cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stability problems in the control of Saturn launch vehicles.

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the control system stability problem in such a way as to explain the purpose to which the control system of a space vehicle is put and the problems involved in choosing a suitable and satisfactory control system. In particular, the discussion centers on the special problems that arise for very large complex space vehicle systems as those of the Saturn-class launch vehicles during boost phase of flight. The chapter presents some specific examples of problem areas that are being investigated and some in which additional efforts are required. It presents the results of some studies. The chapter highlights the special stability problems of the control system engineer for engineers who are less knowledgeable in this area than in other aspects of the stability problem. Generally, neither derivations are given for equations of motion nor is the theory of structural vibrations and fluid oscillations in closed containers. The chapter discusses the underlying assumptions involved in the analytical treatment of these aspects of vehicle dynamics.
Exploring the potential for natural attenuation to ground water cleanup goals at select former uranium mill tailings sites in the western United States

One of the missions of the U.S. Department Energy (DOE) is to plan, implement, and complete the restoration of the 22 former uranium-ore processing sites identified as Title I sites in the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act. DOE controlled and stabilized the tailings and associated contaminated material at these sites in engineered disposal cells that have design longevities of 1,000 years. All the disposal cells and associated surface remediation activities were completed by 1998 under the Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project. Passive ground water cleanup with the application of natural attenuation (flushing), coupled with monitoring and institutional controls, has been proposed for 8 of the 22 sites. Natural attenuation allows the natural ground water movement and geochemical processes to decrease contaminant concentrations. Establishment of compliance targets by identifying point-of-compliance wells and proposed concentration limits gives confidence that performance measures are in place to determine the adequacy and effectiveness of the natural attenuation process. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires that natural attenuation must reduce contamination to levels within regulatory limits within 100 years. DOE has been working toward developing ground water compliance at these sites since 1991. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has approved natural attenuation for one of the eight sites.
Measuring Porosity Using Sound Velocity in Phosphate Bonded Silicon Nitride

Phosphate-bonded silicon nitride produced by cold iso-static pressing (CIP) retains many of the desirable characteristics of hot iso-static pressed (HIP) silicon nitride including a low dielectric constant, low thermal expansion and the ability to operate in a high temperature environment, yet is considerably more cost effective due to reduced processing costs. An important difference is that unlike the HIP silicon nitride, the CIP phosphate-bonded silicon nitride cannot be produced in the fully dense state. Components that are CIP, using a US Navy patented process, at pressures of 60Ksi often have porosities between 15% and 20%. Many components where extreme high strength is not required can utilize this material even with its inherent porosity. In applications where performance engineering is involved the porosity is extremely important due to its effect on dielectric and mechanical properties. An effort has been made to characterize porosity in phosphate-bonded silicon nitride by correlating the velocity of a compressive wave in this material to a porosity value. This method allows for the determination of porosity in a small volume of the sample and can be used to quantify porosity variations in a component unlike bulk methods such as the Archimedes method which gives an average value for the entire component.
Peer review at the Ministry of Silly Walks.

Abstract Background Fifty years ago, the groundbreaking British sketch series Monty Python’s Flying Circus premiered on BBC One and forever changed the world of comedy. The humour transcended mere absurdity by poking a subversive finger in the eye of buttoned-up British society. Here, we commemorate this cultural milestone and simultaneously call attention to an emerging concept in the health sciences, termed simplified peer review. The union of these disparate subjects motivates a formal gait analysis based on one of the troupe’s most iconic sketches, “The Ministry of Silly Walks”, a satire of bureaucratic inefficiency. Research question The sketch portrays peer review as exceedingly efficient, lasting all of 20 s. But was it fair? The answer depends on how one measures silliness. If silly walking can be defined as deviations from typical walking, then it can be quantified using video-based gait analysis. Methods To assess the quality of peer review at the Ministry of Silly Walks, we measured knee flexion in the sagittal plane of motion and calculated the Gait Variable Score (GVS) for three gait cycles, those of the Minister (n = 2) and Mr. Pudey (n = 1), an applicant for a Research Fellowship. Results For the Minister, we found large deviations from typical walking across two gait cycles (GVSknee(1) = 33.6, GVSknee(2) = 23.3), whereas the gait of Mr Pudey produced an intermediate score (GVSknee = 16.3). By this measure, Mr Pudney’s walk is 3.3 times more variable than typical walking, whereas an exemplary silly walk is 6.7 and 4.7 times more variable, respectively, than typical walking. Significance Our analysis corroborates the Minister’s assessment: Mr Pudey is a promising applicant and deserving of a Research Fellowship to advance his silly walk. We suggest that the sketch holds special resonance and uncanny prescience for researchers in the health sciences today.
12 – Identification of hydrocarbons in biological samples for source determination

