cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vesicular transport of peroxidase in human eosinophilic myelocytes

We performed ultrastructural cytochemistry to detect peroxidase in developmentally arrested human eosinophilic myelocytes. Human umbilical cord blood mononuclear cells were cultured for 21 days in the presence of murine-derived conditioned media, resulting in the development of eosinophilic myelocytes. Unlike normally developing eosinophilic myelocytes, which contain peroxidase in synthetic organelles (i.e. cisterns surrounding the nucleus and bounded by the rough endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi structures) and in immature and mature granules, the developmentally arrested cells showed ultrastructural evidence of decreased synthesis and secretory transport of peroxidase. Thus, peroxidase was generally absent in the perinuclear and rough endoplasmic cisterns, in Golgi structures, in immature granules and in the matrix compartment of most mature granules. Rather, biocompartmental specific granules displayed empty, peroxidase-negative matrix and central, peroxidase-negative core material. Peroxidase was present in perigranular vesicles, some of which were attached to granules. Such peroxidase-loaded transport vesicles are similar to those that effect piecemeal degranulation of mature human eosinophils cultured in rhIL-5-containing media [1]. These findings establish vesicle-mediated piecemeal degranulation in the secretory repertoire of immature human eosinophils and suggest the possibility that eosinophilic myelocytes may participate in vivo in important physiological and/or pathological events that require selective secretion from the specific granule matrix compartment.
Export is the default pathway for soluble unfolded polypeptides that accumulate during expression in Escherichia coli

Several E. coli endogenous, cytoplasmic proteins that are known clients of the chaperonin GroEL were overexpressed to examine the fate of accumulated unfolded polypeptides. Substantial fractions of about half of the proteins formed insoluble aggregates, consistent with the hypothesis that these proteins were produced at rates or in amounts that exceeded the protein-folding capacity of GroEL. In addition, large fractions of three overexpressed GroEL client proteins were localized in an extra-cytoplasmic, osmotically-sensitive compartment, suggesting they had initially accumulated in the cytoplasm as soluble unfolded polypeptides and thus were able to access a protein export pathway. Consistent with this model, an intrinsically unfoldable, hydrophilic, non-secretory polypeptide was quantitatively exported from the E. coli cytoplasm into an osmotically-sensitive compartment. Our results support the conclusion that a soluble, unfolded conformation alone may be sufficient to direct non-secretory polypeptides into a protein export pathway for signal peptide-independent translocation across the inner membrane, and that export rather than degradation by cytoplasmic proteases is the preferred fate for newly-synthesized, soluble, unfolded polypeptides that accumulate in the cytoplasm. The stable folded conformation of exported GroEL client proteins further suggests that the requirement for GroEL may be conditional on protein folding in the molecularly-crowded environment of the cytoplasm.
AIDS funding: competing needs and the politics of priorities.

Despite the Department of Health and Human Service's 1983 claim that AIDS is the nation's “number one health priority,” funding for AIDS research, prevention, and treatment remains inadequate. Wors...
Video Game Industry as a Social Network

The video game market is a complex system where the relationships between game titles and publishers is convoluted. While some publishers are responsible for a large number of titles others seem to be less successful. In an attempt to understand the characteristics and evolution of the video game industry, we analyze the market using social network analysis. For this purpose, we build a heterogenous network of the video game industry at different levels. Moreover, to interpret the behavior of the generations of game consoles, we build these networks for each console, i.e., PS3, Xbox 360 and Wii, and analyze the three generations they went through. We perform a comparative temporal analysis of the evolution of the industry by investigating 14 video game consoles as five generations. Finally, we try to provide insights and future directions regarding the video game market.
Mode of Death and Post-Mortem Time Effects on 3,3',5-triiodothyronine Levels--Relevance to Elevated Post-Mortem T3 Levels in SIDS

Post-mortem T3 levels have been reported to be increased in victims of SIDS. Recent animal studies suggest, however, that elevated T3 in SIDS may be a non-specific post-mortem phenomenon. Therefore, we studied the possible effects of post-mortem time on T3 levels in 10- and 20-day-old rats killed by various methods including: Sodium pentobarbital overdose, injection of KCl, cervical dislocation or asphyxia with 100% N, 95% N-5% CO2 or 100% CO2. In both age groups T3 remained unchanged or increased slightly when the animals were killed with Na Pentobarbital or KCl. Greater increases were observed when rats were killed by cervical dislocation or asphyxia (100% N, 95% N-5% CO2 or 100% CO2). T3 levels did not become elevated in asphyxiated adult rats in which the inferior vena cava was ligated immediately following death. By extension to the human infant, the results of this study support the possibility that elevated T3 levels in SIDS victims may result from post-mortem processes. However, these results also suggest that the post-mortem elevation in T3 levels may be directly related to the mode of death.
Influence of cluster size and ion activation method on the dissociation of cesium iodide clusters

