cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification and analysis of aarP, a transcriptional activator of the 2'-N-acetyltransferase in Providencia stuartii.

The aarP gene has been identified in a search for activators of the 2-N-acetyltransferase [encoded by aac(2')-Ia] in Providencia stuartii. Introduction of aarP into P. stuartii on a multicopy plasmid resulted in a 9.9-fold increase in the accumulation of beta-galactosidase from an aac(2')-lacZ fusion. Northern (RNA) blot analysis demonstrated that this increased aac(2')-Ia expression occurred at the level of mRNA accumulation. The deduced AarP protein was 15,898 Da in size and exhibited significant homology to a number of transcriptional activators in the AraC/XyIS family, including TetD,Rob, MarA, and SoxS. The similarity of AarP to the MarA and SoxS proteins prompted an investigation to determine whether AarP is involved in activation of genes in either the multiple antibiotic resistance (Mar) phenotype or redox stress (SoxRS) system. Introduction of aarP on a multicopy plasmid into either P. stuartii or Escherichia coli conferred a Mar phenotype with higher levels of resistance to tetracycline, chloramphenicol, and ciprofloxacin. Multiple copies of aarP in E. coli also resulted in activation of the endonuclease IV gene (nfo), a gene in the SoxRS regulon of E. coli. The function of aarP in its single-copy state was addressed by using allelic replacement to construct an aarP::Cm disruption, which resulted in a fivefold reduction in the accumulation of aac(2')-Ia mRNA. Analysis of aarP regulation showed that aarP mRNA accumulation was slightly increased by exposure to tetracycline and dramatically increased in cells containing the aarB3 (aar3) mutation, which was previously shown to increase transcription of the aac(2')-Ia gene. (P.N. Rather, E. Oroz, K.J. Shaw, R. Hare, and G. Miller, J. Bacteriol. 175:6492-6498).
Measuring community leaders' perceived ownership of health education programs: initial tests of reliability and validity

Development of community ownership is often identified as an important intermediate objective of community health education programs. Community ownership is assumed to be important to program effectiveness and long-term maintenance, but validated measures of this construct have not been available to test this proposition. A measure of community leaders' perceived ownership of health education programs was developed and tested. The Community Ownership Scale identified key functions within a program and asked community leaders to rate the amount of control the leaders themselves, the external sponsoring agency and the local program staff had in each area. The measure was tested with the volunteer leadership of three community health education programs. Predictions about scores were based on the conceptual framework from which the ownership construct was derived. Results of these tests were consistent with predictions, providing evidence for the validity of the measure. Subscale scores showed high levels of internal consistency reliability. This measure could be applied at different stages in the life of a program to monitor the success of efforts to foster community ownership, and to test the relationships between perceived ownership and program effectiveness and maintenance.
Temperature control of the four-zone split inverter air conditioners using LMI expression based on LQR for mixed H2/H∞

Air conditioners in either commercial or residential buildings consume substantial electricity. Enhancing the air conditioner efficiency by using a new control scheme is critical. In four-zone multi-evaporator air conditioner systems, coupling effects occur among the compressor speed, the degree of opening of the four electronic expansion valves, the temperatures of the four evaporators, and the four superheats. The system identification and thermodynamic equations could be used to obtain the inner and outer loop transfer functions between the air conditioner and its environment. A variable structure (switching) for the proportional integral anti-windup method could circumvent the saturation phenomenon generated from the integral controller. The optimal control gains were obtained from the linear matrix inequalities (LMI) based on a linear quadratic regulator (LQR) with a mixed H2 and H∞ control algorithm. In a simulated example, this efficient method, through those feedback gains, guaranteed convergence and stability. In addition, the results indicated that the proposed LMI using a mixed H2 and H∞ control method is also an alternative way for disturbance rejection and energy savings in buildings.
Quad-tree segmentation for texture-based image query

In this paper we propose a technique for segmenting images by texture content with application to indexing images in a large image database. Using quad-tree decomposition, texture features are extracted from spatial blocks at a hierarchy of scales in each image. The quad-tree is grown by iteratively testing conditions for splitting parent blocks based on texture content of children blocks. While this approach does not achieve smooth identification of texture region borders, homogeneous blocks of texture are extracted which can be used in a database index. Furthermore, this technique performs the segmentation directly using image spatial-frequency data. In the segmentation reported here, texture features are extracted from the wavelet representation of the image. This method however, can use other subband decompositions including Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT), which has been adopted by the JPEG standard for image coding. This makes our segmentation method extremely applicable to databases containing compressed image data. We show application of the texture segmentation towards providing a new method for searching for images in large image databases using “Query-by-texture.”
Uniaxial compression analysis of glassy polymer networks using digital image correlation

