cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mismatch repair protein expression and microsatellite instability: a comparison of clear cell sarcoma of soft parts and metastatic melanoma

Clear cell sarcoma of soft parts is a rare soft tissue malignancy that shows phenotypic overlap with cutaneous melanoma but can be distinguished by the presence of a t(12;22) translocation. Microsatellite instability (MSI), a variation in the lengths of short repeat DNA segments in the genome, has been implicated in melanoma tumorigenesis, but is rare or absent in clear cell sarcoma. Defects in the mismatch repair (MMR) enzyme complex correlate with MSI in some tumor types, allowing the use of immunohistochemistry for the MMR proteins hMLH1 and hMSH2 to predict the presence of MSI. To determine if the association between MMR defects and MSI extends to clear cell sarcoma, we compared a group of nine clear cell sarcomas to 11 metastatic melanomas on the basis of MSI and the expression of MMR proteins. MSI was studied using fluorescence-based multiplexed PCR of five loci. Immunohistochemistry was evaluated on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue for hMLH1, hMHS2 and hMSH6. MSI was present in only 1/9 (11%) clear cell sarcoma case and in 8/11 (73%) melanoma cases. Immunostaining for hMLH1 and hMSH2 was preserved in all the clear cell sarcomas but loss of immunostaining for one or both proteins was seen in 6/11 melanomas (55%). hMSH6 was detected in 7/9 (78%) clear cell sarcomas and 10/11 (91%) of melanomas. Clear cell sarcoma and metastatic melanoma differed significantly with respect to the presence of MSI (P=0.010) and staining for hMLH1 and/or hMSH2 (P=0.014) but not hMSH6 (P=0.57). Mismatch repair, and consequently genomic instability may contribute to tumorigenesis in melanoma but not clear cell sarcoma. Immunostaining for hMLH1 and hMSH2 and MSI analysis may be helpful in the differential diagnosis of large soft tissue or visceral malignancies with melanocytic differentiation.
Four‐Year Weight Losses in the Look AHEAD Study: Factors Associated With Long‐Term Success

This report provides a further analysis of the year 4 weight losses in the Look AHEAD (Action for Health in Diabetes) study and identifies factors associated with long-term success. A total of 5,145 overweight/obese men and women with type 2 diabetes were randomly assigned to an intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) or a usual care group, referred to as Diabetes Support and Education (DSE). ILI participants were provided approximately weekly group or individual treatment in year 1; continued but less frequent contact was provided in years 2-4. DSE participants received three group educational sessions in all years. As reported previously, at year 4, ILI participants lost an average of 4.7% of initial weight, compared with 1.1% for DSE (P < 0.0001). More ILI than DSE participants lost ≥ 5% (46% vs. 25%, P < 0.0001) and ≥ 10% (23% vs. 10%, P < 0.0001) of initial weight. Within the ILI, achievement of both the 5% and 10% categorical weight losses at year 4 was strongly related to meeting these goals at year 1. A total of 887 participants in ILI lost ≥ 10% at year 1, of whom 374 (42.2%) achieved this loss at year 4. Participants who maintained the loss, compared with those who did not, attended more treatment sessions and reported more favorable physical activity and food intake at year 4. These results provide critical evidence that a comprehensive lifestyle intervention can induce clinically significant weight loss (i.e., ≥ 5%) in overweight/obese participants with type 2 diabetes and maintain this loss in more than 45% of patients at 4 years.
Percutaneous Renal Cryoablation After Partial Nephrectomy: Technical Feasibility, Complications and Outcomes

Purpose: Treatment of locally recurrent or de novo tumors in the ipsilateral kidney after partial nephrectomy represents a management dilemma. Percutaneous renal cryoablation offers a minimally invasive treatment option in such cases. We review our single institution experience with percutaneous cryoablation of renal tumors after partial nephrectomy for technical feasibility, complications and outcomes.Materials and Methods: Between March 2003 and January 2012, 48 patients underwent percutaneous cryoablation for the treatment of 68 ipsilateral renal tumors after previous partial nephrectomy. Oncologic outcomes, complications (Clavien-Dindo classification system) and renal function were evaluated.Results: Median maximal diameter of the treated renal tumors was 2.5 cm (range 1.2 to 5.4). All cryoablation procedures were considered technically successful. Of the 54 biopsy proven or suspected renal cell carcinomas with 3 or more months of computerized tomography/magnetic resonance imaging followup after cryoa...
Hair-cell regeneration in organ cultures of the postnatal chicken inner ear

