cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Threshold current as acceleration parameter for degradation of 980 nm pump lasers

To experimentally demonstrate reliability beyond levels achieved previously, as required for applications like submarine, one would like to have higher degradation acceleration than available just from temperature and optical power. In particular, this would also be of importance for lot and technology validation. From earlier stress-test experiments, we have evidence that threshold current could be an additional accelerating factor. In this paper we describe the acceleration of the current-degradation rate observed with laser operation at higher threshold-current (I/sub th/) levels. Higher-I/sub th/ devices have been obtained either through selection within a standard population or through modification of the front-mirror reflectivity. The devices used in the experimental work are standard 980 nm E2 lasers, i.e. 750 /spl mu/m long MBE-grown SQW AlGaInAs lasers with a 4 /spl mu/m wide ridge etched into the top p-cladding.
THE ANTI-POVERTY EFFECT OF IN-KIND TRANSFERS: A “GOOD IDEA” GONE TOO FAR?”*

During the 1970's several policy analysts developed estimates of the effect of in-kind transfers (e.g., Food Stamps and Medicaid) on poverty. Unfortunately, many of these studies have, drastically overstated the antipoverty impact of in-kind transfers, leading some to claim that there are no mart? poor people in America. This article reviews these, studies, provides new evidence on the impact of in-kind benefits on poverty, and concludes that there is still a substantial poverty problem in America today which need be addressed by policymakers.
Polarized Development of Memory Cell-Like IFN-γ-Producing Cells in the Absence of TCR ζ-Chain

TCR/CD3 complex-mediated signals play critical roles in regulating CD4(+) Th cell differentiation. In this report, we have examined the in vivo role of a key TCR/CD3 complex molecule zeta-chain in regulating the differentiation of Th cells. We have studied T cells from zeta-chain-deficient mice (zetaKO mice), zeta-chain-bearing mice (zeta(+) mice), and from zetaKO mice expressing a FcRgamma chain transgene (FcRgammaTG, zetaKO mice). Our results demonstrated that, compared with those of control mice, CD4(+) T cells and not CD8(+) T cells from zetaKO mice were polarized into IFN-gamma-producing cells. Some of these IFN-gamma-producing cells could also secrete IL-10. Interestingly, zetaKO mouse T cells produced IFN-gamma even after they were cultured in a Th2 condition. Our studies to determine the molecular mechanisms underlying the polarized IFN-gamma production revealed that the expression level of STAT4 and T-bet were up-regulated in freshly isolated T cells from zetaKO mice. Further studies showed that noncultured zetaKO mice CD4(+) T cells and thymocytes bore a unique memory cell-like CD44(high), CD62L(low/neg) phenotype. Altogether, these results suggest that, in the absence of the zeta-chain, CD4(+) T cells develop as polarized IFN-gamma-producing cells that bear a memory cell-like phenotype. The zeta-chain-bearing T cells may produce a large amount of IFN-gamma only after they are cultured in a condition favoring Th1 cell differentiation. This study may provide important implications for the down-regulation of zeta-chain in T cells of patients bearing a variety of tumors, chronic inflammatory and infectious diseases.
Analysis of factors related to the occurrence of chronic disseminated candidiasis in patients with acute leukemia in a non-bone marrow transplant setting: a follow-up study.

BACKGROUND Chronic disseminated candidiasis (CDC) is a serious complication of treatment in patients with acute leukemia. Although some general risk factors are known to predispose to systemic fungal infections, few studies have addressed the relevance of certain clinical and laboratory features in patients with CDC. PATIENTS AND METHODS To define a subset of patients at high risk for CDC, the authors evaluated the demographics and clinical and laboratory characteristics of 423 patients with acute leukemia. Patients who had bone marrow transplant before the diagnosis of CDC were excluded from the analysis. The diagnosis of CDC was based on blood cultures, liver biopsy, and imaging studies. The authors conducted 2 separate regression analyses on 3 subsets of patients: patients without documented candidiasis (n = 374), patients with CDC (n = 23), and patients with candidemia (n = 26). RESULTS According to multivariate analysis, younger age (P = 0.009; odds ratio [OR], 1.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.72–2.99), duration of neutropenia of 15 days or longer (P = 0.0003; OR, 11.7; 95% CI, 3.04–45.1), and use of prophylactic quinolone antibiotics (P = 0.039; OR, 3.85; 95% CI, 1.11–13.4) emerged as independent factors related to the development of CDC in patients with acute leukemia. The presence of severe mucositis, colonization with Candida, and administration of high-dose ara-C were statistically significant parameters in univariate analysis only (P = 0.0001, P = 0.003, and P = 0.058, respectively). CONCLUSIONS On the basis of the results of this investigation, it is possible to define a subset of patients with acute leukemia at very high risk for CDC. Because of the morbidity and mortality of this infection, a targeted prophylactic approach may be more effective and less costly than the random administration of antifungal agents. Cancer 2001;92:1349–53. © 2001 American Cancer Society.
Expression of aquaporins in the rat ocular tissue

