cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TrbB from Conjugative Plasmid F: A Representative of a New Class of Dsbd-Dependent Disulfide Isomerases

Bacterial conjugation is a process by which single-stranded DNA is unidirectionally transferred from donor to recipient bacterium. Conjugative plasmid transfer can accelerate the evolution of bacteria, facilitate various pathogenic processes, and disseminate genes encoding antibiotic resistance. For conjugative plasmid F, proteins involved in plasmid transfer are encoded in the transfer (tra) region. A subset of these proteins assembles to form the F plasmid pore complex, while others are thought to assist in pore complex assembly. One of these accessory proteins, TrbB, is proposed to mediate pore complex formation through disulfide isomerase activity.TrbB is a periplasmic protein encoded by plasmid F. This protein has a predicted thioredoxin-like fold and possesses a C-X-X-C redox active site motif. TrbB is proposed to function in the conjugative process by serving as a disulfide bond isomerase, facilitating proper folding of a subset of F-plasmid-encoded proteins in the periplasm. Previous studies have illustrated that a trbB- F plasmid in Escherichia coli (E.coli)lacking its native disulfide bond isomerase, DsbCE.coli, experiences a 10-fold decrease in mating efficiency, but have not provided direct evidence for disulfide bond isomerase activity. We have demonstrated that TrbB can partially restore transfer of a variant of the distantly related R27 plasmid in which both chromosomal and plasmid genes encoding disulfide bond isomerases are disrupted. Additionally, TrbB displays both disulfide bond isomerase and reductase activities on substrates not involved in conjugation. Unlike canonical members of the disulfide bond isomerase family, however, TrbB lacks both an N-terminal dimerization domain and an alpha-helical linker. Although TrbB diverges structurally from other disulfide bond isomerases, like those isomerases, it relies on a chromosomally encoded protein in E. coli for maintenance of its redox active site.
In vitro bone growth inhibition in the presence of histamine and endotoxins.

A RELATIONSHIP B E T W E E N the presence of microor­ ganisms and periodontal disease has been shown by germ-free work, but the nature of the link has never been satisfactorily explained. In the normal state, bac­ teria are found in close proximity to soft tissue and bone in the oral cavity. This oral flora is vast in both variety and magnitude. Many of these organisms complete their life cycle within the plaque of the gin­ gival crevice, 1 to 2 millimeters from the alveolar bone. These organisms contain endotoxin, and endotoxininduced reactions in soft tissue overlying the alveolar bone have produced localized osteoclastic activity. In the latter paper, the authors observed osteoclastic ac­ tivity in the bone underlying a localized Schwartzman reaction in rabbit oral mucosa. It was not clear whether this bone loss was a result of the pressure from the in­ flamed overlying tissue or from direct bacterial invasion. Apparently, large concentrations of endotoxin on an intact mucous membrane will not produce an inflam­ matory lesion. Some local aeent must abrade or disrupt the integrity of the epithelial tissue for an inflammation to start. The superficial ulcerated lesions thus produced closely resemble those found in acute periodontal dis­ ease.
Evaluation of alternative decay control products for control of postharvest Rhizopus soft rot of sweetpotatoes.

Abstract Postharvest Rhizopus soft rot of sweetpotato, caused by Rhizopus stolonifer, is managed by minimizing injuries incurred during harvesting and packing, curing roots immediately after harves...
Relation of systemic-to-pulmonary artery collateral flow in single ventricle physiology to palliative stage and clinical status.

Systemic–to–pulmonary collateral arteries (SPCs) are common in patients with single-ventricle physiology, but their impact on clinical outcomes is unclear. The aim of this study was to use retrospective cardiac magnetic resonance data to determine the relation between SPC flow and palliative stage and clinical status in single-ventricle physiology. Of 116 patients, 78 were after Fontan operation (median age 19 years) and 38 were at an earlier palliative stage (median age 2 years). SPC flow was quantified as aortic flow minus total caval flow or total pulmonary vein flow minus total branch pulmonary artery flow. Median SPC flow/body surface area (BSA) was higher in the pre-Fontan group (1.06 vs 0.43 L/min/m 2 , p 2 = 0.17, p 2 = 0.37, p
A Characteristic-Like Method for Thermally Expandable Flow on Unstructured Triangular Grids

Finite-difference-like discretizations are developed for the time-dependent Navier-Stokes equations and the thermal energy equation on Delaunay triangulations of the flow domain. The flow is assumed to be thermally expandable ; that is, the density varies only with temperature. A characteristic-like (CL) method is used to discretize the temporal and convective terms. The dual variable method reduces the size of the discrete system by a factor of five.
Design, synthesis, and initial evaluation of high-affinity technetium bombesin analogues.