Abstract Cesium iodide clusters (CsI) are simple ionic structures that are composed of different combinations of the same two atoms, cesium and iodine. When these clusters are generated by electrospray ionization, mass spectrometry analysis shows the generation of a broad m / z distribution with one or two residual cesium ions as the charge carrier(s). The formation of larger cluster assemblies was ion source dependent, and significantly influenced by source pressure. The gas-phase dissociation of these clusters was studied by collision-induced dissociation (CID) and surface-induced dissociation (SID) in a quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometer. SID was found to deposit more internal energy into these clusters, providing access to alternative, high energy dissociation pathways. The most significant differences were observed for larger cluster systems. Doubly charged clusters were observed to dissociate via one or two pathways, a mass stripping process and a charge splitting process. While SID yielded both fragmentation pathways, CID only accessed the mass stripping pathway.
A molecular dynamics simulation study of ionic diffusion and NMR spin–lattice relaxation in Li2Si4O9 glass

Abstract The effect of ionic diffusion on Li spin–lattice relaxation (SLR) in Li 2 Si 4 O 9 glass has been studied using the molecular dynamics simulation technique over the temperature range 2000–3800 K. The orientational pair correlation function G ( t ) associated with SLR has been computed for individual Li ions from the trajectories of the constituent ions at different temperatures. The temporal decay of G ( t ) is found to be non-exponential and can be described by the stretched-exponential functional form exp(− t / τ SLR ) β . It is shown that the non-exponential behavior of G ( t ) is intrinsic to the system, possibly originating from hierarchically constrained relaxation processes. The activation energies associated with Li diffusion, τ SLR and the average conductivity relaxation time 〈 τ σ 〉 are shown to be in excellent agreement indicating that the same microscopic dynamic processes are responsible for SLR, diffusion and conductivity. However, τ SLR is found to be nearly an order of magnitude longer than 〈 τ σ 〉 over the entire temperature range of these simulations. This result reflects the fundamental differences between the correlation functions associated with SLR and conductivity relaxation. The existing experimental data in the literature on SLR in normal and fast-ion conducting glasses are shown to be completely consistent with the results obtained from the present simulations.
Antiferroelectric to Paraelectric Phase Transition in Lead Zirconate Thin Films

Lead zirconate, PbZrO3, is antiferroelectric at room temperature and has a first-order phase transition to the paraelectric state at 230°C in bulk crystals. At room temperature, the antiferroelectric Pb displacements along [110] directions produce a superstructure at the (h+¼ k+¼, 1) positions (referenced to pseudo-tetragonal unit cell). The Pb displacements occur perpendicular to the shorter c axis. In this study, the behavior of thin films was compared to the bulk. Films of lead zirconate were deposited onto electroded silicon wafers via the sol gel method. By varying the deposition conditions of the Pt substrate, films with both 111 and 100 preferred orientation were grown. The crystalline film consisted of columnar grains which were not completely aligned with each other, but had a random orientation with respect to the film’s perpendicular axis. Measurements of superstructure peak intensities vs. temperature show that the thin films exhibit a much more gradual phase transition to the paraelectric state compared to the bulk. Furthermore, comparison of a and c vs. temperature show this effect, as well as a strain of about 0.5% in c. In the 100 oriented films, we found that the c-axis was oriented perpendicular to the film’s surface, meaning they should be classified as (001).
The near East Family: Organized for Business?

Chaldeans are Iraqi Catholics with a long history of emigration. As a group, Chaldeans own most of the full-service grocery stores, along with other business holdings throughout the Detroit metropolitan region. This investigation evaluates how the Chaldean family provides social capital for sponsoring high rates of self-employment. As an innovation over previous research, this project evaluates connective patriarchy and patrilineal familism as a supplier of entrepreneurs. By specifying cultural obligations between family members, this research differs from other case studies by recognizing the distinctive family structure of the Near East region. The article provides a nuanced analysis of family cooperation not fully exploited in the ethnic economy literature. One such prospect is familism within the extended family. The authors' approach triangulates ethnographic and life history data with census information to better understand how family shapes business ownership.
Dynamic Heterogeneity in Poly(vinyl methyl ether)/ Poly(2-chlorostyrene) Blends

Dielectric spectroscopy was used to follow the component dynamics in the miscible blend of poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) and poly(2-chlorosytrene) (P2CS). For the PVME component (which has the more intense loss peak due to its higher polarity), the shape of the segmental relaxation peak depends only on the relaxation time and is otherwise independent of thermodynamic conditions. This is in accord with the general behavior of neat materials. By measuring the spectra as a function of both temperature and pressure, the relative effect of temperature and volume on the segmental relaxation times was quantified from ratio of the isochoric and isobaric activation enthalpies. This ratio is essentially the same for the neat polymers, but blending has a disparate effect of the components: volume effects become stronger for the PVME but are diminished for P2CS. Similarly, the fragilities of the neat components are quite close but change markedly in the blend. The P2CS component has a fragility of 32, which is low...
The effects of honey bee ( Apis mellifera L.) queen reproductive potential on colony growth

