cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biodiversity at Twenty-Five Years: Revolution Or Red Herring?

A quarter of a century ago, a group of scientists and conservationists introduced ‘biodiversity’ as a media buzzword with the explicit intent of galvanizing public and political support for environ...
Stable monolithic inverting OP Amp with 130 V/&#181;s slew rate

A monolithic IC operational amplifier that provides high speed in inverting applications has been developed. Full-power bandwidth of 2 MHz, open-loop gain of 300 at 1 MHz and stable response with capacitive load have been achieved.
The SIX1-EYA transcriptional complex as a therapeutic target in cancer

Introduction: The SIX homeodomain proteins and the eyes absent (EYA) family of co-activators form a bipartite transcription factor complex that promotes the proliferation and survival of progenitor cells during organogenesis and is down-regulated in most adult tissues. Abnormal over-expression of SIX1 and EYA in adult tissue is associated with the initiation and progression of diverse tumor types. Importantly, SIX1 and EYA are often co-overexpressed in tumors, and the SIX1-EYA2 interaction has been shown to be critical for metastasis in a breast cancer model. The EYA proteins also contain protein tyrosine phosphatase activity, which plays an important role in breast cancer growth and metastasis as well as directing cells to the repair pathway upon DNA damage.Areas covered: This review provides a summary of the SIX1/EYA complex as it relates to development and disease and the current efforts to therapeutically target this complex.Expert opinion: Recently, there have been an increasing number of studies sug...
A 37,500-year pollen record from Lake Malawi and implications for the biogeography of afromontane forests

. Two 10-metre cores were analysed and a 37,500 year pollen stratigraphy was established for Lake Malaŵi. A lowstand from 37,500 to 35,900 BP indicates extremely dry conditions. From 35,900 to 34,000 BP montane forests were widespread indicating cold, moist climate. Between 34,000 and 26,400 BP warm and dry conditions prevailed and forest area decreased. During the Last Glacial Maximum montane forest was widespread in the catchment, although woodlands apparently persisted at low altitudes: the expansion of the montane forest indicates that the aridity that affected equatorial Africa during this time period did not affect the Lake Malaŵi Catchment. The cold and relatively moist conditions during the Late Pleistocene probably allowed biotic interchange between the highlands of East and West Africa via the highlands along the Zaire—Zambezi watershed and among now-isolated islands of Afromontane vegetation in the Lake Malaŵi catchment. The Holocene is characterized by climate and vegetation quite similar to today, with indications of slightly wetter conditions between 6150 and 3000 bp and slightly drier conditions between 8000 and 6150 bp. The low percentages of montane forest pollen throughout the Holocene support the hypothesis that the montane grasslands of Malaŵi are not recently anthropogenic.
Nonviolent Revolution in the Middle East

The largely nonviolent pro-democracy insurrections that have swept the Arab world in recent months have succeeded in toppling dictators in Tunisia, Egypt, and (as of this writing) possibly Yemen. W...
Effect of carbon nanotube functionalization in micro-solid-phase extraction (μ-SPE) integrated into the needle of a syringe

In this paper, we report the implementation of polar and nonpolar functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) as sorbent in μ-SPE integrated into the needle of a syringe. Excellent preconcentration of diverse pharmaceutical analytes was possible without the need for specific pH adjustments using just 300 μg of functionalized nanotubes. Enrichment factors were as high as 6.4, extraction efficiencies were as high as 25.6%, and detection limits as low as 0.08 ng/ml were obtained. The sorption on nanotubes followed Freundlich isotherms, and it was seen that polar analytes adsorbed more strongly on carboxylated MWCNTs, while amphoteric, relatively less polar and basic analytes had greater affinity for MWCNT and those with octadecylamine functionalization.
Observation of Stability Boundaries in the Parameter Space of Single Bubble Sonoluminescence.

The region of parameter space (acoustic pressure ${P}_{a}$, bubble radius ${R}_{0}$) in which stable single bubble sonoluminescence (SBSL) occurs in an air-water system is a small fraction of that which is accessible. This is due to the existence of an island of dissolution at high ${P}_{a}$ and small ${R}_{0}$. For dissolved gas concentrations above 50% of saturation, the region lies above the threshold for shape oscillations and is unobservable. Below 50%, an oscillating bubble is stabilized on the boundary of the island which lies below the shape threshold. SBSL is shown to exist exclusively along this boundary.
Identification of a protein kinase from Dictyostelium with homology to the novel catalytic domain of myosin heavy chain kinase A.

