cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Study of overlapping transitions in polymers by combined differential scanning calorimetry and thermal optical analysis methods

Abstract In some polymers, thermal transitions and molecular relaxation processes may be situated closely together on the temperature scale or may actually overlap. In such cases, observations by differential scanning calorimetry. (DSC) may lead to ambiguous results or to erroneous conclusions. In many instances, the ambiguity can be removed by making additional measurements at the same scanning rate on polymer samples of similar past history by thermal optical analysis (TOA). The combined use of these two types of measurements, DSC and TOA, is here applied to a study of transitions and structural changes in several types of cellulose acetate. From the results obtained, it is possible to resolve and identify various overlapping thermal processes such as the glass transition of the polymer chains, subsequent crystallization, melting of ordered phases and thermal degradation.
Glatiramer acetate guards against rapid memory decline during relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis.

Cognitive decline presents a therapeutic challenge for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease characterized by recurrent autoimmune demyelination and by progressive CNS degeneration. Glatiramer acetate (GA, also known as Copolymer 1, Cop-1, or Copaxone), commonly used to treat MS, reduces the frequency of relapses; it has both anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties. However, clinical trials have not definitively shown that GA improves cognitive impairment during MS. Using an in vivo animal model of autoimmune demyelination, i.e., relapsing-remitting experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), we tested short-term memory in EAE mice (EAE), in EAE mice treated with GA for 10 days starting at the time of immunization (EAE + GA), and in age-matched healthy, naive mice (Naive). Short-term memory was assessed using the cross-maze test at 10, 20, and 30 days post-immunization (d.p.i.); data were analyzed at each time point and over time. At 10 d.p.i., EAE and EAE + GA mice had better memory function than Naive mice. However, at the later time points, EAE mice had a steep negative slope of memory function (indicating decline), whereas EAE + GA mice had a flatter, less-negative slope of memory function. Notably, the memory function of EAE mice significantly decreased over time compared with that of Naive mice, indicating that EAE had a negative impact on cognitive ability. In contrast, there was no statistically significant difference between the slopes of memory function in mice with EAE treated with GA versus Naive mice, which revealed effective, albeit partial, protection by GA treatment against progressive memory decline during EAE disease. Of particular interest, although EAE mice had memory decline over 30 d.p.i., their clinical disease scores improved during that time. Thus, our results suggest that EAE mice had a significant progressive memory decline and that GA, administered at the time of immunization, partially guards against rapid memory decline.
Experimental microbial evolution: history and conceptual underpinnings

We chronicle and dissect the history of the field of Experimental Microbial Evolution, beginning with work by Monod. Early research was largely carried out by microbiologists and biochemists, who used experimental evolutionary change as a tool to understand structure-function relationships. These studies attracted the interest of evolutionary biologists who recognized the power of the approach to address issues such as the tempo of adaptive change, the costs and benefits of sex, parallelism, and the role which contingency plays in the evolutionary process. In the 1980s and 1990s, an ever-expanding body of microbial, physiological and biochemical data, together with new technologies for manipulating microbial genomes, allowed such questions to be addressed in ever-increasing detail. Since then, technological advances leading to low-cost, high-throughput DNA sequencing have made it possible for these and other fundamental questions in evolutionary biology to be addressed at the molecular level.
Short-Range Order in Disordered Binary Alloys

The Warren short-range-order (SRO) parameter of a binary alloy with arbitrary composition is studied for the case of static, configurational interaction with two-body potentials of arbitrary range. A well-defined straightforward procedure for generating a consistent high-temperature series expansion in powers of a dimensionless parameter related to $\frac{{T}_{c}}{T}$ is derived. While the existing theories are correct only to the linear power in $\frac{{T}_{c}}{T}$, our results are worked out exactly to the third power in this ratio. A plausible inversion of the series, which in the linear approximation corresponds to the Clapp-Moss theory, is given. It is shown that, at least up to the second order in $\frac{{T}_{c}}{T}$, such an inversion corresponds to the predictions of a self-consistent decoupling approximation. Using a technique similar to that first introduced by Kramers and Opechowski, the order-disorder transition temperature ${T}_{c}$ is computed as a function of the system composition for lattices of cubic symmetry with nearest-neighbor interactions. A remarkable prediction of this study is the suggestion of the existence of a critical concentration below which the system does not order (or separate, as the case may be). For the special case of positive nearest-neighbor interaction in lattices of cubic symmetry, we have also computed the nearest-neighbor SRO parameter for several compositions and temperatures. The results of the present study typically renormalize the corresponding results of the Clapp-Moss theory by several percent. For the stoichiometric composition ${m}^{(A)}={m}^{(B)}$, the results of the present approximation are compared with the very reliable corresponding results of Fisher and Burford (who carried out a careful evaluation of the systematics of the elaborate high-temperature series available for the Ising ferro- and antiferromagnets, i.e., for ${m}^{(A)}={m}^{(B)}$. In general, the quantitative differences between Fisher and Burford's results and those of the present approximation are smaller than the corresponding differences for the linear approximation of Clapp and Moss. An interesting conclusion of the present analysis is that, except for the special case of the nearest-neighbor interactions, the structure of the Fourier transform of the SRO parameter $\ensuremath{\alpha}(\mathbf{K})$ is different from that conjectured by Clapp and Moss. As such, the originally compelling argument in favor of the Clapp-Moss assumption, that from experimental observations of $\ensuremath{\alpha}(\mathbf{K})$ the ratios of the strengths of the interparticle potentials for different separations are determined with a higher degree of reliability than the actual magnitudes of the potentials, is found to be somewhat weakened.
The Power and Limitations of Social Relational Framing for Understanding Consumer Decision Processes