Abstract Analytical methods which apply digital image correlation (DIC) to study the strain behavior of glassy polymer networks in uniaxial compression are presented. This non-contact technique generates accurate and reproducible data for analyzing compression modulus, Poisson’s ratio and yield strain. DIC eliminates the need for extensometers or strain gauges, and provides a substantial increase in accuracy for measuring strain compared to a LVDT. DIC allows for simultaneous longitudinal and transverse strain measurements to calculate Poisson’s ratio, and is particularly sensitive for measuring small strain compression modulus of glassy solids. DIC techniques are useful for studying the pre-yield, yield and post-yield behavior of glassy polymer networks and provide insight of the non-uniform strain behavior of these materials prior to yielding. An accurate yield strain was obtained using DIC which clearly eliminated any erroneous strain data associated with fixture and equipment compliance. Finally, DIC allowed for the calculation of true compression stress and true compression strain of glassy polymers.
A mathematical analysis of numerical integration of electromagnetism seismograms

GALITZIN has shown that for electromagnetic seismograms the earth-motion may be expressed in terms of (1) the derivative of the trace-amplitude, (2) the trace-amplitude, (3) the first integral, (4) the second integral, and (5) the third integral. Now NEUMANN has developed an ingenious method of numerical integration for use on accelerometer-records, in which he required only the second integral and his results have been verified experimentally.
Officer work orientations, perceptions of readiness and anticipated effectiveness of an agency-wide community policing effort within a county Sheriff’s office

Across occupations of every form, including those in criminal justice, administrators, managers, and supervisors frequently introduce changes to the structure and/or processes of the work environment. These changes may be seen as necessary to enhance worker productivity, but may be viewed by some workers as an unwanted disruption to their routines. Should employees interpret changes in such a manner, they can, and often do, negate these reforms. Employee work orientations (i.e., philosophical approaches toward work) undoubtedly play a role in such an interchange because they influence both how employees behave on the job and how they perceive their job. The move toward community-oriented policing constitutes a major paradigm shift to the practice of law enforcement. This structural and procedural change to the routines of policing could be perceived as threatening to those law enforcement officers whose work orientations are inconsistent with the philosophical foundation of community-based policing. The presence of a sufficient number of such officers could doom this movement to failure. This study uses survey data collected from a sample of sheriff’s deputies involved in an agency-wide community policing effort. In this study we examine the effects of deputies’ work orientations on their perceptions of the agency’s readiness for and the anticipated effectiveness of this initiative. The findings suggest interesting differences in the efforts of a traditional crime control orientation versus a more progressive community service orientation toward policing.
Impacts of the Location and Number of [Cu(bpy)2]2+ Cross-Links on the Emission Photodynamics of [Ru(bpy)3]2+ with Pendant Oligo(aminoethylglycine) Chains

Multifunctional aminoethylglycine (aeg) derivatized [Ru(bpy)3]2+ complexes with pendant bipyridine (bpy) ligands coordinate Cu2+ to form coordinative chain cross-links in a “hairpin loop” motif. In this paper, we report the synthesis and characterization of a series of Ru aeg hairpins in which the relative aeg chain length and number of pendant bpy ligands is varied. Reaction of each of these with Cu2+ is monitored using spectrophotometric emission titrations to determine the binding stoichiometry. Coordination of Cu2+ causes quenching of the emissive excited state Ru species; the degree of quenching efficiency depends on the location and number of coordinated Cu ions. The heterometallic structures are fully characterized, and using the quantum yields and time-resolved emission following excitation of the Ru complexes in deoxygenated solutions, the radiative (kr) and nonradiative (knr) relaxation rates are compared. These data reveal only a shallow decrease in knr with increasing distance between the Ru a...
A Summary of Fifty-Five In-Market Experimental Estimates of the Long-Term Effect of TV Advertising

This article reports on the first in-market experimentally based measurement of long-term TV advertising effects for a representative cross-section of 55 tests for established consumer packaged goods. The typical BehaviorScan® weight test has a test group exposed to a heavier TV advertising weight than a matched control group for a one-year period, after which the experiment stops. For this analysis, the two groups were tracked and analyzed for another two years, when the only difference between the two groups was the TV advertising treatment during the first year. The analysis shows that when TV weight increases had a significant impact during the year of the weight increases, during the following two years, on average, the sales impact of the first year is approximately double and, on average, it was from an increasing in buying rate in the test group. The analysis also shows that if TV weight increases had no significant impact during the first year, on average, they had no impact in the two following years.
Preparation, thermal and mechanical properties of POSS epoxy hybrid composites

Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) epoxy hybrid composites have attracted much research interest because of their unique structure, versatile synthetic approaches, and changeable properties through molecular tailoring. Octakis(dimethylsiloxypropylglycidyl ether)silsesquioxane and octakis(dimethylsiloxyethylcyclohexenyl epoxide)silsesquioxane were synthesized and cured with 4,4′-methylenebis(cyclohexylamine) and 4-methylhexahydrophthalic anhydride to prepare the highly crosslinked hybrid materials. The thermochemical data from DSC analysis and FTIR show that the curing reactions of POSS epoxy are more difficult than diglycidyl ether of bisphenol A (DGEBA) resin because of steric hindrance. The multifunctional structure of POSS can form highly crosslinked network throughout the composites, therefore the polymer main framework is frozen and cannot move freely. Some POSS composites do not show glass transitions and the observed relaxation for other POSS composites is likely due to the motion of tethers between POSS cores. The moduli of POSS composites, which decrease slowly with temperature increasing, are much higher than that of DGEBA resins at high temperatures. Although the coefficients of thermal expansion of POSS composites are larger than that of DGEBA resins at low temperatures, they are less dependent on temperature and relatively low at high temperatures. The unique thermal and mechanical properties of POSS composites make them potential candidates for applications in high temperature and temperature variable environments. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007
A Branch and Bound Algorithm for the List Selection Problem in Direct Mail Advertising