Abstract Myosin II assembly and localization into the cytoskeleton is regulated by heavy chain phosphorylation inDictyostelium. The enzyme myosin heavy chain kinase A (MHCK A) has been shown previously to drive myosin filament disassemblyin vitro and in vivo. MHCK A is noteworthy in that its catalytic domain is unrelated to the conventional families of eukaryotic protein kinases. We report here the cloning and initial biochemical characterization of another kinase fromDictyostelium that is related to MHCK A. When the segment of this protein that is similar to the MHCK A catalytic domain was expressed in bacteria, the resultant protein displayed efficient autophosphorylation, phosphorylated Dictyostelium myosin II, and also phosphorylated a peptide substrate corresponding to a portion of the myosin II tail. We have therefore named this gene myosin heavy chain kinase B. These results provide the first confirmation that sequences in other proteins that are related to the MHCK A catalytic domain can also encode protein kinase activity. It is likely that the related segments of homology present in rat eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase and a putative nematode eukaryotic elongation factor-2 kinase also encode the catalytic domains of those enzymes.
Russian Gold and the Ruble

T HERE HAS BEEN an increasing amount of comment in the world press about the possibility that the U.S.S.R. may introduce a gold ruble, and widespread speculation about the effects of such an action. The anticipated effects upon the noncommunist world have, on the whole, been described in gloomy terms. They have included such fears as that the introduction of a convertible ruble may tend to weaken the U.S. dollar, open the way for speculative "bear" attacks on the dollar and major European currencies, upset world commodity markets and prices, and touch off widespread disturbances of trade. Fears of this kind have been summarized in the phrase that a convertible ruble would be a monetary sputnik. There has been no official statement from the U.S.S.R. endorsing the general concept of a gold ruble, and much less any authoritative statement describing the specific characteristics of such a monetary innovation. It is nevertheless interesting to consider the significance that might be attached to a Russian gold ruble and the conditions under which the U.S.S.R. might believe it advantageous to establish a convertible ruble. As part of the background for such an examination, a brief survey should be made of the information that is available on Russian gold production, sales, and stocks.
Isolation and Adaptation in Passage Memory

This article examines the phenomena of isolation and adaptation in the context of two recognition experiments investigating retroactive interference. Isolation is said to occur when memory for the contents of a passage resists retroactive interference from unrelated materials. Adaptation occurs when memory for the contents of a passage is subject to retroactive interference from thematically related materials. In Experiment 1, subjects first read either a prose passage or a list of sentences that lacked passage structure. Next, they rated similarities within a list of unconnected phrases. Although these phrases were not meaningfully related to the theme of the prose passage, they contained information that was conceptually similar to both types of previous sentences. In the subsequent forced‐choice task, these interpolated phrases reliably influenced recognition of unstructured sentences only. Experiment 2 varied the thematic relevance of the interpolated phrases to the prose passage. Only theme‐related p...
Aligning the Undergraduate Organic Laboratory Experience with Professional Work: The Centrality of Reliable and Meaningful Data

Many traditional organic chemistry lab courses do not adequately help students to develop the professional skills required for creative, independent work. The overarching goal of the new organic chemistry lab series at Seattle University is to teach undergraduates to think, perform, and behave more like professional scientists. The conversion of experiments that inhibited professional development into simple but authentic studies that generate reliable and meaningful data is described. This strategy seems to help students better assimilate into research groups and could easily be applied to a broad range of experiment types and undergraduate teaching environments.
A Survey of Standards for Identifying Serial Items on the Internet

ABSTRACT This article explores current and proposed standards for identifying serial items on the Internet. Use of these standards will result in a library's ability to purchase individual electronic journal titles as well as component pieces (articles) and provide detailed catalog links to them. In addition, the standards could enable sophisticated copyright management systems. The standards discussed include the following: the Serial Item and Contribution Identifier, the Digital Object Identifier, the Publisher Item Identifier and the Internet standards, Uniform Resource Locator and Uniform Resource Name, for naming and describing networked resources on the World Wide Web.
Effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone, stage of sexual maturation and 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone on plasma gonadotropins, ovarian development and uterine weight in prepuberal gilts☆

Abstract Two experiments were conducted with prepuberal gilts at 60, 120 and 160 days of age to a) determine the effect of 6-methoxybenzoxazolinone 6-MBOA) on reproductive plasma hormone concentrations and organ development, and b) determine how plasma follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations before and after injection of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) or 6-MBOA varied in relation to ovarian development. In Exp. 1, 12 gilts were used in a 4×4 Latin square design. Four gilts/age group were injected once with: 1) vehicle, 2.5% propylene glycol in 50% ethanol, 2) 2 μg of GnRH/kg body weight (BW), 3) 0.2 mg of 6-MBOA/kg BW, and 4) 2 mg of 6-MBOA/kg BW on four successive days in random order. Blood was collected via indwelling vena cava catheters. Injection of GnRH into gilts increased plasma FSH and LH at each age compared with vehicle (P
The Exit from G0into the Cell Cycle Requires and Is Controlled by Sarco(endo)plasmic Reticulum Ca2+Pump

Abstract The intracellular calcium pump sarco(endo)plasmic reticulum Ca2+(SERCA) is responsible for the formation of the Ca2+gradient across the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, and this gradient is used to generate the Ca2+signal during agonist-stimulated cell growth. In the present study, the role of SERCA in both cell cycle and growth control was investigated using cultured rat aortic endothelial cells (RAEC). Using a novel DNA transfection approach, cell lines were established that showed varying degree of SERCA activity through the down-regulation of the endogenous SERCA gene (B. F. Liu, X. Xu, R. Fridman, S. Muallem, and T. H. Kuo,J. Biol. Chem.271, 1–9, 1996). Cell proliferation studies indicated that the lower SERCA expressing cells exhibited a slower growth pattern without altering the doubling time which was similar for both parental and transfected RAEC lines. G1to S phase transition was prolonged with a smaller proportion of cells entering DNA synthesis as indicated by thymidine incorporation assay. Comparison of transfected cell lines indicated a tight coupling of SERCA activity and the length of the G1period. Down-regulation of SERCA gene expression was accompanied by increased mRNA levels of p21 (WAF1/CIP1), a universal cell cycle inhibitor. The delay in G1to S progression also coincided with the up-regulation of p53 mRNA and underphosphorylation of the retinoblastoma protein. This study suggests that Ca2+metabolism in the agonist mobilizable pool controls the cell cycle through the regulation of genes operating in the critical G1to S checkpoint.
Delineation of the caspase-9 signaling cascade