The sensory epithelium of the avian inner ear retains into adulthood progenitor cells for inner-ear hair cells and other cell types in the epithelium. Hair cells are produced normally on an ongoing basis in the vestibular sensory epithelium, and hair-cell production is increased after insult in both auditory and vestibular sensory epithelia. The details of postnatal hair-cell production are not understood. In particular, molecular factors involved in the initiation and regulation of hair-cell genesis and differentiation are not known. Studies of this phenomena have been hampered by the lack of cell culture models. An organ culture system was developed which encourages generation and differentiation of hair cells in mature inner-ear sensory epithelia. Continuous labeling with tritiated thymidine showed genesis of both supporting cells and hair cells in normal vestibular epithelia grown in culture, and an increase in hair-cell and supporting-cell proliferation in damaged sensory epithelia grown in culture as compared to undamaged controls. This demonstrates, in vitro, both the division and differentiation of hair-cell progenitor cells in normal vestibular epithelia, and the maintenance of the hair-cell regeneration process in damaged inner-ear epithelia. This culture system should be useful for studies of hair-cell genesis and differentiation as well as studies of hair-cell and supporting-cell functioning in general.
An Optimum Repair Policy for the Machine Interference Problem

This paper presents two repair policies for the machine interference problem where machines have two failure modes. In policy I priority of repair is assigned to one failure mode over the other, while in policy II the two failure modes have equal probability of repair. Computer programs were developed to obtain the optimal number of machines to be allocated to a single repair crew for the two policies. Under the same operating conditions, policy II is superior to policy I. The repair crew efficiency and machine availability were evaluated for both policies.
An Analysis of Ionizing Radiation Effects in Four-Layer Semiconductor Devices

The switching of a four-layer semiconductor device in an ionizing radiation environment is calculated by solving the charge transport equations to determine the motion of the electron and hole distributions and the changes in the electric field distribution throughout a one-dimensional device as a function of time. A discussion of the characteristic device turn-on as a function of the ionizing radiation exposure and external circuit and device parameters is presented. In addition to showing the detailed calculated device behavior, the theoretical and experimental results are compared.
Can men and women be just friends

We tested evolution-based hypotheses about (1) sex differences in perceived benefits and costs of opposite-sex friendship and (2) differences in perceived benefits of same-sex friendships and opposite-sex friendships. In the Preliminary Study (N= 400), an act nomination procedure was used to identify the benefits and costs of same-sex friendships and opposite-sex friendships. In Study 1, a total of 231 participants (100 men, 131 women) evaluated the frequency of occurrence of 100 benefits and costs in their closest same-sex friendship or opposite-sex friendship. In Study 2, a total of 229 participants (92 men, 137 women) evaluated how beneficial and how costly each would be if it were to occur in their closest same-sex friendship or opposite-sex friendship. Results supported several key hypotheses. Men perceived sex with their opposite-sex friends as more beneficial than did women. Women reported receiving protection from their opposite-sex friends more often than did men, and they perceived the protection as highly beneficial. Both men and women reported receiving information from opposite-sex friends about how to attract mates, and they perceived this information as beneficial. The discussion focuses on whether these benefits reflect an evolved psychology of opposite-sex friendship, or instead are incidental by-products.
d.c. Magnetic field dependence of r.f. penetration depth and vortex dpnamics in HgPbBaCaCuO, 135 K superconductor

Abstract The vortex dynamics and flux trapping behavior are studied in the newly synthetized superconductor Hg0.7Pb0.3Ba2Ca2Cu3O8+x (Tc = 135 K) by measuring the magnetic field dependence of the r.f. penetration depth at 10 MHp. The penetration depth is shopn to depend linearly on B 1 2 pith a change in slope occurring at a field B ∗ which is associated with the depinning transition in agreement with theoretical predictions. The irreversibility line at 10 MHp is measured from the temperature dependence of B ∗ . A comparison of the field dependence of the r.f. penetration depth in Hg,Pb1223 with that in PBaCuO indicates the Hg,Pb1223 superconductor more strongly traps flux at 77 K compared to PBaCuO.
Chaotic dynamics and fluctuations

Abstract A dynamical approach to the simulation of ensemble averages of complex systems can be realized by introducing new global degrees of freedom, called global demons. The role of the global demons is to render the dynamics chaotic, by coupling to the dynamical variables of the physical system in a particular manner and hence incorporating into these equations of motion the statistical properties of the desired ensemble. The dynamic nature of the equations of motion allows one to investigate both equilibrium and non-equilibrium situations. These methods have the advantage of incorporating the symmetries of a problem into the equations of motion in a simple manner. The global character of the demons seems to be at the origin as well of a better handling of the critical slowing down phenomenon near phase transitions. The global demon approach is likely to have advantages when dealing with systems at finite chemical potential (i.e. with complex actions), some aspects of fermionic theories, as well as (lattice regularized) field theory.
Catalytic Membrane Sensors. A Thin Film Modified H2 Resistive Sensor for Multi-Molecular Detection

Abstract A so-called “catalytic membrane sensor” (CMS) is being developed to impart selectivity and reactivity to the surface of an existing sensor by modifying it with a series of thin films. The proposed “sandwich-type” modification involves deposition of a catalyst layer between two size selective sol-gel layers on a Pd/Ni resistive H2 sensor. The role of the catalyst is to convert organic materials to H2 and organic by-products by a dehydrogenation mechanism. The roles of the membranes are to impart chemical specificity by molecular sieving of the analyte and the converted product streams as well as to control access to the underlying Pd/Ni sensor. The “sandwich” modification will mediate the sensor response and avoid potential poisoning effects. Ultimately, an array of these CMS elements encompassing different catalysts and membranes will further enable improvements in selectivity and specificity via pattern recognition methodologies. This report details the synthesis of the various thin film solutio...
Sir Robert Walpole and Hanover

