cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Site-selective Mott transition in rare-earth-element nickelates.

A combination of density functional and dynamical mean field theory calculations are used to show that the remarkable metal-insulator transition in the rare-earth-element nickelate perovskites arises from a site-selective Mott phase, in which the $d$ electrons on half of the Ni ions are localized to form a fluctuating moment while the $d$ electrons on other Ni ions form a singlet with holes on the surrounding oxygen ions. The calculation reproduces key features observed in the nickelate materials, including an insulating gap in the paramagnetic state, a strong variation of static magnetic moments among Ni sites and an absence of charge order. A connection between structure and insulating behavior is documented. The site-selective Mott transition may be a more broadly applicable concept in the description of correlated materials.
Genome-Wide Identification of Klebsiella pneumoniae Fitness Genes during Lung Infection

ABSTRACT Klebsiella pneumoniae is an urgent public health threat because of resistance to carbapenems, antibiotics of last resort against Gram-negative bacterial infections. Despite the fact that K. pneumoniae is a leading cause of pneumonia in hospitalized patients, the bacterial factors required to cause disease are poorly understood. Insertion site sequencing combines transposon mutagenesis with high-throughput sequencing to simultaneously screen thousands of insertion mutants for fitness defects during infection. Using the recently sequenced K. pneumoniae strain KPPR1 in a well-established mouse model of pneumonia, insertion site sequencing was performed on a pool of >25,000 transposon mutants. The relative fitness requirement of each gene was ranked based on the ratio of lung to inoculum read counts and concordance between insertions in the same gene. This analysis revealed over 300 mutants with at least a 2-fold fitness defect and 69 with defects ranging from 10- to >2,000-fold. Construction of 6 isogenic mutants for use in competitive infections with the wild type confirmed their requirement for lung fitness. Critical fitness genes included those for the synthesis of branched-chain and aromatic amino acids that are essential in mice and humans, the transcriptional elongation factor RfaH, and the copper efflux pump CopA . The majority of fitness genes were conserved among reference strains representative of diverse pathotypes. These results indicate that regulation of outer membrane components and synthesis of amino acids that are essential to its host are critical for K. pneumoniae fitness in the lung. IMPORTANCE Klebsiella pneumoniae is a bacterium that commonly causes pneumonia in patients after they are admitted to the hospital. K. pneumoniae is becoming resistant to all available antibiotics, and when these infections spread to the bloodstream, over half of patients die. Since currently available antibiotics are failing, we must discover new ways to treat these infections. In this study, we asked what genes the bacterium needs to cause an infection, since the proteins encoded by these genes could be targets for new antibiotics. We identified over 300 genes that K. pneumoniae requires to grow in a mouse model of pneumonia. Many of the genes that we identified are found in K. pneumoniae isolates from throughout the world, including antibiotic-resistant forms. If new antibiotics could be made against the proteins that these genes encode, they may be broadly effective against K. pneumoniae.
Combined Diet and Physical Activity Promotion Programs for Prevention of Diabetes: Community Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement

This guideline from the CPSTF addresses combined diet and physical activity promotion programs for adolescents and adults at increased risk for type 2 diabetes. It found that these programs were co...
Population-specific histological age-estimating method: a model for known African-American and European-American skeletal remains.

Previously developed histological age-estimating methods have been based on samples lacking interpopulation variability. A comparison of age-associated rib histomorphometrics between an European-American sample and an African-American sample indicates that ethnicity can have a significant effect on osteon population density (OPD), osteon cross-sectional area (On.Ar), and relative cortical area (Ct.Ar/Tt.Ar). Based upon these findings, new histological age-predicting formulae are presented that are recommended when estimating age for African-American or European-American skeletal remains. A general formula that is applicable to remains of unknown ethnicity is also provided.
Senescence Mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae With a Defect in Telomere Replication Identify Three Additional EST Genes

The primary determinant for telomere replication is the enzyme telomerase, responsible for elongating the G-rich strand of the telomere. The only component of this enzyme that has been identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is the TLC1 gene, encoding the telomerase RNA subunit. However, a yeast strain defective for the EST1 gene exhibits the same phenotypes (progressively shorter telomeres and a senescence phenotype) as a strain deleted for TLC1, suggesting that EST1 encodes either a component of telomerase or some other factor essential for telomerase function. We designed a multitiered screen that led to the isolation of 22 mutants that display the same phenotypes as est1 and tlc1 mutant strains. These mutations mapped to four complementation groups: the previously identified EST1 gene and three additional genes, called EST2, EST3 and EST4. Cloning of the EST2 gene demonstrated that it encodes a large, extremely basic novel protein with no motifs that provide clues as to function. Epistasis analysis indicated that the four EST genes function in the same pathway for telomere replication as defined by the TLC1 gene, suggesting that the EST genes encode either components of telomerase or factors that positively regulate telomerase activity.
SAMPLE SURVEYS VERSUS EXPERIMENTS, CONTROLLED OBSERVATIONS, CENSUSES, REGISTERS, AND LOCAL STUDIES12

The relative merits and drawbacks of data obtained from the following sources are compared: sample surveys experimental projects controlled observations censuses registers and local studies. The importance of representation as the criterion for comparing the value of the data obtained by the various methods is stressed. (ANNOTATION)
Copper tolerance and segregation distortion in aged Paramecium.

