cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sequence and structure of the serendipity locus of Drosophila melanogaster. A densely transcribed region including a blastoderm-specific gene.

Abstract The transcriptional organization of the Drosophila melanogaster serendipity (sry) locus (previously designated EH8) has been investigated by DNA sequencing, S 1 nuclease mapping, and primer extension analysis. The data indicate that the five different (and partially overlapping) sry messenger RNAs detectable in early embryos are initiated at three separate sites, each directly upstream from one of the three protein-coding regions, designated (in 5′ to 3′ order) beta, alpha and delta. All of the sry mRNAs are transcribed in the same direction. The two blastoderm stage-specific sry mRNAs both include the alpha-coding region and have the same 5′ terminus, only 183 nucleotides downstream from the 3′ terminus of a beta region transcript (which is transcribed in ovaries). Similarly, only 331 nucleotides separate the 5′ end of a delta region transcript from the major 3′ end of the alpha region transcripts. One of the five sry embryonic mRNAs includes both the beta and alpha protein-coding segments and the spacer region in between, while another mRNA includes both the alpha and delta protein-coding regions as well as the spacer in between. The two read-through transcripts probably result from the failure to undergo a 3′ cleavage and polyadenylation event rather than from differential splicing. As the three other sry embryo mRNAs are each transcribed from a single protein-coding region, it would appear that the alpha, beta and delta open reading frames correspond to three separate genes. Codon bias analysis reinforces the notion that these three genes code for bona fide proteins with translation starting at the first in-frame AUG codon. The predicted beta and delta polypeptides show partial amino acid sequence homology, suggesting a common evolutionary origin.
Southern College Students' Cheating Behaviors: An Examination of Problem Behavior Correlates

ABSTRACT Understandings of cheating behavior by college students have focused on identifying rates at which students cheat and the identification of demographic characteristics. This paper focuses on demographic and other problem behaviors associated with cheating. Male and female samples from 12 southern colleges/universities are examined separately. Results show that males who cheat are more likely to be involved in four of seven other problem behaviors; females who cheat are likely to be involved in only one of seven other problematic behaviors. These findings suggest that cheating may be part of a larger problem behavior orientation for males but not females.
Room Temperature Synthesis of Thermally Immiscible Ag−Ni Nanoalloys

The properties of bimetallic nanoparticles (NPs) are greatly affected by their structures, that is, alloy versus core−shell. Many binary phases are dictated by their thermodynamically most favorable composition. We recently synthesized stable small Ag−Ni alloy NPs (<10 nm in diameter) by a radiolytic approach. Normally immiscible in bulk, Ag−Ni NPs are considered a core−shell structure from both experiments and simulations. Big lattice mismatch between Ag and Ni, plus lower surface energy of silver, makes core−shell structure thermodynamically favorable. To prepare kinetically favored Ag−Ni alloy NPs, a high dose rate from gamma irradiation was applied. A number of techniques were employed to fully characterize the Ag−Ni NPs and confirm their alloying. The HRTEM lattice spacing measured from Ag0.5−Ni0.5 NPs was found between the lattice spacing of Ag and Ni. Images from high-angle annular dark-field show that the Ag−Ni NPs are not core−shell structure but are homogeneous in composition. Energy filtered tr...
Threshold doses for nicotine discrimination in smokers and non-smokers.

Rationale: Tobacco use during initial experimentation often involves modest nicotine exposure, escalating to larger doses and more frequent exposure with the onset of tobacco dependence. Threshold doses for nicotine discrimination therefore may differ between naive and experienced tobacco users. Objectives: We determined the lowest (threshold) dose of nasal spray nicotine that smokers and non-smokers could reliably discriminate from placebo spray. Methods: Male and female smokers (n=18) and non-smokers (n=17) were initially trained to discriminate 20 µg/kg from placebo before proceeding to threshold determination sessions, which involved discrimination of progressively lower doses below 20 µg/kg ("descending order" subgroup) or higher doses above 1 µg/kg ("ascending order" subgroup). Threshold was determined by the lowest dose reliably discriminated from placebo (correct on ≥80% of testing trials) and by failure to discriminate the next lowest dose. Results: Threshold doses for nicotine discrimination were low and not different between smokers and non-smokers (median thresholds of 3 versus 2 µg/kg and approximate blood levels of 2.6 versus 1.6 ng/ml, respectively). Thresholds were similar between descending and ascending order subgroups. Several subjective responses differentiated threshold dose from the dose just below threshold, particularly in non-smokers. Conclusions: Threshold doses for nasal spray nicotine discrimination in humans are low, well below the typical nicotine delivery of most cigarette brands, and may not change after long-term smoking exposure.
Processing of ambiguous emotional messages in brain injured patients with and without subcortical lesions

