cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Species-specific inhibition of fertilization by a peptide derived from the sperm protein bindin.

The sperm protein bindin is responsible for the species-specific adhesion of the sperm to the egg. The regions of the bindin molecule responsible for forming the contact between the sperm and the egg were investigated by measuring the ability of peptides representing various regions of the bindin sequence to inhibit fertilization. Twenty-four peptides were studied: 7 based on the Strongylocentrotus purpuratus bindin sequence, 11 based on the S. franciscanus bindin sequence, and 6 control peptides. Values for the concentration of peptide required to inhibit 50% of the productive sperm contacts (IC50) were extracted from experimental measurements of the extent of fertilization in the presence of various concentrations. of these peptides. The IC50 value averaged 220 microM for the control peptides. Active peptides representing certain specific subregions of the bindin sequence displayed IC50 values < 10% of the average value for control peptides, and the IC50 for the most potent of the peptides tested was only approximately 1% of the control peptide value (IC50 = 2.2 microM). Furthermore, we found that a peptide representing a particular region of the S. franciscanus bindin sequence that differs from the S. purpuratus bindin sequence inhibits fertilization species specifically. For the reaction of S. purpuratus sperm and eggs, the IC50 of this peptide was approximately 120 microM, whereas for the reaction of S. franciscanus sperm and eggs it was only 8.6 microM. These results demonstrate that a few specific regions of the bindin molecule are involved in the sperm-egg contact and that certain of these regions mediate the species specificity of the interaction in a sequence- specific manner.
Terrestrial 14C age of the Antarctic shergottite, EETA 79001

The terrestrial age of the Elephant Moraine shergottite EETA 79001 (lithology A) has been determined from measurement of its cosmogenic C-14 content as 12 +/- 2 kyr. The results on saturated and blank samples of 1 g or less are also discussed. The age calculated for EETA 79001 is compared to exposure and terrestrial ages of other shergottites in the light of possible origins of these meteorites on Mars.
The Theory Underlying the Partitioning of Permutation Networks

The age of the microcomputer has made feasible large-scale multiprocessor systems. In order to use this parallel processing power in the form of a flexible multiple-SIMD (MSIMD) system, the interconnection network must be partitionable and dynamically reconfigurable. The theory underlying the partitioning of MSIMD system permutation networks into independent subnetworks is explored. Conditions for determining if a network can be partitioned into independent subnetworks and the ways in which it can be partitioned are presented. The use of the theory is demonstrated by applying it to the Cube, Illiac, PM2I, and Shuffle-Exchange SIMD machine interconnection networks. Both recirculating (single stage) and multistage network implementations are considered.
Charting an Alternate Pathway to Reaction Orders and Rate Laws in Introductory Chemistry Courses

Reaction kinetics is an axiomatic topic in chemistry that is often addressed as early as the high school course and serves as the foundation for more sophisticated conversations in college-level organic, physical, and biological chemistry courses. Despite the fundamental nature of reaction kinetics, students can struggle with transforming their corpuscular reaction concepts into mathematical rate models. Here, we describe an approach to teaching rate laws at the introductory college level that draws upon model-based reasoning as the pedagogical underpinning. Collision theory, graphical analysis of kinetics plots, and transformations between concentration/time and rate/concentration representations are used to facilitate the growth in understanding about rate laws and reaction mechanisms. The learning outcome expected by the conclusion of the instructional sequence is the ability to collect and analyze kinetic data to determine reaction orders and rate laws using mathematical concepts familiar to students ...
Effects of imagery on paired-associate recall as a function of retention interval, list length, and trials

In Experiment I two alternate learning and recall trials were given on 16 pair lists constructed to consist of concrete-abstract (CA), AC, CC, and AA pairs. Experiment II was conducted similarly but either two or four trials were given on 32 pair lists. In both experiments recall of responses was measured immediately and 48 hours later. The results in both cases indicated significant effects of stimulus concreteness, response concreteness and retention interval, and in Experiment II the number of learning trials was also a significant variable. In both experiments total recall under all conditions was in the order CC> CA> AC> AA. These findings provide additional support and greater generality for the imagery hypothesis advanced by Paivio (1969) .
Neuraminidase immunotherapy: Serum potentiation of lymphocyte cytotoxicity related to immunoglobulin levels

Seven patients completed courses of immunotherapy using neuraminidase-altered autochthonous cells. Their response to therapy was monitored by a cytotoxicity assay using 3 H-proline-tagged tumor cells from the patient's own cultured tumor in a strictly autologous system. Serum effects were measured by exposing the tumor target cells to serum to see whether this impeded (blocked) or augmented (potentiated) lymphocyte cytotoxicity. Three of the seven patients developed increasing degrees of serum blocking effect and all died within six months of completing therapy. Four of the seven showed rapidly decreasing blocking and three eventual potentiation. Three patients are living, improved, and free of evidence of tumor. There was an increase in average serum immunoglobulins in patients developing potentiation, and a decrease in those showing blocking. In any immunotherapy program attention must be given to in vitro monitoring studies, and such studies should include attention to the serum factors influencing host response.
The role and responsibility of the dean in promoting curricular innovation

