cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence that antibodies to cytomegalovirus and the t cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex may have common ligands

Immunoglobulins derived from sera containing anti-antiidiotypic antibodies (Ab2) generated in renal transplant recipients after OKT3 monoclonal antibody therapy, as reported in our previous study (1), have now been proved to bind to several bands of T cell membrane lysates (TCML) in immunoblotting analyses ranging in molecular weight from 40 to 55 KD. These sera also blocked the expression of the ligand binding to WT31 in flow cytometry. WT31 is a MAb that recognizes a common determinant on the T cell receptor (TCR). Immunoglobulins from these sera suppressed the activation of normal peripheral blood T lymphocytes (PBT) induced by OKT3. All patients (7/32) who developed this Ab2 had distinct culture-proved cytomegaloviral infections. In further immunoblotting studies, alpha F1, another MAb recognizing the framework of the TCR alpha chain, more deeply inserted in the T cell membrane, also showed binding to protein bands of cytomegalovirus pellet lysates derived from virus-infected embryonic fibroblasts. In addition, alpha F1 showed positive binding to several ligands in the membrane lysate of CMV-infected, but not noninfected MRC-5 cells. An anti-CMV MAb recognizing late nuclear antigen (LAb), also strongly bound to a approximately 50 KD band of TCML and several bands (approximately 34, approximately 40, and approximately 50 KD) of H33HJAJ1 (human T leukemia) cell lysate. Furthermore, alpha F1 immunoprecipitated a approximately 96 KD ligand of CMV-infected MRC5 lysate that had the same electrophoretic mobility as one of the proteins precipitable with LAb. Both LAb and alpha F1 also showed positive binding to paraformaldehyde-fixed and Triton X-100-permeabilized PBT in flow cytometry. Sera containing Ab2 blocked alpha F1 binding to acetone-fixed cytofuged PBT preparations on slides. Moreover, both alpha F1 and LAb inhibited mitogen-stimulated lymphocyte activation in vitro. These data support the notion that T cell functional abnormalities associated with CMV infection observed after treatment of transplant recipients with anti-T cell monoclonals might be caused by binding to T cell ligands by a variety of crossreacting human Igs operative in a regulatory network. Confirmatory evidence is the effect of MAbs generated against CMV virion epitopes crossreacting with T cell ligands, and vice versa.
The 'septation sign' in multicystic dysplastic kidney.

The case report is presented of a neonate with a unilateral multicystic dysplastic kidney. An intravenous pyelogram revealed septations throughout this kidney with late pooling of contrast media within the cystic structures. The pathological data stresses the presence of normal appearing glomeruli interspersed between the dysplastic cystic parenchyma. The possible etiologies for the septation sign and puddling phenomenon are discussed.
Interactive education: transitioning CD-ROMs to the Web

Abstract CD-ROM publishing of interactive multimedia has generally taken the model of the printing press and transferred it into the new digital medium. Even when presented as interactive multimedia, the content itself is frozen in time and not updatable. This is frustrating since a new CD-ROM becomes old hat as soon as it is pressed. More than a year ago we integrated most of Jane Goodall's fieldwork amongst the chimpanzees in Gombe National Park, Tanzania, into a CD-ROM title using sound, images, video and text together with an intuitive and explorative interface. In teaching courses with “Virtual Chimps” as we called it, we soon discovered that CD-ROMs are an island solution far removed from what we envision as a global knowledge system. Until the time when all knowledge in all media can be accessed over networks, a hybrid system is desirable which makes the transition from CD-ROM published titles to information accessed over networks. We have therefore produced a CD-ROM which contains our software engine to analyze chimpanzee behavior but also anchors to the WWW using Mosaic as client. With this configuration and linkage to our own fileserver, our CD-ROM works as a hybrid system: it performs customized tasks on a local workstation but is able to interchange and integrate data with other WWW file servers. The output of any analysis can be shared with other users over the WWW and additional information gathered world wide can be integrated seamlessly into the system.
Interacting Landau and Stark quantizations in superlattices under high magnetic fields

Abstract Optical interband experiments in superlattices under simultaneous application of magnetic and electric fields are presented. For electric and magnetic fields parallel to the growth axis of the superlattice, Landau ladders associated to each Stark transition are observed. These Landau ladders are coupled and anticross as the ratio between magnetic and electric field is varied. For magnetic fields perpendicular to the electric field, on the other hand, the two fields are in direct competition to determine the nature of the exciton states and the localization of the wave functions. Increasing the magnetic field continuously transforms the exciton states from Stark-like to Landau-like. Comparison with a theoretical model for the calculation of exciton energies and absorption strengths gives very good agreement with experiment.
The Comparision of Hybrid and Quadrilateral Discretization Models for the Topology Optimization of Compliant Mechanisms