Background: Emotional information in communicative messages is conveyed through a combination of linguistic and paralinguistic cues. Listeners must simultaneously process affective prosody, facial expressions, body gestures, and semantic information in order to determine the speaker's emotional intent. Findings from recent research support the involvement of subcortical structures in unimodal emotion recognition; however, given the propensity for emotional information to be conveyed across multiple modalities simultaneously, clinical advances require an understanding of how subcortical and cortical structures are involved in the recognition of multi-modal stimuli. Aims: To determine if individuals with and without a history of brain damage demonstrate affective processing biases on ambiguous and congruous multi-modal emotive stimuli.1 Methods & Procedures: Twenty individuals with brain damage and five individuals without a history of brain injury (NC) were included in the study. Participants with brain da...
A Meta-Analysis of the Relationship Between Emotional Intelligence and Effective Leadership

The purpose of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis to ascertain if there was empirical evidence to support the inclusion of emotional intelligence as a component of effective leadership. It is proposed in this paper that emotional intelligence is a component of transformative leadership that should be evaluated and developed. In order to conduct the study, precise, composite definitions of emotional intelligence and effective leadership were drawn from the respective literature. One hundred and forty-one studies were reviewed for possible analysis with 48 studies meeting the criteria for inclusion. The study concludes that there is a moderately strong relationship between emotional intelligence and effective leadership. This study has implications for candidates of Educational Leadership Preparation Programs and the incorporation of emotional intelligence in the Educational Leadership Preparation Programs curriculum.
Electrospray mass spectrometry: a study on some aqueous solutions of metal salts

Aqueous metal salt solutions were used as models to probe the origin of the species observed in the electrospray mass spectrum. A qualitative or semiquantitative correlation among different species was observed between electrospray responses and calculated equilibrium aqueous solution concentrations. Quantitative correlations were obtained, however, when ions that were identical in charge and similar in type were selected for comparison. In these experiments the ions experienced very similar electrospray-related processes and their effects on the responses were canceled in a comparison of these ions. Consequently, the relative abundances of these ions in the electrospray mass spectrum closely matched the calculated relative abundances in aqueous solution. Our results suggest that the basic principle that determines ionic distribution in the electro spray mass spectrum in aqueous solution chemistry.
A 0.46 μs isomer in Gd157

Abstract A 0.46 μs isomeric state in Gd157 has been observed in scintillation spectrometric studies of the decay of Eu157. The excitation energy of the isomer was found to be 65±2 keV. Therefore, this state probably can be identified with the 64.0 keV [642] Nilsson level in Gd157 reported earlier. The decay of the 0.46 μs state is studied and discussed.
Smoke and mirrors: Combinatorial properties of small cardinals equiconsistent with huge cardinals

Abstract Since the work of Godel and Cohen many questions in infinite combinatorics have been shown to be independent of the usual axioms for mathematics, Zermelo Frankel Set Theory with the Axiom of Choice (ZFC). Attempts to strengthen the axioms to settle these problems have converged on a system of principles collectively known as Large Cardinal Axioms. These principles are linearly ordered in terms of consistency strength. As far as is currently known, all natural independent combinatorial statements are equiconsistent with some large cardinal axiom. The standard techniques for showing this use forcing in one direction and inner model theory in the other direction. The conspicuous open problems that remain are suspected to involve combinatorial principles much stronger than the large cardinals for which there is a current fine-structural inner model theory for. The main results in this paper show that many standard constructions give objects with combinatorial properties that are, in turn, strong enough to show the existence of models with large cardinals are larger than any cardinal for which there is a standard inner model theory.
Life cycle assessment comparison of emerging and traditional Titanium dioxide manufacturing processes

Abstract Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is used as pigment in a wide variety of domestic and industrial applications, and is becoming an increasingly valuable nanomaterial. TiO2 is manufactured by the traditional sulfate process or high temperature chloride process. Several hydrometallurgical processes for manufacturing TiO2 have recently emerged to reduce the environmental impact of TiO2 production. A new process is reported that features alkaline roasting of titania slag (ARTS), with subsequent washing, leaching, solvent extraction, hydrolysis, and calcination stages, and implements the recycling and regeneration of alkaline and acid process streams to minimize waste generation. A virtual ARTS processing plant is described in detail and is used to conduct an LCA comparison with the sulfate, chloride, and Altairnano processes. The cumulative energy demand (CED) and total CO2 emissions for the ARTS process are 92.6 MJ/kg TiO2 and 7.47 kg CO2/kg TiO2, respectively, which compares favorably with the traditional and Altairnano processes.
Sensitivity of N2 Fixation Traits in Soybean Cultivar Jackson to Manganese

