cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metallothionein gene cluster is split by chromosome 16 rearrangements in myelomonocytic leukaemia

The metallothioneins (MTs) are a family of proteins of low relative molecular mass which bind heavy-metal ions1. MTs exist in several molecular forms (MT-I, MT-II) and are encoded by a multi-gene family containing at least 14 closely related genes and pseudogenes1,2. These proteins function in the regulation of trace-metal metabolism, the storage of these ions in the liver, and as a protective mechanism against heavy-metal toxicity3. Somatic cell hybridization has shown that most MT genes, including the functional MT genes (MT1A, MT1B, MT2A), lie on human chromosome 16 (refs 4, 5). Using in situ hybridization6,7, we have now localized the MT genes to band q22 of chromosome 16. This chromosomal band is also a breakpoint in two specific rearrangements, the inv(16)(p13q22) (ref. 8) and t(16; 16)(pl3;q22) rearrangements, found in a subgroup of patients with acute myelomonocytic leukaemia (AMML). Hybridization of a MT probe to malignant cells from two patients with an inv(16) showed labelled sites on both arms of the inverted chromosome, indicating that the breakpoint at 16q22 splits the MT gene cluster. Similar results were obtained when this probe was hybridized to metaphase cells from two patients with a t(16; 16). These results suggest that the MT genes or their regulatory regions9 may function as an ‘activating’ sequence for an as yet unidentified cellular gene located at 16pl3.
Is there a future for depression digital motion constructs in psychiatry

Psychomotor retardation has been recognized as a principal component of depression for centuries. Amongst symptoms and signs associated with depression, it is seen as having high predictive validit...
Reactive molecular dynamics force field for the dissociation of light hydrocarbons on Ni(111)

The dissociation of small hydrocarbon molecules on Ni(111) surfaces is investigated using the Materials Studio® density functional theory code DMol^3. The energetic barriers for these dissociations were obtained via linear/quadratic synchronous transit analysis. This kinetics information comprises a first principles database for hydrocarbon surface chemistry. The set was used to fit a new reactive molecular dynamics force field which was subsequently applied to consider the rate of finite temperature methane dissociation on Ni(111). In addition, the force field was used to estimate the degree of its transferability to hydrocarbons that are distinct from but structurally similar to those used to generate it.
Violence: recent books on a not-so-recent epidemic

Abstract Violence, like the poor, may always be with us. Recent events, however, have italicized the ubiquity and importance of violence, and the difficulty of coming to terms with it. Although relatively few social scientists are experts in violence, they are often called upon to function in that capacity. Accordingly, a review of approaches to the topic seems most timely.
Complications of Cervical Halo-Vest Orthoses in Elderly Patients

Halo-vest orthoses have been associated with complications. Previous reports have suggested increased complications in elderly patients; however, data are limited. This study reviewed 75 patients =/>65 years with cervical spine fractures treated with halo-vest orthoses. Forty-one patients (55%) experienced at least 1 complication. Pin-site problems were the most frequent adverse outcome. Seventeen patients (23%) had significant pulmonary compromise. Pulmonary complications were associated with high morbidity. We found an 8% early mortality rate. Halo-vest orthoses are useful devises. However, adverse events experienced by elderly patients are common and may lead to significant morbidity and mortality.
Phatics and the design of community

Proposed thesis research uses Twitter-a young channel for phatics communication-as a catalyst to promote community awareness and strengthen connections between members. This paper examines the phatic function, or messages about the communication channel, and its growing interest in HCI research. Examples of projects are described in the context of better understanding the role phatics play in community development.
Simple and Exact Method for Calculating the Nuclear Reaction Matrix

A new, simple, and exact method is given for calculating the reaction matrix $G$ in a two-particle harmonic-oscillator basis. The method makes use of an expansion of the Bethe-Goldstone wave function in terms of solutions of the Schr\"odinger equation for two interacting particles in a harmonic-oscillator well. Since a two-particle basis is used, the Pauli operator $Q$ is diagonal and can be treated exactly. Reaction matrix elements based on the Hamada-Johnston potential are used in a shell-model calculation of $A=18$ nuclei. The results are compared with those of earlier calculations using approximate Pauli operators. The dependence of the reaction matrix on the starting energy is studied, and the relationship of this energy to the intermediate-state spectrum and to the Pauli operator $Q$ is discussed. In this same context the difference between using a Brueckner $Q$ and a shell-model $Q$ is also discussed.
Distortion product otoacoustic emissions created through the interaction of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions and externally generated tones