In the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, mitochondrial disruption leads to the release of multiple apoptosis signaling molecules, triggering both caspase-dependent and -independent cell death. The release of cytochrome c induces the formation of the apoptosome, resulting in caspase-9 activation. Multiple caspases are activated downstream of caspase-9, however, the precise order of caspase activation downstream of caspase-9 in intact cells has not been completely resolved. To characterize the caspase-9 signaling cascade in intact cells, we employed chemically induced dimerization to activate caspase-9 specifically. Dimerization of caspase-9 led to rapid activation of effector caspases, including caspases-3, -6 and -7, as well as initiator caspases, including caspases-2, -8 and -10, in H9 and Jurkat cells. Knockdown of caspase-3 suppressed caspase-9-induced processing of the other caspases downstream of caspase-9. Silencing of caspase-6 partially inhibited caspase-9-mediated processing of caspases-2, -3 and -10, while silencing of caspase-7 partially inhibited caspase-9-induced processing of caspase-2, -3, -6 and -10. In contrast, deficiency in caspase-2, -8 or -10 did not significantly affect the caspase-9-induced caspase cascade. Our data provide novel insights into the ordering of a caspase signaling network downstream of caspase-9 in intact cells during apoptosis.
Preparation of a vast CoFe2O4 magnetic monolayer by Langmuir-Blodgett technique.

The preparation of ultrathin films of CoFe2O4 nanocrystallites is reported. TEM images of them showed 2-dimensional assembly of particles, demonstrating the uniformity of these nanocrystallites. The formation of a Langmuir monolayer of the surface coated CoFe2O4 nanocrystallites with oleate at the air/water interface and its stability were studied with pressure−area isotherm curves and Brewster Angle Microscope (BAM) images. Surface pressure vs surface area isotherms and TEM studies demonstrated that the increasing surface pressure resulted in a transition from a complex with well-separated domains of nanocrystallites to well-compressed, monoparticulate layers, and, ultimately, to multiparticulate layers.
A new method of in situ hybridization

A new method for gene mapping at the chromosome level using in situ hybridization and scanning electron microscopy is described and has been applied to mapping the rRNA genes of Drosophila melanogaster. Biotin is covalently attached to Drosophila rRNA via a cytochrome c bridge at a ratio of one cytochrome-biotin per 130 nucleotides by a chemical procedure. Polymethacrylate spheres with a diameter of ca. 60 nm are prepared by emulsion polymerization and are covalently attached to the protein avidin at a ratio of 5–20 avidins per sphere. The biotin-labeled rRNA is hybridized to denatured DNA in a chromosome squash. Upon incubation with a sphere solution, some of the biotin sites become labeled with spheres because of the strong non-covalent interaction between biotin and avidin. The chromosome squash is examined in the scanning electron microscope (SEM). Polymer spheres, which are visible in the SEM, are observed to label the nucleolus, where the rRNA genes are located.
Geomagnetic paleointensity for the last 100 kyr from the sub-antarctic South Atlantic: a tool for inter-hemispheric correlation

Abstract We report relative paleointensity proxy records from four piston cores collected near the Agulhas Ridge and Meteor Rise (South Atlantic). The mean sedimentation rate of the cores varies from 24 cm/kyr to 11 cm/kyr. The two cores with mean sedimentation rates over 20 cm/kyr record positive remanence inclinations at 40–41 ka coeval with the Laschamp Event. Age models are based on oxygen isotope data from three of the cores, augmented by radiocarbon ages from nearby Core RC11-83, and by correlation of paleointensity records for the one core with no oxygen isotope data. The relative paleointensity proxy records are the first from the South Atlantic and from the high to mid-latitude southern hemisphere. Prominent paleointensity lows at ∼40 ka and ∼65 ka, as well as many other features, can be correlated to paleointensity records of comparable resolution from the northern hemisphere. The records are attributable, in large part, to the global-scale field, and therefore have potential for inter-hemispheric correlation at a resolution difficult to achieve with isotope data alone.
EFFECTS OF INTRAVENOUS INFUSIONS OF dl-ALDOSTERONE ACETATE ON SODIUM AND POTASSIUM EXCRETION IN MAN*

