cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of diverging apertures to minimize the edge scatter in passive scattering proton therapy

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of diverging-cut aperture to minimize collimator contamination in proton therapy. Two sets of apertures with nondivergent and divergent edge were fabricated to produce a 10 cm × 10 cm field at the radiation isocenter of a single-room proton therapy unit. Transverse profiles were acquired in a scanning water tank with both aperture sets. Up to 9.5% extra dose was observed from aperture scattering near the field edges with the nondivergent aperture set at 2 cm above the water surface and remained 3.0% at depth of 10 cm. For the divergent set, the contamination was reduced to less than 3.5% and 1.3%, respectively. Our study demonstrated that scattering from apertures contaminated the dose distribution near the field edge at shallow depth. A diverging-cut aperture was capable of reducing the contamination and is recommended for use in passive scattering proton therapy, especially when critical organs are lateral and proximal to the target at shallow depth.
Museum Exhibit and Photographic Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article: Money: Tokens of Value from Around the World. Burton Benedict Money: Tokens of Value from Around the World. A catalog of the exhibition by Burton Benedict.
Factors Affecting Formation and Structure of DNA Intrastrand Cross-Links by Dinuclear Platinum Complexes

Dinuclear platinum complexes are currently undergoing pre-clinical evaluation. The development of this series has been driven by the hypothesis that a different spectrum of antitumor activity in comparison to that of cisplatin (cis-[PtCl2(NH3)2], cis-DDP) will be achieved by altering the mode of DNA binding relative to that of cisplatin and its analogues. Dinuclear platinum complexes form a unique array of DNA adducts including (Pt, Pt) interstrand and (Pt, Pt) intrastrand cross-links. A (Pt, Pt) intrastrand adduct between two adjacent guanines is the structural analog of the major adduct formed by cis-DDP2. This cis-DDP-d(GpG) adduct produces a rigid, directed bend 30-35° into the major groove of DNA, confirmed by both X- ray and NMR structural determinations on oligonucleotide fragments containing site-specific adducts3, 4. This bend is recognised by damage recognition proteins containing the HMG-binding domain5. In contrast, the global structural distortions of DNA induced by the dinuclear platinum complexes are recognized only weakly by HMG-domain proteins.6 This contribution summarises our results on the structural reasons for these differences, as exemplified by comparative studies on DNA-DNA intrastrand adducts between adjacent guanines.
Fatal Cardiac and Renal Allograft Rejection With Lenalidomide Therapy for Light-Chain Amyloidosis

We describe a patient who underwent a successful heart and kidney transplant for light-chain amyloidosis. She had an excellent hematologic response to bortezomib/dexamethasone therapy. Follow-up therapy with lenalidomide was started, and the patient quickly had a fatal allograft rejection of the heart and kidney. We present evidence to support the theory that lenalidomide, a known immunomodulator, may have stimulated the immune system and precipitated the fatal rejection episode.
Anti-Nepotism's Ghost: Attitudes of Administrators Toward Hiring Professional Couples

Laws and policies are often the formalization of attitudes. The attitudes that originally led to the policy continue even when the policy no longer exists. We felt the anti-nepotism policies, declared discriminatory by HEW's Office of Civil Rights, were still in effect in the attitudes of college and university faculty. To test this, we surveyed the chairpersons of departments of psychology and sociology concerning their attitudes toward hiring a professional couple in their department. Responses to the question “Overall, how likely is it you would support the hiring of a professional couple?” indicated opposition by 37% of the chairpersons, neutrality by 25%, and support by 38%. When asked to list comments under four headings—advantages to department, disadvantages to department, professional advantages to couple, and professional disadvantages to couple—we found that supporters were more likely than opposers to mention advantages to the department and to the couple and that opposers were more likely tha...
Evaluation and optimization of stochastic flexibility in multiproduct batch plants

Abstract This paper deals with the problem of evaluating and optimizing the expected stochastic flexibility in multiproduct batch plants. This measure, which integrates flexibility and reliability considerations, reflects the probability of meeting demands. It is assumed that uncertainties in the product demands are given in terms of normal distribution functions and that expected failure rates of the equipment are given in the form of discrete probabilities. Based on recent work by the authors (Straub and Grossmann, Computers chem. Engng 14, 967, 1990), efficient computational methods are proposed to evaluate the expected stochastic flexibility which exploit the structure of multiproduct batch plants. It is also shown that these methods can be incorporated in the optimization for determining the sizes and parallel equipment that maximize the expected stochastic flexibility under a capital investment constraint. By varying the specification of the latter, trade-offs can be established between investment cost and expected stochastic flexibility. Based on these optimization models, an approximate procedure is also presented for determining designs with maximum expected profit.
Global change: Interglacial and future sea level.

