cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Sustainability Reporting Practices In Portugal: Greenwashing Or Triple Bottom Line?

This paper examines the status of sustainability reporting in Portugal. The Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) guidelines for sustainability reporting is an initiative that attempts to create a paradigm of triple bottom line reporting that encompasses the economic, environmental, and social performance of business. Measurement and reporting of environmental and social aspects are in their infancy compared to financial/economic reporting. The objective of the GRI’s framework is to elevate environmental and social reporting to the level of financial reporting by developing reporting principles and information qualities similar to those used in corporate financial reporting. In the post-Enron corporate reporting environment, such credibility may be tarnished and lead stakeholders to suspect corporations of greenwashing their reputations by issuing reports that are environmental window dressing. Currently 860 companies in a variety of industries worldwide are voluntarily listed as using the guidelines on the GRI’s web site; however, only five are from Portugal. Two of the five companies are GRI organizational stakeholders and one is listed as reporting 'in accordance' with the guidelines. Content analysis will be used to examine both the quantity and quality of information in the GRI reports of Portuguese companies. An additional issue regarding the transparency and credibility of the information provided is whether the reports have been verified (a more generic term than audit used for a similar assurance-type service relative to GRI Reports). The results of the content analysis will be used to shed some light on whether the companies generating these reports are bridging or widening the sustainability reporting expectations gap between companies and stakeholders.
Detection of hand and leg motor tract injury using novel diffusion tensor MRI tractography in children with central motor dysfunction

Purpose To examine whether an objective segmenation of corticospinal tract (CST) associated with hand and leg movements can be used to detect central motor weakness in the corresponding extremities in a pediatric population.
Chronic Canine Distemper Virus Encephalitis in Mature Dogs

Five dogs 2 to 8 years old with old dog encephalitis were compared to five other dogs, 4 to 8 1/2 years old, with prolonged multifocal demyelinating distemper encephalitis. The dogs with old dog encephalitis had a diffuse panencephalitis involving most areas of the central nervous system with relative sparing of the cerebellum. The clinical signs were related to the cortical and subcortical lesions. The other dogs had severe focal necrotizing lesions mostly in the cerebellum and in the vicinity of the fourth ventricle; clinical signs were related to brainstem and spinal cord lesions. Viral isolation attempts were unsuccessful in the dogs with old dog encephalitis. In two dogs with multifocal encephalitis, canine distemper virus was isolated in tissue culture. The differences in lesions, clinical signs and observations in vitro indicate differences in pathogenesis between old dog encephalitis and multifocal demyelinating distemper encephalitis although both diseases may be caused by the same agent.
Securing Scientific Workflows

This paper investigates security of Kepler scientific workflow engine. We are especially interested in Kepler-based scientific workflows that may operate in cloud environments. We find that (1) three security properties (i.e., input validation, remote access validation, and data integrity) are essential for making Kepler-based workflows more secure, and (2) that use of the Kepler provenance module may help secure Kepler based workflows. We implemented a prototype security enhanced Kepler engine to demonstrate viability of use of the Kepler provenance module in provision and management of the desired security properties.
Transduction of basolateral-to-apical signals across epithelial cells: ligand-stimulated transcytosis of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor requires two signals.

Transcytosis of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR) is stimulated by binding of its ligand, dimeric IgA (dIgA). During this process, dIgA binding at the basolateral surface of the epithelial cell transmits a signal to the apical region of the cell, which in turn stimulates the transport of dIgA–pIgR complex from a postmicrotubule compartment to the apical surface. We have previously reported that the signal of stimulation was controlled by a protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) activated upon dIgA binding. We now show that this signal of stimulation moves across the cell independently of pIgR movement or microtubules and acts through the tyrosine kinase activity by releasing Ca++ from inositol trisphosphate–sensitive intracellular stores. Surprisingly we have found that a second independent signal is required to achieve dIgA-stimulated transcytosis of pIgR. This second signal depends on dIgA binding to the pIgR solely at the basolateral surface and the ability of pIgR to dimerize. This enables pIgR molecules that have bound dIgA at the basolateral surface to respond to the signal of stimulation once they reach the postmicrotubule compartment. We propose that the use of two signals may be a general mechanism by which signaling receptors maintain specificity along their signaling and trafficking pathways.
A Model-Based Self-Adjusting Two-Phase Controller for Vecuronium-Induced Muscle Relaxation Durng Anesthesia

A two-phase controller was developed to induce and maintain muscle relaxation with vecuronium. A transient controller administers drug boluses according to a two-compartment pharmacokinetic, nonlinear pharmacodynamic model. Once relaxation is within ±10 percent of the setpoint, a self-adjusting PID controller maintains relaxation. The controller gain is initially identified during the transient phase by weighted recursive least squares. Thereafter, it is automatically adjusted to compensate for background noise and varying patient gain.
Beginning teacher concerns in an accountability-based testing environment