The effect of age on copper tolerance and genetic phenomena in Paramecium has been investigated. Regression analysis of paired observations of log median tolerance limit to copper and age in fissions on four different days has shown that there is no reason to reject the null hypothesis that age has no effect on copper tolerance. Older cells are not, therefore, necessarily more susceptible to environmental stress as is often assumed. The isolation of starved cells from clones which are very old frequently results in inviability, but the progeny of 5 lines which had a high percentage of viability showed highly distorted segregation ratios at 4 marker loci. Eleven of the 19 ratios differed significantly from the expected 1 : 1. The distorted segregation was not consistently biased toward one allele nor were subclones of a single clone biased in the same direction. An interpretation is presented which suggests the distorted segregation is an artifact. It is proposed that segregation distortion results as a consequence of individual cells entering autogamy at different times rather than synchronously as they starve. If true this hypothesis has important technical implications for the measurement of viability at autogamy in aged lines.
Synthetic peptide vaccine development: measurement of polyclonal antibody affinity and cross‐reactivity using a new peptide capture and release system for surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy

A method has been developed for measurement of antibody affinity and cross-reactivity by surface plasmon resonance spectroscopy using the EK-coil heterodimeric coiled-coil peptide capture system. This system allows for reversible capture of synthetic peptide ligands on a biosensor chip surface, with the advantage that multiple antibody-antigen interactions can be analyzed using a single biosensor chip. This method has proven useful in the development of a synthetic peptide anti-Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) vaccine. Synthetic peptide ligands corresponding to the receptor binding domains of pilin from four strains of PA were conjugated to the E-coil strand of the heterodimeric coiled-coil domain and individually captured on the biosensor chip through dimerization with the immobilized K-coil strand. Polyclonal rabbit IgG raised against pilin epitopes was injected over the sensor chip surface for kinetic analysis of the antigen-antibody interaction. The kinetic rate constants, k(on) and k(off), and equilibrium association and dissociation constants, KA and KD, were calculated. Antibody affinities ranged from 1.14 x 10(-9) to 1.60 x 10(-5) M. The results suggest that the carrier protein and adjuvant used during immunization make a dramatic difference in antibody affinity and cross-reactivity. Antibodies raised against the PA strain K pilin epitope conjugated to keyhole limpet haemocyanin using Freund's adjuvant system were more broadly cross-reactive than antibodies raised against the same epitope conjugated to tetanus toxoid using Adjuvax adjuvant. The method described here is useful for detailed characterization of the interaction of polyclonal antibodies with a panel of synthetic peptide ligands with the objective of obtaining high affinity and cross-reactive antibodies in vaccine development.
Effects of the Use of Boosting on Classification Performance of Imbalanced Bioinformatics Datasets

In the domain of bioinformatics, two common problems encountered when analyzing real-world datasets are class imbalance and high dimensionality. Boosting is a technique that can be used to improve classification performance, even in the presence of class imbalance. In addition, data sampling and feature selection are two important preprocessing techniques used to counter the adverse effects of both challenges collectively. In this study, we examine whether the inclusion of boosting along with joint deployment of feature selection and data sampling techniques affect the classification performance of inductive models. To this end, we used two approaches: filter-based feature selection followed by either data sampling (denoted as FS-DS) or a hybrid data sampling and boosting technique entitled RUSBoost (denoted as FRB) which integrates random under sampling within the boosting process. We conducted an extensive experimental study using six high dimensional and imbalanced bioinformatics datasets along with three learners and four feature subset sizes. Our results show that the improvement of classification performance due to boosting depends on the choice of learner used to build the model. We recommend FRB because it outperforms FS-DS for nearly all scenarios. Additionally, our ANOVA analysis shows that the FRB is statistically distinguishable from the FS-DS when using the LR learner. To our knowledge, this is the first study to investigate the effects of boosting along with combined feature selection and data sampling on classification performance of inductive models in the domain of bioinformatics.
Studies on the mechanism of fatty acid synthesis XV. Preparation and general properties of β-ketoacyl acyl carrier protein reductase from Escherichia coli

Abstract β-ketoacyl acyl carrier protein (ACP) reductase, isolated from extracts of Escherichia coli and purified about 250-fold, shows optimal activity between pH 6.0 and 7.0, within which range the reaction equilibrium almost completely favors formation of the β-hydroxyacyl ACP derivatives. The equilibrium constant for the reaction at pH 7.0 is 3.93 · 10 7 M. The enzyme is specific for TPNH but appears to be nonspecific for the carbon chain length of the β-ketoacyl group. It exhibits marked preference for β-ketoacyl ACP derivatives over CoA derivatives as substrates. The product of the reaction is the D(−) isomer of the β-hydroxyacyl ACP derivative.
Comparison Study of Implicit Gauss-Seidel Line Iteration Method for Transonic Flows