An SOAE (f2) and one XT (f1) were used to create 2 f1−f2 DPOAEs. External tones were applied to the ear canal at SOAE/f1 ratios between 1.08 and 1.22 XT/SOAE intensity differences varied from 0 to approximately 50 dB SPL. DPOAE amplitude and SOAE suppression characteristics were variable across subjects. However, the following trends were noted: (1) At larger frequency ratios, DPOAE generation and SOAE suppression were associated with greater XT SPLs; (2) DPOAE growth functions were characterized by slopes <1 dB/dB, a maximum, rollover and disappearance into the noise floor; (3) maximum DPOAEs were observed at frequencies approximately 1/2 oct below the SOAEs; (4) DPOAE maximums were associated with a significant amount of SOAE suppression. The results are consistent with DPOAEs created using two low‐level tones [Brown and Gaskill, in Mechanics and Biophysics of Hearing (Springer‐Verlag, Berlin, 1990)] and can be interpreted by considering suppression in a nonlinear cochlear model [Zwicker, 163–176 (1986)...
Polidocanol (Aethoxyskerol) for Sclerotherapy of Superficial Venules and Telangiectasias

Abstract. The history and possible adverse sequelae of polidocanol (Aethoxysklerol) and the sclerotherapy technique used on 1500 patients in 5000 procedures is reviewed.
Offset Plutons and History of Movement along the McKinley Segment of the Denali Fault System, Alaska

The Foraker and McGonagall plutons, bodies of granodiorite with nearly identical mineralogy and chemistry, are considered to be parts of a single igneous mass that has undergone right-lateral displacement of about 38 km along the McKinley segment of the Denali fault system since the igneous mass crystallized about 38 m.y. ago. These offset plutons place severe constraints on the amount and rate of movement along the McKinley segment since the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The 38-km displacement indicates an average rate of 0.1 cm/yr if movement began immediately after crystallization in early Oligocene time or an average rate of 0.4 cm/yr if movement began 10 m.y. ago in late Miocene time. These rates, however, are considerably less than Holocene movement rates measured along the fault further to the east, which suggests that the Holocene displacement rate is greater than the pre-Holocene rate or that right-lateral movement along the fault may diminish to the west.
On the roles of advanced signal processing in remote sensing

While most remote sensing data are in images, and thus image processing techniques are most often considered, the roles of signal processing, especially of those emerging or advanced signal processing techniques received much less attention. In this tutorial paper, we will examine four advanced signal processing techniques and assess their roles in remote sensing: vector time series analysis, compressed sensing, the new component analysis using non-negative matrix and tensor factorization and the Hilbert-Huang transform. The strength of each approach and its role in remote sensing are presented.
Shared coronary arteries and coronary venous drainage in thoracopagus twins

A pair of type B thoracopagus twins with complex cyanotic heart disease had shared coronary arteries and coronary venous drainage. Surgical separation was not attempted and the twins died at 10.5 months of age. Antemortem angiography demonstrated that Twin A's right coronary artery supplied Twin B's diaphragmatic and anterior ventricular myocardial free wall. A midline communication existed between each twin's right atrium at a common coronary sinus. The crossing coronary artery coursed alongside this connection and was visualized echocardiographically. At postmortem examination, the great cardiac vein of Twin A drained into the orifice of the common coronary sinus on Twin B's side of the midline. In five of six previously reported cases, the children died at attempted separation shortly after ligation of the interatrial communication. This may have been because of occlusion of a coronary artery or acute obstruction of a coronary vein. Consideration of separation of type B thoracopagus twins requires anatomic delineation of the coronary arteries and veins.
A cluster-sample approach for Monte Carlo integration using multiple samplers

A computational problem in many fields is to estimate simultaneously multiple integrals and expectations, assuming that the data are generated by some Monte Carlo algorithm. Consider two scenarios in which draws are simulated from multiple distributions but the normalizing constants of those distributions may be known or unknown. For each scenario, existing estimators can be classified as using individual samples separately or using all the samples jointly. The latter pooled-sample estimators are statistically more efficient but computationally more costly to evaluate than the separate-sample estimators. We develop a cluster-sample approach to obtain computationally effective estimators, after draws are generated for each scenario. We divide all the samples into mutually exclusive clusters and combine samples from each cluster separately. Furthermore, we exploit a relationship between estimators based on samples from different clusters to achieve variance reduction. The resulting estimators, compared with the pooled-sample estimators, typically yield similar statistical efficiency but have reduced computational cost. We illustrate the value of the new approach by two examples for an Ising model and a censored Gaussian random field. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 41: 151–173; 2013 © 2012 Statistical Society of Canada Un probleme informatique dans plusieurs domaines est l'estimation simultanee d'integrales multiples et d'esperances, en faisant le presuppose que les donnees sont generees a partir d'un algorithme de Monte-Carlo. Considerons deux scenarios ou les valeurs sont simulees a partir de plusieurs distributions, mais pour lesquelles les constantes de normalisation peuvent etre connues ou non. Pour chaque scenario, les estimateurs existants peuvent etre regroupes selon qu'ils utilisent les echantillons individuels de facon separee ou qu'ils utilisent tous les echantillons simultanement. Ces derniers combinant tous les echantillons sont statistiquement plus efficaces, mais ils sont plus couteux a evaluer numeriquement que les estimateurs bases sur des echantillons individuels. Nous developpons une approche par grappe d'echantillons pour obtenir des estimateurs efficaces, en terme de cout de calcul, une fois les echantillons obtenus pour chacun des scenarios. Nous divisons tous les echantillons en grappes mutuellement exclusives et nous combinons les echantillons de chaque grappe separement. De plus, nous exploitons la relation entre les estimateurs bases sur les echantillons des differentes grappes afin de reduire la variance. Si nous les comparons aux estimateurs combinant tous les echantillons, ces derniers ont habituellement une efficacite statistique similaire, mais a une fraction du cout de calcul. Nous illustrons les avantages de cette nouvelle approche a l'aide de deux exemples sur un modele d'Ising et sur un champ aleatoire gaussien censure. La revue canadienne de statistique 41: 151–173; 2013 © 2012 Societe statistique du Canada
Directional coronary atherectomy in women compared with men.