Abstract This paper, part of a larger case study of beginning teachers and mentors, describes the concerns of four teachers throughout their stages of development in first-year teaching. They and their mentors were interviewed at three intervals in the school year to obtain perceptions of beginning teacher concerns. Beginning teachers also kept journals of their concerns in first-year teaching. Data revealed that in an accountability-based testing environment, instructional pacing was reported as a top, pervasive concern of beginning teachers. These case studies reveal that participants were reporting beginning teacher concerns, but not necessarily in the predictable areas, such as classroom discipline, student motivation, or individual student differences. The data suggest that typical problems were overshadowed by concerns and preoccupations with district instructional pacing, test pressure, and test preparation.
Effect of geometry on double injection in semiconductors

Abstract Charge density profiles, electric field distributions, and current-voltage relationships are derived for Lampert's two carrier semiconductor regime in structures which are cylindrical and spherical in geometry. These results are compared with those for the planar case. The I-V characteristics can be described by I = δqμpμnτ(p0 − n0)V2 where δ is a constant scaling factor dependent only on the geometry. Values for δ are derived in closed form for the cylindrical case, whereas numerical results are given for the spherical configuration. Formulation of a small signal a.c. equivalent circuit which represents the semiconductor regime for the various geometries is also presented.
Synthesis and receptor binding affinity of conformationally restricted retinoic acid analogues

Abstract In an effort to synthesize two conformationally restricted retinoids utilizing a cyclopropyl ring as bioisostere for the C9–C10 double bond, we describe the synthetic strategies and retinoid receptor binding affinity of the trans -cyclopropyl analogue and the unexpected epimerization of the cis -cyclopropyl analogue.
Chronic Low‐Dose Lipid Infusion in Healthy Patients Induces Markers of Endothelial Activation Independent of Its Metabolic Effects

Elevated plasma triglyceride/free fatty acid (FFA) levels and insulin resistance may promote atherosclerosis through endothelial activation (ie, increased expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 [ICAM-1]/vascular adhesion molecule 1 [VCAM-1], and endothelin-1 [ET-1]) in patients with the metabolic syndrome, but this has never been directly tested. The authors measured endothelial activation and insulin sensitivity (euglycemic insulin clamp with [3-3H]-glucose) after a 4-day low-dose lipid infusion that elevated plasma FFA to levels observed in the metabolic syndrome in 20 lean, non-diabetic insulin-resistant subjects with a strong family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (FH+) and 10 insulin-sensitive volunteers without a family history of type 2 diabetes mellitus (FH−). Low-dose lipid infusion reduced insulin sensitivity by approximately 25% in insulin-sensitive FH−controls but did not worsen preexisting insulin resistance in FH+. Low-dose lipid infusion elevated plasma ICAM and VCAM levels similarly in both groups (approximately 12%–18%; P<.01 vs baseline), while plasma ET-1 levels increased more in FH+vs FH−(46% vs 10%; P=.005). Increased plasma FFA levels closely correlated with elevated ICAM (r=0.60; P<.01), VCAM, and ET-1 levels (r=0.39 and r=0.42, respectively; P<.05). Low-dose lipid infusion induces endothelial activation in both lean insulin-resistant (FH+) and insulin-sensitive (FH−) healthy patients, regardless of changes in insulin sensitivity. These results prove that even a modest lipid oversupply may be sufficient to trigger a deleterious endothelial response.
Cognition and affect in moral development: A critique of Lawrence Kohlberg

Although a theory of moral development is not itself a theory of moral education, it can have important implications for moral education. A case in point is the cognitive-developmental theory of Lawrence Kohlberg) Kohlberg and his followers have for several years been attempting to put into practice in classrooms and prisons the implications of this theory for moral education. His theory is being widely discussed by those interested in moral education, and it seems to be attracting an ever larger number of adherents. So, given the likelihood of its having significant impact on the moral education of children, it is important that attempts be made to see to what extent it can withstand critical scrutiny. A comprehensive critical examination would be a large undertaking. This paper has a more modest aim. It will consider Kohlberg's views on the relationship between cognition and affect in moral development. Kohlberg's theory is distinguished by its insistence that there is an invariant, and irreversible, order of stages of moral development. It is called a cognitivedevelopmental theory because, following Piaget, it maintains that each stage of moral development parallels a stage of cognitive development. For Kohlberg, there are 6 stages of moral development, and one cannot advance to a higher stage until one has gone through each of the preceding stages. The six stages can be divided into three levels: pre-conventional, conventional, and post-conventional (or autonomous). One of the most persistent criticisms of Kohlberg's theory is that it does not do justice to the affective aspects of moral development) Although he is aware of this criticism, Kohlberg remains steadfast in focusing primary attention on the cognitive aspects of moral development, with the affective aspects receiving secondary treatment. The aim of this paper is to show that, despite Kohlberg's numerous attempts to respond to this criticism, his critics are essentially right. The upshot will be, not only that he should attend more fully and carefully to the affective aspects of moral development, but also that his particular conception of moral stages is in need of serious reconsideration.
Modulation of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase activity by S-adenosylmethionine and by dihydrofolate and its polyglutamate analogues

