cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Neutron and Gamma-Ray Scattering at the University of Missouri Research Reactor Center

The neutron and gamma-ray scattering facilities at the University of Missouri Research Reactor Center include six elastic and inelastic neutron scattering instruments currently in operation and three additional ones under construction. A gamma-ray diffraction and quasi-elastic spectrometer are also available. The Center has no formal user program, but encourages external collaborative work particularly that involves graduate student thesis research.
A rapid assay for DNA photolyase using a membrane-binding technique.

— A rapid assay for DNA photolyase was developed that makes use of the membrane binding technique of A. D. Riggs, H. Suzuki and S. Bourgeois, J. Mol. Biol.48, 67–83 (1970). The complex formed between UV-irradiated bacteriophage T7 DNA-3H and the enzyme is trapped on a nitrocellulose filter after a five-minute equilibration and is counted. Using this technique, one can calculate the molar concentration of enzyme in an enzyme preparation and the saturation constant (K) for the complex formation. The latter value is 2.6 cyclobutadipyrimidines per genome (T7) for yeast DNA photolyase; thus approximately 5.2 dipyrimidines/genome are necessary for the full retention of the DNA on the membrane. The speed and reproducibility of the new method makes it a convenient one for assaying column effluents and as many as one hundred samples can be handled routinely in an afternoon.
Changing Computer Technology: What Can Managers Do?

Office tasks of typing, filing, scheduling and mailing have been increasingly automated over the past ten years. By the 1990s, 20‐38 million of the 50 million office jobs will be affected by computer technology (Levitan and Johnson, 1981). Zuboff (1982) reports that there were five million data terminals in use in 1982, and the market for such terminals will increase at a 25 per cent annual rate over the next ten years.
Automated energy calculation and estimation for delay-insensitive digital circuits

With increasingly smaller feature sizes and higher on-chip densities, the power dissipation of VLSI systems has become a primary concern for designers. This paper first describes a procedure to simulate a transistor-level design using a VHDL testbench, and then presents a fast and efficient energy estimation approach for delay-insensitive (DI) systems, based on gate-level switching. Specifically, the VHDL testbench reads the transistor-level design's outputs and supplies the inputs accordingly, also allowing for automatic checking of functional correctness. This type of transistor-level simulation is absolutely necessary for asynchronous circuits because the inputs change relative to handshaking signals, which are not periodic, instead of changing relative to a periodic clock pulse, as do synchronous systems. The method further supports automated calculation of power and energy metrics. The energy estimation approach produces results three orders of magnitude faster than transistor-level simulation, and has been automated and works with standard industrial design tool suites, such as Mentor Graphics and Synopsys. Both methods are applied to the NULL Convention Logic (NCL) DI paradigm, and are first demonstrated using a simple NCL sequencer, and then tested on a number of different NCL 4-bitx4-bit unsigned multiplier architectures. Energy per operation is automatically calculated for both methods, using an exhaustive testbench to simulate all input combinations and to check for functional correctness. The results show that both methods produce the desired output for all circuits, and that the gate-level switching approach developed herein produces results more than 1000 times as fast as transistor-level simulation, that fall within the range obtained by two different industry-standard transistor-level simulators. Hence, the developed energy estimation method is extremely useful for quickly determining how architecture changes affect energy usage.
Longitudinal Laminar Flow Between Cylinders Arranged in Regular Array

The increasing complexity of heat transfer and process situations which involve fluid flow has demanded the frequent use of flow passages of unusual geometrical configuration. The present investigation is concerned with one such novel configuration, namely the longitudinal flow between solid cylindrical rods which are arranged in regular array. A schematic diagram of the situation under study. The rods may be located either in triangular or square array. The flow will be taken to be laminar and fully developed. The aim of this analysis is to determine the pressure drop, shear stress, and velocity-distribution characteristics of the system. The starting point of this study is the basic law of momentum conservation. The resulting differential equation has been solved in an approximate, but almost exact, manner by the use of truncated trigonometric series. Results are obtained over a wide range of porosity values for both the triangular and square arrays. Heat transfer has not been considered. The configuration under investigation has potential application in compact heat exchangers for nuclear reactors and other situations. Further the results should also be of interest in the theory of flow through unconsolidated porous beds (ia, 9a). The only related analytical work known to the authors is that of Emersleben (S), who considered only the square array. His rather involved solution, based on complex zeta functions, appears to be valid only at high porosities. Experiments covering a porosity range of 0.093 to 0.984 have been made by Sullivan (4) using parallel-oriented fibers, most of the tests being for fibers in random array. These previous investigations will be compared with the present theory in a later section.
Selective Cleavage of the Heregulin Receptor ErbB-4 by Protein Kinase C Activation

