cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adriamycin effects of transplasma membrane redox functions in porcine neutrophils

Abstract Transplasma membrane electron transport, as assayed by external ferricyanide reduction, has been related to control of growth and hormone response of cells. Elicitor-stimulated transmembrane NADPH oxidase is important for bacteriocidal superoxide production by neutrophils. Since adriamycin is myelosuppressive and can stimulate superoxide production, its effects on the two redox systems of porcine neutrophil plasma membranes were compared. Adriamycin inhibits transplasma membrane ferricyanide and stimulates superoxide production activated by phorbal myristate acetate (PMA). Ferricyanide reduction in PMA-treated cells becomes resistant to inhibition by adriamycin. These results provide evidence for an independent effect of adriamycin on transmembrane ferricyanide reduction and on superoxide generation.
Critique and comment: Bases for psychiatric prognostic favorability judgments: Psycho physical power functions?

A previously developed scale based on magnitude estimations made by 29 psychiatrists regarding judged prognostic favorability for 15 functional psychosis disorder classifications had been found to be surprisingly reliable and had been classified, on the basis of two criteria, as a prothetic continuum. The present investigation's purpose was to attempt to relate this scale in the psychophysical manner to validity indices derived from research literature. Power functions were found to describe, approximately, the relationships of this scale to three such validity measures: percentage improvement, length of stay in mental hospitals, and age upon admission to mental hospitals. The possibility that clinical and sensory judgment may be based upon similar psychological mechanisms was discussed.
Differential effects of chronic reserpine exposure on Ca2+ sequestering mechanisms in rat submandibular gland vesicles.

Abstract To determine the effects of exposure to reserpine on subcellular Ca2+ transporting systems, active Ca2+ uptake was measured with and without ruthenium red in submandibular gland vesicles obtained from rats after chronic treatment with reserpine. The properties of ruthenium red-sensitive Ca2+ uptake were similar to those measured in submandibular gland vesicles from untreated rats: it was abolished by the dye, was relatively low at 1 μM Ca2+ but increased markedly at millimolar Ca2+ levels and was positively and significantly correlated with the mitochondrial membrane marker, cytochrome-C oxidase activity, in membrane subfractions obtained by differential centrifugation (r = 0.67, P = 0.0005, n = 29). On the other hand, ruthenium red-insensitive Ca2+ uptake, though stimulated at submicromolar Ca2+ concentrations, was reduced by a mean of 54% compared to preparations from untreated animals and particulate RNA content was 18% of that found in control preparations. Moreover, the distributions of ruthenium red-insensitive Ca2+ uptake and particulate RNA (which are closely correlated in vesicles from untreated rats) were not significantly related when measured in vesicles of submandibular glands from reserpine treated rats. Other membrane markers and overall membrane protein content were not significantly altered after chronic reserpine exposure. We conclude that reserpine treatment has little effect on mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake capacity but abolishes or drastically reduces the high affinity Ca2+-sequestering activity which, in submandibular gland vesicles from untreated rats, is apparently associated with the endoplasmic reticulum.
Fetal Ventricular Diastolic Filling Characteristics in a Primate Model: The Role of Fetal Heart Rate and Pulmonary Vascular Impedance

Objectives: We hypothesized that fetal ventricular diastolic filling characteristics are related to fetal heart rate (FHR) and pulmonary vascular impedance. Methods: Rhesus monkeys underwent Doppler ultrasonography at near-term gestation. Tricuspid (TV) and mitral valve (MV) blood velocity waveforms were used to calculate maximum velocity (V-max) and velocity time integral (VTI) E/A ratios (early filling/ventricular filling during atrial contraction) at baseline and during maternal hyperoxygenation. Right pulmonary artery (RPA) pulsatility indices (PIs) and FHR were measured. Results: Hyperoxgenation significantly decreased FHR and RPA PI. The TV V-max and the MV VTI E/A ratios increased significantly and correlated with a decrease in FHR but not with a decrease in RPA PI. The TV and MV A-wave V-max decreased during hyperoxygenation and their decrease correlated significantly with a drop in FHR. Conclusions: Fetal ventricular diastolic filling characteristics are related to FHR but not to pulmonary vascular impedance.
Functional Design of Cranial Muscles Comparative and Physiological Studies in Pigs