There are large increases in leaf ureides, allantoin, and allantoic add upon water deficit in N 2 fixing soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.], which are likely to trigger a feedback inhibition of nodule activity. The degradation of ureides in the leaves appears to be a major factor associated with N 2 fixation tolerance to water deficit. Since one of the possible enzymes responsible for allantoic acid degradation depends on Mn as a cofactor, we investigated the possibility that the previously demonstrated N 2 fixation tolerance to water deficit of the cultivar Jackson may result from a superior ability to accumulate Mn. Indeed, Jackson was found in field and greenhouse experiments to have higher leaf Mn concentrations than other genotypes over a range of Mn availability. Acetylene reduction activity after treating Jackson plants grown on hydroponic solutions with ureide did not vary, however, with leaf Mn concentration. This was in contrast to a soybean line with N 2 fixation sensitive to water deficit in which acetylene reduction activity following ureide treatment was greater as the leaf Mn concentration increased. In addition, ureide degradation rates in Jackson leaf samples with differing Mn concentrations were insensitive to Mn concentration. These results indicate that ureide degradation likely did not involve Mn as a cofactor and that ureide degradation in Jackson is catalyzed by an enzyme not requiring Mn as a cofactor. It was concluded that the capacity to maintain a high leaf Mn concentration in Jackson under sufficient Mn availability was a trait with no causal relationship to N 2 fixation tolerance of water deficit.
A guide for the ECM maze: Methods in Cell-Matrix Adhesion (Methods in Cell Biology, Vol. 69)

edited by Josephine C. Adams Academic Press (2002) 461 pages. ISBN 0-12-044142-X $89.95 (paperback) ![Figure][1] Studying the extracellular matrix (ECM) and the ways by which cells interact with it is not an easy task. It requires a broad knowledge and practical skills in handling
The Devolutionary Jekyll and Post-devolutionary Hyde of the Two Morvern Callars

The two Morvern Callars—Alan Warner's 1995 novel and Lynne Ramsay's 2002 film adaptation—are key contemporary Scottish texts yet represent two quite different moments in Scotland's recent cultural history. Warner's novel is decidedly devolutionary in its handling of Scotland and Scottishness. Although superficially faithful to its source text, Ramsay's film is actually far more faithful to its depoliticized—or differently politicized—early post-devolutionary moment. Examining the two Morvern Callars in light of Robert Stam's theory of adaptation helps us understand both their complex relationship and the ideological consequences of aesthetic choices.
Approximating the Performance of Urban Emergency Service Systems

This paper presents an approximate procedure for computing selected performance characteristics of an urban emergency service system. Based on a recently developed hypercube queuing model, the procedure requires for N servers solution of only N simultaneous equations, rather than 2N as in the exact model. The procedure relies on the theory of M/M/N queues in which servers are selected randomly and without replacement until the first available free server is found. The underlying model is intended for analyzing problems of vehicle location and response district design in urban emergency services, includes interdistrict as well as intradistrict responses, and allows computation of several point-specific as well as area-specific performance measures.
(Na + -K + )-activated ATPase in isolated mucosal cells of toad bladder.

Abstract 1. 1. A method is described for reproducible measurement of ATPase activity in isolated mucosal cells of toad bladder. 47 ± 7 % (S.D.) of the total activity is Na+- and K+-dependent, and yields 22 ± 5 (S.D.) μmoles Pi per mg protein per h. 2. 2. The curve depicting this enzymatic activity as a function of Na+ concentration is sigmoid in shape, suggesting cooperative interaction between binding sites for cations. 3. 3. Graded doses of ouabain were preincubated without ATP with the enzyme for 10 min. In deoxycholate-treated preparations, half-maximal inhibition was seen at 10−4 M and complete inhibition at ⩾ 10−3 M. In the absence of deoxycholate, 39 % of the activity persisted even at 10−2 M ouabain.
Three-dimensional visualization and quantitative characterization of primary silicon particles in an Al–Si base alloy

The three-dimensional (3-D) microstructure of an Al–Si base alloy is reconstructed to visualize and characterize the 3-D geometry of primary Si. Octahedral, plate-like and other 3-D morphologies of primary Si are observed and quantitatively characterized. The octahedral morphology is predicted to occur when the ratio of the crystal growth velocities along [0 0 1] and [1 1 1] directions is equal to √3 (and not 1.5 as previously reported by other researchers). A digital library of 3-D primary Si particles is created for realistic microstructure simulations.
Metrical Patterns of Words and Production Accuracy

This investigation examined the influence of metrical patterns of words (syllable stress and serial position) on the production accuracy of 20 children (22 to 28 months). The data were productions of six pairs of individualized two-syllable experimental words that referred to unfamiliar objects. Members of each pair differed only in the placement of stress (e.g., ['soti] vs. [so'ti]). Unstressed syllables were much more likely to be omitted, particularly at the beginning of words. Very few stressed syllables and unstressed second position syllables were omitted. One fourth of the word initial unstressed syllables were omitted. Consonant omissions, though few in number, tended to occur in initial position. Assimilation errors were not influenced by stress or serial position. When segmental errors due to syllable omissions were excluded, other consonant errors were not affected by stress or serial position. These findings indicate that young children's productions of syllables are influenced by the metrical patterns of words. However, the trochaic pattern of English is a statistical tendency, not an absolute constraint on two-syllable words. Metrical pattern also does not affect the consonant accuracy in syllables produced.
Comparative Perspectives on Inequality and the Quality of Democracy in the United States

