cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gibberellic acid‐induced microtubule reorientation in dwarf peas is accompanied by rapid modification of an α‐tubulin isotype

Summary To test whether shifts induced in microtubuie orientation by gibberellic acid (GA3) involved changes in tubulin isotypes, pea stem cells were examined when elongation had been enhanced by GA3. The behaviour of a dwarf recessive mutation (le), with very low endogenous levels of gibberellin, was compared with the tall (Le) plant. Two hours after adding GA3, cells were measurably longer than controls and this coincided with a net shift of microtubule orientation from longitudinal and oblique to transverse — an effect that was more pronounced in the dwarf. There were always more cells with net-transverse microtubules in GA3-treated tissue than in controls, but as growth ceased, the major orientation of the microtubule arrays became oblique in both samples. Microtubule reorientation was rapid and was closely correlated with the growth of the cells. Although changes in orientation and isotype were monitored over a 40 h period, immunoblotting 2D gels with the well characterized antibodies YL1/2 and YOL1/34 confirmed that alterations to the α-tubulin constellation could be detected as early as the 2 h time point. Again the effect was especially pronounced in dwarf plants. In the presence of added GA3, one α-tubulin isotype (designated α1) retained its position in the α-tubulin constellation (as determined by total protein staining and with YOL1/34 that recognizes detyrosinated as well as tyrosinated tubulin). It was no longer recognized, however, by the anti-tyrosinated α-tubulin antibody YL1/2. This indicates that as GA3 begins to cause a reorientation of the cortical microtubules (and to enhance the rate of cell elongation) the α1 isotype is rapidly changed, probably by post-translational modification.
Impedance switching effects in GaAs/AlAs barrier structures

AlAs tunnel barriers in MBE-grown GaAs layers have been studied using pulsed and continuous I/V and swept temperature/capacitance measurements. Such layers demonstrate an impedance switching phenomenon which is persistent and repeatable. This impedance switching is manifested by the device as two distinct impedance modes: a high-impedance mode (of the order of 10kΩ at DC for a 0.3 mm dot), and a low-impedance mode (of the order of 10Ω). Such a phenomenon may restrict the operation of some devices, but may lead to other novel applications.
Burdensome and unnecessary regulation.

If there was ever regulation that was both hugely burdensome and unnecessary, it’s GM crop regulation. Yet even as the administration seeks to eliminate unnecessary regulation, the EPA is proposing to expand its regulatory purview over GM crops.
The Impact of Less Data on the Agricultural Economy and Society

The magnitude of the attack on datagathering expenditures is illustrated by the president's 1983 fiscal year budget request for the agencies that are major producers of economic statistics. The budget request for these agencies represented a 20% reduction from what was actually spent in 1980 (Slater). In a single announcement last year, the administrator of the Statistical Reporting Service, as a result of the ensuing squeeze, eliminated 26 of its 300-some reports and eliminated or reduced the frequency of data series in other reports (U.S. Department of Agriculture). This paper explores potential social and economic impacts of declining public data supply precipitated by such budget adjustments and suggests potential improvements in public data policy and budget allocations. Information for determining whether aggregate expenditures for public data production are above or below a social optimum is lacking. Alternatively, this paper argues that reallocating some expenditures away from production of current (forecasting related) data and toward maintaining or improving historical data and social statistics can help mitigate adverse welfare effects of the budget crunch. Before undertaking this discussion, the definition of a framework depicting trade of the relevant economic goods is helpful. Examination of the welfare effects of reducing public data supply requires consideration of related markets in addition to the data market itself. For example, regarding data as a primary input in information production, the value of information and the corresponding derived demand for data are determined by various decision makers' demand for information (including government). Discussion of the impact of declining public data supply in this framework requires consideration of several related phenomena that are playing an increasingly important role in agricultural information markets.
Materials requirements for high performance secondary batteries

A review is presented of the materials problems in secondary battery systems that show promise for use as power sources for vehicle propulsion and as stationary energy storage devices for utility application. Materials for ambient-temperature batteries are reviewed briefly, and those for two advanced systems, namely, sodium/sulfur and lithium/metal sul-fide, are described more fully. In both systems, the severe corrosiveness of the cell en-vironment, the high temperature of operation and the requirements of low cost and weight place demanding restrictions on materials of construction. Materials development efforts in Argonne National Laboratory’s lithium/metal sulfide battery program are discussed in terms of the individual cell components (electrical feedthroughs, electrode separators, electrode current collectors and cell housings). The materials selection process is de-scribed, experimental data on compatibility tests are presented, and the current status of the materials development effort is summarized.
Host genetic variability and West Nile virus susceptibility