This paper describes a branch and bound approach for optimizing a media selection problem, namely, to choose the best set of mailing lists to maximize audience reach. Prompted by a national retailer's interest in more effective and efficient direct mail catalogue distribution, the algorithm exploits current heuristic approaches which improve computational efficiency. A numerical example and computational experience using actual data are discussed, along with extensions to other practical situations.
Structure and function of Vps15 in the endosomal G protein signaling pathway.

G protein-coupled receptors mediate cellular responses to a wide variety of stimuli, including taste, light, and neurotransmitters. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, activation of the pheromone pathway triggers events leading to mating. The view had long been held that the G protein-mediated signal occurs principally at the plasma membrane. Recently, it has been shown that the G protein α subunit Gpa1 can promote signaling at endosomes and requires two components of the sole phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase in yeast, Vps15 and Vps34. Vps15 contains multiple WD repeats and also binds to Gpa1 preferentially in the GDP-bound state; these observations led us to hypothesize that Vps15 may function as a G protein β subunit at the endosome. Here we show an X-ray crystal structure of the Vps15 WD domain that reveals a seven-bladed propeller resembling that of typical Gβ subunits. We show further that the WD domain is sufficient to bind Gpa1 as well as to Atg14, a potential Gγ protein that exists in a complex wi...
Optimal Deorbit Guidance

can be hundreds of seconds apart from that of the impulsive solution), duration of the burn, and thrust direction duringtheburn.Inthispaperthe deorbitguidanceproblem isformulatedasanoptimalcontrolproblemwith finitetime burn structure. Several sets of general targeting conditions are derived to be met at the entry interface. Numerical solutions are obtained by employing a fast multiburn shooting algorithm. The solution contains the coast times before and after a burn, duration of the burn, and thrust-direction profile during the burn. This study investigates both single- and two-burn deorbit maneuvers, and demonstrates how each works in different mission scenarios.
Stress analysis of multilayered plates around circular holes

The elasticity problem for a thick plate consisting of two bonded dissimilar homogeneous layers is considered. It is assumed that the plate is infinite, contains a circular hole, and is subjected to axisymmetric external loads. A technique suitable to the formulation of three-dimensional boundary value problems is introduced and applied to the three-dimensional elasticity solution of an infinite plate with a hole. The effect of Poisson's ratio is studied in some detail, and the axisymmetric problem of a laminated plate is solved. The stresses at the interface are calculated and are observed to become unbounded at the hole boundary. An approximate treatment of the singularity is presented and the stress intensity factors are computed. Some of the results are compared with those found from the finite element method. The agreement between the two sets with regard to trend and magnitude is found to be very satisfactory.
3D Nanoporous Nanowire Current Collectors for Thin Film Microbatteries

Conventional thin film batteries are fabricated based on planar current collector designs where the high contact resistance between the current collector and electrodes impedes overall battery performance. Hence, current collectors based on 3D architectures and nanoscale roughness has been proposed to dramatically increase the electrode-current collector surface contact areas and hence significantly reduce interfacial resistance. The nanorod-based current collector configuration is one of several 3D designs which has shown high potential for the development of high energy and high power microbatteries in this regard. Herein we fabricate a nanoporous nanorod based current collector, which provides increased surface area for electrode deposition arising from the porosity of each nanorods, yet keeping an ordered spacing between nanorods for the deposition of subsequent electrolyte and electrode layers. The new nanostructured 3D current collector is demonstrated with a polyaniline (PANI)-based electrode system and is shown to deliver improved rate capability characteristics compared to planar configurations. We have been able to achieve stable capacities of ~32 μAh/cm(2) up to 75 cycles of charge/discharge even at a current rate of ~0.04 mA/cm(2) and have observed good rate capability even at high current rates of ~0.8 mA/cm(2).
Core-level photoemission and LEED studies of adsorption at Fe surfaces: comparison between CO and O 2

Carbon monoxide and oxygen interactions with α Fe(100) and polycrystalline surfaces have been studied by x-ray photoemission (XPS or ESCA) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED) at temperatures between 123 K and 473 K. For CO, the XPS results demonstrate the existence of four electronically distinct CO adsorption states; one is dissociative and three are molecular. The binding energy analyses are consistent with one of the latter molecular adsorption states, formed on the polycrystalline surface, having a stretched CO bond compared with the equivalent state on the Fe(100) surface. For oxygen, only dissociative chemisorption is observed, even at 123 K. Assuming monolayer coverage at saturation allows calibration of the coverage for all other situations of CO and O2, adsorption. It is demonstrated that at coverages of just greater than a monolayer (293 K adsorption), Fe oxide species are already present and that FeIII dominates. Studies at grazing angles, designed to enhance the surface sensitivity of the core-level measurements, fail to reveal recognizable FeII or FeIII species much below monolayer coverage even though LEED studies indicate that an FeO-like geometric structure has developed at coverages much lower than this.
Comparison of swelling for structural materials on neutron and ion irradiation