The 180-kDa transmembrane tyrosine kinase ErbB-4 is a receptor for the growth factor heregulin. 125I-Heregulin binding to NIH 3T3 cells overexpressing the ErbB-4 receptor is rapidly decreased by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) pretreatment. Immunologic analysis demonstrates that TPA treatment of cells induces the proteolytic cleavage of ErbB-4, producing an 80-kDa cytoplasmic domain fragment, which contains a low level of phosphotyrosine, and a 120-kDa ectodomain fragment, which is released into the extracellular medium. Cleavage of ErbB-4 was also enhanced by other protein kinase C activators, i.e. platelet-derived growth factor, ionomycin, and synthetic diacylglycerol, while protein kinase C inhibition or down-regulation suppressed the TPA stimulation of ErbB-4 degradation. TPA did not induce the degradation of related receptors (ErbB-1, ErbB-2, and ErbB-3) in the EGF receptor family. The phorbol ester-induced cleavage of ErbB-4 occurs within or close to the ectodomain, as the 80-kDa cytoplasmic domain fragment is recognized by antibody to the ErbB-4 carboxyl terminus and is membrane-associated. Coprecipitation experiments show that, while the 80-kDa ErbB-4 fragment is associated with the SH2-containing molecules PLC-γ1 and Shc, TPA did not induce the phosphorylation of these substrates in intact cells. In addition, kinase assays in vitro indicate that the 80-kDa fragment is not an active tyrosine kinase. These results show that protein kinase C negatively regulates heregulin signaling through the ErbB-4 receptor by the activation of a selective proteolytic mechanism.
The Elimination of Self-Reference: Generalized Yablo-Series and the Theory of Truth

Although it was traditionally thought that self-reference is a crucial ingredient of semantic paradoxes, Yablo (1993, 2004) showed that this was not so by displaying an infinite series of sentences none of which is self-referential but which, taken together, are paradoxical. Yablo’s paradox consists of a countable series of linearly ordered sentences s(0), s(1), s(2),... , where each s(i) says: For each k >i, s(k) is false (or equivalently: For no k >i is s(k) true). We generalize Yablo’s results along two dimensions. First, we study the behavior of generalized Yablo-series in which each sentence s(i) has the form: For Q k >i, s(k) is true, where Q is a generalized quantifier (e.g., no, every, infinitely many, etc). We show that under broad conditions all the sentences in the series must have the same truth value, and we derive a characterization of those values of Q for which the series is paradoxical. Second, we show that in the Strong Kleene trivalent logic Yablo’s results are a special case of a more general fact: under certain conditions, any semantic phenomenon that involves self-reference can be emulated without self-reference. Various translation procedures that eliminate self-reference from a non-quantificational language are defined and characterized. An Appendix sketches an extension to quantificational languages, as well as a new argument that Yablo’s paradox and the translations we offer do not involve self-reference.
A link between scattering resonances and dilation analytic resonances in few body quantum mechanics

We study the (2 cluster)→(2 cluster) scattering amplitudes for classes of two, three, and four particle dilation analytic Schrodinger operators whose two-body potentials fall off exponentially. As functions of the energy, these amplitudes are shown to have meromorphic continuations on certain Riemann surfaces. We prove that all poles of these continuations are necessarily bound states or dilation analytic resonances [i.e., eigenvalues ofH(θ) for some θ].
Associations Between Mercury and Hepatic, Renal, Endocrine, and Hematological Parameters in Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) Along the Eastern Coast of Florida and South Carolina

We evaluated associations between total mercury (Hg) concentrations in blood and skin and endocrine, hepatic, renal, and hematological parameters in free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Dolphins in Indian River Lagoon, FL had higher concentrations of Hg in blood (0.67 μg/l wet wt) and skin (7.24 μg/g dry wt) compared with those from Charleston Harbor, SC (0.15 μg/l wet wt, 1.68 μg/g dry wt). An inverse relationship was observed between blood and skin Hg concentrations and total thyroxine, triiodothyronine, absolute numbers of lymphocytes, eosinophils, and platelets. Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), blood urea nitrogen, and gamma-glutamyl transferase increased with increasing concentrations of Hg in blood and skin; lactate dehydrogenase and neutrophils increased with concentrations in skin only. Hemoglobin and mean corpuscular hemoglobin increased with increasing concentrations of Hg in blood. Selenium was negatively associated with free T4, progesterone, and absolute numbers of monocytes, and positively correlated with absolute numbers of eosinophils and lymphocytes, and mean corpuscular volume. The results suggest the potential for a deleterious effect of Hg in highly exposed dolphins.
ON HIDING MESSAGES IN THE OVERSAMPLED FOURIER COEFFICIENTS

Abstract A system using an oversampled Fourier transform for hiding data is given in [J.R. Miotke, L. Rebollo-Neira, Oversampling of Fourier coefficients for hiding messages, Appl. Comput. Harmon. Anal. 16 (2004) 203–207]. When viewed as a cryptographic algorithm, we demonstrate here that the system is susceptible to a known plaintext attack.
Writing the Woman Artist: Essays on Poetics, Politics, and Portraiture

Writing the Woman Artist is a collection of essays that explore the ways women writers portray women painters, sculptors, writers, and performers.
Synthesis of flavonoid sulfates: 1. stepwise sulfation of positions 3, 7, and 4 using N,N'-dicyclohexylcarbodiimide and tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate

Abstract The dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-mediated esterification of flavones and flavonols with tetrabutylammonium hydrogen sulfate, resulted in the formation of mono-, di- and trisu1fated products. Sulfation occured mainly at positions 7, 4' and 3 of the flavonoid skeleton and followed the order 7 > 4'> 3. Using this method, a number of mono- to trisu1fate esters of various naturally occuring flavones and flavonols were synthesized, and their structures verified by spectroscopic methods. This method can be applied to the synthesis of other sulfated natural products, such as steroids and sugars.
All your Root Checks are Belong to Us: The Sad State of Root Detection

In our research, most of our analysis was based on statically reverse engineering the applications. However we wanted to combine this with dynamic analysis to make sure our findings were correct and observable at runtime. For this, we initially created "AndroPoser". AndroPoser is a library we inject into Android processes leveraging a feature of the dynamic linker that allows us to transparently modify the runtime behavior of selected functions using LD_PRELOAD. This dynamic library interposition allowed us to hook functions and modify the data they manipulate and/or their return code. We realized that this could be used not only as a support tool for our analysis, but also to subdue any native code that checks for evidence of root access.
RFPL4 interacts with oocyte proteins of the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation pathway

Oocyte meiosis and early mitotic divisions in developing embryos rely on the timely production of cell cycle regulators and their clearance via proteasomal degradation. Ret Finger Protein-Like 4 (Rfpl4), encoding a RING finger-like protein with a B30.2 domain, was discovered during an in silico search for germ cell-specific genes. To study the expression and functions of RFPL4 protein, we performed immunolocalizations and used yeast two-hybrid and other protein–protein interaction assays. Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence showed that RFPL4 accumulates in all growing oocytes and quickly disappears during early embryonic cleavage. We used a yeast two-hybrid model to demonstrate that RFPL4 interacts with the E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme HR6A, proteasome subunit β type 1, ubiquitin B, as well as a degradation target protein, cyclin B1. Coimmunoprecipitation analyses of in vitro translated proteins and extracts of transiently cotransfected Chinese hamster ovary (CHO)-K1 cells confirmed these findings. We conclude that, like many RING-finger containing proteins, RFPL4 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase. The specificity of its expression and these interactions suggest that RFPL4 targets cyclin B1 for proteasomal degradation, a key aspect of oocyte cell cycle control during meiosis and the crucial oocyte-to-embryo transition to mitosis.
Oxidation of Corn Oils with Spiked Tocols

Stripped corn oils with added tocopherols and tocotrienols, at concentrations between 100 and 5,000 ppm, were used to evaluate antioxidant activity of these tocol compounds. The formation of lipid hydroperoxides, measured as peroxide value (PV), was accelerated at 60 °C in the dark for 5 days. Resistance to oxidation as induction period (IP) was also measured using an oxidative stability instrument (OSI) at 100 °C. For PV inhibition, the oils containing α-tocols exhibited decreasing effectiveness with increasing concentration. At day five, samples with 100 ppm α-tocols had the lowest PVs of about 40 mequiv/kg and samples containing 5,000 ppm had the highest values, ranging from 150 to 200 mequiv/kg. At concentrations above 700 ppm of α-tocols, there was an inversion of antioxidative properties as α-tocols promoted lipid oxidation. The opposite concentration effect was observed with δ-tocols and γ-tocotrienol (T3) for which antioxidant effectiveness increased with concentration. OSI-IP hour at 100 °C increased with increasing tocol concentrations for all tocol homologs, although with diminishing effectiveness at greater than 700 ppm. The α-tocols were less effective in extending the IP (~9 h at 5,000 ppm) than the δ-tocols and γ-T3 (13–14 h at 5,000 ppm). Therefore, the antioxidant or prooxidant activities of different tocols are different and the outcomes are different depending on the evaluation methods used.
Calcium carbonate seafloor precipitates from the outer shelf to slope facies of the Lower Triassic (Smithian-Spathian) Union Wash Formation, California, USA: Sedimentology and palaeobiologic significance