Publisher Summary This chapter provides a succinct overview of the main processes that affect the interpretation of hydrocarbons in biota, with respect to inferences regarding hydrocarbon source. The primary issue in this endeavor is determining when definitive indicators of the hydrocarbon source are preserved in the biological matrix sampled. As soon as a petroleum-derived product is released into the environment, its composition changes in response to physical and biological processes. Whether direct or indirect, assessments of hydrocarbons in biota may provide evidence that is crucial to identifying pollution sources. Biological samples are often collected and analyzed for hydrocarbons, or for evidence of exposure to hydrocarbons, as part of damage assessments associated with pollution monitoring efforts, and useful information regarding pollution sources may often be gained from relatively little additional chemical or data analysis. The most widely used biological biomarkers are associated with the phase I metabolic transformation pathway involving induction of the CYP 1A detoxification enzyme, but other biomarkers associated with phase II condensation reactions, as well as toxic responses at the organism level of affected biota, have also proved useful.
Households’ Intended Evacuation Transportation Behavior in Response to Earthquake and Tsunami Hazard in a Cascadia Subduction Zone City:

Earthquakes along the Cascadia subduction zone would generate a local tsunami that could arrive at coastlines within minutes. Few studies provide empirical evidence to understand the potential beha...
Two decades of research: Time to incorporate comorbidity management into the care of MS?

In the past 2 decades, a growing body of evidence suggests that comorbid physical and psychiatric conditions such as dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, obesity, depression, and anxiety adversely affect a range of multiple sclerosis (MS) outcomes.1– Among persons with MS (PwMS), comorbid conditions contribute to delays in diagnosis and initiation of disease-modifying treatments (DMTs) and are associated with more rapid disability progression and lower health-related quality of life.4,5
Genetic interactions regulating seed phytate and oligosaccharides in soybean ( Glycine max L.)

Two low-phytate soybean (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) mutant lines- V99-5089 (mips mutation on chromosome 11) and CX-1834 (mrp-l and mrp-n mutations on chromosomes 19 and 3, respectively) have proven to be valuable resources for breeding of low-phytate, high-sucrose, and low-raffinosaccharide soybeans, traits that are highly desirable from a nutritional and environmental standpoint. A recombinant inbred population derived from the cross CX1834 x V99-5089 provides an opportunity to study the effect of different combinations of these three mutations on soybean phytate and oligosaccharides levels. Of the 173 recombinant inbred lines tested, 163 lines were homozygous for various combinations of MIPS and two MRP loci alleles. These individuals were grouped into eight genotypic classes based on the combination of SNP alleles at the three mutant loci. The two genotypic classes that were homozygous mrp-l/mrp-n and either homozygous wild-type or mutant at the mips locus (MIPS/mrp-l/mrp-n or mips/mrp-l/mrp-n) displayed relatively similar ~55% reductions in seed phytate, 6.94 mg g -1 and 6.70 mg g-1 respectively, as compared with 15.2 mg g-1 in the wild-type MIPS/MRP-L/MRP-N seed. Therefore, in the presence of the double mutant mrp-l/mrp-n, the mips mutation did not cause a substantially greater decrease in seed phytate level. However, the nutritionally-desirable high-sucrose/low-stachyose/low-raffinose seed phenotype originally observed in soybeans homozygous for the mips allele was reversed in the presence of mrp-l/mrp-n mutations: homozygous mips/mrp-l/mrp-n seed displayed low-sucrose (7.70%), high-stachyose (4.18%), and the highest observed raffinose (0.94%) contents per gram of dry seed. Perhaps the block in phytic acid transport from its cytoplasmic synthesis site to its storage site, conditioned by mrp-l/mrp-n, alters myo-inositol flux in mips seeds in a way that restores to wild-type levels the mips conditioned reductions in raffinosaccharides. Overall this study determined the combinatorial effects of three low phytic acid causing mutations on regulation of seed phytate and oligosaccharides in soybean.
Foreign currency deposits and the demand for money in developing countries

Abstract This paper examines the relative demands for domestic and foreign currency deposits by residents of developing countries. A dynamic currency substitution model that incorporates forward-looking rational expectations is specified and estimated for a group of ten developing countries. The results indicate that the foreign rate of interest and the expected rate of depreciation of the parallel market exchange rate are important factors in the choice between holding domestic money or foreign currency deposits abroad. Furthermore, the model appears to fit the data better than a conventional partial-adjustment model.
Bilayer wound matrix-based cutaneous scalp reconstruction: A multidisciplinary case control analysis of factors associated with reconstructive success and failure

Summary Background Scalp wounds pose reconstructive challenges due to the lack of skin elasticity, potential for compromised adjacent tissue, and desire for the restoration of esthetic contour. Bilayer Wound Matrix (BWM) has been successfully employed as a treatment modality for complex, full-thickness wounds of the scalp. We aimed to highlight risk factors for BWM success and failure in complex wounds of the scalp. Methods A retrospective case-control study was performed from 2012 to 2019 of adult subjects who presented to plastic or dermatological surgery with complex scalp defects with or without exposed calvarium, who underwent staged reconstruction with BWM and split-thickness skin grafting or secondary intention. Success was defined as complete wound re-epithelialization within 90-day follow-up without additional operative procedures for wound coverage. Demographics, comorbidities, treatment history, wound characteristics, and clinical course were analyzed and correlated with reconstructive outcomes. Results In total, 127 subjects were identified for inclusion, with mean age 74.6 ± 12.2 years, defect area 80.2 ± 89.4 cm2, and wound age 10.0 ± 65.4 days. Successful wound reconstruction occurred in 107 (84%) subjects. Postoperative wound infections were an independent predictor of BWM failure at 90 days (Odds Ratio: 6.4, 95% Confidence Interval: 1.5 – 26.7, and p Conclusion BWM represents a reliable and efficacious modality in the treatment of complex scalp wounds. Patient comorbidities may not heavily influence the success of BWM to establish adequate wound coverage; however, preoperative radiation and postoperative wound infection may often lead to reconstructive failure.
Data-driven Algorithms for signal processing with rational functions.