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase catalyzes the reduction of methylenetetrahydrofolate to methyltetrahydrofolate. This reaction commits one carbon units to the pathways of adenosylmethionine-dependent methylation in mammalian cells. We have purified the pig liver enzyme to homogeneity and shown that it contains FAD as a non-covalently bound prosthetic group. Methylenetetrahydrofolate is not only a substrate for the reductase, but also for thymidylate synthase and for methylenetetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase. The latter reaction leads to utilization of one carbon units in de novo purine biosynthesis. A priori, one might expect that methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase activity would be modulated by cellular requirements for de novo biosynthesis of purines and pyrimidines, as well as by cellular levels of adenosylmethionine. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase is inhibited by dihydrofolate and its polyglutamate analogues. The Ki is 6.5 microM for dihydrofolate and decreases with each additional glutamyl residue to a minimum value of 0.013 microM for dihydropteroylhexaglutamate. The I50 for dihydropteroylhexaglutamate inhibition of reductase activity in the presence of 0.5 microM methylenetetrahydropteroylhexaglutamate is 0.07 microM. We propose that stimulation of thymidylate synthase activity (as in the replicating cell) may lead to elevations in the steady state levels of cellular dihydrofolate derivatives and to resultant inhibition of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase activity. Thus methylenetetrahydrofolate derivatives would be spared for purine and pyrimidine biosynthesis. We have also examined the inhibition of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase by adenosylmethionine, which serves as an allosteric effector of the enzymatic activity. Adenosylmethionine induces a slow transition in the enzyme, and leads to the inhibition of NADPH-menadione, NADPH-methylenetetrahydrofolate and methyltetrahydrofolate-menadione oxido-reductase activities.
A Transient Diffusion Model Yields Unitary Gap Junctional Permeabilities from Images of Cell-to-Cell Fluorescent Dye Transfer Between Xenopus Oocytes

As ubiquitous conduits for intercellular transport and communication, gap junctional pores have been the subject of numerous investigations aimed at elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying permeability and selectivity. Dye transfer studies provide a broadly useful means of detecting coupling and assessing these properties. However, given evidence for selective permeability of gap junctions and some anomalous correlations between junctional electrical conductance and dye permeability by passive diffusion, the need exists to give such studies a more quantitative basis. This article develops a detailed diffusion model describing experiments (reported separately) involving transport of fluorescent dye from a “donor” region to an “acceptor” region within a pair of Xenopus oocytes coupled by gap junctions. Analysis of transport within a single oocyte is used to determine the diffusion and binding characteristics of the cellular cytoplasm. Subsequent double-cell calculations then yield the intercellular junction permeability, which is translated into a single-channel permeability using concomitant measurements of intercellular conductance, and known single-channel conductances of gap junctions made up of specific connexins, to count channels. The preceding strategy, combined with use of a graded size series of Alexa dyes, permits a determination of absolute values of gap junctional permeability as a function of dye size and connexin type. Interpretation of the results in terms of pore theory suggests significant levels of dye-pore affinity consistent with the expected order of magnitude of typical (e.g., van der Waals) intermolecular attractions.
Phosphoinositide-Specific Phospholipase C Interacts with Phosphatidylinositol Kinase Homolog TOR2

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae PLC1 gene encodes a homolog of the delta isoform of mammalian phosphoinositide-specific phospholipase C. Cells deleted for PLC1 gene (plc1Delta) are viable but display several phenotypes, including temperature and osmotic sensitivity and defects in utilization of carbon sources other than glucose. We have used the two hybrid screen to identify Plc1p-interacting proteins. One of the identified proteins was Tor2p, a putative phosphatidylinositol (PtdIns) kinase involved in regulation of protein synthesis, cell cycle progression and organization of the actin cytoskeleton. This interaction was confirmed biochemically by coprecipitation of Plc1p and Tor2p. The results suggest that Tor2p, as a PtdIns kinase, produces phosphorylated PtdIns, which is then hydrolyzed by the associated Plc1p. The proximity of Tor2p to Plc1p may therefore result in a regulated spatial and temporal coupling of synthesis and hydrolysis of phosphorylated forms of PtdIns.
New concepts of irritable bowel syndrome

Significant recent advances in basic and clinical science have improved our understanding of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Sensory abnormalities, particularly visceral hypersensitivity after sensitizing stimulation, indicate neural dysfunction in patients with IBS. This dysfunction could be mediated by N-methyl-D-aspartate or calcium gene-related peptide receptors in the spinal cord. The stress response in the gut is augmented in IBS, which may be related to hypothalamic release of corticotropin-releasing factor. Postinfectious IBS may be related to psychologic factors that allow persistent inflammation. Finally, functional brain imaging has shown augmented central nervous system responses to visceral pain in IBS, particularly in the prefrontal cortex. Low-dose tricyclic antidepressants are useful to control symptoms, and the new serotonin type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonists show promise for symptom control.
Social roles and the moral judgement of acts and omissions