Potent antagonists of bombesin-like peptides have shown great potential for applications in cancer therapy. A 99mTc-labeled agent capable of identifying patients who could benefit from these emerging therapies would have a great impact on patient management. This study involves the synthesis and initial evaluation of technetium diaminedithiolate analogues derived from the potent bombesin analogue Pyr-Gln-Lys-Leu-Gly-Asn-Gln-Trp-Ala-Val-Gly-His-Leu-Met-NH2 (Lys3-bombesin). We coupled two diaminedithiol (DADT) bifunctional chelating agents (BCAs 1 and 2) to the Lys3 residue at the N-terminal region that is not required for binding to the receptor. 99mTc labeling was performed by ligand exchange on addition of [99mTc]glucoheptonate to a solution of the adduct at room temperature. Two products were obtained from each adduct on analysis by HPLC. The major to minor product ratios of the 99mTc-labeled analogues were 3:1 for products from BCA 1 and 9:1 for the products from BCA 2. Macroscopic amounts of the 99Tc ...
Gain of d-Alanyl-d-lactate or d-Lactyl-d-alanine Synthetase Activities in Three Active-Site Mutants of the Escherichia coli d-Alanyl-d-alanine Ligase B†

Escherichia coli d-Ala-d-Ala ligase (Ddl) and the vancomycin resistance-conferring protein VanA are homologues, but VanA has gained the ability to activate d-lactate (d-Lac) and make the depsipeptide d-Ala-d-Lac as well as d-Ala-d-Ala. This depsipeptide ligase activity of VanA is its crucial catalytic function necessary for phenotypic vancomycin resistance. We report here that three E. coli DdlB active-site mutants that we made previously based on X-ray structure/function predictions have gained interesting new ligase activities. Y216, S150, and E15 form a hydrogen-bonding triad that orients an ω-loop to close over the active site and also to orient substrate d-Ala1. Mutants Y216F and S150A have gained depsipeptide (d-Ala-d-Lac, d-Ala-d-hydroxybutyrate) ligase activity with dipeptide/depsipeptide partition ratios that mimic the pH behavior of VanA. E15Q has negligible depsipeptide synthetase activity but now uniquely activates d-Lac as the electrophilic rather than the nucleophilic partner for condensatio...
The conformation of oxytocin in dimethylsulfoxide as revealed by carbon-13 spin-lattice relaxation times.

Abstract Information was obtained on rates of overall molecular reorientation and segmental motion of amino acid sidechains of oxytocin in dimethylsulfoxide by determination of spin-lattice relaxation times (T1) at 25 MHz for carbon-13 in natural abundance in the hormone. The T1 values of the α-carbons of amino acid residues located in the 20-membered ring of oxytocin are all about 50 msec. The overall correlation time for the hormone backbone was estimated to be 8.8 × 10−10 sec. The sidechains of Tyr, Ile and Gln undergo segmental motion with respect to the backbone of the ring. The T1 value of the α-carbon of the Leu residue is greater than for any α-carbon in the ring, indicating an increased mobility of the backbone of the C-terminal acyclic peptide as compared to the ring. The β- and γ-carbons of the Pro residue undergo an exo-endo interconversion with regard to the plane formed by α-carbon, δ-carbon and N atom of the Pro pyrollidine ring. These data are discussed in light of results from other experimental and theoretical studies, including carbon-13 spin-lattice relaxation times for oxytocin in aqueous solution.
Loadings, Size Distributions, and Sources of Compound Classes in Los Angeles Aerosol

AbstractA low-pressure impactor, equipped with ZnSe impaction substrates, was used to sample ambient Los Angeles aerosol. This new approach to aerosol characterization provides size-resolved data on the loadings of organic and inorganic compound classes. The loadings and size distributions of sulfate, nitrate, aliphatic carbon, carbonyl, and organonitrate groups were determined and were used to investigate the sources of these aerosol components. The source resolution studies revealed that secondary aerosol formation processes contribute significantly to the loadings of several aerosol compound classes.
Development context driven change awareness and analysis framework

Recent work on workspace monitoring allows conflict pre- diction early in the development process, however, these approaches mostly use syntactic differencing techniques to compare different program versions. In contrast, traditional change-impact analysis techniques analyze related versions of the program only after the code has been checked into the master repository. We propose a novel approach, DeCAF (Development Context Analysis Framework), that leverages the development context to scope a change impact analysis technique. The goal is to characterize the impact of each developer on other developers in the team. There are various client applications such as task prioritization, early conflict detection, and providing advice on testing that can benefit from such a characterization. The DeCAF frame- work leverages information from the development context to bound the iDiSE change impact analysis technique to analyze only the parts of the code base that are of interest. Bounding the analysis can enable DeCAF to efficiently com- pute the impact of changes using a combination of program dependence and symbolic execution based approaches.
Long-term viability of the temporalis muscle/fascia flap used for temporomandibular joint reconstruction