The aquaporins (AQPs) are a rapid growing family of water channel proteins found in animals, plants and microorganisms that raise plasma membrane water permeability required for efficient isosmotic fluid transport. Five homologs of aquaporins (AQP1, AQP2, AQP3, AQP4 and AQP5) have been identified from various mammalian tissues; the expression of these aquaporins in ocular tissues was studied. Semiquantitative expression levels of these aquaporins were determined in ciliary body, cornea, lens, retina, iris and choroid using RT-PCR. Expression levels of AQP1 are highest among the known aquaporins in each rat ocular tissue examined. In cornea, AQP1 is expressed approximately three-fold higher than AQP3 and 2.5 fold higher than AQP5. However, the highest intraocular expressions of AQP3 and AQP5 are in the cornea. In the iris, expression levels of AQP1 are approximately 600-700 fold higher than AQP4 and AQP5. In the ciliary body, the expression levels of AQP1 are approximately ten-fold higher than AQP4, the only other aquaporin expressed. In the lens, the major water channel is AQP1 with detectable levels of AQP4 and AQP5 that are approximately 1000-fold lower than AQP1. In choroid, AQP1 is the only water channel expressed. In retin, AQP1 is expressed approximately six-fold higher than AQP4, the only other aquaporin expressed. However, the highest ocular expression of AQP4 is in retina. AQP2 is not detected in the eye. Finally, the possible physiological roles of aquaporins in maintaining and regulating the aqueous flow, and corneal and lens transparency are discussed.
Appreciating Rapid Technology Integration in Creating Value in Enterprises

The primary objective of this paper is about innovation within specific social organization which compacts with the division of labor, knowledge creation, and the use of technology such as e-enterprise in social economy aimed at improving productivity. A significant proportion of the world's economy is organized to make profits not only for investors but to sustain the employment of many disadvantaged people throughout the world. It includes cooperative organizations, foundations and many other social enterprises that provide a wide range of products and services across the globe and generate sustainable employment. Productivity tends to increase when the job is divided into manageable portions and then performed by adequately skilled personnel. In order to succeed in an environment in which other businesses fiercely compete along with social enterprises it is imperative to take into account innovative systems such as e-enterprise to leverage competition and increase productivity.
Optimal regulator control for systems with time-varying measurable and partially measurable disturbances

This paper presents extensions to the optimal linear regulator control problem that allow for time-varying measurable disturbances and partially measurable disturbances. The utility of these new algorithms is domonstrated by stirred-tank reactor and staged binary distillation column examples.
Therapeutic potential of bone morphogenetic proteins

Recently, there has been substantial progress in the area of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) research. This review serves as an up-to-date summary of the history of BMPs, the mechanisms of BMP signalling and the role of BMPs in adipose, kidney, liver, bone and nervous system. The potential of BMPs as therapeutic agents will also be discussed.
Chronic metabolic acidosis accelerates whole body proteolysis and oxidation in awake rats.

Chronic metabolic acidosis accelerates whole body proteolysis and oxidation in awake rats. Previous work has documented an acceleration of proteolysis and branched-chain amino acid oxidation when muscles from rats with chronic metabolic acidosis were incubated in vitro. The present study examines the impact of chronic metabolic acidosis on whole body amino acid turnover and oxidation in chronically catheterized awake male Sprague-Dawley rats using stochastic modeling and a primed continuous infusion of L-[1- 14 C] leucine. Whole body protein turnover was accelerated by acidosis as reflected in a 70% increase in proteolysis and a 55% increase in protein synthesis. Amino acid oxidation was increased 145% in rats with chronic metabolic acidosis relative to control rats receiving diets identical in protein and calories based on a reciprocal pool model and plasma α-ketoisocaproate specific radioactivity. These changes were accompanied by a 104% increase in liver branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKAD) activity in rats with acidosis, similar to previously documented increases in skeletal muscle BCKAD activity caused by acidosis. In contrast, kidney BCKAD activity was decreased 38% by acidosis, illustrating the tissue-specificity of the changes that were present. We conclude that chronic metabolic acidosis accelerates whole body protein turnover and affects the reincorporation of amino acid into body proteins by accelerating amino acid oxidation.
The in vitro and in vivo effect of estradiol upon the 17α-hydroxylase and C17,20-lyase activity in the ovaries of immature hypophysectomized rats

Abstract The effect of a single injection of estradiol benzoate upon the activity of 17α-hydroxylase and C17,20-lyase in the ovaries of hypophysectomized immature rats was investigated. Tritiated H2O from 17α-[3H]progesterone and 14CH3COOH from 21-[14C]progesterone were the products measured to evaluate the hydroxylase and lyase activities respectively. Estradiol (E2) had no direct effect upon the activity of the enzymes in vitro even when present at twice the concentration of the substrate. However, when given in vivo, E2 reduced the activity of both enzymes. The ratio of the activities remained constant supporting the contention that both enzyme activities reside in one cytochrome P-450. Cycloheximide attenuated, but did not prevent, the reduction obtained with estrogen. Enzyme activities were reduced by E2 to a slightly lesser degree when the ovaries had been exposed in vivo to exogenous gonadotropin for 72 h. The results indicate that 17α-hydroxylase and C17,20-lyase activities decrease when large doses of E2 are administered in vivo, that this effect is not directly on the enzymes, and that at least a part of this effect involves macromolecular synthesis.
Creep and creep rupture of ERNiCr-3 weld metal