Reproduction in species of eusocial insects is monopolized by one or a few individuals, while the remaining colony tasks are performed by the worker caste. This reproductive division of labor is exemplified by honey bees (Apis mellifera L.), in which a single, polyandrous queen is the sole colony member that lays fertilized eggs. Previous work has revealed that the developmental fate of honey bee queens is highly plastic, with queens raised from younger worker larvae exhibiting higher measures in several aspects of reproductive potential compared to queens raised from older worker larvae. Here, we investigated the effects of queen reproductive potential (“quality”) on the growth and winter survival of newly established honey bee colonies. We did so by comparing the growth of colonies headed by “high-quality” queens (i.e., those raised from young worker larvae, which are more queen-like morphologically) to those headed by “low-quality” queens (i.e., those raised from older worker larvae, which are more worker-like morphologically). We confirmed that queens reared from young worker larvae were significantly larger in size than queens reared from old worker larvae. We also found a significant positive effect of queen grafting age on a colony’s production of worker comb, drone comb, and stored food (honey and pollen), although we did not find a statistically significant difference in the production of worker and drone brood, worker population, and colony weight. Our results provide evidence that in honey bees, queen developmental plasticity influences several important measures of colony fitness. Thus, the present study supports the idea that a honey bee colony can be viewed (at least in part) as the expanded phenotype of its queen, and thus selection acting predominantly at the colony level can be congruent with that at the individual level.
Sputtering properties of lithium-bearing copper alloys

Abstract By using a combination of diffusion and arc melting techniques, we have prepared copper alloys containing 2–3 at% lithium. The properties of this material have been studied with regard to its suitability as a high heat flux material in fusion devices. It is found that at temperatures in excess of ∼120 C, significant surface segregation occurs, resulting in the formation of a non-volatile lithium overlayer covering more than 90% of the sample surface. Compositional analysis by Auger (AES) and secondary ion mass spectroscopy (SIMS) has been used to study lithium migration in the near-surface region. It is found that the durability of the lithium overlayer depends on the temperature, sputtering rate, and electric fields present at the sample surface. In some circumstances, the electric field virtually eliminates the erosion of the lithium overlayer. The sputter-induced erosion of the copper substrate depends on the mass and energy of the incident particles and on the structure of the lithium overlayer. Total and secondary ion erosion yields have been measured for 1 and 3 keV argon ion bombardment and the results have been interpreted in terms of depletion lifetime for fusion device components. The data are compared with the result of TRIM calculations and related to the ability of the Cu-Li alloy to provide a self-sustaining protective low Z coating for fusion device applications.
Effect of speed manipulation on the control of aperture closure during reach-to-grasp movements.

This study investigates coordination between hand transport and grasp movement components by examining a hypothesis that the hand location, relative to the object, in which aperture closure is initiated remains relatively constant under a wide range of transport speed. Subjects made reach-to-grasp movements to a dowel under four speed conditions: slow, comfortable, fast but comfortable, and maximum (i.e., as fast as possible). The distance traveled by the wrist after aperture reached its maximum (aperture closure distance) increased with an increase of transport speed across the speed conditions. This finding rejected the hypothesis and suggests that the speed of hand transport is taken into account in aperture closure initiation. Within each speed condition, however, the closure distance exhibited relatively small variability across trials, even though the total distance traveled by the wrist during the entire transport movement varied from trial to trial. The observed stability in aperture closure distance across trials implies that the hand distance to the object plays an important role in the control law governing the initiation of aperture closure. Further analysis showed that the aperture closure distance depended on the amplitude of peak aperture as well as hand velocity and acceleration. To clarify the form of the above control law, we analyzed four different mathematical models, in which a decision to initiate grasp closure is made as soon as a specific movement parameter (wrist distance to target or transport time) crosses a threshold that is either a constant value or a function of the above-mentioned other movement-related parameters. Statistical analysis performed across all movement conditions revealed that the control law model (according to which grasp initiation is made when hand distance to target becomes less than a certain linear function of aperture amplitude, hand velocity, and hand acceleration) produced significantly smaller residual errors than the other three models. The findings support the notion that transport–grasp coordination and grasp initiation is based predominantly on spatial characteristics of the arm movement, rather than movement timing.
S-Nitrosothiols signal hypoxia-mimetic vascular pathology

NO transfer reactions between protein and peptide cysteines have been proposed to represent regulated signaling processes. We used the pharmaceutical antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as a bait reactant to measure NO transfer reactions in blood and to study the vascular effects of these reactions in vivo. NAC was converted to S-nitroso-N-acetylcysteine (SNOAC), decreasing erythrocytic S-nitrosothiol content, both during whole-blood deoxygenation ex vivo and during a 3-week protocol in which mice received high-dose NAC in vivo. Strikingly, the NAC-treated mice developed pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) that mimicked the effects of chronic hypoxia. Moreover, systemic SNOAC administration recapitulated effects of both NAC and hypoxia. eNOS-deficient mice were protected from the effects of NAC but not SNOAC, suggesting that conversion of NAC to SNOAC was necessary for the development of PAH. These data reveal an unanticipated adverse effect of chronic NAC administration and introduce a new animal model of PAH. Moreover, evidence that conversion of NAC to SNOAC during blood deoxygenation is necessary for the development of PAH in this model challenges conventional views of oxygen sensing and of NO signaling.
Prototyping: a metaphor for cross-cultural transfer and implementation of IS applications