A merger of data and modelling using a probabilistic approach indicates that sea level was much higher during the last interglacial than it is now, providing telling clues about future ice-sheet responses to warming.
Conformational and structural studies of chloromethylcyclopropane and bromomethylcyclopropane from temperature dependent FT-IR spectra of xenon solutions and ab initio calculations

Abstract Variable temperature (−55 to −100°C) studies of the infrared spectra (3500–400 cm −1 ) of chloromethylcyclopropane, c-C 3 H 5 CH 2 Cl and bromomethylcyclopropane, c-C 3 H 5 CH 2 Br, dissolved in liquid xenon were recorded. Utilizing the following conformer bands of 770 ( gauche ), 764 ( cis ), 832 ( gauche ), and 806 ( cis ) cm −1 the enthalpy difference of 274±21 cm −1 (3.28±0.25 kJ/mol) was obtained for chloromethylcyclopropane with the gauche form the more stable conformer. Similarly, the enthalpy difference has been determined to be 383±29 cm −1 (4.58±0.35 kJ/mol) for bromomethylcyclopropane, again with the gauche form the more stable rotamer. From these data it is estimated that only 12 and 8% of the cis forms are present at ambient temperature for chloromethylcyclopropane and bromomethylcyclopropane, respectively. The conformational stabilities, harmonic force constants, fundamental frequencies, infrared intensities and Raman activities were obtained from RHF/6-31G* and/or MP2/6-31G* ab initio calculations for both molecules. The optimized geometries were also obtained with several different ab initio basis sets up to MP2/6-311+G**. These quantities were compared to the experimental values when appropriate and a few of the fundamentals were reassigned. The r 0 structural parameters were obtained from the previously reported rotational constants for both molecules. The results are compared to the corresponding results for some similar molecules.
Implementing a peer-to-peer LAN for your workshop

Abstract This paper describes the purchase, installation and operation of a small peer-to-peer network at Lamar University. The network has 15 nodes or workstations. Four faculty members, an administrative assistant and 10 research assistants (i.e., undergraduate and graduate students) are connected to the network. Each of the 15 users has their own PC (or workstation). They are divided into several workgroups. Some background information about peer-to-peer networks is provided. The initial cost, configuration and operational problems associated with The Windows for Workgroups (WFWG) network operating system are discussed. Finally, the expansion of the network to include linking with the Internet and other LAN's is described.
Abnormal erythrocyte and lymphocyte chemiluminescence in chronic granulomatous disease: Evidence for a generalized membrane defect

Concanavalin A (soluble)- and/or opsonized zymosan (particulate)-stimulated luminol-dependent chemiluminescence was demonstrated in normal human lymphocytes, erythrocytes, and in the membrane (ghost) fractions of polymorphonuclear neutrophils and erythrocytes. By contrast, seven patients with chronic granulomatous disease (five boys with the X-linked type and two female variants) had diminished luminescent responses to con A and/or opsonized zymosan in their lymphocytes, erythrocytes, erythrocyte membranes, as well as neutrophil membranes, suggesting generalization of the deficiency in the neutrophil oxidase system to other cells.
Geology and Geochemistry of Triassic Diabase in Pennsylvania

Based on chemical composition and mineralogy, three types of Triassic diabase are recognized in Pennsylvania. The probable oldest type (Quarryville type) occurs as an olivine tholeiite dike swarm. The York Haven type is a quartz tholeiite, forming sheets, dikes, and a few flows. The youngest Rossville type is also quartz tholeiite that occurs as sheets and dikes. Within samples of the same type, chemical composition is very uniform. In content of major elements, rare earths, and Ba, the Rossville type resembles island-arc tholeiites. The York Haven type is similar to continental tholeiites. Based on calculated cooling rates and the homogeneity within each type of magma, plus paleomagnetic data, we conclude that each type was emplaced within a relatively short time period, and that all sheets, dikes, and flows of a single compositional type are essentially contemporaneous. The trend of Triassic diabase dikes in Pennsylvania parallels the trend of Precambrian and Paleozoic dikes, suggesting that trends of dikes may reflect pre-existing structural weaknesses in the basement rather than being an exact indicator of stress orientation during Triassic time. The two quartz tholeiites can be formed by crystallization of 30 to 45 percent of the olivine tholeiite magma as olivine, minor clinopyroxene, and plagioclase or spinel, accompanied by assimilation of orthopyroxene, probably from the mantle. Rare-earth and Sr-isotope data suggest that the York Haven type probably assimilated as much as 20 percent crustal material, whereas the Rossville type assimilated little or none. These phenomena of multiple-stage fractionation and reaction of the magma with mantle and crust probably apply to most magmas.
Computable fields and the bounded Turing reduction

Abstract For a computable field F , the splitting set S F of F is the set of polynomials in F [ X ] which factor over F , and the root set R F of F is the set of polynomials in F [ X ] which have a root in F . Results of Frohlich and Shepherdson (1956) in [3] imply that for a computable field F , the splitting set S F and the root set R F are Turing-equivalent. More recently, in Miller (2010) [5] , Miller showed that for algebraic fields, if we use a finer measure, the root set actually has slightly higher complexity: for algebraic fields F , it is always the case that S F ≤ 1 R F , but there are algebraic fields F where we have R F ≰ 1 S F . Here we compare the splitting set and the root set of a computable algebraic field under a different reduction: the bounded Turing (bT) reduction. We construct a computable algebraic field for which R F ≰ b T S F . We also define a Rabin embedding g of a field into its algebraic closure, and for a computable algebraic field F , we compare the relative complexities of R F , S F , and g ( F ) under m-reducibility and under bT-reducibility.
A spectrophotometric study of the reaction of borohydride with trinitrophenyl derivatives of amino acids and proteins

