subset of these algebraic curves and surfaces that is bounded and exists largely in the vicinity of the data; (2) The aposteriori distribution for the possible polynomial coefficients given a data set. This measures the extent to which a data set constrains the coefficients of the best fitting polynomial; (3) Geometric Invariants for determining whether one implicit polynomial curve or surface is a rotation and translation of another, or whether one implicit polynomial curve is an affine transformation of another; (4) A Mahalanobis distance for comparing the coefficients or the invariants of two polynomials to determine whether the curves or surfaces that they represent are close over a specified region. In addition to handling objects with easily detectable features such as vertices, high curvature points, and straight lines, the polynomials and tools discussed in this paper are ideally suited to smooth curves and smooth curved surfaces which do no have detectable features.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Bremsstrahlung, Synchrotron Radiation, and Compton Scattering of High-Energy Electrons Traversing Dilute Gases

Expressions are derived for the total energy loss and photon-production spectrum by the processes of Compton scattering, bremsstrahlung, and synchrotron radiation from highly relativistic electrons. For Compton scattering, the general case, the Thomson limit, and the extreme Klein-Nishina limit are considered. Bremsstrahlung is treated for the cases where the electron is scattered by a pure Coulomb field and by an atom. For the latter case the effects of shielding are discussed extensively. The synchrotron spectrum is derived for an electron moving in a circular orbit perpendicular to the magnetic field and also for the general case where the electron's motion is helical. The total photon-production spectrum is derived for each process when there is a power-law distribution of electron energies. The problems of the effects of the three processes on the electron distribution itself are considered. It is shown that if the electron loses a small fraction of its energy in a single occurrence of a process, the electron distribution function satisfies a continuity equation which is a differential equation in energy space. For the more general case where the electron can lose energy in discrete amounts (as in bremsstrahlung and extreme Klein-Nishina Compton losses), the electron distribution function satisfies an integro-differential equation. Some approximate solutions to this equation are derived for certain special cases.
Assessing the Hypothesis of Measurement Invariance in the Context of Large-Scale International Surveys.

In the field of international educational surveys, equivalence of achievement scale scores across countries has received substantial attention in the academic literature; however, only a relatively recent emphasis on scale score equivalence in nonachievement education surveys has emerged. Given the current state of research in multiple-group models, findings regarding these recent measurement invariance investigations were supported with research that was limited in scope to few groups and relatively small sample sizes. To that end, this study uses data from one large-scale survey as a basis for examining the extent to which typical fit measures used in multiple-group confirmatory factor analysis are suitable for detecting measurement invariance in a large-scale survey context. Using measures validated in a smaller scale context and an empirically grounded simulation study, our findings indicate that many typical measures and associated criteria are either unsuitable in a large group and varied sample-siz...
Loss of alleles in vestibular schwannomas: use of microsatellite markers on chromosome 22.

Objective: Using highly informative microsatellite markers flanking the neurofibromatosis type 2 gene, we determined the frequency of chromosome 22 allele loss in vestibular schwannomas. Design: Peripheral lymphocyte/vestibular schwannoma DNA pairs were analyzed with five different microsatellite markers on chromosome 22. Patients: Samples were taken from 32 patients (17 females and 15 males). Twenty-seven tumors occurred sporadically, and five were from patients with neurofibromatosis type 2. Results: Using the microsatellite markers D22S351, CRYB2, D22S268, D22S304, and interleukin type 2Rβ, we found loss of heterozygosity for at least two markers in 12 tumors. Ten tumors showed loss of heterozygosity for markers flanking the neurofibromatosis type 2 gene. Although microsatellite markers require little DNA for analysis and are highly informative, allele patterns may be difficult to interpret in some cases. Conclusions: Loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 22 alleles was a frequent event in vestibular schwannomas. In 10 tumors, heterozygosity was lost for centromeric and telomeric markers indicating likely monosomy 22. However, 63% of tumors did not reveal a detectable chromosomal loss. Unless a second vestibular schwannoma locus exists, these tumors likely harbor point mutations in the neurofibromatosis type 2 gene or deletions below the level of resolution of the markers used in this study. (Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1993;119:1285-1288)
Examining the self-regulation of impulsive and reflective response styles on academic tasks