The normative multiattribute utility model is not a good predictor of decision processes if consumers are reluctant to make difficult trade-offs, if they are averse to using a single metric (e.g., price or utility) to align noncomparable alternatives, and if there is a desire to take into account the identity of the actors involved (McGraw & Tetlock, 2005). Prescriptively, there may be some decision contexts (e.g., high-consequence consumer decisions) where such nonnormative behaviors are not in the best interest of the decision makers. Methods to encourage more normative decisionmaking are outlined including: (a) decision context mechanisms (e.g., the setting of default options or reference prices, the provision of an acceptable framing of the decision, or alternative response measures) and (b) consumer-based mechanisms (e.g., recommending the use of an agent, providing coping mechanisms, or providing social cues of acceptability).
Destabilization of human IAPP amyloid fibrils by proline mutations outside of the putative amyloidogenic domain: is there a critical amyloidogenic domain in human IAPP?

Islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP; amylin) is responsible for amyloid formation in type-2 diabetes. Not all organisms form islet amyloid, and amyloid formation correlates strongly with variations in primary sequence. Studies of human and rodent IAPP have pointed to the amino acid residues 20–29 region as the important amyloid-modulating sequence. The rat 20–29 sequence contains three proline residues and does not form amyloid, while the human sequence contains no proline and readily forms amyloid. This has led to the view that the 20–29 region constitutes a critical amyloidogenic domain that dictates the properties of the entire sequence. The different behavior of human and rat IAPP could be due to differences in the 20–29 region or due simply to the fact that multiple proline residues destabilize amyloid fibrils. We tested how critical the 20–29 region is by studying a variant identical with the human peptide in this segment but with three proline residues outside this region. We designed a variant of the amyloidogenic 8–37 region of human IAPP (hIAPP 8–37 3×P) with proline substitutions at positions 17, 19 and 30. Compared to the wild-type, the 3×P variant was much easier to synthesize and had dramatically greater solubility. Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Congo red staining and thioflavin-T binding indicate that this variant has a reduced tendency to form β-sheet structure and forms deposits with much less structural order than the wild-type. Far-UV CD studies show that the small amount of β-sheet structure developed by hIAPP 8–37 3×P after long periods of incubation dissociates readily into random-coil structure upon dilution into Tris buffer. The observation that proline substitutions outside the putative core domain effectively abolish amyloid formation indicates that models of IAPP aggregation must consider contributions from other regions.
Phonation threshold pressure in a physical model of the vocal fold mucosa.

The vocal fold mucosa, which consists of the epithelium and the superficial layer of the lamina propria, has been modeled by a fluid encapsulated in a silicone membrane. The artificial mucosa was attached to a rigid (metal) vocal fold body and introduced into an airflow channel, creating a rectangular glottis. Flow‐induced oscillation of the mucosa was achieved at various subglottal pressures and glottal diameters. Phonation threshold pressure, the parameter of interest, was lowest (on the order of 0.4 kPa) for glottal diameters between 0.0 and 0.1 mm and for fluids with the lowest viscosity. There was a consistent hysteresis effect; that is, phonation threshold pressure was always lower for oscillation offset than onset.
Synthesis and crystal structures of two diruthenium polysulphide complexes

Abstract The reaction between Ru(SPh)(PPh3){P(OMe)3}(η-C5H5) and sulphur, in acetonitrile, affords two diruthenium polysulphide complexes, Ru2{P(OMe)3}2(η-C5H5)2S4(I) and Ru2{P(OMe)3}2(η-C5H5)2S6(II). The latter could be converted to the former by reaction with PPh3. Structures of both blue-black, crystalline species were determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The former contained a six-membered, non-planar ring (cyclohexane chair structure) consisting of the two metal atoms and four sulphurs with the metals in the 1- and 4-positions, while the latter contained a Ru2S6 eight-membered ring, with metal atoms in the 1- and 5-positions and a long bond between two sulphurs across this ring, a structure not unlike that of [S8]2+. Comments are presented on the unusual bonding in the Ru2Sn rings in these two species.
Evaluation of saline load test for simulated traumatic arthrotomies of the ankle

