cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laboratory and field evaluation of instrumentation for the semicontinuous determination of particulate nitrate (and other water-soluble particulate components).

Studies conducted at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency facility in Research Triangle Park, NC, and at a field study in Southern California have demonstrated the capability for the semicontinuous determination of particulate nitrate (and other water-soluble ionic species). Two instruments, an R&P Series 8400N Ambient Particulate Nitrate Monitor (8400N) and an ion chromatography (IC)-based prototype monitor developed at Texas Tech University, were evaluated both in the laboratory using aqueous standards and simulated ambient aerosols and in the field during a 3-week July 1-21, 2003) joint ambient comparison study with Brigham Young University and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). The field study was conducted at the SCAQMD Rubidoux field site near Riverside, CA. During initial (before the field study) laboratory studies, both instruments were responsive to changes in the simulated aerosol concentration. However, potential problems were discovered involving both instruments during the laboratory-based studies both before and after the Rubidoux study, and these problems are currently being addressed. During the 3-week field study period, 15-minute average particulate nitrate concentrations approaching 30 microg/m3 were observed. Because of malfunctioning IC components (concentrator columns) of the Texas Tech University prototype monitor, limited data were obtained from this instrument during the 3-week sampling period. Initial ambient comparisons show general agreement between the 8400N and IC-based prototype instrument for the semicontinuous determination of ambient particulate nitrate at lower nitrate concentrations ( 15 microg/m3). A decreased molybdenum converter efficiency in the pulse analyzer of the 8400N discovered during postfield study laboratory evaluation may explain the negative bias observed at higher nitrate concentrations. Semicontinuous results obtained from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-operated instruments were averaged and compared with integrated sampler results obtained by Brigham Young University and SCAQMD.
The issue development graph: A tool for research and analysis

(1988). The issue development graph: A tool for research and analysis. Central States Speech Journal: Vol. 39, Public Relations, pp. 110-120.
Rate-dependent crack growth in adhesives: I. Modeling approach

Rate effects in the failure behavior are investigated for adhesive bonds in which the source of time- dependence is the rate of the material separation in the fracture process zone. A rate-dependent cohesive zone model (CZM) is described and used to analyze rate effects during debonding. The model consists of a rate-independent CZM in parallel to a Maxwell element. General implications derived for the model with respect to rate effects in the failure behavior of adhesives are presented. The application of the model to the analysis of crack growth is described in a companion paper.
Phase Function Measurements Of Premier Grade Diesel Fuel Smoke

The phase function of smoke produced by dropping premier grade diesel fuel on a hot soldering iron was measured using a polar nephelometer. Measurements of the polarized and depolarized components were made at 0.6328 micrometers. The polarized components of the phase function exhibit a strong forward scattering peak, a shoulder extending to approximately 60°, a region of very weak scattering between 60° and 115°, and a backscattering region. The depolarized components are quite weak, within the range of experimental error, leading to the conclusion that smoke particles are spherical.
Enhancing School Improvement: What Questions Need Answers?

Increasingly, researchers are acknowledging the importance of administrators in the school improvement process. Report ed here are the results of one research conference that focused on the high school.
EAST interacts with Megator and localizes to the putative spindle matrix during mitosis in Drosophila

WehaveusedimmunocytochemistrytodemonstratethattheEASTproteininDrosophila,whichformsan expandablenuclearendoskeletonatinterphase,redistributesduringmitosistocolocalizewiththespindlematrixproteins, Megator and Skeletor. EAST and Megator also colocalize to the intranuclear space surrounding the chromosomes at interphase. EAST is a novel protein that does not have any previously characterized motifs or functional domains. However, we show by immunoprecipitation experiments that EAST is likely to molecularly interact with Megator which hasalargeNH2-terminalcoiled-coildomainwiththecapacityforselfassembly.Onthebasisofthesefindings,wepropose that Megator and EAST interact to form a nuclear endoskeleton and as well are important components of the putative spindle matrix complex during mitosis. J. Cell. Biochem. 95: 1284-1291, 2005. ! 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Security vulnerabilities and solutions for packet sampling

Packet sampling supports a range of Internet measurement applications including characterizing the spatial flow of traffic through a network for traffic engineering purposes, identifying the flows utilizing a link for billing purposes or for intrusion detection, and monitoring end-to-end data-path quality. However, packet-sampling mechanisms must be robust to adversarial hosts that craft packet streams that are disproportionately selected by a packet sampler. For example, a botnet flooding a network with packets in a denial-of-service attack, or a greedy customer trying to avoid being billed for network utilization, each have a strong incentive to craft packet streams that evade selection by the packet sampler. In this paper, we focus on securing the passive packet sampling mechanisms recommended by PSAMP (the IETF Packet Sampling working group [1]) against adversarial hosts. We show that (1) some of the packet sampling techniques suggested in current drafts of the PSAMP charter have security vulnerabilities, (2) secure uncoordinated sampling can be achieved using random sampling with a cryptographic random number generator, and (3) secure coordinated sampling requires a cryptographic pseudorandom function, keyed with a secret key that should be changed each time the sampler leaks information to the hosts.
Biochemical indices of tetracycline hepatic injury in rats.