The influence of gender on the procedural outcome of directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) is controversial. This study of 373 consecutive patients (418 lesions) undergoing DCA demonstrates that the procedural success rate of DCA is significantly lower in women compared with men (72.7 vs. 82.9%, p = 0.011). Women have significantly smaller coronary arteries than men (2.5 mm vs. 2.7 mm, p = 0.028) and were older than men (66 vs. 61 years, p = 0.0001). Multivariate analysis identifies small coronary vessel size rather than female gender per se as an independent predictor of poor procedural outcome. Procedural success rates in women with coronary vessel size > or = 2.5 mm is significantly higher (92.2%) than in women with coronary vessel size or = 2.5 mm (89.3%). Inability to engage the ostium of the coronary artery adequately with the guiding catheter and to cross the lesion with the atherectomy device is significantly more common in women compared with men. Major ischemic complication rates are similar in women and men (8.5 vs. 8.7%). Groin complications are significantly more common in women compared with men (13.5 vs. 2.9%). We conclude that procedural success rates in women may be improved by careful patient selection, with particular attention to small vessel size. DCA is best performed in vessels > 2.5 mm in diameter.
Heterogeneous dynamics during deformation of a polymer glass

The origins of molecular mobility in polymer glasses, particularly under deformation, are not well understood. A concerted experimental and computational approach is adopted to examine the segmental motion of a polymeric glass undergoing creep and constant strain rate deformations. Through a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and optical photobleaching experiments we are able to directly probe how dynamic heterogeneity evolves during deformation. Two distinct regimes emerge from our analysis; early in the deformation, the dynamics of the glass are strongly heterogeneous, as evidenced by the spectrum of relaxation times measured experimentally and the participation ratio of the atomic non-affine displacements measured computationally. After the onset of flow, the dynamics become significantly more homogeneous, and the participation ratio increases considerably.
Naturally occurring lesions and micro-organisms in two species of free-living sharks: the spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias L., and the smooth dogfish, Mustelus canis (Mitchill), from the north-western Atlantic

Twenty-three smooth dogfish, Mustelus canis L., and 20 spiny dogfish, Squalus acanthias (Mitchill), were examined for the presence of diseases. Sharks were collected from the north-western Atlantic between April and September 2000. Major organs were sampled for histopathology and bacterial cultures were taken from kidneys. Macroscopic lesions were infrequent and included intestinal cestodiasis and gastric and dermal erosions. Microscopic lesions were common in both shark species. Mustelus canis had numerous degenerative lesions involving the pancreatic ducts, seminiferous tubules and coronary vessels. The most frequent lesions in S. acanthias were parasitic and included pancreatic nematodiasis and biliary myxosporeosis. Additionally, both species had focal meningitis, encephalitis, dermatitis, gastritis, enteritis and glomerulomesangial thickening. Microscopic parasites included intestinal coccidiosis, unclassified gastric and testicular protozoa, skeletal muscle and renal tubular myxosporeans, a branchial trichodinid ciliate, olfactory and branchial trematodes, gastrointestinal cestodes and larval nematodes. Shewanella putrefaciens, Photobacterium sp., Vibrio sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Alteromonas sp. were isolated from kidneys of nine sharks. The role of the above lesions in the natural mortality and morbidity of the two shark species is unknown. The finding that apparently healthy sharks can harbour potentially debilitating lesions warrants the inclusion of histopathological studies in the management and conservation of sharks.
Rapid Assessment Methodology for Proactive Rangeland Management

April 2007 There is an increasing need for rangeland monitoring methodologies that provide rapid assessment of grazing conditions, with reasonable cost and labor requirements. Controversies and problems regarding livestock grazing management decisions on public lands have been on the rise during the past 15 years. Agencies managing public rangelands, primarily the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management, are under increased pressure to be more proactive in their management decisions and to base these decisions on reliable quantitative data. These pressures have come from an affl uent rapidly growing human population that demands high-quality recreation, aesthetic appearance, and abundant wildlife populations from public rangelands. Drought, enforcement of the National Environmental Policy Act, and the desire by ranchers to better manage their rangelands have further increased the need for quick, practical, low-cost, and rapid assessment methods for grazing management decisions. In the late spring of 2002, rangelands throughout New Mexico were in the third year of severe drought (Fig. 1). In July, ranchers and agency personnel were facing important decisions regarding forage availability, carrying capacity, and length of grazing season on Forest Service lands near Santa Rapid Assessment Methodology for Proactive Rangeland Management
Bioextraction (Reductive Dissolution) of Iron from Low‐Grade Iron Ores: Fundamental and Applied Studiesa