Abstract The absorption spectra of trinitrophenyl derivatives of poly l-lysine and l -asparaginase undergo irreversible changes in the presence of KBH 4 . The spectra of trinitrophenyl derivatives of N- acetyl - l - cysteine are also affected by the addition of the reducing agent. A broad absorption band with a maximum at 426 nm appears in the presence of low concentrations of borohydride with a concomitant decrease in absorbance of the 346nm band which is characteristic of l-substituted 2,4,6-trinitrophenyl compounds. In the presence of higher concentrations of KBH 4 the long wavelength band becomes less broad as the maximum is shifted to 410 nm and the 346nm band completely disappears. Similar spectral changes were observed in the presence of Na 2 SO 3 although these were reversible upon removal of the sulfite by dialysis. Based on the spectral similarities with sulfite and hydroxide adducts, we suggest that the 426 nm maximum represents a 1:1 adduct formed between the trinitrophenyl moiety and a hydride ion while the band at 410 nm is assigned to the 1:2 adduct.
Problems in predicting legume fertility needs in steeplanl pasture improvement with soil tests 1

Abstract Soil tests are used to predict fertilizer and liming needs of legumes being introduced into permanent pastures. However, the routine drying of soil samples may change the soil characteristics so much that recommendations based on test results may be poorly related to actual plant needs in the field. Test results from four soils, based on dried and moist samples, were related through stepwise multiple regression to percent nodulation and dry weight of white clover (Trifolium repens L. ) seedlings grown on soil cores in the greenhouse. Highly variable test results were obtained for Al, Mn, and P, depending on if a sample was dried or maintained moist. These discrepancies have implications for making P fertilizer and liming recommendations. Test results for other elements also varied widely. Extractable Mn and P accounted for most of the variation observed in percent nodulation, whether soil samples were dried or not. There was a significant interaction of P, Al, and Mn extracted from dried soils wi...
Comparison of penalty functions for sparse canonical correlation analysis

Canonical correlation analysis (CCA) is a widely used multivariate method for assessing the association between two sets of variables. However, when the number of variables far exceeds the number of subjects, such in the case of large-scale genomic studies, the traditional CCA method is not appropriate. In addition, when the variables are highly correlated, the sample covariance matrices become unstable or undefined. To overcome these two issues, sparse canonical correlation analysis (SCCA) for multiple data sets has been proposed using a Lasso type of penalty. However, these methods do not have direct control over the sparsity of the solution. An additional step that uses a Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) has also been suggested to further filter out unimportant features. In this paper, a comparison of four penalty functions (Lasso, Elastic-net, smoothly clipped absolute deviation (SCAD), and Hard-threshold) for SCCA with and without the BIC filtering step have been carried out using both real and simulated genotypic and mRNA expression data. This study indicates that the SCAD penalty with a BIC filter would be a preferable penalty function for application of SCCA to genomic data.
The Effects of Gloves on Maximum Holding Time

Considerable work is now done while wearing gloves on tasks that require that considerable grip forces be exerted and maintained for extended times. The primary objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of two common working gloves on the time a person can exert a constant grip force as a function of that persons maximum grip force. A simple endurance experiment was conducted to verify that the same relationship between holding time and grip force (as a percentage of maximum grip force under the same conditions) is valid for grip with gloves as is present in other muscular exertions. Subjects were first evaluated for maximum grip force on a standard hand dynamometer with bare hands and while wearing each of the gloves. They then participated in trials to evaluate grip endurance at 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100% of the maximum grip for each condition (bare hand, a leather glove, and a cotton glove). Analysis of variance was used to evaluate the data gathered to determine if the holding time differed...
Coronary Computed Tomographic Angiography Its Role in Emergency Department Triage

Case presentation: A 55-year-old man presents to the emergency department (ED) after an episode of substernal chest discomfort that lasted 2 hours. His pain occurred at rest and was not positional, pleuritic, or postprandial. He has a history of hypertension and no known coronary artery disease (CAD). Vital signs and physical examination are unremarkable. His initial ECG, troponin, and serum creatinine are normal. How should this patient be evaluated? Chest pain is a common complaint in the ED, accounting for 10% to 15% of visits at an annual cost of $8 billion in the United States.1 However, missed myocardial infarctions occur in up to 2% of patients with acute chest pain2 and represent a leading cause of malpractice litigation. Because history alone is often inadequate to identify patients who may be safely discharged,3 it is common practice to use observation and serial cardiac biomarkers for patient evaluation. Additionally, exercise testing and vasodilator stress testing are commonly used, although such testing can be performed only after an observation period, which includes serial cardiac biomarkers. With increasing use of cardiac testing in an era of cost containment, a growing need exists to improve the efficiency and cost associated with the evaluation of acute chest pain. Coronary computed tomographic (CT) angiography (CTA) is a high-resolution, noninvasive technique to image the coronary arteries and to detect the presence, severity, and extent of CAD.4 The greatest utility of CTA lies in its high negative predictive value (≥95%) to exclude obstructive CAD and thus to identify patients who can be safely discharged without further diagnostic testing.5 In addition, this test can be performed rapidly because only 1 set of negative biomarkers is needed. Consequently, 4 randomized, controlled trials in the ED have compared CTA with usual care6–8 and …
Mass Media Influences on Public Conceptions of Social Problems