Abstract While there has been considerable research addressing issues of national culture, and information systems analysis and design, little effort has been directed at how information systems developed in one culture can be transferred to another. This paper introduces the concept of a cultural prototype, a framework to be used in the gradual introduction of IS applications. It considers the culture within which the application was developed and the culture into which the application will be introduced. Prototype stages are defined to provide this gradual and culturally sensitive transfer.
Substerilizing Doses of Gamma Irradiation to Produce Population Suppression in Plum Curculio

When Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst), reared in the laboratory on green thinning apples, were irradiated by cobalt00, longevity was reduced greatly when the dose was 8 krad, the amount necessary for complete sterilization of both sexes. However, when a substerilizing dose (6 krad) and a high overflooding ratio (40 treated males:1 norma male: 1 normal female) were used, more than 60% of all males survived 3 weeks, and the number of larvae produced was decreased by 90%. Part of this reduction appeared to arise from harassment of the females by the great number of males. Testing of the sterile-release technique in the field appears to be justified.
Pope Benedict XVI's Summorum Pontificum: Reconciling Conflicting Values

This article examines the content of Pope Benedict XVI's Summorum Pontificum and his accompanying Letter to the Bishops and interprets them as a bold attempt to bring liturgical peace to the Catholic Church by freeing the “Tridentine” Latin Mass for general use and promoting internal reconciliation by reconciling theological values which have been at variance since Vatican II. It also examines how different individuals, writers and groups have reacted to these documents as expressed in periodical literature, books and web sites. A reading of the literature reveals that most responses are strongly and passionately for or against the Pope's decision and reasoning, with relatively few voices advocating a moderate and reconciliatory stance. In general, people have reacted in a predictable way depending on their already established loyalties.
Thermodynamics of bovine spleen galectin-1 binding to disaccharides: correlation with structure and its effect on oligomerization at the denaturation temperature.

Isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) measurements of the binding 1-beta carbohydrate-substituted galactopyranoside derivatives to galectin-1 from bovine spleen, a dimer with one binding site per subunit, were performed at 283-285 and 298 K. The disaccharides were lactose, methyl beta-lactoside, lactulose, 4-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-D-mannopyranoside, 3-O-beta-D-galactopyranosyl-D-arabinose, 2'-O-methyllactose, lacto-N-biose, N-acetyllactosamine, and thiodigalactopyranoside. The site binding enthalpies, DeltaHb, are the same at both temperatures and range from -42.2 +/- 3.3 kJ mol-1 for thiodigalactopyranoside to -24.5 +/- 0.5 kJ mol-1 for lacto-N-biose, and the site binding constants range from 4.86 +/- 0.78 x 10(3) M-1 for methyl beta-lactoside at 297.8 K to 6.54 +/- 0.97 x 10(4) M-1 for N-acetyllactosamine at 281.3 K. The binding reactions are enthalpically driven, exhibit enthalpy-entropy compensation, and, with the exception of N-acetyllactosamine, follow a van't Hoff dependence of the binding constant on temperature. The number of contacts at distances -36 kJ mol-1. Differential scanning calorimetry measurements on solutions of galectin and its disaccharide complexes show that the galectin dimer does not dissociate upon denaturation in contrast to the legume lectins. At the denaturation temperature, the galectin in the absence of sugar exists as a tetramer, and the extent of this association is substantially reduced in the presence of a disaccharide.
Future developments in social science computing

The set of computer related activities characterized by the term "social science computing" is both diverse and extensive. During the past 15 years, such activities have grown substantially both in scope and in volume and have become increasingly important both for basic research in the social and behavioral sciences and for public policy formation and evaluation.
The flute instability as the trigger mechanism for disruption of cometary plasma tails

The sporadic disruption of the plasma tails of some comets has recently been explained to be caused by magnetic-field-line reconnection in the cometary ionospheres due to magnetic-sector-boundary traversals. An alternative model is proposed in which the tail disruption is the end result of compression of the cometary ionosphere by high-velocity solar-wind streams, triggering the flute instability in the marginally stable tangential-discontinuity surface which separates the cometary ionosphere from the solar-wind plasma. According to the proposed model, the tail-disruption events could occur at all heliographic latitudes, whereas the Niedner-Brandt (1978) model should predict that these events are restricted to low heliographic latitudes in view of the present understanding of the sector structure of the heliosphere. Consequently, the high-latitude disruption events observed seem to present a difficulty for the latter model.
Mom at Bedside, Appears Calm

After her 5-year-old son's second seizure in 2 days, a physician mother asks the neurologist, “What do we do if he does it again?” The neurologist's raised eyebrows silently ask, “Aren't you both doctors?” But being a doctor makes it no easier to have a sick child.
AC Educator: International meeting examines analytical curricula