ABSTRACT Intravenous infusions of dl-aldosterone monoacetate in 5 per cent glucosewater were given at a rate of 4.2 μg. per minute over an eight-hour period to 3 patients with Addison's disease who received two-hourly feedings during the 24-hour period of study. Urine collections were made at two-hourly intervals. Following the commencement of the infusions two hours elapsed before an appreciable effect on sodium and potassium excretion was observed. Sodium antidiuresis and potassium diuresis then occurred and lasted four to six hours after stopping the infusion. No consistent effect on salivary Na/K ratio or on circulating eosinophils was noted. The simultaneous infusion of 20 mg. of hydrocortisone over the eight-hour period did not modify the effect of aldosterone on sodium excretion but caused an increase in potassium diuresis. Serum sodium and potassium concentrations both fell during the period of study.
Probabilistic aspects of the strength of fiber-dominated short-fiber composites I: Aligned fibers

Abstract The strength of a short-fiber composite may be postulated in terms of the number of fibers bridging a critical damage zone or gap before fracture. On the assumption that the fibers are long enough for the fracture mode to be fiber dominated, the entire strength distribution for the composite is derived from first principles for an aligned-fiber system, both including and excluding the inherent variability of the fiber strength. All results exclude the effect of any load transfer length, which is assumed to be relatively small compared with the fiber length. The average strength of the composite is seen to increase with increasing fiber length, while the coefficient of variation (COV) decreases. The addition of fiber strength variability is seen to reduce the average composite strength as well as to increase its COV by introducing a number of lower strength fibers. As the fiber strength variability decreases, the results for the variable fiber strength approach those for a constant fiber strength. A lower volume fraction composite is predicted to have a higher COV for strength. The strength calculation is shown to be robust with respect to the exact specimen volume chosen.
Theological Education at the Art Museum

Recent developments in the field of museum education offer a structure for a new form of theological education for adults. A taxonomy of learning outcomes developed for museum education is adapted with theological learning categories. Issues which may be preventing theological educators from using the art museum as a locus for educational experiences, such as questions about idolatry, the facilitator's lack of knowledge about art, theology, church history, or the relationship among them, and the relationship between image and Word, are considered and contained. The article then offers a pathway toward creating a theological education event at the local art museum.
To Warn or Not to Warn

Increased automation has brought about the issue of having too many alarms in a variety of human-machine systems such as aviation, nuclear power plants, surgical operating rooms, etc. The ideal situation in any environment would be to create the least numbers of alarms necessary in order to avoid confusion. This paper examines issues as to the choice of presenting alarms under certain conditions. Exemplars include current alerting systems in aviation and other domains with implications for training.
Stress-Relaxation Studies on Hydrated Callus Strips II: Effects of Some Electrolytes and Nonelectrolytes in Aqueous Solutions

Mechanical responses of stretched, hydrated callus strips to several electrolytes and nonelectrolytes in dilute aqueous solutions have been determined. At equal concentrations of cations (of the order of 0.1 M), sodium chloride, potassium chloride, lithium chloride, and sodium sulfate produced marked decreases in tension essentially indistinguishable from each other. Magnesium chloride elicited a similar response but at much lower concentrations. The limiting values at higher concentration were, however, roughly the same as those produced by the monovalent cations. The astringency of aluminum ion was clearly reflected in the behavior of the cornified strip to its salts. Responses to urea and dextrose solutions have also been studied.
Do physicians think genomic medicine will be useful for patient care

Significant technological improvements over the last decade have led to a vast expansion in the understanding of the genomic architecture of human disease. However, the use of genomic information, so-called genomic medicine, in routine clinical care, has been slow in comparison to the growth in genomic discovery. The uptake of genomic technology into clinical practice will depend on physicians’ perspectives of its utility in patient care. We review recent literature addressing physician attitudes regarding the usefulness and limitations of genomic testing. We conclude by proposing research areas to better understand the role physicians will play in the uptake of genomic information into clinical medicine.
No Evidence of Terminal Investment in the Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor): Older Males Do Not Signal at Greater Effort

Current models indicate that life history trade-offs between current and future reproduction can have a major influence on sexual signaling. Individuals with fewer future reproductive opportunities—regardless of current effort—are expected to allocate greater resources to current reproductive effort (terminal investment) because of the low marginal survival cost to signaling. In this study we examined the effect of age and physical condition on the calling behavior of the Gray Treefrog (Hyla versicolor) to test the prediction that older males should exhibit greater signaling efforts compared to younger males of similar condition. Contrary to our predictions, calling males showed no significant effect of age or condition on any of the three call properties measured (call length, call rate, call effort). We offer possible explanations for the apparent discrepancy between theoretical predictions and our observations from the field.
Is it something I said? Sense of humor and partner embarrassment

This manuscript explores one romantic partner’s humor use and the resulting embarrassment felt by the other partner using coorientation theory. Self-report and partner perception data were gathered from 106 couples (N = 212) in romantic relationships, and two coorientation variables were calculated. Actor—Partner Independence Models estimated the relationships between four humor styles and partner embarrassment. Aggressive humor was related to partner embarrassment and self-defeating humor with feeling embarrassed by one’s partner. For women, perceived similarity in aggressive and self-defeating humor mitigated embarrassment, and greater understanding of men’s self-defeating humor was related to embarrassment. In Study 2, a 2 × 2 experiment (N = 222) tested whether self-defeating humor predicts embarrassment or whether embarrassment predicts self-defeating humor use, with results supporting the former.
A Comparison between Grain Boundary Chromium Depletion in Austenitic Stainless Steel and Corrosion in the Modified Strauss Test

Abstract This paper reports a detailed comparison between an analytical electron microscopy (AEM) study of the chromium depletion process around grain boundary carbides in an austenitic stainless steel (SS) and the corrosion results for the same steel tested in the modified Strauss test. The comparison shows that chromium depletion is the primary cause for attack in this test. The occurrence of corrosion, shape of the corroded region at the grain boundary, length of attack along a boundary, and depth of corrosion penetration into the sample can all be explained in terms of the chromium depletion detected by AEM. The only disagreement is in the width of the corroded region at the grain boundary. It is always wider than that of the depleted material.
The quest for load-independent left ventricular chamber properties: Exploring the normalized pressure phase plane.