Temporalis muscle/fascia axial flaps (TFs) were used in 115 temporomandibular joints (TMJs) in 81 patients to correct ankylosis (n = 25 joints), traumatic defects (n = 8), congenital anomalies (n = 4), defects resulting from tumor resection (n = 2), degenerative joint disease (n = 52), autoimmune arthritides (n = 21), and lateral capsule flaccidity (n = 3). The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 5.5 years. Seven patients (8.6% of the group; 10 TMJs) were reevaluated for recurrent symptoms (pain and decreased motion), with a mean of 1.7 years (range = 1 to 3 years) postoperatively. Four of these patients (seven TMJs) had magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as part of their diagnostic workup and four patients (five TMJs) required a second operative procedure. This study reports the results of the MRI, intraoperative, and histologic evaluations of the TFs in these seven patients. The MRIs showed vascularized tissue between the condyle and roof of the glenoid fossa in all seven joints examined. The signal was consistent with muscle and/or fat as opposed to scar tissue. All flaps examined at the time of surgery (arthroscopy, n = 1; arthrotomy, n = 4) were in place and had the gross appearance of normal muscle. Histologic examination of biopsies of four flaps indicated the presence of viable muscle with normal-appearing nuclei. The results of this study indicate that the TF does survive when it is carefully dissected and inferiorly based to preserve blood supply.
A finite element model of stress-mediated vascular adaptation: application to abdominal aortic aneurysms

Despite rapid expansion of our knowledge of vascular adaptation, developing patient-specific models of diseased arteries is still an open problem. In this study, we extend existing finite element models of stress-mediated growth and remodelling of arteries to incorporate a medical image-based geometry of a healthy aorta and, then, simulate abdominal aortic aneurysm. Degradation of elastin initiates a local dilatation of the aorta while stress-mediated turnover of collagen and smooth muscle compensates the loss of elastin. Stress distributions and expansion rates during the aneurysm growth are studied for multiple spatial distribution functions of elastin degradation and kinetic parameters. Temporal variations of the degradation function are also investigated with either direct time-dependent degradation or stretch-induced degradation as possible biochemical and biomechanical mechanisms for elastin degradation. The results show that this computational model has the capability to capture the complexities of aneurysm progression due to variations of geometry, extent of damage and stress-mediated turnover as a step towards patient-specific modelling.
Investigating Gains from EWB-USA Involvement

AbstractThere is a national need for an increased quantity of engineers. In addition to pure quantity, there are calls for a more diverse engineering population capable of addressing increasingly complex and global future challenges. Many acknowledge that current institutionalized models of education may not be filling these needs and that extracurricular experiences may recruit and retain diverse engineers while supplementing traditional education. This research investigates the internationally-focused and largely unstudied organization, Engineers Without Borders (EWB-USA), to understand members’ perceptions of what an engineer needs to know, what gaps they experience in their education, and what gains they experience from their membership in EWB-USA. Responses to open-ended questions were collected from 505 members at five geographically spread regional EWB-USA workshops. These responses were analyzed for the total population and disaggregated for gender and professional status. The most common gains me...
A mathematical model of dynamic social networks

A mathematical model for dynamic networks is developed that is based on closed, rather than open, sets. For a social network, it seems appropriate to use a neighborhood concept to establish these sets. We then define a rigorous concept of continuous change, and show that it shares some of the properties associated with the continuity of the calculus. We demonstrate that continuity is local in nature, in that if the network change is discontinuous, it will be so at a single point and the discontinuity will be apparent in that point’s immediate neighborhood. Necessary and sufficient criteria for continuity are provided when the change involves only the addition, or deletion, of individual nodes or connections (edges). To illustrate large scale continuous change, we choose a practical process which reduces a complex network to its fundamental cycles, in the course of which most triadically closed subportions are removed. Finally, we explore several variants of the neighborhood concept, and prove that a rigorous notion of fuzzy closure can be defined.
Modern innovation management theory and the evolving US lighting industry

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to use a series of disruptive innovations in the 150‐year history of the US lighting industry to test whether two key innovation management theories retain their explanatory power as market structures change.Design/methodology/approach – Historical case studies of four successive disruptive lighting innovations are used: incandescent light bulbs, fluorescent light bulbs, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFBs) and light emitting diodes (LEDs). Descriptions of each innovation include the new technologies, the evolving market structures, and how the innovating companies managed their risks during the transitions.Findings – This paper finds that two contemporary theories on absorptive capacity and disruptive innovations retain validity and remain broadly applicable even as market structures change overtime from oligopoly and cartel to free market competition.Originality/value – By juxtaposing historic incandescent and fluorescent bulb innovations in constrained market co...
Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Aspects of Antibiotic Use in High-Risk Populations

The study of pharmacokinetics includes the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of drugs. The pharmacologic effect that a medication has on the body is known as pharmacodynamics. With antimicrobials, pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic parameters become especially important because of the association between host drug concentrations, microorganism eradication, and resistance. This article focuses on the pharmacokinetic changes that can occur with antimicrobials when they are used in patients at high risk of infections and how they influence pharmacodynamic effects. The populations described here include patients with obesity and diabetes mellitus, renal or hepatic failure, chronic lung disease, severe burns, and long-term prosthetic devices and the elderly.
TU-A-301-07: Experimental and Theoretical Validation of Breast Tomosynthesis Reconstructions along Oblique Planes