Rational approximation schemes for reconstructing signals from samples with poorly separated spectral content are described. These methods are automatic and adaptive, requiring no tuning or manual parameter selection. Collectively, they form a framework for fitting trigonometric rational models to data that is robust to various forms of corruption, including additive Gaussian noise, perturbed sampling grids, and missing data. Our approach combines a variant of Prony's method with a modified version of the AAA algorithm. Using representations in both frequency and time space, a collection of algorithms is described for adaptively computing with trigonometric rationals. This includes procedures for differentiation, filtering, convolution, and more.
Passive Elaborative Cueing of Retrieval ProcessesFollowing Traumatic Brain Injury

Purpose: Semantic elaboration is a process in which target information is analyzed in relation to content associated in meaning. The goal of the present study was to examine the use of phrasal cues...
FAQ: Definitions of Menopause and Biological Actions of Sex Steroids

There has been great confusion about the name of this stage of women’s health and reproductive lives, with vagueness to the term menopause, and the introduction of the stage of perimenopause, or premenopause, as something that doctors, and women, are starting to understand on its own. It is helpful to divide menopause into the stages of perimenopause and postmenopause, as women may experience different symptoms during these times, and clinicians may prescribe differently, based on symptoms and on the results of clinical studies and trials of HT efficacy and safety.
Failure Behavior of a 2‐D Woven Sic Fiber/Sic Matrix Composite at Ambient and Elevated Temperatures

The failure behavior of a 2D woven SiC fiber/SiC matrix composite at ambient and elevated temperatures was studied by characterizing the R-curve behavior at ambient temperature and at 1200 C using compact tension fracture mechanics specimens. A rising R-curve behavior was observed at ambient temperature caused by fiber bridging and microcracking in the crack wake. Significant toughening was also generated by microcracking in the crack front zone. The R-curve effect at ambient temperature was substantially reduced at 1200 C as a result of degradation of the Nicalon fibers. Delamination crack growth was observed at 1200 deg indicative of a weakened fiber/matrix interface. Toughening at elevated temperature appears to result from a combination of crack branching and microcracking. 6 refs.
Chesapeake Bay Plume Study : superflux 1980

The results of the Chesapeake Bay plume study are reported. The role of remote sensing in monitoring and assessing the effects of pollution of marine resources is delineated.
Social perception in children with autism: An attentional deficit?

Research suggests that the attentional deficits found in children with autism may be related to impairments in social functioning (e.g., Courchesne et al., 1994a, 1994b; Lewy & Dawson, 1992; Schreibman & Lovaas, 1973). In the present investigation, 14 children with autism, 14 mentally handicapped, and 14 typically functioning children participated in a study designed to investigate the effects of number of social cues on the ability to interpret social situations. Participants were shown videotaped vignettes of child-child interactions in which the number of cues leading to the correct interpretation of the story varied from one to four (i.e., tone, content, nonverbal, or nonverbal with object). Subjects were then asked a series of questions which varied in degree of complexity. Overall, results indicated that children with autism performed as well as both groups of comparison subjects on general attention questions (i.e., identification of number and gender of interactants) and social perception questions relating to stories containing one cue. However, children with autism performed more poorly than both comparison groups on social perception questions relating to stories containing multiple cues. Results are discussed in terms of an attentional dysfunction hypothesis of autism.
Time-resolved fluorescence methods for analysis of DNA-protein interactions.

Publisher Summary This chapter describes fluorescence spectroscopy as an established technique for the analysis of macromolecular structure and dynamics and, in more recent studies, is emerging as a promising method for the study of DNA-protein interactions. The chief advantage of fluorescence-based approaches over the gel electrophoretic and filter-binding methods commonly used to characterize DNA protein interactions is the ability to monitor binding events in solution under conditions of true thermodynamic equilibrium. The chapter reviews the application of time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy to the study of DNA-protein interactions. It provides an overview of general principles, focusing on those time-resolved fluorescence techniques that are most pertinent to the study of DNA-protein interactions. It discusses the instrumentation required for time-resolved fluorescence measurements and the methods employed in site-specific fluorescent labelling of DNA. A number of representative studies are then presented to demonstrate the different experimental strategies that can be used to characterize DNA-protein complexes. The specific examples presented in the chapter describe the ability of time-resolved fluorescence techniques to yield both structural and energetic information on DNA protein interactions.
High resolution studies with Doppler free resonances; Recent works at MIT

This paper gives a summary of recent MIT works in high resolution studies utilizing the nonlinearities of molecular transitions to obtain narrow Doppler free resonances.
Damage Control as a Strategy to Manage Postreperfusion Hemodynamic Instability and Coagulopathy in Liver Transplant.