Historical commonplace notwithstanding, Sir Robert Walpole was not instinctively hostile to Hanover. On the contrary, he consistently argued that Britain's dynastic union with the Electorate should hurt neither country. Walpole and his surrogates formulated this policy to reconcile his early misgivings about Hanoverian influence during the Northern War with his later support for Hanover when endangered by British policy after 1725. Hanover's exposure to Britain's enemies and the accession of George II, whose German sentiments were initially less pronounced than his father’s, temporarily combined to make the Electorate more popular. Walpole's policy served him well until the War of Austrian Succession, when the British public cared less for equity than for Hanoverian submission within dynastic union. A survey of his career, however, shows Sir Robert Walpole and British public opinion to have been more charitable towards Hanover than previously thought.
Thermochemistry of forsterite-fayalite olivine solutions

Abstract The enthalpies of solution of synthetic Mg2SiO4-Fe2SiO4 olivine solid solutions have been measured in Pb2B2O5 melt at 970 K. The heat of solution of forsterite was found to be 15.62 ± 0.3 kcal mol−1 and that of fayalite 9.39 ± 0.14 kcal mol−1. Solid solutions between these end-members exhibit small positive deviations from mixing ideality, asymmetric towards the Fe end-member. In terms of the sub-regular solution model, excess enthalpies of intermediate olivine are adequately represented by the equation Hxs = 2(1000 + 1000XFe) XFeXMg The enthalpies of solution at 970 K are consistent with high temperature phase equilibrium measurements of activity-composition relationships in the olivine series. Excess entropy terms are not needed to relate the phase equilibrium data to the calorimetric data presented here. The enthalpy of solution of FeSiO3 ferrosilite at 970 K was found to be 4.36 ± 0.10 kcal mol−1. This value, when taken together with calorimetric measurements on fayalite and quartz, is consistent with phase equilibrium investigations of the reaction: 2FeSiO3 = Fe2SiO4 + SiO2 Ferrosilite Fayalite Quartz These provide a check on the internal consistency of the calorimetric data presented here.
Solubility of hydrocortisone in organic and aqueous media: Evidence for regular solution behavior in apolar solvents

The solubility of hydrocortisone was determined experimentally in a wide variety of solvents. Groups of solvents were selected to emphasize different solute-solvent interactions which can influence the solubility profile of such a large, polyfunctional solute. Regular solution theory for a crystalline solute was shown to be applicable to the solubility behavior of hydrocortisone in solvents that lack strong dipoles and the ability to hydrogen bond. A best-fit solubility parameter of 12.4 (cal/ml)1/2 for hydrocortisone was determined from the latter solubilities and the ideal solubility of hydrocortisone. This solubility parameter estimate was significantly higher than estimates calculated from molar-attraction constants. Even though molar volume ratios between hydrocortisone and the solvents ranged from 2.25 to 3.28, the associated Flory-Huggins entropy term did not seem to be a significant solubility-determining factor. In all cases, the solubility of hydrocortisone in solvents capable of dipole-dipole interactions and hydrogen bonding was shown to be higher by logarithmic orders when compared with regular solution theory predictions. Thus, for this solute, regular solution theory was shown to be appropriate only for solvents where London dispersion forces dominate the interactions between solute and solvent molecules.
The conjugate gradient technique for certain quadratic network problems

The paper considers a class of network flow problems with pure quadratic costs and demonstrates that the conjugate gradient technique is highly effective for large-scale versions. It is shown that finding a saddle point for the Lagrangian of an m constraint, n variable network problem requires only the solution of an unconstrained quadratic programming problem with only m variables. It is demonstrated that the number of iterations for the conjugate gradient algorithm is substantially smaller than the number of variables or constraints in the (primal) network problem. Forty quadratic minimum-cost flow problems of various sizes up to 100 nodes are solved.
Development of a Shape Memory Alloy Composite Actuator for the Whole Skin Locomotion Robot

In this paper the development of a novel actuator is presented that utilizes a flexible shape memory alloy composite (SMAC) to generate motion for the Whole Skin Locomotion (WSL) robot. The WSL mechanism for mobile robots is inspired by how single celled organisms use cytoplasmic streaming to generate pseudopods for locomotion. This mobility mechanism is directly suited for robots traversing tight spaces where flexibility and shape changes are deemed necessary. The body of the WSL robot is comprised of an elongated fluid filled torus which turns itself inside out in a single continuous motion, effectively generating the overall motion of the cytoplasmic streaming ecto-plasmic tube in amoebae. The eversion of the entire outer skin of the WSL is driven by a pair of the SMAC actuators in the shape of a torus. The actuation of the SMAC is accomplished by the individually controlled shape memory alloy wires embedded in an elastic beam that is then deformed into a torus shape. The design of the first prototype, fabrication efforts as well as a qualitative model of the behavior are presented. Experiments validating aspects of the modeling are also discussed.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Peptide length requirement for experimental allergic encephalomyelitis in guinea pigs.