Results of the present study indicate that S. putrefaciens 200 may be a suitable Fe(3+)-reducing microorganism for commercial application in a microbially catalyzed iron ore bioextraction (reductive dissolution) process. The proposed scheme of the bioextraction process (Fig. 1) entails the addition of a suitable iron ore to anaerobic, batch cultures of aerobically grown S. putrefaciens 200, with subsequent recovery of Fe2+ in the product stream. Although batch growth under low oxygen tension is known to induce expression of the high-rate Fe3+ reduction system in S. putrefaciens, such growth conditions do not appreciably enhance the rate at which S. putrefaciens catalyzes the reductive dissolution of iron from low-grade iron ore. As a result, strict monitoring of dissolved oxygen levels during batch growth is not required. Highly aerobic growth conditions are most desirable because such conditions maximize microbial growth rates. Commercial application of the proposed process is made more attractive by the ability to grow S. putrefaciens aerobically on a relatively inexpensive organic substrate (filter-sterilized, primary effluent wastewater) as sole carbon and energy source. Physical and chemical factors that accelerate overall reductive dissolution rates include (i) pulverization of the iron ores before their addition to the anaerobic, batch cultures, and (ii) subsequent addition of an Fe(III)-chelating agent to the anaerobic iron ore-microorganism slurry. Recycle of residual ore remaining in the initial reactor vessel after a one-hour incubation is recommended, since overall reductive dissolution rates decrease dramatically after that time. Significant enhancement of the overall reductive dissolution rates may reside in the ability to genetically engineer a more robust Fe(3+)-reducing microorganism. Preliminary genetic studies presented here indicate that S. putrefaciens is a suitable model microorganism for studying the molecular basis of microbial Fe3+ reduction. Mutagenesis experiments demonstrated that the Fe3+ reduction system of S. putrefaciens is physiologically uncoupled from other electron-accepting processes carried out by this bacterium, and that a distinct ferrireductase enzyme is expressed after growth under either highly aerobic or microaerobic conditions. An array of S. putrefaciens mutants (Class I), deficient only in their ability to grow anaerobically on Fe3+ as sole terminal electron acceptor, were isolated and a single mutant selected for subsequent gene cloning (complementation) experiments. Restriction enzyme analysis of putative, complemented clones (i.e., transconjugates in which the ability to grow anaerobically on Fe3+ had been restored) revealed the presence of a common cloned DNA insert.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Differential effects of protein kinase inhibitors and activators on memory formation in the 2-day-old chick

Thirteen protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs) were investigated in chicks for their in vitro effects on PKC activity and for their in vivo effects on memory formation for a peck-avoidance task. Amnesia occurred by 15–30 min post-training when agents that inhibit primarily Ca2+/calmodulin were injected into brain. Amnesia occurred by 60 min post-training when agents that inhibit PKC-,PKA-, and/or PKG-dependent protein kinases, but not Ca2+/calmodulin, were injected. Enhancement of memory formation was accomplished by injecting bradykinin, but not forskolin. Both of these agents, however, attenuated the amnesia produced by H-7. These results are discussed as relevant neural processes involved in memory and synaptic plasticity.
Architecture-based approaches to software reliability prediction

Abstract With growing emphasis on reuse, the software development process moves toward component-based software design. As a result, there is a need for modeling approaches that are capable of considering the architecture of the software made out of components. This paper presents an overview of the state of the research and practice in the architecture-based approach to quantitative assessment of software systems. First, the common requirements of the architecture-based models are identified and the classification is proposed. Then, the key models in each class are described in detail with a focus on their relation and unification. Finally, a critical analysis of the underlying assumptions, limitations, and applicability of these models is provided, which should be helpful in determining the directions for future research.
Biochemical characterization of a mitomycin C resistant colon cancer cell line variant

Abstract Resistance may limit the clinical usefulness of a variety of chemotherapeutic drugs including mitomycin C (MMC). The MMC-sensitive HT-29 colon cancer cell line and its MMC-resistant subline, HT-29R13, were studied in vitro under aerobic conditions to help characterize the mechanisms associated with MMC resistance. HT-29R13 cells exhibit approximately 2-fold resistance to MMC compared with HT-29 cells and lack the typical multidrug-resistance pattern; resistance is stable in the absence of drug exposure. Levels of glutathione (GSH) and total glutathione- S -transferase (GST) activity were not different between the two cell lines; however, levels of GSH reductase and GSH peroxidase were increased significantly in HT-29R13. Although total GST activity was unchanged, GST-π and GST-α isoenzyme expression as measured using western blot were increased significantly in HT-29R13 compared with HT-29. DT-diaphorase levels and topoisomerase II activity were decreased significantly in HT-29R13. Both cell lines had equal P-glycoprotein expression. Multiple drug resistance mechanisms are present in HT-29R13 including decreased drug activation (decreased DT-diaphorase), increased drug detoxification (increased GST-π and GST-α, GSH reductase, GSH peroxidase), and decreased accessibility of DNA targets (decreased topoisomerase II). Further work will be necessary to determine the degree to which each of these mechanisms contribute to MMC resistance in this model.
A Rich Concept of Wealth Creation Beyond Profit Maximization and Adding Value