Three experiments investigated how moral judgements of harmful acts and omissions are affected by information about social roles. Subjects were given vignettes in which the relationship between an actor and victim was varied along the dimensions of solidarity (e.g. friends versus strangers) and hierachy (e.g. superior versus equal ; the terms are from Hamilton & Sanders, 1981). Subjects were asked to judge the morality of the actor in each case, both for a harmful omission (e.g. intentionally withholding the truth) and for an equivalent act (e.g. actively lying). Subjects judged the bahaviour worse in the act than the omission. Judgements were also affected by role relationships. The act-omission difference was also greater in the low-responsibility roles. Responses to the high-responsibility roles seem to reflect in a consequentialist perspective, focusing on outcomes rather than prohibitions.
Toward a declarative semantics for infinite objects in logic programming

Abstract A greatest fixed point characterization of the minimal infinite objects computed by a nonterminating logic program is presented, avoiding difficulties experienced by other attempts in the literature. A minimal infinite object is included in the denotation just when (1) it is successively finitely approximated by a fair infinite computation of the program and (2) any nonterminating computation which continually approximates this object in fact constructs it. Minimal objects are the most general constructible by nonterminating computations of the program.
Simple correlations between certain mineral and organic components of common beans, peanuts, and cowpeas

Abstract Selected organic and mineral analyses of common beans, peanut kernels, and cowpeas were determined. Simple correlations were computed between organic and mineral components to investigate possible linear relationships that might be useful. Most correlations between mineral and organic components were negative, and relatively low coefficients of determination (r2) indicated little merit in attempting to predict organic components from inorganic compositions and sample linear models. A positive correlation between stachyose and the N content of common beans was observed.
Kinetics of phase changes in large molecular clusters

A method has been devised to study the kinetics of phase changes in an unfamiliar regime of extreme undercooling and rate of transformation. We show how electron diffraction can monitor the time evolution of phase changes in molecular clusters condensed from the vapor in supersonic flow. Transitions taking place in microseconds are readily followed. Examples include solid state transformations as well as the freezing of liquid clusters. Aspects of the experiment making it possible to observe familiar transitions under highly unusual conditions will be discussed along with some advantages of the new technique.
Endoplasmic reticulum-derived pinwheels in wheat infected with wheat spindle streak mosaic virus

A study of pinwheel structures in wheat cells infected with wheat spindle streak mosaic virus in young tissues of infected plants showed that membranous bodies consisting of convoluted plates and tubules originated from the endoplasmic reticulum. These appeared to give rise to pinwheel configurations. Some observations suggest that pinwheel structures in neighboring cells may be interconnected through plasmodesmata.
An overview of immunotherapy: implications for the future.

Since its introduction in 1911 ,I desensitization, or In addition to this type of clinical data, immuhypensitization (more recently called “immunonologic methods developed in the last 20 yr provide therapy”), has been practiced by allergists mainly as data which explain, at least in part, the mechanisms an arc based on clinical observation of individual painvolved. At the clinical level, distinctions have been tients. The lack of quantifiable observation has led made as to which conditions are helped by immunoman?, both inside and outside the specialty, to look at therapy while some observations have given rough the tichnique with a questioning eye with the result indications of the dose required for amoon in rhireceived by the two treated groups did, indeed, modnitis in the August-September season. Their evidence ify their symptoms favorably.2 1 think it is essential to indicated that the results of treatment were specific point out that the two treated groups are not cured and and that treatment with other allergens did not control still have some symptoms. ragweed-induced symptoms.s
Solidification phenomena in picoliter size solder droplet deposition on a composite substrate

A predominantly theoretical study is presented of the impact and solidification of molten solder droplets on a multi-layer substrate. This problem is of central importance to the novel micromanufacturing process called solder jetting, in which picoliter-size solder droplets are dispensed for the attachment of microelectronic components. The theoretical model is based on a Lagrangian formulation, and accounts for a host of thermal-fluid phenomena, including surface tension and heat transfer with solidification. Deforming finite elements with integrated automatic mesh generation are utilized to accommodate the large deformations which develop during the computations. An experimental investigation is also presented in which deposits produced by a prototype solder jetting apparatus are analysed using scanning electron microscopy. Results of simulations are presented in which variations of the initial droplet temperature, impact velocity, thermal contact resistance and initial substrate temperature are studied to demonstrate their impact on droplet spreading, on final deposit shapes and on the times to initiate and complete freezing. In many cases, non-intuitive results are observed, such as the non-monotonic dependence of the solidification time on variations of many of the parameters considered. Detailed study of the final solidified shapes, as well as the droplet configuration and flow filed at the onset of phase change, indicate strong coupling between the droplet dynamics and the freezing behavior.
Partial replica selection based on relevance for information retrieval