SummaryThe intraperitoneal administration of tetracycline (TCL) to female Wistar rats in graded doses ranging from 100 to 300 mg/kg led to the development of small-droplet fatty metamorphosis by 24 hr and to modest, dose-related, increased serum levels of glutamic-oxalactic transaminase (SGOT). A dose of 50 mg/kg of TCL led to an increase in the SGOT level but not to demonstrable fatty metamorphosis. Serum levels of glutamic pyruvic transaminase were found to be less sensitive than those of SGOT as a reflection of the hepatic injury. Serum levels of glutamic dehydrogenase, acid and alkaline phosphatase, β-glucuronidase, and bilirubin remained normal.
What Does It Take To Be A Successful Pediatric Surgeon–Scientist?

Abstract Background: The factors that contribute to success as a pediatric surgeon–scientist are not well defined. The purpose of this study is to define a group of NIH-funded pediatric surgeons, assess their academic productivity, and elucidate factors that have contributed to their success. Methods: Pediatric surgeons were queried in the NIH report database to determine NIH funding awarded. Academic productivity was then assessed. An online survey was then targeted to NIH-funded pediatric surgeons. Results: Since 1988, 83 pediatric surgeon–investigators have received major NIH funding. Currently, there are 37 pediatric surgeons with 43 NIH-sponsored awards. The mean h -index of this group of pediatric surgeons was 18±1.1, mean number of publications (since 2001) was 21±2.1, and both increase commensurate with academic rank. In response to the survey, 81% engaged in research during their surgical residency, and 48% were mentored by a pediatric surgeon–scientist. More than 60% of respondents had significant protected time and financial support. Factors felt to be most significant for academic success included mentorship, perseverance, and protected time. Conclusions: Mentorship, perseverance, institutional commitment to protected research time, and financial support are considered to be important to facilitate the successes of pediatric surgeon–scientists. These results will be useful to aspiring pediatric surgeon–scientists and departments wishing to develop a robust research program.
Acetylation of H4 suppresses the repressive effects of the N-termini of histones H3/H4 and facilitates the formation of positively coiled DNA.

We have studied the role of the N-termini of histones H3/H4 in the regulation of the conformational changes that occur in H3/H4 during their deposition on DNA by NAP1 (nucleosome assembly protein 1...
Localization of the Heme Binding Region in Soluble Guanylate Cyclase

Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) is a heterodimeric hemoprotein composed of alpha1 and beta1 subunits. sGC is activated by nitric oxide (NO) and therefore plays a central role in NO signal transduction. Activation of sGC by NO is believed to be mediated by the interaction between NO and the heme of sGC. Spectroscopic and kinetic studies have shown that the heme of sGC is in a unique environment. Characterization of the heme environment is critical to the understanding of the mechanism of NO activation. To approach this goal, the beta1 N-terminal fragment consisting of residues 1-385 [beta1(1-385)] of sGC was expressed in E. coli. beta1(1-385) was then purified to homogeneity in two steps by DEAE ion exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Purified beta1(1-385) was found to contain a stoichiometric amount of heme. The UV-visible spectrum of beta1(1-385) is almost identical to that of the native heterodimeric sGC purified from bovine lung. beta1(1-385) binds both NO and CO, leading to a shift in the Soret maximum from 431 nm to 398 and 423 nm, respectively. These spectral shifts are identical to those observed with heterodimeric sGC purified from bovine lung. These results suggest that the heme in the beta1(1-385) is similar to that in the heterodimeric sGC. Therefore, for the first time, the heme binding region of sGC has been unambiguously localized to the N-terminal region of the beta1 subunit. Our data also suggest that the N-terminal region of the beta1 subunit of sGC is itself sufficient for heme binding.
Reply by the Authors to C. K. W. Tam

The prediction of noise generation and radiation by turbulence has been the subject of continuous research for over fifty years. The essential problem is how to model the noise sources when one s knowledge of the detailed space-time properties of the turbulence is limited. We attempted to provide a comparison of models based on acoustic analogies and recent alternative models. Our goal was to demonstrate that the predictive capabilities of any model are based on the choice of the turbulence property that is modeled as a source of noise. Our general definition of an acoustic analogy is a rearrangement of the equations of motion into the form L(u) = Q, where L is a linear operator that reduces to an acoustic propagation operator outside a region upsilon; u is a variable that reduces to acoustic pressure (or a related linear acoustic variable) outside upsilon; and Q is a source term that can be meaningfully estimated without knowing u and tends to zero outside upsilon.
Information systems for management in the eighties

A course in Management Information Systems must prepare future users and information systems professionals for their roles in analyzing application requirements and designing information systems to serve business and individual needs. The objectives, organization, content, and methods used to teach this course to both MIS and non-MIS majors within the School of Business at Southern Illinois University are described in detail. The systems development project, which involves students in learning tools and techniques for structured systems analysis and design, as well as in applying these methods to an actual design project, is one of the most important activities of the course. Students have an opportunity to work together in their respective roles as users and systems analysts and to use project management and control techniques to assure effective results.
Polaronic orbital polarization in a layered colossal magnetoresistive manganite