RESULTS Of 1813 patients, 150 (8.3%) underwent DC during liver transplant, with 84 (56.0%) requiring a single additional operation for biliary reconstruction and abdominal closure and 57 (38.0%) requiring multiple additional operations. Compared with recipients without DC, patients requiring DC had greater Model for End-stage Liver Disease scores (33 vs 27; P < .001); more frequent pretransplant hospitalization (72.0% vs 47.9%; P < .001), intubation (33.3% vs 19.9%; P < .001), vasopressors (23.2% vs 10.9%; P < .001), renal replacement therapy (49.6% vs 30.3%; P < .001), and prior major abdominal operations (48.3% vs 21.9%; P < .001), including prior liver transplant (29.3% vs 8.9%; P < .001); greater operative transfusion requirements (37 vs 13 units of packed red blood cells; P < .001); worse intraoperative base deficit (10.3 vs 8.4; P = .03); more frequent postreperfusion syndrome (56.2% vs 27.3%; P < .001); and longer cold (430 vs 404 minutes; P = .04) and warm (46 vs 41 minutes; P < .001) ischemia times. Patients who underwent DC followed by a single additional operation for biliary reconstruction and abdominal closure had similar 1-, 3-, and 5-year graft survival (71%, 62%, and 62% vs 81%, 71%, and 67%; P = .26) and patient survival (72%, 64%, and 64% vs 84%, 75%, and 70%; P = .15) compared with recipients not requiring DC. Multivariate predictors of DC included prior liver transplant or major abdominal operation, longer pretransplant recipient and donor length of stay, greater Model for
Plasma oxytocin concentrations are lower in depressed vs. healthy control women and are independent of cortisol

The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) promotes social behavior and attenuates stress responsivity in mammals. Recent clinical evidence suggests OT concentrations may be dysregulated in major depression. This study extends previous research by testing whether: 1) OT concentrations vary systematically in depressive disorders with and without hypercortisolemia, 2) gender differences in OT concentrations are observed in depressed vs. healthy control participants, and 3) OT concentrations are predictive of clinical phenotypes. Plasma OT concentrations of psychotic major depressive (PMD; n = 14: 10 female, 4 male), non-psychotic major depressive (NPMD; n = 17: 12 female, 5 male), and non-depressed, healthy control (n = 19: 11 female, 8 male) participants were assayed at 2000, 2400, 0400, and 0800 h. Plasma cortisol concentrations were quantified at 2300 h, and clinical phenotypes were determined. As expected, PMD participants, compared to NPMD and healthy control participants, showed higher plasma cortisol concentrations. Although both depressed groups showed similar OT concentrations, a significant interaction effect between group and gender was observed. Specifically, depressed females exhibited lower mean OT concentrations than depressed males. Further, depressed vs. healthy control female participants exhibited lower mean OT concentrations, whereas depressed vs. healthy control male participants showed a trend in the opposite direction. OT concentrations were also predictive of desirability, drug dependence, and compulsivity scores as measured by the Million Clinical Multiaxial Inventory-III. All findings were independent of cortisol. These data suggest that OT signaling may provide a mechanism by which to better understand female-biased risk to develop depressive disorders and that plasma OT concentrations may be a useful biomarker of certain clinical phenotypes.
The Specialized Religions of Ancient Mediterranean Seafarers

Ancient seafarers faced dangers and fears posed by the sea and sailing. Specialized religious beliefs and practices developed accordingly. Sailors honored deities whose attributes could benefit or devastate a voyage. Divine patrons were worshipped in harbor and at promontory shrines. Ships were considered imbued with a protective spirit and contained sacred spaces. Mariners performed religious ceremonies on land and at sea to protect their voyages. Specialized features are found in funerary practices and mortuary rituals of seafarers. Maritime religions were subsets of ancient religions, generated by unique uncertainties and perils at sea.
An improved approach to application-specific power electronics education-switch characterization and modeling

An integrated power electronics curriculum has been implemented in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois, Chicago. This paper describes the development of a set of hands-on laboratory experiments to accompany classroom lectures. Content is based on switching converter topologies and commercial power semiconductor devices. Unlike most experiments, which focus on circuit- or control-level characteristics, our approach emphasizes the circuit-device-load interactions. The concept presented is innovative in that it creates a 3/spl times/3 matrix of experiment variation-devices, circuits-control, and machines-loads-with one set of hardware. The lab development is ongoing with future experiments to address three-phase converters and motor control applications. Experiment content is described, as well as the means by which the material has been integrated within the course sequence. Lab station construction and safety issues are also addressed. The experiments require hands-on measurement and circuit connection and complement the established course elements of theory and computer-based circuit modeling. Laboratory experiments and computer simulations collectively provide quantitative evidence of mixed circuit and device optimization.
Pterygorhabditis, a Remarkable New Genus of Soil Nematodes