Efforts to understand the genetic basis of host susceptibility to viral infection and disease have led to the identification of genes whose products play key roles in determining the outcome of virus–host interactions. Examples of this include cellular genes that encode surface receptor components that function at the initiation stage of viral infection; genes that encode proteins that mediate adaptive cellular immune responses; and genes that affect the efficiency of virus multiplication by encoding proteins of the interferon (IFN) response pathway (1).
Systematic Review of Emergency Department Crowding: Causes, Effects, and Solutions

Emergency department (ED) crowding represents an international crisis that may affect the quality and access of health care. We conducted a comprehensive PubMed search to identify articles that (1) studied causes, effects, or solutions of ED crowding; (2) described data collection and analysis methodology; (3) occurred in a general ED setting; and (4) focused on everyday crowding. Two independent reviewers identified the relevant articles by consensus. We applied a 5-level quality assessment tool to grade the methodology of each study. From 4,271 abstracts and 188 full-text articles, the reviewers identified 93 articles meeting the inclusion criteria. A total of 33 articles studied causes, 27 articles studied effects, and 40 articles studied solutions of ED crowding. Commonly studied causes of crowding included nonurgent visits, "frequent-flyer" patients, influenza season, inadequate staffing, inpatient boarding, and hospital bed shortages. Commonly studied effects of crowding included patient mortality, transport delays, treatment delays, ambulance diversion, patient elopement, and financial effect. Commonly studied solutions of crowding included additional personnel, observation units, hospital bed access, nonurgent referrals, ambulance diversion, destination control, crowding measures, and queuing theory. The results illustrated the complex, multifaceted characteristics of the ED crowding problem. Additional high-quality studies may provide valuable contributions toward better understanding and alleviating the daily crisis. This structured overview of the literature may help to identify future directions for the crowding research agenda.
Positional cloning of jcpk/bpk locus of the mouse

By positional cloning techniques, we have identified the gene that is disrupted in the jcpk and bpk mouse models for polycystic kidney disease. This gene is the mouse homolog of the Drosophila Bicaudal C gene. Both of these mutations have been mapped to a very short stretch of Chromosome (Chr) 10. By sequencing the bicaudal C gene, Bicc1, in these models, it was found that the jcpk mutation results in a shortened and abnormal transcript, whereas the bpk mutation results in an abnormal 3' coding region. In Drosophila, this gene encodes a protein known to influence developmental processes. The mammalian homolog contains three KH (K homology) domains and a SAM (sterile alpha motif) domain and is expressed in the developing embryo, indicating that it may be important in RNA-binding and/or protein interactions during embryogenesis.
Comparison of thermophilic methanogens from submarine hydrothermal vents

An extremely thermophilic methanogen was isolated from hydrothermal vent sediment (80°–120° C) collected from the Guaymas Basin, Gulf of California, at a depth of approximately 2000 m. The isolate was a characteristic member of the genus Methanococcus based on its coccoid morphology, ability to produce methane from CO2 and H2, and DNA base composition (31.4 mol% G+C); it is distinguished from previously described extremely thermophilic vent methanogens by its ability to grow and produce methane from formate and in the composition of membrane lipids. The temperature range for growth was 48°–94° C (optimum near 85° C); the pH optimum was 6.0. The isolate grew autotrophically but was stimulated by selenium and growth nutrients supplied by yeast extract and trypticase. Extracted polar lipids consisted primarily of diphytanyl glycerol diether (62%), macrocyclic glycerol diether (15.3%), and dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraether (11.8%). Neutral lipids were dominated by a series of C30 isoprenoids; in addition, a novel series of C35 isoprenoids were detected. The isolate appears to be a close relative of the previously described Methanococcus jannaschii, isolated from the East Pacific Rise hydrothermal vent system. From the frequency of isolation, it appears that extremely thermophilic methanococci are the predominant representatives of the methanogenic archaebacteria occurring at deep sea hydrothermal vents.
Update on Pathophysiology and Treatment of Hypertension in the Elderly

Hypertension is common in the elderly, and its prevalence increases with aging. The vascular system is a prototypical aging tissue, and arterial stiffness plays a major role in hypertension as the individual ages. Some unique aging changes in the nitric oxide and angiotensin II pathways are particularly important for vascular aging. Studies focusing on direct measures of vascular stiffness have increased understanding of the pathophysiology behind increased arterial stiffness. Goal blood pressure in the elderly is debated, but based on current outcome data, a goal blood pressure of 150/80–90 mm Hg is reasonable in at least the very elderly. This review discusses in detail the various landmark hypertension studies in the elderly. We recommend use of thiazide diuretics, long-acting calcium channel blockers, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin II receptor blockers as either monotherapy or in combination, with beta-blockers reserved for patients with specific indications.
What Ecologists Can Learn from Nuclear Scientists