The present paper explores possible relationships between the mass media of communication and social problems by three-way comparisons between the incidence of social problems suggested in media portrayals, conceptions of the incidence of these problems held by the public, and the relative frequency of such problems reflected in statistics accumulated by official agencies. The paper summarizes several theoretical perspectives used by those studying the media and it sets forth conceptions of the developmental stages of social problems. These will provide a background for a discussion of the roles that the media may play in the emergence of such problems in our society. Official statistics on social problems and public conceptions of their prevalence are analyzed empirically in the context of a study of local media emphasis of selected problems in a specific community.
Graph analysis of β2 adrenergic receptor structures: a “social network” of GPCR residues

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a superfamily of membrane proteins of vast pharmaceutical interest. Here, we describe a graph theory-based analysis of the structure of the β2 adrenergic receptor (β2 AR), a prototypical GPCR. In particular, we illustrate the network of direct and indirect interactions that link each amino acid residue to any other residue of the receptor. Networks of interconnected amino acid residues in proteins are analogous to social networks of interconnected people. Hence, they can be studied through the same analysis tools typically employed to analyze social networks – or networks in general – to reveal patterns of connectivity, influential members, and dynamicity. We focused on the analysis of closeness-centrality, which is a measure of the overall connectivity distance of the member of a network to all other members. The residues endowed with the highest closeness-centrality are located in the middle of the seven transmembrane domains (TMs). In particular, they are mostly located in the middle of TM2, TM3, TM6 or TM7, while fewer of them are located in the middle of TM1, TM4 or TM5. At the cytosolic end of TM6, the centrality detected for the active structure is markedly lower than that detected for the corresponding residues in the inactive structures. Moreover, several residues acquire centrality when the structures are analyzed in the presence of ligands. Strikingly, there is little overlap between the residues that acquire centrality in the presence of the ligand in the blocker-bound structures and the agonist-bound structures. Our results reflect the fact that the receptor resembles a bow tie, with a rather tight knot of closely interconnected residues and two ends that fan out in two opposite directions: one toward the extracellular space, which hosts the ligand binding cavity, and one toward the cytosol, which hosts the G protein binding cavity. Moreover, they underscore how interaction network is by the conformational rearrangements concomitant with the activation of the receptor and by the presence of agonists or blockers.
The Effects of a Creative Dance and Movement Program on the Social Competence of Head Start Preschoolers

The effects of an eight-week instructional program in creative dance/movement on the social competence of low-income preschool children were assessed in this study utilizing a scientifically rigorous design. Forty preschool children from a large Head Start program were randomly assigned to participate in either an experimental dance program or an attention control group. Teachers and parents, blind to the children's group membership, rated children's social competence both before and after the program, using English and Spanish versions of the Social Competence Behavior Evaluation: Preschool Edition. The results revealed significantly greater positive gains over time in the children's social competence and both internalizing and externalizing behavior problems for the experimental group compared with the control group. Small-group creative dance instruction for at-risk preschoolers appears to be an excellent mechanism for enhancing social competence and improving behavior. The implications for early childhood education and intervention are discussed.
Si/SiO2 etching in high density SF6/CHF3/O2 plasma

Abstract Response surface studies of Si and SiO2 etching in a radio-frequency-induction (RFI) plasma etcher have been conducted. Quantitative models were established to examine the variation of Si and SiO2 etch rates versus inductive power, bias power, O2 flow, and SF6/CHF3 ratio. Equations for Si and SiO2 etching were derived from the experimental matrix and were found to be accurate to predict the etch rates in the studied parameter space. Effects of pressure on etch rates were also investigated. Etched surfaces were characterized with an atomic force microscope. The results provided the insight of the Si and SiO2 etching characteristics in the RFI-type high density plasma etcher. Based on the study of Si and SiO2 etch rates, the Si/SiO2 etch rate ratio was mapped out. By properly selecting a set of power and flow conditions in the studied parameter space, a planarization process with an etch rate ratio of 1:1 was established.
High-Frequency-Induced Electroluminescence in ZnS

A brief presentation of data is given for electroluminescent measurements made on several ZnS crystals over a frequency range of 1 cps to 370 Mc/sec. Electroluminescent relaxation becomes apparent in the order of ${10}^{5}$-${10}^{6}$ cps. A simple exponential equation, $I=A{(V\ensuremath{-}{V}_{0})}^{B}$, was found to fit the time-average electroluminescent intensity vs voltage over four decades of intensity.
Dark adaptation, sensitivity, and rhodopsin level in the eye of the lobster, Homarus