Educators from across Europe discuss new courses and approaches for teaching analytical chemistry.
Is Any Method of Vascular Control Superior in Hepatic Resection of Metastatic Cancers?: Longmire Clamping, Pringle Maneuver, and Total Vascular Isolation

Hypothesis Although control of the hepatic vascular pedicle is commonly used during hepatic resection, the optimal method of vascular control continues to be debated. The utility of total or selective vascular isolation, pedicle inflow occlusion, or the absence of vascular isolation during minor and major hepatectomy needs to be examined. Design Retrospective review of hepatic resections performed for either isolated colorectal or noncolorectal hepatic metastases. Setting The University of Chicago Hospitals, Chicago, Ill, a tertiary-care referral center. Patients One hundred forty-one patients who underwent hepatic resection for isolated metastatic liver disease were identified through The University of Chicago Hospitals Tumor Registry. Main Outcome Measures Intraoperative parameters, perioperative morbidity and mortality, and tumor recurrence. Results Four groups were compared with alternative methods of vascular management, including total vascular isolation, Longmire clamping, Pringle maneuver, or no vascular control. Tumor number and size were not significantly different between groups. Blood loss and transfusion requirements tended to be higher in the total vascular isolation group and were significantly higher compared with the Pringle group ( P = .06) and the no vascular control group ( P = .04), but this also correlated with a higher incidence of complexity of surgical resection. The highest incidence of postoperative complications occurred in the total vascular isolation group ( P Conclusions All methods of vascular control appeared equivalent with respect to limiting blood loss and transfusion requirements while providing adequate surgical margins. The highest rates of blood requirements and complications were noted in the total vascular isolation group, which corresponded to the highest incidence of complex resections. The Longmire clamp group incurred the lowest incidence of complications and resulted in identical surgical margins. The application of vascular control is beneficial to surgeons during hepatic resection, but the method of control should be selected based on the location and complexity of resection required and preference of the individual surgeon.
Role of Negative Effective Mass in Negative Resistance

Experiments on cyclotron resonance of negative-mass carriers in Ge have been reported. The distribution of carriers is not an equilibrium distribution, since the carriers were produced by optical excitation partly from acceptors and partly across the gap. A new resonance is found for the opposite sense of circular polarization to the positive-mass resonance line and the resonance corresponds to a decreased absorption. The relationship between negative effective mass, carrier distribution, and negative resistance is investigated. (W.D.M.)
Threshold-Based Privacy-Preserving Key Management Scheme for Vehicle-to-Grid Networks

The concept of vehicle-to-grid (V2G) is that electric vehicles (EVs) communicate with the smart grid to sell demand response services by delivering electricity into the grid. Due to the scale of the network, the speed of the vehicles, their geographic positions, and the very sporadic connectivity between them, V2G communications have the crucial requirements of fast session key establishment. In this paper, we propose a threshold-based privacy-preserving key management scheme for V2G networks, which utilizes the threshold-based secret sharing and symmetric key technique to protect the identities of the EV owners and to establish the shared session key between the aggregator and the vehicle. The proposed scheme can achieve the property of identity privacy, confidentiality of the communications, and known-key security.
Connecting Children and Family with Nature-Based Physical Activity

Abstract Background: As the obesity epidemic expands to include younger Americans, there is greater need to understand youth experiences and to identify innovative strategies to promote physical activity in children and adolescents. Connecting children and families with nature-based activities is an example of a strategy that may promote physical activity and other aspects of health and well-being in children and youth. Purpose: It is important to determine which aspects of activity in nature youth (and families) find most and least appealing, as well as characteristics of an ideal program. This study is intended to provide a needs assessment and recommended design for a community outreach program. Methods: Six focus groups were conducted with parents and youth in rural Michigan. Thirty-eight of the 42 participants were female. Results: Content analysis generated three major results: (1) Youth enjoy nature, but could be more active and engaged; (2) Adults appreciate restorative aspects of nature; youth pr...
EAM insulation for medium-volt power cable applications

Traditionally, medium-volt (MV) power cable producers had two choices for insulation. These broad categories are cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) and ethylene-propylene rubber (EP), and include all of their variations, such as tree-resistant XLPE (TRXLPE), ethylene-propylene rubber (EPR), ethylene-propylene-diene (EPDM), etc. Over the last several years, technology has developed that has allowed polymer producers to offer a new category of material for use in electrical insulation: EAM (ethylene-alkene copolymer). These materials include components other than the traditional ethylene and propylene building blocks and offer advantages in processability, flexibility, and performance. The broad range of melt flow rates, densities, and molecular weight distributions available allows compound producers to find the right properties to balance optimal distributive mixing with extrusion performance. The biggest challenge facing EAM resins as an insulating material is acceptance by a fairly conservative industry. Cable producers must be able to take advantage of materials with improved processing as well as physical and electrical properties in the cost conscious deregulated utility industry. This work will examine the suitability of filled EAM as an insulation category, and will discuss specific types of materials that fall into that category. The paper will provide cable test data in comparison to traditional XLPE and EPDM formulations available today. Test data will include Association of Edison Illuminating Companies (AEIC) Qualification data, Accelerated Cable Life Test (ACLT) results, and ICEA testing, among others.
Polymer blends containing poly(vinylidene fluoride). Part III: Polymers containing ester, ketone, or ether groups