Synopsis. The adaptive significance and evolutionary history of the internal architecture of the masseter muscle in suid artiodactyls are investigated. Hypotheses are developed on the basis of anatomical and physiological studies in the pig, Sus scrofa, and used to make predictions about the expected anatomy in the giant forest hog, Hylochoerus meinertzhageni and the warthog, Phacochoerus aethiopicus. The hypotheses are then tested by anatomical examination of these animals. In the pig, pinnation of the masseter serves to increase masticatory force and to partition the muscle into three semi-independent parts: vertical anterior fibers, which are used especially to close from wide gape; a central pinnate por? tion, which is used for all activities; and horizontal fibers covering the jaw joint, which are used especially for anterior translation of the condyle. In the giant forest hog and warthog the structure of the masseter is more uniform and the physiological cross section is larger than in the pig. These changes are interpreted as correlates of decreased emphasis on gape and increased emphasis on masticatory force in the African suids. In order to clarify the evolutionary sequence, masseteric architecture in the suids is compared with that of tayassuids and the hippopotamus.
Structured Literature Review of Responses of Cattle to Viral and Bacterial Pathogens Causing Bovine Respiratory Disease Complex

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is an economically important disease of cattle and continues to be an intensely studied topic. However, literature summarizing the time between pathogen exposure and clinical signs, shedding, and seroconversion is minimal. A structured literature review of the published literature was performed to determine cattle responses (time from pathogen exposure to clinical signs, shedding, and seroconversion) in challenge models using common BRD viral and bacterial pathogens. After review a descriptive analysis of published studies using common BRD pathogen challenge studies was performed. Inclusion criteria were single pathogen challenge studies with no treatment or vaccination evaluating outcomes of interest: clinical signs, shedding, and seroconversion. Pathogens of interest included: bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1), parainfluenza-3 virus, bovine respiratory syncytial virus, Mannheimia haemolytica, Mycoplasma bovis, Pastuerella multocida, and Histophilus somni. Thirty-five studies and 64 trials were included for analysis. The median days to the resolution of clinical signs after BVDV challenge was 15 and shedding was not detected on day 12 postchallenge. Resolution of BHV-1 shedding resolved on day 12 and clinical signs on day 12 postchallenge. Bovine respiratory syncytial virus ceased shedding on day 9 and median time to resolution of clinical signs was on day 12 postchallenge. M. haemolytica resolved clinical signs 8 days postchallenge. This literature review and descriptive analysis can serve as a resource to assist in designing challenge model studies and potentially aid in estimation of duration of clinical disease and shedding after natural pathogen exposure.
The influence of gonadotropins in vivo upon the biosynthesis of androgens by homogenate of rat testis

Treatments of rabbits with gonadotropins in vivo failed to produce demonstrable stimulation of the conversion of [4-14C]cholesterol to [14C]testosterone by homogenate of testis. Short-term treatment (1–12 h) of hypophysectomized rats with human chorionic gonadotropin or interstitial cell-stimulating hormone also failed to increase the conversion of cholesterol to androgens by homogenate of testis. However, 24 h after a single injection of human chorionic gonadotropin or interstitial cell-stimulating hormone an increase in the conversion of cholesterol to androgens by homogenate of testis from hypophysectomized rats was observed.
We were Chosen as a Family: Parents’ Evolving Use of Religion when Their Child has Cystic Fibrosis

Parental coping with new CF diagnoses often includes religion; however, little is known about how the use of religion changes over time. Longitudinal grounded theory method, in which parents were interviewed twice the 2 years after their child's diagnosis, was used. Parents constructed the meaning that parenting a child with CF is their vocation, in accordance with "God's plan." A shift from isolation to an outward focus and reentry into the community was clear. The use of faith evolved over time and continues to be a source of support and hope for parents. Clinical implications of parental religion are discussed.
Ultrafast optical nonlinearities in II–VI compounds

We review our experimental and theoretical results on the femtosecond laser excited CdS and CdSe bulk and quantum dots. Optical Stark effect in bulk CdS is reported where the electron-hole continuum states in addition to the bound-exciton states are blue shifted. The nonlinear optical properties of CdSe microcrystallites embedded in glass matrices are investigated using femtosecond and nanosecond laser pulses. Spectral hole-buring is observed which is accompanied by an induced absorption feature on the high-energy side. A 25±10 fs dephasing time is obtained from these measurements. It is concluded that Coulomb effects are important in quantum dots. They give rise to a ground state two-pair resonance on the low energy side of the one-pair state and higher energy two-pair resonances which are spectrally located between the one-pair states. Single-beam saturation experiments show that the intensities required for bleaching are larger for smaller crystallites.
Toxicogenetics: in search of host susceptibility to environmental toxicants

Heavy metals, various pesticide and herbicides are implicated as risk factors for human health. Paraquat, maneb, and rotenone, carbamate, and organophosphorous insecticides are examples of toxicants for which acute and chronic exposure are associated with multiple neurological disorders including Parkinson’s disease. Nevertheless, the role of pesticide exposure in neurodegenerative diseases is not clear-cut, as there are inconsistencies in both the epidemiological and preclinical research. The aim of this short review is to show that at least, some of the inconsistencies are related to individual differences in susceptibility to the effects of neurotoxicants, individual differences that can be traced to the genetic constitution of the individuals and animals studies, i.e., host-based susceptibility.
Computer interface for electrophysiological applications: simple modifications to a commercial (Datel) single-board data-aquisition system.