When Jeffrey Isaac approached us to review some recent works in American politics from a comparative perspective, we gladly accepted the task, believing it important to help overcome what some see as the “splendid isolation” of American politics. Indeed, the invitation arrived at a propitious time because, after completing our most recent book, we critically reflected on the fact that we had unfortunately written almost nothing on the oldest, and one of the most diverse, democracies in the world, the United States. We thus agreed to contribute some thoughts on the matter, recognizing the limits of our knowledge of the entire field of American politics, but acknowledging, too, our belief that the current distancing of the study of America from the analysis of other democracies impoverishes modern political science.
Egyptian international labor migration and social processes: toward regional integration.

This article reviews evidence that contemporary Egyptian international labor migration to oil-rich Arab countries has followed a classic social process which starts with a homo economicus phase, ad...
Clinical phenotype and mutations in connexin 26 (DFNB1/GJB2), the most common cause of childhood hearing loss

Mutations in the gene for connexin 26, GJB2, are the most common cause of hearing loss in American and European populations, with a carrier rate of about 3%-a rate similar to that for cystic fibrosis. A single mutation, 35delG, is responsible for most of this autosomal recessive hearing loss, DFNB1. A broad spectrum of mutations in GJB2 has been found to be associated with hearing loss, including another deletion mutation, 167delT, which has a carrier rate of about 4% in the Ashkenazi Jewish population. Mutations in GJB2 have also been found to be associated with dominant nonsyndromic hearing loss, DFNA3. Clinical studies have shown that the recessive hearing loss can vary from mild to profound, even within the same sibship. This type of hearing loss is nonsyndromic and is accompanied by normal vision, vestibular responses, and no malformations of the inner ear detectable by computed tomography scanning. Progressive and asymmetrical hearing loss has been noted in some cases, but it accounts for fewer than one-third of the cases of this type of hearing loss. The discovery of mutations in GJB2 that cause hearing loss has profound implications in the early diagnosis of hearing loss in general. The relative ease of diagnosis by genetic testing of Cx26 permits early identification of children with GJB2/DFNB1 hearing loss. This testing, coupled with hearing loss diagnosed by infant auditory brainstem response audiometry, will ensure that hearing-impaired children and their parents receive proper medical, audiologic, genetic, and educational counseling. Am. J. Med. Genet. (Semin. Med. Genet.) 89:130-136, 1999.
Importance of Bounded Variation Condition for Stability of an Absolutely Continuous Invariant Measure

Abstract We give an example showing that the uniformly bounded variation condition in the compactness theorem of Gora and Boyarsky [ Canad. J. Math . 41 (1989), 855-869] is crucial for L 1 stability of an absolutely continuous invariant measure (acim) of a piecewise expanding transformation. The same example shows that a simple method of approximating an invariant density of a piecewise expanding transformation can give the wrong results.
Spreading Depolarization May Link Migraine and Stroke

Migraine increases the risk of stroke, particularly in young and otherwise healthy adults. Being the most frequent neurological condition, migraine prevalence is on a par with that of other common stroke risk factors, such as diabetes or hypertension. Several patterns of association have emerged: (1) migraine and stroke share a common association (eg, vasculopathies, patent foramen ovale, or pulmonary A-V malformations); (2) injury to the arterial wall such as acute arterial dissections can present as migraine aura attacks or stroke; (3) strokes rarely develop during a migraine attack, as described for "migrainous stroke." Increasing experimental evidence suggests that cerebral hyperexcitability and enhanced susceptibility to spreading depolarization, the electrophysiologic event underlying migraine, may serve as a mechanism underlying the migraine-stroke association. Mice carrying human vascular or neuronal migraine mutations exhibit an enhanced susceptibility to spreading depolarization while being particularly vulnerable to cerebral ischemia. The severe stroke phenotype in migraine mutant mice can be prevented by suppressing spreading depolarization. If confirmed in the clinical setting, inhibiting spreading depolarization might protect migraineurs at stroke risk as well as decrease attacks of migraine.
Temporal effects on attributions for one's own behavior: The role of task outcome.