The design domain of a synthesized compliant mechanism is discretized into quadrilateral design cells in both hybrid and quadrilateral discretization models. However, quadrilateral discretization model allows for point connection between two diagonal design cells. Hybrid discretization model completely eliminates point connection by subdividing each quadrilateral design cell into triangular analysis cells and connecting any two contiguous quadrilateral design cells using four triangular analysis cells. When point connection is detected and suppressed in quadrilateral discretization, the local topology search space is dramatically reduced and slant structural members are serrated. In hybrid discretization, all potential local connection directions are utilized for topology optimization and any structural members can be smooth whether they are in the horizontal, vertical or diagonal direction. To compare the performance of hybrid and quadrilateral discretizations, the same design and analysis cells, genetic algorithm parameters, constraint violation penalties are employed for both discretization models. The advantages of hybrid discretization over quadrilateral discretization are obvious from the results of two classical synthesis examples of compliant mechanisms.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Tenderization of chicken and turkey breasts with electrically produced hydrodynamic shockwaves

Eighty early deboned (45 min, post mortem) postrigor chicken breasts were exposed (24 h post mortem) to two levels (number of pulse firing networks, PFN; 45% energy) of electrically produced hydrodynamic shockwaves (HSW). In addition, 21 turkey breasts (72 h post mortem) were HSW treated (two PFN, 72% energy). Samples were water cooked in bags (78°C internal). Two PFN's were required to decrease (P<0.05) chicken Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) force by 22% from the control (4.67 kg). WBS force of the HSW treated turkey breast decreased (P<0.05) by 12% from the control (3.20 kg). Cooking loss was higher (P<0.05) in the turkey breast portions but not in the chicken breasts. The electrically produced shockwave process has the potential to provide chicken processors with the ability to early debone and produce tender breasts and to provide turkey processors with tenderness-enhanced fillets.
Systemic leptospirosis followed by salmonella vertebral osteomyelitis without sickling or immunosuppression.

STUDY DESIGN The clinical history of a healthy young patient who acquired systemic leptospirosis followed by salmonella vertebral osteomyelitis was studied in detail, and compared to the histories of leptospirosis and salmonella vertebral osteomyelitis reported in the literature. OBJECTIVE To alert the medical community about this unusual association of infectious diseases in a healthy patient without sickling or immunosuppression. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Human leptospirosis has been intensively studied, and there are several reports of salmonella vertebral osteomyelitis in patients without sickling. However, the combination of these entities in a single healthy patient is unexpected. METHODS The extensive literature on human leptospirosis and salmonella vertebral osteomyelitis was reviewed in detail, in correlation with this patient's clinical history and imaging studies. RESULTS The patient had no previous medical history. He contracted systemic leptospirosis when swimming in a lake contaminated with the urine of infected animals. As his leptospirosis symptoms resolved with doxycycline, he experienced increasing thoracolumbar spine pain, because of salmonella vertebral osteomyelitis, which responded to amoxicillin. CONCLUSION Leptospirosis may have caused gut mucosal vasculitis, allowing salmonella to enter the bloodstream and infect the spine.
Multiscale Models of Cell Signaling

Computational models of signal transduction face challenges of scale below the resolution of a single cell. Here, we organize these challenges around three key interfaces for multiscale models of cell signaling: molecules to pathways, pathways to networks, and networks to outcomes. Each interface requires its own set of computational approaches and systems-level data, and no single approach or dataset can effectively bridge all three interfaces. This suggests that realistic “whole-cell” models of signaling will need to agglomerate different model types that span critical intracellular scales. Future multiscale models will be valuable for understanding the impact of signaling mutations or population variants that lead to cellular diseases such as cancer.
Cellular Interactions and Modulated Osteoblasts Functions Mediated by Protein Adsorption

The rapid adsorption of proteins is one of the first few events that occur when a biomedical device is implanted and strongly affects attachment and proliferation of cells on the material surface. We describe here for the first time the favorable modulation of osteoblasts functions and cell–substrate interactions induced by protein adsorption (bovine serum albumin) on silicone elastomers. It was intriguing that the cell–substrate interactions on protein-adsorbed silicone elastomer were significantly different from those observed in stand alone silicone. The origin and differences in cell–substrate interactions in terms of cell attachment, viability, and proliferation and assessment of proteins actin, vinculin, and fibronectin are addressed. Cell attachment and proliferation of cells were significantly enhanced on protein-adsorbed surface in comparison to the bare surface. Similarly, the expression level of fibronectin, actin, and vinculin was appreciably greater on the protein-adsorbed surface. The study underscores that protein adsorption on artificial biomedical devices can be envisaged as one of the methods to enhance the bioactivity on the surface and regulate biological functions.
Effects of prolonged chlorine exposures upon PCR detection of Helicobacter pylori DNA.