Purpose: Digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) is a 3D imaging modality in which tomographic sections of the breast are generated from a limited range of x‐ray projections. Conventional practice is to perform reconstructions possessing pitches within the angular range of the DBT scan, since the Central Slice theorem states that Fourier space is sampled within double‐ napped cones (DNCs) whose opening angle matches that angular range. This work investigates the possibility for both resolution and super‐ resolution (i.e., sub‐pixel resolution) outside the angular range of the DNCs.Methods: Because the image of an object is translated in sub‐pixel detector element increments with each projection, our prior work has demonstrated that DBT is capable of super‐resolution. The previous study assumed a reconstruction plane parallel to the breast support; our current work analyzes super‐resolution in oblique reconstruction planes. Experimentally, a bar pattern phantom was imaged with a commercial DBT system using a goniometry stand, and reconstruction was performed in the oblique plane of the bar patterns. Clinical images of microcalcifications were similarly reconstructed in various oblique planes. Subsequently, an analytical framework for investigating super‐resolution in oblique reconstructions was developed by calculating the filtered backprojection (FBP) reconstruction of a high frequency sine input.Results: Bar pattern reconstructions showed visibility of frequencies both less than and greater than the alias frequency of the detector at pitches well outside the angular range of the DBT scan. Visibility of microcalcifications did not differ considerably using similar oblique reconstruction planes. For analytical proof of super‐resolution in oblique reconstruction planes, we demonstrated that FBP could properly resolve a high frequency sine input whose Fourier transform is non‐vanishing outside the DNCs of frequency space. Conclusions: This work provides a platform for investigating super‐ resolution in oblique reconstruction planes whose pitches are outside the angular range of the DBT scan.
DNA-templated fabrication of nickel nanocluster chains

One-dimensional Ni(0) nanocluster chains have been formed on deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) templates by a multi-step process: activation of DNA by Pd(II), self-organization of Pd(0) nanoparticles on DNA, and deposition of Ni(0) on the Pd(0) on DNA by electroless plating. Immobilization of DNA molecules on a solid support enabled reproducible fabrication of the metallic one-dimensional structures. Analysis of the structures by atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-vis spectrometry (UVS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) revealed that they are microns long, ∼22 nm thick, and made of Ni(0) and Pd(0). Parallel arrays of Ni(0) nanocluster chains have been obtained by metallization of DNA templates oriented by molecular combing. The approach outlined here could be useful in the development of magnetic nanowires.
CRT-132 Clinical Outcomes Comparison Among Different Strategies Of Lesion Preparation For Heavily Calcified Coronary Lesions With Drug-eluting Stents Implantation: Plain Balloon, Cutting Balloon And Rotational Atherectomy

This study aimed to compare the outcome following plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA), cutting balloon angioplasty (CBA) and rotational atherectomy (ROTA) in patients with heavily calcified coronary lesions (HCCL). Clinical data of the patients with HCCL who underwent POBA (n=220), CBA (n=253), or
Fe-complex of a tetraamido macrocyclic ligand: Spectroscopic characterization and catalytic oxidation studies

Abstract This work presents the spectroscopic characterization and reaction studies of a FeIII-complex (2) of a tetraamido macrocyclic ligand (1, 15,15-dimethyl-5,8,13,17-tetrahydro-5,8,13,17-tetraaza-dibenzo[a,g]cyclotridecene-6,7,14,16-tetraone). 2 was characterized primarily by means of EPR. In agreement with the magnetic moment (μeff = 3.87 BM), EPR spectroscopy of 2 shows signals consistent with S = 3/2 intermediate-spin ferric-iron. Besides EPR, mass spectrometry, UV/vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry were used to further characterize 2. 2 is soluble in water and activates hydrogen peroxide under ambient conditions. 2 catalytically bleaches dyes, pulp and paper effluents and oxidizes several amines to their corresponding N-oxides with high turnover number and good yields.
Optimal needle arrangement for intraoperative planning in permanent I-125 prostate implants

One limitation of intraoperative planning of permanent prostate implants is that needles must already be in the gland before planning images are acquired. Improperly placed needles often restrict the capability of generating optimal seed placement. We developed guiding principles for the proper layout of needles within the treatment volume. The Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center planning system employs a genetic algorithm to find the optimal seed implantation pattern consistent with pre-assigned constraints (needle geometry, uniformity, conformity and the avoidance of high doses to urethra and rectum). Ultrasound volumes for twelve patients with I-125 implants were used to generate six plans per patient (total 72 plans) with different needle arrangements. The plans were evaluated in terms of V100 (percentage prostate volume receiving at least the prescription dose), U135 (percentage urethra volume receiving at least 135% of prescription dose), and CI (conformity index, the ratio of treatment volume to prescription dose volume.) The method termed POSTCTR, in which needles were placed on the periphery of the largest ultrasound slice and posterior central needles were placed as needed, consistently gave superior results for all prostate sizes. Another arrangement, labelled POSTLAT, where the needles were placed peripherally with additional needles in the posterior lateral lobes, also gave satisfactory results. We advocate two needle arrangements, POSTCTR and POSTLAT, with the former giving better results.
Acute and repeated administration of fluphenazine-N-mustard alters levels of tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA in subsets of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons

Abstract Changes in striatal dopamine turnover and levels of tyrosine hydroxylase messenger RNA were examined in mice injected with D2 selective doses of fluphenazine-N-mustard, an irreversible blocker of dopaminergic receptors. The animals were killed at different times after acute and repeated injections of the drug and dopamine turnover was assessed by measuring dopamine and its metabolite, dihydroxyphenylalanine, in the striatum. Tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA was measured at the single-cell level in neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta and the ventral tegmental area with quantitative in situ hybridization histochemistry. Acute treatment with fluphenazine-N-mustard induced an increase in both striatal dopamine turnover and the level of tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA in the substantia nigra but not the ventral tegmental area. After two days of repeated drug injections (twice daily), tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA was decreased in the substantia nigra despite the persistence of an elevated dopamine turnover in the striatum. The decrease in mRNA was still observed after four days of repeated treatment while, at that time, turnover values were not different from control. No changes were observed in the ventral tegmental area. The initial increase in tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA in substantia nigra pars compacta suggests that activation of nigrostriatal neurons triggers a very rapid increase in genomic expression of the enzyme. The following decrease in mRNA levels precedes desensitization to the effects of the drug on dopamine turnover, further illustrating a lack of correspondence between increased neurotransmission and levels of tyrosine hydroxylase mRNA in catecholaminergic neurons of the central nervous system.
Fracture toughness, adhesion and mechanical properties of low-K dielectric thin films measured by nanoindentation

The semiconductor industry is gradually moving from well-established AlySiO technology to the new Cuylow-k interconnects, 2 which brings a challenge in terms of poor thermal andyor mechanical properties of low-K dielectric films.Extensive nanoindentation studies have been undertaken on organo-silicate glass (OSG) low-K films to explore their mechanical and fracture properties.A cube corner indentation method was used to measure the fracture toughness of the OSG films, which ranges from 0.01 to 0.05 MPaOm .Film fracture was also observed during superlayer indentation adhesion testing.Interfacial cracks kinked into the film 1y2
Quantification of hyperaemia bordering ischaemic myocardium in experimental myocardial infarction

To quantify and determine the time course of hyperaemia adjacent to acutely ischaemic myocardium, 19 dogs underwent open-chest coronary-artery occlusion and 4 had sham-occlusion. At 15 min (19 animals) and 45 min (9 animals) post-occlusion regional myocardial blood flow (RMBF) was measured by the radionuclide-labelled microsphere technique. The dogs were sacrificed after 24 hours, the hearts were excised, sectioned into four segments from apex to base, and stained with triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC). Transmural samples were taken from necrotic areas, normal areas, and the zone bordering the infarct. Each sample was divided into an endocardial and epicardial layer. At 15 min post-occlusion RMBF in the border zone was 16% greater than in the normal myocardium (116 ± 16 vs 100 ± 12 cm3·min−1·100 g−1; P 0.05) in RMBF between sites equivalent to those sampled in occluded animals. These studies document a hyperaemic border zone persisting at least 45 min post-occlusion. Hyperaemia appears to be more prominent and of longer duration in the epicardium than endocardium.
Geriatric Psychiatry Consultations in a University Hospital

A review was conducted of the records of 147 patients above the age of 60 in a 350-bed general university hospital for whom a request for consultations was made over a two-year period by a geriatric psychiatry division in a department of psychiatry. Findings were compared with those obtained by Mainprize and Rodin and by Ruskin. Most referrals in the present study were from internal medicine as they were in the other two studies. The principal reason for referrals in this and in Mainprize and Rodin's study was depression (48% and 37%, respectively) but not in Ruskin's study (10%). The primary DSM-III-R diagnoses of the referred patients in this study were affective disorder (27%), adjustment disorders (26%), and dementia (22%). Affective disorder was also the most frequent diagnosis in Ruskin's study. Psychotropic medication was the most frequently cited recommendation in all three studies.
Islands and holes as measures of mass balance in growth of the (√3×√3)R30° phase of Ag on Si(111)