Abstract Previous investigations into how attributions for one's own behavior change over time have resulted in surprisingly inconsistent results. Two experiments were conducted to account for these discrepant findings. In Experiment 1 male undergraduates were given feedback indicating that they had done either well or poorly on a skill-assessment test. Half of the subjects believed they were being videotaped when performing the test, half did not. In addition, half of the subjects completed attribution questionnaires immediately after the feedback, whereas half completed the questionnaires 2 or 3 days later. It was found that subjects who felt they had succeeded on the task made attributions that were more dispositional over time and subjects who felt they had failed made attributions that were more situational over time. No effect for the videotape manipulation was found. Experiment 2 replicated the task outcome effect and provided evidence suggesting that the effect was caused by a selective forgetting of unflattering attributions.
Toward Efficient Strong Memory Model Support for the Java Platform via Hybrid Synchronization

The Java memory model provides strong behavior guarantees for data-race-free executions. However, it provides very weak guarantees for racy executions, leading to unexpected, unintuitive behaviors. This paper focuses on how to provide a memory model, called statically bounded region serializability (SBRS), that is substantially stronger than the Java memory model. Our prior work introduces SBRS, as well as compiler and runtime support for enforcing SBRS called EnfoRSer. EnfoRSer modifies the dynamic compiler to insert instrumentation to acquire a lock on each object accessed by the program. For most programs, EnfoRSer's primary run-time cost is executing this instrumentation at essentially every memory access.This paper focuses on reducing the run-time overhead of enforcing SBRS by avoiding instrumentation at every memory access that acquires a per-object lock. We experiment with an alternative approach for providing SBRS that instead acquires a single static lock before each executed region; all regions that potentially race with each other---according to a sound whole-program static analysis--- must acquire the same lock. This approach slows most programs dramatically by needlessly serializing regions that do not actually conflict with each other. We thus introduce a hybrid approach that judiciously combines the two locking strategies, using a cost model and run-time profiling.Our implementation and evaluation in a Java virtual machine use offline profiling and recompilation, thus demonstrating the potential of the approach without incurring online profiling costs. The results show that although the overall performance benefit is modest, our hybrid approach never significantly worsens performance, and for two programs, it significantly outperforms both approaches that each use only one kind of locking. These results demonstrate the potential of a technique based on combining synchronization mechanisms to provide a strong end-to-end memory model for Java and other JVM languages.
The Szilard-Chalmers reaction in ferricinium picrate☆

Abstract The products of the Szilard-Chalmers reaction in ferricinium picrate have been separated by solvent extraction. For samples irradiated in the centre of the Brookhaven reactor about 2·4 per cent of the 59Fe activity was found in the form of parent compound and about 69 per cent as inorganic iron. The quantitative distribution of the 59Fe was not altered by heating the irradiated crystals. An explanation of these results is offered in terms of the reactions undergone by the fragments produced in the solid during the irradiation and the nature of the crystal.
Catalytic mechanism of aldose reductase studied by the combined potentials of quantum mechanics and molecular mechanics

Abstract The catalytic reduction of d -glyceraldehyde to glycerol by aldose reductase has been investigated with the combined potentials of quantum mechanics (QM) and molecular mechanics (MM) to resolve the question of whether Tyr48 or His110 serves as the proton donor during catalysis. Site directed mutagenesis studies favor Tyr48 as the proton donor while the presence of a water channel linking the N δ 1 of His110 to the bulk solvent suggests that His110 is the proton donor. Utilizing the combined potentials of QM and MM, the binding mode of substrate d -glyceraldehyde was investigated by optimizing the local geometry of Asp43, Lys77, Tyr48, His110 and NADPH at the active site of aldose reductase. Reaction pathways for the reduction of d -glyceraldehyde to glycerol were then constructed by treating both Tyr48 and His110 as proton donors. Comparison of energetics obtained from the reaction pathways suggests His110 to be the proton donor. Based on these findings, a reduction mechanism of d -glyceraldehyde to glycerol is described.
Effectiveness and efficiency in transit performance: A theoretical perspective

Abstract This paper presents a theoretical foundation for selecting effectiveness and efficiency performance criteria and standards by transit firms. The paper demonstrates that a transit firm must first specify its effectiveness and efficiency objectives in order to select performance criteria and standards. The paper does not actually develop standards (since they could vary from firm to firm), but does conclude that a transit firm can not be effective without being efficient; transit effectiveness and efficiency are necessary conditions for transit subsides to be effective; and public transit firms should be evaluated from the perspective of the firm rather than that of government.
Identifying rumors and their sources in social networks

Information that propagates through social networks can carry a lot of false claims. For example, rumors on certain topics can propagate rapidly leading to a large number of nodes reporting the same (incorrect) observations. In this paper, we describe an approach for nding the rumor source and assessing the likelihood that a piece of information is in fact a rumor, in the absence of data provenance information. We model the social network as a directed graph, where vertices represent individuals and directed edges represent information ow (e.g., who follows whom on Twitter). A number of monitor nodes are injected into the network whose job is to report data they receive. Our algorithm identies rumors and their sources by observing which of the monitors received the given piece of information and which did not. We show that, with a sucient number of monitor nodes, it is possible to recognize most rumors and their sources with high accuracy.
On the speed of sound in the atmosphere as a function of altitude and frequency