The effect of low doses of free chlorine on the detection of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) cells by qPCR in tap water was monitored. Detection of sequences targeted to the ureA gene from preparations containing 107 cells/ml decreased about 2–4 logs by days 9 and 14, respectively. When duplicate suspensions of the 107 cells/ml were exposed to higher levels of chlorine, 0.2–2.2 mg/l, by day 9 and 14 there were 5 and 6 log decreases, respectively, in the detection of ureA gene. H. pylori target sequences (within suspended, intact cells at densities of 102–103 cells /ml) were rendered undetectable by qPCR analysis after 17 h of continuous exposure to low chlorine levels common to treated drinking water distribution systems. The persistence of DNA sequences within treated distribution systems detectable by qPCR may be as brief as 17 h especially for bacteria such as H. pylori which are known to occur in very low numbers within treated distribution systems. This study suggests that degradation of H. pylori DNA target sequences by chlorine levels commonly found within treated water distribution systems occurs within the average water retention times (2–3 days) commonly found in these systems.
Non-invasive laser Raman detection of lycopene and ß-carotene antioxidants in skin

The predominant long-chain carotenoids found in the human skin are lycopene and β-carotene. They are powerful antioxidants and thought to act as scavengers for free radicals and single oxygen that are formed by excessive exposure of skin to sunlight. However the role of the particular representatives of the carotenoid antioxidants family in the skin defense mechanism is still unclear and has to be clarified. We demonstrate the opportunity for fast non-invasive selective quantitative detection of β-carotene and lycopene in human skin employing Raman spectroscopy. Analyzing Raman signals originating from the carbon-carbon double bond stretch vibrations of the molecules under blue and green laser excitation we were able to characterize quantitativly the concentrations of each carotenoid in alive human skin. In this method we take an advantage of different Raman cross-section spectral profile for β-carotene and lycopene molecules. This novel technique allows the quantitative assessment of individual carotenoid species in the skin rather then the cumulative level of long-chain carotenoids mixture as we could measure in our previous works. The required laser light exposure levels are well within safety standards. Prelimininary dichoromatic Raman measurements reveal significant differences in the carotenoid composition of different volunteer's skin: even in statistically small group of seven subjects the ratio of β-carotene-to-lycopene in their skin vary from 0.5 to 1.6. This technique holds promise as a method of rapid screening of carotenoids composition of human skin in large populations and suitable in clinical studies for assessing the risk for cutaneous diseases.
Melanin biosynthesis inVerticillium dahliae: Dehydration and reduction reactions in cell-free homogenates

Abstract Cell-free homogenates and anaerobic conditions were used to study melanin biosynthesis in the imperfect fungusVerticillium dahliae Kleb. The homogenates reduced 1,3,6,8-tetrahydroxynaphthalene to scytalone and 1,3,8-trihydroxynaphthalene to vermelone. 1,3,6,8-Tetrahydroxynapthalene has not been isolated from fungi and was previously considered a hypothetical intermediate in the melanin pathway. This is the first report of its use as an exogenous melanin substrate. The enzymatic reductions required NADPH as a cofactor. The reactions were inhibited by the systemic fungicides tricyclazole (EL-291), pyroquilon (CGA-49104) and 4,5-dihydro-4-methyltetrazolo [1,5α]quinazolin-5-one (PP-389), and were eliminated by heating homogenates to 40°C for 35 minutes prior to the addition of substrate. The homogenates also enzymatically dehydrated scytalone to 1,3,8-trihydroxynaphthalene and vermelone to 1,8-dihydroxynaphthalene. The dehydration reactions did not require pyridine nucleotides, were insensitive to the systemic fungicides, and were eliminated after heating at 70°C for 35 minutes.
Improving protein-RNA interface prediction by combining sequence homology based method with a naive Bayes classifier: preliminary results

Protein-RNA interactions play important roles in cellular processes like protein synthesis, RNA processing, and gene expression regulation. Reliable identification of the interfaces involved in RNA-protein interactions is essential for comprehending the mechanisms and the functional implications of these interactions and provides a valuable guide for rational drug discovery and design. Because the determination of 3D structures of protein-RNA complexes has various technical limitations and is typically costly, reliable in silico interface prediction methods that require only the sequence information are urgently needed.We present HomPRIP, a homologous sequence based method for predicting protein-RNA interfaces, based on our conservation analysis of protein-RNA interfaces. We test Hom-PRIP on a benchmark dataset of 199 proteins and compare it with the state-of-the-art protein-RNA interface prediction methods. Our results show that HomPRIP can reliably identify protein-RNA interface residues in 71% of test proteins with at least one putative sequence homolog passing the similarity thresholds of HomPRIP. Moreover, to facilitate predictions for proteins with no identified homologs, we develop HomPRIP-NB, a method combining the HomPRIP predictor and a Naive Bayes (NB) classifier trained using evolutionary information derived from alignments against the NCBI nr database. Our results suggest that HomPRIP-NB significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art machine learning methods for predicting protein-RNA interface residues.
High dimensional harmonic balance dealiasing techniques for a Duffing oscillator

A dealiasing study of the high dimensional harmonic balance method is conducted using a Duffing oscillator as a prototypical nonlinear dynamical system. Previous study has shown that aliasing can occur when the high dimensional harmonic balance method is used to solve systems that contain nonlinearities. We demonstrate that frequency filtering techniques, such as the Fourier smoothing method, can sufficiently reduce or eliminate the effects of aliasing. The drawback is that Fourier filtering requires redundant coordinate transformations between the time and frequency domains, resulting in unnecessary computational expense. As an alternative, temporal filters are constructed based upon compact finite difference schemes with spectral-like resolution. It is shown that the temporal filtering schemes successfully replicate the performance of the Fourier smoothing method with improved computational economy.
Heterodyne frequency measurements on the 11.6-microm band of OCS: new frequency/wavelength calibration tables for 11.6- and 5.8-microm OCS bands.