The purpose of this article is to take a fresh look at the concept of wealth creation that is urgently needed, given the huge gap between the global importance of wealth creation and the attention paid to it. It is argued that its notion we encounter is often very simple (as in “making money”) or extremely vague (as in “adding value”). In the first section “Need for a fresh look at the creation of wealth”, the need for a fresh look is highlighted by pointing to three concerns about globalization and the roles and responsibilities of corporations. In the second section “Conceptual clarifications: what is the creation of wealth?”, a rich concept of wealth creation is developed that includes physical, financial, human, and social capital, encompasses private and public wealth, accounts for its production and distribution, recognizes its material and spiritual side, and places wealth in the time horizon of sustainability. Moreover, creating (wealth) as “making something new and better” is distinguished from possessing and acquiring, and different motivations required for wealth creation are explored. The third section “Challenges for business ethics” discusses several challenges of this rich concept for the understanding of business ethics.
Characterisation and toxicity of water-soluble photooxidants produced during irradiation of coal liquids by sunlight☆

Abstract Four coal-derived oils, a No. 2 diesel fuel oil, and a petroleum crude oil were layered onto water in a closed, stirred vessel and were exposed to natural or artificial sunlight for periods up to 170h. Photooxidants which dissolved into the underlying water were quantified amperometrically. Concentrations of water-soluble photooxidants increased steadily beneath all coal liquids at 25% of the rate beneath diesel fuel; none were produced beneath irradiated crude petroleum. Characterisation of photooxidants by kinetics and thermodynamics of reaction with iodide indicated that hydrogen peroxide and organic hydroperoxides were produced under one coal liquid. Acute toxicities to Daphnia magna of the water before and after reduction of photooxidants with thiosulphate were consistent with these identifications. The results suggest that photooxidant production may enhance the toxicity of spilled coal liquids in rivers, particularly after the highly soluble phenols have been depleted from a floating oil film.
A Globally Convergent Stabilized SQP Method

Sequential quadratic programming (SQP) methods are a popular class of methods for nonlinearly constrained optimization. They are particularly effective for solving a sequence of related problems, such as those arising in mixed-integer nonlinear programming and the optimization of functions subject to differential equation constraints. Recently, there has been considerable interest in the formulation of stabilized SQP methods, which are specifically designed to handle degenerate optimization problems. Existing stabilized SQP methods are essentially local in the sense that both the formulation and analysis focus on the properties of the methods in a neighborhood of a solution. A new SQP method is proposed that has favorable global convergence properties yet, under suitable assumptions, is equivalent to a variant of the conventional stabilized SQP method in the neighborhood of a solution. The method combines a primal-dual generalized augmented Lagrangian function with a flexible line search to obtain a seque...
Nontraumatic Gas Gangrene

A 77-year-old man with a history significant only for coronary artery disease presented to the ED with left-arm pain, shortness of breath, nausea, and diaphoresis. Six hours after the patient's admission to the hospital for presumed unstable angina, fever and left arm swelling, associated with crepitus and violaceous bullae, developed. The patient was taken to the operating room, where he was found to have extensive myonecrosis requiring forequarter amputation of the left arm. Nontraumatic clostridial myonecrosis is a fulminant, often fatal infection. This rare condition is usually caused by Clostridium septicum and has a high association with underlying malignancy. The patient reported here was found to have a colonic lesion and acute leukemia, both previously undiagnosed. This case illustrates the insidious manner in which spontaneous myonecrosis may present.
EXTRACTS OF OVULAR TUMORS AND THEIR INHIBITION OF EMBRYO GROWTH IN DATURA