[1] Sutherland and Bass (2004) have developed a calculation of the speed of sound and attenuation at altitudes up to 160 km. Dispersion is included in their treatment though emphasis is placed on absorption. That theory is explored in more detail to describe dispersion in the thermosphere. In the lower atmosphere, variations in the speed of sound with altitude are dominated by temperature and wind speed changes; the vibrational and rotational relaxation frequencies, which depend on the ratio of frequency to pressure (f/P), are in the kilohertz to megahertz range. As altitude increases, f/P and the mean free path increase, relaxation frequencies drop significantly, and velocity dispersion due to rotational and translational relaxation intensifies. This relaxation and resulting dispersion cause sound speeds at fixed frequencies to increase significantly with altitude, and to lower the altitude at which sound is refracted downward. Although the most extreme effects of dispersion are masked by simultaneously increased attenuation, decreases in traveltime of several percent are predicted at frequencies slightly below 1 Hz, demonstrating that this dispersion must be taken into account in order to correctly predict atmospheric returns at low frequencies.
Crystal structure of elongation factor 4 bound to a clockwise ratcheted ribosome

Elongation factor 4 (EF4/LepA) is a highly conserved guanosine triphosphatase translation factor. It was shown to promote back-translocation of tRNAs on posttranslocational ribosome complexes and to compete with elongation factor G for interaction with pretranslocational ribosomes, inhibiting the elongation phase of protein synthesis. Here, we report a crystal structure of EF4-guanosine diphosphate bound to the Thermus thermophilus ribosome with a P-site tRNA at 2.9 angstroms resolution. The C-terminal domain of EF4 reaches into the peptidyl transferase center and interacts with the acceptor stem of the peptidyl-tRNA in the P site. The ribosome is in an unusual state of ratcheting with the 30S subunit rotated clockwise relative to the 50S subunit, resulting in a remodeled decoding center. The structure is consistent with EF4 functioning either as a back-translocase or a ribosome sequester.
Outcomes in retinoblastoma, 1974-2005: the Children's Hospital, Westmead.

Background: To report the 31-year experience of outcomes in retinoblastoma from a single centre. Methods: A retrospective analysis of consecutive cases of retinoblastoma diagnosed and treated at the Westmead Children’s Hospital, Sydney between 1974 and 2005 was performed. The subjects were analysed as two groups: those diagnosed between 1974 and 1989 (series α) and those diagnosed between 1990 and 2005 (series β). Results: There were a total of 142 patients included in the study, with a median follow up of 72 months. There were 84 patients with unilateral disease and 58 patients (116 eyes) with bilateral disease. The total enucleation rate remained high throughout both series for those with unilateral disease: 89% (series α) and 95% (series β). There was a reduction in enucleations performed for those with bilateral disease from 68.4% (series α) to 43.6% (series β) (P < 0.025). There were no bilateral enucleations performed after 1995. Actuarial Kaplan–Meier curves showed that 56% of all preserved eyes had not recurred at a median follow up of 95 months and 78.1% had avoided enucleation. Overall 43% of preserved eyes attained a visual acuity better than or equal to 6/12 and 55% achieved a visual acuity better than 6/60. There were four deaths due to retinoblastoma. Five patients were diagnosed with a second non-ocular malignancy. The most common treatment-related complications were cataracts, facial deformity, sepsis and febrile neutropaenia. Conclusions: The introduction of newer globe-preserving treatments for retinoblastoma was associated with equivalent visual outcomes, stable mortality rate and a greater number of short-term complications but avoided the late side-effects associated with external beam radiotherapy.
Avulsion complète de l’artère et de la veine fémorales secondaire à un traumatisme en hyperextension: A propos d’un cas et revue de la littérature

Les traumatismes vasculaires fermes des membres sont beaucoup moins frequents que les lesions traumatiques penetrantes, en particulier en l'absence de traumatisme musculo-squelettique important. Nous presentons un cas inhabituel d'arrachement complet de l'artere et de la veine femorales cause par une extension de hanche et une abduction de cuisse forcees au cours d'une chute d'echelle avec blocage du pied. A l'admission 8 heures apres le traumatisme, il existait un tableau d'ischemie aigue du membre inferieur droit, qui necessitait une exploration chirurgicale immediate, la mise en place d'un shunt temporaire, une revascularisation par pontage ainsi que des aponevrotomies. A notre connaissance, il s'agit de la premiere publication de ce type de mecanisme entrainant une section complete de l'artere et de la veine femorales. Nous analysons le mecanisme du traumatisme ainsi que la prise en charge therapeutique.
Suspended Alexandrium spp. hypnozygote cysts in the Gulf of Maine