Heterodyne difference frequency measurements between a 13CO2 laser and a diode laser tuned (and in most cases locked) to the peaks of OCS absorption lines have been used to improve frequency calibration tables in the 860-cm−1 region by factors of 20–50. Measurements have been made on the vibrational transitions 1000–0000, 1110–0110, and 2000–1000 for OCS. The measurements on the 1000–0000 and 2000–1000 transitions are also used to provide frequency calibration tables for the 2000–0000 band of OCS near 1700 cm−1.
Sediment and Chemical Load Reduction by Grass and Riparian Filters

Vegetated filter strips help reduce non-point source pollution from agricultural areas. Even though they are an accepted and highly promoted practice, little quantitative data exist on their effectiveness under field conditions. The objective of this research was to determine the amount of nutrients and sediment removed by natural and planted filters. This was achieved by collecting and analyzing runoff at field edges and at various locations in vegetated buffers. Total weight of sediment and nutrients in runoff from North Carolina agricultural fields showed that the grass and riparian filter strips studied reduced runoff load by 50 to 80%. Total sediment decrease through the filters was about 80% for both grass and riparian vegetation. The reduction in the chemical load depended on the nutrient and its form. Filters reduced total P load by 50%, but 80% of the soluble PO 4 -P arriving at the field edge frequently passed through the filters. The filters retained 20 to 50% of the NH 4 and approximately 50% of the total Kjeldahl N and NO 3 . High-volume flows commonly overwhelmed both grass and riparian filters next to cultivated fields. Forested ephemeral channels had little vegetation and were effective sediment sinks during the dry season but were ineffective during large storm events because there was little resistance to flow. When possible, drainageways should be designed to hold sediment and to disperse the discharge into a riparian area.
Mild and practical cycloaddition reactions of furans with phenyl vinyl sulfonate

Abstract Phenyl vinyl sulfonate reacts with various alkyl furan derivatives under mild conditions to produce excellent yields of the corresponding cycloadducts.
Spontaneous Rupture of a Saccular Intrahepatic Artery Aneurysm

Hepatic artery aneurysms are the second most common visceral aneurysm but are still relatively uncommon. Over the last century, methods for treating these lesions have evolved substantially. The presented case covers the presentation, diagnosis, and treatment of a 65-year-old woman with an aneurysm of the intrahepatic portion of the hepatic artery. This case demonstrates the variety of techniques available for managing these lesions and the importance of both a thorough knowledge of the available treatments and the flexibility to switch among them when necessary.
Domain structure and stability of MOCVD-derived ferroelectric thin films

Abstract Ferroelectric thin film have recieved much attention in recent years because of their useful ferroelectric and dielectric properties to the device industry. In this article, we will address the relationship between the microstructure and the corresponding dielectric properties of PT and PZT ferroelectric thin film grown by Metal-Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD). The formation of domains in the textured polycrystalline thin films and single crystalline thin films were studied using TEM micrographs. X-ray diffraction and AFM. Substrate materials included single crystalline MgO, LaAlO3 and highly textured LaNiO3 coated Si substrate. The domain stability is also addressed as a result of initial cooling after deposition, and of subsequent thermal cycling after initial cooling. The stability of electrical properties after repeated cycles of operation (i. e. fatigue behavior) are also discussed.
Thermal Expansion and Atomic Structure of Amorphous Silicon Nitride Thin Films

Thermal expansion and atomic structure of amorphous silicon nitride (SiNx) thin films were investigated. SiNx films of different Si/N compositions were formed by changing the SiH4/NH3 source gas ratio in plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PE-CVD). The measurements of high temperature stress and hydrogen desorption demonstrated that the more Si-rich composition of SiNx led to less thermal expansion and more hydrogen desorption from Si-H bonds between 650°C and 800°C. In case the SiNx is Si-rich and contains both Si-H and N-H bonds, the Si and N atoms bond together after the hydrogen desorption. The increase of Si-N bonds should shrink the SiNx film and suppress the thermal expansion.
Muscodor albus, a potential biocontrol agent against plant-parasitic nematodes of economically important vegetable crops in Washington State, USA