Pterygorhabditis, eine bemerkenswerte neue Gattung der Erdnematoden. In einem Feld von Winterreis wurde in feuchtem Stroh eine neue Gattung von . Erdnematoden gefunden und beschrieben. Die Gattung ist hauptsachlich durch die Anwesenheit von mehreren asymmetrischen Kopfborsten und von Langsleisten charakterisiert.
Extreme Statistics from the Sine Distribution

Abstract The sine distribution can be added to the short list of teaching examples for which exact moment properties of extreme order statistics can be expressed in terms of elementary functions and for which the limiting joint distribution of extreme order statistics is easy to derive. Asymptotic efficiency of the midrange relative to the sample average, as unbiased estimators of the population mean, is very different from that attained for the rectangular distribution.
A new large signal average model for variable frequency pulse-width modulators

This paper introduces a large signal average model of a voltage regulator controlled by a variable frequency pulse width modulator (PWM). Variable frequency PWM techniques significantly reduce switching action delays and improve transient response compared to fixed frequency PWMs. The conventional average model cannot accurately predict the modulator behavior during variable frequency operation. In this paper, the effect on the modulator gain of the variable frequency operation is analyzed and incorporated in the average model. Using a variable frequency multiphase buck regulator in CPU core power applications as an example, the new large signal model is derived and demonstrated.
An additive-dominance model to determine chromosomal effects in chromosome substitution lines and other gemplasms

When using chromosome substitution (CS) lines in a crop breeding improvement program, one needs to separate the effects of the substituted chromosome from the remaining chromosomes. This cannot be done with the traditional additive-dominance (AD) model where CS lines, recurrent parent, and their hybrids are used. In this study, we develop a new genetic model and software, called a modified AD model with genotype × environment interactions, which can predict additive and dominance genetic effects attributed to a substituted alien chromosome in a CS line as well as the overall genetic effects of the non-substituted chromosomes. In addition, this model will predict the additive and dominance effects of the same chromosome of interest (i.e. chromosome 25 of cotton in this study) in an inbred line, as well as the effects of the remaining chromosomes in the inbred line. The model requires a CS line, its recurrent parent and their F1 and/or F2 hybrids between the substitution lines and several inbred lines. Monte Carlo simulation results showed that genetic variance components were estimated with no or slight bias when we considered this modified AD model as random. The correlation coefficient between predicted effects and true effects due to the chromosomes of interest varied from zero to greater than 0.90 and it was positively relative to the difference between the CS line and the recurrent line. To illustrate the use of this new genetic model, an upland cotton, Gossypium hirsusum L, CS line (CS-B25), TM-1 (the recurrent parent), five elite cultivars, and the F2 hybrids from test-crossing these two lines with the five elite cultivars were grown in two environments in Mississippi. Agronomic and fiber data were collected and analyzed. The results showed that the CS line, CS-B25, which has chromosome 25 from line 3 to 79, Gossypium barbadense substituted into TM-1, had positive genetic associations with several fiber traits. We also determined that Chromosome 25 from FiberMax 966 had significantly positive associations with fiber length and strength; whereas, chromosome 25 from TM-1 and SureGrow 747 had detectable negative genetic effects on fiber strength. The new model will be useful to determine effects of the chromosomes of interest in various inbred lines in any diploid or amphidiploid crop for which CS lines are available.
Betaglycan presents ligand to the TGFβ signaling receptor

Abstract Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) signals through a heteromeric protein kinase receptor that has a limited ability to bind ligand. This limitation is overcome by the action of betaglycan (TGFβ type III receptor), a separate TGFβ-binding membrane protein of previously unknown function. Betaglycan presents TGFβ directly to the kinase subunit of the signaling receptor, forming a high affinity ternary complex. Membrane betaglycan increases TGFβ binding to the signaling receptor, enhances cell responsiveness to TGFβ, and eliminates marked biological differences between TGFβ isoforms. Thus, betaglycan is a direct regulator of TGFβ access to the signaling receptors.
The architecture of a multi-tiered virtual observatory

Virtual observatories are being established in a wide range a disciplines, supported by a variety of agencies. Groups such as the International Virtual Observatory Alliance (IVOA), Planetary Data System (PDS) and the Space Physics Archive Search and Extract (SPASE) consortium are defining metadata standards to aid in archiving and sharing of information resources. The role of the virtual observatories in this resource sharing environment is to locate available resources and help users find the resources they need and then gain access to those resources. There are many different existing resource providers from which virtual observatories must collect descriptions of their resources. These resource providers may have associations with other providers so the topology of information exchange can be complicated. We explore the variety of topologies that can exist and discuss methods of collecting (harvesting) information from providers such as scheduled and on-demand harvesting. We compare the benefits of each approach and look at the issues of management overhead, adaptability and timeliness. We also explore the benefits of combining searching and harvesting services as part of a comprehensive solution.
The effect of 1-deoxymannojirimycin on rat liver α-mannosidases