It is well known that conversion of $\text{Si}(111)\text{\ensuremath{-}}(7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}7)$ into the $(\sqrt{3}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\sqrt{3})R30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ phase of adsorbed Ag requires a change in the Si density, and causes formation of islands and holes at the surface. By mass balance, the ratio of areas of islands and holes $({R}_{\text{IH}})$ should be approximately 1. However, we find that the ratio is significantly higher, depending on preparation conditions. A possible explanation would be that there are different types of $(\sqrt{3}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\sqrt{3})R30\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}$ structures. However, neither scanning tunneling microscopy nor density-functional theory (implemented as a genetic algorithm search) supports this explanation. We propose that the edges of the islands contain excess Ag which becomes available to expand the holes, when the island perimeter decreases. Under certain conditions, excess Ag is also made available by dissolution of small islands that are Ag rich.
Moments of intensity and log intensity: new asymptotic results for waves in power-law media

We study the statistical moments of intensity and log intensity for waves in three-dimensional random media with pure power-law spectra. Results from both asymptotic calculations and numerical simulations are presented for an incident plane wave through multiple phase screens with a power-law index of 1.7. An improved asymptotic scheme is applied to the asymptotic calculation. This scheme reorganizes the conventional strong-scattering series into a new series that. converges more rapidly. The first-order term in the new series is often sufficient for quantitatively useful answers in the strong-scattering regime.
AUTOANTIBODY TESTING IN THE EVALUATION OF PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY

A recent development in the evaluation of peripheral neuropathy patients has been the identification of autoantibodies directed against various peripheral nerve antigens. For some conditions, assay for the antibodies can be very helpful in confirming a diagnosis. In others, an antibody may be associated with clinical findings that are neither distinctive nor specific, and the role of the antibody in the pathogenesis of the clinical disease may remain uncertain. The appropriate use of antibody assays in clinical diagnosis and management is therefore often unclear. This article highlights the historical background for the best-described "antinerve" antibodies, and reviews the biochemistry, immunology, pathophysiology, and treatment implications of the associated clinical conditions.
Evaluation of a Microconcentric Nebulizer and Its Suction Effect in a Capillary Electrophoresis Interface with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

An experimental consideration and common difficulty when interfacing capillary electrophoresis (CE) with plasma mass spectrometry via a pneumatic nebulizer is the suction effect caused by the natural aspiration of the nebulizer. This is a significant effect in terms of the CE experiment, since it can seriously degrade the separation of analytes. In this study, a pneumatic microconcentric nebulizer was studied as a CE interface with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). A self-aspirating sheath flow interface technique was used to reduce the suction effect of the nebulizer by using a separation of metallothionein I and ferritin. However, the sheath flow or make-up buffer technique has not been studied sufficiently with respect to all the effects on the CE analysis. In this evaluation, a sol-gel frit was placed in the sample introduction end in this CE system, and the contribution of the suction effect to both sample response from sample loading and elution times was observed. It was found that the studied microconcentric nebulizer could be used effectively with the self-aspirating sheath flow technique; however, the contribution of the suction effect to sample loading to the CE system is very high. The peak area response difference of an open capillary vs. a sol-gel fritted capillary was approximately one order of magnitude greater. Also, the fritted capillary experiments showed that the contribution to migration time from aspiration of the nebulizer through the CE capillary is very significant.
Rat Ovarian 20α-Hydroxy steroid Dehydrogenase: Effects of Estrogens and Pituitary Gonadotrophins1

High levels of rat ovarian 20ahydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity relate to the presence of mature or freshly ruptured follicles, while low values are associated with a “functioning” corpus luteum. Secretion of 20α-hydroxypregn-4-en-3-one from the rat ovary coincides with the level of steroid dehydrogenase activity in the gland. Estrogen administration failed to increase or induce 20α- hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity in pseudopregnant or prepubertal rats, negating a direct stimulatory action of estrogen on the enzyme or on the synthesis of new enzyme protein. Follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone failed to initiate steroid dehydrogenase activity or to cause ovulation in prepubertal rat ovaries when administered alone or with diethylstilbestrol. Simultaneous administration of luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone, on the other hand, produced measurable enzyme activity and resulted in ovulation, estrogen secretion and corpus luteum formation.
The effect of tunnel placement on rotational stability after ACL reconstruction: evaluation with use of triaxial accelerometry in a porcine model.

Purpose Conventional transtibial technique fails to restore the rotational knee stability in spite of successful anterior laxity, while anatomic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using the anteromedial portal technique has been developed expecting better rotational kinematics because of closer reproduction of the native anterior cruciate ligament anatomy. However, the rotational instability after those two procedures has not been fully examined especially in terms of dynamic component of the rotational stability. The purpose was to assess the effect of anatomic versus non-anatomic tunnel placement on rotational knee stability after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction using triaxial accelerometry.
Balanced Literacy in an Urban School District.