Abstract The swelling of V-base alloys, Type 316 stainless steel, Fe-25Ni-15Cr alloy, ferritic steels, Cu, Ni, Nb-1% Zr, and Mo on neutron irradiation is compared with the swelling for these materials on ion irradiation. The results of this comparison show that utilization of the ion-irradiation technique provides for a discriminative assessment of the potential for swelling of candidate materials for fusion reactors.
Timberland Investment Information on the Internet

In this article, I examine and review some of the information available on the web for timber investors.
Implantation of carbon to stabilize TiSi2 during thermal annealing

Vacuum annealing of TiSi 2 on undoped polycrystalline Si at temperatures above 850°C resulted in erosion of the polycrystalline layer and growth of large Si-crystallites in the silicide film. We found that Si grain growth and degradation of TiSi 2, can be greatly reduced by implanting carbon into the silicide film. The improvement of the thermal stability of TiSi 2 is attributed to strengthening the silicide film by second phase particles rather than reducing the mobility of Si in the silicide matrix.
The BEAM: a digitally enhanced balance beam for mathematics education

In this demo we present the BEAM, a tangible user interface designed to help teach mathematical concepts. This research considers the role of Montessori pedagogy and traditions in the design of new, digitally enhanced educational manipulative materials.
Endoscopic ultrasound and positron emission tomography for lung cancer staging.

Background & Aims: Accurate assessment of mediastinal lymph nodes is vital for optimum treatment allocation in lung cancer patients. Currently available strategies fail to identify many patients with advanced mediastinal disease, resulting in unnecessary surgery. We prospectively compared 2 promising new modalities, positron emission tomography (PET) and endoscopic ultrasound (EUS), for staging mediastinal lymph nodes. Methods: Consenting patients with lung cancer who also were suitable candidates for surgery were enrolled in the study. Patients underwent both PET and EUS. Outcomes were analyzed by surgery results or follow-up with serial imaging. Results: Seventy-two eligible patients were enrolled, and adequate data were available for 65 patients. The final diagnosis was based on tissue analysis in 59 patients and 1-year radiologic follow-up evaluation in 6 patients. PET correctly diagnosed mediastinal lymph node status in 77% of patients, and EUS fine-needle aspiration was correct in 94% of patients ( P = .012). The overall sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of PET were 61%, 91%, and 77% compared with 87%, 100%, and 94% for EUS. We estimated that EUS obviated a surgical procedure in 55% (95% confidence interval, 40%–69%) of patients with radiologic evidence of mediastinal metastasis, and in 22% (95% confidence interval, 10%–41%) of patients without radiologic evidence of mediastinal metastasis. Conclusions: EUS fine-needle aspiration was more accurate than PET in staging mediastinal lymph nodes in lung cancer patients, and resulted in a substantial reduction in mediastinoscopy and thoracotomy.
Simplified interflection calculations

Abstract The purpose of the paper has been to present simplified methods that will expedite the calculation of ceiling lighting (Type II). Approximate formulas have been given, which allow ordinary slide-rule calculations to be made very easily for the usual range of variables. Only with rooms having very high domance (or perhaps with extraordinarily high floor reflectance) are the complicated equations of the previous paper (1) needed. These approximate formulas can be represented also by alignment charts, Figs. 2 to 5, which further simplify the work. Either the formulas or the charts may be used to investigate the effect of a change in ϱ1, ϱ2, or ϱ3. However, if reflectances are standardized at recommended values, other methods are possible.In particular, one may use graphs (Fig. 6) or a slide-rule (Figs. 7 and 8). The method of calculation chosen for a specific problem will depend on the problem and on the preferences of the designer. The previous equations and tables (3) may always be used; but in most cases, time can be saved by employing the short-cuts given in the present paper.
Tolerance to the discriminative stimulus effects of midazolam: evidence for environmental modification and dose fading.

The ability of behavioral variables to modify the development of tolerance to the discriminative stimulus effects of midazolam was evaluated. Rats were trained to discriminate 0.32mg/kg s.c. or 1.0mg/kg i.p. midazolam from no-drug, under a two-lever procedure, in daily experimental sessions consisting of multiple discrete 20-min trials: 15-min time-out, followed by 5-min under a fixed-ratio 15 schedule of food pellet delivery. Generalization testing was accomplished by administering progressively increasing doses of midazolam before each time-out period. During the chronic phases, twice daily injections of 10mg/kg midazolam or saline were given while discrimination training was either suspended or continued; generalization gradients for midazolam were determined weekly for 4 weeks. Chronic saline given when training was continued or suspended produced slight fluctuations in the midazolam minimal discriminable dose (MDD) (the first dose of midazolam in an individual generalization gradient to produce >/=90% drug-lever responding). Tolerance developed to the discriminative stimulus effects of midazolam when chronic midazolam was given while training was suspended: at Week 4, chronic midazolam produced 3-to 57-fold rightward shifts in the midazolam generalization gradient. In contrast, continued training during chronic midazolam produced no tolerance to the discriminative stimulus effects of midazolam: at Week 4 of chronic midazolam the MDD of midazolam was not different from pre-chronic and not different from either saline condition. The effects of chronic midazolam on stimulus effects and response rates were differentiated: despite tolerance to the stimulus effects of midazolam, there were no consistent changes in response rates during chronic midazolam administration.
THE SUNDA MEGATHRUST — PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