Summary The mannose analogue, 1-deoxymannojirimycin, has been tested for its effect on five α-mannosidase activities present in rat liver and shown to be a specific inhibitor of Golgi α-mannosidase I at low μmolar concentrations. Golgi α-mannosidases I and II were assayed in a highly purified Golgi membrane preparation. Endoplasmic* reticulum α-mannosidase activity was measured in a rough endoplasmic reticulum detergent extract. A purified soluble α-mannosidase activity which we believe is derived from the endoplasmic reticulum during tissue homogenization was also tested. And finally, the lysosomal or acidic α-mannosidase was measured in a postnuclear supernatant fraction obtained from rat liver. The results presented here show that 1-deoxymannojirimycin inhibits only Golgi α-mannosidase I, which is consistent with its effect on oligosaccharide processing in vivo (Fuhrmann et al. Nature 1984 307 :755–758).
1-β-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine-, mitoxantrone-, and paclitaxel-induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells: improved method for detection of internucleosomal DNA fragmentation

We investigated the ability of different doses and durations of exposure to the chemotherapeutic drugs 1-β-d-arabinofuranosylcytosine (Ara-C), mitoxantrone (MTN), and paclitaxel (taxol, TXL) to induce internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and apoptosis in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) HL-60 cells in suspension culture. At clinically achievable concentrations, all three drugs have been shown to induced apoptosis in HL-60 cells. An improved method was developed for the isolation of pure genomic DNA and the detection of drug-induced intergenomic DNA and the detection of drug-induced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation in <1.0 μg of DNA sample by agarose gel electrophoresis. Morphologic evidence for apoptosis was determined by light microscopy following Wright staining, and cell viability was assessed by trypan blue dye exclusion. Internucleosomal DNA fragmentation was observed following exposure to 1.0 μM Ara-C for 4 h, which increased with 10 and 50 μM Ara-C. Incubation with 100 μM Ara-C produced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation starting at 3 h, which increased with longer periods of exposure to Ara-C. Utilizing a schedule of 1-h exposure followed by 3-h suspension in drug-free medium, 0.25 μM MTN was found to initiate DNA fragmentation, which increased with exposure to 1.0 and 5.0 μM MTN. However, identical treatment with higher concentrations of MTN resulted in random DNA degradation. Alternatively, continuous exposure to 1.0 μM MTN for 3 h was necessary to initiate internucleosomal DNA fragmentation. This increased with exposure intervals of up to 6 h. Exposure to TXL concentrations as low as 0.01 μM for 24 h caused internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, which increased with dose escalation (0.05, 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 μM) of TXL. Although continuous exposure to 1.0 μM TXL for a period as short as 8 h produced internucleosomal DNA fragmentation, this increased significantly with longer exposure intervals. In general there appears to be a threshold concentration and duration of exposure below which non of these three drugs activates endonucleolytic internucleosomal DNA fragmentation and apoptosis. This threshold is lower for the DNA-interactive drugs MTN and Ara-C but higher for the non-DNA-interactive drug TXL. Higher doses or prolonged treatments with the drugs produce random DNA fragmentation associated with necrotic cell death. These in vitro results may further improve our understanding of the antileukemic cytotoxic effects of these drugs, which may enable a more rational design of drug regimens for optimal treatment of AML.
The tantalum-palladium constitution diagram

The Ta-Pd system was investigated over the entire composition range by metallography, X-ray diffraction and electron microprobe analysis. The solubility limits of terminal and intermediate phases and solidus temperatures were determined. α-Ta dissolved ∼20 at. pct Pd at 2550°C and ∼10 at. pct Pd at 1000°C; α-Pd dissolves ∼22 at. pct Ta at 1730°C and ∼18 at. pct Ta at 1000°C. The presence of four intermediate phases a, (β-U type), α-TaPd (TiCu type), TaPd2 (MoPt2 type), and TaPd3 (TiAl3 type) was confirmed; they melt or decompose (α-TaPd) at about 2550, 1410; 1800, and 1770°C, respectively. In addition, an equiatomic high temperature phase, β-TaPd was found which melts at ∼1720°C and may be an extension of and isomorphous with the α-Pd solution. Seven three-phase reactions are described.
Off-state gate current in n-channel MOSFETs with nitrided oxide gate dielectrics

The authors report on the off-state gate current (I/sub g/) characteristics of n-channel MOSFETs using thin nitrided oxide (NO) gate dielectrics prepared by rapid thermal nitridation at 1150 degrees C for 10-300 s. New phenomena observed in NO devices are a significant I/sub g/ at drain voltages as low as 4 V and an I/sub g/ injection efficiency reaching 0.8, as compared to 8.5 V and 10/sup -7/ in SiO/sub 2/ devices with gate dielectrics of the same thickness. Based on the drain bias and temperature dependence, it is proposed that I/sub g/ in MOSFETs with heavily nitrided oxide gate dielectrics arises from hot-hole injection, and the enhancement of gate current injection is due to the lowering of valence-band barrier height for hole emission at the NO/Si interface. The enhanced gate current injection may cause accelerated device degradation in MOSFETs. However, it also presents potential for device applications such as EPROM erasure. >
Effect of high density lipoproteins on protein expression in myoblast cell lines.