Abstract This study focused on the extent to which adults adopt a consistent response style across different cognitive tasks and how they self-regulate those styles under varied instructional manipulations. The cognitive style impulsivity/reflectivity was observed on verbal, mathematical, and spatial tasks under normal, fast, and accurate response conditions. Impulsive and reflective response styles were measured using speed/accuracy tradeoff scores. Results revealed moderate positive correlations for response styles across tasks. Subjects not adopting an extreme response style (impulsive or reflective) showed the most flexibility in self-regulating their response style when asked to respond more quickly or accurately. Subjects were also asked to complete the Eysenck Personality Inventory and the NEO PI-R. No relationship was found between subjects’ self-report impulsivity as measured by the EPI and response style on the cognitive tasks. Reflectivity, both on the cognitive tasks and self-report, was found to be significantly related to Agreeableness. Implications for the generality of cognitive styles within the framework of the self-regulation research is discussed.
Peripheral oxytocin is associated with reduced symptom severity in schizophrenia

Background Emerging evidence from clinical trials suggests that oral estrogen and intranasal oxytocin might reduce symptom severity in schizophrenia. Whether increases in endogenous hormones are similarly associated with improved symptoms is unknown. We investigated the effects of menstrual cycle phase and related fluctuations in peripheral hormone levels on clinical symptoms in women with chronic schizophrenia.
Choriocarcinoma in the Near East. Consanguinity as a possible etiologic factor

Epidemiologic and histologic data pertaining to 30 consecutive cases of choriocarcinoma and chorioadenoma destruens in the Near East lend support to the hypothesis that choriocarcinoma is a form of successful homotransplant and the higher incidence of trophoblastic growths in certain parts of the world seems to be favored by endogamous marital customs and “inbreeding.” That consanguinity plays an important role in the etiology of choriocarcinoma and related growths needs to be proven by extensive blood group surveys and other immunological studies in communities where hydatidiform moles and choriocarcinoma are relatively prevalent.
Mouse NK1+ T cells.

Abstract Mouse NK1+ T cells constitute a special subset of αβ TCR+ T cells that express natural killer surface receptors and are thought to play an immunoregulatory role because of their unique ability to secrete IL-4 within minutes of primary activation. The recent discovery that they recognize non-polymorphic MHC class I like ligands encoded by CD1 family genes sheds a new light on unusual aspects of their development as well as on some of the possible ways in which they might influence the regulation of the T-helper cell (types 1 and 2) classes of immune responses.
A Scaffold Switch to Insulate

A fundamental aspect of normal physiology is that cellular signal transduction pathways activated by specific stimuli should lead to appropriate responses. But signaling proteins may function in more than one pathway. How then does specificity arise? How is improper crosstalk avoided? Molecules that can tether signaling proteins in a spatially restricted manner represent one possible mechanism. Such scaffolds may act as insulators that maintain the fidelity of signaling by physically sequestering proteins into distinct pools. On page 1218 of this issue, Zalatan et al. ( 1 ) demonstrate that the insulating function of the prototypical scaffold protein Ste5 is accomplished by a change in its conformation, indicating that the scaffold actively gates the flow of information and is not merely a passive, static structure.
Corrosion performance of alumina scales in coal gasification environments

Corrosion of metallic structural materials in complex gas environments of coal gasification is a potential problem. The corrosion process is dictated by concentrations of two key constituents: sulfur as H{sub 2}S and Cl as HCl. This paper examines the corrosion performance of alumina scales that are thermally grown on Fe-base alloys during exposure to O/S mixed-gas environments. The results are compared with the performance of chromia-forming alloys in similar environments. The paper also discusses the available information on corrosion performance of alloys whose surfaces were enriched with Al by the pack-diffusion process, by the electrospark deposition process, or by weld overlay techniques.
Hierarchical Partitioning Techniques for Structured Adaptive Mesh Refinement Applications