The striking anisotropy observed in Huang scattering distributions near the intense Bragg reflections of ${\mathrm{La}}_{1.2}{\mathrm{Sr}}_{1.8}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{2}{\mathrm{O}}_{7}$ is shown to be the result of orbitally polarized polarons in the paramagnetic insulating state above ${T}_{C}.$ X-ray single-crystal diffuse scattering patterns from this bilayered colossal magnetoresistive manganite are calculated in terms of the polaronic local structure and compared with experimental measurements. At 300 K, the polaronic ${e}_{g}$ electrons occupy ``out-of-plane'' (i.e., ${3z}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{r}^{2})$ orbitals, leading to ${\mathrm{MnO}}_{6}$ octahedra that are Jahn-Teller elongated along the c axis, perpendicular to the perovskite layers. Between 300 K and ${T}_{C},$ however, the ``orbital polarization'' is shown to shift into the $\mathit{a}\ensuremath{-}\mathit{b}$ plane (i.e., ${3x}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{r}^{2}$ and ${3y}^{2}\ensuremath{-}{r}^{2}$ orbitals), allowing the formation of nanoscale polaron correlations above ${T}_{C}.$
Determination of isotopic distribution in ( 18 O) glycerol I-phosphate by mass spectrometry.

Abstract The mass spectrum of bis-trimethylsilyl glycerol 1-phosphate dimethyl ester has been studied so that direct analysis of the 18 O distribution with regard to both position and abundance can be accomplished in isotopically enriched samples of glycerol 1-phosphate. The major fragmentation pathways resulting from electronimpact ionization were elucidated from studies of the [2- 18 O]-, [3- 18 O]-, and [ 2 H 18 ]trimethylsilyl analogs. It was found that this compound showed extensive intramolecular rearrangements of Si(CH 3 ); and OSi(CH 3 ) 3 groups. The oxygen atoms of the glycerol moiety were identified in the fragment ions, providing a means for the direct measurement of 18 O in this compound.
Pronunciation effects in recognition memory

Two experiments were conducted to examine the prediction from frequency theory that recognition memory should be better for pronounced words than for unpronounced words. The first experiment employed a forced-choice recognition test; an old-new recognition test was used in the second experiment. Pronunciation does not improve recognition memory when performance of a group that pronounces all of the study words is compared to that for a group that studies all the words silently; however, pronounced words are better recognized than unpronounced words in a mixed-list task in which half of the items are pronounced at the time of study and half are not. The observed pronunciation effect seems to be due at least as much to lowered recognition performance for unpronounced words as it is to improved recognition memory for pronounced words.
Variation in the Susceptibility of Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) When Reared on Different Host Plants to the Fungal Pathogen, Beauveria bassiana in the Field and Laboratory

We determined the susceptibility of the Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say) to the fungal pathogen Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) when reared on Solanum tuberosum L., Solanum dulcamara L., Solanum carolinense L., and Lycopersicum esculentum Miller growing in both the field and greenhouse. With the exception of L. esculentum, the host plant species most suitable for L. decemlineata survival in the field produced L. decemlineata larvae least susceptible to B. bassiana. Larvae reared on different host plants in the greenhouse also varied in susceptibility to measured doses of B. bassiana conidia in the laboratory. Greenhouse-grown plants, however, appeared to be less suitable for L. decemlineata growth than field-grown plants, and host plant suitability declined with host plant age. L. esculentum declined most in suitability, and larvae reared on this host in August were more susceptible to B. bassiana in the laboratory than larvae reared on the same plants in June.
Generalization between benzodiazepine- and triazolopyridazine-elicited discriminative cues

Using a milk reinforced two-lever operant procedure, rats were trained to discriminate 3 mg/kg chlordiazepoxide (CDP) from saline. Following this, generalization experiments were conducted with the triazolopyridazine CL 218,872, a synthetic non-benzodiazepine (BDZ) ligand for the BDZ receptor. CL 218,872 produced CDP lever selection in a dose related fashion and thus generalized to the standard CDP treatment. However, this generalization was antagonized by the concurrent administration of pentylenetetrazol or amphetamine, but not by strychnine or bicuculline. Also, there was evidence for cross tolerance for a sedative effect between CDP and CL 218,872.
Can the new cervical cancer screening and management guidelines be simplified

Effective cervical cancer prevention relies on frequent screening and appropriate management of abnormal test results to prevent cells with precancerous changes from progressing to cancer. Historically, guidelines were simple and clear: screen annually with Papanicolaou (Pap) tests, evaluate abnormal results with colposcopy and diagnostic biopsy, treat most abnormal results by means of either excision (loop excision) or ablation (cryosurgery), and then resume annual Pap testing. This approach was simple and easy to implement, but it led to overevaluation and overtreatment of many women still in their childbearing years. In 2012, the American Cancer Society, the American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (ASCCP), and the American Society for Clinical Pathology 1 and the US Preventive Services Task Force, 2 after reviewing extensive data related to cervical cancer screening, cancer risk, and age, issued new screening guidelines. These guidelines were developed through a rigorous process consistent with recommendations from the Institute of Medicine and were also relatively easy to implement. They recommend initiating screening with a Pap test when women are 21 years old, regardless of sexual history, and continuing screening at 3-year intervals with Pap testing alone if all test results remain nor
Status of the lunar laser communication demonstration