Abstract Introduction A tool frequently used for evaluation of a traumatic arthrotomy is the saline load test. No information exists in the current literature guiding what baseline fluid infusion is required to reliably detect or diagnose a traumatic ankle arthrotomy. The purpose of this study was to provide a reliable benchmark when employing the saline load test for complex ankle soft-tissue wounds with suspected intra-articular involvement. Materials and methods Twenty-one consecutive patients presenting for elective ankle arthroscopy underwent simulated saline load tests. After placement of an approximately 4-mm standard lateral portal, an 18-gauge needle was inserted into the anteromedial ankle joint and normal saline was injected until frank extravasation from the lateral arthrotomy was observed. The amount of saline required to diagnose a simulated traumatic arthrotomy was recorded. Results The average amount of normal saline that resulted in extravasation was 10.3 cm3. In order to identify 90% and 95% of simulated ankle arthrotomies, 23 and 30 cm3 of saline were required, respectively. The average preoperative range of motion did not correlate with saline infusion requirements (r2 = 0.013368). Conclusions Based on these results, a minimum infusion of 30 cm3 is recommended to identify 95% of traumatic arthrotomies approximately 4 mm in size. This value needs to be interpreted with the understanding that this study is limited by its inherently simulated nature. An infusion of 30 cm3 represents a relatively safe and reasonable standard to apply to any potential ankle injury in which joint violation remains in question.
Mechanically and electrically evoked somatosensory potentials in humans: Scalp and neck distributions of short latency components

Short latency somatosensory potentials evoked by electrical stimulation of the median nerve as well as by mechanical stimulation on the nail of the index finger were recorded from 10 normal adults using a noncephalic reference (the forearm contralateral to the stimulus). Potentials were recorded from 15 electrode locations extending from the level of the 4th thoracic through the 7th, 4th and 2nd cervical vertebrae to the scalp at Oz, P4, P3, A2, A1, C4, Cz, C3, F4, F3 and Fpz. In general, all the components of potentials evoked by mechanical stimulation had electrically evoked counterparts with comparable surface distributions and variations between subjects. Some of the electrically evoked components, which were low in amplitude and variable in occurrence between subjects, did not have mechanically evoked counterparts. Possible generators of the components detected are discussed based on their surface distribution and polarity reversals. A comparable study on patients with well localized lesions must be performed in order to support or disprove the generators proposed.
Transition metals in calf thymus deoxyribonucleoprotein

Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn were found by energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence in calf thymus deoxyribonucleo-protein. The X-ray analyses indicated the absence of Cr, Mn and Co.
Dendritic cells (DC) loaded with apoptotic, allogeneic melanoma cells reduce tumor progression and improve survival in a murine immunotherapy model

Introduction: DC loaded with apoptotic, syngeneic melanoma cells slow tumor growth and improve survival in a murine immunotherapy model. The use of allogeneic cells as a source of tumor antigen could increase the clinical applicability of this therapy, so we investigated the efficacy of DC loaded with apoptotic, allogeneic cells in this model. Methods: DC were cultured from bone marrow from C-57/BL-6 mice with GMCSF (10 ng/ml), IL-4 (5 ng/ml). Syngeneic B-16 or allogeneic K-1735 melanoma cells were irradiated (20 Gy) to induce apoptosis and cultured with DC at a 1:1 ratio for 48 hr to make DC/Apo vaccine. C-57/BL-6 mice (n = 6) were injected with 2.5 x 105 B-16 SQ and treated with 1 x 106 DC/Apo vaccine cells SQ or saline control weekly x4 starting 5 days after tumor implantation. In other experiments, splenocytes were harvested from control and immunized tumor-bearing animals at day 30 and stimulated weekly x2 with IFN-gamma treated, irradiated B-16 cells. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) assays were performed with B-16 targets for 48 hr and % specific lysis calculated. Results: Summarized in table 1. TABLE—ABSTRACT 35. Tumor size Median survival 60d survival Specific lysis# Control 11 ± 6 mm 31 days 0% 9 ± 12% DC/ApoB-16 3 ± 3 mm∗ >60 days∗ 67%∗ 63 ± 20%∗ DC/ApoK-1735 4 ± 3 mm∗ 45 days∗ 33%∗ 51 ± 21%∗ ∗ P < 0.05 vs control. # At E:T ratio of 100:1. Conclusions: Mice treated with DC loaded with apoptotic, syngeneic melanoma cells (DC/ApoB-16) or apoptotic, allogeneic melanoma cells (DC/ApoK-1735) had delayed tumor progression and improved survival compared to controls. CTL responses to B-16 cells were seen in both treatment groups, and there was no difference in tumor size, survival, or CTL responses among the treatment groups. We conclude that DC loaded with apoptotic allogeneic melanoma cells may be a practical and effective approach to polyvalent immunotherapy of melanoma. We are currently designing a clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of this treatment in patients with high-risk disease.
Naloxonazine actions in vivo