The report “Educating Medical Students: Assessing Change in Medical Education—The Road to Implementation”; (ACME‐TRI),1 identified five major barriers to change in the medical student education program. One of those barriers is a lack of leadership. Implicit (or perhaps explicit) in this barrier is that the dean of a medical school has a critical role to play in causing change to happen in the medical school education program. aThe articles in this issue of Teaching and Learning in Medicine describe activities or research underway at medical schools where the dean—either by direct intervention or through personal style—provides an environment that allows or encourages curriculum innovation. In this article, I present some of my reflections on the role of the dean in the process of effecting educational change. I write from the perspective of someone who has travelled the road to implementing change for almost 20 years.
The evolutionary convergence of hearing in a parasitoid fly and its cricket host

Parasitism is a widespread and diverse life strategy that connects species throughout the animal kingdom. Female parasitoid flies of the genus Ormia must find a specific cricket host on which to deposit their parasitic maggots. To reproduce, female flies must perform the same task as female crickets: find a singing male cricket. These flies have evolved a unique hearing organ that allows them to detect and locate singing male crickets. Through evolutionary convergence, these flies possess a hearing organ that much more resembles a cricket's ear than a typical fly's ear, allowing these parasitoids to take advantage of the sensory ecological niche of their host.
Synaptic Wnt signaling—a contributor to major psychiatric disorders?

Wnt signaling is a key pathway that helps organize development of the nervous system. It influences cell proliferation, cell fate, and cell migration in the developing nervous system, as well as axon guidance, dendrite development, and synapse formation. Given this wide range of roles, dysregulation of Wnt signaling could have any number of deleterious effects on neural development and thereby contribute in many different ways to the pathogenesis of neurodevelopmental disorders. Some major psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism spectrum disorders, are coming to be understood as subtle dysregulations of nervous system development, particularly of synapse formation and maintenance. This review will therefore touch on the importance of Wnt signaling to neurodevelopment generally, while focusing on accumulating evidence for a synaptic role of Wnt signaling. These observations will be discussed in the context of current understanding of the neurodevelopmental bases of major psychiatric diseases, spotlighting schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and autism spectrum disorder. In short, this review will focus on the potential role of synapse formation and maintenance in major psychiatric disorders and summarize evidence that defective Wnt signaling could contribute to their pathogenesis via effects on these late neural differentiation processes.
Disparity of the infusion of e-business within SMEs: a global perspective

The objective of this paper is to present the initial phase of a study on e-business infusion among SMEs. Currently organisations, in particular Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), are in the midst of change. The use of the internet for e-business could be a medium for SMEs to respond to changes in the marketplace. Meanwhile, the adoption of internet by SMEs as a tool to enhance the business process has been slow. This paper provides an overview of the state of SMEs' infusion and a brief description by continent: Africa, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, North America, and South America.
Vertical migration and mortality of benthos in dredged material: Part III—polychaeta☆

Abstract The survival of benthic invertebrates from dredging and disposal activities is a major environmental concern in such projects. The purpose of the research described in this paper was to determine the ability of benthos (polychaetes, Scoloplos fragilis and Nereis succinea ) to migrate vertically in natural and exotic sediments and to determine the survival of benthos when exposed to particular amounts of simulated dredged material. Mortalities generally increased with increased sediment depth, exotic sediment and burial time. Temperature also affected vertical migration and mortalities. These experiments, together with other experiments conducted by us and other workers, indicate that polychaetes in particular, and benthos in general, can survive dredging and disposal projects. Under certain conditions several major taxa (polychaetes, molluscs, crustaceans) can be expected to successfully recolonise disposal sites by vertical migration.
A general method for quantitative measurement of molecular mass distribution by mass spectrometry.

A method is presented to test whether the conversion of the mass spectrum of a polydisperse analyte to its molecular mass distribution is quantitative. Mixtures of samples with different average molecular masses, coupled with a Taylor’s expansion mathematical formalism, were used to ascertain the reliability of molecular mass distributions derived from mass spectra. Additionally, the method describes how the molecular mass distributions may be corrected if the degree of mass bias is within certain defined limits. This method was demonstrated on polydisperse samples of C60 fullerenes functionalized with ethylpyrrolidine groups measured by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry; however, it is applicable to any polydisperse analyte and mass spectrometric method as long as spectrum resolution allows individual oligomers to be identified. Mass spectra of the derivatized fullerenes taken in positive ion mode were shown to give an accurate measurement of the molecular mass distribution while those taken in negative ion mode were not. Differences in the mechanisms for ion formation are used to explain the discrepancy. Official contribution of the National Institute of Standards and Technology; not subject to copyright in the United States of America.
Ifosfamide, carboplatin and etoposide (ICE) in metastatic and refractory breast cancer