The Lunar Laser Communication Demonstration will be NASA's first attempt to demonstrate optical communications from a lunar orbiting spacecraft to an Earth-based ground receiver. A low SWAP optical terminal has been built and integrated onto the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft, presently scheduled to launch in 2013. LLCD will demonstrate duplex optical communications between this small space terminal and a multi-aperture photon-counting ground terminal at downlink data rates of up to 622 Mbps and uplink data rates of up to 20 Mbps. The system will also perform two-way time-of-flight measurements with the potential to perform ranging with sub-centimeter accuracy. As of the time of this conference, the Lincoln-built ground terminal has been constructed at a temporary site near Lincoln Lab nnd the two alternate ground terminals – being built by JPL and ESA – are in preparation.
Measuring Public Service Motivation: Exploring the Equivalence of Existing Global Measures

ABSTRACT Our ability to interpret, generalize, and build theory across public service motivation (PSM) studies is limited by lack of knowledge regarding the equivalence of different PSM measures that researchers frequently use. While past research has given considerable attention to validating multidimensional measures of PSM, this study investigates the psychometric properties of the global measures that have been used to provide much of the empirical evidence on PSM. Building on the lessons of other research using global and multidimensional measures, we first discuss the strengths and weaknesses of existing global measures of PSM relative to those of the multidimensional measures. After highlighting the potential merit of global scales, we then provide empirical justification for global scales. Using five different data sets to compare commonly used global measures of PSM, our findings suggest that these different measures are not only highly correlated with each other but also display a similar patter...
Using motion planning to rank ligand binding affinity

In the drug discovery process, pharmaceutical companies have to screen many drug (or ligand) candidates to find the most promising ones for trial. This process is very costly and attention as turned to computational approaches to predict binding affinity to the desired target protein. In this work, we develop a computational tool for ranking ligand binding affinity that uniformly samples ligand conformations over the target protein's surface and analyzes the resulting set to compute an affinity ranking. Experiments on one target protein shows that our method is able to correctly rank different ligands for the target protein as determined by experimental data. Our method is a promising technique and potential cost-saving tool for pharmaceutical companies to narrow the search for good drug candidate.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Land Use Change from Jatropha Curcas-Based Jet Fuel in Brazil

This analysis presents a comparison of life-cycle GHG emissions from synthetic paraffinic kerosene (SPK) produced as jet fuel substitute from jatropha curcas feedstock cultivated in Brazil against a reference scenario of conventional jet fuel. Life cycle inventory data are derived from surveys of actual Jatropha growers and processors. Results indicate that a baseline scenario, which assumes a medium yield of 4 tons of dry fruit per hectare under drip irrigation with existing logistical conditions using energy-based coproduct allocation methodology, and assumes a 20-year plantation lifetime with no direct land use change (dLUC), results in the emissions of 40 kg CO2e per GJ of fuel produced, a 55% reduction relative to conventional jet fuel. However, dLUC based on observations of land-use transitions leads to widely varying changes in carbon stocks ranging from losses in excess of 50 tons of carbon per hectare when Jatropha is planted in native cerrado woodlands to gains of 10−15 tons of carbon per hectar...
Prison Regime and Drugs

Examining the effects of regime on drug trafficking, 172 offenders in one prison and 229 offenders in a similar custody level prison were surveyed. Data rejected the hypothesis that a restrictive regime with formal inmate-custodian relations has greater control over drug trafficking in prison than a less restrictive regime with informal inmate-custodian relations. More authoritative supervision produces more disciplinary actions than a less supervised close inmate-custodian environment. One reason for these findings is that correctional staff are also affected by regimes. Lastly, convicted drug smugglers implicated correctional staff rather than correctional officers as drug traffickers. More research needs to be conducted on enforcers and nurturing perspectives.
Seasonal and annual precipitation time series trend analysis in North Carolina, United States