The Editors of Ecosystems are to be commended, not just for recognizing the growing importance of bridging the social and the biophysical sciences, but for challenging their colleagues to start building better bridges. We hope to help by illustrating two principles from social science research that appear to have particular value for our ecological science colleagues. The first is one that is increasingly recognized in the abstract, although it is still too often forgotten in scientific practice: There are few ecosystems on planet earth that are not already influenced, as well as cared about, by members of the species Homo sapiens. The second principle tends to be little understood even in the abstract, but it is one with special relevance to ecological scientists: Realworld scientific and technical decisions inherently involve not just facts, and not just a mixture of facts and values, but a combination of facts, values, and blind spots. One of the reasons why the second principle is so little understood is that most scientific disciplines can ignore it until the scientific work is turned into practical applications. For scientists who study ecosystems that are larger than a test-tube scale, however, the scientific research itself can bring about far greater contact with the public than is the case for a laboratory chemist, for example, or for that matter an intergalactic astronomer. Even experimental ecosystems research often inherently involves an effort to manipulate a real-world site, an effort to keep other human beings from 'manipulating" the site, or both.
Global States of a Distributed System

A global state of a distributed transaction system is consistent if no transactions are in progress. A global checkpoint is a transaction which must view a globally consistent system state for correct operation. We present an algorithm for adding global checkpoint transactions to an arbitrary distributed transaction system. The algorithm is nonintrusive in the sense that checkpoint transactions do not interfere with ordinary transactions in progress; however, the checkpoint transactions still produce meaningful results.
Engineering synthetic recursive pathways to generate non-natural small molecules

Recursive pathways are broadly defined as those that catalyze a series of reactions such that the key, bond-forming functional group of the substrate is always regenerated in each cycle, allowing for a new cycle of reactions to begin. Recursive carbon-chain elongation pathways in nature produce fatty acids, polyketides, isoprenoids and α-keto acids (αKAs), which all use modular or iterative approaches for chain elongation. Recently, an artificial pathway for αKA elongation has been built that uses an engineered isopropylmalate synthase to recursively condense acetyl-CoA with αKAs. This synthetic approach expands the possibilities for recursive pathways beyond the modular or iterative synthesis of natural products and serves as a case study for understanding the challenges of building recursive pathways from nonrecursive enzymes. There exists the potential to design synthetic recursive pathways far beyond what nature has evolved.
Clues to causes of deformation features in coastal sea ice

Finding clues to the physical processes responsible for interesting sea-ice features in the Robeson Channel and Lincoln Sea and developing methods to extract this evidence provide stimulating challenges to the Arctic remote-sensing community. The normal [open season] for ice drift through Robeson Channel (Figure 1), which divides the land masses, is June–December. The channel ice drift is normally to the south due to a combination of prevailing northerly winds and semidiurnal tidal currents that are stronger on flood tide than on ebb tide [Keys et al., 1974].
Medical errors after stroke Preventable or inevitable

Like the aftershocks of an earthquake, harmful events that follow strokes can turn even mild strokes into full-blown disasters. Better surveillance and work on process can help us anticipate and avoid errors in patient care. In this issue of Neurology , Holloway et al.1 tackle the issue of errors and harmful events after hospital admissions for stroke. A focused and nonpunitive approach can guide efforts to improve neurology patient safety, just as the airlines used safety data (including reports of near misses) to prevent air disasters. By analyzing both voluntary and mandatory reports of adverse events in patients admitted with stroke over a 3-year epoch, Holloway et al. build on epidemiologic inferences of safety breaches from …
An assessment of The Long-Term Energy Analysis Program used for the EIA 1978 report to Congress

Abstract The Long-Term Energy Analysis Program (LEAP), a computer model of the energy portion of the U.S. economy that was used by the Energy Information Administration (EIA) of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for the 1995–2020 projections in its 1978 Annual Report to Congress, is evaluated here. Essential considerations include 1. (1) the adequacy of its documentation, 2. (2) the evaluator's experience in operating the model, 3. (3) the adequacy of the numerical techniques used, 4. (4) the soundness of the economic and technical foundations of the model equations, 5. (5) the degree to which the computer program has been verified. To show which parameters strongly influence the results and to approach the question of whether the model can project important results with sufficient accuracy to support qualitative conclusions, the numerical sensitivities of some important results to model input parameters were obtained using a novel adjoint technique. This technique enabled efficient determination of first derivatives of results of interest with respect to all input data (~ 1600 non-zero sensitivities). Direct recalculation of the model with altered data sets was used to confirm the results and to assess the extent of non-linear effects. The input data are categorized and discussed, and uncertainties are given for some parameters as examples. From this background, an overall evaluation is given of the model's suitability for use by the EIA.
Immunocytochemical localization of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in the area postrema of the cat. Light and electron microscopic study