Twenty-five patients with metastatic breast cancer were treated with ICE after failure of previous chemotherapy. Their median age was 50 years (range 36-73). All but 1 patient had multiple sites of metastases. Nineteen (76%) patients had undergone two or more chemotherapy regimens for metastatic disease prior to ICE. The performance status (PS) of the patients was Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0:6; 1:12; 2:5; 3:2. Ifosfamide 1.25 g/m(2) over 3 h D1-3 along with mesna, etoposide 80 mg/m(2) D1-3 and carboplatin 300 mg/m(2) D1 were given every 3 weeks. We observed a partial response in 10 patients (40%, 95% confidence interval 21-62%). The response duration ranged from 1 to 15 months with a median duration of 4.5 months. The survival of all 25 patients ranged from 10 days to 25 months, with a median of 9 months. All 25 patients were evaluable for toxicity. Thirteen patients (52%) experienced grade 4 hematological toxicity, which improved after growth factor support. Four patients had leukopenic fever, 1 had gram-negative sepsis, while 2 had Clostridium difficile enterocolitis and another had herpes zoster reactivation. Four patients (16%) experienced grade 3-4 gastrointestinal (G-I) toxicity. No hepatic or renal toxicity was observed (1 patient had microscopic hematuria). One patient died of G-I bleed, and another patient died at home of undetermined cause. We conclude that ICE is an effective salvage regimen in metastatic and refractory breast cancer, even in heavily pretreated patients, and is a tolerable treatment when used with growth factor.
Kinetics of spatially confined precipitation and periodic pattern formation

Abstract We have performed experiments and computer simulations of the formation of two types of precipitate profiles which appeared when electrolyte solutions of Na2HPO4 and CaCl2 are allowed to diffuse into an agarose gel from both ends of the gel. The formation of a spatially confined precipitate occurred when the electrolyte flux J was the same at both sides of the gel, whereas the growth of periodic bands was observed when J was different at both ends of the gel. The kinetics of formation of both types of precipitation profiles indicated that the initial position of the lateral bands in the precipitation front, controlled by the electrolyte flux, would determine if the precipitate is periodic or spatially confined. For the case of equal flux, in the investigated time interval, all the bands grow linearly in intensity and the initial narrowing of the central band reverses this tendency after the appearance of the lateral bands. For the case of unequal flux, the exponential intensity increase of the Liesegang band leads to a saturation of the intensity of the broad central band which widens as a function of time. Using the experimental conditions as a guideline for the simulations, we were able to reproduce both types of precipitation patterns.
Synthecology: sound use of audio in teleimmersion

This paper examines historical audio applications used to provide real-time immersive sound for CAVE TM environments and discusses their relative strengths and weaknesses. We examine and explain issues of providing spatialized sound immersion in real-time virtual environments (VEs), some problems with currently used sound servers, and a set of requirements for an 'ideal' sound server. We present the initial configuration of a new cross-platform sound server solution using open source software and the Open Sound Control (OSC) specification for the creation of real-time spatialized audio with CAVE applications, specifically Ygdrasil (Yg) environments. The application, aNother Sound Server (NSS) establishes an application interface (API) using OSC, a logical server layer implemented in Python, and an audio engine using SuperCollider (SC). We discuss spatialization implementation and other features. Finally, we document the Synthecology project which premiered at WIRED NEXTFEST 2005 and was the first VE to use NSS. We also discuss various techniques that enhance presence in networked VEs, as well as possible and planned extensions of NSS.
Formation of active β-galactosidase by Escherichia coli treated with 5-fluorouracil

Abstract Inhibition by 5-fluorouracil of β-galactosidase synthesis in Escherichia coli has been studied. The analogue prevents formation of active β-galactosidase by cells growing in a medium containing a readily catabolizable carbon source such as glycerol. However, extensive synthesis of enzyme in the presence of the fluoropyrimidine can be observed under a number of conditions known to relieve the effects of catabolite repression. These include removal of the carbon source, glycerol; substitution of other sources of energy for glycerol, most notably succinate; and a shift from aerobic to anaerobic growth conditions. In succinate medium the 5-fluorouracil-treated cells synthesize β-galactosidase at a differential rate more than half that in the absence of analogue. The fluoropyrimidine is readily incorporated into cells in this medium and is found to sediment with the messenger RNA (mRNA) fraction on sucrose gradients. These results suggest that functional mRNA specific for β-galactosidase can be synthesized in the presence of 5-fluorouracil.
Absorption of isotropic radiation

Estimates of the absorption of isotropic radiation are given for an absorbing medium whose geometrical shape is either a plane-parallel sided slab or a cylinder. By including the directional variation of absorption path length, the results show appreciable differences to the 'unidirectional radiation' formulas.
Genetic diversity of Chlamydia trachomatis and the prevalence of trachoma.