Dark adaptation of living lobsters was measured by recording the ERG at several temperatures in the range 5–20 °C following adapting flashes that convert about 70% of the rhodopsin to metarhodopsin. Recovery of log threshold is rapid, and at 10–20° is nearly complete in 10 min. Only at 5 °C is dark adaptation significantly slowed. Comparison of dark adaptation with data on regeneration of pigment (Bruno et al., 1977) is consistent with the hypothesis that as rhodopsin concentration rises and falls, its only effect on sensitivity is to alter the probability of quantum catch. This interpretation is further bolstered by observations on winter lobsters that have a 70% deficiency of rhodopsin without the concomitant increase in metarhodopsin that accompanies light adaptation. No effect of metarhodopsin on sensitivity was detected. These experiments support the growing body of evidence indicating that the relationship between rhodopsin concentration and log threshold is fundamentally different in the rhabdomeric photoreceptors of invertebrates and the rods and cones of vertebrates.
Acute coronary syndromes: the degree and morphology of coronary stenoses

### By j. a. ambrose, s. l. winters, a. stern, a. eng, l. e. teichholz, r. gorlin, v. fuster (3) In 110 patients with either stable or unstable angina, the morphology of coronary artery lesions was qualitatively assessed at angiography. Each obstruction reducing the luminal diameter of the vessel
Nmoc-DBHQ, a New Caged Molecule for Modulating Sarcoplasmic/Endoplasmic Reticulum Ca2+ ATPase Activity with Light Flashes *

Abstract We report the synthesis and characterization of O[o-nitromandelyloxycarbonyl]-2,5-di(tert-butyl)hydroquinone (Nmoc-DBHQ), a new “caged” reagent for photoreleasing DBHQ, a membrane-permeant, reversible inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA). The Nmoc group is a new caging group developed for the current application. Photolysis of Nmoc-DBHQ proceeds with t1/2 = 126 ± 2 μs, and t1/2 for subsequent release of DBHQ is estimated to be ∼5 ms. Nmoc-DBHQ thus allows rapid and reversible modulation of SERCA activity in living cells. Through its acetoxymethyl ester, Nmoc-DBHQ can be loaded into cells easily by incubation. We demonstrate the use of Nmoc-DBHQ for photomodulating SERCA activity in fibroblasts and vagal sensory neurons. We further demonstrate the utility of pulsed DBHQ photorelease for probing and manipulating dynamic phenomena such as [Ca2+] oscillations in fibroblasts.
An image processing based paradigm for the extraction of tonal sounds in cetacean communications

Dolphins and whales use tonal whistles for communication, and it is known that frequency modulation encodes contextual information. An automated mathematical algorithm could characterize the frequency modulation of tonal calls for use with clustering and classification. Most automatic cetacean whistle processing techniques are based on peak or edge detection or require analyst assistance in verifying detections. An alternative paradigm is introduced using techniques of image processing. Frequency information is extracted as ridges in whistle spectrograms. Spectral ridges are the fundamental structure of tonal vocalizations, and ridge detection is a well-established image processing technique, easily applied to vocalization spectrograms. This paradigm is implemented as freely available matlab scripts, coined IPRiT (image processing ridge tracker). Its fidelity in the reconstruction of synthesized whistles is compared to another published whistle detection software package, silbido. Both algorithms are also applied to real-world recordings of bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops trunactus) signature whistles and tested for the ability to identify whistles belonging to different individuals. IPRiT gave higher fidelity and lower false detection than silbido with synthesized whistles, and reconstructed dolphin identity groups from signature whistles, whereas silbido could not. IPRiT appears to be superior to silbido for the extraction of the precise frequency variation of the whistle.
Efficacy and tolerability of levetiracetam in patients with therapy-resistant epilepsy and learning disabilities.

Abstract Introduction: The purpose was to evaluate the effects of levetiracetam (LEV) in routine therapy in learning disabled patients with therapy-resistant epilepsy. Methods: In an open observational add-on study design, 46 patients (residents of the Bethel Epilepsy Centre) with severe therapy-resistant epilepsy and different degrees of learning disabilities, who were treated with LEV between its introduction in Autumn 2000 and February 2002, were evaluated retrospectively. Information on monthly seizure frequencies, seizure severity and psychiatric status was extracted from the current patient case records. A 3 months baseline and a 3 months LEV treatment period (after 3 months of titration) were compared. Responders were defined as having a 50% reduction in seizure frequency and being evaluated as good or very good in an ad hoc global clinical efficacy scale. When only one criterion was positive, a careful individual decision was made based on the impact on the patients' daily activities. Results: The responder rate was 41.3% (34.8 for 50% seizure reduction). It was higher in focal and multifocal epilepsy as compared to symptomatic generalised epilepsy/Lennox Gastaut Syndrome ( P Conclusions: LEV is an effective and generally well-tolerated drug for this patient group, especially in focal and multifocal epilepsy.
Formal Structural Characteristics of Organizations and Superior-Subordinate Communication

This study attempted to determine the effects of several structural characteristics of organizations (i.e., organizational size, organizational level, and span of control) on subordinates' perceptions of openness in superior-subordinate communication. Data were collected from 15 different organizations and over 800 subordinates. While not accounting for a large amount of variance, results indicate that subordinates in the lowest levels of their organizational hierarchies perceive significantly less openness in superior-subordinate communication than subordinates at the highest levels of their hierarchies. In addition, although not statistically significant, the findings of the investigation suggest that subordinates in very large organizations perceive less openness than subordinates in small organizations. Implications of findings are discussed and recommendations for future research provided.
A Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the Life Orientation Test-Revised with Competitive Athletes.