Abstract The present study performs the spatial and temporal trend analysis of the annual and seasonal time-series of a set of uniformly distributed 249 stations precipitation data across the state of North Carolina, United States over the period of 1950–2009. The Mann–Kendall (MK) test, the Theil–Sen approach (TSA) and the Sequential Mann–Kendall (SQMK) test were applied to quantify the significance of trend, magnitude of trend, and the trend shift, respectively. Regional (mountain, piedmont and coastal) precipitation trends were also analyzed using the above-mentioned tests. Prior to the application of statistical tests, the pre-whitening technique was used to eliminate the effect of autocorrelation of precipitation data series. The application of the above-mentioned procedures has shown very notable statewide increasing trend for winter and decreasing trend for fall precipitation. Statewide mixed (increasing/decreasing) trend has been detected in annual, spring, and summer precipitation time series. Significant trends (confidence level ≥ 95%) were detected only in 8, 7, 4 and 10 nos. of stations (out of 249 stations) in winter, spring, summer, and fall, respectively. Magnitude of the highest increasing (decreasing) precipitation trend was found about 4 mm/season (− 4.50 mm/season) in fall (summer) season. Annual precipitation trend magnitude varied between − 5.50 mm/year and 9 mm/year. Regional trend analysis found increasing precipitation in mountain and coastal regions in general except during the winter. Piedmont region was found to have increasing trends in summer and fall, but decreasing trend in winter, spring and on an annual basis. The SQMK test on “trend shift analysis” identified a significant shift during 1960 − 70 in most parts of the state. Finally, the comparison between winter (summer) precipitations with the North Atlantic Oscillation (Southern Oscillation) indices concluded that the variability and trend of precipitation can be explained by the Oscillation indices for North Carolina.
Optical fiber crack sensor for concrete structures

The condition of concrete structures can be assessed through the monitoring of crack openings. Researchers at MIT and Brown University have recently developed a novel concept for the sensing of cracks in concrete structures. The sensing capability is based on the light loss as microbending occurs in a fiber bridging the crack. To use the sensor, only the crack plane orientation in the structure (rather than the exact crack locations) needs to be known. With the use of OTDR, distributed sensing is possible. In this paper, the novel crack sensing concept is first introduced. To guide the design of sensors for various performance requirements, a theoretical model is developed to relate signal loss and crack opening. Prediction from the mold is compared with experimental results. Using laboratory-sized specimens, the detection of both surface and interior cracks are demonstrated.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Reactive oxygen metabolites in piglet cryptosporidiosis

Piglet cryptosporidiosis is characterized by intestinal villous damage and malabsorption, and by reduced NaCl absorption in response to prostaglandins (PGs), which act directly on the epithelium and indirectly through enteric nerves. We hypothesized that phagocyte-derived reactive oxygen metabolite (ROM) production contributed to PG synthesis and altered transport in inflamed ileum. Ileal mucosa from control and infected piglets was analyzed for villous height, PGE2, catalase (an endogenous antioxidant), and malondialdehyde (MDA, a by-product of lipid peroxidation) from d 2-8 after infection. The response of control ileal mucosa to exogenous ROM and infected mucosa to antioxidant treatment was also studied in tissues mounted in Ussing chambers. Increased levels of MDA on d 2 preceded increased PGE2 on d 3-4, which correlated with the acute diarrheal phase; however the most severe villous atrophy (d 8) correlated with the highest levels of catalase and MDA but low levels of PGE2. Control mucosa responded to H2O2 with indomethacin- and tetrodotoxin-sensitive transient increases in short circuit current (Isc), which were accompanied by increased tissue production of 6-keto-PGF1a, the stable metabolite of PGI2; however, no increased PGE2 production was detectable. A stable analog of PGI2, carbacyclin, mimicked the transient Isc response to H2O2; however, several antioxidants failed to alter the abnormal Isc of infected tissue. These results suggest that there is evidence of increased ROM production in cryptosporidial infection and that intestinal PG synthesis and inhibited NaCl absorption may be mediated partially by ROM in this model. Additional, cooperative factors, such as PGE2 production, however, are likely needed to induce the alterations in ion transport seen in this infection.
Extreme tunability in aluminum doped Zinc Oxide plasmonic materials for near-infrared applications

Extreme tunability in aluminum doped Zinc Oxide plasmonic materials for near-infrared applications
Adenovirus-mediated gene transfer of wild-type p53 results in melanoma cell apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.

Gene transfer techniques may provide efficient treatment for a variety of malignant neoplasms. A replication-deficient adenovirus (Ad) vector which carries the cDNA for wild-type p53 (AdCMV.p53) was tested for its in vitro and in vivo effects on the growth of murine melanoma cell line B16-G3.26 and human melanoma cell line SK-MEL-24. The growth of B16-G3.26 cells infected with AdCMV.p53 was inhibited when compared to the uninfected cells or cells infected with the control vector AdCMV.NLS beta gal. Similarly, the growth of SK-MEL-24 cells infected with AdCMV.p53 was also below that of AdCMV.NLS beta gal-infected and uninfected controls. DNA laddering using agarose gel electrophoresis and in situ labeling of DNA fragmentation (TUNEL) showed that AdCMV.p53-infected murine and human melanoma cells underwent apoptosis. Nude mice injected s.c. either with B16-G3.26 cells or with SK-MEL-24 cells developed localized tumors. These tumors were subsequently infiltrated with either AdCMV.p53, AdCMV.NLS beta gal or saline alone. One week after infection, B16-G3.26 tumors exposed to AdCMV.p53 were 2.5 times smaller than control tumors and exhibited DNA fragmentation. A similar growth-inhibitory effect of AdCMV.p53 was observed with SK-MEL-24 tumors. Thus, Ad-mediated wild-type p53 overexpression resulted in melanoma cell apoptosis and inhibition of melanoma growth in vitro and in vivo. These gene therapy approaches may be useful in targeting rapidly growing, malignant melanomas in a clinical setting.
Bald ibis Geronticus eremita population in Turkey: an evaluation of the captive breeding project for reintroduction