We have studied the effects of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) on rat heart (H9c2) and skeletal (L6) myoblasts using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and tandem mass spectrometry. Gels generated from control cells and cells treated with 250 μg/mL HDL showed significant differences in the 7−10 pI region and the 30−50 kDa mass region. In particular, the membrane binding protein, annexin II, the voltage-dependent anion channel, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and other glycolytic proteins are differentially expressed. Keywords: high-density lipoprotein • myoblast • 2-D electrophoresis
Coulomb excitation of vibrational triplet states and octupole states in the even cadmium nuclei

Abstract Oxygen-16 ions with energies of 42 to 49 MeV have been used to Coulomb excite higher states in the even cadmium isotopes. Double E2 excitation of the 0 + state at 1133 keV in 144 Cd has been observed. The E2 transition between the excited 0′ + state and the first 2 + state is strongly enhanced, i.e., B( E 2, 0′ → 2) B( E 2, 2 → 0) = 0.85±0.17 . The second 2 + state and the 4 + state in 116 Cd are degenerate to within 5 keV at 1222 keV excitation. The values obtained for the ratio B( E 2, 4 → 2) B( E 2, 2 → 0) are 1.42±0.19, 1.82±0.23, 1.80±0.23 and 1.63±0.36, respectively for 110 Cd, 112 Cd, 114 Cd and 116 Cd. States at 2051±16, 1968±16, 1945±16 and 1900±16 keV are excited in 110 Cd, 112 Cd, 114 Cd and 116 Cd, respectively. If these states are interpreted to be the result of direct E3 Coulomb excitation, the B (E3, 0 → 3) are 10.3, 10.6, 9.0, and 7.5×10 4 e 2 fm 6 with an accuracy of ±20% provided the branching ratio of cascades to crossover from the 3 − state is large compared to unity. These B (E3) values represent enhancement of 13 to 20. They are 3 to 6 times smaller than the results derived from yield measurements with 14–15 MeV α particles at Copenhagen.
Is there a moral majority in dentistry

This section of JADA brings to the attention of our readers viewpoints expressed in other publications. The opinions expressed or implied do not necessarily reflect the opinions or official policies of the American Dental Association. Reader response to the topic is invited.
The Effect of Molecular Architecture on the Thermotropic Behavior of Poly[11-(4‘-cyanophenyl-4‘‘-phenoxy)undecyl acrylate] and Its Relation to Polydispersity

Contrary to theoretical predictions on rodlike molecules (mixture of axial ratios) and previous experimental speculations on side chain liquid crystalline polymers (mixture of molecular weights), the breadth of the isotropization transition of poly[11-(4‘-cyanophenyl-4‘‘-phenoxy)undecyl acrylate] is not broadened by polydispersity in chain length alone. Instead, it is broadened by the limited miscibility of a mixture of branched structures. SCLCPs and their mesogenic side chains can therefore be treated as mixtures of random coils and monodisperse rods. This was demonstrated by comparing the thermotropic behavior of linear and three-arm star poly[11-(4‘-cyanophenyl-4‘‘-phenoxy)undecyl acrylate]s prepared by atom-transfer radical polymerization (ATRP), and their binary blends and unmixed composites. The biphasic region of linear polymers with pdi = 1.15−1.49, and of their binary mixtures, is extremely narrow. Although 3-arm star polymers with pdi = 1.11−2.20 also exhibit extremely narrow isotropization tra...
Status of Research on Item Content and Differential Performance on Tests Used in Higher Education.

“Outlier studies” identify items for which extreme differences in performance by contrasting groups occur; these extreme items are the “outliers” referred to. Review of the studies conducted on tests receiving major use in higher education reveals that though one cannot make a priori classifications of outliers with confidence, one can with reasonable confidence predict the relatively advantaged group for many verbal items if they subsequently prove to be outliers as follows: aesthetic-philosophical, human relations or female oriented content relatively favors females as opposed to males; practical affairs, science or male oriented content relatively favors males as opposed to females; science content relatively favors whites as opposed to blacks. For test content that varies in the degree of relatedness to minorities, one would predict a relative advantage for those outliers that are most related to minorities. The magnitude of the differences found is not large; perhaps larger differences would be found if classifications other than race and sex, which are the most common, were used. It has been found that differences in cultural or national origin produce larger discrepancies in item difficulty than differences in race or sex of essentially native American groups.
Inhibition of a nuclease contaminant in the commercial preparations of Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase.

Abstract Escherichia coli alkaline phosphatase is a valuable reagent for removal of terminal phosphate from both ribo-and deoxyribo-oligonucleotides or from restriction enzyme fragments of DNA. Some commercial preparations of this enzyme were found to be contaminated with nucleases which could degrade both DNA and RNA. These contaminating nucleases can be completely eliminated by carrying out the enzymic reaction in the presence of 0.1-1% sodium dodecyl sulfate without any loss of phosphatase activity. This report has immediate application in the sequence analysis of DNA or RNA.
Phosphorylated and dephosphorylated linker histone H1 reside in distinct chromatin domains in Tetrahymena macronuclei.