Abstract Creep and creep-rupture tests were made on AWS A5.14 Class ERNiCr-3 weld metal, commonly known as Inconel 82. Specimens from gas tungsten-arc welds were tested over the range 454–732°C. Tests at 454, 510, and 566°C displayed different characteristics from those at 621, 677, and 732°C. The lower temperature creep curves showed a rapid transient, a long steady-state stage, and little tertiary creep. At elevated temperatures the transient stage was slower, the steady-state stage was shorter, and the tertiary stage was longer. Creep-rupture curves and stress-minimum creep rate curves were much flatter at lower temperatures. Certain tests at 454, 510, and 566°C exhibited an “instantaneous elongation” or “strain burst” phenomenon, in which the creep curves contained strain jumps. At these same temperatures several specimens failed prematurely. The difference in behavior in the two temperature regimes was attributed to short-range order.
A framework for efficient evaluation of the fault tolerance of deduplicated storage systems

In this paper we present a framework for analyzing the fault tolerance of deduplicated storage systems. We discuss methods for building models of deduplicated storage systems by analyzing empirical data on a file category basis. We provide an algorithm for generating component-based models from this information and a specification of the storage system architecture. Given the complex nature of detailed models of deduplicated storage systems, finding a solution using traditional discrete event simulation or numerical solvers can be difficult. We introduce an algorithm which allows for a more efficient solution by exploiting the underlying structure of dependencies to decompose the model of the storage system. We present a case study of our framework for a real system.We analyze a production deduplicated storage system and propose extensions which improve fault tolerance while maintaining high storage efficiency.
Provocation frequency and its role in determining the effects of smoked marijuana on human aggressive responding.

Five male subjects participated in an experiment to determine how variations in provocation frequency, manipulated before and after smoking marijuana, would affect free-operant aggressive responding. Two response buttons, A and B, were available. Pressing button A was maintained by a fixed-ratio 100 schedule of point presentation. Subjects were instructed that the completion of each fixed-ratio 10 on button B resulted in a point subtraction from a second subject (who was in fact fictitious). Button B responses were defined as aggressive, since they ostensibly resulted in the presentation of an aversive stimulus (i.e., point subtraction) to another person. Aggressive responding was engendered by a random-time schedule of point subtraction and maintained by the initiation of intervals free from point subtraction. Points subtracted from the subjects were attributed to the fictitious other subject. The effects of smoking placebo and 3.58% w/w Delta-9-tetrahydro-canabinol marijuana cigarettes, on aggressive responding under four different provocation conditions, were studied: (1) low provocation before and low provocation after smoking; (2) low provocation before and high provocation after smoking; (3) high provocation before and low provocation after smoking; and (4) high provocation before and after smoking. Manipulating the level of provocation frequency immediately before smoking marijuana had no effect on the number of aggressive responses emitted after smoking marijuana. Rather, the provocation frequency immediately after smoking marijuana was important. After smoking active marijuana cigarettes, aggressive responding was significantly suppressed, relative to placebo, under the high provocation condition but not under the low provocation condition. As a result, the effects of marijuana on aggression appear to be largely determined by the environmental conditions (i.e., level of provocation frequency and/or rate of aggressive responding) present immediately after smoking marijuana. This finding may help to account for some of the inconsistencies observed in previous studies, where marijuana has been found to both increase and decrease aggressive responding.
Synthesis of double-stranded RNA II. Partial purification and characterization of an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase in healthy tobacco leaves☆

Abstract A soluble RNA-dependent RNA polymerase has been partially purified from healthy tobacco leaves. Ammonium sulfate fractionation of the 30,900 g supernatant of leaf homogenates yields polymerase as the enzyme-template complex and as template-free enzyme. Gel filtration separates these two activities. Template-free polymerase can also be separated from the enzyme-template complex by treatment of the (NH4)2SO4-precipitated enzyme with a polyethylene glycol-dextran two-phase aqueous system. Ion-exchange chromatography of the template-free enzyme separates the polymerase into two activities; both activities exhibited similar template specificity. Although the enzyme exhibited little specificity for any of the RNAs tested, maximum activity was always observed in the viral RNA-stimulated reactions. With TMV-RNA as added template, the product synthesized by the polymerase is minus-strand RNA complementary to the added plus-strand; the newly synthesized RNA remains hydrogen bonded to the template. The host polymerase as it relates to the isolation of viral replicase is discussed.
HERS Institutes Curriculum for Advancing Women Leaders in Higher Education