Partial collection replication improves performance and scalability of a large-scale distributed information retrieval system by distributing excessive workloads, reducing network latency, and restricting some searches to a small percentage of data. In this paper, we first examine queries from real system logs and show that there is sufficient query locality in real systems to justify partial collection replication. We then present a method for constructing a hierarchy of partial replicas from a collection where each replica is a subset of all larger replicas, and extend the inference network model to rank and select partial replicas. We compare our new selection algorithm to previous work on collection selection over a range of tuning parameters. For a given query, our replica selection algorithm correctly determines the most relevant of the replicas or original collection, and thus maintains the highest retrieval effectiveness while searching the least data as compared with the other ranking functions. Simulation results show that with load balancing, partial replication consistently improves performance over collection partitioning on multiple disks of a shared-memory multiprocessor and it requires only modest query locality.
Structural stability of (Ga,Mn)As from first principles: Random alloys, ordered compounds, and superlattices

We calculate by a combination of density functional theory and mixed-basis cluster expansion the structural stability of ordered and disordered zincblende $\mathrm{GaAs}\text{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{MnAs}$ systems. We find that the ground state of this system is phase separating into $\mathrm{GaAs}+\mathrm{MnAs}$, even though the strain energy is negligible. The study of short-period superlattices shows that the least-unstable superlattices are along the (111) orientation whereas the most-unstable orientation is the (201). The formation enthalpy of the random alloy has been calculated; combining it with a mean-field approximation, we obtain the temperature-composition phase diagram showing the miscibility-gap temperature below which the alloy phase separates. The stabilization energy for (100) $({\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Mn}}_{x}\mathrm{As}{)}_{1}∕(\mathrm{GaAs}{)}_{n}$ superlattices shows that these superlattices prefer ferromagnetic order over a nonferromagnetic arrangement. Remarkably, the decay of the exchange interactions with superlattice period $n$ is slower for the Mn dilute $x=0.5$ case than for $x=1$. This shows that as the system becomes more Mn dilute the range of the exchange interactions increase. This reveals an exceptional property of dilute magnetic semiconductors, namely that the system counter balances dilution of the magnetic ions by extending the range of exchange interactions, hence maintaining ferromagnetism down to small concentrations of a magnetic ion.
The Micro System of Deviance in Intimate Relationships

Deviance in intimate relationships may lie as much within the micro system of such relationships as it does within the personalities of the actors involved. Using a Parsonsian framework, it is argued that the strain of systemically disequilibrated relationships can produce deviant personality adaptations which, in turn, intensify conflict and deviance in those relationships. It is also proposed that a reciprocal quality exists to such maladaptations, with each member of the dyad contributing to the amplification of a stable system of deviant behavior patterns within the relationship. Because the patterns of maladaptive dyads spill over into parent-child relationships, they have implications for understanding intergenerational transmission of deviance between intimates.
Tumor facilitation in a syngeneic host-tumor system.

SummaryActive tumor facilitation in a syngeneic system is described using a polyoma-induced immunogenic cell line to facilitate growth of the oncogenic cell line. Criteria for facilitation are those usually reserved only for allogeneic tumor enhancement. The kinetics of tumor facilitation are described and correlated with the development of cell-mediated immunity as measured by two separate in vitro assay systems. The results and their implications are discussed.
Remarks on flavor-changing neutral currents in walking technicolor.

We point out that since the running coupling $\overline{\ensuremath{\alpha}}({q}^{2})$ in walking technicolor (WTC) can be rather strong at the extended technicolor (ETC) scale ${q}^{2}\ensuremath{\sim}{\ensuremath{\Lambda}}_{\mathrm{ETC}}^{2}$, the standard consideration of flavor-changing neutral currents (FCNCs) in WTC based on the lowest order in perturbation theory in $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ is not fully conclusive. We reanalyze this problem and conclude that FCNCs can indeed be suppressed in WTC if ETC interactions are chosen in an appropriate way. The crucial point is that the factor of enhancement of the masses of pseudo Goldstone bosons in WTC is just that which is sufficient to suppress FCNCs. FCNCs in the so-called strong ETC are also briefly discussed.
A struggle to leave no child behind: the dichotomies of reform, urban school teachers, and their moral leadership

Urban school reform has most often occurred in a top-down direction as a means to increase student achievement. Schools' personnel are expected to acquiesce to certain norms, beliefs, and behaviors...
The role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of breast cancer