Current reviews outside of sport indicate that the Life Orientation Test-Revised (LOT-R) items load on two separate factors (optimism and pessimism) and, therefore, should be treated as independent constructs. However, researchers in the sport sciences continue to use the single composite score reflecting a unidimensional definition of optimism. Hence, I sought to explicitly examine the factor structure of the LOT-R with athletes. Results of this study support the two-factor structure, which is consistent with accumulating evidence outside of sport and exercise science. This contribution is an important first step toward continued examination of this instrument and future work on the influence of optimism (versus pessimism) on sport and exercise behavior.
Immunolocalization of the Ecto-ATPase and Ecto-apyrase in Chicken Gizzard and Stomach: PURIFICATION AND N-TERMINAL SEQUENCE OF THE STOMACH ECTO-APYRASE *

We have examined the in vivolocalization of extracellular ecto-ATPase and ecto-apyrase (ATPDase) in adult chicken gizzard and stomach by immunofluorescence and laser scanning confocal microscopy. In chicken gizzard, the ecto-ATPase was distributed in discrete clusters restricted to the sarcolemma of the smooth muscle cells. Anti-ecto-apyrase antibody detected a single 80-kDa band (putative apyrase) in Western blots of both chicken gizzard membrane extracts and partially purified anion exchange fractions, but the antibody did not detect ecto-apyrase in immunolabeled gizzard cryosections. In adult chicken stomach, the ecto-apyrase was observed at the apical membrane of the glandular oxyntico-peptic cells as described in previous immunoperoxidase studies (Stout, J. G., R. S. Strobel, and T. L. Kirley (1995) Biochem. Mol. Biol. Int. 36, 529–535). However, ecto-ATPase was clustered in the sarcolemma of the organized layer of circular smooth muscle and in smooth muscle cells of the septa surrounding the glandular tissue, but not in the glandular cells containing the ecto-apyrase. The findings indicate compartmentalization of the two related extracellular nucleotide hydrolyzing enzymes and suggest differential functions that are specialized for different regions of the chicken stomach. We also partially purified the ecto-apyrase of chicken stomach, an 80-kDa membrane glycoprotein. Chicken stomach membranes were solubilized in digitonin, glycoproteins were separated from solubilized proteins by lectin chromatography, and nucleotide-binding glycoproteins were selected by immobilized Cibacron blue chromatography. Further purification by size exclusion and anion exchange chromatography yielded purification of 94-fold. The ATPase specific activity of the purified stomach ecto-apyrase was 75,000 μmol of Pi/mg of protein/h, and the purified preparation consisted of a major band (55% of total protein) at 80 kDa. The purified enzyme could be deglycosylated with peptide N-glycosidase-F to a core molecular mass of 54 kDa. The N-terminal sequence of the 80-kDa stomach ecto-apyrase band (which reacted with anti-ecto-ATPDase antibodies) was determined to be: MEYKGKVVAGLLTATWV. Immunological cross-reactivity data indicate that the stomach 80-kDa protein isolated is an ecto-apyrase and is related to both the chicken liver and oviduct ecto-ATPDase enzymes characterized earlier, as well as to the human lymphoid cell activation antigen, CD39.
Kinetic Factors Involved in the Metabolism of Benzene in Mouse Lung and Liver

Benzene is an occupational and environmental toxicant. The main human health concern associated with benzene exposure is acute myelogenous leukemia. Benzene produces lung tumors in mice, while its effects on human lung are not clear. The adverse effects of benzene are dependent on its metabolism by the cytochrome P-450 enzyme system. The isozymes CYP2E1 and CYP2F2 play roles in the metabolism of benzene at low, environmentally relevant concentrations. Previous studies indicate that the mouse lung readily metabolizes benzene and that CYP2F2 plays a role in this biotransformation. The significance of CYP2E1 and CYP2F2 in benzene metabolism was determined by measuring their apparent kinetic parameters K(m) and V(max). Use of wild-type and CYP2E1 knockout mice and selective inhibitors allowed the determination of the individual importance of both CYP2E1 and CYP2F2 in mouse liver and lung. A simple Michaelis-Menten relationship involving Lineweaver-Burk plots for the microsomal metabolism of benzene shows the apparent kinetic factors are different between the wild-type (K(m): 30.4 microM, V(max): 25.3 pmol/mg protein/min) and knockout (K(m): 1.9 microM, V(max): 0.5 pmol/mg protein/min) mouse livers. Wild-type lung has a K(m) of 2.3 microM and V(max) of 0.9 pmol/mg protein/min. CYP2E1 knockout lung has similar affinity and metabolic activity with a K(m) of 3.7 microM and V(max) of 1.2 pmol/mg protein/min. These data suggest CYP2E1 is less important in the lung than liver, and that it has a lower affinity for benzene but higher rate of hydroxylated metabolite production than does CYP2F2, which plays the predominant role in metabolizing benzene in mouse lung.
Evaluation of the international reference ionosphere with the large AE-C and DE2 data bases