Abstract This paper reports on captive and wild populations of the bald ibis Geronticus eremita in Birecik, Turkey. Captive breeding and reintroduction, aimed at increasing the wild population, are evaluated. Low breeding success in captivity, failure of reintroduced birds to join the wild population in migration, and losses during migration and in the winter appear as major factors preventing an increase in this population. Probable causes of these three factors are discussed.
Trace and minor elements in minerals of nakhlites and Chassigny: Clues to their petrogenesis

Abstract Ion microprobe measurements of REE (rare earth element) and other selected trace and minor element concentrations were made in clinopyroxene, olivine, feldspar, and chlorapatite in Chassigny and the three nakhlites (Nakhla, Governador Valadares, and Lafayette). In Chassigny, we have found pigeonite occurring in a poikilitic habit; it is the first reported occurrence of this mineral in this meteorite. The most significant implication of this finding is that estimates of the major element composition of the Chassigny parent melt will have to accommodate pigeonite as a primary mineral crystallizing before plagioclase. Chlorapatite contains the highest REE abundances in all meteorites studied here. The REE patterns of chlorapatite, plagioclase, and augite in nakhlites and Chassigny are similar (although the downward trends of REE patterns are somewhat steeper for these minerals in Chassigny than in the nakhlites). Pyroxenes in nakhlites and Chassigny are extensively zoned in REEs and other trace and minor elements, such as Y, Zr, Ti, and Al, which appear to be “resistant” to diffusive reequilibration. Thus, primary igneous zoning of these elements has been preserved in the pyroxenes of these meteorites and can be used to infer their crystallization histories. The calculated REE patterns of the parent melts of nakhlites and Chassigny are LREE enriched and parallel to their whole-rock REE patterns, indicating that, once crystal accumulation occurred, the intercumulus trapped melt fractionally crystallized in an essentially closed-system and that infiltration (i.e., metasomatism) by LREE-enriched magmas need not be invoked to explain the LREE enrichment in bulk samples of these meteorites. Fractional crystallization model calculations for Nakhla also confirm these conclusions. The distributions of trace and minor elements in augites in nakhlites and Chassigny suggest that all three nakhlites could be samples from different horizons of the same lithologic unit but that Chassigny was not comagmatic with the nakhlites.
An oscillating operator related to wave equations in the block spaces

In this article, we study certain oscillating multipliers related to Cauchy problem for the wave equations on the Euclidean space and on the torus. We obtain that, at the end point, these operators are bounded from the Lp spaces to certain block spaces.
p-Version Incompressible Lubrication Finite Element Analysis of Large Width Bearings

This paper presents a p-version finite element formulation for incompressible lubrication analyses where the pressure field can be of any arbitrary polynomial of order p. The formulation ensures the C° continuity between mating element boundaries. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate the simplicity of modeling and the accuracy of the formulation.
Correlation of medical dosimetry quality indicators to the local tumor control in patients with prostate cancer treated with iodine-125 interstitial implants.

The treatment of prostate cancer by 125 I interstitial implants has been extensively studied with mixed results by one institution or another. A recent study from Hahnemann [Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol., Phys. 21 955–960 (1991)] reported results that were extremely poor compared to those reported in an earlier study at Yale [Int. J. Radiat. Oncol., Biol., Phys. 14, 1153–1157 (1988)] or those in an Eastern Virginia Study [Cancer63, 2415–2420 (1989)]; differences in 5-yr survival rates being more than a factor of 2. Such large discrepancies from institution to institution led us to a reexamination of the dosimetry. This study analyzed quantitatively three-dimensional dosimetric parameters of 110 prostate cancer patients treated with 125 I interstitial implants. The study searched for “cutoff” values in each parameter that divided the patients into two groups with statistically significant differences in the local recurrence-free survival rates. A comparison of the three-dimensional isodose surfaces of patients with favorable values in all of the parameters to those patients with all unfavorable parameters show how these characteristics translated into poor dose coverage and much inhomogeneity within the implant even for cases that met the traditional criteria for adequacy (160 Gy to the tumor volume). Patients in the favorable group had 10-yr survival rates higher by a factor of up to 2 compared to those in the unfavorable group. The strong correlation of three-dimensional volume-dose parameters to the local control rate observed in this study further emphasizes how important it is to assess the three-dimensional dosimetric adequacy of interstitial implants before deciding on their clinical efficacy. If implants are performed with appropriate attention to dosimetry parameters, excellent clinical results are obtained. On the other hand, if dosimetry parameters are not correct, the implant results can be poor.
Differentiating theory from evidence in determining confidence in an assessment finding