Background. Considerable variation in the outer membrane protein (ompA) of Chlamydia trachomatis has been uncovered by immunotyping and, more recently, by genotyping. This diversity may assist Chlamydia in evading the human immune system; organisms may have a competitive advantage if they infect a host who has previously been infected only by other strains. If so, a diverse set of strains may attain a higher prevalence in a community than a single strain. We determined the predominant strains of ocular C. trachomatis in trachoma-endemic villages of Nepal and tested the hypothesis that strain diversity is associated with the prevalence of infection. Methods. Major outer membrane protein gene sequences of chlamydial isolates were determined from ligase chain reaction-positive eye swab samples collected from 10 villages. The diversity of genovars was determined for each village, using Simpson’s index. Results. Two genovar families (Ba and C) and nine genovars were detected, with a single genovar (C1) comprising more than one-half of the samples. The prevalence of clinically active trachoma was significantly associated with the genetic diversity in a village, controlling for village size and number of samples taken in a village. Conclusion. Genetic diversity of C. trachomatis is associated with the prevalence of infection in a community, consistent with the hypothesis that diversity may be necessary to attain a high prevalence in a community.
Proteomic Biomarkers of Intra-amniotic Inflammation: Relationship with Funisitis and Early-onset Sepsis in the Premature Neonate

Our goal was to determine the relationship between 4 amniotic fluid (AF) proteomic biomarkers (human neutrophil defensins 2 and 1, calgranulins C and A) characteristic of intra-amniotic inflammation, and funisitis and early-onset sepsis in premature neonates. The mass restricted (MR) score was generated from AF obtained from women in preterm labor (n = 123). The MR score ranged from 0-4 (none to all biomarkers present). Funisitis was graded histologically and interpreted in relation to the MR scores. Neonates (n = 97) were evaluated for early-onset sepsis. There was significant correlation between the severity of AF inflammation and the presence (53/123) and grades of funisitis (p < 0.001). Funisitis occurred independently of the amniocentesis-to-delivery interval or status of the membranes and was best predicted by an MR score 3-4 and an earlier gestational age (GA) at delivery. Neonates born to women with an MR score 3-4 had an increased incidence of suspected/confirmed sepsis, even after adjusting for GA at birth. Calgranulin C had the highest association with clinically significant funisitis, while calgranulin A had the strongest association with early-onset sepsis. To conclude, AF proteomic analysis shows that women with MR scores 3-4 are more likely to have histologic funisitis, and deliver neonates with early-onset sepsis.
Chemical and physical properties of cholera exo-enterotoxin (choleragen) and its spontaneously formed toxoid (choleragenoid)

Abstract The chemical properties of two proteins, cholera enterotoxin (choleragen) and a spontaneously formed toxoid (choleragenoid), have been studied. The toxin has a molecular weight of 84 000 and most likely consists of six subunits with molecular weights of approx. 15 000. The toxin molecule appears to consist of more than one type of subunit. Choleragenoid consists of a mixture of at least three proteins with molecular weights of 58 000 and 4 subunits of approximately equal size. Neither protein contains significant quantities of lipid or hexose.
Bending efficiency investigation of horizontal slot waveguide microrings

Bending efficiency of three-dimensional (3-D) horizontal single - and multiple -slot waveguide microrings are analyzed using a combination of effective-index and modified transfer-matrix methods. The effects of waveguide parameters, low-index material, high-index material, asymmetric structure, and asymmetric slots on the bending loss are studied. We show that the bending efficiency can be enhanced by applying asymmetric structures and asymmetric slots. In addition, it is demonstrated that the bending loss increases with increasing the number of slots. However, by using proper thicknesses for different high-index layers of horizontal multiple-slot waveguide, it is possible that horizontal multipleslot waveguide can provide a lower bending loss than the single-slot one.
Microsurgical resection of intramedullary spinal cord ependymoma

Ependymomas are the most commonly occurring intramedullary spinal cord tumor in adults. With few exceptions these tumors are histologically benign, although they exhibit some biologic variability with respect to growth rate. While unencapsulated, spinal ependymomas are non-infiltrative and present a clear margin of demarcation from the surrounding spinal cord that serves as an effective dissection plane. This video demonstrates the technique of microsurgical resection of an intramedullary ependymoma through a posterior midline myelotomy. The video can be found here: http://youtu.be/lcHhymSvSqU.
SCATTERING OF ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION IN TURBID SUSPENSIONS

A Beer’s law expression for the penetration depth of ultraviolet radiation in a concentrated suspension of scattering particles is used to model the depth of cure for a suspension of ceramic particles in a medium of photocurable monomers. The cure depth is predominantly controlled by the square of the refractive index difference between the ceramic particles and the medium, Δn2=(np−n0)2. A secondary effect on the cure depth is the ratio of the interparticle spacing to the ultraviolet wavelength. Theoretical results agree with experimental data for 0.40–0.50 volume fraction ceramic-filled suspensions.
The mother's assessment of the behavior of her infant

The Brazelton Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale was modified to be used by mothers. Mothers assessed their infants at birth and at one month on all Brazelton items except reflexes. Trained testers assessed the same infants at birth using the unmodified Brazelton scale. Ratings were converted to a priori process scores. Bayley developmental assessments were made at 8 months to determine relationships between neonatal ratings and later development. The infants included in the study were 32 normal infants who received optimal Brazelton scores and 32 postterm postmature infants who received nonoptimal scores. The latter group was included to check the mothers' objectivity in assessing infant behaviors regardless of the difficulty they presented. There were no differences between mothers' and testers' assessments except that testers assigned more optimal interactive process scores. Normal term infants received more optimal scores from both mothers and testers. Mothers assigned more optimal ratings at one month than at birth. Motoric process scores were correlated with 8-month Bayley motor scores. The adaptiveness of mothers' objectivity in assessing their infants is discussed.
Sulfide and glutaraldehyde resistant strains of Thiobacillus denitrificans