Commercial single-board data-aquisition systems such as the Datel ST series, often lack a programmable sampling clock and multichannel sample and holds. These features are often vital to biophysical experiments where it is necessary to sample at precise intervals and/or change the sampling rate during an experiment. Additionally, when more than one signal is being sampled during the experiment, the delay between sampling of successive inputs may cause unacceptable phase errors. These phase errors, which are particularly serious for impedance measurements, may be eliminated by sampling both current and voltage simultaneously using two sample-and-hold devices. The way in which the programmable timer and multiple sample-and-holds may be implemented on a commercial interface board is demonstrated. Although the circuits described are specifically intended for the Datel ST-Nova interface, they may be readily adapted to function with the Datel ST series boards for other computers (such as the PDR-11 and LSI-11) as well as for many other commercially available systems.
PERCEPTIONS OF CRIME AND SAFETY IN THREE MIDWESTERN PARKS

While recent research provides a general model of the causes and consequences of fear of crime, little is known about how the relationships among these model components may vary from one setting to another. Garofalo's fear of crime model is used to explore the extent and impact of fear of crime in recreational settings. Two hundred sixty-eight visitors to three Midwestern district level parks were interviewed on-site using a structured questionnaire. Results generally support the model and demonstrate a link between perception and behavior related to fear of crime. Respondents who felt unsafe in the park alone also tended to report avoidance behavior. Females were more likely than males to report both fear and avoidance. Direct experience with park crime and incivility, perceptions of other park visitors, and familiarity with the park were not strongly associated with either feelings of safety or reported avoidance.
Combined computational and experimental investigation of the refractory properties of La2Zr2O7

We demonstrate how key material properties that provide guidance in the design of refractory materials can be accurately determined via ab initio thermodynamic calculations in conjunction with experimental techniques based on synchrotron X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis under laser-heated aerodynamic levitation. The properties considered include melting point, heat of fusion, heat capacity, thermal expansion coefficients, thermal stability and sublattice disordering, as illustrated in a motivating example of lanthanum zirconate (La_2Zr_2O_7). This work also sheds light on the unresolved controversy of possible phase transition before melting and identifies specific mechanisms responsible for the material’s high melting point. This study benefits from the use of two very recent techniques: (i) a new small-cell coexistence method that enables the accurate and efficient determination of the melting points from ab initio calculations alone; (ii) the experimental determination of solid structure at high temperatures by high-temperature synchrotron X-ray diffraction of laser-heated aerodynamically levitated samples.
Multinational Corporations and Governance Effectiveness: Toward a More Integrative Board.

Multinational corporations (MNCs) dominate the global business arena, but new expectations for MNC boards call to question how they might effectively manage global stakeholder relationships in this new era of accountability. Uniting political behavior theory, which describes a board’s international political orientation, and global operating governance systems outlining a set of board behaviors, we develop a typology of four types of boards. We then provide recommendations for the development of an integrative governance structure, taking into account the mechanisms, structure, endorsements, and codes of conduct that MNCs can use to promote ethical behavior across MNC horizons.
Effectiveness of college students in an incentive community program for chronic hospitalized patients.

The study describes and assesses an incentive community program implemented by college students for all of the chronic hospitalized patients living in a locked ward. Behavioral ratings of ward behavior and discharge rates were significantly higher for the experimental than for matched control patients. Bedwetting was eliminated in 70 % of the bedwetting patients. Students rated the incentive community program more effective in changing the behavior of patients than students' ratings of a caseaide program. No differences in patient behaviors were found between the incentive community and caseaide program.
The Application of Centralized Text Editing and Electronic Mail Systems in Libraries: The CMU Experience

In 1981, the Carnegie‐Mellon University Libraries began to expand their usage of CMU's central computing facilities. This paper describes the utilization of three software packages resident on the University's central computers: text editing, text formatting, and electronic mail. The advantages of utilizing central computing resources, the introduction and training in computing systems within the Libraries, and specific computing applications are described. The advantages of electronic mail for organizational communication are discussed, as well as the problems.
East–West European Integration: A General‐Equilibrium Analysis of Alternative Agricultural Policies

This paper studies the budgetary and trade implications of European Union (EU) membership of Eastern European countries under various agricultural policy scenarios. The author uses a six-region, 13-sector general-equilibrium model with many explicitly modeled agricultural and trade policies. It is found that EU membership of Eastern European countries, including their adoption of the EU’s Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), leads to a surge in Eastern Europe’s agricultural exports. Moreover, the EU’s agricultural expenditure increases by 26%. A reform of the CAP following the Agenda 2000 proposal does not reduce the cost of enlargement if Eastern European farmers receive compensation payments.
α-Specker spaces