The Guidance Notes for Lead Authors of the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report on Consistent Treatment of Uncertainties describes a process for consistently evaluating and communicating levels of certainty in findings. The process begins with an assessment of the scientific evidence and agreement supporting a finding, where evidence is defined as including mechanistic understanding, theory, data, models, and expert judgment. The appropriateness of categorizing theory as one line of evidence varies by scientific discipline; for the natural and social sciences, developing theory and collecting data are different steps in the scientific method. Further, decision-makers often find it valuable for scientists to differentiate situations where a theory is generally agreed but for which supporting data are limited, from situations where empirical data lack an explanatory theory. The paper describes the approach used by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) for assessing the relative robustness of a theory separately from the strength and quality of its supporting evidence, and then developing consensus statements of whether an agent is a human carcinogenic. Although the IARC and IPCC processes are very similar, the IARC process also differs by combining theory, evidence, and agreement as equal partners in a limited set of standardized categories of confidence. Incorporating aspects of the IARC approach into the IPCC guidance could improve the evaluation and communication of theory, evidence, and agreement in future versions of the uncertainty guidance.
Luce's choice model and Thurstone's categorical judgment model compared: Kornbrot's data revisited.

Kornbrot (1978)compared Luce's (1963)choice model and the (constant-variance) Thurstone categorical judgment model (Thurstone, 1927;Torgerson, 1958)on their ability to account for unidimensional absolute identification performance. Two subjects were required to identify eight auditory stimuli varying in loudness in a neutral and a payoff-biased condition. Kornbrot concluded that the experimental results provided strong evidence against the choice model of category judgment, and that the Thurstone model yielded impressive fits to the identification data. In this note, I suggest that Kornbrot's conclusion regarding the choice model was too strong. Kornbrot fitted a special case of Luce's choice model to the identification data by constraining the similarity parameters in the general model. The special-casechoice model may have provided poor fits because inappropriate constraints were assumed. A choice model with slightly modified similarity constraints yields impressive fits to the identification data, ones that compare favorably with the fits of the Thurstone model. Assume n stimuli in an absolute identification experiment. Accordingto Luce's (1963)choicemodel, the probability that a subject makes response j given stimulus i, P(Rj ISi), is given by
Cdc42 and Rac1 are major contributors to the saturated fatty acid-stimulated JNK pathway in hepatocytes

Background & Aims Saturated free fatty acid (SFA)-stimulated c-Jun NH 2 -terminal kinase (JNK) activation is associated with the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). However, the mechanisms responsible for the effects of SFA are incompletely understood. The goal of this study was to determine the molecular mechanisms by which SFA induce JNK activation in hepatocytes. Methods We used siRNA-mediated knockdown in Hepa1c1c7 and AML12 cell lines, as well as primary mouse hepatocytes for these studies. Results The current model for JNK activation by SFA involves endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, which induces JNK activation through an inositol requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1α) Apoptosis Regulating Kinase 1 (ASK1)-dependent mechanism. Here, we find that SFA-induced JNK activation is not inhibited in the absence of IRE1α and ASK1. Instead we show that activation of the small GTP-binding proteins Cdc42 and Rac1 is required for SFA-stimulated MLK3-dependent activation of JNK in hepatocytes. In addition, we demonstrate that SFA-induced cell death in hepatocytes is independent of IRE1α, but dependent on Cdc42, Rac1, and MLK3. Conclusions Our results demonstrate that Cdc42 and Rac1, rather than ER stress, are important components of a SFA-stimulated signaling pathway that regulates MLK3-dependent activation of JNK in hepatocytes.
Mutants in a conserved region near the carboxy-terminus of HIV-1 rev identify functionally important residues and exhibit a dominant negative phenotype

Abstract The rev protein (Rev) of human immunodeficiency virus increases the cytoplasmic expression of viral structural gene mRNAs. We had previously reported the existence of a region (residues 73–98) near the carboxy-terminus in HIV-1 Rev essential for its function. To further define the structural elements in this region, we examined the effects of substitution mutations in highly conserved residues in this region, between amino acids 75–81, on Rev function. Mutations in Pro 76–77 and Arg 80 retained Rev function, whereas those in Leu75 and Leu 81 abolished Rev activity and exhibited trans -dominant suppression of wt Rev function. The Leu 81 mutation, in particular, exhibited an efficient dominant negative phenotype. Leu 75 and Leu 81 thus appear to define residues essential to the Rev “effector” function.
Somebody's Fetish: Self-Objectification and Body Satisfaction Among Consensual Sadomasochists

Considering that sexuality scholars claim consensual sadomasochists experience sexual objectification differently from the general population (Califia, 1994 ; Connell, 2002 ; Nussbaum, 1995 ), this study explored self-objectification (Fredrickson & Roberts, 1997 ) and body satisfaction among 121 self-identified consensual sadomasochists, 67 of whom also self-identified as women. Participants responded to an online survey and reported their self-objectification, self-surveillance, body shame, and body satisfaction measures, along with their body mass index (BMI) and identification as dominant, submissive, or switch. The data revealed that the study participants' differed greatly in their sexual objectification experiences according to their genders, sexual orientations, and sadomasochistic identities, suggesting that consensual sadomasochism offers participants an environment partially free of the negative consequences resulting from Western beauty ideals.
A multistate switch based on the carrier tunneling and confinement effects of barrier