The Problem.At this critical time, higher education needs more women prepared to assume senior leadership roles, both to fill the openings from anticipated presidential retirements and to provide higher quality decision making through more diverse perspective at all levels of leadership.The Solution.Higher Education Resource Services (HERS), founded in 1972, has provided leadership development opportunities for more than 4,300 women faculty and administrators sponsored by 1,100 institutions in the United States and abroad. HERS has recently implemented significant revisions of its signature HERS Institutes to address the new circumstances and challenges women leaders will face in guiding institutions in the decade ahead. This article examines the historical development of HERS, recent revisions, and future plans for expanding programs.The Stakeholders.Revisions to HERS Institutes suggestimplications for those developing women in HRD, conducting research on leadership development, or concerned about higher...
Investigations into the loss of glutathione from lenses in organ culture.

Purpose. To investigate possible causes and implications of the decrease in glutathione concentration in rat lenses during organ culture.Methods. Freshly excised lenses were incubated in modified TC-199 medium. Ellman's Reagent or the GSH-400 assay were used to assay glutathione levels in lenses cultured for different times and under a variety of altered culture conditions.Results. In lenses from young rats the glutathione decrease was not ameliorated by reduction of oxygen tension in the incubator, nor by supplementation of the culture medium with various antioxidants or sulfhydryl compounds, nor with the amino acid precursors of glutathione. Addition of 2-mercaptoethanol stimulated cysteine transport into the lens but had only a modest effect in maintaining the level of glutathione. The decrease in glutathione concentration was less in cultured lenses from older rats. Lenses from rhesus monkeys exhibited no decrease in glutathione levels when maintained in organ culture for up to 48 h.Conclusions. The b...
Mechanism of Formation of Au Vacancy Islands in Alkanethiol Monolayers on Au(111)

Using an ultrahigh-vacuum scanning tunneling microscope we have discovered evidence for a novel mechanism by which Au vacancy islands form during assembly of alkanethiol monolayers on Au(111). Our results suggest a model whereby excess Au atoms are forced out of the surface layer by relaxation of the compressed herringbone reconstruction. This creates adatoms on, and vacancies in, the surface layer. On large terraces the vacancies nucleate into islands while the adatoms migrate and adsorb at ascending step edges. At saturation coverage of alkanethiols the surface exhibits ≈6% of a monolayer of vacancy islands. These results show that complex interactions between the assembling thiols and the herringbone reconstruction influence the mesoscopic aspects of the final monolayer surface.
Repair of Tetralogy of Fallot after Aortopulmonary Anastomosis

Thirty-eight corrective operations have been performed in patients with tetralogy of Fallot and a functioning aortopulmonary shunt. There were 3 operative deaths (7.9%) and 1 late death (2.6%), and 3 patients have required reoperation for significant residual defects. Only 1 of 10 patients studied postoperatively by radionuclide scanning has a significant reduction in blood flow to the lung on the side of the closed shunt. We conclude that the presence of an aortopulmonary shunt does not add to the risk of repair in patients with tetralogy of Fallot and that mortality after such operations is related to the complex anatomy often present in patients of this group.
Visual cryptography for face privacy

We discuss the problem of preserving the privacy of a digital face image stored in a central database. In the proposed scheme, a private face image is dithered into two host face images such that it can be revealed only when both host images are simultaneously available; at the same time, the individual host images do not reveal the identity of the original image. In order to accomplish this, we appeal to the field of Visual Cryptography. Experimental results confirm the following: (a) the possibility of hiding a private face image in two unrelated host face images; (b) the successful matching of face images that are reconstructed by superimposing the host images; and (c) the inability of the host images, known as sheets, to reveal the identity of the secret face image.
Microbial genomics: from sequence to function.

The era of genomics (the study of genes and their function) began a scant dozen years ago with a suggestion by James Watson that the complete DNA sequence of the human genome be determined. Since that time, the human genome project has attracted a great deal of attention in the scientific world and the general media; the scope of the sequencing effort, and the extraordinary value that it will provide, has served to mask the enormous progress in sequencing other genomes. Microbial genome sequencing, of particular interest to the community studying emerging infectious diseases, prompted the series of articles presented in the following pages. These articles review technological and scientific advances that have occurred since publication of the Haemophilus influenzae genome sequence in July 1995; that was the first demonstration that an entire genome sequence could be deciphered by a "shotgun" approach, i.e., the sequencing and assembly of random fragments of the genome. This is now the method of choice for sequencing of most other genomes, including human (as performed by Celera Genomics).
Exercise-based motivational interviewing for female patients with fibromyalgia: a case series