Abstract This paper is motivated by work on Specker spaces and a recent article of the authors on the ring of α-quotients. Here α denotes an uncountable regular cardinal or else ∞, indicating no cardinal constraint whatsoever. All spaces are compact Hausdorff, and for the most part zero-dimensional. Three strains of the “α-Specker” condition are studied: strong, weak, and one in between which is not qualified. One of the main results characterizes these conditions, for each α and each space X, in terms of the containment of C(X) in the ring of α-quotients of S(KαX), where the latter denotes the algebra of continuous functions with finite range, defined on an appropriate cover KαX of X. “Weakly c + -Specker” is equivalent to “Specker”. The paper examines the ω1-Specker conditions, proving that “weakly ω1-Specker” and “ω1-Specker” are equivalent. In fact, it is shown that X is weakly ω1-Specker if and only if for each f∈C(X) there is a Baire set B with meagre complement such that f(B) is countable.
Transformation-related proteins associated with kirsten sarcoma virus

Abstract The protein composition of a defective woolly monkey leukemia virus pseudotype of Kirsten sarcoma virus (KiSV) has been characterized. These noninfectious particles contain KiSV RNA, reverse transcriptase, and the major core protein, p28, of the helper woolly monkey leukemia virus. Instead of the usual complement of helper virus proteins, these defective particles include several polypeptides previously not identified in RNA tumor viruses. Two proteins, gp110 and gp55, of 110,000 and 55,000 daltons, were glycoproteins. The third protein, p20, of 20,000 daltons, was a phosphoprotein, as was gp110. We show by immunoprecipitation that the two glycoproteins were common to a variety of different rodent viruses. In contrast, the 20,000-dalton protein appeared to be specific to the KiSV. All three proteins were associated with cell membranes. Analysis of the processing and release of these proteins from rat cells revealed that gp55 had a markedly short half-life of 20 min whereas gp110 and p20 had long half-lives similar to those of most cell membrane proteins. The presence of gp110 and p20 in particles was dependent upon transformation and independent of helper virus infection. Both gp110 and p20, but not gp55, showed a variety of alterations following transformation of cells by Kirsten sarcoma virus. The amount of gp110 in transformed cells increased both in cell plasma membranes and in the medium. In addition, gp110 became phosphorylated and accessible to lactoperoxidase radioiodination. The alterations of gp110 with respect to the cell membrane were independent of the transforming agent since we observed the same results in BALB/3T3 cells transformed by an RNA virus (Kirsten), a DNA virus (SV40), and a chemical carcinogen (methylcholanthrene). Thus, gp110 is a transformation-related cell surface marker. P20 showed similar changes upon transformation: The amount of p20 increased dramatically in membranes; in addition, p20 appeared as a double band, became phosphorylated, and was shed into the medium. However, p20 was not accessible to lactoperoxidase radiodination. The immunological specificity and many of the biochemical cheracteristics of this protein were similar to the properties ascribed to the Kirsten sarcoma virus src gene product.
Self-diffusion in chromium

Self-diffusion in chromium single crystals has been measured over the temperature range 1073 to 1466 K. These data, when combined with earlier measurements from this laboratory over the range 1370--2090 K, yield a plot of ln D vs 1/T, which is straight over ten orders of magnitude in the diffusion coefficient D. The high values of the pre-exponential factor (1280 +- 230 cm/sup 2/ s/sup -1/) and activation enthalpy (4.58 +- 0.03 eV) are not readily interpreted in terms of a specific diffusion mechanism. They appear to be too high to be interpreted in terms of a monovacancy mechanism. The possible contribution of divacancies and self-interstitials are discussed.
Identification of the Xenopus laevis cDNA for EXT1: A Phylogenetic Perspective

The EXT family of genes is involved in the developmentally important biosynthesis of heparan sulfate molecules. Members of the EXT family have a demonstrated role in gastrulation, wing formation in flies, and proper bone development in vertebrates. EXT family members have been isolated from several phylogenetically diverse species. We report here, the isolation of the first Xenopus laevis EXT1 family member and discuss the evolutionary origins of this gene family.
Optimal Management of Metastatic Melanoma: Current Strategies and Future Directions

Melanoma is increasing in incidence and remains a major public health threat. Although the disease may be curable when identified early, advanced melanoma is characterized by widespread metastatic disease and a median survival of less than 10 months. In recent years, however, major advances in our understanding of the molecular nature of melanoma and the interaction of melanoma cells with the immune system have resulted in several new therapeutic strategies that are showing significant clinical benefit. Current therapeutic approaches include surgical resection of metastatic disease, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and targeted therapy. Dacarbazine, interleukin-2, ipilimumab, and vemurafenib are now approved for the treatment of advanced melanoma. In addition, new combination chemotherapy regimens, monoclonal antibodies blocking the programmed death-1 (PD-1)/PD-ligand 1 pathway, and targeted therapy against CKIT, mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK), and other putative signaling pathways in melanoma are beginning to show promise in early-phase clinical trials. Further research on these modalities alone and in combination will likely be the focus of future clinical investigation and may impact the outcomes for patients with advanced melanoma.
Production, Isolation, and Properties of Azetomycins