Naloxonazine is a relatively selective μ1 affinity label in binding studies. Like naloxazone, naloxonazine has proven valuable in vivo in establishing a role for μ1 sites in specific opiate actions. We now report a detailed characterization of naloxonazine's actions in mice and rats. Naloxonazine antagonized morphine analgesia for greater than 24 h without altering lethality. This prolonged action could not be easily explained by a slow rate of elimination since the terminal elimination half-life was estimated at less than 3 h. Furthermore, these actions were associated with a wash-resistent inhibition of binding lasting 24 h which was relatively selective for μ1 sites. At a fixed morphine dose, increasing naloxonazine doses lowered peak tailflick latencies in a biphasic manner, suggesting that morphine analgesia consisted of both μ1 (naloxonazine-sensitive) and a non-μ1 (naloxonazine-insensitive) components. The ratio of μ1 to non-μ1 analgesia was greater at low morphine doses, implying that morphine activated μ1 analgesic mechanisms with higher affinity. Our studies also emphasized that naloxonazine has reversible actions similar to those of naloxone; only its irreversible actions are relatively μ1-selective. In addition, the selectivity of naloxonazine's irreversible actions is dose-dependent. High naloxonazine doses will irreversibly antagonize receptors other than μ1.
High-molecular-weight hydroxyethyl starch accelerates kallikrein-dependent clot initiation.

BACKGROUND A decrease in reaction time (R; seconds) has been considered a thrombelastographic hallmark of hypercoagulability. However, the cause of changes in R has been influenced by the method of activation (e.g., celite) and the clinical/laboratory setting (e.g., hemodilution). Although antithrombin deficiency has been implicated as a cause of decreased R in unactivated samples after crystalloid dilution, dilution with hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solutions such as Hextend (6% HES solution; average molecular weight 450 kDa) or Voluven (6% HES solution; average molecular weight 130 kDa) has decreased R values in celite-activated samples in vitro and in vivo, with modulation of these R values observed after aprotinin exposure. Thus, this study proposed to define whether HES affects kallikrein-dependent clot initiation. METHODS Citrated human plasma was subjected to 0% or 30% dilution with 0.9% NaCl, Hextend, or Voluven, in the absence or presence of aprotinin (200 KIU/mL final concentration). Prekallikrein-deficient (<1% activity) plasma was similarly diluted. After recalcification and celite activation, thrombelastography was performed for determination of R. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS R in samples without aprotinin diluted with Hextend (mean +/- SD, 132 +/- 6 seconds) was significantly smaller than that in samples with 0% dilution (155 +/- 5 seconds) and 30% dilution with 0.9% NaCl (162 +/- 9 seconds), but was not less than that in Voluven-diluted samples (149 +/- 14 seconds). R significantly increased (28%-68%) in all conditions with aprotinin compared to samples without aprotinin, and Hextend had significantly smaller R compared with that in the other fluids. Lastly, R was not different in experiments with prekallikrein-deficient plasma. These data indicate that Hextend accelerates kallikrein-dependent clot initiation compared with 0.9% NaCl or Voluven.
Best focus shift issues from focusing system of ASML PAS-5000/50 steppers

The best focus shift problem was observed on PAS-5000/50 I- line system. The best focus shift could induce poor resist profile in back-end lithography exposure processes, and caused blind via-holes or damage on conductor lines after plasma etch. The effects of topography change, pattern layout and focus laser spot position on the best focus determination were proved related to the focusing system design, single point focus detection with small size probe beam. of PAS-5000/50 steppers. In the main paper, the weak points of the design are pointed out, i.e. the unwanted information due to its dependence on step topography and layout may be collected and cause defocused resist profile during focusing. Though the application of dark-tone digitized scribe line design on dielectric layers reduces step topography discrepancy between main cell and scribe line and partially solves the problems; however, the complete solutions rely on the fundamental improvements on the stepper focusing algorithm.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Dimensions of hotel choice criteria: congruence between business and leisure travelers.

Abstract This study investigates whether hotel choice attributes decompose into comparable configurations for two important guest groups served by hotels: business and leisure travelers. Each group's responses were factor analyzed and the factor congruency technique was then employed to ascertain the extent of similarity between them. Results indicate that the congruence between the business and leisure travelers is weak in terms of the importance of the factors and their correspondence. Implications of the results are discussed.
Transfer of amido groups from isolated rhodium(I) amides to alkenes and vinylarenes.

The reaction of monomeric and dimeric rhodium(I) amido complexes with unactivated olefins to generate imines is reported. Transamination of {(PEt3)2RhN(SiMePh2)2} (1a) or its −N(SiMe3)2 analogue 1b with p-toluidine gave the dimeric [(PEt3)2Rh(μ-NHAr)]2 (Ar = p-tolyl) (2a) in 80% isolated yield. Reaction of 2a with PEt3 generated the monomeric (PEt3)3Rh(NHAr) (Ar = p-tolyl) (3a). PEt3-ligated arylamides 2a and 3a reacted with styrene to transfer the amido group to the olefin and to form the ketimine Ph(Me)CN(p-tol) (4a) in 48−95% yields. The dinuclear amido hydride (PEt3)4Rh2(μ-NHAr)(μ-H) (Ar = p-tolyl) (5a) was formed from reaction of 2a in 95% yield, and a mixture of this dimeric species and the (PEt3)nRhH complexes with n = 3 and 4 was formed from reaction of 3a in a combined 75% yield. Propene reacted with 2a to give Me2CN(p-tol) (4b) and 5a in 90 and 57% yields. Propene also reacted with 3a to give 4b and 5a in 65 and 94% yields. Analogues of 2a and 3a with varied electronic properties also reacted wi...
Computing conjugacy classes of elements in matrix groups