The objective of the study is to determine the effects of motivational interviewing (MI), a novel technique of behavioral counseling to promote exercise, on pain and physical function in patients with fibromyalgia (FMS). Patients who met the American College of Rheumatology criteria for FMS and had a visual analog pain score of ≥6 were enrolled in a single group intervention pilot study. Participants received two supervised exercise sessions and an exercise prescription. Thereafter, six exercise-based MI phone calls were made over a 10-week period. Assessments were done at baseline, week 12 (immediate postintervention) and week 30 (follow-up). The primary endpoints were changes from baseline in the fibromyalgia impact questionnaire (FIQ)-pain and physical impairment at week 30. Secondary measures were brief pain inventory (BPI)-pain severity and BPI-pain interference, the number of exercise minutes (NEM) per week, and the arthritis impact measurement scale (AIMS)-depression. The 19 enrolled female participants had a mean age of 52.2 ± 9.1 years, mean disease duration of 7.5 ± 5.0 years, and a mean FIQ-pain score of 7.7 ± 1.4. By week 30, there was significant improvement in both FIQ-pain (−2.6 ± 2.6, p < 0.001) and FIQ-physical impairment (−1.3 ± 2.1, p = 0.01). Likewise, BPI-pain severity and pain interference were reduced by −2.4 ± 2.1 (p < 0.001) and −2.4 ± 2.0 (p < 0.001), respectively. While the median NEM per week increased from 0 to 32 min (p = 0.001) at week 30, AIMS-depression score was unchanged. In this pilot study, we conclude that telephone-delivered MI to promote exercise was associated with an improvement in patient’s level of pain and physical impairment.
Is there a role for advanced radiation therapy technologies in the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic cancer remains a highly challenging problem in oncology. Oncologists continue to search for therapies that are more effective than those currently available to improve on the existing poor treatment results. Persistence of both systemic and local disease causes high rates of morbidity and mortality for patients. Radiation continues to play a role in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, in both the adjuvant and locally advanced settings. Efforts to improve on the results of radiotherapy have led to the use of new and improved technologies. This review discusses a variety of these technological improvements and their current and potential future roles in the clinic.
Outpatient laparoscopic appendectomy in children: a single center experience with 92 cases.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to present the possibility of laparoscopic appendectomy (LA) in children as an outpatient procedure. METHODS A total of 129 pediatric patients underwent LA at our clinic from July 2009 to September 2011. As, in our treatment protocol, patients with gangrenous and perforated appendicitis would not be placed in an early-discharge list, patients who had gangrenous and perforated appendicitis (37 cases) were excluded from this study because these patients usually receive inpatient intravenous antibiotic therapy for 48 to 72 hours. Finally, 92 pediatric patients who had undergone LA for the treatment of uncomplicated appendicitis were evaluated retrospectively. RESULTS Eighty-five of 92 patients (92.4%) were discharged in <24 hours and the mean postoperative length of hospital stay was 14.1 hours. Readmissions to the emergency room were not seen during the postoperative period. Complications such as wound infection, trocar site hernia, adhesive small-bowel obstruction, and abscess formation did not occur. CONCLUSIONS We recommend that an LA can be performed safely as an outpatient procedure in children with uncomplicated appendicitis.
Modeling Long‐Term Trends of Chlorinated Ethene Contamination at a Public Supply Well

A mass-balance solute-transport modeling approach was used to investigate the effects of dense nonaqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) volume, composition, and generation of daughter products on simulated and measured long-term trends of chlorinated ethene (CE) concentrations at a public supply well. The model was built by telescoping a calibrated regional three-dimensional MODFLOW model to the capture zone of a public supply well that has a history of CE contamination. The local model was then used to simulate the interactions between naturally occurring organic carbon that acts as an electron donor, and dissolved oxygen (DO), CEs, ferric iron, and sulfate that act as electron acceptors using the Sequential Electron Acceptor Model in three dimensions (SEAM3D) code. The modeling results indicate that asymmetry between rapidly rising and more gradual falling concentration trends over time suggests a DNAPL rather than a dissolved source of CEs. Peak concentrations of CEs are proportional to the volume and composition of the DNAPL source. The persistence of contamination, which can vary from a few years to centuries, is proportional to DNAPL volume, but is unaffected by DNAPL composition. These results show that monitoring CE concentrations in raw water produced by impacted public supply wells over time can provide useful information concerning the nature of contaminant sources and the likely future persistence of contamination.
Hard-to-cook defect in black beans : Hardening rates, water imbibition and multiple mechanism hypothesis

Abstract The existence of a slower initial hardening period during storage of dry black beans, independent of cooking time and heat pretreatment, was corroborated. Water vapor production during storage for 1 year at 25 and 35°C did not change appreciably the moisture in dry beans stored at 10 and 12% moisture content. Further support to the hypothesis that water in soaked hard beans is held differently from that in soft beans was based on differences in the rate of drying and microstructural evidence. A dual contribution to the hardening mechanism, one reversible and another irreversible, was postulated based on soaking experiments with monovalent salts and chelating agents. Cell separation was not changed by salt treatment although the cell wall morphology was modified.
O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc): Extensive crosstalk with phosphorylation to regulate signaling and transcription in response to nutrients and stress