This paper studies the sweep direction efiect on the convergence rate and CPU time of the implicit unfactored Gauss-Seidel line relaxation (GSLR) method for compressible ∞ows. The line Gauss-Seidel iteration is also compared with the LU-SGS (lower-upper symmetric Gauss-Seidel) method. A modifled LU-SGS method, namely LU-GSLR, is studied. The LU-GSLR use the unfactored GSLR method with the simple matrix of the LU-SGS. The numerical experiments indicate that for the external ∞ows, the line Gauss-Seidel relaxation methods with sweeping in all directions achieves the optimum convergence rate and CPU e‐ciency. For an inviscid transonic internal ∞ow, the best convergence rate is obtained with sweeping in streamwise direction only. Within each time step, one sweep (a forward sweep plus a backward sweep) per time step is su‐cient. For the three implicit methods, GSLR, LU-SGS, and LU-GSLR, the GSLR is the most e‐cient method when the Roe scheme is used. The LU-GSLR method is a feasible method and can achieve better e‐ciency than the LU-SGS for some cases.
Home gateway for three-screen TV using H.264 SVC and raptor FEC

This paper describes the design and implementation of a multimedia home gateway for threescreen television (3STV) service. The proposed in-home wireless network uses scalable video coding (SVC) and unequal error protection with Raptor forward error correction (FEC) for maximizing the quality of experience (QoE) over the variable-bandwidth, error-prone wireless network. The gateway incorporates (a) dynamic SVC layerswitching, which enables the server to perform selecting appropriate layers from SVC bitstreams, (b) adaptive Raptor FEC, which controls the overhead of Raptor FEC according to packet loss rate (PLR), (c) an efficient combination of (a) and (b), and (d) slice group-based selective streaming in the overall gateway architecture. The paper explains the home gateway architecture as well as experiments for performance evaluation as compared to that of traditional SVC streaming. In the experiments conducted, gains in video quality vary from 2 to 5dB in peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), with corresponding subjective improvements. Overall reductions of bit rate at the input to the home gateway vary from 28% to 36%1.
Content Validation: Conceptual and Methodological Issues

Content validation presents several conceptual and methodological difficulties for researchers and practitioners. There is litte specificity concerning what constitutes key concepts such as "behavior domain" and "representative sample." Thus, it is often difficult to know which aspects of a posi tion can be content validated and which cannot. Concurrently, content validation methodology suffers from uncertainty, especially the nature of the rating process that links the most critical tasks to the top rated KSA's. Some initial insights into clarifying the conceptual issues as well as a pro posed methodology are discussed.
Firing heavy silica products in a tunnel kiln

It was shown to be possible to fire heavy dinas products weighing up to 25 kg for coking ovens and weighing up to 45 kg for glass tank furnaces in a tunnel kiln. Firing cycles and setting arrangements were developed.
Determination of low-molecular-weight heparins and their binding to protamine and a protamine analog using polyion-sensitive membrane electrodes

A polycation-sensitive membrane electrode based on the ion-exchanger dinonylnaphthalene sulfonate has previously been developed and used as an end-point detector for the determination of unfractionated heparin in whole blood samples via simple potentiometric titration with protamine. Herein, we report the application of the same methodology for the quantitation of a commercial low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) preparation (Fragmin) in whole blood samples at concentrations up to 2 U/ml. Further, an analogous polyanion (heparin)-sensitive electrode is used to estimate the binding constants between protamine and various LMWH preparations. The equilibrium constants (Keq) and the number of binding sites per mole of heparin (n) are determined by recasting the data in the form of a Scatchard plot. Results show that the average molecular weight and molecular weight distribution of the LMWH preparation are important parameters affecting their binding with protamine. Comparable binding constants are obtained for the same LMWH preparations titrated with a synthetic protamine analog, [+18RGD] [acetyl-EA(R2A2R2A)4R2GRGDSPA-NH2].
A stress–strain model for a two-phase ultrafine-grained aluminum alloy

Two-phase ultrafine-grained (UFG) aluminum alloys with different precipitate and low-angle boundary distributions were examined for their monotonic stress–strain behavior. Precipitates in combination with low-angle grain boundaries were found to determine the deformation micromechanism. It is proposed that thermally activated vacancy movement plays a central role in this regard. The experimental stress–strain curves matched well with the trend predicted by a modified Blum–Zheng model based on vacancy-assisted dislocation annihilation mechanism.
The Cyclin-dependent Kinase Inhibitor p21CIP/WAF Is a Positive Regulator of Insulin-like Growth Factor I-induced Cell Proliferation in MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells

To study the role of IGF-I receptor signaling on cell cycle events we utilized MCF-7 breast cancer cells. IGF-I at physiological concentrations increased the level of p21CIP/WAF mRNA after4has well as protein after8hby 10- and 6-fold, respectively, in MCF-7 cells. This IGF-1 effect was reduced by 50% in MCF-7-derived cells (SX13), which exhibit a 50% reduction in IGF-1R expression, demonstrating that IGF-1 receptor activation was involved in this process. Preincubation with the ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 significantly reduced the IGF-1 effect on the amount of p21CIP/WAF protein in MCF-7 cells. These results were confirmed by the expression of a dominant negative construct for MEK-1 suggesting that the increase of the abundance of p21CIP/WAF in response to IGF-1 occurs via the ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Using an antisense strategy, we demonstrated that abolition of p21CIP/WAF expression decreased by 2-fold the IGF-1 effect on cell proliferation in MCF-7. This latter result is explained by a delay in G1 to S cell cycle progression due partly to a reduction in the activation of some components of cell cycle including the induction of cyclin D1 expression in response to IGF-1. MCF-7 cells transiently overexpressing p21 showed increased basal and IGF-I-induced thymidine incorporation. Taken together, these results define p21CIP/WAF as a positive regulator in the cell proliferation induced by IGF-1 in MCF-7 cells.
Psoriasis Epidemiology: The Interplay of Genes and the Environment

Psoriasis is a common chronic dermatological disease whose prevalence varies among different populations worldwide. In epidemiological studies, the factors that potentially account for this variability include climate, genetic susceptibility, and environmental antigen exposure. In this issue, Parisi et al. performed a systematic review to explore the global prevalence and incidence of psoriasis.
Biological effective dose for comparison and combination of external beam and low-dose rate interstitial brachytherapy prostate cancer treatment plans

Abstract We report a methodology for comparing and combining dose information from external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and interstitial brachytherapy (IB) components of prostate cancer treatment using the biological effective dose (BED). On a prototype early-stage prostate cancer patient treated with EBRT and low-dose rate I-125 brachytherapy, a 3-dimensional dose distribution was calculated for each of the EBRT and IB portions of treatment. For each component of treatment, the BED was calculated on a point-by-point basis to produce a BED distribution. These individual BED distributions could then be summed for combined therapies. BED dose-volume histograms (DVHs) of the prostate, urethra, rectum, and bladder were produced and compared for various combinations of EBRT and IB. Transformation to BED enabled computation of the relative contribution of each modality to the prostate dose, as the relative weighting of EBRT and IB was varied. The BED-DVHs of the prostate and urethra demonstrated dramatically increased inhomogeneity with the introduction of even a small component of IB. However, increasing the IB portion relative to the EBRT component resulted in lower dose to the surrounding normal structures, as evidenced by the BED-DVHs of the bladder and rectum. Conformal EBRT and low-dose rate IB conventional dose distributions were successfully transformed to the common “language” of BED distributions for comparison and for merging prostate cancer radiation treatment plans. The results of this analysis can assist physicians in quantitatively determining the best combination and weighting of radiation treatment modalities for individual patients.
Politeness theory and refusals of requests: Face threat as a function of expressed obstacles

This investigation seeks to extend Wilson, Aleman, and Leatham's (1998) revision of Brown and Levinson's (1987) politeness theory by focusing on the relationship between face threat and refusals to requests. Results support that (a) when requests are refused, threats to the negative face needs of the requester are more prevalent than threats to the negative face of the refuser and (b) depending on the obstacle underlying the refusal, there are differences in type of threat present to the requester's positive face and the refuser's face needs.
Zinc in Erythrocyte Ghosts

SummaryProteins and phospholipids but not zinc were released into the medium containing hemoglobin-free ghosts from dog erythrocytes incubated in peroxidation-inducing agents (ascorbic acid, Fe2+, O2). The content of zinc in the pure ghost depends on the purification procedure; using phosphate buffer it amounted to 62 ± 22 μg/g protein, and using barbital buffer-extracted ghost it was three times higher.Although most of the zinc was linked to the lipid phase of the membrane, there is a certain protein moiety of membrane proteins binding more zinc than the other protein fractions. Among various fractions of lipids, zinc is linked mainly to phospholipids and this linkage is not broken by phosphate buffer.It is concluded that zinc is part of the erythrocyte ghost, linked to protein as well as lipid phase.This work is supported in part by NIH Research Grants AM 16489, ES 00790, and ES 01570. The professional assistance of Mrs. Waltraud W. Nichols is highly appreciated.
Heterologous desensitization of the liver adenylyl cyclase: analysis of the role of G-proteins.

Abstract Glucagon treatment of chick hepatocytes in primary culture results in a rapid 20–30% decrease in NaF-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity. This heterologous desensitization is rapidly reversible upon removal of hormone from the culture medium. This decrease in NaF-stimulated adenylyl cyclase activity agrees well with the decrease in Gs activity, as assessed by reconstitution of the cyc− S49 cell adenylyl cyclase. Recovery from heterologous desensitization within 30 min results in restoration of Gs activity to control levels. No changes in Gs-α protein levels could be determined by immunoblotting using an αs-specific antiserum during heterologous desensitization. Similarly, no change in the βγ-subunits or Gi-α-subunits were detected by immunoblotting analysis using subunit-specific antisera. Pretreatment of cells with pertussis toxin did not block the onset of either heterologous or homologous desensitization, indicating the lack of involvement of Gi in glucagon-induced desensitization. cAMP-depen...
Figures Of Merit To Characterize Integrating Image Sensors: A Ten-Year Update