Abstract This article describes a setup that – given a composition tree – provides functionality for calculation in finite matrix groups using the Trivial-Fitting approach that has been used successfully for permutation groups. It treats the composition tree as a black-box object. It thus is applicable to other classes of groups for which a composition tree can be obtained. As an example, we consider an effective algorithm for determining conjugacy class representatives.
Women’s position in the household

Abstract Women’s labor market position has changed dramatically during the past century, while changes in the home have followed at a slower pace. Marriage and motherhood and responsibilities for most household labor still affect women’s choices about whether and under what conditions to work for pay. The U.S. government does not have a coherent set of policies about work/family life, lagging far behind Canada and western Europe. Employer policies can be helpful but are more available to workers at higher income levels and are more likely to be used by women than men. Thus, women continue to make “choices” under seriously constrained conditions.
RNA Polymerase Unveiled

The appearance of these structures represents a historic advance in our understanding of one of molecular biology's most remarkable enzymes. Here we have suggested several possible structural bases for key steps in its function. Although speculative, they should serve as stimuli for future work. Hopefully structures of the bacterial RNAP·σ complex, yRNAPII, and a ternary transcription complex that better define the paths of RNA and DNA at resolutions comparable to the Taq RNAP structure will follow soon. These structures should make RNAP an appealing target for rational drug design. We are poised at the advent of an exciting era in which the mechanisms of initiation, elongation, pausing, arrest, and termination can be tested rigorously and finally described in molecular detail.
Statistical moments of the transmittance of phase-only spatial light modulators

The monochromatic diffraction patterns from phase-only spatial light modulators, such as deformable mirror- and liquid crystal-SLMs, are routinely modeled using the fast Fourier transform. Random errors in phase have typically been evaluated by Monte Carlo analysis. This can require the averaging of numerous runs to find the expected value of intensity and its standard deviation. However, the pixel structure of current modulators, which allows each pixel to apply arbitrary piston or tilt modulation, greatly simplifies the form of the expectations. Specifically, we assume that the parameters of piston, and likewise tilt, describing the entire SLM transmittance are Gaussian, independent, and identically distributed random variables. Expressions for the expected value of the Fourier plane intensity spectrum and its standard deviation, and for propagation of the intensity pattern to any arbitrary observation plane using the angular spectrum of waves formulation are presented. Each expression reduces to a small number of Fourier transform operations that may be efficiently calculated by the FFT.
Occurrence, Density, and Distribution of Parasitic Fungus Hesperomyces virescens (Laboulbeniales: Laboulbeniaceae) on Multicolored Asian Lady Beetle (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

The coccinellid-specific parasitic fungus Hesperomyces virescens Thaxter was found on the multicolored Asian lady beetle, Harmonia axyridis (Pallas), in fall and winter in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Research objectives were 1) to determine the density of H. virescens on field-collected H. axyridis adults held in the laboratory, and 2) to determine H. virescens presence, density, and distribution on H. axyridis adults in the field. In the laboratory, male and female H. axyridis adults hosted >150 H. virescens mature thalli (i.e., fruiting bodies); distributed primarily on the elytra and abdomen. At the overwintering site, H. virescens density per host was often <20 mature thalli, which were distributed primarily on the elytra of both sexes. On average, 52.5 and 57.4% of H. axyridis males and females, respectively, hosted H. virescens mature thalli in late winter (5 March 2003); <14% of either sex hosted mature thalli the following fall (15, 22, and 28 October and 10 November 2003) at the same site. This study suggests that H. virescens is an established parasite of H. axyridis in Pennsylvania but that field estimates of infection may vary considerably between dates that adult beetles arrive and depart from overwintering sites. Preponderance of fungal thalli on the dorsum rather than the ventrum of H. axyridis males suggests that mating behavior is not solely responsible for transmission of H. virescens from infected to noninfected adults.
In situ examination of starch granule-soy protein and wheat protein interactions

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between heat and pressure-treated soy proteins and wheat prime starch relative to the level of granule surface proteins present. Soy isolates were manufactured from defatted soy flour and from two types of textured soy flour. Conditions for binding between wheat starch and soy fractions were established by altering pH, protein and sucrose concentrations. Conformations of exogenous proteins bound to the wheat starch granule surface were evaluated using an amyloglucosidase assay. Proteins present on the granule surface were removed and soy protein binding was reevaluated. Thermal and pressure processing of soy protein significantly influenced binding kinetics. Textured soy proteins exhibited increased wheat starch granule adsorption characteristics compared to untreated soy protein. Removal of native wheat starch granule surface proteins decreased the binding of added proteins. This suggests that native granule proteins may mediate the binding of exogenous protein.
Earth observation in transition: An international overview