IT HAS BEEN SHOWN (Satina and Blakeslee, 1935) that most of the crosses in Datura fail to produce viable seeds. Although in most of the cases fertilization takes place, the embryo does not fully develop but dies approximately 3-4 weeks after fertilization. The innermost layer of the seedcoat (endothelium) proliferates in these cases and invades the embryo-sac cavity filling it with tumoral outgrowths. In previous papers (Rappaport, 1948; Satina et al., 1950) evidence was presented which indicated that tumoral tissue present in the ovules of incompatible Datura crosses contained a growth-inhibiting substance. To secure further information regarding this hypothetical substance, different extracts of the embryo-sac contents of these ovules were prepared. On account of the availability of flowers throughout the year and the relatively large size of the tumoral tissue, the incompatible cross D. inoxia 4n X 2n was chosen. Occasionally tumoral tissue of other crosses listed in table 2 of the previous paper (Satina et al., 1950) could be tested. D. inoxia 4n flowers were castrated before the anthers shed their pollen, and 2 or 3 days later they were pollinated with pollen from D. inoxia 2n. Approximately 1 month later, according to the season, the capsules were harvested. These contained three to ten seeds in which the embryo sacs contained tumoral tissue, a milk-like, cheese-like, or jelly-like mass. The latter was dissected under sterile conditions and brought into vials containing previously sterilized water. In general, the embryo-sac contents of five ovules of an incompatible cross were put into a vial containing 2.5 ml. of distilled water. The dissected tissues were left in their vials for extraction for 48-72 hr. under a constant temperature of ?22?C. After this period the extract was filtered under sterile conditions and added to cultures of embryos of D. stramonium which had been growing in vials for 14 days and which were selected for homogeneity and measured in the way described in a previous paper (Satina et al., 1950). WVith each experiment two series of embryos were used as controls. To one series no addition was made. To the other was added sterile water in
A refractometer for the near infrared

A convenient apparatus is described for making refractive index measurements on a 60° prism, in the near infrared region. The instrument is essentially a double Wadsworth mirror monochromator, the first half being calibrated in wave-lengths, and the second half calibrated to read angular rotations of the prism table on which the unknown prism is mounted. The wave-length drum was calibrated by working backwards from a known prism (rocksalt or quartz) mounted on the second prism table. Measurements on eleven optical glasses are given, from 0.365 to 2.6μ.
The Rise and Fall of Radical Civil Service Reform in the U.S. States

Initiated by a 1996 Georgia statute, “radical” civil service reform quickly swept the United States. This article explains the wax and eventual wane of state efforts to increase the number of at-will employees at the expense of the population of fully protected merit system employees. Using an event history approach to explain this policy diffusion with state-level variables, the author shows that electoral competition and gubernatorial powers are the most significant determinants of this kind of policy diffusion. Whereas previous literature concluded that these reforms ceased spreading because the new programs were failing to create the promised governmental efficiency, this article argues that the institutional conditions for these human resource management policies have been less propitious in recent years. The article signifies an important contribution in that it brings civil service reform back into the scope of policy diffusion literature and identifies political insights into a perpetually important question.
Characterization of real surfaces by ellipsometry

Abstract The results of ellipsometric measurements on single-crystal silicon surfaces subjected to various surface treatments such as mechanical polishing, chemical etching, sputtering by argon ions, cleavage, and annealing, are presented. Because of the consistency and reproducibility of the results on chemically etched silicon samples by other workers as well as our own, these results are believed to be truly representative of the bulk sample of silicon without any damaged surface layer even though there is always a thin oxide film present on the surface of the sample. Ellipsometric measurements on both mechanically polished and argon ion bombarded surfaces have shown considerable increase in the values of the ellipsometric parameter ψ and the pseudo-normal reflectance R as compared with those of the etched samples. This is obviously caused by the presence of the damaged surface layers on these samples. It is observed that the variation in ψ between different cleaved samples is much larger than the possible experimental errors. This discrepancy has been attributed to the presence of dislocations on or near the cleaved surfaces created in the process of cleavage. These fresh dislocations can be taken into account by an effective average value of the refractive index of silicon or, more meaningfully, by an effective thin damaged surface layer with different optical parameters, on the bulk silicon. The annealing of cleaved silicon samples at high temperatures and ellipsometric measurements on such annealed samples show that the fresh dislocations introduced in the sample during cleavage can be removed by annealing. These studies reveal that ellipsometry provides another means of detecting surface defects and yields information concerning the optical properties and average film thickness of the damaged surface layer as well as those of the film and the substrate.
Factors determining hemoglobin carbamylation in renal failure

Factors determining hemoglobin carbamylation in renal failure. Carbamylated hemoglobin (carhb) is formed by the reaction of hemoglobin with cyanate, a product of in vivo urea dissociation. It is found in high levels in patients with renal failure and may be useful in their clinical evaluation. Accordingly, we measured carhb by HPLC after acid hydrolysis in 73 patients with renal failure and 11 controls. Mean carhb levels, (expressed as μg valine hydantoin/g Hb), were highest in chronic renal failure (CRF, 146 ± 13), intermediate in end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis (ESRD, 106 ± 7), and lowest in acute renal failure (ARF, 80 ± 12) when compared to normal subjects (27 ± 2). In all patients carhb was significantly correlated with BUN but not with creatinine, bicarbonate, or phosphate. For any level of BUN above 80 mg/dl, carhb was substantially higher in CRF than in ARF. Predialysis BUN and urea reduction ratio (URR) were significant predictors of carhb in ESRD. To investigate the effect of time of exposure and BUN level on the rate of carbamylation of hemoglobin, blood from normal subjects and dialysis patients was incubated in vitro with urea equivalent to BUN levels of 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/dl and assayed for carhb at 0, 5, 9, and 14 days. Carhb increased linearly over the first nine days of urea exposure and leveled off thereafter. The rate of carbamylation increased as BUN increased and was significantly higher in hemoglobin from dialysis patients than from normal subjects. These results show that the higher the level of carhb at baseline, the higher the rate of carbamylation upon exposure to increasing urea concentrations. We conclude that carhb formation is dependent on urea concentration and length of exposure to urea. The rate of carhb formation for a given urea concentration is greater in hemoglobin already carbamylated, and this may explain why carhb is higher in CRF than in ARF at BUN levels greater than 80 mg/dl. Carhb may thus be a useful index of the duration and degree of exposure to high blood urea levels in patients with renal failure, and may potentially serve as an index of the adequacy of dialysis.
The Population Density of Feral Colonies of Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) in a City in Upstate New York