Streptomyces antibioticus synthesizes five actinomycins that differ in the "proline site" of the molecule. When cultured in the presence of azetidine-2-carboxylic acid (AzC), antibiotic synthesis was stimulated 40 to 50%, synthesis of actinomycin IV was inhibited, and one or both prolines were replaced by AzC. AzC incorporation could not be reversed by concomitant supplementation with proline or sarcosine, and only pipecolic acid affected a minor reversal of AzC incorporation. AzC-containing actinomycins were isolated and designated azet-I and azet-II; a third unresolved component or mixture was called azet-III. The molar ratio of AzC to proline was: azet-I, 1:1; azet-II, 2:0. Azet-III was equivocal. These azetidine actinomycins (azetomycins) were found to be potently inhibitory to the growth of selected gram-positive but not as potent to the growth of gram-negative organisms. The relative inhibitory affect against growth and ribonucleic acid synthesis in Bacillus subtilis was: actinomycin IV =/> azet-I > azet-II >>> azet-III. Protein synthesis was affected similarly; however, kinetic studies with B. subtilis revealed that ribonucleic acid synthesis was inhibited rapidly followed by an inhibition of protein synthesis. At concentrations less than 1 mug/ml, deoxyribonucleic acid synthesis was stimulated by these actinomycins.
Anselm's Argument and Berry's Paradox*

Anselm's 'proof' of the existence of God goes like this: I have the concept of that than which nothing greater can be thought. If this concept were not instantiated, something greater could be thought―namely the same concept with the property of existence. This is a contradiction, therefore that than which nothing greater can be thought is instantiated―God exists. We suggest that this argument is based on an empirical version of Berry's paradox. It is invalid, but it takes some understanding of trivalence to see why this is so. Under our analysis, Anselm's use of the notion of existence is not the heart of the matter; rather, trivalence is (as far as we know, this distinguishes the present reconstruction from its predecessors, notably (Lewis 1970); see also (Oppy 2007) for references). For the sake of clarity, we start by explaining with some simple examples why someone who always reasoned within a bivalent framework would make systematic errors when faced with non-trivial empirical paradoxes. In particular, we develop an empirical version of Berry's paradox which is similar in structure to Anselm's argument. With these tools in place, we offer a simple reconstruction of Anselm's argument, one in which the notion of existence is entirely innocuous.
High-Temperature Reliability of SiC Power MOSFETs

We have observed a significant increase in the instability of SiC power MOSFET ID-VGS characteristics following bias stressing at elevated temperature, similar to the effect we previously observed following an ON-state current stress. Devices stressed by elevated temperature alone exhibited very little instability compared with devices stressed with both temperature and applied bias. These results, along with other results in the literature, suggest that this increase in threshold voltage instability at elevated temperature is due to the activation of additional near-interfacial oxide traps related to an O-vacancy defect known as an E′ center. It is important to develop improved processing methods to decrease the number of precursor oxide defect sites, since an increased negative shift can give rise to increased leakage current in the OFF-state and potential device failure if proper precautions are not met to provide an adequate margin for the threshold voltage.
Patterns of organic carbon and nitrogen isotopic compositions of latest Pliocene sapropels from six locations across the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract Inter-layered in the organic-poor sediments that comprise most of the sedimentary record of the Mediterranean Sea are organic-rich sapropels that represent periods of wetter climate, increased primary productivity, and suboxic to anoxic conditions at depth. In order to explore processes important in the spatial and temporal variability of sapropel-forming conditions, we selected sedimentary sequences containing two latest Pliocene sapropels at ODP Sites 974 and 975 in the western basin, the Vrica Plio-Pleistocene type-section, and ODP Sites 964, 967, and 969 in the eastern basin. Our main tools are nitrogen and organic carbon isotopes, which are diagnostic of changes in nutrient origins and availability and in primary productivity. Extremely low δ15N values (to − 5.1‰) indicate high rates of nitrogen fixation during sapropel formation stimulated by nearly complete consumption of nitrate in the water column due to exceptionally high rates of denitrification. Interruptions in sapropels represent brief intervals of low productivity and diminished nitrogen fixation. The geographical distribution of the interruptions and the presence of spatial patterns in TOC contents, Corg/Ntot ratios, and δ15N values suggest a central role of the eastern basin in initiating sapropel formation. The eastern Mediterranean evidently experienced higher rates of primary productivity during sapropel deposition and probably more intense dysoxic conditions in the water column. Organic carbon isotopes present an intriguing geographic trend across the eastern Mediterranean that is probably related to non-biological processes including variations in water temperature, salinity, and amounts of local fluvial runoff.
Somatoform disorders and recent diagnostic controversies