Abstract Phosphorylated and dephosphorylated isoforms of Tetrahymena macronuclear H1 were separated from each other by cation-exchange high performance liquid chromatography and used to generate a pairwise set of antisera that discriminate the phosphorylation state of this linker histone. Affinity-purified antibodies from each sera recognize appropriate H1 isoforms and stain macronuclei under appropriate physiological conditions. Immunogold localizations demonstrate that phosphorylated and dephosphorylated H1 localize nonrandomly in distinct subdomains of macronuclear chromatin. Dephosphorylated H1 is strongly enriched in the electron-dense chromatin bodies that punctuate macronuclear chromatin. In contrast, phosphorylated H1 isoforms, as well as an evolutionarily conserved H2A.F/Z-like variant (hv1) believed to function in the establishment of transcriptionally competent chromatin, are modestly enriched at the periphery of chromatin bodies and in the surrounding euchromatin. Using antibodies against TATA-binding protein, we show that transcriptionally active chromatin lies outside of the chromatin bodies in an area relatively devoid of H1. Antibodies against general core histones are more or less evenly distributed across these domains. Together, these data are consistent with a model in which phosphorylation of H1, perhaps in association with hv1, loosens the binding of H1 in chromatin leading to chromatin decondensation as part of a first-step mechanism in gene activation. In contrast, our data support the view that dephosphorylation of this linker histone facilitates or stabilizes condensed, transcriptionally silent chromatin.
Morphologic and functional correlates of plasma membrane injury during oxidant exposure.

Plasma membrane injury by exposure to hydrege peroxide was examine in a renal epithelial cell line (LLC-PK1). Morphologic and functional parameters of plasma membrane integrity were studied in an attempt to eludicate the sequence of membrane alterations during the evolution of hydrogen peroxide-mediated injury. These parameters included plasma membrane potential and permeability, plasma membrane bleb formation, cellular size, and plating efficiency. Plasma membrane potential was the earliest parameter affected by hydrogen peroxide exposure. Half maximal depolarization occured within 15–30 min of exposure to 1 mM, after 10–15 min exposure to 100 mM and after over 150 min exposure to 10 μM hydrogen peroxide. After exposure to 1 mM hydrogen peroxide, the following sequence of events was seen; increased plasma membrane blebbing (30 min), cell swelling (90–125 min) and increased plasma membrane permeability (150–240 min). After a 30 min exposure to 1 mM hydrogen peroxide, cellular plating afficiency, measured at 24 h, was reduced by 50% (P < .001). These changes were accelerated, although their order of apperance was unchanged, at higher concentrations of hydrogens peroxide. We conclude that functional and morphologic expressions of cellular imjury in this model occur in a defined sequence with plasma membrane depolarization representing the earliest marker of membrane injury during hydrogen peroxide exposure.
Outcome of adrenocortical tumors in children.

Abstract Purpose This study reviews adrenocortical tumors in children to determine factors that significantly affect outcome. Methods An institutional review board-approved retrospective review from 1976 to 2005 identified 23 patients younger than 19 years old with histologic confirmation of adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) and adenomas. Results The mean age of the 23 children was 9.0 ± 1.6 years; girls predominated (female-to-male ratio = 1.9:1) as did cancers (ACC 16, adenoma 7); tumor hormone production (74%); and advanced stage for disease (66%). All malignancies were more than 2.5 cm. Adrenalectomy, including en bloc resection of adjacent structures (35%) achieved grossly negative margins in 70% of patients. Three patients received chemotherapy or chemoradiation as primary treatment without surgery. There was no perioperative mortality; morbidity was 10% (pneumothorax, acute renal failure, chylous ascites, and thrombocytosis). Surgical cure without adjuvant therapy was achieved for all adenomas and ACC stages I and II. For ACC stage III and IV, median survival was 21 months, 5-year survival was 0%. All advanced-staged ACC received adjuvant therapy. Surgically negative margins conferred a survival advantage. Conclusions Children, especially females with ACC present with large advanced-staged tumors. Surgically negative margins with or without en bloc resection improves survival. The high percentage of children with functioning tumors suggests earlier detection is possible.
RDIS: Generalizing domain concepts to specify device to framework mappings

Researchers have focused on frameworks and specialized languages that ease the reuse of previously developed software artifacts on new platforms by using domain concepts as a programming API rather than robot specific APIs. This approach relies upon the existence of a customized device driver program that maps the specific device API to the framework-based domain concepts. While this approach works well to isolate device semantics to a generalizable domain model, a customized driver is required to match each device to each framework or language. To that end, it may be worthwhile to explore the science of interfacing devices to frameworks. In this paper, we expand the previously presented RDIS to be more generalizable by redefining RDIS in terms of the robot device and framework domains. We introduce several high-level domain concepts that describe the invariant features of devices while providing parameterization for attributes that vary. We consider relevant threading models and a decomposition that insulates the application interface or framework connection from the robot-specific primitives. In addition to efficiencies that can be gained in providing declarative device to framework connectivity, new approaches in this space could be the basis for more user friendly development environments that use a discovery mechanism for presenting available control and access mechanisms.