Abstract The life cycle of dinoflagellates of the genus Alexandrium includes sexual reproduction followed by the formation of a dormant hypnozygote cyst, which serves as a resting stage. Negatively buoyant cysts purportedly fall to the benthos where they undergo a mandatory period of quiescence. Previous reports of cysts in the surficial sediments of the Gulf of Maine, where Alexandrium blooms are well documented, show a broad distribution of cysts, with highest concentrations generally in sediments below 100 m depth. We report here an exploration of cysts suspended in the water column, where they would be better positioned to inoculate springtime Alexandrium populations. During cruises in February, April, and June of 2000, water samples were collected at depths just off the bottom (within 5 m), at the top of the bottom nepheloid layer, and near the surface (1 m) and examined for cyst concentrations. Suspended cysts were found throughout the Gulf of Maine and westernmost Bay of Fundy. Planktonic cyst densities were generally greater in near-bottom and top of the bottom nepheloid layer samples than in near-surface water samples; densities were of the order of 10 2 cysts m −3 in surface waters, and 10 2 –10 3 cysts m −3 at near-bottom depths. Temporally, they were most abundant in February and least abundant in April. Reports by earlier workers of cysts in the underlying sediments were on the order of 10 3 cysts cm −3 . We present calculations that demonstrate the likelihood of cyst resuspension from bottom sediments forced by swell and tidal currents, and propose that such resuspended cysts are important in inoculating the seasonal bloom. We estimate that suspended cysts may contribute significantly to the annual vegetative cell population in the Gulf of Maine.
An analytic model for parallel Gaussian elimination on a binary N-Cube architecture

This paper summarizes an analytical technique which predicts the time required to execute a given parallel program, with given data, on a given parallel architecture. For illustration purposes, the particular parallel program chosen is parallel Gaussian elimination and the particular parallel architecture chosen is a binary n-cube. The analytical technique is based upon a product-form queuing network model which is solved using an iterative method. The technique is validated by comparing performance predictions produced by the model against actual hypercube measurements.
The distal portion of the short arm of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) chromosome 5D controls endosperm vitreosity and grain hardness.

Kernel vitreosity is an important trait of wheat grain, but its developmental control is not completely known. We developed back-cross seven (BC7) near-isogenic lines in the soft white spring wheat cultivar Alpowa that lack the distal portion of chromosome 5D short arm. From the final back-cross, 46 BC7F2 plants were isolated. These plants exhibited a complete and perfect association between kernel vitreosity (i.e. vitreous, non-vitreous or mixed) and Single Kernel Characterization System (SKCS) hardness. Observed segregation of 10:28:7 fit a 1:2:1 Chi-square. BC7F2 plants classified as heterozygous for both SKCS hardness and kernel vitreosity (n = 29) were selected and a single vitreous and non-vitreous kernel were selected, and grown to maturity and subjected to SKCS analysis. The resultant phenotypic ratios were, from non-vitreous kernels, 23:6:0, and from vitreous kernels, 0:1:28, soft:heterozygous:hard, respectively. Three of these BC7F2 heterozygous plants were selected and 40 kernels each drawn at random, grown to maturity and subjected to SKCS analysis. Phenotypic segregation ratios were 7:27:6, 11:20:9, and 3:28:9, soft:heterozygous:hard. Chi-square analysis supported a 1:2:1 segregation for one plant but not the other two, in which cases the two homozygous classes were under-represented. Twenty-two paired BC7F2:F3 full sibs were compared for kernel hardness, weight, size, density and protein content. SKCS hardness index differed markedly, 29.4 for the lines with a complete 5DS, and 88.6 for the lines possessing the deletion. The soft non-vitreous kernels were on average significantly heavier, by nearly 20%, and were slightly larger. Density and protein contents were similar, however. The results provide strong genetic evidence that gene(s) on distal 5DS control not only kernel hardness but also the manner in which the endosperm develops, viz. whether it is vitreous or non-vitreous.
Compositional Temporal Synthesis

Synthesis is the automated construction of a system from its specification. In standard temporal-synthesis algorithms, it is assumed the system is constructed from scratch. This, of course, rarely happens in real life. In real life, almost every non-trivial system, either in hardware or in software, relies heavily on using libraries of reusable components. Furthermore, other contexts, such as web-service orchestration and choreography, can also be modeled as synthesis of a system from a library of components. In this work we describe and study the problem of compositional temporal synthesis, in which we synthesize systems from libraries of reusable components. We define two notions of composition: data-flow composition, which we show is undecidable, and control-flow composition, which we show is decidable. We then explore a variation of control-flow compositional synthesis, in which we construct reliable systems from libraries of unreliable components.
Influenza, including the novel H1N1, in organ transplant patients.