Several classification issues regarding somatoform disorders are being debated as the process for revising the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-V) unfolds over the next 5 years. Eight key questions center around the appropriate stakeholders for DSM-V, changes in terminology, movement of certain disorders within or outside of Axis I, the validity of symptom explanation as a core criterion, the status of functional somatic syndromes, the reliance on symptom counts, the reliability of lifetime symptom recall, and the value of symptom grouping. Somatic symptom measures are reviewed, and a brief self-rated scale is described in detail.
Off-Energy-Shell Effects in Many-Nucleon Systems

A multitude of potentials can reproduce the same two-nucleon elastic scattering data. For many of these potentials the two- body wave functions can be radically different and can alter dramatically the predictions of many-body nuclear calculations. The basic problem therefore is to find both theoretical and experimental restrictions on the possible forms of the two-nucleon wave function.
The quark mixing matrix in a composite model

The generalized mixing matrix of quarks is computed based on a composite model of quarks and leptons. Among potentials between constituent particles examined V(r) = Ar’ (As > 0) and A In r (A > 0), it is shown that potentials with exponent 0 5 s 5 3 or In r are consistent with current experimental data for the mixing matrix elements. The quarks and leptons are grouped in families and generations. An important but difficult question is how many generations exist in nature and what is their mass spectrum. Apparently the mass of the quarks increases at least exponentially as a function of the generation number, while the increment for lepton masses with respect to the generation number is less drastic. There has been a suggestion [ 11 that quarks and leptons are composite systems made of more fundamental objects and the generations are their excited states. If that is the case, we can eliminate some of the mysteries of generations. The number of generations may be infinite, but practically only a finite number will be observed if the mass increases exponentially with the radial quantum number. Then, some questions which should be considered are (a) what are the properties of the constituent objects and of their interactions, (b) how can the mass spectrum of the generations be understood, and (c) is it possible to compute the quark mixing matrix from the bound state wave functions? Clearly questions (b) and (c) are related to question (a).
Optimal Sampling Strategies for Detecting Zoonotic Disease Epidemics

The early detection of disease epidemics reduces the chance of successful introductions into new locales, minimizes the number of infections, and reduces the financial impact. We develop a framework to determine the optimal sampling strategy for disease detection in zoonotic host-vector epidemiological systems when a disease goes from below detectable levels to an epidemic. We find that if the time of disease introduction is known then the optimal sampling strategy can switch abruptly between sampling only from the vector population to sampling only from the host population. We also construct time-independent optimal sampling strategies when conducting periodic sampling that can involve sampling both the host and the vector populations simultaneously. Both time-dependent and -independent solutions can be useful for sampling design, depending on whether the time of introduction of the disease is known or not. We illustrate the approach with West Nile virus, a globally-spreading zoonotic arbovirus. Though our analytical results are based on a linearization of the dynamical systems, the sampling rules appear robust over a wide range of parameter space when compared to nonlinear simulation models. Our results suggest some simple rules that can be used by practitioners when developing surveillance programs. These rules require knowledge of transition rates between epidemiological compartments, which population was initially infected, and of the cost per sample for serological tests.
STEREOTAXIC LOCALIZATION OF SUPRAOPTIC, VENTROMEDIAL AND MAMILLARY NUCLEI IN THE HYPOTHALAMUS OF WEANLING TO MATURE RATS.

Bilateral symmetrical electrolytic lesions were placed in the supraoptic, ventromedial and mamillary areas in groups of albino rats weighing 50, 100, 150, 200, 250 and 300 gm. The localization of the lesions was correlated with the coordinate setting used with the stereotaxic instrument. The diagrams presented contain the data for the antero-posterior, lateral and dorso-ventral coordinates plotted against the body weight of the respective groups and allow the extrapolation of coordinates for other hypothalamic structures.
Evaluation of infection control parameters according to the 1994 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tuberculosis guidelines: A 2-year experience