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was demonstrated in the cytoplasm and processes of ependymal cells and astroglial components of the area postrema of the cat. These observations differ from the findings in the ependyma of the ventricular cavities which are consistently negative for the protein. Since some studies have suggested sensory functions of the glial cells in this emetic chemoreceptor trigger zone, a careful consideration of morphological and biochemical attributes of these cells seems appropriate.
Noncontact temperature measurement of a falling drop

The 105-m drop tube at the Marshall Space Flight Center has been used in a number of experiments to determine the effects of containerless, microgravity processing on the undercooling and solidification behavior of metals and alloys. These experiments have been limited, however, because direct temperature measurement of the falling drops has not been available. Undercooling and nucleation temperatures are calculated from thermophysical properties based on droplet cooling models. In most cases these properties are not well known, particularly in the undercooled state. This results in a large amount of uncertainty in the determination of nucleation temperatures. If temperature measurement can be accomplished, then the thermal history of the drops could be well documented. This would lead to a better understanding of the thermophysical and thermal radiative properties of undercooled melts. An effort to measure the temperature of a falling drop is under way at Vanderbilt and Marshall Space Flight Center. The technique uses two-color pyrometry and high-speed data acquisition. The approach is presented along with some preliminary data from drop tube experiments. The results from droplet cooling models will be compared with noncontact temperature measurements.
T Cell Integrin Overexpression as a Model of Murine Autoimmunity.

Integrin adhesion molecules have important adhesion and signaling functions. They also play a central role in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune diseases. Over the past few years we have described a T cell adoptive transfer model to investigate the role of T cell integrin adhesion molecules in the development of autoimmunity. This report summarizes the methods we used in establishing this murine model. By treating murine CD4+ T cells with DNA hypomethylating agents and by transfection we were able to test thein vitro effects of integrin overexpression on T cell autoreactive proliferation, cytotoxicity, adhesion and trafficking. Furthermore, we showed that the ability to inducein vivo autoimmunity may be unique to the integrin lymphocyte function associated antigen-1 (LFA-1).
Electrochemical reduction of sulfur dioxide at a mercury electrode

Abstract The electroreduction of sulfur dioxide has been studied by chronopotentiometry, controlled-potential coulometry, and cyclic voltammetry. The results of these investigations lead to the conclusion that dissolved sulfur dioxide undergoes a reversible two-electron reduction to sulfoxylic acid. At pH values less than pH 3 the sulfoxylic acid is rapidly decomposed into elemental sulfur and sulfur dioxide. Between pH 3 and pH 7 the sulfoxylic acid reacts with bisulfite ion to form dithionous acid, which is slowly decomposed to sulfur dioxide, thiosulfate ion and sulfur. Hence, the final reduction product of sulfur dioxide is sulfur and the overall reaction is irreversible. Above pH 7 no reduction of sulfur dioxide is observed.
Critical theory and textual computing: Comments and suggestions

Donald Bruce and I do speak the same theoretical metalanguage, though I suspect that he is considerably more fluent than I in that tongue. Given the variety of responses, including Bruce's favorable reaction, to my attempts to provoke theoretical debate concerning the nature of electronic text as a new object of research, I am considerably more optimistic than his “knowing smile and tears of rage.” It is my contention that researchers in textual computing have significant advantages in reconceptualizing text precisely because computing technology shatters the evident surface structures of text. If electronic text is a radically different object of research, then theoretical models of the kind discussed in this volume should have a significant impact on disciplines which are currently debating the nature and limits of textuality. I would like to suggest that we, as specialists in textual computing, should make every effort to combine abstract theoretical considerations with clear efforts towards empirical verification. Maintaining that difficult balance between theory, method, and empirical verification is, in my opinion, one of the central contributions that theory of textual computing can make to critical theory in general. The computing environment provides an ideal testing ground for literary theories by encouraging experimentation and verification using real data, an element that is all too often overlooked by many critical theorists.
Spatial and temporal variations of the january circumpolar vortex over the northern hemisphere

Temporal and spatial variations of the Northern Hemisphere's circumpolar vortex are analysed for each January from 1947 to 1990. Our data set is developed by digitizing the 546-dam isoheight from 50-kPa charts and recording the latitude of this contour at each 10° meridian. Principal components analysis is applied to the resulting 699-day by 36-variable matrix to examine the temporal and spatial evolution of the circumpolar vortex. The first principal component is comparable to the Pacific-North America (PNA) teleconnection pattern. Over the 44 Januarys analysed, the frequency of the positive phase of the PNA pattern has increased. Principal component 2 is similar to the Eurasian pattern and varies between axially asymmetric zonal flow and a three-wave pattern centred over the pole. The asymmetric pattern, which is characterized by higher heights over western Europe and Scandinavia, has increased in frequency over the study period. With the third principal component, which is similar to the East Atlantic teleconnection pattern, the strength of the Icelandic Low varies markedly. Time series of scores on the third component indicate that 50-kPa heights over the North Atlantic are lower over the past 20 years. The fourth principal component is related to vortex area. The northern vortex has occupied a more expanded position since the mid-1960s. These first four principal components explain half of the total variance in the data. In toto, these results indicate that the January circumpolar vortex has expanded over the past two decades. Most of the expansion has occurred in the vicinity of the Aleutian Low and has produced increased meridional flow throughout much of the Western Hemisphere. This circulation change could account for the observed increased occurrence of warm air masses in winter over eastern Alaska and western Canada, increased cyclone occurrence in the north-western Atlantic, and both the increased frequency of Arctic outbreaks and declining temperatures in the south-eastern USA. The overall vortex expansion is contrary to general circulation model forecasts that predict a decrease in the meridional temperature gradient of the Northern Hemisphere as trace-gas concentrations increase.
Neural representation of amplified speech sounds.