Balanced literacy is a philosophical orientation that assumes that reading and writing achievement are developed through instruction and support in multiple environments in which teachers use various approaches that differ by level of teacher support and child control. The authors describe 1 urban school district's real-world attempt to create a balance between reading and writing, between teacher-directed and student-centered activities, and between skills-based and meaning-based approaches to literacy instruction. To measure balanced literacy components, the authors used a triangulation strategy with multiple methods of data collection that included classroom observations, inventories of physical environments of classrooms and school buildings, teacher surveys, and student interviews. Results suggest that teacher-directed instruction, a fundamental aspect of balanced literacy, was implemented less often than either independent reading or writing activities. Teachers appeared to allocate instructional ti...
Political and Social Reform in China: Alive and Walking

The twin drivers of long-term Chinese social and political conflict and change—an increasingly robust society and a more adaptive party-state—have continued to gather strength, leading not toward Western democracy but uneven and fragile reform and liberalization.
International regulation without international government: Improving IO performance through orchestration

International organizations (IOs) have been widely criticized as ineffective. Yet scholars and practitioners assessing IO performance frequently focus on traditional modes of governance such as treaties and inter-state dispute-resolution mechanisms. When they observe poor performance, moreover, they often prescribe a strengthening of those same activities. We call this reliance on traditional state-based mechanisms “International Old Governance” (IOG). A better way to understand and improve IO performance is to consider the full range of ways in which IOs can and do operate—including, increasingly, by reaching out to private actors and institutions, collaborating with them, and supporting and shaping their activities. Such actions are helping to develop an intricate global network of public, private and mixed institutions and norms, partially orchestrated by IOs, that we call “Transnational New Governance” (TNG). With proper orchestration by IOs, TNG can ameliorate both “state failure”—the inadequacies of IOG—and “market failure”—the problems that result when the creation and evolution of norm-setting institutions is highly decentralized. Orchestration thus provides a significant way for IOs to improve their regulatory performance. Some IOs already engage actively with private actors and institutions—we provide a range of illustrations, highlighting the activities of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Yet there remains a significant “orchestration deficit” that provides real opportunities for IOs. We draw on the lessons of existing IO activities to suggest additional possibilities for improving IO performance.
Upcycling waste plastics into carbon nanomaterials: A review

Polymer production and utilization are currently widespread and have greatly improved people's standards of living. However, due to their stable and nonbiodegradable nature, postconsumer polymers pose challenging issues to the environment and ecosystems. Efforts are being made not only to contain the generation of polymer wastes and associated littering but, also, to find ways of utilizing them sustainably. Aside from mechanical recycling, which turns postconsumer polymers into new polymer products, and thermal recycling, which releases the thermal energy contained within waste plastics through combustion, chemical recycling converts waste polymers into feedstock for chemicals/materials/fuels production. This manuscript reviews prior work on a special application of the particular chemical recycling route that converts polymers into carbon-based nanomaterials. These materials feature extraordinary physical and chemical properties with tremendous applications potential. However, their production processes are both resource- and energy-intensive. Yet, by taking advantage of the high carbon content of waste polymers, as well as of their high energy content, a cost-effective, environmentally-friendly, and self-sustaining production of carbon nanomaterials can be achieved. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2014, 131, 39931.
Density matrix and unimodular coherence functions

Abstract The most general form of the density matrix consistent with the constraint that coherence index is unimodular is obtained. Some direct results from this density matrix are also discussed.
A Reflective Middleware Framework for Communication in Dynamic Environments

The goal of a flexible communication framework is to allow dynamic customization of complex communication protocols without compromising the overall system performance. However, the communication protocols provided in successful middleware frameworks are usually tailored to specific and/or static requirements are not suitable for dynamic environments. In dynamic environments, applications must be able to customize communication protocols on-the-fly in order to respond to change requirements while protecting the system from reaching inconsistent states that can lead to deadlocks, livelocks and incorrect execution semantics. Hence, there is a need to identify interprotocol and protocol-(middleware) service interactions in order to ensure safe flexibility of the system. The work described here proposes a reflective communication framework (RCF) capable of expressing different levels of dynamic customization of communication protocols while ensuring safe customization of communication protocolss.
Mining the digital library

Purpose – This paper seeks to examine text mining as a launching point for innovative library services.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a discussion of the subject.Findings – Text mining is a relatively new field, but with the rapid increase of available digital content, the possibility of creating innovative digital library services based on lexical and semantic analysis is becoming a reality. The field of text mining is discussed, and some of the issues and challenges are explored.Originality/value – This paper suggests ways to enhance services by leveraging existing digital content using the techniques of digital text mining. It suggests ways for improving library services based on the vast wealth of digital content that is continually growing.
Scientific independence and credibility in sociopolitical processes.