A ten-year update is presented on performance criteria and measurement techniques to evaluate integrating image sensors. The integrating image sensor has an irradiance-sensitive focal plane that continuously monitors the field of view and an electronic mechanism that sequentially reads out the integrated signal on each resolution element. Ten years ago, camera tubes were the integrating imagers of interest; today, staring focal plane arrays have supplanted camera tubes as integrating imagers. The adaptability of the 1978 figures of merit to the new staring devices is reviewed and, when indicated, the figures are modified.
Effect of Thermal Treatment on the Structure of Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes

The effects of vacuum annealing and oxidation in air on the structure of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) produced by a large-scale catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD) process are studied using Raman spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A detailed Raman spectroscopic study of as-produced nanotubes has also been conducted. While oxidation in air up to 400°C removes disordered carbon, defects in tube walls are produced at higher temperatures. TEM reveals that MWCNTs annealed at 1,800°C and above become more ordered than as-received tubes, while the tubes annealed at 2,000°C exhibit polygonalization, mass transfer and over growth. The change in structure is observable by the separation of the Raman G and D′ peaks, a lower R-value (I D/I G ratio), and an increase in the intensity of the second order peaks. Using wavelengths from the deep ultraviolet (UV) range (5.08 eV) extending into the visible near infrared (IR) (1.59 eV), the Raman spectra of MWCNTs reveal a dependence of the D-band position proportional to the excitation energy of the incident laser energies.
Cellular events within peripodial epithelia that accompany evagination of Manduca wing discs: Conversion of cuboidal epithelia to columnar epithelia

In the wing disc of Manduca, a sheet of peripodial epithelium completely covers the apical surface of another epithelium destined to form the wing blade. The cubodial cells of the peripodial epithelium not only are attached to a thick basal lamina but also their lateral and basal surfaces are highly convoluted and stain intensely with ruthenium red (RR). In contrast, the columnar cells of the wing epithelium lack both a basal lamina and RR-positive surfaces. During evagination, the RR-positive material disappears and the extent of lateral cell contact within the peripodial epithelium increases. Concurrently with this lateral “zippering”, the entire peripodial sheet contracts and slides over the wing blade epithelium, thereby exposing the wing to the external surface of the insect. Trypsin treatment of Manduca discs accelerates both evagination and the disappearance of RR-positive material from the surfaces of cells in the peripodial epithelium. Apparently contraction of the peripodial sheet and the increase in its lateral cell contacts is accompanied by the disappearance of acidic glycoproteins from its lateral and basal cell surfaces.
Training neural networks for pressure swing adsorption processes

A three-layer neural network is used to analyze the relationship between input and output variables for pressure swing adsorption (PSA) processes. The network is trained using a modified version of the back-propagation (BP) algorithm. The modification consists of minimizing the error corresponding to a reordered set of inputs. The inputs are arranged according to the errors (e.g., largest to smallest) they generate at the output of the network. The BP training algorithm is then implemented on the input-output measurement which gave the largest error. This operation is repeated during the entire training process. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of reordering after single and multiple passes (epochs) through the training set. The method is illustrated by application to a PSA cycle for separation of carbon monoxide and hydrogen. In another application, a PSA cycle for hydrogen production from natural gas is discussed. In these two applications, a single epoch using reordering is discussed. A third example pertains to nitrogen production from air by PSA/vacuum swing adsorption (VSA) cycles. In this case, multiple epochs have been considered.
Rotation estimation from cloud tracking

We address the problem of online relative orientation estimation from streaming video captured by a sky-facing camera on a mobile device. Namely, we rely on the detection and tracking of visual features attained from cloud structures. Our proposed method achieves robust and efficient operation by combining realtime visual odometry modules, learning based feature classification, and Kalman filtering within a robustness-driven data management framework, while achieving framerate processing on a mobile device. The relatively large 3D distance between the camera and the observed cloud features is leveraged to simplify our processing pipeline. First, as an efficiency driven optimization, we adopt a homography based motion model and focus on estimating relative rotations across adjacent keyframes. To this end, we rely on efficient feature extraction, KLT tracking, and RANSAC based model fitting. Second, to ensure the validity of our simplified motion model, we segregate detected cloud features from scene features through SVM classification. Finally, to make tracking more robust, we employ predictive Kalman filtering to enable feature persistence through temporary occlusions and manage feature spatial distribution to foster tracking robustness. Results exemplify the accuracy and robustness of the proposed approach and highlight its potential as a passive orientation sensor.
Small gas turbine combustor experimental study: Compliant metal/ceramic liner and performance evaluation

Combustor research relating to the development of fuel efficient small gas turbine engines capable of meeting future commercial and military aviation needs is currently underway at NASA Lewis. As part of this combustor research, a basic reverse-flow combustor has been used to investigate advanced liner wall cooling techniques. Liner temperature, performance, and exhaust emissions of the experimental combustor utilizing compliant metal/ceramic liners were determined and compared with three previously reported combustors that featured: (1) splash film-cooled liner walls; (2) transpiration cooled liner walls; and (3) counter-flow film cooled panels.
Effects of microtubule stabilization and destabilization on tau immunoreactivity in cultured hippocampal neurons