Abstract Background Since its discovery in the early 1980s, O-linked-β- N -acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc), a single sugar modification on the hydroxyl group of serine or threonine residues, has changed our views of protein glycosylation. While other forms of protein glycosylation modify proteins on the cell surface or within luminal compartments of the secretory machinery, O-GlcNAc modifies myriad nucleocytoplasmic proteins. GlcNAcylated proteins are involved in transcription, ubiquitination, cell cycle, and stress responses. GlcNAcylation is similar to protein phosphorylation in terms of stoichiometry, localization and cycling. To date, only two enzymes are known to regulate GlcNAcylation in mammals: O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT), which catalyzes the addition of O-GlcNAc, and β- N -acetylglucosaminidase (O-GlcNAcase), a neutral hexosaminidase responsible for O-GlcNAc removal. OGT and O-GlcNAcase are regulated by RNA splicing, by nutrients, and by post-translational modifications. Their specificities are controlled by many transiently associated targeting subunits. As methods for detecting O-GlcNAc have improved our understanding of O-GlcNAc's functions has grown rapidly. Scope of review In this review, the functions of GlcNAcylation in regulating cellular processes, its extensive crosstalk with protein phosphorylation, and regulation of OGT and O-GlcNAcase will be explored. Major conclusions GlcNAcylation rivals phosphorylation in terms of its abundance, protein distribution and its cycling on and off of proteins. GlcNAcylation has extensive crosstalk with phosphorylation to regulate signaling, transcription and the cytoskeleton in response to nutrients and stress. General significance Abnormal crosstalk between GlcNAcylation and phosphorylation underlies dysregulation in diabetes, including glucose toxicity, and defective GlcNAcylation is involved in neurodegenerative disease and cancer and most recently in AIDS.
Short and long baseline tiltmeter measurements on axial seamount, Juan de Fuca Ridge

Abstract Long-term observations of seismic activity and ground deformation at mid-ocean ridges and submarine volcanoes are required for an understanding of the spatial and temporal characteristics of magma transport and intrusion. To make precise records of tilt on the seafloor we have installed short baseline tiltmeters in six ocean bottom seismometers (TILT-OBS) and developed a long baseline (100–500 m) two-fluid tiltmeter (LBT). In the TILT-OBS, the seismometer platform is levelled to better than 1° after deployment. The tiltmeter consists of a pair of electrolytic bubble sensors mounted on a secondary levelling stage on the seismometer platform. The levelling stage uses two motor-driven micrometers on a triangular mounting plate to bring the sensors to null. The sensitivity of these tiltmeters is 0.05 μ rad, at a dynamic range of 0.2 mrad. A long baseline instrument was developed to achieve a better spatial average of deformation. Most approaches used on land to measure stable long baseline tilt cannot be applied to a submarine instrument, but tiltmeters in which the pressure of a fluid in tubes is measured are amenable to installation on the seafloor. The development resulted in a device that is essentially a center-pressure instrument folded back on itself, with fluids of different densities in the two tubes. During July to September 1994, these instruments were deployed on Axial Seamount, on the Juan de Fuca Ridge off Washington state, for a test of their relative performance on volcanic terrain, yielding 9 weeks of continuous data (seismic, tilt, and temperature) from five TILT-OBS and one long baseline instrument. Drift on all instruments was of the order of 1 μ rad/day, with higher frequency variations of order 5–10 μ rad. Initial drift on the TILT-OBS is shown to be associated with platform settling rather than with the sensor or its mounting. High frequency noise is coherent across instruments and tidal in character, and we conclude that tidal currents moving the sensors are responsible.
Inclusive π0 production in ultrarelativistic nucleus-nucleus collisions

For several ion species we compare thermal to nonthermal contributions for inclusive π0 production after having used a hydrodynamical model to estimate the energy density and temperature of the quark-gluon plasma produced by each. For the high (low)-pT region quantum chromodynamics (the Fermi model) is used to estimate the nonthermal rates. The production of lowpT, lowxF π0’s, which clearly stand out from the background, is energetically favored by the quark-gluon plasma.
Effects of chronic changes in dietary electrolytes and acute stress on plasma levels of corticosterone and aldosterone in the duck (Anas platyrhynchos).

Abstract Plasma levels of corticosterone and aldosterone were determined by radioimmunoassay in ducks consuming diets containing different concentrations of sodium and potassium. Compared with control diet birds, maintenance on a high-Na + diet for 5 days caused a 2-fold increase in the basal plasma corticosterone concentration, while adaptation for 8 days to a low-Na + diet resulted in a 2.6-fold increase in the basal plasma concentration of aldosterone. Both corticosterone and aldosterone basal plasma levels were greatly elevated in birds denied access to drinking water for 4 days. Adaptation to a high-Na + diet or deprivation of water resulted in hyperosmolality and hypernatremia, while the high-K + , low-Na + low-K + , and low-Na + diets did not significantly alter the plasma sodium or potassium levels from the control levels. In addition, birds were stressed by semi-immobilization to determine the effects of acute stress-induced ACTH secretion on the adrenocortical response following changes in dietary sodium and potassium intake. In ducks adapted to low-Na + low-K + , high-Na + , and low-Na + diets, stress-induced adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) increased the aldosterone, but not the corticosterone, response to a level significantly greater than in the controls. These results demonstrate that in the duck secretion of corticosterone and aldosterone can be independently regulated. Furthermore, the endocrine changes that are induced by altered sodium and potassium intake are reflected in the adrenocortical responses to acute stress.
Business process choreography in WebSphere: combining the power of BPEL and J2EE