Background: Because of classification as a high-risk institution for potential Mycobacterium tuberculosis exposure and an employee purified protein derivative conversion rate of 2.7%, a large university-affiliated county hospital enhanced administrative and engineering controls, as recommended by its tuberculosis task force in early 1994. Methods: For 1994 and 1995 the medical records of all patients with culture-confirmed M. tuberculosis were reviewed according to the 1994 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for case surveillance and risk assessment (infection control parameters). The χ 2 -test was used to compare 1994 and 1995 infection control parameters for statistical significance ( p ≤0.05). Results: In 1994 and 1995 there were 253 patients with tuberculosis, 85% of whom (214/253) had pulmonary-site tuberculosis. The "representative" patient with pulmonary tuberculosis was profiled, along with institution-specific surveillance data on diagnostics, medication regimens, and airborne isolation practices. Between 1994 and 1995 there was a trend toward increased numbers of homeless patients with tuberculosis, from 8.2% to 17% ( p =0.07). Decreases in the numbers of HIV seropositive patients with tuberculosis from 35% in 1994 to 24% in 1995 ( p =0.2) and of jailed patients with tuberculosis from 9.8% to 5% ( p =0.5) were not significant. Drug-resistance patterns increased from 13% to 24%, with borderline significance ( p =0.06). The employee purified protein derivative testing compliance rate increased from 49% in 1994 to 74% in 1995, with the purified protein derivative conversion rate also increasing from 2.7% to 3.5%. Conclusion: The infection control parameter data were beneficial in identification of institution-specific risk factors for our population with tuberculosis. Although labor-intensive, the annual tuberculosis reports supported requests for administrative and engineering controls; however, efficacy of the 1994 tuberculosis control plan was difficult to assess from purified protein derivative conversion rates alone, because the testing compliance rate also increased.
Tenure, support of collective bargaining, and unionism in higher education: Some challenging findings

Questionnaire responses of a large educational faculty in a private university were used to examine support for collective bargaining and several propositions about unionism. The little existing research on specific schools within universities suggests that education faculties modestly support unionism, with tenure related negatively to it. Parametric and nonparametric analyses of data from this faculty revealed considerably different results, including far greater union support and tenure's positive relationship with unionism. This investigation suggests that theorizing about unionism and collective bargaining within the schools of universities, such as schools of education, needs to be reconsidered.
Modulation of tRNA methyltransferase activity by competing enzyme systems.

Abstract Fetal organs and tumor tissues exhibit elevated levels of tRNA methyltransferase activity when compared to their normal, adult counterparts. In adult liver, kidney and pancreas this is in part due to the presence of a competing enzyme system, glycine methyltransferase. This enzyme competes for the methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine and is also much less sensitive to product inhibition by S-adenosylhomocysteine than are the tRNA methyltransferases. It is low or absent in fetal liver and a number of hepatomas. In an organ under hormonal control, the uterus, tRNA methyltransferase activity responds to changes in the level of estrogen. Again this seems to be due, in part, to the presence of a competing methyltransferase, catechol O-methyltransferase.
Overlapping Activators and Repressors Delimit Transcriptional Response to Receptor Tyrosine Kinase Signals in the Drosophila Eye

Regulated transcription of the prospero gene in the Drosophila eye provides a model for how gene expression is specifically controlled by signals from receptor tyrosine kinases. We show that prospero is controlled by signals from the EGF receptor DER and the Sevenless receptor. A direct link is established between DER activation of a transcription enhancer in prospero and binding of two transcription factors that are targets of DER signaling. Binding of the cell-specific Lozenge protein is also required for activation, and overlapping Lozenge protein distribution and DER signaling establishes expression in a subset of equivalent cells competent to respond to Sevenless. We show that Sevenless activates prospero independent of the enhancer and involves targeted degradation of Tramtrack, a transcription repressor.
Chromophore formation in GFP: computational modeling of the immature form of wild-type GFP

The main reason green fluorescent protein (GFP) is so useful in molecular imaging is the fact that its chromophore is formed autocatalytically. We have been using molecular mechanics to examine chromophore formation since 1995 that is well before the first crystal structures of GFP were solved. Our calculations have resulted in a number of predictions that have been borne out by subsequent experiments and a number of them that haven't. Recently we have been supplementing these calculations with calculations based on the crystal structures of immature GFP mutants (i.e. the precyclized form). Preliminary results from these calculations have shown that immature GFP does form a tight-turn in the chromophore forming region, and that chromophore cyclization is probably catalyzed in the manner proposed by Getzoff et al ( Biochemistry 44: 1960-1970, 2005).
Digital Triage Assistant

A portable and automated vital sign data acquisition device and triage information system has been devised to improve the efficacy and efficiency of the triage process in hospital Emergency Departments. The system is comprised of: 1) a microcontroller-based data-acquisition device 2) off-the-shelf and proprietary sensor components 3) a PDA with barcode scanner 4) a networked patient information database.
Gynecologic Cancer Research at a Crossroads