Objective:To determine if (1) evoked potentials elicited by amplified speech sounds (/si/ and /∫i/) can be recorded reliably in individuals, (2) amplification alters neural response patterns, and (3) different amplified speech sounds evoke different neural patterns.Design:Cortical evoked potentials
Quantitative evaluation of fouling resistance of PVDF/PMMA-g-PEO polymer blend membranes for membrane bioreactor

Abstract Fouling resistance of various kinds of membrane materials including blends of poly(vinylidene difluoride) (PVDF) and copolymer of methyl methacrylate (MMA) and poly(ethylene glycol) methyl ether methacrylate (PVDF/PMMA- g -PEO) was quantitatively evaluated by measuring the amount of model fouling compounds adsorbed on the surface of membrane materials using a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor. The order of the amount of adsorption in the adsorption tests negatively correlated with hydrophilicities of membrane materials. PVDF/PMMA- g -PEO demonstrated superior fouling resistance comparing to pure PVDF and other materials. Pure PVDF and PVDF/PMMA- g -PEO membranes with different length of PEO side chains were fabricated in non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method. Membrane structure and surface composition were analyzed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectoron spectroscopy (XPS) respectively. Moreover, short-term and long-term activated sludge filtration experiments were conducted. The rate of increase of differential pressure during filtration process correlated with the amount of adsorbed BSA in the adsorption tests.
Mode locking and chaos in sliding charge-density-wave systems

Sliding CDWs in ac electric fields may serve as model systems for the study of mode-locking phenomena and the transition to chaos in dissipative dynamical systems with competing frequencies. The mode-locking structure at the transition is expected to form a complete devil's staircase with fractal dimension D ≈ 0.87. Indeed, Brown, Mozurkewich and Gruner have observed a multitude of steps in the I–V characteristics of NbSe3 with an apparent fractal dimension D = 0.91 ± 0.03.
The success of endovascular therapy for all TransAtlantic Society Consensus graded femoropopliteal lesions.

Background Advances in technology and practice have led to increased endovascular management of all TransAtlantic Society Consensus (TASC)-graded lesions. This study aims to evaluate the success of endovascular therapy in the management of TASC-graded femoropopliteal lesions. Methods Patients undergoing endovascular treatment for femoropopliteal lesions between July 1999 and August 2008 were divided by TASC scores and evaluated for primary, assisted-primary, and secondary patency rates at 12 and 24 months. Secondary endpoints included limb loss and postoperative complications. Results A total of 499 femoropopliteal lesions in 427 patients were treated with endovascular interventions. Score distribution for TASC type A, type B, type C, and type D lesions was 26 (5.2%), 140 (28.1%), 168 (33.7%), and 165 (33.1%), respectively. Primary, assisted-primary, and secondary patency rates at 24 months were 77.7 ± 3.2%, 78.9 ± 3.2%, and 86.7 ± 2.6%, respectively, for TASC type A + B lesions, 76.0 ± 3.3%, 77.2 ± 3.2%, and 85.0 ± 2.8%, respectively, for TASC type C lesions, and 61.2 ± 3.8%, 61.2 ± 3.8%, and 78.2 ± 3.2%, respectively, for TASC type D lesions. Compared with TASC type A + B and TASC type C lesions, TASC type D lesions were associated with worse primary and assisted-primary patency rates. However, there was no statistically significant difference in secondary patency between TASC type A + B and TASC type D lesions. The TASC score was not a significant predictor of postoperative complication rates. The 24-month limb salvage rate in patients with TASC type D lesions presenting with critical limb ischemia was 71.9 ± 8.0%. Conclusion It was observed that all femoropopliteal lesions can be safely and effectively managed with endovascular therapy. Although TASC type D lesions do have lower primary and assisted-primary patency rates, high secondary patency rates comparable with other TASC scores can be achieved with effective prevention of limb loss. These data provide evidence to support endovascular therapy as primary management for all femoropopliteal lesions regardless of the TASC score.
Calculation of the thermodynamic and transport properties of sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium vapors to 3000°K

Abstract The vapor pressure, composition, compressibility factor, specific heat, specific heat ratio, density, sonic velocity, viscosity, thermal conductivity and Prandtl number of sodium, potassium, rubidium and cesium vapors under saturated and superheated conditions, and for frozen or variable equilibrium compositions, were calculated by kinetic theory up to 3000°K. These properties are of use in the design of nuclear liquid metal coolant and power systems.
Monitoring thickness deviations in planar multi-layer elastic structures using impedance signatures.