In Oswego, a city in upstate New York, a search for all honey bee, Apis mellifera L., colonies in an area of 4.2 km2 (1.6 square miles) revealed 12 colonies. All but one of the colonies were feral, living in tree cavities and the walls of buildings. The observed density was 2.7 colonies per km2 (7.0 feral colonies per square mile). Oswego may be considered typical of the smaller cities in the northeastern United States, with many older wooden houses and streets lined with large trees. The high frequency of feral honey bee colonies in cities, many in inaccessible areas, adds considerably to the difficulty of controlling nuisance bees, as well as noxious bee mites and other honey bee disease agents for which feral colonies constitute reservoirs of infection. Our data make clear that ordinances against beekeeping would not significantly reduce the number of colonies living in an urban area.
Effects of lead (Pb) exposure during gestation and lactation on female pubertal development in the rat.

Abstract Lead (Pb) can delay sexual maturation; however, the mechanism and critical time of insult are not clearly defined. Therefore, we assessed maternal Pb levels during low-level gestational and/or lactational exposure, as well as blood and tissue Pb in developing fetuses in relation to the subsequent detrimental effects of Pb on puberty-related hormones and the onset of female puberty. Adult Fisher 344 female rats were gavaged daily with either a 1-ml solution of PbAc containing 12 mg/ml Pb or an equal volume of sodium acetate (NaCl), for the controls, from 30 days prior to breeding until their pups were weaned at 21 days. By cross-fostering at the time of birth, the pups were either exposed to PbAc or NaAc during gestation only, lactation only, or during both gestation and lactation. Pb delayed the timing of puberty and this delay was associated with suppressed serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estradiol (E2). Liver IGF-1 mRNA was not affected, suggesting that Pb altered translation and/or secretion of IGF-1. We reported previously that peripherally derived IGF-1 acts at the hypothalamic level to facilitate LH release at puberty; hence, we suggest that the action of Pb in decreasing circulating IGF-1 contributes to the delayed puberty. The detrimental effects occurred regardless of the developmental time of exposure, although gestational exposure appeared more sensitive to the effects of Pb. Also, the effects noted were with blood Pb levels less than previously reported and these levels are relevant to human health concerns.
THE IMMATURE INSTARS OF ALBIA CAERULEA (ACARINA: AXONOPSIDAE), A WATER MITE PARASITIZING CADDISFLIES (TRICHOPTERA)

The water mite Albia caerulea Marshall, 1927, is reported from Lake Opinicon, Leeds Co., Ont. Descriptions and figures of larvae and of nymphs reared from them are presented. The occurrence of this mite on caddisflies ( Leptocerus americanus (Banks), Trianodes sp., and Leptocella sp.) is recorded.
Terabit/sec 48-channel fiber-coupled optical module based on holey CMOS transceiver IC

A compact optical transceiver module providing 0.48 Tb/s transmitter plus 0.48 Tb/s receiver throughput has been demonstrated using a second-generation single-chip holey CMOS transceiver IC. The single-chip CMOS transceiver IC designed in standard 90nm IBM CMOS has 24 receiver and 24 laser driver circuits each with a corresponding through-substrate optical via (hole). The forty-eight 150-um diameter optical vias are fabricated using a wafer-scale deep Si RIE process followed by substrate thinning to 150um thickness. Direct flip-chip attachment of custom-designed 24-channel 850-nm VCSEL and PD arrays to the IC using AuSn solder provides a compact 48-channel Optochip measuring only 5.2mm × 5.8mm. The 48 optical vias enable optical access to the 24 VCSELs and 24 PDs and are arranged in a 4 × 12 array on 250um × 250um pitch to facilitate direct fiber-coupling to a standard 4 × 12 fiber array. The Optochips are packaged into complete modules by flip-chip soldering to high-density, high-speed organic carriers using eutectic PbSn solder. The organic carrier measures 17mm × 17mm with C4 pads on the top surface for Optochip attachment and typical ball grid array (BGA) pads on 0.8mm pitch on the bottom surface to permit attachment to a larger printed circuit board, i.e. system motherboard. Due to the exclusive use of flip-chip soldering throughout the assembly process, the holey Optochips and transceiver modules offer the potential of unprecedented highspeed performance and I/O density. Optical modules have been fabricated and DC optical measurement verified good bond yield for the OE arrays to IC and the IC to organic carrier. High-speed characterization of the complete module attached to a test motherboard demonstrated 24 transmitter channels operating up to 20 Gb/s/ch. Receiver characterization was carried out as full transmitter-to-receiver link — the output of a reference transmitter channel was coupled into a MMF and directed to 24 receiver channels within a module. The transmitter-to-receiver measurements also operated up to 20 Gb/s/ch. At 20 Gb/s/ch, the 48-channel module delivers an unprecedented off-card I/O bandwidth of 0.96 Tb/s.
FCD: a framework for compositional development in open embedded systems