Three peptides overlapping the tryptophan region of bovine CNS myelin basic protein were synthesized by the solid phase procedure of Merrifield. These were the nonapeptide H-Phe-Ser-Trp-Gly-Ala-Glu-Gly-Gln-Lys-OH, the octapeptide H-Ser-Trp-Gly-Ala-Glu-Gly-Gln-Lys-OH, and the heptapeptide H-Trp-Gly-Ala-Glu-Gly-Gln-Lys-OH. They were tested fro encephalitogenic activity in guinea pigs with either Freund's complete adjuvant containingM. tuberculosis or muramyl dipeptide in incomplete Freud's adjuvant at doses of 10 μg per animal. The results show that deletion of one or two residues from the amino-terminal end of the nonapeptide destroyed the ability of the shorter peptides to induce clinical but not histological signs of EAE.
Terminal bronchiolar-alveolar (TB-A) units in circumfusion system cultures.

Long-term (more than 75 days) recirculating circumfusion system cultures of 15-day fetal mouse lungs gave rise to terminal bronchiolar-alveolar (TB-A) units detached from the respiratory tree. TB-A units established in serum-free microenvironments under reconstructed cellophane membranes became especially flat and optically accessible in fast-flowing 6-chamber systems devoid of a pulse pressure. Time-lapse cinephase movies showed that the alveoli were maintained debris-free by the phagocytosis of alveolar macrophages which entered the alveoli by penetrating the pneumocytic walls. The terminal bronchioles with active ciliary cells communicated with the alveoli and together they formed a flat fluid-filled tubule-like closed system composed of ultrastructurally typical differentiated cellular constituents, viz. types I and II pneumocytes, endocrine-like cells, ciliary cells, Clara cells, and septal cells. TB-A units were observed throughout 150 days of cultivation at which time their phase morphological differentiation remained stable and their functional activity observable as smooth-muscle contractions, ciliation, and alveolar macrophage phagocytosis. A 1000-foot motion-picture film complementing the descriptions of the TB-A units and the alveolar macrophages in the text is deposited with the Motion Picture Film Rental Collection of the Tissue Culture Association, Inc., at the W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center, Lake Placid, New Hork.
Thermoviscous Effects in Steady and Oscillating Flow of an Isotropic Superfluid: Theory

A calculation is presented of thermoviscous effects in both steady and oscillating flow of an isotropic superfluid through small apertures and channels. These calculations, which are based on the two-fluid model, are motivated by the work of Robinson and Atkins which included only the thermal effects of flow through a superleak. This paper extends these calculations to include the effects of normal fluid flow, compressibility, and thermal expansion. These effects are found to be both dissipative and reactive(nondissipative). The motivation for the extension is to provide a clear understanding of the reactive and dissipative forces at work in superfluid flow experiments. In the paper which immediately follows this one, predictions based on the results of this paper are compared with a wide array of experimental data. This work takes on importance due to the recent discovery of gyroscopic effects, and the possible development of sensitive gyroscopes in experimental cells whose geometry is similar to the one considered in this paper.
Childhood Trauma and Current Anxiety among College Men

In an examination of the prevalence and effects of childhood trauma among college freshmen, as expected, the majority of 515 youth reported at least one traumatic experience in childhood. When fear of death or serious injury accompanies a traumatic event, posttraumatic symptoms may be more likely. As hypothesized, scores on the Reaction Index by Frederick were elevated for subjects who reported trauma with concurrent fear. The combination of trauma and fear was also associated with elevated scores on trait anxiety. While most adolescents do not develop mental illness following single traumatic events, many may be made more vulnerable to the psychogenic effects of future trauma.
Comparative maintenance of function in dispersed cell and organ cultures of bovine mammary tissue.

Abstract Dispersed cell cultures and organ cultures were prepared from lactating bovine mammary tissue and compared in their ability to synthesize the milk proteins β-lactoglobulin and β-casein as affected by hormone additions and time in culture. Cortisol was necessary, with the usual hormones, prolactin, aldosterone and insulin, in order to elicit a response in both types of cultures. Cells of the dispersed cell cultures synthesized significantly more of the proteins under all conditions. The synthesis of the two proteins decreased markedly in both types of cultures with time with or without hormones present. Hormones enhanced the synthesis of both proteins only in the dispersed cell cultures at the initial 0–18 h period, but affected both types of cultures at 3 days with enhancement of the synthesis of β-casein over that of β-lactoglobulin. The results suggest that dispersed cell cultures may provide some decided advantages over the use of organ cultures in biochemical studies to elucidate mechanisms of milk synthesis and the effect of hormones on the mammary secretory cell.
Career Prospects for Graduating Nuclear Medicine Residents: Survey of Nuclear Medicine Program Directors

There has been much consternation in the nuclear medicine (NM) community in recent years regarding the difficulty many NM graduates experience in securing initial employment. A survey designed to determine the extent and root causes behind the paucity of career opportunities was sent to all 2010-2011 NM residency program directors. The results of that survey and its implications for NM trainees and the profession are presented and discussed in this article.
Effect of adenosine deaminase inhibitors on the apparent rate of phosphorylation of deoxyadenosine.