To further investigate the nature of the specific interaction leading to the miscibility of poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVF2, with certain oxygen containing polymers, blends of PVF2 with poly(e-caprolactone), PCL, with poly(vinyl methyl ether), PVME, and with poly(vinyl methyl ketone), PVMK, were prepared. PVMK/PVF2 blends were found to be miscible while blends of PVME/PVF2 and PCL/PVF2 were found not to be miscible. These results show that the specific interaction with PVF2 involves mainly the carbonyl group rather than the entire ester group. The relative effectiveness of having this group in the chain or pendant to it is not yet resolved.
Gravity Error Compensation Using Second-Order Gauss-Markov Processes

Earth science satellitemissions currently require orbit determination solutionswith position accuracies towithin a centimeter. The estimation of empirical accelerations has become commonplace in precise orbit determination for Earth-orbiting satellites. Dynamic model compensation uses an exponentially time-correlated system noise process, knownas afirst-orderGauss–Markovprocess, to estimate unmodeled accelerations. In thiswork, theuse of a secondorderGauss–Markov process is addressed to compensate for higher order spherical harmonic gravity accelerations, beyond J3. Improvements in precise orbit determination and orbit prediction through the implementation of an optimal second-order Gauss–Markov process for empirical acceleration estimation are assessed. The use of a single well-calibrated second-orderGauss–Markovprocess outperforms a first-orderGauss–Markovprocess and a poorly calibrated second-order Gauss–Markov process for both continuous observations and poor tracking data.
THE APPENDICULAR SKELETON OF MAJUNGASAURUS CRENATISSIMUS (THEROPODA: ABELISAURIDAE) FROM THE LATE CRETACEOUS OF MADAGASCAR

ABSTRACT The appendicular skeleton of the abelisaurid theropod Majungasaurus crenatissimus (Deperet, 1896) Lavocat, 1955 is described for the first time. The available materials include an incomplete pectoral girdle and forelimb, along with the ilium and a nearly complete hind limb. These materials display a number of ceratosaur, abelisauroid, and abelisaurid synapomorphies, supporting the phylogenetic placement of Majungasaurus based previously on cranial anatomy. As in Ceratosaurus and Carnotaurus, the scapular blade is relatively wide and has a pronounced dorsal lip over the glenoid. The humerus is short and bears a globular head, but is more slender than in Carnotaurus. The ilium has a preacetabular hook, a strong supraacetabular crest, a notched posterior margin, and peg-and-socket articulations with both the pubis and ischium. Hind limb elements are proportionally stocky, as in some other abelisaurids. The femur lacks a trochanteric shelf, the tibia has a greatly enlarged cnemial crest, and the fibu...
Pseudallescheria boydii in an immunocompromised host. Successful treatment with debridement and itraconazole.

REPORT OF A CASE A 63-year-old man with acute myelogenous leukemia was admitted for induction chemotherapy with cytosine arabinoside and daunorubicin. Therapy with ciprofloxacin, acyclovir, and amphotericin B was prophylactically initiated when chemotherapy was begun. The patient complained of mild tenderness at the base of the right great toe. He believed that the lesion developed after bruising his foot with his intravenous medication stand while walking. On the day of consultation, the erythema and swelling that were present for 2 days were spreading and a 0.5 cm, centrally necrotic, intact blister was noted. This was coincident with low-grade fever. Laboratory studies showed the following values: leukocytes, 0.5 ×10 9 /L, with 0.1 neutrophils; platelets, 21×109/L; and hemoglobin, 108 g/L. Ciprofloxacin therapy was discontinued. Therapy with vancomycin, tobramycin, and ceftazidine was initiated to treat a suspected infection. A potassium hydroxide preparation and fungal culture of the blister top were performed and
Use of carbidopa levodopa in a patient with hydrocephalus and frozen movement

While movement disorders are frequently encountered after brain injuries, and may create a host of complicated problems for the clinician, only a few cases of Parkinsonism associated with hydrocephalus have ever been described in the literature. Parkinsonism like syndrome complicating hydrocephalus is a rare disorder, especially when associated with nontumoral aqueductal stenosis. Yet as this case report discusses, hdyrocephalus induced Parkinsonism may be responsive to levodopa-carbidopa administra tion. This report describes a perplexing case of persistent akinesis following corrective surgery for aqueductal stenosis and the subsequent response to levodopa carbidopa administration. We present the case of a 28 year old male with a history of non tumoral aqueductal stenosis diagnosed at age 12. As a child, he underwent a ventriculo peritoneal shunt placement for obstructive hydrocephalus followed by multiple shunt revisions over the next several years. Sixteen years after his initial shunt placement, the ...
Facsimile A forgotten ‘new medium’ from the 20th century