Abstract Formerly aragonite seafloor fans from the Lower Triassic (Smithian-Spathian) Union Wash Formation of east-central California were examined to determine the processes active during their growth. The seafloor fans were deposited in an outer shelf to slope environment along the western margin of Pangaea, and are contained within two stratigraphic intervals. The lower precipitate-bearing interval is 130 m thick, comprised of micritic limestone, and contains precipitates that fall into 2 end-member morphologies: 1) laminated precipitate masses that contain distinct hemispheres or fans; and 2) precipitate masses that are composed of a complex interlocking mosaic of hemispheres or fans. Precipitates found in the bedded, lower half of the interval are typically 2–3 cm tall and 10–20 cm wide, and are commonly undercut, disturbed, and, in the case of the interlocking mosaics of hemispheres, show evidence of entrainment and transport by density currents. Precipitates are larger in the upper, massive portion of the lower precipitate-bearing interval and occur only as interlocking hemisphere/fan mosaics. Fans and hemispheres attain heights as tall as 30 cm, and precipitate bodies, made of interlocking mosaics of hemispheres and fans, attain thicknesses of up to 50 cm and widths of 1–2 m. Chaotic bedding, broken precipitates, and brecciation of precipitate bodies imply an unstable and mobile substrate. The upper precipitate-bearing interval is 30 m thick, comprised of bivalve-, ammonoid- and microgastropod-bearing wackestone, and is separated from lower precipitate-bearing strata by 23 m of interbedded shale and calcareous siltstone. Much of the upper precipitate-bearing unit was deposited by subaqueous debris flows, as suggested by multiple breccias contained within the interval. Seafloor cements are found in undisturbed units and rarely within breccia clasts, suggesting that precipitates formed locally as well as higher on the shelf. Precipitate growth was likely the result of an increase in the saturation state of calcium carbonate in Early Triassic oceans, related to widespread oceanic anoxia. The presence of unusual carbonates during the period, and their correlation with depauperate faunas in the equivalent shallow facies of the Virgin Limestone, suggest that the remarkable oceanographic conditions associated with precipitate growth likely dampened the biotic recovery in the region until those conditions disappeared in the Middle Triassic.
Dependence of electrical properties of polycrystalline cvd si films on grain size and impurity doping concentrationa,b

The electrical properties of sets of simultaneously grown p-type polycrystalline Si films, deposited by SiH4 pyrolysis on polycrystalline high-purity alumina substrates and B-doped during growth, were determined by Hall-effect measurements in the temperature range 77-420K as functions both of impurity doping concentration N (~10l5 to ~1020cm−3) and average grain size (≈1 to ≈125μm) in the film. Room temperature data showed rapidly increasing resistivities and rapidly decreasing free-carrier concentrations for doping below a critical concentration Nm and distinct mobility minima at that concentration, with the value of Nm being larger the smaller the average grain size. Measurements as a function of sample temperature showed the intergrain barrier height Eb, decreasing from a maximum value of ~0.4eV at the critical concentration to very small values (~0.01eV) for concentrations above 1019cm−3, with a functional dependence close to Eb ∝l/N1/2 and Eb for any given concentration being larger the smaller the average grain size. Results are interpreted in terms of the grain-boundary trapping model. Trapped carrier densities in the grain boundaries were calculated to range from ~5×l011cm−2 at N≈Nm to ~5×l012cm−2 for N>1019cm−3, the density being higher the smaller the grain size, and evidence was found for an energy distribution of traps in the Si bandgap, rather than a fixed density at a single discrete energy level. The observed relationship between Nm and average grain size nearly coincides with that of the model for films with ~lμm grain size but sharply departs from it for larger grain sizes, indicating probable applicability of the model for grain sizes up to that range.
Heat capacity and second sound velocity measurements with the DYNAMX instrument

Abstract The DYNAMX experiment is designed to study the non-linear dynamics of heat flow in liquid helium very near the lambda transition in zero gravity. The apparatus is primarily designed to measure thermal conductivity with a secondary goal of measuring the specific heat in a heat current. We describe additions to the timeline of the experiment that would extend the return from the experiment in two ways. The apparatus can detect second sound and measure its velocity, at least where it is small, very near the transition. Our modeling shows that second sound propagation and detection should be reasonably efficient close to the transition using the planned heaters and thermometers. This would allow a significant extension of the range of measurements relative to that available on the ground, improving our knowledge of the divergence of the superfluid density. The apparatus can also perform additional heat capacity measurements that would improve on the data from an earlier flight experiment by taking advantage of the improved thermometry now available. These measurements could cover a range about 2 millidegrees wide spanning the transition and concentrating on regions where the earlier experiment was degraded. This would result in an improved value of the exponent characterizing the divergence of the specific heat.
Localization of axonally transported label in chick retinal ganglion cell axons after intravitreal injections of wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase

Abstract We have studied the subcellular localization of peroxidase-labeled organelles after anterograde axonal transport by chick retinal ganglion cells that had been exposed 23–25 h earlier to wheat germ agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (WGA-HRP). After intravitreal injection of WGA-HRP, we found in the optic tectum that 82% of labeled organelles were located within axons and axon terminals. The organelles included: tubules and cisternae of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum, hypolemmal cisternae, vesicles, dense bodies and multivesicular bodies. We also measured the distances between the centers of the labeled organelles and the plasma membrane of these profiles. The density of organelles (number of organelles/μm2) was plotted as a function of distance from the plasma membrane. Irrespective of the dose of lectin-peroxidase injected, labeled organelles were most densely concentrated in a 30 nm wide annular zone centered 75 nm in from the plasma membrane. In axon terminals the labeled organelles were most concentrated 75–90 nm in from the plasma membrane. Assuming that the peroxidase label indicates the presence of WGA-HRP, we conclude that after anterograde axonal transport the lectin accumulates in lysosomal organelles and elements of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum. Therefore, in contrast to the more restricted localization of [125I]WGA as inferred from electron microscopic autoradiography after uptake and transport by the same cell type, WGA-HRP-labeled organelles are found more diffusely within the axoplasm, particularly in axon terminals. Furthermore, peroxidase-labeled organelles in dendritic, glial or neuronal cell bodies in the tectum were seen less frequently than expected based on evidence of frequent transfer to second cells after intravitreal injections of [125I]WGA. Thus, we infer that at these concentrations WGA labeled with HRP may not be transferred intercellularly as efficiently as even lower concentrations of iodinated WGA are apparently transferred.
Evidence for production of an inactive collagenase by fibroblasts from phenytoin‐enlarged human gingivae