Abstract The apparent rate of phosphorylation of deoxyadenosine has been studied in crude extracts of human leukemic cells. Since detection and quantitation of phosphorylated products of deoxyadenosine are not possible in the presence of the competing enzyme, adenosine deaminase, an assay system has been devised in which deaminase activity is totally inhibited. Two inhibitors of adenosine deaminase, erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine and 2′-deoxycoformycin were tested. Complete inhibition of adenosine deaminase cannot be achieved with erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine, but can be achieved with 2′-deoxycoformycin at concentrations greater than 100 μ m . Use of deoxycoformycin allows an accurate assessment of phosphorylation of deoxyadenosine and its nucleoside analogs. Cellular extracts from patients with several types of leukemia contained a 30-fold difference in relative deoxyadenosine kinase activity. Adenine arabinoside is a competitive inhibitor of deoxyadenosine, but not adenosine phosphorylation with a Ki (app) of 3.2 m m . This inhibition pattern is consistent with a common pathway of phosphorylation for deoxyadenosine and adenine arabinoside in human leukemic cells.
Cardiac Disease and Heart Failure in Cancer Patients: Is Our Training Adequate to Provide Optimal Care?

The care of patients with cancer who have cardiac disease is dispersed both sequentially and concurrently across multiple providers, and an important goal of education is communication among the providers regarding change of therapy, toxicity of therapy, and symptom assessments. Changes must be made to improve the delivery of cardiac care in patients with cancer and cancer survivors. Therefore, the authors propose a multilevel approach that includes short, targeted curriculum for housestaff training programs in internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, cardiology and oncology; increasing presence at national meetings of internists, oncologists and cardiologists; and an Internet-based repository of core information.
Host factors and early therapeutic response in acute otitis media.

To evaluate the relationship between eradication of bacterial infection and clinical improvement in children with otitis media, we reviewed the clinical outcome of bacterial otitis media in patients enrolled in double-blind trials of antibacterial therapy from 1979 to 1988. Cultures of middle ear exudates showed the distribution of bacterial pathogens to be similar to that observed in other geographic areas. Two hundred ninety-three patients had otitis media caused by bacterial pathogens and underwent repeat tympanocentesis after 3 to 6 days of therapy. Bacteriologic success was demonstrated in 253 patients (86%); 40 patients (14%) had bacteriologic failure. Children who had bacteriologic failure were younger than those with bacteriologic success (median age 10.6 vs 18.5 months; p =0.001); 38% of patients who had bacteriologic failure were black, compared with 18% of patients with bacteriologic success ( p =0.007). Gender, history of frequent otitis media, and presence of bilateral otitis media were not risk factors for bacteriologic failure. Clinical success was demonstrated in 261 patients (89%); 32 patients (11%) had clinical failure. Agreement between clinical and bacteriologic response was 86% (95% confidence interval: 81.6% to 89.6%). Ninety-three percent (236/253) of subjects whose infection was eliminated had clinical resolution, whereas 37% (15/40) of those with bacteriologic failure had persisting symptoms or signs of clinical failure. We conclude that failure to eliminate bacteria from the middle ear is often associated with persistent signs and symptoms. Bacteriologic failure affects children
Tuberoinfundibular peptide 39 binds to the parathyroid hormone (PTH)/PTH-related peptide receptor, but functions as an antagonist.

The tuberoinfundibular peptide TIP39 [TIP-(1–39)], which exhibits only limited amino acid sequence homology with PTH and PTH-related peptide (PTHrP), stimulates cAMP accumulation in cells expressing the PTH2 receptor (PTH2R), but it is inactive at the PTH/PTHrP receptor (PTH1R). However, when using either 125I-labeled rat[ Nle8,21,Tyr34]PTH-(1–34)amide (rPTH) or 125I-labeled human [Tyr36]PTHrP-(1–36)amide[ PTHrP-(1–36)] for radioreceptor studies, TIP-(1–39) bound to LLCPK1 cells stably expressing the PTH1R (HKrk-B7 cells), albeit with weak apparent affinity (243 ± 52 and 210 ± 64 nm, respectively). In comparison to the parent peptide, the apparent binding affinity of TIP-(3–39) was about 3-fold higher, and that of TIP-(9–39) was about 5.5-fold higher. However, despite their improved IC50 values at the PTH1R, both truncated peptides failed to stimulate cAMP accumulation in HKrk-B7 cells. In contrast, the chimeric peptide PTHrP-(1–20)/TIP-(23–39) bound to HKrk-B7 cells with affinities of 31 ± 8.2 and 11 ± 4...
Complete controllability and contractibility in multimodal systems