Isolation and characterization of strains of T. denitrificans which are tolerant of both inorganic sulfide and glutaraldehyde. Effect of sulfide on the growth of wild type and strain F, on thiosulfate in liquid culture. Effect of glutaraldehyde on the growth of strain F
Crack‐Velocity Correction Factor for the Crack‐Front Shape in Double Torsion Specimens

The v-G material property curve (where v is the crack velocity and G the crack-extension force) was established from the experimental apparent crack velocity, the average crack-extension force, and the observed crack profile. (FS)
α-Dystroglycan can mediate arenavirus infection in the absence of β-dystroglycan

Dystroglycan (DG) is a highly versatile cell surface molecule that provides a molecular link between the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the actin-based cytoskeleton. Encoded by a single gene, DG is posttranslationally processed to form α-DG, a peripheral protein identified as the cellular receptor for lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and Lassa fever virus (LFV), and the membrane-spanning subunit β-DG. The link of β-DG to the actin-based cytoskeleton and its association with the cellular signal transduction network suggest that it may function as an essential cofactor for the activity of α-DG as a virus receptor. To address this issue, we constructed a deletion mutant lacking the cytoplasmic domain of β-DG and a C-terminal fusion between α-DG and the transmembrane domain of PDGF receptor. Both mutants were functional as virus receptors, indicating that β-DG does not act as a cofactor with α-DG for arenavirus binding and entry. These observations are in agreement with the fact that LCMV infection is independent from the structural integrity of the actin-based cytoskeleton and suggest that α-DG functions primarily in the attachment of arenaviruses to the cell surface.
The Influence of Fibrin Crosslinking on the Kinetics of Urokinase-Induced Clot Lysis*

Summary. The effect of fibrin crosslinking on the lysis of plasma clots was investigated with plasma from a patient congenitally deficient in plasma factor XIII (fibrin stabilizing factor). The thrombin-activated plasma factor XIII was found to render clots more resistant to fibrinolysis when urokinase (UK) was used to induce plasminogen activation. Incorporation of UK in the clot by addition to plasma immediately before clotting resulted in a log-log relationship when lysis time was plotted against UK concentration, with greater differences between normal and factor-XIII deficient clots at lower UK concentrations. Addition of UK to the clot externally, after preincubation of the clot, gave linear plots on rectangular coordinates when either plasma or euglobulin fraction was used; and the difference in lysis time between factor-XIII deficient and normal clots was nearly constant over the range of UK concentrations tested. When the fluorescent amine, dansylcadaverine, was used to measure factor-XIII activity quantitatively, plasma clot lysis times were found to be directly proportional to amine-incorporating activity over a wide range of activities at low UK concentrations. The range of proportionality was reduced when UK concentration was increased. Addition of purified factor XIII to the patient's plasma restored the resistance of these clots to within the normal range.
Heterogeneous compression of large collections of evolutionary trees

Compressing heterogeneous collections of trees is an open problem in computational phylogenetics. In a heterogeneous tree collection, each tree can contain a unique set of taxa. An ideal compression method would allow for the efficient archival of large tree collections and enable scientists to identify common evolutionary relationships over disparate analyses. In this paper, we extend TreeZip to compress heterogeneous collections of trees. TreeZip is the most efficient algorithm for compressing homogeneous tree collections. To the best of our knowledge, no other domain-based compression algorithm exists for large heterogeneous tree collections or enable their rapid analysis. Our experimental results indicate that TreeZip averages 89.03 percent (72.69 percent) space savings on unweighted (weighted) collections of trees when the level of heterogeneity in a collection is moderate. The organization of the TRZ file allows for efficient computations over heterogeneous data. For example, consensus trees can be computed in mere seconds. Lastly, combining the TreeZip compressed (TRZ) file with general-purpose compression yields average space savings of 97.34 percent (81.43 percent) on unweighted (weighted) collections of trees. Our results lead us to believe that TreeZip will prove invaluable in the efficient archival of tree collections, and enables scientists to develop novel methods for relating heterogeneous collections of trees.
Favouritism in NATO's Southeastern flank: The case of the Greek Colonels, 1967–74

The aim of this paper is to analyse the effect of the Cold War era on a historic event with serious consequences for Greece, namely the Greek Colonels' regime, which lasted between April 1967 and July 1974. Greece, due to its strategic position, served as guarantor of stability in NATO's southeastern flank, a benefit that the alliance considered indispensable to its strength, therefore impossible to compromise. In the light of this consideration, NATO tolerated, to put it mildly, the dictatorial, albeit pro-NATO regime that the Greek Colonels imposed on Greece on 21 April 1967. This paper will attempt to account for NATO's reactions to the Greek regime and the factors dictating them – a small, albeit indicative, peripheral segment of the puzzle of the global antagonism between the West and the East during the Cold War era.
An infra-red study of the systems tri-n-butyl phosphate-HNO3 and bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-phosphoric acid-HNO3