The pressure phase plane (PPP), defined by dP(t)/dt versus P(t) coordinates has revealed novel physiologic relationships not readily obtainable from conventional, time domain analysis of left ventricular pressure (LVP). We extend the methodology by introducing the normalized pressure phase plane (nPPP), defined by 0 ≤ P ≤ 1 and � 1 ≤ dP/dt ≤ +1. Normalization eliminates loaddependent effects facilitating comparison of conserved features of nPPP loops. Hence, insight into load-invariant systolic and diastolic chamber properties and their coupling to load can be obtained. To demonstrate utility, high-fidelity P(t) data from 14 subjects (4234 beats) was analyzed. PNR, the nPPP (dimensionless) pressure, where –dP/dtpeak occurs, was 0.61 and had limited variance (7%). The relative load independence of PNR was corroborated by comparison of PPP and nPPP features of normal sinus rhythm (NSR) and (ejecting and nonejecting) premature ventricular contraction (PVC) beats. PVCs had lower P(t)max and lower peak negative and positive dP(t)/dt values versus NSR beats. In the nPPP, +dP/dtpeak occurred at higher (dimensionless) P in PVC beats than in regular beats (0.44 in NSR vs. 0.48 in PVC). However, PNR for PVC versus NSR remained unaltered (PNR = 0.64; P > 0.05). Possible mechanistic explanation includes a (near) load-independent (constant) ratio of maximum cross-bridge uncoupling rate to instantaneous wall stress. Hence, nPPP analysis reveals LV properties obscured by load and by conventional temporal P(t) and dP(t)/dt analysis. nPPP identifies chamber properties deserving molecular and cellular physiologic explanation.
Infectivity, growth and development of Echinostoma revolution (Trematoda) in the domestic chick

Infectivity, growth and development were studied in 23 one-day-old domestic chicks each fed 25 pre-selected metacercarial cysts of Echinostoma revolutum. All chicks were infected at necropsy one to 44 days post-exposure with one to 18 flukes/chick. From the 575 cysts fed to chicks, 145 (25%) flukes were recovered from the ileum, caeca, rectum-cloaca and bursa of Fabricius. Length measurements on 113 uncurled flukes fixed in hot alcohol-formalin-acetic acid showed that worms grew slowly to 1.0 mm by day 3, rapidly to 6 mm by day 14, and less rapidly to 9 mm by day 36. Worms became ovigerous by day 9. As worms aged in the chick, the body length increased relative to the width, the acetabulum shifted more anteriad and the size of the excretory bladder increased.
Video NeuroImage: Diagnosing conversion weakness with the Spinal Injuries Center test When Hoover doesn’t help

The Hoover sign has been used since 1908 to aid in diagnosing conversion paralysis in unilateral lower extremity weakness. The abductor sign tests the …
Shock synthesis of silicides—I. experimentation and microstructural evolution

Niobium and molybdenum silicides were synthesized by the passage of high-amplitude shock waves through elemental powder mixtures. These shock waves were generated by planar parallel impact of explosively-accelerated flyer plates on momentum-trapped capsules containing the powders. Recovery of the specimens revealed unreacted, partially-reacted, and fully-reacted regions, in accord with shock energy levels experienced by the powder. Electron microscopy was employed to characterize the partially-and fully-reacted regions for the Mo-Si and Nb-Si systems, and revealed only equilibrium phases. Selected-area and convergent beam electron diffraction combined with X-ray microanalysis verified the crystal structure and compositions of the reacted products. Diffusion couples between Nb and Si were fabricated for the purpose of measuring static diffusion rates and determining the phases produced under non-shock condition. Comparison of these non-shock diffusion results with the shock synthesis results indicates that a new mechanism is responsible for the production of the NbSi[sub 2] and MoSi[sub 2] phases under shock compression. At the local level the reaction can be rationalized, for example in the Nb-Si system under shock compression, through the production of a liquid-phase reaction product (NbSi[sub 2]) at the Nb-particle/Si-liquid interface, the formation of spherical nodules ([approximately]2[mu]m diameter) of this product through interfacial tension, and theirmore » subsequent solidification.« less
Desmosomal cadherins utilize distinct kinesins for assembly into desmosomes