The fungus, Muscodor albus, was tested for nematicidal and nematostatic potential against four plant-parasitic nematode species with three different feeding modes on economically important vegetable crops in the Pacific Northwest. Meloidogyne chitwoodi, Meloidogyne hapla, Paratrichodorus allius, and Pratylenchus penetrans were exposed for 72 h to volatiles generated by M. albus cultured on rye grain in sealed chambers at 24 °C in the laboratory. In addition, the nematodes were inoculated into soil fumigated with M. albus, and incubated for 7 days prior to the introduction of host plants under greenhouse conditions. The mean percent mortality of nematodes exposed to M. albus in the chamber was 82.7% for P. allius, 82.1% for P. penetrans, and 95% for M. chitwoodi; mortality in the nontreated controls was 5.8%, 7%, and 3.9%, respectively. Only 21.6% of M. hapla juveniles died in comparison to 8.9% in controls. However, 69.5% of the treated juveniles displayed reduced motility and lower response to physical stimulus by probing, in comparison to the control juveniles. This is evidence of nematostasis due to M. albus exposure. The greenhouse study showed that M. albus caused significant reduction to all nematode species in host roots and in rhizosphere soil. The percent mortality caused by M. albus applied at 0.5% and 1.0% w/w in comparison to the controls was as follows: 91% and 100% for P. allius in the soil; 100% for P. penetrans in bean roots and soil; 85% and 95% for M. chitwoodi in potato roots, and 56% and 100% in the soil; 100% for M. hapla both in pepper roots and soil. In this study, M. albus has shown both nematostatic and nematicidal properties.
Pediatric maxillofacial surgery.

This is a complete review of pediatric maxillofacial surgery for the oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Topics in this issue include soft tissue injuries, ear and nose reconstruction in children, facial dermatologic lesions, vascular anomalies, sino-nasal disease and orbital cellulitis, post-traumatic growth and development, cervical masses, calvarial injuries and scalp reconstruction, management of facial fractures, craniofacial dermoids, airway abnormalities and management, craniofacial fibrous dysplasia, and unusual head and neck infections.
Development and evaluation of a chicken breakfast sausage manufactured with mechanically deboned chicken meat

Leghorn spent hen mechanically deboned chicken meat (MDCM) was utilized in the preparation of a value-added chicken sausage. The sausage was manufactured by combining MDCM with hand-deboned skinless chicken thigh meat, fat replacer ingredients (blend of modified food starch and oat flour), and either 1) no ingredient with antioxidant properties, 2) Colorlife powdered rosemary concentrate, 3) Herbalox Type O oleoresin rosemary extract or 4) Tenox 6 antioxidant. The 454-g sausage chubs were stored at 4 +/- 1 C (refrigerated) and -20 +/- 1 C (frozen) for 10 d and 6 mo, respectively. A shelf life evaluation (based on daily examination of product, panelists responses, and psychrotrophic organism counts) of 8 d and 6 mo was attained for the sausage stored at 4 +/- 1 and -20 +/- 1 C, respectively. Flavor intensity, texture, and color were maintained for all treatments, and no significant (P > 0.05) off-flavors were detected through 8 d and 6 mo storage. Colorlife and Herbalox rosemary ingredients, and Tenox 6 antioxidant had no adverse effects on sensory characteristics of the chicken sausage. Psychrotrophic organisms increased with increased storage time for the refrigerated sausage, and remained static for the frozen sausage.
The Logarithmic Derivative for Minimal Surfaces in ℝ3

E. F. Beckenbach and collaborators have developed a value distribution theory for minimal surfaces which parallels the work of R. Nevanlinna and others for complex meromorphic functions. We continue in the development by establishing the Lemma of the Logarithmic Derivative for minimal surfaces in ℝ3.
794 LACTOFERRIN: MEDIATOR OF GRANULOCYTE STICKINESS IN VIVO

Following exposure of granulocytes (PMN) to chemotactic factors in vitro, the cells will degranulate and aggregate and upon infusion of chemotactic factors in vivo animals will be rendered neutropenic. In order to assess whether the specific granule product lactoferrin (LF) could mediate PMN stickiness in vitro and in vivo, PMN were exposed to human LF in vitro and animals were infused with LF in vivo. LF at concentrations as low as 6 ug/ml aggregated human PMN and 12 ug/ml LF promoted their attachment to human umbilical endothelial (44 ± 4% control compared to 55 ± 4% LF-treated). Infusion of 1 mg/kg LF into rabbits caused a 40% fall in PMN count by 2 min; whereas 2 mg/kg of transferrin or granule lysozyme lacked any effect. In order to visually assess the effect of LF, the hampster cheek pouch was prepared for in vivo microcirculation observation by displaying a venule on a TV-monitor. The number of PMN passing a segment of the venule was then determined. Within 20-30 seconds after administration of 70 to 280 ug rabbit LF/100g to hampsters the PMN rolling frequency markedly decreased. PMN stickiness was then sustained for 3-5 min. In contrast intravenous administration of albumin or transferrin lacked effect. These studies indicate that the PMN LF can sustain PMN autostickiness and serve to mediate the effect of chemotactic factor in rendering animals neutropenic.
A Great Confusion in Theater Management

(2006). A Great Confusion in Theater Management. The Journal of Arts Management, Law, and Society: Vol. 36, No. 1, pp. 33-47.
Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Estrogenic Phenolic Compounds at a Nickel‐Modified Glassy Carbon Electrode

This paper demonstrates for the first time, successful electrocatalytic oxidation of electroactive estrogenic phenolic compounds (EPCs) at a nickel-modified glassy carbon electrode (Ni-GCE). The electrode was evaluated in terms of electrocatalytic activity, sensitivity, linear dynamic range, limit of detection, and response stability. In comparison to bare glassy carbon electrode, current amplification was observed for EPCs at Ni-GCE, for example, for a 40 µM estrone at Ni-GCE was amplified by a factor of 1224. The Ni-GCE gave good figures of merit with no evidence of electrode fouling. As an example, the limit of detection (S/N=3) for 17β-estradiol was 100 nM and the response precision (n=5) was 3.4 %.
Does Exposure to Sexual Hip-Hop Music Videos Influence the Sexual Attitudes of College Students?