Abstract An infra-red study of the systems tri-n-butyl phosphate-HNO3 and bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-phosphoric acid-HNO3 has been made. It has been observed that the nitric acid extracting into these organophosphorus solvents is predominantly of a molecular nature, and that the bonding is primarily to the phosphoryl oxygen. In the TBP system, at low HNO3 concentrations and high aqueous content, some contribution from ionized HNO3 species is possible. The distribution coefficients of HNO3 for these systems are also reported.
A Root Cause Analysis Project in a Medication Safety Course

Objective. To develop, implement, and evaluate team-based root cause analysis projects as part of a required medication safety course for second-year pharmacy students. Design. Lectures, in-class activities, and out-of-class reading assignments were used to develop students’ medication safety skills and introduce them to the culture of medication safety. Students applied these skills within teams by evaluating cases of medication errors using root cause analyses. Teams also developed error prevention strategies and formally presented their findings. Assessment. Student performance was assessed using a medication errors evaluation rubric. Of the 211 students who completed the course, the majority performed well on root cause analysis assignments and rated them favorably on course evaluations. Conclusion. Medication error evaluation and prevention was successfully introduced in a medication safety course using team-based root cause analysis projects.
Medical expert witness litmus

Several years ago, Dr G. Breaking was the foremost proponent of a new surgical procedure, which was named after him. At a recent national meeting, he discussed a paper that modified the procedure and criticized the presenter's revisions as dangerous—risking increased paralysis. GB's unedited comments were published last month in the specialty's leading journal. Today, an attorney called the office representing a surgical patient who suffered paralysis after undergoing the modified procedure. GB has unremittingly avoided involvement in litigation. The plaintiff's attorney asks him to serve as an expert witness against the surgeon. What should GB do? ARefuse involvement because the medical tort system is a farce. BExplain that opinions expressed in his published critique represented intellectual jousting. CClaim that he is too busy and decline to be involved. DAgree to review the records objectively. ETestify and establish a Web page advertising further availability as a plaintiff's witness.
The submillimeter wave astronomy satellite: instrument & mission description

Abstract The Submillimeter Wave Astronomy Satellite ( SWAS ), launched in December 1998, is a NASA mission dedicated to the study of star formation through direct measurements of: (1) molecular cloud composition and chemistry; (2) the cooling mechanisms that facilitate cloud collapse; and, (3) the large-scale structure of the UV-illuminated cloud surfaces. To achieve these goals, SWAS is conducting pointed observations of dense ( n (H 2 )>10 3 cm −3 ) molecular clouds throughout our Galaxy in either the ground-state or a low-lying transition of five astrophysically important species: H 2 O, H 2 18 O, O 2 , CI, and 13 CO. By observing these lines SWAS is: (1) testing long-standing theories that predict that these species are the dominant coolants of molecular clouds during the early stages of their collapse to form stars and planets; and (2) supplying previously missing information about the abundance of key species central to the chemical models of dense interstellar gas. SWAS carries two independent Schottky barrier diode mixers — passively cooled to ∼ 175 K — coupled to a 54 × 68-cm off-axis Cassegrain antenna. During its baseline three-year mission, SWAS is observing giant and dark cloud cores with the objective of detecting or setting a 3σ upper limit on the water and molecular oxygen abundance of 3 × 10 −6 (relative to H 2 ). In addition, advantage is being taken of SWAS 's relatively large beamsize of 3.3 × 4.5 arcminutes at 553 GHz and 3.5 × 5.0 arcminutes at 490 GHz to obtain large-area (∼1° × 1°) maps of giant and dark clouds in the 13 CO and CI lines. With the use of a 1.4 GHz bandwidth acousto-optical spectrometer, SWAS has the ability to simultaneously observe either the H 2 O, O 2 , CI, and 13 CO lines or the H 2 18 O, O 2 , and CI lines with a velocity resolution ∼- 1 km s −1 .
Histopathological and molecular changes produced by hippocampal microinjection of domoic acid

The phytoplankton-derived neurotoxin, domoic acid (DOM), frequently causes poisoning of marine animals and poses an increasing threat to public health through contamination of seafood. In this study, we used stereotactic microinjection technique to administer varying amounts of DOM into the hippocampal CA1 region in order to examine potential histopathological changes after injection of sub-lethal concentrations to CA1 pyramidal neurons. Gross anatomical abnormalities in CA1 were observed at above 10 microM DOM (3 pmol in 0.3 microl saline). At 1mM concentration, DOM produces both ipsilateral and contralateral neuronal cell death in CA1, CA3 as well as dentate gyrus subfields. Animal behavioral changes after microinjection were similar to those observed by previous studies through systemic DOM injection. Neuronal degeneration was paralleled by reduced glutamate receptor (NR1, GluR1 and GluR6/7) immunolabeling throughout the whole hippocampal formation. Pre-injection of the AMPA/KA receptor antagonist NBQX (10 microM, 0.3 microl) blocked 1mM DOM-induced neuronal degeneration as well as behavioral symptoms. At concentrations lower than 10 microM, no histopathological changes were observed microscopically, nor were the levels of immunostaining of NR1, GluR1, GluR6/7 different. However, increased immunolabeling of autophosphorylated calcium-calmodulin-dependent kinase II (CaMKII, p-Thr286) and phosphorylated cAMP response element binding protein (CREB, p-Ser133) were observed at 24 h post-injection, suggesting that altered intracellular signal transduction mediated by GluRs might be an adaptive cellular protective mechanism against DOM-induced neurotoxicity.
The false positive congestion problem and probabilistic spectrum sensing