After lying dormant for about a thousand years, sudden slippage of a 1600-km long section of the Sunda megathrust fault caused uplift of the seafloor between Aceh and Myanmar, resulting in a great earthquake and the horrific Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. Three months later and just to the south, sudden slippage of a 350-km length of the megathrust beneath Simeulue and Nias islands caused another destructive great earthquake and lesser tsunami. Because it takes centuries for tectonic strains to build up again after such big earthquakes, these two events are unlikely to recur within the next hundred years. Farther south, however, offshore West Sumatra and Bengkulu provinces, another great earthquake and tsunami will likely occur within the next few decades. We are trying to characterize that future earthquake and tsunami, to encourage and to focus preparations for and mitigation of the coming disaster. Similar efforts need to be initiated throughout much of south and southeast Asia, if the disastrous effects of future large earthquakes and tsunamis are to be mitigated.
An early ‘classical’ swine H1N1 influenza virus shows similar pathogenicity to the 1918 pandemic virus in ferrets and mice

The 1918 pandemic influenza virus has demonstrated significant pathogenicity in animal models and is the progenitor of 'classical' swine and modern seasonal human H1N1 lineages. Here we characterize the pathogenicity of an early 'classical' swine H1N1 influenza A virus isolated in 1931 compared to the pathogenicity of the 1918 pandemic virus and a seasonal H1N1 virus in mice and ferrets. A/Swine/Iowa/31 (Sw31) and the 1918 influenza viruses were uniformly lethal in mice at low doses and produced severe lung pathology. In ferrets, Sw31 and 1918 influenza viruses caused severe clinical disease and lung pathology with necrotizing bronchiolitis and alveolitis. The modern H1N1 virus caused little disease in either animal model. These findings revealed that in these models the virulence factors of the 1918 influenza virus are likely preserved in the Sw31 virus and suggest that early swine viruses may be a good surrogate model to study 1918 virulence and pathogenesis.
Early embryonic expression of the growth hormone family protein genes in the developing rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

In fish, growth hormone (GH), prolactin (PRL) and somatolactin (SL) are three major peptide hormones produced in the pituitary gland. Using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Southern blot analysis of the amplified products, the expression of GH, PRL, and SL genes were determined during the embryonic development in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). The mRNA for GH, PRL and SL were detected not only in embryos prior to or after organogenesis of the pituitary gland but also in mature oocytes as maternal messages. After hatching, all of these three mRNA species were detected at very high levels. Since the ontogenesis of the pituitary gland takes place on embryonic day (ED) 14, these observations suggest that the GH family protein genes are expressed in the developing embryos prior to the formation of the pituitary gland. Using the same RT-PCR assay, PRL mRNA was detected only in the head part of the fry whereas GH and SL mRNA were detected in both the head and trunk. In adult animals, though high levels of GH mRNA were primarily detected in the pituitary gland, brain, gill, and heart, low levels of GH mRNA were also detected in the kidney, liver, pyloric ceaca, and ovary. Results of the current study and those reported by Yang et al. (1997. Gen Comp Endocrinol 106:271-281) suggest that GH and SL genes are also expressed in extrapituitary tissues even after the organogenesis of the pituitary gland. Furthermore, these results suggest that these hormones may play important roles yet to be identified during embryonic development in fish.
Response of four types of coliphages to high hydrostatic pressure.

Abstract Pressure inactivation of four types of coliphages, ϕX 174 (ssDNA virus), MS2 (ssRNA virus), λ imm434 (dsDNA virus) and T4 (dsDNA virus), was studied to evaluate their potential as human enteric viral surrogates for use in validation of commercial pressure processing treatments. Phage ϕX 174 demonstrated an unexpected high resistance to pressure with no more than 1-log10 reduction observed following exposures to 350–600 MPa. There was no greater than 1-log10 reduction below 500 MPa for MS2 in modified phosphate-buffered saline, but a 3.3-log10 reduction was observed for MS2 pressurized at 600 MPa. Coliphages λ imm434 and T4 were relatively sensitive to pressure in demonstrating inactivation at 350 MPa. At 21 °C, λ imm434 was inactivated in modified phosphate-buffered saline or Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium plus 5% fetal bovine sera by at least 7.5-log10 when exposed to 400 MPa for 5 min. Treatment at 450 MPa for 5 min was necessary to obtain a log10 reduction of 6–7 for T4.
Inhibition of Eyes Absent Homolog 4 expression induces malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor necrosis