Abstract The evolution of the international earth observation field from 1980–2007 is summarized in this paper, with emphasis on the rapid changes that are taking place in 1997 which will shape the future of the field. The field is evolving from one that contains purely governmental and military standalone systems of high complexity and expense to one that includes an increasing number of commercial systems, focused missions using small satellites, and systems of lower complexity and cost. As of three years ago, seven countries had built and flown free-flying earth observation satellite systems. Projections are for the number of countries owning such systems to approximately double by three years from now. Several commercial high-resolution systems will be launched over the next three years. Commercial synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems became a reality with the launch of Radarsat in 1995. Only a handful of small satellite remote sensing missions have been launched to date, while a large number will be launched over the next few years, including minisats from Brazil, Israel, Italy, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and the USA. Systems with far greater spectral resolution will also become a reality as hyperspectral instruments are launched, beginning in 1997. Figures which graphically summarize the future directions for the burgeoning earth observation field will be shown in the presentation.
In vitro simulation of physiological and pathological conditions: Effect of temperature on urine microalbumin determination

We evaluated the effect of different temperatures and incubation periods on determination of urinary albumin in micro quantities (microalbuminuria). To simulate different physiological and pathological conditions, six human urine samples of albumin concentrations ranging from 2 - 92 micrograms/ml were incubated in vitro at 4, 22, 37, 40, 45 and 56 degrees Centigrade for 4, 10, 24 and 48 hours. The data of the effects of various temperature changes and incubation periods on urine microalbumin concentration fitted a cubic equation of type Y = A+B (T) t+C (T) t^2+D (T) t^3; where A is a constant and B, C and D are temperature dependant constants. Utilizing these equations, the effect of temperature changes between 4 and 56 degrees Centigrade on microalbumin can be predicted. The findings from above experiment suggest that physiological and pathological conditions that cause urine samples to incubate at 4, 22, 37, 40 and 45 degrees Centigrade for 48 hours do not result in significant loss in microalbumin concentrations. However, conditions that cause urine samples to stay at 56 degrees Centigrade for 24 hours or longer would result in a significant loss of microalbumin concentration.
Generating Functions for Permutations Avoiding a Consecutive Pattern

Given a permutation τ of length j, we say that a permutation σ has a τ-match starting at position i, if the elements in positions i, i+1, . . . , i+j−1 in σ have the same relative order as the elements of τ. We have been able to take advantage of the results of Mendes and Remmel [1] to obtain a generating function for the number of permutations with no τ-matches for several new classes of permutations. These new classes include a large class of permutations which are shuffles of an increasing sequence 1 2 · · · n with an arbitrary permutation σ of the integers {n + 1, . . . , n + m}. Finally we give a formula for the generating function for the number of permutations which have no 1 3 2 4-matches.
A study of surging in fan or compressor systems

Abstract An analytical study is presented which explains the cause of one type of surging in a system connected to a fan or compressor. Surging occurs in an unstable region in which the fan pressure rises with an increase in capacity. Surging does not occur in a stable region in which the fan pressure decreases with an increase in capacity. The ratio of vibration pressure amplitude to particle velocity is greater in the unstable region than in the stable region. At critical conditions the pressure wave is in phase with the velocity wave. For a given particle velocity, the pressure amplitude in the unstable region is greater than the pressure amplitude in the stable region. A criterion for no surging is given.
Proton NMR and dielectric measurements on sucrose filled agar gels and starch pastes

Low-field proton NMR and high-frequency dielectric measurements were performed on sucrose-filled agar gels of 0 to 1.2g sucrose/g water and starch pastes of concentrations between 0.2 and lg starch/ g water. The dielectric constant decreased linearly with increasing concentration for both. The dielectric loss of sucrose-filled agar gels showed two regions, first increasing and then decreasing with concentration. The dielectric loss data for starch pastes showed a constant value close to that of pure water throughout the concentration range. Dielectric data were related to hydration models derived from proton NMR measurements.
Serum Alpha Fetoprotein (AFP) Levels in Normal Infants

Serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels were monitored in 32 normal babies consecutively from 2 to 3 days, 2 wk, and 2 and 4 months after birth. In addition, serum AFP concentration was also measured in 116 random specimens from infants with normal liver enzymes and 10 infants born immaturely. Results were combined to establish normal AFP levels for infants at various ages. Serum AFP disappeared rapidly after birth. We found that it was not until 8 months of age that the normal AFP level in infants approached adult level. The half-lives of AFP degradation were estimated to be 5.5 days between birth and 2 wk, 11 days between 2 wk to 2 months, and 33 days between 2 and 4 months of age. In contrast to earlier belief, we felt that some AFP synthesis still exists after birth; however, the rate of synthesis may also decrease with age.
Kind Discrimination and Competitive Exclusion Mediated by Contact-Dependent Growth Inhibition Systems Shape Biofilm Community Structure