Tau immunoreactivity is altered in neurofibrillary tangles (NFT) and degenerating neurites in Alzheimer's disease (AD). In addition, cytoskeletal proteins including tau are excessively phosphorylated in AD. Previous data indicated that calcium influx can cause antigenic changes in tau in cultured rat hippocampal and human cortical neurons similar to those seen in NFT. The present study used cultured hippocampal neurons to test the hypothesis that disruption of microtubules is a key event leading to altered antigenic properties of tau that result from calcium influx. As previously reported, we found that glutamate (100-500 microM) and calcium ionophore A23187 (0.5-1 microM) elevated intraneuronal calcium levels and caused a reduction in microtubules, a marked increase in staining with Alz-50 and 5E2, and a decrease in tau-1 immunoreactivity. The microtubule-disrupting agent colchicine (1 microM) caused increased immunoreactivity of neurons towards tau antibodies Alz-50 and 5E2, and these effects of colchicine occurred in the absence of an increase in intracellular calcium levels. The microtubule-stabilizing drug taxol (100 nM) reduced neuronal immunoreactivity towards Alz-50 and 5E2 in untreated cultures and in cultures exposed to glutamate or A23187. Western blot analysis indicated that A23187 caused a reduction in tau levels which was partially prevented by taxol, suggesting that tau associated with microtubules is less susceptible to calcium-mediated degradation. Acid phosphatase treatment increased neuronal immunoreactivity towards tau-1 and reduced immunoreactivity towards Alz-50. The calcium-induced alterations in tau immunoreactivity were, and the colchicine-induced alterations were not, affected by acid phosphatase treatment. Taken together, the data indicate that microtubule depolymerization can cause antigenic changes in tau similar to those seen in NFT independently of an increase in intraneuronal calcium levels. Stabilization of microtubules prevented the antigenic changes in tau suggesting that microtubules affect the availability and/or properties of epitopes on tau that are recognized by antibodies that stain NFT.
Acts of Reading: Interpretation, Reading Practices, and the Idea of the Book in John Foxe's Actes and Monuments

Thomas P. Anderson and Ryan Netzley (Eds.), 2009, Newark: University of Deleware Press, 306 pp., ISBN 1611491363 (hardback), $65 John Foxe's Acts and Monuments, popularly known as the Book of Marty...
Formation of α-(1 → 6), α-(1 → 3), and α-(1 → 2) glycosidic linkages by dextransucrase from Streptococcus sanguis in acceptor-dependent reactions☆

Dextransucrase from Streptococcus sanguis 10558 was found to synthesize alpha-(1-->6), alpha-(1-->3), and alpha-(1-->2) linkages during an acceptor-dependent glucosyl transfer reaction. Normally, new glucosyl residues are added at C-6 of monosaccharide acceptors. However, sugars blocked at C-6 also can serve as good acceptors. The disaccharide and trisaccharide products formed when methyl 6-bromo-6-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside was used as acceptor were isolated and characterized. Both were found to contain only alpha-(1-->3) glycosidic bonds. This supports the hypothesis that when C-6 is blocked the acceptor binds to the enzyme in a flipped orientation, resulting in an approximate exchange in space of the C-3 and C-6, thereby putting C-3 adjacent to the active site. The second alpha-(1-->3) links in the trisaccharide are formed by a single-chain mechanism without release of the intermediate disaccharide. With maltose as acceptor, new glucosyl residues are added at C-6'. However, if that position is blocked with a bromine atom, the resulting compound, 6'-bromo-6'-deoxy-maltose, can still serve as an acceptor. The product in this case was isolated and characterized. The new glycosidic link was found to be alpha-(1-->2).
High accuracy laser Doppler velocimeter using stable long-wavelength semiconductor lasers

Doppler velocimeters for remote velocity sensing require a compact and miniaturized system. We report the achievement of an eye-safe Doppler velocimeter at 1.54 μm using InGaAsP diodes reduced in linewidth by external cavity stabilization techniques. Linewidth of the diodes was of the order of 40 kHz allowing for a sub-cm/s velocity resolution over long distances (i.e., 100 m).
Response to Douglas J. Macdonald