Breast cancer amongst women is the most common malignancy in the world, especially in the United States and Western Europe. In 1999, upwards of 175,000 women in the United States and 800,000 women worldwide are estimated to develop cancer of the breast; nearly 30% of cancers in women in the US and 21% of cancers worldwide are of the breast. The rate of breast cancer in the US has steadily increased from roughly 80/100,000 population in 1973 to nearly 115/100,000 in 1995. However, mortality from breast cancer in the US seems to have flattened and slightly decreased in the 1990s, especially among younger women. These decreases are probably the result of earlier detection and improved treatment. Nonetheless, each year more than 43,000 women in the US and 314,000 worldwide will die of breast cancer. The cause or causes for the overwhelming majority of breast and other cancers remain largely unknown. In this commentary, we suggest the influence of environmental chemicals on the occurrence of breast cancer, and the need to consider chemicals in epidemiology investigations. The current emphasis seems to center on pesticides, especially those that are biologically persistent and that mimic natural hormones. The concentration of epidemiologic effort on these chemicals - most often DDT and metabolites and PCBs - may in fact be missing other potential carcinogenic or co-carcinogenic effects of many other environmental factors that may influence the occurrence of breast cancer. Clearly there are hundreds of chemicals in our environment - workplaces, consumer products, schools, homes, restaurants, taverns, foods, water, air, soil, pollution, contaminants - that we are constantly and routinely being exposed. In some cases we are exposed to certain chemicals in relatively large amounts, especially in workplaces, occupations, avocations, or hobbies. In the absence of epidemiological evidence, long-term bioassays using laboratory animals continue to be the most common, reliable, and accepted method for identifying carcinogens. Most often epidemiological data are not available on chemicals and cancer, or in many cases if they are available the findings are frequently inconclusive. Hence for public health and regulatory actions one must typically rely on a blending of epidemiological results and animal data, or on experimental chemical carcinogenesis data alone. Biologically and mechanistically we have little scientific evidence to suggest that chemicals causing cancer in animals will not likewise cause cancer in humans Consequently, by reducing exposures to chemicals, the incidence, suffering, and mortality of environmentally associated diseases will be reduced or eliminated. And this is an attainable and befitting goal we must continue to strive.
Effects of serotonin on strain L mouse cells in culture.

Abstract The growth of cultured mouse cells, strain L, in a strictly synthetic medium is depressed by serotonin. Beginning with concentrations of serotonin in the medium of 5 × 10 −4 M and higher, the mitotic burst which characterizes the logarithmic phase is quelled and at 3 × 10 −3 M serotonin completely eliminates growth. Under these conditions the utilization of glucose and the concomitant production of lactic acid are enhanced but the percent conversion of glucose to lactate is not altered. These alterations may arise as a secondary response to the depression of the rate of growth of L cells or, in part, from actions of serotonin on other areas of the metabolism of the cells. Incorporation studies with 14 C-leucine indicate that serotonin does not act as a general protein synthesis inhibitor. Serotonin appears to differentially affect the transport of labelled nucleotide precursors into the cells and their metabolism once within. While the incorporation of 14 C-uridine in both the acid-soluble and -insoluble fractions of the cells is slightly decreased, the incorporation of 3 H-thymidine into the acid-soluble pool is greatly increased without a significant alteration in the incorporation into the acid-insoluble fraction. These alterations may be associated with changes in the specific activity of intracellular nucleotides.
Combining Discretionary Policy with Mandatory Information Flow in Operating Systems

Discretionary Access Control (DAC) is the primary access control mechanism in today’s major operating systems. It is, however, vulnerable to Trojan Horse attacks and attacks exploiting buggy software. We propose to combine the discretionary policy in DAC with the dynamic information flow techniques in MAC, therefore achieving the best of both worlds, that is, the DAC’s easy-to-use discretionary policy specification and MAC’s defense against threats caused by Trojan Horses and buggy programs. We propose the Information Flow Enhanced Discretionary Access Control (IFEDAC) model that implements this design philosophy. We describe our design of IFEDAC, and discuss its relationship with the Usable Mandatory Integrity Protection (UMIP) model proposed earlier by us. In addition, we analyze their security property and their relationships with other protection systems. We also describe our implementations of IFEDAC in Linux and the evaluation results and deployment experiences of the systems.
Parallel operation of main-engineering-driven 400-cycle aircraft generators

This paper reports progress in the development of variable-ratio drives and governors for parallel operation of aircraft alternators driven from the main engines. Preliminary tests have been made demonstrating successful parallel operation of such drives under various conditions of acceleration and loading. The general system of operation and results of some of the first tests are described in this paper.
The presentation of adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix

BACKGROUND Among malignancies of the uterine cervix, the percentage of adenocarcinomas seems to have increased in recent reports. METHODS The clinical presentation of adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix during the past 25 years was examined by review of charts and pathologic specimens. The data of a total of 124 patients with cervical adenocarcinoma treated between 1964 and 1988 were evaluated. RESULTS During the 25-year period, the percentage of adenocarcinoma among all cervical malignancies increased from 9% to 25%. In addition, the average number of new cases per year increased from 3.7 to 10.8. The percentage of women young than 35 years with adenocarcinoma increased from 16% in 1964 to 24% in 1989. Of these younger women, 74% had disease discovered by cytopathology, in comparison with 27% of the patients who were older than 35 years. The overall percentage of patients with disease diagnosed by cytology increased from 24% in the first half to 39% in the second half of the study period. Vaginal bleeding was the most common symptom. In the entire period, 57% of patients had International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Stage I disease, with a median tumor diameter of 1 cm in patients with no symptoms and 3 cm in patients with symptoms. Outcome was inversely related to stage, tumor volume, and the presence of lymph node metastasis but not to histologic tumor type. CONCLUSION The frequency of adenocarcinoma of uterine cervix is increasing in patients 35 years or younger. Cytopathology is a good screening tool for these patients, leading to earlier diagnosis and improved outcome.
Letter by Elshazly Regarding Article “Primary Coronary Angioplasty for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) in Qatar: First Nationwide Program”

[no abstract - first paragraph of article] Dear Editor: In their article “Primary Coronary Angioplasty for ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI) in Qatar: First Nationwide Program”, Gehani et al. developed an impressive plan to implement primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the first time in Qatar. As a graduate of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar, I have witnessed immense improvement in the Qatari healthcare system over the past few years. From building the new state of the art Heart Hospital to developing the first unified nationwide primary PCI program in the world, there is no doubt that Qatar has made an immense leap towards implementing world-class cardiovascular healthcare in the Middle East.
Macrophage cytokine response to particles and lipopolysaccharide in vitro.

Several investigators have suggested that biologic molecules adsorbed onto particles may play a key role in determining macrophage response. Adsorbed endotoxins (bacterial debris) may be of particular importance since they are widely present exogenously and endogenously and adhere strongly to many materials. Murine-transformed peritoneal macrophages (IC-21) were used in this in vitro study. Secretions of IL-1 beta, TNF alpha, and IL-6 were used as a measure of macrophage response to micron-range particles of high-density polyethylene and Co-Cr-Mo alloy, with and without adsorbed lipopolysaccharide (LPS) endotoxin. Little cytokine secretion was measured in response to particles (and to polypropylene experimental chambers) cleaned with ethanol and saline and not exposed to LPS. The lack of macrophage response to cleaned particles has been reported by others and may help reconcile conflicting reports in the literature. Cytokine secretion levels were high in all cases if the chambers (with or without particles) were exposed to LPS (and rinsed to minimize nonbound LPS). Secretion patterns were different with particles present and for polymer versus metal particles. Overall, these results suggest that (1) adsorbed molecules on material surfaces strongly affect macrophage response and (2) particle surface chemistry and microstructure affect the concentration and configuration of adsorbed molecules, further influencing particle interaction with macrophage surface receptors.
THE REDUCTION OF WIDE FIELD/PLANETARY CAMERA IMAGES

An overview of the procedures required for reduction of Hubble Space Telescope Wide Field/Planetary Camera images is presented, based on WFPC performance as observed during ground tests. Camera artifacts that must be removed prior to analysis of WFPC images are characterized. WFPC flat-field and dark-current images are also presented. Special emphasis is given to the design of WFPC imaging programs that minimize the effects of camera artifacts on image analysis.
Scanning tunneling microscopy and technical applications

Abstract The scanning tunneling microscope (STM) is applied to an expanding variety of problems, with the main emphasis on scientific applications. There is, however, an increasing interest in technological applications of the STM; of particular interest is the detailed characterization of the microtopography of technical surfaces. The STM with its unmatched combination of high vertical and lateral resolution in a promising new tool that can be operated under ambient conditions, yielding three-dimensional detailed images. As an example of a technical application we report about the characterization of substrates for magnetic recording disks in different process steps with the STM. While the STM is now considered as a standard measuring equipment, in the meantime there exists a whole family of scanning probe microscopes with promising applications not only in a pure scientific but also in a manufacturing environment.
Effects of confinement on shallow donors and acceptors in GaAs/AlGaAs quantum wells

Far-infrared magnetospectroscopy at low temperatures is used to study molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE)-grown GaAs/AlGaAs quantum well selectively doped with donors (Si) and acceptors (Be). Measurements on samples doped with donors over different regions of the GaAs well demonstrate dramatic differences in absorption line profiles attributed to dopant redistribution during growth. These measurements are capable of resolving impurity position along the growth direction within about 10 AA. Samples doped in the well and the AlGaAs barriers display strong absorption features attributed to electrons in the wells bound to parent ionized donors in the barriers. Quantum wells doped with acceptors in the well centers display absorption features displaced to higher energies compared to similar measurements on bulk epitaxial layers. The magnetic field and temperature dependence of the absorption in both QW and bulk samples are used to elucidate the effects of the confinement on the acceptors. >
Conditions for the existence of stationary densities for some two-dimensional diffusion processes with applications in population biology