In this letter, a low frequency ultrasonic resonance technique that operates in the (20 - 80 kHz) regime is presented that demonstrates detection of thickness changes on the order of +/- 10{micro}m. This measurement capability is a result of the direct correlation between the electrical impedance of an electro-acoustic transducer and the mechanical loading it experiences when placed in contact with a layered elastic structure. The relative frequency shifts of the resonances peaks can be estimated through a simple one-dimensional transmission model. Separate experimental measurements confirm this technique to be sensitive to subtle changes in the underlying layered elastic structure.
Liking and power as factors affecting coalition choices in the triad

The effects of resource capability and interpersonal attraction on coalition behavior were studied. Power was distributed the same way in all triads (A = 4, B = 3, C = 2). Male and female participants were asked to play the role of B and were distributed across 3 experimental conditions: (1) no additional information was provided; (2) participants were informed that A and B had similar attitudes and that C had dissimilar attitudes; or (3) participants were informed that B and C had similar attitudes and that A had dissimilar attitudes. Participants were asked to select a coalition partner, predict which coalition would form, and estimate how the winnings would be distributed between coalition partners. Males chose A and C equally often in all experimental conditions, but most frequently predicted that the B-C coalition would form and estimated that winnings would be distributed by a norm of equity. In contrast, females chose the liked person as a coalition partner, predicted that attracted persons would form coalitions, and estimated that winnings would be distributed according to a norm of equality. The implications of the results for game, minimum power, and relational theories of coalition behavior are discussed.
Distribution and effect of colloidal radioactive gold in peritoneal fluid containing free sarcoma 37 cells.

Summary1. Two to 5 days after intraperitoneal inoculation of 10,000 (in one series—50,000) free sarcoma-37 cells from peritoneal fluid, several series of CFW mice were treated with a single intra-peritoneal injection of 0.2 to 0.44 mc of colloidal radioactive gold. Control mice remained untreated or were treated with inactive (decayed) gold preparations.2. On 3 consecutive days after treatment, specimens of peritoneal fluid were withdrawn by exploratory puncture from treated and control mice. Stained smears from these specimens revealed the absence of tumor cells or cytological abnormalities therein in gold treated mice, while in controls the tumor cells were numerous and showed high proportion of mitoses. The non-viability of morphologically alterated cells was demonstrated by their inability to multiply or even to survive after their transfer into new mice.3. Ultramicroscopic colloidal gold particles mixed immediately after injection with the peritoneal fluid became condensed, after 24 to 48 hours, into...
An interlaboratory and intralaboratory comparison of serum T 4 methodologies

Serum thyroxine (T4) levels were measured in serum pools by competitive protein binding radioassay (CPBR) with four kit procedures and an independent method. Thyroxine values in the pools analyzed were stable for three days at 25° and for l h at 45°. Thyroxine values obtained with the Abbott, Curtis and Mallinckrodt methods were greatly affected by the length of the separation step incubation, while values obtained with the Nuclear Medical method were least affected by the length of this step. Only with the Abbott procedure were coefficients of variation below 10% obtained for T4 values at all T4 concentrations employed. Recoveries of added T4 were high with the Abbott method and low with the Curtis method. Recoveries were between 80 and 100% with the Mallinckrodt method. Dilution of the serum pools we used with saline resulted in an increased extraction efficiency of T4.
Teaching Patients How to Improve Communication with their Health Care Providers: A Unique Workshop Experience

Abstract-Background. A one-day workshop was held to educate cancer patients about improving communication with their cancer care providers. Methods. The workshop included three sessions: 1) Getting through the Diagnosis/Prognosis Phase, 2) Exploring Treatment Options, and 3) Asking Difficult Questions (when medicines no longer work). Results. Qualitative and survey data revealed that many participated in order to share their experiences with others rather than to be taught effective communication skills. Humor, spirituality, and the association between cancer and death were prevalent issues. Conclusion. This workshop represented an enjoyable and informative venue for approaching communication issues from patients' and family members' perspective. J Cancer Educ. 2003; 18:188-193.
Latent Population Responses of Summer Birds to a Catastrophic, Climatological Event