Empirical models such as the International Reference Ionosphere (IRI) are synthesized from large data bases. They can be viewed as analytical tools to facilitate accessing information stored in the data banks. However, in establishing the models, one has to apply smoothing and averaging procedures that in effect reduce the original information content. This study evaluates the agreement between the data base and the model at two opposite extremes of time resolution. Electron densities and temperatures in the altitude range of 300 to 400 km predicted by the IRI and measured by the AE-C and DE 2 satellites on the level of individual orbits as well as on the level of mission averages are compared. Whereas the averages show excellent agreement, the comparison for individual measurements indicates the limitations of empirical models.
Visual coding dominance in stuttering: Some evidence from central tachistoscopic stimulation (tachistoscopic viewing and stuttering)

Abstract The current study examined central visual information processing style in a group of stuttering and nonstuttering subjects. Subjects were required to phonate the vowel /a/ when tachistoscopically presented a flash of light. Following this procedure, central, tachistoscopic letter-naming reaction times were obtained for the subjects at a rate of presentation producing approximately 90% errors. Adjusted letter-naming reaction times were derived by subtracting the former from the latter value. Results of a t -test procedure showed that significant differences in letter naming reaction time existed between the two groups with the stutterers being slower than the nonstutterers. Analysis of errors showed that the nonstuttering subjects' confusions were primarily visual while the stutterers' recognition errors were auditorily based. These findings were interpreted to suggest that the right hemisphere maintains the greatest interhemispheric inhibiting effect in stutterers and will govern responses regardless of whether the processing task can be completed more efficiently (in time) by the left hemisphere.
TCT-126 Thrombin Clot Injection for the Treatment of Coronary Wire Perforation

Coronary perforation (CP) is a rare but potentially fatal complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Coronary wire perforation (WP) has been the most frequent cause of CP in the current era. Most of WPs can be treated with endovascular means. The embolization therapy is needed when
Rain-Snow Mesoclimatology of the New York Metropolitan Area

Abstract The mesoscale variation of the empirical probability of snow on a winter precipitation day in the New York urban-suburban metropolitan area is determined from first-order and cooperative weather station records, and clearly reveals the effect of the urban “heat island” on snowfall. Conditional empirical probabilities are also determined as functions of the precipitation type and daily maximum temperature at Central Park. Mesoclimatology is shown to be of potential value for the translation of large-scale weather predictions into low forecasts.
Soil quality response to long-term tillage and crop rotation practices

Abstract Soil quality is influenced by inherent and anthropogenic factors. This study was conducted to provide multiple groups guidance on how to achieve and maintain improved soil quality/health. Our hypothesis was that tillage intensity was the primary anthropogenic factor degrading soil quality, and our objective was to prove that hypothesis through an intensive 2005 sampling of a central Iowa, USA field study. Chisel plow, disk tillage, moldboard plow, ridge-till and no-till treatments, used for 31 years in a two-year, corn ( Zea mays L.)/soybean [ Glycine max (L.) Merr.] (C/S) rotation or for 26 years of continuous corn (CC) production, were evaluated by measuring 23 potential soil quality indicators. Soil samples from 0 to 5- and 5 to 15-cm depth increments were collected from 158 loam or clay loam sampling sites throughout the 10-ha study site. Nine of the indicators were evaluated by depth increment using the Soil Management Assessment Framework (SMAF) which has scoring functions for 13 soil biological, chemical, and physical measurements and can be used to compute individual indicator indices and an overall soil quality index (SQI). Water-stable aggregation (WSA), total organic carbon (TOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and potentially mineralizable nitrogen (PMN) were all significantly lower for the 0 to 5-cm and generally lower for 5 to 15-cm increments after long-term moldboard plowing and its associated secondary tillage operations. This presumably reflected greater physical breakup and oxidation of above- and below-ground plant residues. Bray-P concentrations in moldboard plow plots were also significantly lower at both depth increments. Between soil texture groups, significant differences were found for WSA, Bray-P, TOC and MBC at both depth increments and for both cropping systems. When combined into an overall SQI, both soil texture groups were functioning at 82–85% of their potential at 0–5-cm and at 75% of their potential at the 5–15-cm depth. Our hypothesis that moldboard plowing would have the greatest negative effect on soil quality indicators was verified. Based on this assessment, we recommend that to achieve and maintain good soil health, producers should strive to adopt less aggressive tillage practices.
The expression of cyclins D1 and E in predicting short-term survival in squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