Abstract The concept of a strictly positive definite set of Hermitian matrices is introduced. It is shown that a strictly positive definite set is always a positive definite set, and conditions are found under which a positive definite set is strictly positive definite. We also show that a set of Hermitian matrices is strictly positive definite if and only if some nonnegative linear combination of these matrices is a positive definite matrix. For state dimension two, we use this concept to find necessary and sufficient conditions for a two-mode completely controllable irreducible multimodal system to be contractible relative to an elliptic norm. For general state dimensions, we give necessary and sufficient conditions for a special-type two-mode completely controllable irreducible system to be contractible relative to a weakly monotone norm. Applying the above results, we show that, for state dimension two, there exists a completely controllable two-mode system which is not contractible relative to either an elliptic or a weakly monotone norm. We leave open the question whether or not complete controllability implies contractibility, relative to some norm, for multimodal systems of two or more modes.
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN VIOLATIONS OF EXPECTATIONS AND THE INDUCTION OF RESISTANCE TO PERSUASION

This investigation expanded and refined a model of resistance to persuasion developed by Burgoon, Cohen, Miller, and Montgomery (1978). It is argued that a logical shortcoming of this model of resistance to persuasion is its failure to incorporate the notion of confirmation and disconfirmation of receiver expectations. Support was found for the prediction that violations of induced receiver expectations and the intensity of a persuasive message are mediators of resistance to persuasion. Positive violations of expectations induce counterarguing and lead to reversals of initial positive attitudes after receipt of a second message arguing on the same side of an attitude issue. Negative violations of receiver expectations decrease the probability of counterarguing, and increase the vulnerability of people to subsequent persuasive attacks. Strong support for the predictions was obtained in this investigation. Competing explanations for the results were ruled out through the utilization of a counterbalanced design and control procedures. These results provide a partial replication of the earlier empirical evidence supporting this new model of resistance to persuasion and cannot be explained by other models of resistance to persuasion. Moreover, the findings break new theoretical ground in their explanation of findings that appear counterintuitive without reference to this theoretical rationale.
Minimizing bending losses in two-dimensional discrete soliton networks: errata.

We show that reflection losses suffered by discrete solitons along sharp bends in two-dimensional waveguide-array networks can be almost eliminated. Analysis indicates that this can be accomplished by appropriately engineering the corner site of the bend. Our analytical results are verified by numerical simulations.
Optimal Proof Burdens, Deterrence, and the Chilling of Desirable Behavior

Determination of the stringency of the burden of proof is a central design question in any system of adjudication, including in many private settings (employee promotion and firing, product launches). Prior work oriented towards ex ante behavior focuses on deterrence, using models in which individuals decide whether or not to commit a harmful act—versus abstention or, perhaps instead, commission of a less harmful act, such as when greater precaution is taken. 1 In this setting, the optimal proof burden maximizes deterrence, which involves maximizing the difference between the ex ante likelihoods of correct and incorrect imposition of sanctions. Section I briefly derives this result and shows how, contrary to some suggestions, it differs from the familiar preponderance of the evidence rule under which sanctions are applied if and only if it is more likely than not that the individual before the tribunal committed the harmful act. Such analysis, however, omits a central concern with the mistaken imposition of sanctions: that the prospect of such error will chill desir able behavior. In competition law, efficient, procompetitive behavior (e.g., promotional pricing) may be discouraged; with securities regulation, the cost of capital may be raised if honest IPOs often lead to successful class action suits; under tort law, health care providers might avoid treatment of high-risk patients for fear of erroneous malpractice liability. This dimension of the problem seems widespread and is likely to be
My Stomach Fell Through the Floor: The Moment of Not-Knowing What to Do

SUMMARY Youth workers routinely experience moments in their professional practice with young people when, despite their experience and training, they are simply at a loss for what to do, how to respond, and how to be helpful to the youth. These experiences of not-knowing are seldom shared with other youth workers, which contributes to a climate of shame and humiliation. Professional supervision seldom attends to how youth workers experience these moments and their personal and vocational costs. This study presents a phenomenological investigation of how youth workers experience moments of not knowing what to do, identifies five central themes of the experience, and makes recommendations for improved youth work practice and supervision. This chapter presents the research question and its significance to the field of American youth work.
An analysis of the adequacy of the asymmetric carrier model for sugar transport

Abstract In 1972, Lieb, W. R.; Stein, W. D. (Biochim. Biophys. Acta 265, 187–207) in their review of sugar transport in human erythrocytes concluded that the conventional two-state carrier model was inconsistent with the experimental data available at that time. Since then, other papers have appeared which question the validity of the model. In this paper, we give a brief derivation of the equations describing the two-state carrier model, and analyze the predictions of the model in the classical experiments, i.e. zero- trans , infinite- cis , and equilibrium exchange. We show that the estimate of the half saturatiion constant of 2.8 mM for glucose at the inner face of the human red cell membrane for the infinite- cis procedure reported by Hankin, B. L., Lieb, W. R. and Stein, W. D ((1972) Biochim. Biophys. Acta 288, 114–126) is unreliable. We note that all of the other experimental findings are consistent with the asymmetric carrier model.
On the calculation of turbulent heat and mass transport downstream from an abrupt pipe expansion