This study investigated short-term effects of exposure to hip-hop music videos with varying degrees of sexual imagery on viewers' acceptance of the objectification of women, sexual permissiveness, gender attitudes, and rape myth acceptance. Using a posttest-only group experimental design, college undergraduates (N = 195) viewed a set of 5 hip-hop music videos of either high or low sexual content. Male participants who were exposed to hip-hop music videos of highly sexual content expressed greater objectification of women, sexual permissiveness, stereotypical gender attitudes, and acceptance of rape at posttest than male participants in the low sex condition. Results for female participants were mixed. In addition, hip-hop fandom played a significant role in participants' objectification of women and sexual permissiveness. Implications are discussed within the frameworks of vicarious learning through the media and parasocial interaction with media figures.
Phase Equalization of TV Transmitters

There has been considerable lack of understanding by station personnel of the effects of envelope delay on both their monochrome and color pictures. Operating personnel have often become confused by the appearance of predistorted signals to accomplish the proper system performance at the receiver. A substantial number of waveform and kinescope pictures have been made for the purpose of instruction and education. This informaion is the basis of this paper.
Lineage Commitment in the Thymus: Only the Most Differentiated (TCRhibcl-2hi) Subset of CD4+CD8+Thymocytes Has Selectively Terminated CD4 or CD8 Synthesis

Lineage commitment is a developmental process by which individual CD4+CD8+ (double positive, DP) thymocytes make a decision to differentiate into either CD4+ or CD8+ T cells. However, the molecular event(s) that defines lineage commitment is controversial. We have previously proposed that lineage commitment in DP thymocytes can be molecularly defined as the selective termination of CD4 or CD8 coreceptor synthesis. The present study supports such a molecular definition by showing that termination of either CD4 or CD8 synthesis is a highly regulated event that is only evident within the most differentiated DP subset (CD5hiCD69hiTCRhibcl-2hi). In fact, essentially all cells within this DP subset actively synthesize only one coreceptor molecule. In addition, the present results identify three distinct subpopulations of DP thymocytes that define the developmental progression of the lineage commitment process and demonstrate that lineage commitment is coincident with upregulation of TCR and bcl-2. Thus, this study supports a molecular definition of lineage commitment and uniquely identifies TCRhibcl-2hi DP thymocytes as cells that are already committed to either the CD4 or CD8 T cell lineage.
Modelling and analysis of pad surface topography and slurry particle size distribution effects on material removal rate in chemical mechanical planarisation

Traditionally, static or steady state models of material removal rate (MRR) in a chemical mechanical planarisation (CMP) process have been developed, and the effects of properties of consumables such as pad or slurry particles on MRR have been investigated. There also exist dynamic or transient models of the CMP process; however, the effect of slurry particle size and distribution is typically neglected in these dynamic models. The present work combines these different approaches by attempting to develop a dynamic model of the CMP process capable of representing MRR decay, which can also account for the effects due to slurry particle size and distribution.
Survey of Physical Agent Modality Use

Occupational therapists interested in physical disabilities practice (N = 629) responded to a questionnaire regarding their use of, training in, and opinions on physical agent modalities. Therapists in hand rehabilitation were the most frequent users of these modalities. Of the listed modalities, the most frequently used was hot and cold packs; the least used was ultrasound. The modalities used most frequently were typically performed without assistance, whereas those used less frequently were more likely to be performed with the assistance of a physical therapist. The most common educational experience for physical agent modality use was on-the-job training. Therapists who provided direct care were more positive about the use of these modalities in occupational therapy practice than were those who acted primarily as administrators, fieldwork educators, or supervisors. Respondents who specialized in hand therapy viewed modalities in a more positive light than did therapists in other areas of physical disabilities practice.
Discrimination of geographical song variants by Darwin's finches

Geographical variation in the structure of mating signals can influence the processes of mate recognition and reproductive isolation. In Darwin's finches of the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador, prior studies of geographical variation in vocal mating signals (songs) have focused on populations on small islands, on which there is presumably little opportunity for the evolution of within-island song variation or discrimination abilities. The situation on larger islands, however, is less clear. I characterized aspects of song variation and discrimination in the medium ground finch, Geospiza fortis, in the southeastern coastal region of the large island of Santa Cruz. Songs from two sites, Bahia Academia and El Garrapatero, separated by approximately 11 km, differed in mean minimum frequency and in a corresponding principal component factor, and could be distinguished with moderate success in discriminant function analysis. Territorial males at El Garrapatero showed strong discrimination of songs by site: in response to playback of local songs, birds showed higher rates of singing and flying, and significantly closer approaches to the playback speaker. Successful discrimination of songs by site, in the face of overlap in song structure between these sites, suggests that these birds rely on an exemplar-based mechanism of song perception. Moreover, the results support the hypothesis that birds in these populations are relatively philopatric, and thus suggest an opportunity for within-island evolutionary divergence.
Comparative analysis of host-cell signalling mechanisms activated in response to infection with Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia typhi.