A C DO N A L D MAKES two major arguments in his reply to my critique of his article, " A n ti-In te rven tion ism and the Study of American Foreign Policy in the Third World." (Security Studies 2, no. 2, Winter 1992, pp. 225-46) In part one he criticizes my discussion of the domino theory, arguing that far from refuting the domino theory, I have in fact confirmed it by providing evidence that u.s. interventionism often works. Thus, whereas I claim that the failure ofcommunism to spread in Asia or Latin America after the fall of China (1949), Cuba (1959), and Vietnam (1975) invalidates the domino theory, he argues that this outcome validates the theory because it was largely a result of u.s. or Western intervention. Further, Macdonald challenges my argument that even if the domino theory had been true and communism had gained control over all of Southeast Asia, no truly vital interests of the United States would have been threatened, at least to the extent that would have justified major war. Macdonald considers this argument to be based on "an extremely narrow conception of the national interest," (p, 165) and asks a series of rhetorical questions about what would have happened if Japan had "joined or accommodated itself with the Soviet­ Chinese coalition." (p . 165) He then extends the logic ofmy argument to what he clearly thinks is its reductio ad absurdem: if in the nuclear age the United States was immune from invasion from Asia, then why not from Europe, the Middle East, and even the rest of the Western Hemisphere as well? And if that were the case, then it followed from my argument that the United States had no vital security interests at all. In the second part of Macdonald's reply he essentially reiterates his earlier argument that "the Kirkpatrick Thesis, as practiced in American foreign policy, may have more validity than many scholars allow." (p. 170) Though not universally valid or correct in every case, nonetheless (he argues) the Kirkpatrick Thesis is essentially correct: on balance and over the long run, the consequences if not the original purposes of u.s. interventionism in the Third World have been to promote rather than undermine democracy, reform, and liberty.
1.2 Tbit/s orthogonal PDM-RZ-QPSK DWDM signal transmission over 1040 km SMF-28

A 1.2 Tbit/s orthogonal DWDM optical signal with 12 orthogonal subchannels held in 300 GHz frequency spacing has been successfully generated. Each subchannel is 100 Gbit/s PD-RZ-QPSK signal and held at 25 GHz spacing. The optical signal-to-noise ratio requirement at a bit error ratio of 2 × 10−3 for each subchannel is not higher than 17 dB. After transmission over 1040 km standard singlemode fibre with pure EDFA application, 80 km amplifier span and no dispersion compensation fibre, the BER for all subchannels is smaller than 1.2 × 10−3.
Process, Content and Context: Synergistic Effects on Organizational Performance

The traditional distinction between strategy process and strategy content has perhaps limited the ability of strategic management research to explain the determinants of organizational performance. In addition, empirical attention needs to be paid to the role of the context within which strategy is formed. This study examined the extent to which synergies between process, content, and context explained the peformance of a geographic segment of the hospital industry. Results showed that (a) both process and content were significantly related to performance; (b) including process/content interactions significantly enhanced explanation of performance; and (c) context is an important moderator of these relationships. Implications are drawn for both research and practice.
The discovery of polyribosomes

Abstract The Watson–Crick DNA structure of 1953 led readily to an understanding of how DNA could be replicated. But how DNA could be used to direct the synthesis of specific proteins was hardly obvious. During the late ‘50s accumulating evidence implicated RNA in the process of translation, and the Central Dogma, ‘DNA makes RNA and RNA makes protein', became generally accepted. To reveal how the various species of RNA carried out translation was the task for the early ‘60s.
Primary Feather Molt and Serum Luteinizing Hormone Concentration in Chukar Partridge (Alectoris chukar) During a Photoperiodically Induced Molt With or Without Fasting

In two experiments, 135 adult chukar partridge of two genetic lines, one selected for high egg production and a random-bred control line, were induced to molt by reducing photoperiod from 16 hr light/day to 8 hr light/day on Day 0. In Experiment 1, feed was removed from approximately half the birds on Day 0 and returned on Day 7. Birds in Experiment 2 were not fasted. Photoperiod was increased to 16 hr light/day on Day 56. Primary feather molt scores, body weights, and, in Experiment 2, serum luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were monitored weekly through Day 85. Prior to the short day period, birds selected for high egg production and females had lower molt scores than controls or males, respectively. Fasting had no effect on molt scores, egg production, or body weights (except during the fasting period). Selected-line birds returned to lay approximately 3 days earlier and laid approximately 16 more eggs during the second production period than controls. Six days before photoperiod was reduced, immunoreactive serum LH levels were 5 to 8 ng/ml; they declined during short days to about 4 ng/ml. Within 8 days after relighting, LH levels increased to approximately 33 ng/ml in males and 18 ng/ml in females. Luteinizing hormone levels remained elevated in males throughout the subsequent 4 weeks but declined in females as egg production resumed.
Prevention of age-related endothelial dysfunction by habitual aerobic exercise in healthy humans: possible role of nuclear factor κB

Habitual aerobic exercise prevents age-related impairments in endothelium-dependent dilation (EDD). We have hypothesized that the pro-inflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) impairs EDD with sedentary aging, and habitual aerobic exercise prevents this age-related suppression of EDD by NF-κB. To test this hypothesis, we have inhibited NF-κB signalling via oral salsalate administration in healthy older aerobic exercise-trained adults (OT, n=14, 58 ± 2 years), older non-exercising adults (ON, n=16, 61 ± 1 years) and young non-exercising controls (YN, n=8, 23 ± 1 years). Salsalate reduced endothelial cell expression of NF-κB p65 by ~25% in ON (P 0.05). EDD, assessed by brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD), was improved by salsalate in ON (4.0 ± 0.7% compared with 6.8 ± 0.7%, placebo compared with salsalate, P 0.05). Endothelium-independent dilation was not affected by salsalate in any group (P>0.05). In ON, vitamin C infusion improved FMD by ~30% during placebo (P 0.05). In OT and YN, vitamin C infusion did not affect FMD during either placebo or salsalate (P>0.05). Salsalate reduced endothelial cell nitrotyrosine content by ~25% and NADPH oxidase p47phox expression by ~30% in ON (P 0.05). Our results suggest that endothelial NF-κB signalling is associated with oxidative stress-related impairment of EDD in healthy non-exercising but not aerobically exercising older adults. This may be a key mechanism by which regular aerobic exercise preserves endothelial function and reduces cardiovascular risk with aging.
Time for temporal team mental models: Expanding beyond “what” and “how” to incorporate “when”