Abstract Conditions are derived that we conjecture are necessary and sufficient for the existence of stationary densities for a class of two-dimensional diffusion processes. The derivation of the conditions rests on the assumption that a two-dimensional stationary density (which can be viewed as a stable “internal equilibrium”) exists if and only if all “boundary equilibria” are unstable in the sense that small perturbations lead to moving away from the boundaries with high probability. For the models considered, the boundary equilibria are one-dimensional stationary densities and equilibrium points. To demonstrate the usefulness of the conditions, three random environment models are analyzed: a three-allele selection model, a two-species competition model, and a two-locus selection model. Several of the results obtained have been verified by alternate methods.
Pharmacological Relevant Amantadine Binding Site is in the Pore of Influenza a Virus M2 Proton Channel

The influenza A virus M2 protein (A/M2) and the influenza B virus BM2 protein are both homotetrameric pH-activated proton channel that facilitates viral uncoating by acidification the interior of endosomally encapsulated virus. Anti-viral drugs amantadine and its derivative rimantadine inhibit A/M2 channel of influenza A virus, but not BM2 channel of influenza B virus. The atomic structure of the pore-transmembrane (TM) domain peptide has been determined by X-ray crystallography (Stouffer et al., Nature 451, 596-599 [2008]) and of a larger M2 peptide by NMR methods (Schnell and Chou, Nature 451, 591-595 [2008]). The crystallographic data shows electron density (at 3.5 A resolution) in the channel pore, consistent with amantadine blocking the pore of the channel. In contrast, the NMR data show four rimantadine molecules bound on the outside of the helices towards the cytoplasmic side of the membrane. Drug binding includes interactions with residues 40-45 and a hydrogen bond between rimantadine and Asp44. These two distinct drug-binding sites led to two incompatible drug inhibition mechanisms. The cytoplasmic binding site predicts that D44 and R45 to alanine mutations would interfere with rimantadine binding and lead to a drug insensitive channel. However, the D44A channel was found to be sensitive to amantadine when measured by TEVC recordings in oocytes of Xenopus laevis, and when the D44 and R45 mutations were introduced into the influenza virus genome. Furthermore, two chimeras containing 5 residues of the A/M2 ectodomain and residues 24-36 of the A/M2 TM domain show 85% amantadine/rimantadine sensitivity and specific activity comparable to wt BM2. These functional data suggest the pharmacological relevant amantadine/rimantadine binding site is in the pore of the M2 channel.
Ling Ao Nuclear Power Plant - A new step in China/France cooperation

Fruits d'une etroite cooperation entre la Chine et la France, les deux premiere tranches de la centrale de Ling Ao sont entrees en service avec une nette avance sur le calendrier.Delais et budget tenus, et meme ameliores, ces resultats sont un succes pour les compagnies chinoises LANPC et Compagnie 23 ainsi que pour Framatome ANP, concepteur et fournisseur des ilots nucleaires, et ses sous-traitants.Les transferts de technologie conclus dans le cadre de ce projet, ainsi que les programmes d'acquisition d'autonomie technique pourront etre autant de jalons dans la poursuite du programme electronucleaire prevu par les autorites chinoises.
The Efficient Recovery of Cobalt from Low Grade Refractory Carrollite with Bioleaching Technology

Cobalt, having many diverse and critical uses, is an essential metal in today's society. However, the recovery of cobalt is difficult due to its associated mineral characteristics. A biohydrometallurgical process has been developed for cobalt recovery from low grade refractory carrollite. After direct oxidation for 6 days, 96.51 % Co and 26.32 % Cu were extracted from the ore using a pulp density of 10 %. The bioleaching solution contained 22.62 gL-1 ferric iron while the concentration of cobalt was only 0.83 gL-1. Therefore, a goethite deironization process was then conducted. Different conditions, such as pH value, temperature, standing time and oxidant concentration were studied in detail. The results showed that when the pH value was 4.0, oxidation temperature was 70 °C, standing time was 1 h, and oxidant concentration was 8%, then the iron removal and the loss of cobalt were 99.9 % and 0.5 %, respectively. The goethite precipitate had good filterability. The sum recovery of cobalt in the whole extraction process attained more than 95 %. The biohydrometallurgy process for the recovery of cobalt has economic and environmental advantages over the other methods.
Three-dimensional viscous flow computations of high area ratio nozzles for hypersonic propulsion

The PARC3D code was selected by the authors to analyze a variety of complex and high-speed flow configurations. Geometries considered for code validation include ramps and corner flows, which are characteristic of inlets and nozzles. Flows with Mach numbers of 3-14 were studied. Both two- and three-dimensional experimental data for shock-boundary-layer interaction were considered to validate the code. A detailed comparison of various flow parameters with available experimental data is presented; agreement between the solutions and the experimental data in terms of pitot pressure profiles, yaw-angle distributions, static pressures, and skin friction is found to be very good. In addition, two- and three-dimensional flow calculations were performed for a hypersonic nozzle. Comparison of the wall pressure results with the published solutions is made for the two-dimensional case.