Abstract A new GaAs switching device with double InGaP potential barriers was fabricated and demonstrated. The double InGaP barriers are employed to provide potential barriers for carrier tunneling and hole confinement. When sufficient bias voltage is applied to this device, a double S-shaped negative-differential-resistance (NDR) characteristic is obtained at temperatures lower than −45°C because of the sequential avalanche multiplications in the high electric field regions. However, only a single NDR phenomenon is observed at higher temperature for the poor hole confinement supported by the InGaP barriers. The influence of temperature on the device performance is also investigated.
Self-reconfiguring robots

Mimicking the adaptability of living biological cells, robot modules will reconfigure themselves toward a common purpose within the limits imposed by the local environment.
Yield and Agronomic Traits of Waxy Proso in the Central Great Plains

Proso (Panicum miliaceum L.) is a summer annual grass capable of producing seed in 60 to 90 d. This characteristic, and its effi cient use of water, makes it well suited to the short, and often hot and dry, growing season in the high plains of the central Great Plains. The introduc- tion of novel end-use characteristics such as waxy starch can stimulate an increased mar- ket for proso. We evaluated 18 experimental F 5 waxy lines derived from a cross of 'Huntsman' and PI436626 across seven locations. Geno- type × environment variation in waxy proso was mostly a matter of changes in magnitude and not crossover interaction. When crossover inter- action was implicated, it was generally slight and occurred at lower environmental means—at locations with low mean response to any given variable. Waxy progeny mean yield was lower than Huntsman but signifi cantly higher than PI436626. Except for test weight, waxy progeny mean response for most traits was similar to check cultivars. Mean yield of one experimental line did not differ signifi cantly from Huntsman, and 14 did not differ signifi cantly from 'Horizon', the second highest yielding cultivar. In addition, regression analysis suggests that top-yielding waxy lines responded well to high-yield envi- ronments. Seed sizes for all waxy lines were smaller than the check lines, but most were sig- nifi cantly larger than PI436626. Waxy lines gen- erally headed at a similar time to Huntsman and the other nonwaxy checks, and most were sig- nifi cantly earlier than PI436626. Late maturity of PI436626 was the main factor limiting its culture in the High Plains region.
Oxidative Dehydrogenation of 1-Butene over Manganese Oxide Octahedral Molecular Sieves

Abstract Steady state kinetic studies of the oxidative dehydrogenation of 1-butene to 1,3-butadiene have been carried out on manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieve (OMS) and octahedral layered (OL) materials. Process parameters such as temperature, feed composition of 1-butene and oxygen, and feed flow rates were varied to study their effect on the activity and selectivity toward the oxidative dehydrogenation process. In addition to process parameters, modifications in the catalyst such as the ion-exchange of tunnel cations and framework substitution of manganese cations were also implemented in order to observe their effects on catalytic activity and the selectivity of 1,3-butadiene production. The ion-exchanged OMS and OL materials showed rapid deactivation with time when subjected to reaction mixtures of 1% 1-butene/0.7% oxygen/Ar and 1% 1-butene/1.1% oxygen/Ar at reaction temperatures greater than 400°C. Their selectivity toward 1,3-butadiene were typically from 15–20% (yield of 4–6%). The other products were cis and trans 2-butene and carbon dioxide and water (40–60% selectivity). Much of the oxidation was therefore nonselective. XRD data have shown that there is a phase change of the original precursor to a mixture of Mn 3 O 4 /MnO or plain MnO, in some cases after exposing the catalyst to reaction conditions for about 1–2 h. Framework substitution of some of the manganese with copper (OMS and OL), however, has led to higher yields and selectivities toward 1,3-butadiene. [Cu] OL-1 showed a yield of 11.8% and a maximum selectivity of 26% toward 1,3-butadiene. [Cu] OMS-1 shows a dramatically high selectivity of 36% and a yield of 11% toward 1,3-butadiene. The effect of framework substitution seems to also impede the phase change to Mn 3 O 4 (Hausmannite). The TPR spectra also show an increase in the lattice oxygen peak by about 40°C, in comparison with ion-exchanged OMS. This is sufficient indication that framework substitution of manganese by copper, partially, has enhanced the stability of the catalyst and improved its capacity for selective oxidation.
Peer leaders and substance use among high-risk adolescents.

Objective: To examine the association between individual drug use and peer leaders use. Method: Analysis of drug use behaviors of 525 students randomized into three arms—control, standard, and networked where peers serve as group leaders. Results: Among the combined male and female group, there was no association between peer leader and individual use. Among males, peer leader use at baseline was positively associated with individual alcohol use at post-test. Among females, peer leader use at post-test was negatively associated with marijuana and cigarette use. Conclusion: Having peer leaders in the network condition decreased the odds of marijuana and cigarette use among females. The opposite effect was found in males.