This paper presents the design and preliminary evaluation of hierarchical partitioning and load-balancing techniques for distributed structured adaptive mesh refinement (SAMR) applications. The overall goal of these techniques is to enable the load distribution to reflect the state of the adaptive grid hierarchy and exploit it to reduce synchronization requirements, improve load-balance, and enable concurrent communications and incremental redistribution. The hierarchical partitioning algorithm (HPA) partitions the computational domain into subdomains and assigns them to hierarchical processor groups. Two variants of HPA are presented in this paper. The static hierarchical partitioning algorithm (SHPA) assigns portions of overall load to processor groups. In SHPA, the group size and the number of processors in each group is setup during initialization and remains unchanged during application execution. It is experimentally shown that SHPA reduces communication costs as compared to the Non-HPA scheme, and reduces overall application execution time by up to 59%. The adaptive hierarchical partitioning algorithm (AHPA) dynamically partitions the processor pool into hierarchical groups that match the structure of the adaptive grid hierarchy. Initial evaluations of AHPA show that it can reduce communication costs by up to 70%.
Domestic pigs have low susceptibility to H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses.

Genetic reassortment of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAI) with currently circulating human influenza A strains is one possibility that could lead to efficient human-to-human transmissibility. Domestic pigs which are susceptible to infection with both human and avian influenza A viruses are one of the natural hosts where such reassortment events could occur. Virological, histological and serological features of H5N1 virus infection in pigs were characterized in this study. Two- to three-week-old domestic piglets were intranasally inoculated with 10 6 EID50 of A/Vietnam/1203/04 (VN/04), A/chicken/ Indonesia/7/03 (Ck/Indo/03), A/Whooper swan/Mongolia/244/05 (WS/Mong/05), and A/Muscovy duck/Vietnam/ 209/05 (MDk/ VN/05) viruses. Swine H3N2 and H1N1 viruses were studied as a positive control for swine influenza virus infection. The pathogenicity of the H5N1 HPAI viruses was also characterized in mouse and ferret animal models. Intranasalinoculation of pigs with H5N1 viruses or consumption of infected chicken meat did not result in severe disease. Mild weight loss was seen in pigs inoculated with WS/Mong/05, Ck/Indo/03 H5N1 and H1N1 swine influenza viruses. WS/Mong/05, Ck/Indo/03 and VN/04 viruses were detected in nasal swabs of inoculated pigs mainly on days 1 and 3. Titers of H5N1 viruses in nasal swabs were remarkably lower compared with those of swine influenza viruses. Replication of all four H5N1 viruses in pigs was restricted to the respiratory tract, mainly to the lungs. Titers of H5N1 viruses in the lungs were lower than those of swine viruses. WS/Mong/05 virus was isolated from trachea and tonsils, and MDk/VN/05 virus was isolated from nasal turbinate of infected pigs. Histological examination revealed mild to moderate bronchiolitis and multifocal alveolitis in the lungs of pigs infected with H5N1 viruses, while infection with swine influenza viruses resulted in severe tracheobronchitis and bronchointerstitial pneumonia. Pigs had low susceptibility to infection with H5N1 HPAI viruses. Inoculation of pigs with H5N1 viruses resulted in asymptomatic to mild symptomatic infection restricted tothe respiratorytract and tonsilsincontrast tomouse and ferrets animalmodels, where some of the viruses studied were highly pathogenic and replicated systemically.
Deamidation of glutaminyl residues: Dependence on pH, temperature, and ionic strength

Abstract We have shown the dependence of the deamidation half-times of the peptides, GlyLeuGlnAlaGly and GlyArgGlnAlaGly upon pH, temperature, and ionic strength. Increase in temperature or ionic strength, variation of pH to pH′s higher or lower than pH 6, and the use of phosphate buffer rather than Tris buffer at high pH all decrease the half-time of dcamidation. Temperature increase of 20°C or pH change of 2 pH units decreases the half-time about fivefold, while increase of one ionic strength unit decreases the half-time about twofold. In pH 7.4, I = 0.2, 37.0°C phosphate buffer, the deamidation half-times are 663 ± 74 and 389 ± 56 days respectively for the two peptides, GlyLeuGlnAlaGly and GlyArgGlnAlaGly. These experiments should serve as a warning to peptide and protein experimenters that even the more stable glutaminyl residues are unstable with respect to deamidation in certain solvent conditions. These experiments also provide, along with previously reported experiments on asparaginyl peptides (7), some quantitative data to help with the extrapolation of in vitro deamidation experiments to in vivo deamidation conditions.
Empowerment and Internal Activism During Organizational Change: A Relocation Story in China