When measured by radioimmunoassay, fibroblasts derived from the overgrown gingivae of phenytoin-treated epileptic individuals synthesize and release elevated amounts of collagenase in vitro, as compared to similar-appearing fibroblasts from normal, non-phenytoin-treated persons. However, it appears that much of the immunoreactive enzyme is unable to degrade reconstituted collagen in culture. This preliminary finding in 9 different strains of cells indicates that reduced collagenase activity by a subpopulation of cells may contribute to the development of phenytoin-induced gingival overgrowth.
A Unified Conjugate Gradient Based Approach for Optimal Complex Block FIR Filtering

This paper proposes a unified block based approach to generate two complex filtering algorithms. The proposed unified approach calculates the complex conjugate gradients as the orthogonal update directions for the adaptive filter coefficients at each iteration. Along each update direction, the time-varying convergence factors tailored for the adaptive filter coefficients are updated based on the complex Taylor series expansion. The general formulation leads to two classes of adaptive algorithms: the Complex Block Conjugate Least Mean Square algorithm with Individual adaptation of parameters, CBCI-LMS, and the Complex Block Conjugate Least Mean Square algorithm, CBC-LMS. The formulation shows that the CBCI-LMS algorithm achieves faster adaptation than the CBC-LMS technique at the expense of an increase in the number of computations per iteration. The performances of these two proposed algorithms are evaluated and compared to existing techniques. In addition, the implementation aspects are examined under a wide range of adaptive conditions. These two generated algorithms are then applied to channel equalization and adaptive array beamforming. Based on the obtained results, the proposed algorithms demonstrate excellent convergence characteristics, in terms of the adaptation speed and accuracy.
LOW-FIELD MEISSNER FRACTION OF YBaCuO IN A FLUX PINNING MODEL

Abstract We report a large increase in Meissner fraction (flux expulsion) at low fields in dense ceramic and crystal YBaCuO. The effect can be interpreted in terms of the irreversability line 1 − t∝ H 2/3 observed in these materials, and is at least qualitatively consistent with a flux pinning picture.
Mediation of bradykinin-induced contraction in canine veins via thromboxane/prostaglandin endoperoxide receptor activation.

Abstract 1. Canine jugular and femoral veins were studied to determine the possible importance of thromboxane (TXA2) and prostaglandin endoperoxides (prostaglandin H2, PGH2) in mediating bradykinin(BK)-induced contraction. 2. Isolated vein rings incubated in modified Krebs solution contracted to TXA2/PGH2 analogs SQ26655 and U44069 with potency of contraction exceeding that for BK. The potency ranking for both veins was SQ26655 greater than U44069 greater than BK greater than PGF2 alpha greater than TXB2 much greater than PGD2. 3. The cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors indomethacin (3 x 10(-7) M) and flufenamic acid (10(-5) M) reduced BK contractions without affecting those induced by noradrenaline (NA). 4. TXA2/PGH2 receptor antagonists SQ29548 (10(-8) M) and BM13177 (10(-6) M) strongly inhibited BK-induced tension. The action of antagonists was reversible with negligible influence on NA-elicited contraction. Selective removal of endothelium had no effect on BK-induced contraction or the action of the antagonists. 5. The thromboxane synthase inhibitors dazoxiben (10(-4) M) and CGS 12970 (10(-5) M) had no significant inhibitory effect on BK-induced tension. 6. These results suggest that in canine jugular and femoral vein, the action of BK is largely dependent upon stimulation of the cyclo-oxygenase pathway to produce PGH2 and possibly TXA2, which can activate a smooth muscle TXA2/PGH2 receptor to elicit vasoconstriction.
Continuity and Change in Early School Engagement: Predictive of Children’s Achievement Trajectories from First to Eighth Grade?