The desmosomal cadherins, desmogleins (Dsgs) and desmocollins (Dscs), comprise the adhesive core of intercellular junctions known as desmosomes. Although these adhesion molecules are known to be critical for tissue integrity, mechanisms that coordinate their trafficking into intercellular junctions to regulate their proper ratio and distribution are unknown. We demonstrate that Dsg2 and Dsc2 both exhibit microtubule-dependent transport in epithelial cells but use distinct motors to traffic to the plasma membrane. Functional interference with kinesin-1 blocked Dsg2 transport, resulting in the assembly of Dsg2-deficient junctions with minimal impact on distribution of Dsc2 or desmosomal plaque components. In contrast, inhibiting kinesin-2 prevented Dsc2 movement and decreased its plasma membrane accumulation without affecting Dsg2 trafficking. Either kinesin-1 or -2 deficiency weakened intercellular adhesion, despite the maintenance of adherens junctions and other desmosome components at the plasma membrane. Differential regulation of desmosomal cadherin transport could provide a mechanism to tailor adhesion strength during tissue morphogenesis and remodeling.
Social Bases of Class Consciousness: A Study of Southern Textile Workers with a Comparison by Race

This paper is an empirical study of class consciousness among a random sample of textile workers in a small North Carolina city. Following the theoretical-methodological assumption that one can profitably study wvorking class consciousness during relatively quiescent periods of capitalist development by examining its components, working class consciousness is operationalized as the ordinal variable, JJclass conflict consciousness." The social bases of class consciousness are investigated for the sample as a whole and for subsamples divided according to race. Regression analysis identifies personal income, union membership, race, and job dissatisfaction as significant predictors of class conflict consciousness. Compara
Corporate Bond Returns and Volatility

Recent literature emphasizes the relation of stock volatility to corporate bond yields. We demonstrate that during 1996‐2005 corporate bond excess return volatility is directly related to contemporaneous corporate bond excess returns. In fact, the decompositions of aggregate bond volatility have a higher contemporaneous correlation with bond yields in comparison to idiosyncratic stock risk. Additionally, bond volatility and idiosyncratic risk are significant predictors of corporate three-month and six-month ahead bond excess returns. We also find that corporate bond volatility contains both slow moving and time-varying components.
Correlation between the combined sensory index and clinical outcome after carpal tunnel decompression: A retrospective review

The combined sensory index (CSI) is a useful electrodiagnostic tool, but it was not known if the CSI can be correlated with clinical outcome following carpal tunnel decompression. The objective of this study was to examine the association between the CSI and symptom relief from pain and parasthesiae following surgical intervention. Retrospective chart review was performed on 272 patients, diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome by electrodiagnostic criteria, who proceeded to undergo open or endoscopic carpal tunnel release with postoperative follow-up at an academic medical center between 1996 and 2006. The CSI demonstrated statistical significance (P = 0.03) for correlation with resolution of pain and parasthesiae following carpal tunnel decompression. Patients with a CSI of 2.5-4.6 had the best prognosis for resolution of pain and parasthesiae following surgical intervention. Median compound muscle action potential (CMAP) amplitude and median motor latency were also associated with resolution of parasthesiae, but not pain. The CSI effectively establishes correlation with clinical outcomes following surgical intervention for carpal tunnel syndrome, and thus a range of optimal outcomes (CSI between 2.5 and 4.6) can also be established.
Reactions of N,N′,N″-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane with butyllithium reagents

Treatment of N,N′,N″-trimethyl-1,4,7-triazacyclononane (Me3tacn) with a range of alkyllithiums led to metallation of the N-methyl groups and, in the case of tBuLi, to the formation of an unusual μ-tBu complex; the latter undergoes clean transmetallation with toluene to form a Me3tacn complex of benzyllithium.
3.21 – Manifestations of Cochlear Events in the Auditory Brain-stem Response and Its Clinical Applications

The mechoelectrical events of the cochlea combine to excite population responses of neurons of the auditory nerve, and then the successive stages of the brainstem auditory pathways. By this sequential activation, these responses ensue in the form of a compound neural potential, appearing as successive waves. The first 10 or so milliseconds of this sound evoked potential, digitally extracted from background noise, forms the auditory brainstem response (ABR). It follows that this response substantially reflects events of the cochlea. Readily recorded from the scalp’s surface and largely insensitive to state of arousal of the subject, the ABR provides researchers and clinicians alike the opportunity to evaluate auditory sensitivity and other function of the nerve and pontine brainstem. This entirely noninvasive approach has broad population/clinical application from clinic to the operating room, while permitting the researcher to look back and sample some of the peripheral auditory system’s most intimate parameters, such as frequency tuning and propagation time within the cochlea.
Lenalidomide therapy for metastatic renal cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Treatments for refractory metastatic renal cell cancer (RCC) are limited. Oral lenalidomide, a thalidomide-based drug having enhanced immunomodulatory and antiangiogenic properties and reduced toxicity, was evaluated for safety and efficacy in this setting. Methods: In an open-label, single-center phase II trial, adults (≥18 years old) with newly diagnosed RCC seen at our institution between December 2003 and April 2004 were recruited to receive at least three 28-day cycles (21 days on drug and 7 days off) of oral lenalidomide (25 mg/d). The dose was reduced as needed in cases of toxicity. The primary endpoint was tumor response rate. Secondary endpoints were time to tumor progression, response duration, 6-month and 12-month progression-free survival, overall survival, and safety. Results: Thirty-nine of 40 patients (97%) were evaluable for response. Many in the evaluable population [63 (38-73) years; male, 73% (29/39)]; Zubrod performance status ≤1, 97% (38/39) had the clear cell histotype [85% (33/39)], had undergone previous immunotherapy or chemotherapy [59% (23/39)]; and had ≥2 metastatic sites [69% (27/39)]. Most [92% (36/39)] completed at least 3 treatment cycles (12 weeks). A complete response was observed in 1 patient (3%), partial response in 3 (8%), stable disease in 21 (53%), and progressive or unknown-status disease in 15 (38%). Time to tumor progression was ≤6 months in 24 patients (62%), 6 to 12 months in 6 (15%), and >12 months in 9 (23%). Median response duration was 6 (2-22) months and median overall survival was 17 months (0.80-39.6). The most common treatment-related adverse event was grade ≤2 fatigue [60% (24/40)]. The most common laboratory abnormalities were grade ≥3 neutropenia [50% (20/40)] and thrombocytopenia [28% (11/40)]. Conclusion: Lenalidomide is a safe and effective therapy for refractory metastatic RCC. Further studies of lenalidomide in this setting are warranted.
Dietary regulation of glycolytic enzymes