Contact-Dependent Growth Inhibition (CDI) is a phenomenon in which bacteria use the toxic C-terminus of a large exoprotein (called BcpA in Burkholderia species) to inhibit the growth of neighboring bacteria upon cell-cell contact. CDI systems are present in a wide range of Gram-negative proteobacteria and a hallmark feature is polymorphism amongst the exoprotein C-termini (BcpA-CT in Burkholderia) and amongst the small immunity proteins (BcpI) that protect against CDI in an allele-specific manner. In addition to CDI, the BcpAIOB proteins of Burkholderia thailandensis mediate biofilm formation, and they do so independent of BcpA-mediated interbacterial competition, suggesting a cooperative role for CDI system proteins in this process. CDI has previously only been demonstrated between CDI+ and CDI− bacteria, leaving the roles of CDI system-mediated interbacterial competition and of CDI system diversity in nature unknown. We constructed B. thailandensis strains that differed only in the BcpA-CT and BcpI proteins they produced. When co-cultured on agar, these strains each participated in CDI and the outcome of the competition depended on both CDI system efficiency and relative bacterial numbers initially. Strains also participated in CDI during biofilm development, resulting in pillar structures that were composed of only a single BcpA-CT/BcpI type. Moreover, a strain producing BcpA-CT/BcpI proteins of one type was prevented from joining a pre-established biofilm community composed of bacteria producing BcpA-CT/BcpI proteins of a different type, unless it also produced the BcpI protein of the established strain. Bacteria can therefore use CDI systems for kind recognition and competitive exclusion of ‘non-self’ bacteria from a pre-established biofilm. Our data indicate that CDI systems function in both cooperative and competitive behaviors to build microbial communities that are composed of only bacteria that are related via their CDI system alleles.
Sensitivity of the numerical analysis of the three-fluid plasma mixed initial-boundary value problem

Abstract The sensitivity of the numerical solution of the nonlinear three-fluid equations governing the effect of forcing a time dependent disturbance at a point in a plasma is investigated. With the equations transformed into a diagonal form it is shown that only certain variables may be prescribed as functions of time at x=0 , where these specified functions must satisfy certain compatibity conditions. With forward differences used to replace the time derivative and either forward or backward differences used to replace the spatial derivatives, the difference equations formulated are consistent and their solution converges to the solution of the differential equations. This convergence is true as long as the domain of dependence concept is adhered to. A lineary analysis provides a guide to the actual stability of the system of equations. From this analysis it is seen that the magnitude of the collission frequences, as well as the speed of light, restricts the size of the steps which may be used. Furthermore, it is shown that the solution is extremely sensitive to the boundary and initial conditions specified.
Listening Rhetorically to Textual Silence: Intimate Partner Homicide Media Coverage

This article combines Huckin's (2002) method of identifying textual silence and Ratcliffe's (2005) approach of rhetorical listening to examine the media coverage of intimate partner homicide. By examining a corpus of newspaper articles, this method listens to the silences surrounding intimate partner homicide coverage and thus reveals that the media, by foregrounding certain causes of partner homicide, reinforce the popular belief that partner homicide is an unexpected event, one in which the person snapped or in which a heated argument suddenly turned bad. Problematically, this framing does not offer an accurate view of the actual causes of intimate partner homicide.
Four Theories of Inversion in Art and Music

Dans le cadre du debat esthetique sur la nature et l'ontologie de l'oeuvre d'art, l'A. defend une nouvelle analogie entre la peinture autographe et les morceaux de musique allographes, a travers la relation d'inversion des images et des themes chez Danto et Levinson.
Thermoelectric properties of p-type LiZnSb : Assessment of ab initio calculations

In response to theoretical calculations on the thermoelectric performance of LiZnSb, we report the pertinent transport properties between room temperature and 523 K. Nominal LiZnSb samples are found to be p-type, with a carrier concentration in the range (4–7)×10^(20) cm^(−3). The thermoelectric figure of merit (zT) is found to be 0.02–0.08 at 523 K. Analysis of material transport parameters and previously reported ab initio calculations demonstrates that even with optimal doping, p-type LiZnSb is unlikely to achieve zT>0.2 at 523 K. The accuracy of the high zT estimate (zT>2) for n-type compositions from ab initio calculations is discussed within the current synthetic limits.
X-Ray Computed Tomography on a Cellular Polysiloxane under Compression

X-ray tomographic images were collected for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) foam material under various levels of compression. The goal was to implement a systematic analysis method of correlating some aspect of these images to the cell morphology in order to enhance understanding of the material characteristics. X-ray attenuation of the cellular PDMS was clearly observed to increase with the specimen density as the foam material was mechanically compressed. The stochastic data derived from the digital images was used to calculate macroscopic mechanical properties at each foam compression.
A selective histone deacetylase-6 inhibitor improves BDNF trafficking in hippocampal neurons from Mecp2 knockout mice: implications for Rett syndrome