Premises about the effects of early engagement on achievement were investigated with 383 children who were followed from ages 5.5 to 13.5. Change and continuity in behavioral (cooperative-resistant classroom participation) and emotional (school liking-avoidance) engagement were assessed during Grades 1-3 and were examined within variable- and person-oriented analyses as antecedents of scholastic progress from Grades 1 to 8. Findings corroborated the premises that change as well as continuity in early school engagement is predictive of children's long-term scholastic growth. Compared to children who participated cooperatively in classrooms, those who became increasingly resistant across the primary grades displayed lesser scholastic growth. Among children who manifested enduring engagement patterns, those who exhibited a combination of higher behavioral and emotional engagement across the primary grades made greater academic progress than those who displayed lower levels of these two forms of engagement. Overall, the results of this investigation were consistent with the school engagement hypothesis and extend what is known about the predictive contributions of early school engagement to children's achievement.
Poster Sessions BP08: Cytoskeleton and Molecular Motors

As the sensory receptor cells of the inner ear, hair cells transduce mechanical stimuli into electrical signals. While the electrophysiological properties of hair cells are well understood, little is known about the molecular basis of mechanoelectrical transduction. In particular, the identities of the transduction channel and other components of the transduction machinery are unknown. Myosin-1c, an unconventional myosin formerly called myosin-1 beta, is one identified component of the hair-cell transduction apparatus where it functions in the adaptation process. Because of its role in adaptation, myosin-1c must interact, either directly or indirectly, with other components of the transduction machinery, including the channel itself. As a result, we sought to characterize myosin-1c receptors in hair cells. Using recombinant fragments of myosin-1c with its associated calmodulin light chains, we examined binding of these complexes to myosin-1c receptors in the hair bundle, the mechanosensitive organelle housing the transduction apparatus. Astonishingly, binding to hair-cell receptors was not dependent upon the myosin's tail sequences, the domain of the protein long proposed to bind to intracellular cargo. Instead, binding to intracellular receptors depends upon the neck region of myosin-1c which contains four calmodulin-binding IQ domains. Calmodulin blocks myosin-1c interaction with its receptors by binding to the myosin and obscuring the myosin-1c/receptor interaction domain. The calcium-sensitive binding of calmodulin to myosin-1c may therefore regulate myosin-1c interactions with other components of the transduction apparatus.
Immunomodulatory treatment trial for paraneoplastic neurological disorders

Paraneoplastic neurological disorders are devastating remote effects of malignancy. Despite compelling evidence of an autoimmune pathogenesis, empiric immunomodulatory treatment of these disorders is often ineffective. However, very few systematic studies have been conducted, and the treatment of patients without active malignancy has not been addressed. We conducted a prospective open-label treatment study of plasma exchange plus conventional cancer chemotherapy (10 patients) or plasma exchange plus continuous oral cyclophosphamide (10 patients). All patients had progressive symptoms and at least moderate disability at enrollment (mean Rankin score, 3.4). Patients who had experienced symptoms for more than 12 months were excluded (mean duration of symptoms at enrollment, 3.6 months). The primary outcome measure was change in quantitative disability measures (Rankin and Barthel scores) after 6 months of treatment; a positive response was defined as stability or improvement in disability. Overall, 50% of patients had a positive response at 6 months (6 patients had improved by at least 1 Rankin grade). Patients with good outcome tended to be those with less disability at time of enrollment. Hematologic toxicity was common among those receiving cyclophosphamide. Aggressive immunosuppression early in the clinical course should be considered in patients who have paraneoplastic neurological disorders, even when there is no evidence of active malignancy.
Shallow Structure of the New Hebrides Island Arc

Marine geological and geophysical studies of the New Hebrides island arc have been made to study (a) the present development of lithospheric plate boundaries, (b) evidence for creation of oceanic crust behind the frontal arc in interarc basins, and (c) evidence for reversal of the arc from east-facing to the present-day west-facing orientation. The arc system is bisected between 13° and 15° S. by the east-west Hazel Holme Fracture Zone which connects the trench and a north-south—trending spreading center (Nova Rise) on the Fiji Plateau near 174° E. The crust on the plateau south of the fracture zone is very young. Narrow interarc basins are present but youthful, south of about 18° S. North of the Hazel Holme Fracture Zone, interarc basins are less well developed and apparently even younger. Most of the Fiji Plateau has apparently been formed by spreading from the Nova Rise rather than within interarc basins associated with the New Hebrides. The tectonics of the central region of the arc system, immediately south of 15° S., appears to be governed by the transform section of the Hazel Holme Fracture Zone and by subduction of the D9Entrecasteaux Fracture Zone into the trench rather than by interarc spreading. In this region, the western and eastern chains of the New Hebrides group have been recently uplifted and tilted toward one another, creating a sedimentary basin. Most data do not support the idea that the eastern island belt in this region, including Maewo and Pentecost islands, is an ancient remnant of an east-facing arc system. These islands have been uplifted only very recently and later than the western islands. Therefore, any east-facing subduction phase must have ceased recently and occurred after subduction beneath the western islands. We suggest instead that the eastern island belt represents an interarc basin floor or a frontal arc uplifted behind the volcanic line.
Characterization of the Upper Esophageal Sphincter Response During Cough