Gynecologic cancer research is currently at a crossroads. Recent changes in the NCI's approach to clinical cancer research have resulted in a complex makeover of the federal clinical research community. This was prompted by perceived inefficiencies in the existing model, as well as the realities of stagnant (or declining) funding for the foreseeable future. Perhaps more than any other discipline, gynecologic cancer research has been dra- matically affected by these changes. The Gynecologic Oncology Group (GOG) was founded in 1971, an outgrowth of President Nixon's "War on Cancer" and the growing recognition in that era of gynecologic oncology as a separate and distinct subspecialty. In the 43 years since, the GOG has been responsible for virtually every step forward in the treatment of gynecologic can- cers. The following represent just a handful of the GOG's findings: the efficacy of combination chemotherapy with paclitaxel and cis- or carboplatin for ovarian cancer, along chemotherapy with paclitaxel and cis- or carboplatin for ovarian cancer, with intraperitoneal administration of those drugs; the modern concept of surgical staging for endometrial cancer, which was adopted by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) in 1988, and revised in 2010; the use of chemotherapy in combination with radiation to improve the survival of women with locally advanced cervical cancers; the feasibility of minimally invasive surgery for gy- necologic cancers; and most recently, identifying agents such as bevacizumab, which can be targeted at the molecular level of gyn cancers.
Quality of life domains among non-Hodgkin lymphoma survivors: an integrative literature review

Survival rates of individuals with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) have increased in the past several years, as has the prevalence of older adults who are managing late and long-term effects of the disease and its treatment. In this integrative review, the state of the science for determining the quality of life (QOL) among NHL survivors is outlined. An online search of Medline, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), PsycINFO, and the Cochrane Library databases was conducted using the following Keywords: non-Hodgkin lymphoma, health-related quality of life, quality of life, and impact of cancer. Eighteen studies published between 2000 and 2010 are reviewed. Of these, 17 were descriptive, cross-sectional designs, and one was a systematic review. The studies included participants of varying ages and years post-diagnosis as reported in several countries. Importantly, many used one or more QOL measures as outcome variables. Future research is needed on older and minority cancer populations and should include longitudinal and interventional studies.
International diffusion of gains from biotechnology and the European Union's Common Agricultural Policy

This paper analyses the impact of adopting or rejecting genetically modified (GM) crops in the European Union, taking into account the EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). In this paper the productivity impact of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) differs across crops, taking factor biased technology change into account. The transfer of knowledge across countries is modelled as a process of endogenous knowledge spill-overs. Analysis with a multi-region applied general equilibrium model shows that the CAP protects farm income and production despite non-adoption of the more productive GM crops in the EU. The EU will forgo substantial benefits in terms of economic welfare if it bans GM imports.
Intelligent Decision Support System in Damage Control of Damaged Ship

An intelligent decision support system in damage control of damaged ship combined with data mining is constructed in this paper. The human-computer interaction subsystem, the database management subsystem, the model management subsystem and the knowledge management subsystem are introduced in detail and some programming technologies of the system are displayed. The pivotal technology of the realization of this system is discussed briefly at last.
Improving the efficiency and reliability of the route discovery process in on-demand routing protocols

Three-hop horizon pruning (THP) is an algorithm for computing a two-hop connected dominating set (TCDS) of the network, and has been shown to be more efficient than all prior distributed broadcasting mechanisms when a TCDS is preferred over a connected dominating set (CDS). However, like all other algorithms that depend on local topology information, THP is not reliable when the topology changes frequently. We describe and analyze the three-hop horizon enhanced pruning (THEP), which eliminates THP's limitations. First THEP adopts a virtual radio range (VR) that is shorter than the physical radio range (RR), and considers as one-hop neighbors only those nodes within VR. The gap between VR and RR works as a buffer zone in which nodes can move without loss of connectivity. Second, upon receiving a broadcast packet, the forwarder list in the packet header is analyzed together with the current information about the local neighborhood. Based on this, a node using THEP may decide to broadcast a packet even though it has not been selected as a forwarder by the sender. We conduct extensive simulations and show that AODV-THEP attains better performance than AODV in terms of delivery ratio, control overhead, packet collisions, and end-to-end delay.
p53-Mediated Germ Cell Quality Control in Spermatogenesis ☆

Spontaneous germ cell death is a common cellular process in the mammalian testis, although the function of this process during spermatogenesis is unclear. An investigation was undertaken to determine whether p53 serves as a mechanism in germ cell quality control by causing spontaneous germ cell death. Using an annexin V assay, lower levels of spontaneous apoptosis were found in the testes of p53-/- mice compared to p53+/+ mice. Propidium iodine staining revealed that the greatest reduction in apoptosis and the largest increase in cell numbers occurred in the tetraploid germ cell population of p53-/- mice. Microscopic examination of sperm morphology showed an increased percentage of abnormal forms in p53-/- mice. Furthermore, p53-/- mice sired fewer offspring than p53+/+ mice did when both groups were mated with p53+/+ females. These results suggest that p53 mediates spontaneous testicular germ cell apoptosis and failure to remove defective germ cells by this mechanism results in increased percentages of abnormal sperm and reduced fertility. p53-mediated apoptosis may be an effector of cellular proofreading that acts to maintain the cellular integrity of germ cells during spermatogenesis.