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive sarcomas without effective therapeutics. Bioinformatics was used to identify potential therapeutic targets. Paired Box (PAX), Eyes Absent (EYA), Dachsund (DACH), and Sine Oculis (SIX) genes, which form a regulatory interactive network in drosophila, were found to be dysregulated in human MPNST cell lines and solid tumors. We identified a decrease in DACH1 expression, and increases in expression of PAX6, EYA1, EYA2, EYA4, and SIX1- 4. Consistent with the observation that half of MPNSTs develop in neurofibromatosis type 1 patients, subsequent to NF1 mutation, we found that exogenous expression of the NF1-GAP related domain (GRD) normalized DACH1 expression. EYA4 mRNA was elevated more than 100-fold as estimated by quantitative real time PCR in most MPSNT cell lines. In vitro, suppression of EYA4 expression using shRNA reduced cell adhesion and migration and caused cellular necrosis without affecting cell proliferation or apoptotic cell death. MPNST cells expressing sh-EYA4 either failed to form tumors in nude mice or formed very small tumors, with extensive necrosis but similar levels of proliferation and apoptosis as control cells. Our findings identify a role for EYA4 and possibly interacting SIX and DACH proteins in MPNSTs and suggest the EYA4 pathway as a rational therapeutic target.
And now for something completely different: Reid on English verb number

Reid (2011) provides an innovative, thoroughly worked out, and rigorously argued alternative to “agreement” as an account of verb number marking in English, from a communicative and functionalist perspective. There are some points of contact between his paper and the other contributions to the present issue, but the differences far outweigh the similarities, so the contrasts will be the main focus of this commentary. The similarities include the general topic of “agreement” and a distinction between what counts as linguistic knowledge—arbitrary units of grammatical structure—and what counts as extralinguistic, such as information derived from context or knowledge of the world. Differences include the status of the notion of “agreement”, what counts as data, what counts as an explanation, the theoretical constructs posited and what counts as evidence in support of them, what is meant by “meaning”, and what kinds of predictions are made.
Antiepidermal growth factor variant III scFv fragment: effect of radioiodination method on tumor targeting and normal tissue clearance.

Abstract Introduction MR1-1 is a single-chain Fv (scFv) fragment that binds with high affinity to epidermal growth factor receptor variant III, which is overexpressed on gliomas and other tumors but is not present on normal tissues. The objective of this study was to evaluate four different methods for labeling MR1-1 scFv that had been previously investigated for the radioiodinating of an intact anti-epidermal growth factor receptor variant III (anti-EGFRvIII) monoclonal antibody (mAb) L8A4. Methods The MR1-1 scFv was labeled with 125 I/ 131 I using the Iodogen method, and was also radiohalogenated with acylation agents bearing substituents that were positively charged— N -succinimidyl-3-[*I]iodo-5-pyridine carboxylate and N -succinimidyl-4-guanidinomethyl-3-[*I]iodobenzoate ([*I]SGMIB)—and negatively charged— N -succinimidyl-3-[*I]iodo-4-phosphonomethylbenzoate ([*I]SIPMB). In vitro internalization assays were performed with the U87MGΔEGFR cell line, and the tissue distribution of the radioiodinated scFv fragments was evaluated in athymic mice bearing subcutaneous U87MGΔEGFR xenografts. Results and Conclusion As seen previously with the anti-EGFRvIII IgG mAb, retention of radioiodine activity in U87MGΔEGFR cells in the internalization assay was labeling method dependent, with SGMIB and SIPMB yielding the most prolonged retention. However, unlike the case with the intact mAb, the results of the internalization assays were not predictive of in vivo tumor localization capacity of the labeled scFv. Renal activity was dependent on the nature of the labeling method. With MR1-1 labeled using SIPMB, kidney uptake was highest and most prolonged; catabolism studies indicated that this uptake primarily was in the form of ϵ-N-3-[*I]iodo-4-phosphonomethylbenzoyl lysine.
Magneto-quantum oscillations of the specific heat in the Bechgaard salt (TMTSF)2ClO4

Abstract We have performed measurements of the magnetic field dependence of the low temperature specific heat at a series of fixed temperatures up to 30 tesla. In addition to the direct thermodynamic observation of a second order phase transition from the magnetic field induced spin density wave (SDW) state to the re-entrant metallic state, we also observed large quantum oscillations periodic in inverse magnetic field with a temperature independent frequency of 257 tesla. Both the size of the specific heat oscillations and their apparent continuation into the high field metallic state call into question current models for their physical origin.
Polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase in unilateral lung injury due to re-expansion (re-oxygenation)