Scholars have expressed increasing interest in understanding the conceptual and technological roots of contemporary new media. Yet, to date, accounts of the history of media technologies have ignored the rise, fall, and transformation of one innovation whose applications in the first half of the 20th century parallel recent developments in WiFi internet, mobile telephony, telework, telemedicine, online publishing, and video-on-demand. This article introduces scholars to the history of the fax machine, and suggests how the technology provides an important comparison point for analyzing technological developments, past and present. The conclusion explores how positioning this innovation more prominently within the common disciplinary wisdom about the rise of new media opens a door for scholars to deliberate about the historiographical boundaries of the ‘old media studies’ in the era of new media: what technological systems have received disproportionate attention, and what new histories of old media might b...
Placenta previa and the risk of preterm delivery.

Objectives. We aimed to quantify the risk of preterm delivery and maternal and neonatal morbidities associated with placenta previa.Study design. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of singleton births that occurred between 1976 and 2001, examining outcomes including preterm delivery and perinatal complications. Multivariate logistic regression was used to control for potential confounders. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were constructed to compare preterm delivery in pregnancies complicated by previa vs. no previa.Results. Among the 38 540 women, 230 women had previas (0.6%). Compared to controls, pregnancies with previa were significantly associated with preterm delivery prior to 28 weeks (3.5% vs. 1.3%; p = 0.003), 32 weeks (11.7% vs. 2.5%; p < 0.001), and 34 weeks (16.1% vs. 3.0%; p < 0.001) of gestation. Patients with previa were more likely to be diagnosed with postpartum hemorrhage (59.7% vs. 17.3%; p < 0.001) and to receive a blood transfusion (11.8% vs. 1.1%; p < 0.001). Survival curves demon...
Analysis of detector response using 3-D position sensitive CZT gamma-ray spectrometers

Two 2.25-cm/sup 3/ CdZnTe gamma-ray spectrometers with three-dimensional (3-D) position sensitivity were constructed and tested. By using 11 /spl times/ 11 pixellated anodes and depth-sensing techniques, individual spectral data for each of /spl sim/4800 voxels were collected throughout the detector volume. Energy resolution of 1.11% and 1.14% FWHM at 662 keV were obtained for single-pixel events from these two detectors, respectively. Spatial variations of electron mobility-lifetime product, energy resolution, photopeak efficiency, and total efficiency have been observed and analyzed. This analysis provides a direct observation on the uniformity of detector response (due to material, weighting potential, and electric field distribution) in 3-D. Possible defects in the detector are identified. The impact of the spatial variation of detector response on a CZT gamma-ray spectrometer is discussed.
Insecticidal Suppression of Asian Citrus Psyllid Diaphorina citri (Hemiptera: Liviidae) Vector of Huanglongbing Pathogens

Diaphorina citri vectors pathogens that cause ‘huanglongbing’ or citrus greening disease which poses a serious threat to citrus production worldwide. Vector suppression is critical to reduce disease spread. Efficacy is a main concern when choosing an insecticide. Insecticidal treatments of 49 products or 44 active ingredients (a.i) labeled or experimental were field tested between 2005–2013 as foliar sprays (250 treatments, 39 a.i) or soil applications (47 treatments, 9 a.i) to control D. citri in citrus. A combined effect of nymphal and adult suppression in response to sprays of 23 insecticides representing 9 modes of action (MoA) groups and 3 unknown MoA provided more than 90% reduction of adult D. citri over 24–68 days. Observable effects on nymphs were generally of shorter duration due to rapid maturation of flush. However, reduction of 76–100% nymphs or adults over 99–296 days was seen on young trees receiving drenches of the neonicotinoids imidacloprid, thiamethoxam or clothianidin (MoA 4A) and a novel anthranilic diamide, cyantraniliprole (MoA 28). Effective products identified for foliar sprays to control D. citri provide sufficient MoA groups for rotation to delay evolution of insecticide resistance by D. citri and other pests. However, cyantraniliprole is now the only available alternative for rotation with neonicotinoids in soil application to young trees. Sprays of up to eight of the most effective insecticides could be rotated over a year without repetition of any MoA and little or no recourse to neonicotinoids or cyantraniliprole, so important for protection of young trees. Other considerations effecting decisions of what and when to spray include prevalence of huanglongbing, pest pressure, pre-harvest intervals, overall budget, equipment availability, and conservation of beneficial arthropods. Examples of spray programs utilizing broad-spectrum and relatively selective insecticides are provided to improve vector management and may vary depending on individual or regional assessment of all factors.
An MGF-based numerical technique for the outage probability evaluation of diversity systems

Relying on a simple algorithm for the Laplace transform inversion of cumulative distribution functions, we develop a moment generating function-based numerical technique for the outage probability evaluation of maximal-ratio and equal-gain combining over generalized fading channels.
Africology and the Puzzle of Nomenclature

This article seeks to survey a number of names offered for the discipline that originated as Black Studies. Taking the position that practice is not arbitrary, although naming could be quite arbitr...
As Easy as ABC

The case is intended to introduce you to the concepts of contingent liabilities and the role of estimation in financial accounting and reporting. The case is based on an actual promotion offered by ABC Warehouse, a large regional electronics and appliance discount retailer.
Videoscopic surgery under local and regional anesthesia with helium abdominal insufflation.