Catastrophic events can create ecological crunches for avian populations. Ornithologists generally assume that such events elicit immediate, dramatic declines in populations followed by rapid recolonization of a site with habitat recovery. Despite total inundation of habitats within the South Platte floodplain of eastern Colorado during the 1983 breeding season, populations of Brown Thrashers (Toxostoma rufum) and Rufoussided Towhees (Pipilo erythrophthalmus) did not decline significantly from 1982 densities. However, populations of both species declined significantly in 1984 and towhee populations remained low in 1985. These observations support speculations from recent studies of shrubsteppe bird populations that site tenacity may play a stronger role in determining annual densities of breeding birds than previously realized.
Strength Enhancement of Styrene Acrylonitrile Co-Polymer via Delay Pack Injection Molding

This study investigates the effects of processing of styrene acrylonitrile (SAN) by injection molding using a delayed packing stage. The concept of Delay Pack Injection Molding (DPIM) evolved from an in-situ study of vibration-assisted injection molding (VAIM) which indicated that the beneficial effects of VAIM came not from the vibration itself, but rather from the delay in the onset of packing resulting from the application of the vibration. Conceptually, DPIM involves normal filling of the mold immediately followed by a slight retraction of the injection screw for a specified time period before the final packing pressure is applied. Application of DPIM results in increased birefringence in the molded parts and increases in the ultimate tensile strength of molded parts very similar to the effects seen using VAIM. A parametric study using a design of experiments framework was carried out to determine the delay pack parameters affecting SAN and resulted in a maximum increase in UTS of 11.6%. Observation of birefringence patterns in Delay Pack processed samples shows a significant impact on molecular orientation while observation of failed specimens and their fracture surfaces shows distinctly different modes of crack growth and failure. Growth of craze cracks resulting from tensile loading appeared to be arrested by oriented areas surrounding the part core allowing the specimen to sustain higher loads relative to conventionally molded parts. All of the above observations are consistent with the observed effects of vibration-assisted injection molding.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Quantified coefficients of association and measurement of similarity

Coefficients of association have been widely employed in cluster analysis. However, their use has been, for the most part, restricted to binary data. This limitation can be overcome by redefining positive and negative matches and mismatches in terms of minimum and maximum values of paired elements of parallel vector arrays. Rewriting the algorithms of coefficients of association with these new components gives the new “quantified” coefficients general utility for binary, ordered multistate, and quantitative data, while retaining their original analytic properties. Quantified coefficients of association avoid several problems of shape and size that are associated with correlation coefficients and measures of Euclidean distance. However, when measuring similarity, quantified coefficients weight each attribute of an object by that attribute's magnitude. A related set of similarity indices termed “mean ratios” is introduced; these indices give each attribute equal weight in all situations. Both quantified coefficients of association and mean ratios are related to a number of measures of similarity introduced to various fields of scientific research during the past 50 years. A review of this literature is included in an attempt to consolidate methodology and simplify nomenclature.
Vaccinia virus decreases major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigen presentation, T-cell priming, and peptide association with MHC class II.

Vaccinia virus (VACV) is the current live virus vaccine used to protect humans against smallpox and monkeypox, but its use is contraindicated in several populations because of its virulence. It is therefore important to elucidate the immune evasion mechanisms of VACV. We found that VACV infection of antigen-presenting cells (APCs) significantly decreased major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II antigen presentation and decreased synthesis of 13 chemokines and cytokines, suggesting a potent viral mechanism for immune evasion. In these model systems, responding T cells were not directly affected by virus, indicating that VACV directly affects the APC. VACV significantly decreased nitric oxide production by peritoneal exudate cells and the RAW macrophage cell line in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon (IFN)-γ, decreased class II MHC expression on APCs, and induced apoptosis in macrophages and dendritic cells. However, VACV decreased antigen presentation by 1153 B cells without apparent apoptosis induction, indicating that VACV differentially affects B lymphocytes and other APCs. We show that the key mechanism of VACV inhibition of antigen presentation may be its reduction of antigenic peptide loaded into the cleft of MHC class II molecules. These data indicate that VACV evades the host immune response by impairing critical functions of the APC.
Theory of conical equiangular-spiral antennas: Part 2--Current distributions and input impedances

According to the behavior of the current, an equiangular-spiral antenna may be divided into three distinct regions. Since the positions of these regions are frequency independent, it is possible to obtain a complete description of the current distribution on almost all practical equiangular-spiral antennas by a set of carves, which is given in this paper. It is also found that for rapidly expanding antennas there are, in general, two or more active regions that are characterized by differences in rate of attenuation. Such a phenomenon is interpreted in terms of the Brillouin diagram. A variational formulation of the input impedance of the antenna is also presented. The variation method using the approximate current provided by the set of curves gives a quick, direct means of finding the input impedances.
Escalation of Commitment and the Framing Effect: An Empirical Investigation