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in the transcriptional modulator methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). One of the most prominent gene targets of MeCP2 is brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Bdnf), a potent modulator of activity-dependent synaptic development, function and plasticity. Dysfunctional BDNF signaling has been demonstrated in several pathophysiological mechanisms of RTT disease progression. To evaluate whether the dynamics of BDNF trafficking is affected by Mecp2 deletion, we analyzed movements of BDNF tagged with yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) in cultured hippocampal neurons by time-lapse fluorescence imaging. We found that both anterograde and retrograde vesicular trafficking of BDNF-YFP are significantly impaired in Mecp2 knockout hippocampal neurons. Selective inhibitors of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) show neuroprotective effects in neurodegenerative diseases and stimulate microtubule-dependent vesicular trafficking of BDNF-containing dense core vesicles. Here, we show that the selective HDAC6 inhibitor Tubastatin-A increased the velocity of BDNF-YFP vesicles in Mecp2 knockout neurons in both directions by increasing αtubulin acetylation. Tubastatin-A also restored activity-dependent BDNF release from Mecp2 knockout neurons to levels comparable to those shown by wildtype neurons. These findings demonstrate that a selective HDAC6 inhibitor is a potential pharmacological strategy to reverse cellular and synaptic impairments in RTT resulting from impaired BDNF signaling.
EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF SOLID AND CYSTIC RENAL MASSES

AbstractPurpose: With the increasing detection of incidental renal lesions, the evaluation and management of solid and cystic renal masses are assuming greater importance in urological practice. A review of the techniques for evaluation and management is presented, with an emphasis on new and evolving procedures, along with recommendations for their selective use.Material and Methods: A MEDLINE computerized reference search and manual bibliographic review were performed to find pertinent peer reviewed articles published since 1985. Meeting abstracts were considered if they provided unique information.Results: The primary means of evaluating renal masses is radiography (mainly ultrasonography and computerized tomography), although minimally invasive techniques such as percutaneous biopsy and laparoscopy are useful in selected situations. Nephron sparing surgery, minimally invasive surgery, alternative energy sources and other new techniques are being increasingly applied to the management of solid and cyst...
Large optical ablation zone using the VISX S2 smoothscan excimer laser.

Abstract Purpose To prospectively evaluate the safety and efficacy of the new large-zone (6.5 mm) photoablation technology using the VISX S2 Smoothscan excimer laser. Setting University-based hospital, Stanford, California, USA. Methods Forty-two eyes of 21 patients with a mean preoperative spherical equivalent (SE) of−5.55 diopters (D)± 2.24 (SD) (range−2.13 to−10.75 D) had laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using the VISX Smoothscan S2 excimer laser for simple myopia or compound myopic astigmatism. A 6.5 mm optical zone was used in all eyes. Patients were prospectively followed 1 day and 1 and 3 months postoperatively. Results At 3 months, the mean SE was reduced 94% to−0.31± 0.55 D. Ninety-one percent of eyes had an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/40 or better. Eighty-eight percent were within±1.00 D of attempted correction and 84%, within ±0.50 D. Stability within±0.50 D occurred after the first postoperative month. Vector analysis of eyes that had toric ablations demonstrated a difference vector within±1.00 D in 100% of eyes. The mean angle of error was−0.04± 6.37 degrees. Visually significant steep central islands associated with loss of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity was observed in 7.5% of eyes at 1 month. No eyes experienced significant glare or halos. Conclusions The new large-zone (6.5 mm) photoablation technology with the VISX S2 Smoothscan resulted in effective reduction of simple myopia and compound myopic astigmatism. However, with the 6.5 mm zone, there may be an increased risk of developing symptomatic steep central islands in the early post-LASIK period compared with the standard 6.0 mm treatment zone.
Deliverity a graduate course in cross‐cultural management in Portugal: observations, experiences, and academic axioms

Describes the experiences of an American professor who taught a graduate course in cross‐cultural management at a Portuguese university. Outlines the overall experience before detailing several pedagogic issues which were unforeseen/problematic. Proposes ten axioms to guide similar future internal exchange experiences. Emphasizes four areas of difficulty, preparation, expectations, conduct and relationships.
Gamma radiation induced polymerization of alpha‐ methylstyrene. The effect of water on molecular weight distribution

The effects of water on molecular weight distribution in the radioinduced polymerization of alpha -methylstyrene were studied. It was found that the methanol-soluble fraction can represent anywhere from 80% down to <1% of the total conversion of monomer. The lowest amount of methanoisoluble material was obtained with exhaustively dried starting material, and the highest with samples that were equilibrated with atmospheric water. The infrared spectrum of the methanol-soluble fraction exhibited two easily observable absorptions at 2.75 and 6.30 mu , which may be attributed to an OH stretching and an OH bending mode, respectively. This might be taken to indicate that the role of water is one of causing fairiy rapid termination (before more than 5 addition steps) of the chain process. It was concluded that water is capable of terminating polymeric chains at low stages of the growth process and also appears to affect the overall conversion process, by some more subtle mechanism. The effects of temperature and drying agents on alpha -methylstyrene are also discussed. (P.C.H.)