Based on 18 interviews with employees of a multinational food giant operating in Mainland China, this study examined how employees enacted an activist role during a relocation change by adopting various empowerment strategies such as creating opposing identities, framing the target blame, building alliances, making threats, seeking bilateral compromises, and others. These activists successfully pressured top management to change from its nonresponse to negotiation with the union. The significance of this study lies in examining the first self-organized union and internal activism case in a multinational company operating in Mainland China.
The iterated jackknife estimate of variance

Abstract Using the iterated jackknife, we obtain an expansion for the variance of a symmetric statistic of i.i.d. samples. This expansion gives new classes of inequalities.
Mechanical dyssynchrony in advanced decompensated heart failure: Relation to hemodynamic responses to intensive medical therapy

Background In patients with heart failure, the degree of intraventricular mechanical dyssynchrony (intra-VMD) at baseline may predict reversal of cardiac remodeling with cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and clinical significance of intra-VMD in patients admitted for advanced decompensated heart failure (ADHF). Methods We prospectively enrolled 50 patients with ADHF without previous CRT implantation who had been admitted to a specialized heart failure intensive care unit because of hemodynamic derangements. All patients underwent comprehensive echocardiographic evaluation within 12 hours of admission and after 48 hours from baseline evaluation after intensive medical therapy. Intra-VMD was assessed by the opposing wall time-to-peak myocardial velocity intervals in a four-segment model using color-tissue Doppler imaging. Results In our study cohort (mean age 57 ± 11 years, left ventricular ejection fraction 26 ± 10%, QRS width 127 ± 31 ms, cardiac index 2.0 ± 0.6 L/min/m 2 ), significant intra-VMD (≥65 ms) was present in 44% of subjects at baseline, and 56% of patients presented with QRS >120 ms. There was no correlation between QRS width and extent of intra-VMD. Intensive medical therapy was associated with a significant reduction in intra-VMD (85 ± 23 ms vs. 39 ± 19 ms; P Conclusion A substantial subset of patients admitted with ADHF and hemodynamic derangements demonstrate evidence of intra-VMD, which is reduced at follow-up and independent of underlying QRS width. Nevertheless, the presence of significant intra-VMD is associated with a more reversible hemodynamic profile.
Kinematics of the Capitolunate Joint in the Sagittal Plane A new method based on reference points and triangulation

A new method of assessing capitolunate alignment is presented. Three anatomical carpal reference points were evaluated on lateral radiographs using triangulation. Connecting these three points forms a triangle with dorsal, palmar and somewhat vertical sides. One hundred normal lateral wrist radiographs were measured. The overall dorsal limb (DL) to palmar limb (PL) ratio was found to be 0.74 (SD 0.07) over a range of 40° extension to 42° flexion. As the DL to PL ratio approached 1.0, a dorsal intercalated segment instability (DISI) deformity developed. Conversely, as the DL to PL ratio approached 0.5, a palmar intercalated segment instability (PISI) occurred. This method appears useful for evaluating static lateral radiographs for intercalary carpal alignment and possibly instability.
Ukrainian foreign policy from independence to inertia

Abstract In the early years of independence, Ukraine's crucial accomplishment was the establishment a degree of sovereignty and independence that few thought possible. Since that time, Ukrainian foreign policy has largely stagnated. Despite attempts of various internal leaders to adopt decisive policies, and despite significant external pressure, Ukraine has done very little. This paper reviews the first 20 years of Ukrainian foreign policy and accounts for the inertia that has developed. Ukraine's foreign policy passivity results from three uneasy balances: an external balance between the pulls of Russia and the West; an internal balance between Ukraine's regions, and an internal balance between forces of democracy and authoritarianism. These balances mean that while few are happy with Ukraine's policy, no one has been able to decisively change it. While Ukraine's domestic regional division is unlikely to change, change in the balance between domestic political forces or that between international forces could reduce the inertia in Ukrainian foreign politics, most likely leading to a drift toward Russia.
(+)-Myristinins A and D from Knema elegans, which Inhibit DNA Polymerase β and Cleave DNA