Absence of scientific independence can be associated with a lack of impartiality and therefore with a lack of credibility. Yet scientific credibility is essential for effective participation in sociopolitical processes—processes that necessarily involve politics and often result in decisions about land management, conservation, and public policy. All scientists are aware of these processes, many wish to participate, and some wish to advocate for their personal policy preferences. However, scientists who lack impartiality often create the perception of bias, and they can suffer a concomitant loss of credibility. Some policy-makers also have personal preferences for certain policies, and the term normative policies can be used here even though all policies can be viewed as normative in the sense that they involve multiple inputs. Hence, the idea that scientists must provide unbiased information for unbiased application by policy-makers is sometimes wrong. For scientists to be effective participants in sociopolitical processes that lead to conservation policies or related actions, they should inform the public about issues while avoiding direct involvement in policy development and the political considerations this necessarily entails. Scientists should only participate in the decision-making process with impartial information and in their proper role as objective scientists.
Water management and productivity in planted forests

As climate variability endangers water security in many parts of the world, maximizing the carbon balance of plantation forestry is of global importance. High plant water use efficiency is generally associated with lower plant productivity, so an explicit balance in resources is necessary to optimize water yield and tree growth. This balance requires predicting plant water use under different soil, climate, and planting conditions, as well as a mechanism to account for trade-offs in ecosystem services. Several strategies for reducing the water use of forests have been published but there is little research tying these to operational forestry. Using data from silvicultural and biofuel feedstock research in pine plantation ownership in the southeastern USA, proposed water management tools were evaluated against known treatment responses to estimate water yield, forest productivity, and economic outcomes. Ecosystem impacts were considered qualitatively and related to water use metrics. This work is an attempt to measure and compare important variables to make sound decisions about plantations and water use.
CONFIDENTIALITY and the School Counselor

Several positions were presented regarding the confidentiality of information received by a school counselor in a counseling interview with a pupil who is a minor. The position that such information may enjoy only limited confidentiality was taken, either directly or indirectly, by 3 of the 4 positions presented. The thesis was developed that a satisfactory counseling relationship may be established with such clients under the condition of limited confidentiality of communication.
Social allostasis: anticipatory regulation of the internal milieu.

Social regulation of the internal milieu is a fundamental behavioral adaptation. Cephalic capability is reflected by anticipatory behaviors to serve systemic physiological regulation. Homeostatic regulation, a dominant perspective, reflects reactive responses; allostatic regulation, the physiology of change, emphasizes longer-term anticipatory, and feedforward systems. Steroids, such as cortisol, and peptides such as corticotrophin releasing hormone are but one example of such anticipatory regulatory systems. The concept of “allostasis” is in part to take account of anticipatory control amidst diverse forms of adaptation underlying this regulatory adaptation that supports social contact and internal milieu.
Host cell-dependent alterations in envelope components of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 virions.

In addition to gp41 and gp120, an array of cell adhesion molecules is present on the envelope of human immunodeficiencyvirustype1(HIV-1).Toexaminetheroleofthehostcellintheacquisitionofthesemolecules by virions, both laboratory-adapted and primary isolates were sequentially passaged into different host cells. Viruses obtained from the various host cells were examined for the presence of 10 different cell-derived molecules by a virus binding enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Virus progeny raised in peripheral blood mononuclear cells expressed most of the adhesion molecules tested, with the level of LFA-1 being the highest. When viruses were passaged into CEM-SS or SupT1 cells, the expression of most of the adhesion molecules on thevirusenvelopewaslost.Incontrast,whenviruseswerepassagedintoMT2cells,thevirusprogenyborehigh levelsofLFA-3,ICAM-1,andmajorhistocompatibilitycomplexclassesIandII.Thesestudiesdemonstratefor the first time the host cell dependence of the adhesion molecule profile present on the envelope of primary isolates of HIV-1. The presence of several adhesion molecules that have not previously been identified as componentsoftheenvelopeofeitherlaboratoryorprimaryisolatesisalsodescribed.Inaddition,weshowthat the adhesion molecule profile of the virions is acquired, or lost, within one passage and is maintained with subsequent passages in the same cell type. A variety of cellular materials, including enzymes, cell membrane proteins, and adhesion molecules, are known to be acquired by a diverse group of viruses during growth in various cell types. Thus, complement control proteins such as decayaccelerating factor (CD55) and the membrane inhibitor of reactive lysis (CD59) are known to be associated with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) (38), major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II proteins are associated with feline leukemia virus (3) and Friend virus (5), ATPase is associated with avian myeloblastosis virus (11), interleukin-2 (IL-2) receptor is associated with HTLV-1 (25), and protein phosphatases PP1 and PP2A are associated with HCMV (28). The functional ability of many of these host cell-acquired molecules has also been demonstrated; for example, the phosphatases PP1 and PP2A on HCMV were recently shown to cause hypophosphorylation of the cellular proteins to which the virus binds (28), and the IL-2 receptor on HTLV-1 was shown to retain the ability to bind its ligand (25). TheassociationofMHCclassIandIIwithlaboratorystrains
Group Therapy for Dissertation-Writers: The Right Modality for a Struggling Population.

Abstract Students at the “ABD” stage of graduate school often struggle with isolation that may retard-or block-their efforts to produce a successful doctoral dissertation. This paper describes a therapy group, offered as part of a university counseling service, that seemed helpful in countering that isolation, and in helping members forge ahead with their work. Through the group process, members not only gained a sense of connection and community, but developed new perspectives on themselves, their advisors, and the dissertation writing process.