Background Vagal reflex initiated by esophageal stimulation and microaspiration can cause chronic cough in patients with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). By raising intraabdominal pressure, cough can, in turn, predispose to GERD. The role of the upper esophageal sphincter (UES) in preventing esophagopharyngeal reflux during coughing is not well known. The aim of this study was to evaluate the UES response during coughing. Methods We studied 20 healthy young (10 women; age, 27 ± 5 years) and 15 healthy elderly (nine women; age, 73 ± 4 years) subjects. Hard and soft cough-induced pressure changes in the UES, distal esophagus, lower esophageal sphincter, and stomach were determined simultaneously using high-resolution manometry and concurrent acoustic cough recordings. Results Resting UES pressure was significantly higher in the young compared with the elderly subjects (42 ± 14 mm Hg vs 24 ± 9 mm Hg; P P not significant for both). The UES pressure increase over baseline during cough was significantly higher than that in the esophagus, lower esophageal sphincter, and stomach for both groups ( P Conclusions Cough induces a rise in UES pressure, and this response is preserved in elderly people. A cough-induced rise in UES pressure is significantly higher than that in the esophagus and stomach, thereby providing a barrier against retrograde entry of gastric contents into the pharynx.
Paracetamol induced hepatotoxicity

Aim: To identify the clinical and biochemical risk factors associated with outcome of paracetamol induced significant hepatotoxicity in children. Methods: Retrospective case notes review of those with paracetamol overdose admitted from 1992 to 2002. Patients were analysed in two groups: group I recovered after conservative treatment and group II developed progressive liver dysfunction and were listed for liver transplantation. Results: Of 51 patients (6 males, 45 females, aged 0.8–16.1 years), 6 (aged 100 seconds, hypoglycaemia, serum creatinine >200 μmol/l, acidosis (pH Conclusion: Accidental or incidental paracetamol overdose in children may be associated with toxic liver damage leading to fulminant liver failure. Delayed presentation and/or delay in treatment, and hepatic encephalopathy ⩾grade III were significant risk factors, implying poor prognosis and need for OLT. Prompt identification of high risk patients, referral to a specialised unit for management, and consideration for liver transplantation is essential.
Low power, wide dynamic range carbon nanotube vacuum gauges

We present carbon nanotube vacuum gauges that operate at low power (nW-muW) and exhibit a wide- dynamic range (760 Torr - 10-6 Torr). Pressure sensitivity was found to increase rapidly as the bias power was increased. In addition, by etching part of the thermal SiO2 beneath the tubes and minimizing heat conduction through the substrate, pressure sensitivity was extended toward lower pressures. Results are compared to a conventional thin film meander resistor, which was fabricated and whose pressure response was also measured for comparative purposes.
Granular mass flows and Coulomb's friction in shear cell experiments: Implications for geophysical flows

[1] Granular mass flows of rock fragments are studied in the lab by means of a high-speed video camera at 2000 frames per second. These granular flows are generated using beds of pumice fragments positioned on a rough rotating disk, whose angular velocity is controlled by a motor. The experimental apparatus allows an understanding of the arrangement of the particles in granular mass flows with relatively small and relatively large values of the Savage number (the Savage number represents the ratio between grain collision stresses and gravitational grain contact stresses). In particular, these flows develop a basal layer of agitated and colliding particles underneath a relatively rigid upper layer. Our experimental results suggest the validity, on average, of the Coulomb's relationship between shear and normal forces at the base of granular mass flows irrespective of their Savage number value. In Coulomb's equation the shear stresses do not depend on the shear rate. We expect the Coulomb friction law to be valid also in moving pyroclastic flows. Our experiments suggest that the collisions and subsequent comminution of pumice fragments in moving pyroclastic flows could provide ash for the overriding ash clouds. In our experiments the amount of ash generated by particle-particle and particle-boundary interactions increases as the value of the Savage number increases. In nature, part of this ash may also simply move toward the base of the flows because of kinetic sieving.
The inexorable resistance of inertia determines the initial regime of drop coalescence

Drop coalescence is central to diverse processes involving dispersions of drops in industrial, engineering, and scientific realms. During coalescence, two drops first touch and then merge as the liquid neck connecting them grows from initially microscopic scales to a size comparable to the drop diameters. The curvature of the interface is infinite at the point where the drops first make contact, and the flows that ensue as the two drops coalesce are intimately coupled to this singularity in the dynamics. Conventionally, this process has been thought to have just two dynamical regimes: a viscous and an inertial regime with a cross-over region between them. We use experiments and simulations to reveal that a third regime, one that describes the initial dynamics of coalescence for all drop viscosities, has been missed. An argument based on force balance allows the construction of a new coalescence phase diagram.
Estimation of mixture densities from histograms [signal classification]

Many signals and statistical distributions are a mixture of component signals or distributions. Current methods for estimating the proportion of each component assume a parametric form for the components. We introduce nonparametric methods, based on projections onto convex sets, to address the many practical cases where parametric models are not applicable. Comparisons are made with parametric methods and discussed for special cases where both methods can be used.
Laparoscopic transgastric removal of eroded adjustable band: a novel approach