Although often ignored, establishing and maintaining congruence in team members’ temporal perceptions are consequential tasks that deserve research attention. Integrating research on team cognition and temporality, this study operationalized the notion of a temporal team mental model (TMM) at two points in time using two measurement methods. Ninety eight three-person teams participated in a computerized team simulation designed to mimic emergency crisis management situations in a distributed team environment. The results showed that temporal TMMs measured via concept maps and pairwise ratings each positively contributed uniquely to team performance beyond traditionally measured taskwork and teamwork content domains. In addition, temporal TMMs assessed later in teams’ development exerted stronger effects on team performance than those assessed earlier. The results provide support for the continued examination of temporal TMM similarity in future research.
Homogenization of the Soil Surface Following Fire in Semiarid Grasslands

Semiarid grasslands accumulate soil beneath plant “islands” that are raised above bare interspaces. This fine-scale variation in microtopographic relief is plant-induced and is increased with shrub establishment. Research found that fire-induced water repellency enhanced local-scale soil erosion that reduced variation in microtopographic relief, suggesting that fire may counteract vegetation-driven, fine-scale spatial soil heterogeneity. This article analyzes longer-term measurements (up to 9 yr) of soil microtopography to evaluate the hypothesis that fire in semiarid grasslands results in more homogenous soil microtopographic relief. Changes in soil microtopographic relief were measured prior to and following a total of five fires at three semiarid grasslands within central New Mexico, United States. The fires included three cool-season prescribed fires, a warm-season prescribed fire, and a warm-season wildfire. Four of the five fires resulted in significantly lower soil microtopographic variation that persisted for up to 4 yr. The duration and magnitude of the soil leveling effect was lowest in the grassland with clay-rich soils, indicating a possible soil texture interaction. Although two grasslands had net soil loss following fires, no net erosion occurred at the third grassland, indicating that redistribution of soils can occur without net erosion. These results show that management with prescribed fire reduces biotic-driven variation in soil microtopographic relief in semiarid grasslands that may help limit the transition to shrubland ecosystems in this region.
Structure and Morphology of Fluorocarbon Films Grown by Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition

Hexafluoropropylene oxide (HFPO) flow rate and filament preconditioning time were found to strongly influence the structure and morphology of fluorocarbon films grown by hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD). The four films discussed in this work all exhibited the vibrational frequencies of linear CF2 chains, which are also characteristic of bulk poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE), as shown through Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The films also incorporated hydroxyl (OH) and carbonyl/carboxyl (CO/ COO) groups to varying degrees. Analogous to the behavior of irradiated PTFE, the OH and CO/COO groups may have formed when unterminated chain end radicals reacted with oxygen and water. The surface morphology of the four films, as revealed through atomic force microscopy (AFM), ranged from spherical nodules to anisotropic rodlike grains. An increased aspect ratio of the grains and lower OH incorporation both correlated with the decreased film deposition rate. The hypothesis that long CF2 chains with a preferred direction of growth are favored by slow deposition would account for both the anisotropy in morphology and the reduction in OH chain ends. An analysis of the chamber effluent supports the proposed mechanism for thermal decomposition of HFPO during HFCVD.
Maximally safe resection followed by hypofractionated re-irradiation for locally recurrent ependymoma in children.

Background Treatment failure in children with ependymoma is relatively common, with the majority of events consisting of local failure. Salvage therapy for these children historically had poor results, with repeated local recurrences. To improve these outcomes, we began to offer hypofractionated re-irradiation after resection at first local recurrence. To minimize the duration of therapy, we chose a hypofractionated regimen that has been shown to be well tolerated in adult patients. Procedure We performed a review of the experience at the Children's Hospital in Denver and at the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Colorado Denver from 1995 to 2008 with hypofractionated re-irradiation after maximally safe resection in children with locally recurrent ependymoma. Results Six children with locally recurrent ependymoma were seen in that time period. After maximally safe resection, all six received hypofractionated radiation therapy of 24–30 Gy delivered in three fractions. With a median follow-up of 28 months from the time of re-irradiation, all six children are alive with no evidence of disease. Three children had evidence of radiation necrosis, either clinically or based on imaging, but none required significant intervention. Conclusions Hypofractionated re-irradiation after resection for locally recurrent ependymoma is well tolerated. This approach also appears to provide good local control. Additional follow-up is required to determine the efficacy and potential late effects of hypofractionated re-irradiation in this patient population. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2009;52:804–807. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.