A numerical study is reported of heat/mass transfer in the separated flow region created by an abrupt pipe expansion. Computations have employed a hybrid method of central and upwind finite differencing to solve the full Navier-Stokes equations with turbulent model (k approximately equal to epsilon). The study has given its main attention to the simulation of the region in the immediate vicinity of the wall, by formulating near-wall model for the evaluation of the mean generation and destruction rate of the epsilon equation. The computed results were compared with the experimental data and they showed generally encouraging agreement with the measurements.
Competitive adsorption between SDS and carbonate on tetrahydrofuran hydrates

Abstract Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) has been well known as a promoter for the formation of hydrates. However, the use of SDS to enhance the formation of CO2 hydrates has not been effective. This work will present an idea of competitive adsorption that will provide insights into the nonpromoting effect of SDS under high carbonate concentrations. The competitive adsorption is studied between DS− monomers and carbonate ions on tetrahydrofuran (THF) hydrates. The adsorption is qualitatively investigated by using pyrene fluorescence measurements. The SDS concentration at which hydrophobic domains occur on the hydrate surface increases with the increased carbonate concentration and this trend is less dependent on the order of addition of these two species. This concentration is 0.17 mM at carbonate concentrations less than 2 μM and it shifts to 3.47 mM at carbonate concentrations higher than 2.5 μM. Thus, using carbonate with its concentration higher than 2.5 μM would be enough to displace the hydrophobic domains formed by SDS up to the solubility limit.
Threshold behavior of epidemics in regular networks

Current research is interested in identifying how topology impacts epidemics in networks. In this paper, we model SIS (susceptible-infected-susceptible) epidemics as a continuous-time Markov process and for which we can obtain a closed form description of the equilibrium distribution. Such distribution describes the long-run behavior of the epidemics. The adjacency matrix of the network topology is reflected explicitly in the formulation of the equilibrium distribution. Secondly, we are interested in analyzing the model in the regime where the topology dependent infection process opposes the topology independent healing process. Specifically, how will network topology affect the most probable long-run network state? We show that for k-regular graph topologies, the most probable network state transitions from the state where everyone is healthy to one where everyone is infected at a threshold that depends on k but not on the size of the graph.
National intimacy and post-socialist networking

Social networking sites have become a part of everyday life in post-Soviet cultures. 'International Who is Who' (Iwiw) is unparalleled in its popularity. Modelled after Friendster, Iwiw had 1.5 million registered users in Hungary (a country of 10 million) by 2006, when it was purchased by Deutsche Telecom. The emergence, rapid growth and functioning of this predominantly language and location-based virtual public space provide valuable insight into the formation of a networked public in post-socialist cultures. The article discusses the political and economic context of Iwiw's emergence in comparison with popular social network sites of a global reach such as Facebook and MySpace. It introduces the notion of `national intimacy' to reflect on a specific post-communist tension between the democratic model of interaction presented by Iwiw and the national boundaries of this model; and between the global potential of the technology and its restricted, national use.
A behavioral model of an analog voltage comparator

A behavioral model of an analog voltage comparator is presented. This model consists of a set of nonlinear differential equations. There is no restriction on the means by which the model equations are derived. As an illustration, the equations are derived from an intermediate representation of the original comparator. Simulation comparisons between the actual circuit and the behavioral model show good agreement (typically within 10%) for transient response parameters. >
The Economic Aspects of Environmental Co‐operatives for Farmers

Nature and landscape and the quality of soil, water and air are indicated as the environment. On the basis of exclusiveness and rivalry the environment is a public good. Modern mechanized and intensified agriculture has reduced qualities of this environment. These consequences are negative external effects of contemporary agriculture, and in this sense a typical example of market failure. Government intervention is, because of x‐inefficiency and allocation inefficiency, not without problems. An alternative would be to apply a decentralized decision‐making process. The “club” theory offers a theoretical basis from which it can be deduced that co‐operation by farmers in the shape of an environmental co‐operative is a Pareto efficient alternative to Government interventions. For legitimacy, effectiveness and efficiency it is important that covenants, transferable pollution rights or permits and management agreements are a coherent part of the instruments of an environmental co‐operative.
Calibration of a conodont apatite-based Ordovician 87Sr/86Sr curve to biostratigraphy and geochronology: Implications for stratigraphic resolution

The Ordovician 87 Sr/ 86 Sr isotope seawater curve is well established and shows a decreasing trend until the mid-Katian. However, uncertainties in calibration of this curve to biostratigraphy and geochronology have made it diffi cult to determine how the rates of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr decrease may have varied, which has implications for both the stratigraphic resolution possible using Sr isotope stratigraphy and efforts to model the effects of Ordovician geologic events. We measured 87 Sr/ 86 Sr in conodont apatite in North American Ordovician sections that are well studied for conodont biostratigraphy, primarily in Nevada, Oklahoma, the Appalachian region, and Ohio Valley. Our results indicate that conodont apatite may provide an accurate medium for Sr isotope stratigraphy and strengthen previous reports that point toward a signifi cant increase in the rate of fall in seawater 87 Sr/ 86 Sr during the Middle Ordovician Darriwilian Stage. Our 87 Sr/ 86 Sr results suggest that Sr isotope stratigraphy will be most useful as a high-resolution tool for global correlation in the mid-Darriwilian to mid-Sandbian, when the maximum rate of fall in Sr/
Using thesaurus to model keyblock-based image retrieval