Gastric erosion is a well-known complication of laparoscopic adjustable gastric band (LAGB) placement for morbid obesity. We describe a novel approach for the removal of an eroded band through a laparoscopic gastrotomy with subsequent intraluminal division and removal of the band. A 67-year-old woman with a body mass index of 35.5 kg/m2 was seen 1 year after LAGB placement performed outside the United States. She had developed dysphagia and regurgitation of undigested food a few months after the procedure. The LAGB had been adjusted twice by her primary surgeons and was completely deflated once her symptoms began. The patient failed to improve and was subsequently referred to our institution where an upper endoscopy revealed intragastric band erosion. The patient was taken to the operating room for LAGB removal; however, standard laparoscopic and endoscopic attempts at band retrieval were unsuccessful. We then attempted a novel laparoscopic technique. An anterior gastrotomy was created, distal to the area of erosion, to facilitate easy intraluminal band division and removal. The gastrotomy was repaired, and a leak test was performed. A postoperative Gastrografin upper gastrointestinal series showed no extravasation. The patient began a diet, was discharged, and was seen in follow-up with complete resolution of her symptoms. The results of this case have shown that laparoscopic transgastric removal of an eroded gastric band is safe and feasible when standard endoscopic and laparoscopic techniques fail.
Management of priapism: an update for clinicians

Priapism is a prolonged erection that persists beyond or is unrelated to sexual stimulation. It is associated with significant morbidity: psychological, socioeconomic, and physical, including pain and potentially irreversible compromise of erectile function. There are three major types of priapism: ischemic, nonischemic, and stuttering. Establishing the type of priapism is paramount to safely and effectively treating these episodes. Ischemic priapism represents a urological emergency. Its treatment may involve aspiration/irrigation with sympathomimetic injections, surgical shunts, and as a last resort, penile prosthesis implantation. Nonischemic priapism results from continuous flow of arterial blood into the penis, most commonly related to penile trauma. This is not an emergency and may be managed conservatively initially, as most of these episodes are self-limiting. Stuttering priapism involves recurrent self-limiting episodes of ischemic priapism. The primary goal of therapy is prevention, but acute episodes should be managed in accordance with guidelines for ischemic priapism. In this paper we review the diagnosis and treatment of the three priapism variants, as well as discuss future targets of therapy and novel targets on the horizon.
Chlamydia trachomatis Persistence in Vitro – An Overview

Chlamydiae growing in target mucosal human epithelial cells in vitro can transition from their normal developmental cycle progression, alternating between infectious but metabolically inactive elementary bodies to metabolically active but noninfectious reticulate bodies (RBs) and back to elementary bodies, into a state of persistence. Persistence in vitro is defined as viable but noncultivable chlamydiae involving morphologically enlarged, aberrant, and nondividing RBs. The condition is reversible, yielding infectious elementary bodies after removal of the inducers, including penicillin, interferon-gamma, iron or nutrient starvation, concomitant herpes infection, or maturation of the host cell into its physiologically differentiated state. All aberrant RB phenotypes are not the same, owing to differing up- or down-regulated chlamydial gene sets and subsequent host responses. Although all persistence-inducing conditions exist in vivo, key questions include (1) whether or not aberrant chlamydial RBs occur in vivo during the alternating acute-silent chronic-acute chlamydial infection scenario that exists in infected patients and animals and (2) whether such aberrant RBs can contribute to prolonged, chronic inflammation, fibrosis, and scarring.
Solving the multi-way matching problem by permutation synchronization

The problem of matching not just two, but m different sets of objects to each other arises in many contexts, including finding the correspondence between feature points across multiple images in computer vision. At present it is usually solved by matching the sets pairwise, in series. In contrast, we propose a new method, Permutation Synchronization, which finds all the matchings jointly, in one shot, via a relaxation to eigenvector decomposition. The resulting algorithm is both computationally efficient, and, as we demonstrate with theoretical arguments as well as experimental results, much more stable to noise than previous methods.
Design of Water-Soluble Quantum Dots with Novel Surface Ligands for Biological Applications

We have designed a series of organic oligo- and polyethylene glycol (PEG) based surface capping ligands that allow for QD manipulation in aqueous media. We utilized readily available thioctic acid and various oligo- and polyethylene glycols in simple esterification schemes, followed by reduction of the dithiolane to produce multi-gram quantities of capping substrates. Cap exchange of the native trioctyl-phosphine and -phosphine oxide based ligands with the PEG-terminated dithiol-alkyl cap readily resulted in aqueous dispersions of QDs that were homogeneous and stable in various pH ranges over an extended period of time. Mixed surface capping strategies utilizing ratios of dihydrolipoic acid to the pegylated dihydrolipoic acid were also prepared. We anticipate that such systems should allow one to covalently attach amine containing biomolecules to nanoparticle systems bearing carboxylates, employing known coupling agents, such as (dimethylamino) propyl-3-ethyl-carbodiimide (EDC). This design and conjugation strategy may facilitate the development of a new generation of QD-bioconjugates, which can be directly utilized in bio-related applications such as sensing and cellular imaging.