Abstract 1. 1. The effects of dietary fructose, glucose, casein and fasting upon the activity of six enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism (phosphofructokinase (ATP: d -fructose-6-phosphate 6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.11), pyruvate kinase (ATP: pyruvate phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.40), fructosediphosphatase ( d -fructose-1,6-diphosphate 1-phosphohydrolase, EC 3.1.3.11), glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase ( l -glycerol 3-phosphate: NAD oxidorectase, EC 1.1.1.8), glucokinase (ATP: d -hexose 6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.2), and hexokinase (ATP: d -hexose 6-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.1.1)) were studied in the jejunum and liver of rats. 2. 2. Individual sugars (fructose and glucose) have specific carbohydrate effects on certain jejunal glycolytic enzymes. Fructose had a specific adaptive effect upon pyruvate kinase, phosphofructokinase and glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, while glucose exerted its maximum adaptive effect upon hexokinase and glucokinase. The addition of calories in the form of casein to fasted rats caused a nonspecific increase in the activity of these same enzymes. 3. 3. Fructosediphosphatase activity was highest in the fasted rats and decreased in order on the casein, fructose and glucose diets. The fructosediphosphatase to phosphofructokinase activity ratio was highest in the fasted rats, lower on the casein diet and lowest on glucose and fructose diets. 4. 4. Changes in rat jejunal enzymes due to diet reflect those in rat liver.
DISC drill and replicate coring system: a new era in deep ice drilling engineering

The deep ice sheet coring (DISC) drill and replicate coring system (RCS) were designed and manufactured by Ice Coring and Drilling Services/Ice Drilling Design and Operations group of the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The DISC/RCS is an electromechanical system designed to take 122 mm diameter ice cores from the main borehole and 108 mm diameter replicate ice cores to depths of 4000 m. Detailed design of the DISC drill began in 2003, and the completed drill was tested in Greenland in 2006. During five consecutive field seasons at West Antarctic Ice Sheet (WAIS) Divide, 3405 m of ice core were drilled, setting the US deep ice drilling record. The RCS, based on the DISC drill, was developed and built in 2010/11, tested in Antarctica during the 2011/12 WAIS Divide field season and tested further in Madison, WI, during summer–fall 2012. During the 2012/13 Antarctic field season, the system produced five azimuth and depth-controlled deviations at four target depth levels. A total of 285 m of replicate ice core was recovered in the first coring of its kind. The entire main/replicate ice core, including ductile, brittle and warm ice, had excellent quality and satisfied the needs of the ice science community.
Two Georges and Two Germanies: Gissing and Meredith Commence Debate

George Meredith (1828–1909) was the first author since the Chesney period to again examine in any depth the subject of the political and military aspects of Britain’s relationship with Germany. In his youth Meredith him-self spent almost two years in Germany and received a German education at the Moravian School at Neuwied on the Rhine. While there, he gained an abiding appreciation for German literature, including the ‘fanciful fairy-lands of German Romanticism’ and in later life often referred to his time there as one of the key formative influences of his life.’ Steeped in notions of German intellectual brilliance, Meredith’s sympathies for the Prusso-German cause in the war with France were weakened by the siege of Paris, and one biographer has gone so far as to assert that the conflict ‘tore him apart’ emotionally (his wife was French).2 Though he was moved to ponder poetically the seeming transformation of ‘her that sunlike stood’ into one who proceeded only with ‘iron heel’, and also referred to the ‘marching and drilling’ of the great European powers, in Beauchamp’ s Career (1876), it was not until the 1890s that Meredith truly began to question again the nature of Britain’s relationship with the country of his own Bildung.3
Design of High Temperature Combline Band-pass Filters for Downhole Communications