Business processes not only play a key role in business-to-business and enterprise application integration scenarios by exposing the appropriate invocation and interaction patterns; they are also the fundamental basis for building heterogeneous and distributed applications (workflow-based applications). Business Process Execution Language for Web Services (BPEL4WS) provides the means to specify business processes that are composed of Web services as well as exposed as Web services. Business processes specified via BPEL4WS are portable; they can be carried out by every BPEL4WS-compliant execution environment. In this paper we show how the IBM J2EE™ application server, WebSphere® Application Server provides such an environment, called process choreographer environment, and how the extension mechanism built into BPEL can be used to leverage the additional capabilities of J2EE and WebSphere.
OVERVIEW OF MANUFACTURING STRATEGY IN JAPAN

Japan has been a world leader in manufacturing in the past several decades. Undoubtedly, this leadership will persist well into the 21st century. It is, therefore, very important to understand the status of Japan's manufacturing technologies as well as its projected manufacturing strategies for the future, especially those technologies which would generate substantial impact on the manufacturing industries in the next five years. This paper highlights current Japanese manufacturing strategies. Examples on several major industries including the industrial machinery industry, the semiconductor industry, and the automotive industry will be given. In addition, major initiatives on emerging technologies, including micromachine, environmentally conscious design and manufacturing, and manufacturing globalization support are described.
Edge dislocations emitted along multiple inclined slip planes from a Mode I crack. II. Simultaneous emission

Abstract In an effort to simulate dislocation distribution around a Mode I crack, edge dislocations are allowed to be emitted from the crack tip along many possible slip planes containing the crack tip. It turned out that the final distribution depends on the order of emission. So the previous paper dealt with the situation in which the emission process is one at a time, namely after one dislocation is emitted the plastic zone is re-equilibrated before the next dislocation is emitted. In this paper, many dislocations are emitted at the same time when the condition is met, namely, when the slip force exceeds the lattice friction for dislocation motion. It is found that the dislocations are more uniformly distributed than the previous case of sequential emission. The shielding effect for the same number of dislocations emitted is less when the dislocations are distributed along more slip planes. The shape of the plastic zone is different from but the size is comparable with the plastic zone based on von Mises or Tresca criterion. A distinct dislocation-free zone appears when there is a critical stress intensity factor for dislocation emission.
DEEP‐ETCH ANALYSIS OF ADHESION COMPLEXES BETWEEN GAMETIC FLAGELLAR MEMBRANES OF CHLAMYDOMONAS REINHARDTII (CHLOROPHYCEAE)

The ultrastructure of adhesion complexes between gametic flagellar membranes of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii Dangeard was analyzed using the quick-freeze deep-etch technique. The sexual agglutinin fibrils interact by forming hybrid fibers that frequently branch, forming extensively cross-bridged meshworks. This pattern of interaction mimics a prominent mode of cell wall formation in Chlamydomonas, supporting the notion that the agglutinins evolved from cell wall proteins and that sexual adhesion and cell wall assembly are homologous events.
Technical performance evaluation of the potential biobased floor strippers

Abstract Biobased products may soon replace most petroleum-based chemicals, industrial products and composite materials. Advocates emphasize that these products are environmentally friendlier, safer and healthier for the users. Others argue that promotion of these industrial products would make the United States more secure by depending less on foreign energy sources. This paper presents results of identification and technical performance evaluation of some biobased products. They are potential alternatives to the petroleum-based floor strippers. Within the framework of cleaner production (CP) and toxics use reduction (TUR), this study identified and subjected the potential alternative products to technical performance experiments. Two sets of experiments were performed. The first set of experiments involved laboratory scale experiments using different cleaning products and techniques. The second set of experiments involved pre-field tests conducted on a typical floor in the Toxic Use Reduction Institute (TURI) laboratory. All experiments employed TURI's standard operating procedures (SOP) under different experimental conditions varying the temperature, soaking time, cleaning media (abrasive pads or cotton cloth) and the concentration of products. The cleaning efficiency for each of the biobased or green products used was based on the gravimetric analysis of the coupons or via a standard visual method based on a UV (black) light or both. A total of 14 floor stripping products were identified from various sources. About 21% of these products were soy based. Corn and citrus-based products accounted for 7% of each. While about 43% of the products were classified as plant based, 22% of products were labeled only as green products containing biodegradable ingredients without further classifying their specific sources. Variations in the technical performance of potential biobased floor strippers tested were observed. Performance of concentrated potential biobased floor strippers was in the range of 50 to 99%, with the Botanic Gold performing best at 94% contaminant removal efficiency. CornSolv was eliminated because of its odor while DBE-6 was abandoned because it peeled off the floor tile surfaces. The technical performance of Botanic Gold at 25% dilution was comparable to the current floor stripping product. It is recommended that larger field trials should be conducted and at the same time determine janitors' perceptions on the use of these products. It is important to investigate the common additives to the biobased industrial chemicals and products and to determine their effects on technical performance of these products. Finally, we recommend that a review of the current status and future direction of the relevant policies and regulatory frameworks that can promote biobased industrial chemicals and products should be performed. Furthermore, there should be a bold effort to encourage broader public debate about the future of the biobased industry in the context of environmental, health and safety and societal sustainability.
Effects of depressive and anxious symptoms on norepinephrine and platelet P-selectin responses to acute psychological stress among elderly caregivers.