A survey of crude plant extracts for DNA polymerase β inhibitors resulted in the identification of a methyl ethyl ketone extract prepared from Knema elegans that strongly inhibited the enzyme. Subsequent bioassay-guided fractionation of the extract, using an assay to monitor the activity of DNA polymerase β, led to the isolation of two potent inhibitors, (+)-myristinins A (1) and D (2), which are known flavans having unusual structures. (+)-Myristinins A and D exhibited IC50 values of 12 and 4.3 μM, respectively, as inhibitors of DNA polymerase β in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA), and 2.7 and 1.2 μM in the absence of BSA. As such, they are the most potent DNA polymerase β inhibitors reported to date. Compounds 1 and 2 potentiated the cytotoxicity of bleomycin toward cultured P388D1 cells, reducing the number of viable cells by at least 30% when employed at 9 μM concentration for 6 h in the presence of an otherwise nontoxic concentration of bleomycin (75 nM). Principles 1 and 2 also induced str...
Chi-squared goodness-of-fit tests for the proportional hazards regression model

SUMMARY A class of omnibus chi-squared goodness-of-fit tests is presented for the model, relating failure time to covariate values, proposed by Cox (1972). These tests are based on the expected and observed frequency that a data point, representing a failure with associated covariates, falls into one of L mutually exclusive categories. Different partitions of the space of covariate values and failure time will yield different tests. Certain partitions are suggested for the goodness-of-fit problems commonly encountered in clinical trials.
Efficient Immobilization and Patterning of Live Bacterial Cells

A monolayer of live bacterial cells has been patterned onto substrates through the interaction between CFA/I fimbriae and the corresponding antibody. Patterns of live bacteria have been prepared with cellular resolution on silicon and gold substrates for Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium as a model with high specificity and efficiency. The immobilized cells are capable of dividing in growth medium to form a self-sustaining bacterial monolayer on the patterned areas. Interestingly, the immobilized cells can alter their orientation on the substrate, from lying-down to standing-up, as a response to the cell density increase during incubation. This method was successfully used to sort a targeted bacterial species from a mixed culture within 2 h.
Managing the Uncertainty of Ethical Codes

Dr. Lois Eveleth is professor of philosophy and chairperson of the department of philosophy at Salve Regina University in Newport, Rhode Island. Her teaching, writing and research interests lie in areas of ethics and the history of ideas. The principles or guidelines found in a code of ethics adopted by a profession or by an organization of professional persons, such as that of the IEEE, run a risk of seeming unworkable, usually because of their abstract formulation. Ethical principles must be abstract enough to enjoy wide scope yet specific enough to be applicable. Their workability is important and yet may be jeopardized by such language and by the necessity to apply such abstractions to real issues. What is offered here is a straightforward strategy for applying such ethical principles in a process of deliberation.
Fuzzy logic and controller design-a review

Fuzzy controllers have been proposed for physical systems which do not lend themselves to easy and accurate mathematical modeling and crisp variables, and therefore, cannot be tackled by traditional strictly analytic control design techniques. Instead, control variables are represented by fuzzy variables which let the level of uncertainty of the variables be modeled in a systematic way. In addition the expert knowledge of a typical operator of such a process is embodied in a set of linguistic or rule-based engines which constitutes the core of a fuzzy controller. The magical advantages of fuzzy controllers over the classical ones have been demonstrated by recent results in diverse application domains as well as the surge of commercial products to worldwide consumer market. Thus, the control engineering research, education, and practice have to be revised accordingly. Fortunately, this area finally found its long-expected place in academia and industry, after its first introduction about thirty years ago. Recently, there have emerged many fuzzy logic software and hardware products. The objective in this paper is to give a comparative review of these resources and techniques, and introduce the reader to the state of knowledge in fuzzy controller design research and education. Subjects such as fuzzy set theory, fuzzy logic, fuzzy ruled based expert systems, intelligent control, and fuzzy control will be studied. A number of case studies and applications of fuzzy controls, and some fuzzy logic hardware and software tools are pointed out.