Abstract The decline of easily accessible reserves pushes the oil and gas industry to drill deeper to explore previously untapped wells. Temperatures in these wells can exceed 210 °C. Cooling and conventional heat extraction techniques are impractical in such a harsh environment. Reliable electronic designs that can sustain high temperature become necessary. This paper presents RF and IF microstrip combline band-pass filters for downhole communications, which can reliably operate up to 250 °C. Both filters are prototyped on a Rogers RO4003C substrate. Measured results at 250 °C show that the RF and IF filters have insertion losses of 4.53 dB and 3.45 dB, respectively. Both filters have stable performance at high temperatures. The maximum insertion loss variation with temperature for the RF filter is 1.88 dB, and bandwidth variation is 1.3 MHz. The maximum insertion loss variation with temperature for the IF filter is 1.48 dB, and bandwidth variation is 0.4 MHz. Return loss for the RF filter is more than 1...
RF Frequency Mixer Photonic Integrated Circuit

We present the first self-contained photonic integrated circuit (PIC) that downconverts RF signals. The frequency conversion is achieved by nonlinear optical phase modulation inside a Mach–Zehnder (MZ) modulator. The frequency conversion linearity is enhanced by canceling the nonlinearities of the optical phase modulation and the MZ modulator. The PIC demonstrated $\sim 110~\text {dB}\cdot \text {Hz}^{2/3}$ spurious-free dynamic range.
Measured sound speeds and acoustic nonlinearity parameter in liquid water up to 523 K and 14 MPa

Sound speed in liquid water at temperatures between 275 and 523 K and pressures up to 14 MPa were experimentally determined using a high temperature/high pressure capable acoustic resonance cell. The measurements enabled the determination of the temperature and pressure dependence of sound speed and thus the parameter of acoustic nonlinearly, B/A, over this entire P-T space. Most of the sound speeds measured in this work were found to be within 0.4% of the IAPWS-IF97 formulation, an international standard for calculating sound speed in water as a function of temperature and pressure. The values for B/A determined at laboratory ambient pressure and at temperatures up to 356 K, were found to be in general agreement with values calculated from the IAPWS-IF97 formulation. Additionally, B/A at 293 K was found to be 4.6, in agreement with established literature values.
Translating Temporal SQL to Nested SQL

This paper presents a technique for weaving temporal semantics into an SQL query. We assume that a query writer programs a query and then annotates the query with some temporal semantics, such as sequenced or nonsequenced semantics. The annotation is a lightweight temporal statement modifier, it changes the semantics by which the query is evaluated. Annotations can be specified for a wide variety of semantics including sequenced and nonsequenced semantics. We give a denotational semantics for translating SQL queries with temporal annotations into Nested SQL. Nested SQL is SQL with some additional operations. We also describe how the translation is implemented using an ANTLR grammar for SQLite.
PANDAS, Tics and OCD, and Immunotherapy

Thirty children with severe, streptococcal-triggered exacerbations of tics or obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) were treated with plasma exchange (5 in 2 weeks), intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG, 1 g/kg daily on 2 consecutive days), or placebo saline solution, randomly assigned, in a study at the National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD.
Are Roads Public Goods, Club Goods, Private Goods, or Common Pools?

An examination of the history of roads in England demonstrates that roads are never Samuelsonian public goods, and that free access roads are really common pools. In some institutional environments, however, many roads were club goods maintained through reciprocal arrangements. Private toll roads arose where possible but collecting tolls on “public” roads was a government prerogative. Nonetheless, as government action undermined club-good arrangements, local groups petitioned for and received permission to finance maintenance with tolls. Turnpike trusts managed these toll roads, but they were not “private” roads because significant regulations including government-mandated tolls and exemptions were imposed, based on political rather than economic considerations. Profit taking also was not allowed so incentives for trustees to monitor workers were weak, corruption was rampant, and many trusts ultimately failed. In the absence of regulatory constraints there is little doubt that private roads would have been widespread.
Combined transform and spatial domain based “no reference” measure for underwater images

Underwater images suffer from light-induced degradation, since light rapidly decays as it moves through water. They also incur blurring effects, loss of color or greyed out images due to scattering, low contrast due to absorption. Even though there are many image enhancement algorithms for enhancing underwater images, there is a lack of quality measurement techniques that can quantify the quality of enhancement. Despite the development of several image quality metrics, there is still a need for a single metric that can extract the most perpetual quality of the image. The existing state-of-art quality metrics can be grouped into two large groups: image quality assessment in the spatial domain (ICA, IME) and image quality assessment in the transform domain (Fourier, cosine, discrete wavelet transform). In this paper, a new approach is presented for measuring the quality based on the combination of the transform domain and the spatial domain (pixel intensity) approaches. At the heart of this approach, is the pyramidal decomposition of images into multiple scales and assessing the quality of each stage. The overall image quality is then evaluated using human visual system based combinations of qualities at each stage. The experimental results demonstrate that the measure effectively evaluates the quality of underwater images and is in close accordance with human visual perceptions. Underwater image quality measurement has practical applications in the analysis of aircraft or watercraft inspection and visual hull inspection.
Early treatment with lisinopril for 6 weeks reduced mortality at 6 months in acute MI

Source Citation Gruppo Italiano per lo Studio della Sopravvivenza nell'Infarto Miocardico. Six-month effects of early treatment with lisinopril and transdermal glyceryl trinitrate singly and togeth...