This study evaluated the effects of polyethylene glycol-conjugated superoxide dismutase (PEG-SOD) in re-expansion pulmonary edema, a unilateral lung injury due in part to re-oxygenation of hypoxic, collapsed lung tissue. The hypothesis underlying this investigation was that extracellular superoxide contributed to the lung inflammation in this model, and that PEG-SOD could be used to test for extra-cellular superoxide involvement. The right lungs of 2-3 kg rabbits were collapsed for seven days by intrapleural air injections. Immediately prior to lung re-expansion, rabbits received intravenously 10,000 units/kg PEG-SOD (n = 6) or an equal volume of H2O2-inactivated PEG-SOD (n = 6). Inactive PEG-SOD pretreated rabbits had a marked increase in re-expanded lungs' lavage albumin concentration (right 1653 +/- 230 micrograms/ml, left 404 +/- 160 micrograms/ml; p less than .01). Active PEG-SOD did not inhibit this permeability increase (right 1744 +/- 242 micrograms/ml, left 180 +/- 53 micrograms/ml; p less than .01). However, active PEG-SOD significantly decreased both total number and percent neutrophils in alveolar lavage (right 24.8 +/- 9.4%, left 4.2 +/- 0.8%; p less than .05) compared to inactive PEG-SOD pretreated rabbits (right 52.8 +/- 5.8%, left 8.7 +/- 2.4%; p less than .01). Pretreatment with active PEG-SOD significantly increased lung tissue (20.4 +/- 1.5 units/mg DNA), blood (400 +/- 8 units/ml) and right lung lavage (30.0 +/- 3.1 units/ml) SOD activities compared to those from inactive PEG-SOD pretreated rabbits (respectively: 16.0 +/- 1.0 units/mg DNA, 335 +/- 14 units/ml and 10.8 +/- 1.3 units/ml; p less than .05 for each comparison).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Almost homeomorphic mappings of compact spaces

Abstract A continuous surjection from a compact space to itself is an almost homeomorphism if it is one-to-one except on a finite subset. It is shown that every almost homeomorphism on a simply connected compact space is a homeomorphism. Similar questions are examined for totally disconnected and related spaces and for products. The question of characterizing those spaces on which every almost homeomorphism is a homeomorphism is motivated by the study of the Fredholm spectrum of composition operators in spaces of continuous functions.
Recent advances in analysis of laminated beams and plates. Part I - Sheareffects and buckling.

A review of the recent developments in the analysis of laminated beams and plates with an emphasis on shear effects and buckling is presented. A discussion of various shear-deformation theories for plates and beams is given. The available theories are derived assuming a variation of either the in-plane displacement components or the stress components or both in the thickness coordinate. A review of the recently developed finite elements to analyze thin and thick laminated beams and plates is given next. These elements have been derived using the displacement methods, or the mixed methods or the hybrid methods. Recent studies on the buckling and postbuckling behavior of perfect and geometrically imperfect plates are described next. These behaviors have been studied using analytical, numerical, and experimental techniques. Finally, a review of the various studies on the delamination buckling and growth in beams and plates is given. Once again, the studies have been conducted using analytical, numerical, and experimental techniques. The energy release rates have been determined using closed-form solutions or using numerical differentiation. Mention also is made of studies on multiple delaminations and on dynamic response of composite laminates under impact loads.
Near infrared and visible spectroscopic measurements to detect changes in light scattering and hemoglobin oxygen saturation from rat spinal cord during peripheral stimulation

In this study, we investigated dynamic changes in light scattering and hemoglobin oxygen saturation (S(sc)O(2)) on the rat spinal cord due to peripheral electrical stimulation by measuring near infrared (NIR) and visible spectroscopy, respectively. The spectral slope in the wavelength region between 700 and 900 nm is used as an index (S(NIR)) to quantify light scattering. With a 100-mum (source-detector separation) fiber-optic needle probe, optical reflectance was measured from the left lumbar region, specifically LL5, of the spinal cord surface at a height of 575 mum from the spinal cord surface. Graded electrical stimulations from 20 to 50 V, in increments of 10 V, were given to the plantar surface of the rat left hind paw for a period of 20 s. Changes in both light scattering (S(NIR)) and S(sc)O(2) were determined as a difference between the baseline and the maximum of slope value and hemoglobin oxygen saturation, respectively, during the stimulation period. There were significant differences in both S(NIR) and S(sc)O(2) during stimulation, with the average percentage changes of 10.9% and 15.5%, respectively. We observed that both S(NIR) and S(sc)O(2) measured at the spinal cord are insensitive to the intensity of the electrical stimulus, which is possibly caused by the nonlinear process of neurovascular coupling. Our finding essentially indicates that peripheral electrical stimulation results in significant changes in both light scattering and hemoglobin oxygen saturation on the rat spinal cord, and ignoring light scattering changes could lead to possible negative offsets of hemodynamic parameters (oxy-, deoxy-, and total hemoglobin concentrations) obtained in the functional optical imaging in the brain.
Monopole-pairing and deformation in atomic nuclei

Abstract The pairing-plus-qua upole model is realized in the framework of the Elliott SU(3) scheme in order to study the complementary and competing features of the pairing and quadrupole-quadrupole interactions. The pairing force is shown to break the SU(3) symmetry and — in conjunction with the quadrupole-quadrupole force — remove almost all degeneracies which occur in the pure symmetry limits of the theory. In addition, ground-state deformations induced by pairing are shown to be triaxial but rather soft, whereas the quadrupole-quadrupole interaction favors prolate or oblate shapes which are sharp.
Towards an optimized Gabor Superlens