The Gram-negative intracellular bacteria Rickettsia conorii and Rickettsia typhi are the aetiological agents of Mediterranean spotted fever and endemic typhus, respectively, in humans. Infection of endothelial cells (ECs) lining vessel walls, and the resultant vascular inflammation and haemostatic alterations are salient pathogenetic features of both of these rickettsial diseases. An important consideration, however, is that dramatic differences in the intracellular motility and accumulation patterns for spotted fever versus typhus group rickettsiae have been documented, suggesting the possibility of unique and potentially different interactions with host cells. This study characterized and compared R. conorii- and R. typhi-mediated effects on cultured human ECs. The DNA-binding activity of nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB) and the phosphorylation status of stress-activated p38 kinase were determined as indicators of NF-κB and p38 activation. R. conorii infection resulted in a biphasic activation of NF-κB, with an early increase in DNA-binding activity at 3 h, followed by a later peak at 24 h. The activated NF-κB species were composed mainly of RelA p65–p50 heterodimers and p50 homodimers. R. typhi infection of ECs resulted in only early activation of NF-κB at 3 h, composed primarily of p65–p50 heterodimers. Whilst R. conorii infection induced increased phosphorylation of p38 kinase (threefold mean induction) with the maximal response at 3 h, a considerably less-intense response peaking at about 6 h post-infection was found with R. typhi. Furthermore, mRNA expression of the chemokines interleukin (IL)-8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 in ECs infected with either Rickettsia species was higher than the corresponding controls, but there were distinct differences in the secretion patterns for IL-8, suggesting the possibility of involvement of post-transcriptional control mechanisms or differences in the release from intracellular storage sites. Thus, the intensity and kinetics of host-cell responses triggered by spotted fever and typhus species exhibit distinct variations that could subsequently lead to differences in the extent of endothelial activation and inflammation and serve as important determinants of pathogenesis.
Functional analysis of amino acid residues encompassing and surrounding two neighboring H-2Db-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte epitopes in simian virus 40 tumor antigen.

Simian virus 40 tumor (T) antigen contains three H-2D b - and one H-2K b -restricted cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitopes (sites). Two of the H-2D b -restricted CTL epitopes, I and II/III, are separated by 7 amino acids in the amino-terminal one third of T antigen. In this study, we determine if the amino acids separating these two H-2D b -restricted CTL epitopes are dispensable for efficient processing and presentation. In addition, the importance of amino acid residues lying within and flanking the H-2D b -restricted epitopes I and II/III for efficient processing, presentation, and recognition by site-specific CTL clones was determined by using Tantigen mutants containing single-amino-acid substitutions between residues 200 and 239. Using synthetic peptides in CTL lysis and major histocompatibility complex class I stabilization assays, CTL recognition site I has been redefined to include residues 206 to 215. Substitutions in amino acidsflanking either site I or site II/III did not affect recognition by any of the T-antigen-specific CTL clones. Additionally, the removal of the 7 residues separating site I and site II/III did not affect CTL recognition, thus demonstrating that these two epitopes when arranged in tandem in the native T antigen can be efficiently processed and presented to CTL clones. Differences infine specificities of two CTL clones which recognize the same epitope (Y-1 and K-11 for site I and Y-2 and Y-3 for site II/III) have been used in conjunction with synthetic peptide variants to assign roles for residues within epitopes I and II/III with respect to TCR recognition and/or peptide-major histocompatibility complex association.
Focus Issue: A Dangerous Detour–Cell Signaling Pathways Involved in Cancer Progression

The intensive effort poured into cancer research over the last 30 years has led to a tremendous increase in our understanding of cancer biology and of the cellular processes whose dysregulation has been implicated in cancer pathogenesis and progression. In many cases, the road to cancer pathogenesis and progression represents a detour from the normal pathways involved in cell signaling. This Focus Issue of Science 9s STKE highlights cell signaling pathways implicated in various aspects of cancer progression.
The Stress Moderating Role of Benefit Finding on Psychological Distress and Well-Being Among Women Living with HIV/AIDS

This study examines whether the perception of having experienced growth as a result of a stressful event, often termed benefit finding, moderates the effects of stress (both physical symptomatology and social conflict) on psychological distress and well-being. For this cross-sectional study, an ethnically diverse sample (N = 138) of women living with HIV/AIDS completed a series of self-report measures. Hierarchical regression analysis demonstrated that physical symptoms, social conflict, and benefit finding were associated with psychological distress and positive affect, even after controlling for social support, locus of control, and demographic confounds. Significant interactions revealed that among women with a high number of HIV-related physical symptoms, benefit finding moderated the negative effects of physical symptoms on both depressive and anxious symptoms. Benefit finding was not found to moderate the effects of social conflict. These findings suggest a potential mechanism (i.e., stress buffering) by which benefit finding could promote psychological adjustment. Further, the finding that benefit finding only moderated the growth-inducing stressor (e.g., the illness), but not the effects of other stressors (e.g., social conflict), suggests possible limits to the stress-buffering role of benefit finding.
100th anniversary special paper: Sedimentary mineral deposits and the evolution of earth's near-surface environments