Background: High-risk patients may not be good candidates for laparoscopic surgery due to the metabolic consequences of transperitoneal absorption of insufflated CO2 gas and the necessity of general anesthesia because CO2 insufflation produces pain. Helium gas is metabolically inert and does not produce pain. Thus it permits an alternative approach to performing laparoscopic surgery in high-risk patients. Methods: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy, appendectomy, hernia repair, and peritoneal dialysis catheter procedures were performed under local or regional anesthesia in high-risk patients utilizing helium gas as the insufflation agent. Results: Twenty-one patients underwent laparoscopic procedures under local or regional anesthesia. None of the procedures initiated under local-regional anesthesia required abandonment of the laparoscopic approach or conversion to general anesthesia. There were no operative or perioperative mortalities. Two incidences of pneumothorax occurred with extraperitoneal hernia repair; one required a tube thoracostomy. Conclusions: Helium gas should be considered the agent of choice for intraperitoneal insufflation in high-risk patients not only because helium avoids the metabolic consequences of CO2 insufflation but also because it permits selected procedures to be performed under local-regional anesthesia. Helium may be contraindicated for laparoscopic procedures involving extraperitoneal insufflation due to the increased risk for pneumothoraces.
YEAR IN COLLEGE AND SORORITY MEMBERSHIP IN PREDICTING SELF-ESTEEM OF A SAMPLE OF COLLEGE WOMEN

The empirical base for judging whether fraternity membership may be associated with higher self-esteem of college women as well as men is not strong and does not extend beyond the freshman year. This study was done to examine the relations among year in college, sorority membership, and self-esteem. Senior women reported highest scores on self-esteem. Members of sororities did not have a higher mean self-esteem than those who were not. No significant interaction between year in college and sorority membership was noted.
Socialized vs. Unsocialized Wolves (Canis Lupus) in Experimental Research

The antiquity of man’s interest in wild animal behavior is documented in upper Paleolithic cave drawings, which faithfully depict not only the color and form of the animals he hunted, but also their gait, posture, and social expression. Indeed, Geist (1978) suggests that man’s capacity to survive the decline of Pleistocene megafauna was largely dependent on his ability to record and predict patterns of game migration and adapt his weaponry to changing predator-defense behaviors. With the rise of systematic agriculture, animal behavior occupied a less central role in human affairs, but remained a topic of continued fascination. Much of Aristotle’s Biological Treatises, for example, is devoted to topics familiar to any contemporary student of behavioral biology: locomotion, reproduction, behavioral organization, and so forth.
Temperature-sensitive mutants of reovirus. I. Patterns of gene expression by mutants of groups C, D, and E.

Abstract Mutants of reovirus strain Dearing temperature-sensitive with respect to ability to synthesize RNA (“RNA-negative”) were characterized with respect to their overall patterns of gene expression under permissive and nonpermissive conditions. They had previously been shown to fall into three recombination (genome segment reassortment) groups (groups C, D, and E); they are now shown to fall into three coincident complementation groups. The outstanding feature of these mutants is their failure to synthesize double-stranded RNA at elevated temperatures. At 39°C two mutants (belonging to groups C and D) synthesize no detectable amounts at all; one (group E) synthesizes less than 1% of the amount synthesized by wild-type virus; and one (group D) synthesizes about 15%. Ability to synthesize single-stranded RNA (mRNA) is less temperature-sensitive; using a low-temperature hybridization technique which causes no single-strand breakage, it has been found that, although mutants of all three groups synthesize less mRNA at the nonpermissive temperature than wild-type virus, all 10 species of mRNA are formed. If the temperature is shifted from 31 to 39°C, mutants of groups C and D abruptly cease double-stranded RNA synthesis, while mutants of group E continue to synthesize it at an undiminished rate. In all cases single-stranded RNA synthesis as well as translation continue after shift-up at a gradually diminishing rate, with all species of RNA and protein being synthesized in the same relative amounts as at the permissive temperature.
How to translate materials science concepts into K–12 student outreach activities

As the complexity of global materials science challenges increases, so does the need for materials science and engineering literacy and career recruitment. Many funding agencies are addressing this by including requirements for achieving broader impacts (e.g., National Science Foundation grants, European Commission Framework), and resources have been created from a variety of sources to help. This article addresses the issue of how to translate materials science concepts into K–12 outreach activities, with an emphasis on how to use the human, physical, and information resources available. Researchers may best reach their outreach objectives by distilling content rather than diluting it, connecting on a human level, highlighting the true nature of science, not reinventing the wheel, being a role model, and having fun. Initiatives that support outreach efforts are referenced and include examples from the Materials Research Society.