The Gabor Superlens (GSL) combines light from an array of micro-telescopes to form a single composite image. This is achieved through an initial selection of micro-telescope and array parameters that satisfy a set of first order imaging conditions. Designing a GSL presents two design challenges that are not encountered in conventional (single-aperture) lens design: the array parameters couple design characteristics such as the F/# and field of view to the paraxial design, and the composite image quality can be dominated by aberration of individual elements rather than a summation of aberration contributions throughout the design. This paper begins with an assessment of the highly parameterized design space of the Gabor Superlens to clearly identify relationships between the initial selection of first order design geometry and the consequences they have on system performance. An overview of a streamlined design method follows. Increasingly sophisticated GSL designs are then investigated to demonstrate the effectiveness of using individually corrected lens groups to improve composite image quality.
Purchasing Medicare Prescription Drug Benefits: A New Proposal

PROLOGUE: Almost thirty-five years ago, Congress modeled Medicare's original package of medical benefits after those offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans at the time. Few benefits have been ...
Relationships of body condition score to production variables in high producing Holstein dairy cattle.

Practical relationships were determined between milk production, health, and reproduction with the amount and use of body fat in high producing lactating Holstein dairy cattle. Approximately 350 cows and heifers > 15 mo of age in a high producing herd were assigned body condition scores at monthly intervals for 24 mo. Production of 305-d FCM averaged 9541 kg (range 8826 to 10,818 kg). Body condition score at each of four calvings at 30, 60, 90, 120, and 305 DIM in each parity and loss in score in each lactation were summarized. Multiple regression related scores to milk and milk fat production, reproduction, and disease variables within and among lactations. No difference in score occurred at calving or at dry-off among parities. The range of body condition scores was less than is commonly reported; however, loss of condition increased with increasing parity from .3 in first lactation to .9 body condition score units in lactations > or = 4. The body condition score varied quadratically with DIM but, at a given DIM, was not related to the daily milk production on that DIM. Parity had a stronger relationship with milk and milk fat production than did body condition score. However, within lactation, body condition score at calving and the loss of score were related quadratically to milk production. No significant relationships of body condition score to the incidences of pyometra, metritis, retained placenta, cystic ovarian disease, AI per conception, days to first AI, or dystocia existed in this herd.
Cyclic urinary leukopoietic activity in gray collie dogs

The urinary activities for bone marrow colony formation were measured on consecutive 24-hour urine samples from two gray collie dogs with cyclic neutropenia and from two normal collies. The activity varied cyclically in the gray collies with a peak activity developing during the neutropenic phase, which antecedes the return of blood neutrophils. The activity fell to undetectable levels after the blood neutrophil counts returned to the normal range. The urine of normal dogs showed no activity. Since the dogs with cyclic neutropenia have been shown to have periodic hematopoiesis, these data suggest a regulatory hormonal role for the substance measured by this assay.
Ferrocenylene- and Carbosiloxane-Bridged Bis(sila[1]ferrocenophanes) E[SiMe2-X-SiMeFC]2 {E = (η5-C5H4)Fe(η5-C5H4) or O; X = (CH2)n (n = 2, 3, 6); CH═CH; FC = (η5-C5H4)2Fe}

New FC[SiMe2(CH2)nSiMeFC]2 [FC = 1,1′-ferrocenylene; FC = 1,1′-ferrocenophane, (η5-C5H4)2Fe); n = 2 (7), 3 (8), 6 (9)] and O[SiMe2-X-SiMeFC]2 [X = (CH2)2 (11), CH═CH (13)] have been synthesized and characterized. The synthesis involved the reactions of FCLi2·tmeda with FC[SiMe2(CH2)nSiMeCl2]2 [n = 2 (4), 3 (5), 6 (6)] and O[SiMe2-X-SiMeCl2]2 [X = (CH2)2 (10), CH═CH (12)] at −78 °C. Compounds 4−13 were characterized by elemental analysis, NMR spectroscopy, and for 11, single-crystal X-ray crystallography. The cyclopentadienyl rings in the structure of 11 are tilted with a dihedral angle of 19.8°. The observed red-shift of the lowest energy transition associated with the ferrocenophanyl groups in UV/vis spectra of 7−9, 11, and 13 also confirms the ring strain. Cyclic voltammetric studies exhibited either a broad (7−9) or sharp (11, 13) wave for the reversible redox process. The broadness of the band for the FC-bridged complexes is a composite of the two types of (η5-C5H4)Fe(η5-C5H4) unit, but no significant...
Elastic and inelastic scattering of neutrons by deuterons near the inelastic threshold

Abstract A calculation is made of the neutron-deuteron s-wave elastic and inelastic scattering cross-sections which includes the interaction between these two channels. The scattering matrix given by this method is unitary. Comparison is made with a calculation of the elastic scattering using the same potentials but neglecting the effect of the inelastic channel. Large differences are found, indicating that it is important to include the deutron distortion in elastic scattering calculations; however, this conclusion may be due at least partly to neglect to charge exchange scattering. The proton energy spectrum predicted by the model is the phase-space spectrum. This is identical with that of Frank and Gammel except near the upper end of the spectrum, where it agrees better with experiment at the energies considered. The size of the anomaly in the elastic scattering cross-section at the inelastic threshold is calculated, and found to be rather small.