We assess the problem of band congestion due to spectrum sensing false positives combined with a guard-band policy. We calculate the size distribution of spectral white spaces to find that large fractions of a band can be wasted even for small probabilities of false positives in single bins. To ameliorate this problem, we propose an algorithm consisting of random bin sampling followed by density clustering. The clustering algorithm yields a dramatic enhancement of the false positive rejection rate due to large differences between the densities of true and false detections. Simultaneously, a reduction in sensing time is possible due to the fact that the number of randomly sampled bins need only be a small fraction of the total number of bins. We explain the theory behind this method, compare to simulation, and derive heuristic guidelines for its implementation.
Scattering behavior of Lunar Lake playa determined from parabola bidirectional reflectance data

Bidirectional reflectance data obtained with the Portable Apparatus for Rapid Acquisition of Bidirectional Observations of Land and Atmosphere instrument at Lunar Lake, Nevada, were analyzed to determine the scattering properties of playas. The data are approximated by a Lambertian function, except at high phase angles in the solar principal plane, where Fresnel reflectance appears to dominate. The data also depart slightly (15 percent) from a Lambertian function at high emission angles in all azimuthal planes. No published photometric model accounts for the observed data. It is hypothesized that the observed scattering behavior is the superposition of volume and surface (Fresnel) scattering mechanisms.
Usefulness Is Not Trustworthiness

When discussing ways to ensure that a system remains predictable in the face of bugs, attacks, and failures, the students inevitably reach a point where they have to trust that something or set of things behaves as advertised. If a system is well-designed, then this set of trusted components will be small, and interactions between trusted and untrusted components will be constrained by a set of narrow, well understood interfaces. Mobile phones have placed communication, sensing, and computation at the center of nearly all human activity. A great deal of the software written for this new platform is extraordinarily fun and useful.
Spontaneous Unscheduled DNA Synthesis in G1 HeLa Cells

DNA synthesis can be induced in all stages of the division cycle of mammalian cells by such agents as ultraviolet light1, X-irradiation2 and alkylating agents3. This so-called unscheduled DNA synthesis is of low magnitude compared with normal, semi-conservative DNA synthesis4, and has been equated to repair activity in damaged cells. We have observed that significant amounts of 3H-thymidine are incorporated into the DNA of HeLa cells without an extracellular stimulus, and at a time when normal, semi-conservative DNA synthesis does not occur. We report here the results of autoradiographic investigations of this spontaneous unscheduled DNA synthesis and its possible role in normal DNA metabolism.
'Knock down' of DNA polymerase β by RNA interference: recapitulation of null phenotype

DNA polymerase beta (pol beta) is the major DNA polymerase involved in the base excision repair (BER) pathway in mammalian cells and, as a consequence, BER is severely compromised in cells lacking pol beta. Pol beta null (-/-) mouse embryos are not viable and pol beta null cells are hypersensitive to alkylating agents. Using RNA interference (RNAi) technology in mouse cells, we have reduced the pol beta protein and mRNA to undetectable levels. Pol beta knockdown cell lines display a pattern of hypersensitivity to DNA damaging agents similar to that observed in pol beta null cells. Generation of pol beta knock down cells makes it possible to combine the pol beta null phenotype with deficiencies in other DNA repair proteins, thereby helping to elucidate the role of pol beta and its interactions with other proteins in mammalian cells.
Linkage of conidial longevity determinant genes in Neurospora crassa.

Abstract The longevity of conidia of Neurospora crassa was previously defined as their ability to grow after aging in a constant environment. The heritable median lifespan of the wild type is 22 days. Heritable mutants with lifespans of 5–7 days were previously selected. The pleiotropic colony phenotype of the mutants greatly facilitates genetical analysis of their inheritance. Twenty-eight mutants were mapped by recombinational analysis. All but one were located at genes on one arm of the seven chromosomes, linkage group IR; the exception was at the terminus of linkage group VIR. Sixteen of the 17 genes on IR are collectively called the age-1 complex. The average and standard deviation of the distance of 13 intervals between adjacent genes in the complex was 4.9 ± 1.1 map units; hence they appear to be spatially reiterated. Other observations indicate that the genes are also functionally redundant.
Reactivity of free clusters

Recent studies of the reactions of free or isolated transition metal clusters with simple molecules will be reviewed. Cluster chemical reactions are carried out in a laser-vaporization cluster source coupled to a continuous-flow reactor. Reactions can be categorized as chemisorptive (or surface) reactions, and bulk reactions. Chemisorptive reactions can be characterized as facile, in which most cluster sizes of a given metal are equally reactive towards a particular reagent, or activated, in which strong dependence of reactivity on cluster size is found. Under the normal operating conditions of the cluster reactor, a reaction may be kinetically controlled or at equilibrium. Following chemisorption, adsorbate decomposition and product desorption may occur. Specific reactions to be discussed include the reactions of iron clusters with ammonia and with water and the reactions of nickel clusters with ammonia.
Recombination at the Rp1 locus of maize.