Keyblock, which is a new framework we proposed for content-based image retrieval, is a generalization of the textbased information retrieval technology in the image domain. In this framework, keyblocks, which are analogous to keywords in text document retrieval, can be constructed by exploiting the method of Vector Quantization (VQ). Then an image can be represented as a list of keyblocks similar to a text document which can be considered as a list of keywords. Based on this image representation, various feature models can be constructed for supporting image retrieval. In this paper, we present a new feature representation model which use the keyblock-keyblock correlation matrix, termed keyblock-thesaurus, to facilitate the image retrieval. The feature vectors of this new model incorporate the effect of correlation between keyblocks, thus being more effective in representing image content.
Ascending Hnn Extensions of Finitely Generated Free Groups Are Hopfian

It is shown that every ascending HNN extension of a nitely generated free group is Hopan. An important ingredient in the proof is that under certain hypotheses on the group H ,i fG is an ascending HNN extension of H, then cd(G )= cd(H )+1 . 1. Statement of results Ag roupG is Hopan, provided that every surjective endomorphism of G is an automorphism. This notion originated in connection with Hopf’s question of whether a degree 1 map from a closed manifold to itself must be a homotopy equivalence. While it is easy to give examples of innitely generated groups which are not Hopan, for some time it was an open question as to whether every nitely generated group is indeed Hopan. The rst nitely generated example was given by B. Neumann in [13], and shortly thereafter the following nitely presented example was given by G. Higman in [8]: ha;s;tj a t = a 2 ;a s = a 2 i;
Infectious response to E. coli: molecular and genetic pathways.

Abstract Urinary tract infections are most commonly caused by type 1-piliated Escherichia coli (UPEC) and result in urothelial apoptosis, local cytokine release and neutrophil infiltration. A human urothelial cell line was incubated with various E. coli isolates and was then characterized by flow cytometry. UPEC induced rapid urothelial apoptosis that was dependent upon interactions mediated by type 1 pili. Laboratory isolates expressing type 1 pili-induced approximately 50% less apoptosis. UPEC blocked activity of a NF-κB-dependent reporter in response to inflammatory stimuli by stabilizing IκBα and UPEC rapidly altered cellular signalling pathways. Finally, blocking NF-κB activity increased the level of the laboratory strain-induced apoptosis to the level of apoptosis induced by UPEC. These results suggest that UPEC blocks NF-κB and enhances type 1 pili-induced apoptosis as a component of the uropathogenic programme.
Implementing and sustaining educational reforms: the case for little “r”

The increasing importance of schools and learning in the changing patterns of work and society is widely recognized. However, implementing and sustaining educational reforms pose major problems in all countries. This paper briefly: (1) summarizes conceptual trends in implementing educational change, (2) reviews the complexities of educational policy and the changing patterns of educational governance and management common to many countries, (3) discusses the evolving roles of researchers in this shifting environment, and (4) makes an argument for the utility of certain kinds of research and evaluation or what the author calls ‘little r,’ with particular attention directed toward the contribution of little r in developing schools as learning organizations.
Rapid sampling of local minima in protein energy surface and effective reduction through a multi-objective filter

Many problems in protein modeling require obtaining a discrete representation of the protein conformational space as an ensemble of conformations. In ab-initio structure prediction, in particular, where the goal is to predict the native structure of a protein chain given its amino-acid sequence, the ensemble needs to satisfy energetic constraints. Given the thermodynamic hypothesis, an effective ensemble contains low-energy conformations which are similar to the native structure. The high-dimensionality of the conformational space and the ruggedness of the underlying energy surface currently make it very difficult to obtain such an ensemble. Recent studies have proposed that Basin Hopping is a promising probabilistic search framework to obtain a discrete representation of the protein energy surface in terms of local minima. Basin Hopping performs a series of structural perturbations followed by energy minimizations with the goal of hopping between nearby energy minima. This approach has been shown to be effective in obtaining conformations near the native structure for small systems. Recent work by us has extended this framework to larger systems through employment of the molecular fragment replacement technique, resulting in rapid sampling of large ensembles. This paper investigates the algorithmic components in Basin Hopping to both understand and control their effect on the sampling of near-native minima. Realizing that such an ensemble is reduced before further refinement in full ab-initio protocols, we take an additional step and analyze the quality of the ensemble retained by ensemble reduction techniques. We propose a novel multi-objective technique based on the Pareto front to filter the ensemble of sampled local minima. We show that controlling the magnitude of the perturbation allows directly controlling the distance between consecutively-sampled local minima and, in turn, steering the exploration towards conformations near the native structure. For the minimization step, we show that the addition of Metropolis Monte Carlo-based minimization is no more effective than a simple greedy search. Finally, we show that the size of the ensemble of sampled local minima can be effectively and efficiently reduced by a multi-objective filter to obtain a simpler representation of the probed energy surface.