In open embedded systems, configuration changes are likely to have negative impact on the certified properties of existing component systems. Although many design methodologies have been proposed for building open embedded systems in recent years, none of them provides an efficient way to enable reuse of certified components of resource-sensitive systems without repeating the performance and scheduling analysis that guarantees critical timing and behavioral properties of systems. To tackle this problem, in this paper we present a framework for compositional development of open embedded systems, called FCD. This framework uses processor partition to reduce the interdependency of applications and provides a set of synthesis methods to isolate the certified properties of unchanged components of the system from configuration changes.
Sports-related injuries in school-aged children

Most studies of sports-related injuries have been investigations of specific injuries resulting from specific, organized sports at the high school, college, or professional level. This study doc umented all types of sports-related injuries received by all school-aged children in a midwestern community of 100,000 for a 1-year period. Public and private schools, community sports programs, hospital emergency rooms, the schools' accident insurance company, and local physicians provided initial acci dent reports. Injuries were sustained by 3% of all elementary school students, 7% of all junior high school (grades 7 and 8) students, and 11% of all high school students. Nonorganized sports and physical education classes each produced nearly twice as many injuries as organized sports. One-fifth of the injuries were considered serious and one-fourth of all injuries could have been avoided had nominal safety precautions been observed.
One-Way Waveguides and Impedance Matching of Loads

We theoretically investigate interaction of propagating waves in one-way waveguides with terminal loads and cavities, showing that the impedance mismatch between the load and the waveguide has no effect on energy propagation through the structure.
Theory of temperature-induced Mott transitions

The Hubbard model is extended to include long-range Coulomb interactions between electrons on different atomic sites. This results in a screening of the effective correlation energy by free carriers. Both the cases of an integral number of electrons per atom and a general electronic density are considered. The electronic free energies of both insulating and metallic states for finite bandwidths are calculated and compared. These results are used to generate complete phase diagrams as functions of temperature and bandwidth. A wide range of electronic behavior can be understood by use of the model. For certain materials, insulator-to-metal transitions are predicted as the temperature is increased. However, for somewhat larger bandwidths, a metallic ground state is present and two transitions are predicted: metal-to-insulator and, at a still higher temperature, insulator-to-metal. The model is used to analyze the anomalous transport properties of the ${\mathrm{Ni}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Co}}_{x}{\mathrm{S}}_{2}$ system.
Investigating the effects of economies of scope on firms’ pricing behavior: Empirical evidence from the US domestic airline industry

Abstract This study investigates to what extent cross-product (belly cargo) output affects (passenger ticket) prices in the US domestic airline industry. The empirical analysis indicates that greater cargo volumes generally result in lower air fares, presumably as a result of the airlines’ realization of economies of scope. This magnitude of this price effect, however, depends on certain firm and route market characteristics. The findings of this study add to extant research on economies of scope, multi-product yield management and airline pricing and provide important insights for policy makers and airline managers alike.
Photon collider: a four-channel autoguider solution

The "Photon Collider" uses a compact array of four off axis autoguider cameras positioned with independent filtering and focus. The photon collider is two way symmetric and robustly mounted with the off axis light crossing the science field which allows the compact single frame construction to have extremely small relative deflections between guide and science CCDs. The photon collider provides four independent guiding signals with a total of 15 square arc minutes of sky coverage. These signals allow for simultaneous altitude, azimuth, field rotation and focus guiding. Guide cameras read out without exposure overhead increasing the tracking cadence. The independent focus allows the photon collider to maintain in focus guide stars when the main science camera is taking defocused exposures as well as track for telescope focus changes. Independent filters allow auto guiding in the science camera wavelength bandpass. The four cameras are controlled with a custom web services interface from a single Linux based industrial PC, and the autoguider mechanism and telemetry is built around a uCLinux based Analog Devices BlackFin embedded microprocessor. Off axis light is corrected with a custom meniscus correcting lens. Guide CCDs are cooled with ethylene glycol with an advanced leak detection system. The photon collider was built for use on Las Cumbres Observatory's 2 meter Faulks telescopes and currently used to guide the alt-az mount.