The nature of sedimentary mineral deposits has evolved during Earth's history in concert with changes in the oxidation (redo) state of the ocean-atmosphere system, biological evolution, and the growing importance of geologically young accumulations of ore-grade material. There is now strong evidence that the atmosphere and the oceans were anoxic, or essentially anoxic, before 2.4 Ga. Banded iron formations (BIF) and the detrital uranium ores formed prior to 2.4 Ga are consistent with such a state. The period between 2.4 and 2.0 Ga is called the Great Oxidation Event by some. Its ores bear unmistakable marks of the presence of atmospheric O{sub 2}. Between 1.8 and 0.8 Ga the Earth system seems to have been remarkably stable. Sedimentary ore deposits of this period were influenced by the presence of O{sub 2}. BIF, sedimentary manganese, and phosphorites disappeared ca. 1.8 Ga, but sedimentary exhalative (SEDEX) deposits and unconformity-type uranium deposits flourished, and nonsulfide zinc deposits put in an appearance. The period between 0.8 Ga and the end of the Proterozoic at 0.54 Ga was as turbulent or more so than the Paleoproterozoic. BIF returned, as did sedimentary manganese deposits and phosphorites. A further rise in the O{sub 2} content of themore » atmosphere and an increase in the sulfate concentration of seawater during this period brought the composition of the atmosphere and of seawater close to their present redox state. The last 540 m.y. of Earth's history have seen the system pass through two supercycles of roughly equal length. Climate, the redox stratification of the oceans ocean mixing, and the nature of sedimentary ores were influenced by tectonically and volcanically driven changes during these supercycles. The evolution of the higher land plants gave rise to coal deposits and sandstone-type uranium ores and was important for the formation of bauxites.« less
Effect of Chemical Carcinogen Treatment on the Immunogenicity of Mouse Mammary Tumors Arising From Hyperplastic Alveolar Nodule Outgrowth Lines

The experiments reported herein examined the effects of chemical carcinogen treatment of precursor hyperplastic alveolar nodules on the immunogenicity of subsequent mammary tumors in mice. The results of in vitro immunogenicity assays were compared with those of in vivo transplantation resistance tests. This comparison demonstrated that the in vitro assays predicted qualitatively and quantitatively the results from the in vivo test. In addition, the data suggested that the immunogenicity of a tumor depends on events occurring during the development of precursor hyperplastic alveolar nodules rather than during the development of subsequent mammary tumors.
Sexual orientation discrimination

Al though we have legislation that, at least in theory, protects employees from discrimination, discrimination still occurs. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination in all areas of employment on the basis of race, colour, religion, sex or national origin. This includes sexual harassment, a form of discrimination which involves “unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favours, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature constitutes sexual harassment when submission to or rejection of this conduct explicitly or implicitly affects an individual’s employment, unreasonably interferes with an individual’s work performance, or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive work environment’ (www.eeoc.gov). However, it does not specifically protect against other forms of discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
Radial Corrugations of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Driven by Inter-Wall Nonbonding Interactions

We perform large-scale quasi-continuum simulations to determine the stable cross-sectional configurations of free-standing multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). We show that at an inter-wall spacing larger than the equilibrium distance set by the inter-wall van der Waals (vdW) interactions, the initial circular cross-sections of the MWCNTs are transformed into symmetric polygonal shapes or asymmetric water-drop-like shapes. Our simulations also show that removing several innermost walls causes even more drastic cross-sectional polygonization of the MWCNTs. The predicted cross-sectional configurations agree with prior experimental observations. We attribute the radial corrugations to the compressive stresses induced by the excessive inter-wall vdW energy release of the MWCNTs. The stable cross-sectional configurations provide fundamental guidance to the design of single MWCNT-based devices and shed lights on the mechanical control of electrical properties.
Maximum likelihood estimation as a general method of combining sub-aperture data for interferometric testing

Interferometers accurately measure the difference between two wavefronts, one from a reference surface and the other from an unknown surface. If the reference surface is near-perfect or is accurately known from some other test, then the shape of the unknown surface can be determined. We investigate the case where neither the reference surface nor the surface under test is known. By making multiple modulated measurements where both surfaces are translated and rotated, we obtain sufficient information to reconstruct the figure of both surfaces. We have developed software that provides a maximum likelihood estimation of both surfaces, as well as an assessment of the quality of the reconstruction. This was demonstrated for the measurement of a large flat mirror, using a smaller reference mirror that has significant shape errors.
Unmasking the Effects of Student Engagement on First-Year College Grades and Persistence

(2008). Unmasking the Effects of Student Engagement on First-Year College Grades and Persistence. The Journal of Higher Education: Vol. 79, No. 5, pp. 540-563.