Abstract Background: Caring for a spouse with Alzheimer’s disease is associated with increased psychological distress, impaired immunity, and heightened cardiovascular risk. Hyperreactivity of sympathetic and platelet activation responses to acute psychological stress, or the failure to recover quickly from stressful events, may constitute an important pathway linking stress and negative affect with cardiovascular disease (CVD). Objectives: (1) To evaluate associations between negative affect (i.e., depressive and anxious symptoms) with increased norepinephrine and P-selectin responses to an acute psychological stress task. (2) To establish whether these associations are augmented among elderly spousal caregivers (CG) compared to non-caregivers (NC). Methods: Depressive (DEP) and anxious (ANX) symptoms from the Brief Symptom Inventory were assessed among 39 CG and 31 NC. Plasma norepinephrine levels (NE) and percent platelet P-selectin (PSEL) expression were assayed at three time-points: rest, immediately following a laboratory speech test (reactivity), and after 14 min of recovery. Results: Among CG, but not NC, increased symptoms of depression and anxiety were associated with delayed NE recovery (DEP: β = .460, p = .008; ANX: β = .361, p = .034), increased PSEL reactivity (DEP: β = .703, p β = .526, p = .002), and delayed PSEL recovery (DEP: β = .372, p = .039; ANX: β = .295, p = .092), while controlling for age, gender, aspirin use, antidepressant use, and preexisting CVD. Bivariate correlations showed delayed NE recovery was also associated with increased PSEL reactivity ( r = .416) and delayed PSEL recovery ( r = .372; all p s Discussion: Among chronically stressed caregivers, increased levels of depressive and anxious symptoms are associated with prolonged sympathetic activation and pronounced platelet activation. These changes may represent one pathway linking caregiving stress to cardiovascular risk.
Factors Affecting Retirement Savings of Women in the 50s Age Cohort

This study analyzed retirement savings of women in the 50s age cohort in relation to their work history, marital status, income level, education, family/household composition, and occupation. Three...
An Improved Extraction Method to Increase DNA Yield from Molted Feathers

Abstract To assess the value of molted feathers as a noninvasive source of DNA for genetic studies of Northern Goshawks (Accipiter gentilis), we isolated and quantified DNA from molted feathers and compared yields across five feather types. We also compared PCR success across the same five feather types using five microsatellite genetic markers of varying size. In addition, we compared DNA yields from a commonly used extraction method versus one we modified to increase DNA yield. Results indicated molted feathers provided on average 24 ng μl−1 of DNA, which is a relatively high DNA yield compared to other noninvasive tissue sources. Tail feathers yielded significantly more DNA than primary, secondary, and smaller feathers, yet all feather sizes produced equally high rates of PCR success. Although our modified extraction method increased the time required for processing feathers, it resulted in significantly higher yields of DNA as compared to the unmodified protocol.
Pleistocene trace fossils in the Ironshore Formation, Little Cayman, British West Indies

Oosparite grainstones of the Pleistocene Ironshore Formation, Little Cayman, British West Indies, contain the trace fossils Conichnus conicus, Ophiomorpha nodosa, and Planolites beverleyensis. The dominance of vertically-oriented trace fossils, complexity of cross-stratifications, coarseness of the sediment channel fill, and presence of several rudstone layers suggest deposition close to the seaward portion of lagoonal channels where higher energy conditions prevailed.
Photoinduced Electron Transfer in Covalently Linked Oxomolybdenum(V) Porphyrin Systems.

Transient resonance Raman, fluorescence emission, and transient absorption spectroscopies show that photoinduced electron transfer occurs in the covalently linked porphyrin−Mo dyads ZnTTP(2,3-MoVO(pzb)) and ZnTTP(3,4-MoVO(pzb)). These compounds represent first generation models for observing real-time electron transfer dynamics in pterin-containing molybdenum enzymes. The results indicate that deactivation of the S1 state of the porphyrin occurs solely by electron transfer to Mo(V), with a quantum efficiency for the forward electron transfer process approaching unity.