Purpose of review This article will review the epidemiology, diagnosis, prevention and management of influenza in solid organ transplant recipients. Recent findings A number of recent studies have documented that influenza vaccination is both well tolerated and generally effective in producing an immunologic response in most solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients. Antiviral use is associated with improved clinical outcomes, but prolonged shedding may require a longer course of therapy than what is currently approved by the FDA. Antiviral resistance emerges rarely in transplant patients and should be considered in all patients with an inadequate clinical and/or virologic response. Summary Influenza is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in lung transplant recipients. Molecular diagnostics are preferred over other diagnostic modalities, if available. Influenza vaccination is well tolerated and provides protective benefit in most SOT recipients; in those with contraindications to vaccination or in whom responses are predicted to be poor, antivirals may be considered. Antiviral therapy is associated with improved outcomes in transplant patients and treatment should be continued until clinically and virologic response have been documented. Resistance, particularly with patients infected with the pandemic influenza A/H1N1, should be considered and treated with an antiviral with predicted activity.
Globalization, secessionism, and autonomy

Abstract This paper analyzes the relationship between the persistence and growth of secessionist parties in democratic countries and economic globalization, controlling for political and economic factors. The implications of secessionist persistence for decentralization are also examined. The paper finds that globalization is positively related to secessionist vote growth, while there is some evidence that economic conditions also impact secessionist parties in systematic ways. Secessionist support is also substantially affected by policy changes. Central governments have offered autonomy more often to regions with secessionist parties than to regions without such parties, though often the offers take the form of symmetrical countrywide decentralization.
Developing a GeoSTAR science mission

The geostationary synthetic thinned aperture radiometer (GeoSTAR) is a new instrument design that has been under development at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in the form of a proof-of-concept prototype. It is intended to fill a serious gap in our Earth remote sensing capabilities - namely the lack of a microwave atmospheric sounder in geostationary orbit. Such sensors have long been part of low-earth-orbiting (LEO) operational weather satellites and research satellites and have had a major impact ranging from numerical weather prediction to climate research. A similar capability in GEO is highly desired because of the advantageous observing point GEO offers, with continuous views of the entire visible Earth disc - crucial for the observation of hurricanes and other rapidly evolving atmospheric phenomena. GEO also enables full resolution of the diurnal cycle, which is particularly important in the study of atmospheric processes and climate variability where clouds and convection play a role, since those phenomena are known to have strong diurnal variability and are difficult to sample properly with sun synchronous LEO satellites. The GeoSTAR prototype produced the first interferometric radiometric images obtained at sounding frequencies in early 2005, and subsequent tests have demonstrated that the system exhibits excellent stability, accuracy and sensitivity and performs even better than predicted. This can be characterized as a breakthrough development. The technology required to implement GeoSTAR is at a level of maturity that a space mission can be contemplated. Such a mission is recommended by the U.S. National Research Council in its recent Decadal Survey of Earth missions and is being considered by both NASA and NOAA for the coming decade. Recent studies indicate that it is indeed feasible to implement a GeoSTAR mission in the 2014-16 time frame. We discuss possible mission scenarios as well as the science benefits that would ensue. The benefits are particularly significant in the area of tropical cyclones and severe storms, where there currently is a dearth of observations. With a geostationary microwave sounder it is possible to obtain the 3-dimensional distribution of temperature, water vapor and liquid water continuously and regardless of cloud cover, and atmospheric stability indices such as lifted index (LI) and convective available potential energy (CAPE) can be derived nearly everywhere. That will make it possible, for example, to detect severe-storm precursor conditions even if the area is under cloud cover. Recent progress in radiative transfer models now also makes it possible to obtain those parameters in the presence of moderate precipitation, and rain rates and snow rates can be derived as well. Aircraft based field campaign observations have also shown that a microwave sounder can be used to derive measures of convective intensity and precipitation in deep-convective systems from scattering due to ice particles formed by such systems. This can be used to estimate the intensity of tropical cyclones and can be used to detect sudden intensification and weakening in near-real time.
Finite element study of distortion-induced fatigue in welded steel bridges

Out-of-plane distortion-induced fatigue cracking is caused by relative rotation and displacement between longitudinal girders and transverse members framing into these girders. Procedures for determination of secondary stresses are not specified in the design or rating process. Appropriate finite element method procedures to analyze distortion-induced fatigue behavior are presented. A multigirder bridge developed web gap cracks near the girder bottom flange in a positive moment region. The affected diaphragm-girder connections were repaired by installing additional reinforcing splice plates to the web and attaching connection stiffeners to the flanges. Because no structural modifications were made to similar details in the bridge that had not developed fatigue cracks, concerns remain that these details may also be subjected to high-magnitude fatigue stresses that may lead to future cracking. By using finite element submodeling techniques, potential crack initiation sites in the bridge were identified and the corresponding distortion-induced stresses were determined. The most stressed detail reached yielding with an out-of-plane displacement of only a few thousandths of an inch. On the basis of the analytical results, a linear stress-displacement correlation was established for prediction of the secondary stresses. Repair analysis indicated that web gap stresses can be significantly reduced if a rigid stiffener-to-flange attachment is used. Thus, a bolted repair is recommended for the positive moment region connections, and a welded repair is recommended for the transition and negative moment region connections.