Research and theory are reviewed which consider two decision biases: escalation of commitment and decision framing. Some authors (Bazerman, 1986; Whyte, 1986) have suggested that escalation of commitment may be explained by the decision framing used in the research paradigms. A study was conducted which simultaneously manipulated both responsibility for a prior decision and decision frame. Results show a main effect on resource allocation for responsibility and no effect for decision frame. A follow-up study found that amount of information provided systematically affected the framing bias, and that when responsibility was added to a large amount of contextual information, the framing effect became nonsignificant. These results suggest a need to further examine the boundary conditions of framing.
The Synchronometer: A Prototype Device to Measure Infant/Ventilator Synchrony

Publisher Summary This chapter describes a prototype device to measure infant/respirator synchrony. To detect breath-by-breath chest expansion, a thoracic impedance measurement from bilateral mid-axillary line electrodes is used. This gives a distinction between inspiration and expiration. This lead position was chosen since it is most commonly used in the clinical setting. To detect the respiratory cycle generated by the ventilator, pressure changes at the exhalation port in a Bournes BP 200 ventilator are used. Certainly, some noninvasive breath-by-breath measurement of alveolar ventilation would be best. Breath-by-breath alveolar-air equations could possibly be calculated by computer from relatively noninvasive measurements and used to assure proper ventilation. Esophageal pressure could be used to give another indication of alveolar inflation, but it has been experience that actual ventilation in severe respiratory distress syndrome is poorly reflected in esophageal pressures. Another aspect of thoracic impedance is electrode position. It is suggested to consider chest expansion in ventilated infants by reviewing video tapes of their chest from different perspectives.
Barotropic ocean velocity observations from an electric field float, a modified RAFOS float

A seldom observed characteristic of ocean motion is depth-averaged velocity, or transport per unit width. One approach to observing this quantity is to measure the ambient horizontal electric field of the ocean with electric field sensors added to a RAFOS float. The Electric Field Float (EFF) is a RAFOS float modified by the addition of a compass, electrode arms, amplifiers, and a microprocessor. The float's velocity is determined by the acoustic ranging of the RAFOS subsystem. The velocity determined by the electrode system is the electric field (EF) observed by the electrode array divided by the vertical component of the Earth's magnetic field, F/sub 2/. The difference between the RAFOS and EF velocities is v~*, a conductivity weighted, vertically averaged velocity which is generally equal to the vertically averaged velocity (v~) to within 10%. An EFF launched off Monterey Bay, California, observed a velocity at 800-m depth of about 33 cm s/sup -1/ to the NW of which about 2 cm s/sup -1/ was contributed by the barotropic flow. As expected, the barotropic velocity closely paralleled the depth contours. The 2-h average EF velocities exhibited the expected CW/ACW asymmetry in the internal wave band.
The paradox of forest fragmentation genetics.

Theory predicts widespread loss of genetic diversity from drift and inbreeding in trees subjected to habitat fragmentation, yet empirical support of this theory is scarce. We argue that population genetics theory may be misapplied in light of ecological realities that, when recognized, require scrutiny of underlying evolu- tionary assumptions. One ecological reality is that fragment boundaries often do not represent boundaries for mating populations of trees that benefit from long-distance pollination, sometimes abetted by long-distance seed dispersal. Where fragments do not delineate populations, genetic theory of small populations does not apply. Even in spatially isolated populations, where genetic theory may eventually apply, evolutionary ar- guments assume that samples from fragmented populations represent trees that have had sufficient time to experience drift, inbreeding, and ultimately inbreeding depression, an unwarranted assumption where stands in fragments are living relicts of largely unrelated predisturbance populations. Genetic degradation may not be as important as ecological degradation for many decades following habitat fragmentation.
Advanced anatomical and functional imaging guides management of coronary artery ulcerated plaque.

A 57-year-old man with family history of coronary artery disease who suffered an aborted anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction 3 months ago that was treated conservatively was referred for an elective coronary angiogram due to post-infarction angina with low-level exercise despite the maximal medical therapy. Coronary angiography showed a focal aneurysm-like area in the proximal left anterior descending artery ( Panels A and B …
Bayesian link margins for opportunistic downlink packet systems

Downlink cellular packet systems utilizing opportunistic scheduling and adaptive modulation must deal with outdated channel state information. A fade margin is part of the link budget which is used to mitigate the effect of channel variation. Channel prediction reduces this margin, improving the transmission rate. We derive a fade margin which keeps packet outage constant for any prediction error variance. In our model both the signal and the interferer powers are modeled as autoregressive stochastic processes and predicted. The MMSE power predictor is also derived. Improvement in system throughput due to channel prediction is shown for a proportional fair scheduled downlink packet system, and compared to systems without prediction and opportunistic scheduling.