Cyclins D1 (cD1) and E (cE) are G1 phase cyclins believed to participate in the pathogenesis of malignancy. Overexpression of cD1 has been reported to influence prognosis in squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) of the larynx, but was not significant in a limited study of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC). Altered expression of cE has been proposed as another potential prognostic marker in malignancy but its possible role in NSCLC has not been elucidated. In order to determine the prognostic value of cD1 and cE in NSCLC, paraffin-embedded sections of 467 NSCLC were immunostained with monoclonal antibody to cD1 (1:500, PharMingen, San Diego, CA) and 400 NSCLC with MA to cE (1:2500, PharMingen) using an enhanced sensitivity avidin-biotin complex technique. The number of tumor cells with nuclear and/or cytoplasmic immunopositivity was graded on a scale of: 0 = less than 1%, 1 = 1 to 10%, 2 = 10 to 25%, 3 = 25 to 50%, 4 = 50 to 75%, 5 = more than 75%. Results were correlated with survival by Kaplan-Meier survival plot using Stat-View software (Abacus Concepts, Berkeley, CA). Overall, 426 NSCLC with cD1 and 360 NSCLC with cE had adequate follow-up (median, 76 mo) for survival analysis. Both cyclins independently showed significance in prognosis of SCC but not other cell types. For cD1, absence of immunostaining was associated with worse prognosis than any immunopositivity for all stages of SCC (P = .025). For cE, Stage I and II SCC with less than 50% immunopositivity had a worse prognosis (P = .029). Of 70 Stage I and II SCC immunostained for both monoclonal antibodies, 55% of patients with tumors that demonstrated both absence of cD1 staining and cE immunopositivity in less than 50% of cells were dead at 5 years compared to 35% of patients with tumors that demonstrated positive staining with cD1 and cE immunopositivity in more than 50% of cells. These results strongly suggest cD1 and cE can independently predict prognosis in early stage SCC. Worse prognosis was associated with loss of expression, consistent with mechanisms other than overexpression of these cyclins in the progression of SCC.
Complexity of fixed points, I

We study the complexity (minimal cost) of computing an s-approximation to a fixed point of a contractive function with the contractive factor q < 1. This is done for the relative error criterion in Part I and for the absolute error criterion in Part II, which is in progress. The complexity depends strongly on the dimension of the domain of functions. For the one-dimensional case we develop an optimal fixed point envelope (FPE) algorithm. The cost of the FPE algorithm with use of the relative error criterion is roughly clog12elog3+q1+3q+0.9+log log11−q , where c is the cost of one function evaluation. Thus, for fixed ϵ and q close to 1 the cost of the FPE algorithm is much smaller than the cost of the simple iteration algorithm, since the latter is roughly clog1elog1q For the contractive functions of d variables, with d ≥ log(1/ϵ)/log(l/q) we show that it is impossible to essentially improve the efficiency of the simple iteration.
Natural family planning in Mauritius, Indian Ocean: utilization patterns and continuance predictors.

Discontinuation from family planning programs remains a major service delivery problem, despite rapid advances in family planning methods technology, packaging, and advertising. This study explored factors associated with discontinuance from an island-wide natural family planning progmm in Mauritius, Indian Ocean. Two stratified random samples of 350 (1980) and 300 (1976) acceptors were examined. Data were gathered from three sources: records, educator observations, and field interviews with the 1980 sample. Findings indicated that nine variables in four categories (Administrative, Psychological-Motivational, Educator-Acceptor Relationship, and Family) were predictive of discontinuance. Implications for programmatic measures to sustain acceptor motivation to continue utilizing family planning methods are discussed.
Characterization of the Intrinsically Disordered Region of the Soluble Guanylate Cyclase Alpha-1 Subunit

Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is a heterodimeric protein, which is activated by nitric oxide, stimulating the conversion of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) to guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). Decreased sGC activity is linked to atherosclerosis, aging, loss of memory, acute ischemia, while increased sGC catalytic activity is associated with endothelial cell proliferation, vasodilation, cell motility and survival. The activation, catalytic activity and structure of sGC are widely studied, yet the mechanism behind sGC regulation is not well understood. Soluble guanylate cyclase contains four distinct functional domains: the H-NOX, Per Arnt Sim, coiled-coiled and C-terminal catalytic domains. The H-NOX domain of the alpha-1 subunit also contains an intrinsically disordered region (IDR) whose role is not understood since it does not affect the dimerization or catalytic activity of the enzyme. Intrinsically disordered regions are regions that have no defined structure but retain function in a highly flexible state. These regions often undergo conformational changes upon protein-protein interactions. The human sGC IDR is predicted to be the first 69 residues of the alpha-1 subunit's amino terminus but a similar region is not found on the beta-1 subunit. The goal of this study is to characterize the secondary structure of this IDR and probe for protein-protein interaction. The sGC IDR is predicted to contain about 26% alpha helical characteristics utilizing secondary structure prediction algorithms. Circular dichroism studies on the sGC IDR have shown that this region contains a small amount of stable helical structure. It also contains transient helical structure that can be stabilized by 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol. Yeast two-hybrid studies are ongoing to identify interacting partners.