The Rp1 locus of maize determines resistance to races of the maize rust fungus (Puccinia sorghi). Restriction fragment length polymorphism markers that closely flank Rp1 were mapped and used to study the genetic fine structure and role of recombination in the instability of this locus. Susceptible progeny, lacking the resistance of either parent, were obtained from test cross progeny of several Rp1 heterozygotes. These susceptible progeny usually had non-parental genotypes at flanking marker loci, thereby verifying their recombinational origin. Seven of eight Rp1 alleles (or genes) studied were clustered within about 0.2 map units of each other. Rpl G, however, mapped from 1–3 map units distal to other Rp1 alleles. Rp5 also mapped distally to most Rp1 alleles. Other aspects of recombination at Rp1 suggested that some alleles carry duplicated sequences, that mispairing can occur, and that unequal crossing-over may be a common phenomenon in this region; susceptible progeny from an Rp1 A homozygote had recombinant flanking marker genotypes, and susceptible progeny from an Rp1 DlRp1 F heterozygote showed both possible nonparental flanking marker genotypes.
Investigations of immunotoxicity and allergic potential induced by topical application of triclosan in mice

AbstractTriclosan is an antimicrobial chemical commonly used occupationally and by the general public. Using select immune function assays, the purpose of these studies was to evaluate the immunotoxicity of triclosan following dermal exposure using a murine model. Triclosan was not identified to be a sensitizer in the murine local lymph node assay (LLNA) when tested at concentrations ranging from 0.75–3.0%. Following a 28-day exposure, triclosan produced a significant increase in liver weight at concentrations of ≥ 1.5%. Exposure to the high dose (3.0%) also produced a significant increase in spleen weights and number of platelets. The absolute number of B-cells, T-cells, dendritic cells and NK cells were significantly increased in the skin draining lymph node, but not the spleen. An increase in the frequency of dendritic cells was also observed in the lymph node following exposure to 3.0% triclosan. The IgM antibody response to sheep red blood cells (SRBC) was significantly increased at 0.75% – but not a...
The Pricing Of U.S. Hospital Services: Chaos Behind A Veil Of Secrecy

Although Americans and foreigners alike tend to think of the U.S. health care system as being a “market-driven” system, the prices actually paid for health care goods and services in that system have remained remarkably opaque. This paper describes how U.S. hospitals now price their services to the various third-party payers and self-paying patients, and how that system would have to be changed to accommodate the increasingly popular concept of “consumer-directed health care.”
Ovarian inhibition of pulsatile luteinizing hormone secretion in prepuberal holstein heifers

Abstract Fifteen prepuberal Holstein heifers were utilized to examine pulsatile luteinizing hormone (LH) secretion before and after ovariectomy. Heifers were ovariectornized at 3, 6 or 9 months of age (n=5/group) and scheduled for blood sampling at 1 week before, 1 week after and 4 weeks following ovariectomy. During each 8 hr sampling period (0600–1400 hr), blood samples (10 ml) were collected via indwelling jugular canulae at 10 min intervals. Prior to ovariectomy, mean plasma LH concentration and both number and amplitude of LH pulses per 8 hr sampling period were similar (P>.05) among age groups, and the absence of a pulsatile LH secretion profile was accompanied by a low mean LH concentration. Within 1 week after ovariectomy, both number of LH pulses and mean LH concentrations increased (P
Endosteal referencing in revision total knee arthroplasty

A method of orienting the femoral and tibial bone cuts relative to the endosteal cortex of the femur and tibia was used in 32 patients who underwent revision total knee arthroplasty. The mean orientation of the femoral component was 96.74° ± 1.03°, mean orientation of the tibial baseplate was 90.71° ± 1.10°, mean anatomic tibiofemoral alignment was 7.42° ± 1.69° of valgus, and mean mechanical tibiofemoral alignment was 1.09° ± 1.83° of valgus. Mean tibial bowing was 1.63° ± 1.57° of valgus, and mean femoral bowing was 0.58° ± 1.53° of varus. Valgus tibial bowing was correlated with valgus orientation of the tibial component (r = .86, P < .000001), and varus femoral bowing was correlated with orientation of the femoral component (r = .54, P = .0054). Referencing the implant position from the endosteal cortex of the intramedullary canals provides a reliable method of achieving satisfactory alignment in most revision total knee arthroplasties; however, bowing of the femur or tibia can affect alignment.