cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of Regions within the Bacteriophage T4 AsiA Protein Involved in its Binding to the σ70 Subunit of E. coli RNA Polymerase and its Role as a Transcriptional Inhibitor and Co-activator

Abstract Bacteriophage T4 AsiA, a protein of 90 amino acid residues, binds to the σ70 subunit of Escherichia coli RNA polymerase and inhibits host or T4 early transcription or, together with the T4 MotA protein, activates T4 middle transcription. To investigate which regions within AsiA are involved in forming a complex with σ70 and in providing transcriptional functions we generated random mutations throughout AsiA and targeted mutations within the C-terminal region. We tested mutant proteins for their ability to complement the growth of T4 asiA am phage under non-suppressing conditions, to inhibit E. coli growth, to interact with σ70 region 4 in a two-hybrid assay, to bind to σ70 in a native protein gel, and to inhibit or activate transcription in vitro using a T4 middle promoter that is active with RNA polymerase alone, is inhibited by AsiA, and is activated by MotA/AsiA. We find that substitutions within the N-terminal half of AsiA, at amino acid residues V14, L18, and I40, rendered the protein defective for binding to σ70. These residues reside at the monomer–monomer interface in recent NMR structures of the AsiA dimer. In contrast, AsiA missing the C-terminal 44 amino acid residues interacted well with σ70 region 4 in the two-hybrid assay, and AsiA missing the C-terminal 17 amino acid residues (Δ74–90) bound to σ70 and was fully competent in standard in vitro transcription assays. However, the presence of the C-terminal region delayed formation of transcriptionally competent species when the AsiA/polymerase complex was pre-incubated with the promoter in the absence of MotA. Our results suggest that amino acid residues within the N-terminal half of AsiA are involved in forming or maintaining the AsiA/σ70 complex. The C-terminal region of AsiA, while not absolutely required for inhibition or co-activation, aids inhibition by slowing the formation of transcription complexes between a promoter and the AsiA/polymerase complex.
High density lipoprotein and lipoprotein oxidation

HDL protects LDL from oxidative damage known to contribute to the onset and progression of atherosclerosis. This antioxidant protection by HDL is mediated by intrinsic hydrolytic enzyme systems, by accelerated selective uptake of lipid peroxides from HDL and by antioxidant molecules. Oxidative damage suffered by HDL as a result of the transfer of reactive species from LDL may compromise HDL function in cholesterol transport.
Transplacental pharmacokinetics and fetal distribution of 2', 3'-didehydro-3'-deoxythymidine (d4T) and its metabolites in late-term rhesus macaques.

Background The overall goal of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) therapy during pregnancy is to maintain maternal health and reduce the probability of vertical transmission during gestation and delivery, while keeping toxicity risks low. Azidothymidine (AZT) is currently recommended for pregnant women infected with HIV; however, many pregnant women are unable to tolerate AZT because of toxicity. In the present study, the placental transfer and fetal accumulation of the anti-HIV compound 2',3'-didehydro-3'-deoxythymidine (d4T) and its active (triphosphorylated) and inactive (thymine and beta-aminoisobutyric acid) metabolites were examined at steady state in late-term rhesus macaques. Methods On the day of the hysterotomy, the mother was administered an intravenous loading dose of d4T, followed by a 3-hr steady-state intravenous infusion that also included [(3)H]d4T as a tracer. After 3 hr of infusion, the fetus was delivered by cesarean section under halothane/N(2)O anesthesia. Plasma, amniotic fluid, and tissues were analyzed for d4T and its inactive metabolites by HPLC; tissue samples were analyzed for d4T and active (phosphorylated) metabolites by strong anion-exchange HPLC. Results Maternal steady-state plasma concentrations of d4T were 1-2 microg/ml, with a fetal-to-maternal plasma ratio of 0.85 +/- 0.09. The fetal tissue distribution of radioactivity was highest in the kidney and lowest in the brain. D4T, thymine, and beta-aminoisobutyric acid were detected in all fetal tissues examined. Conclusions Our data indicate that d4T readily crosses the placenta and is present in the fetus as parent compound or its inactive metabolites after maternal infusion. Although fetal plasma concentrations of d4T were similar to clinical d4T concentrations, no phosphorylated metabolites were detected. Teratology 62:93-99, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
An institutional analysis of accounting growth and regulation in the United States

Abstract The accounting profession in the United States has experienced rapid growth in the past two decades, and growth is likely to continue in the foreseeable future. Although the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission possesses explicit statutory authority to regulate accounting and financial reporting, the profession is largely self-regulated, an arrangement widely supported by the corporate business community. Yet no single current accounting theory provides a full understanding of these two very basic phenomena. This paper examines organizational models based on contractualism (agency theory and transaction cost analysis), hierarchy (radical) and Fligstein's “organizational fields” conception, and evaluates their application to the accounting process. It is proposed that institutions are central to an understanding of accounting growth and regulation. The essay then offers a theoretical critique based on the internal and external aspects of economic organizations.
Model predictive navigation for position and orientation control of nonholonomic vehicles

In this paper we consider a nonholonomic system in the form of a unicycle and steer it to the origin so that both position and orientation converge to zero while avoiding obstacles. We introduce an artificial reference field, propose a discontinuous control policy consisting of a receding horizon strategy and implement the resulting field-based controller in a way that theoretically guarantees for collision avoidance; convergence of both position and orientation can also be established. The analysis integrates an invariance principle for differential inclusions with model predictive control. In this approach there is no need for the terminal cost in receding horizon optimization to be a positive definite function.
Measurement of planar waveguide losses using a coherent fiber bundle.

We report on a nondestructive and accurate method for measuring the mode propagation losses of planar waveguides. A coherent optical fiber bundle images the scattered light streak at a remote detector plane. Measurements have been made over a wide range from low loss (≤1 dB/cm) to high loss (≥20 dB/cm) with a spatial resolution of 0.2 mm and a repeatability of 2%. Waveguides prepared by thermal evaporation, ion-exchange, and sputtering were characterized.
Medical and economic implications of hematopoietic colony‐stimulating factor use in oncology

There is increasing experimental and clinical evidence for a dose-response effect in the treatment of solid tumors. For most chemotherapy programs, myelosuppression is the toxicity which limits dose escalation. The use of autologous bone marrow permits further dose escalation limited by toxicity to normal organs. The use of hematopoietic colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) has shortened the period of myelosuppression, although with the use of granulocyte-macrophage (GM) CSF or granulocyte (G) CSF alone there reMayns an extended period of absolute leukopenia during which many of the complications associated with high-dose therapy occur. The apparent lack of effect of GM-CSF and G-CSF during the early days after bone marrow infusion appears to result from a deficiency of progenitors capable of responding to these factors until the infused marrow has sufficient time to proliferate and differentiate sufficiently to be able to respond to these CSFs. More recently, the use of CSF-primed peripheral blood progenitor cells has permitted a marked reduction in the period of absolute leukopenia associated with autologous bone marrow transplantation and, as well, produced a reduction in the number of hospital days, in platelet and red cell transfusions, and in the need for antibiotics. Toxicity of the treatment program is substantially reduced. Finally, this has had a profound impact on the hospital charges associated with transplantation. Future directions may include the use of interleukin (IL) 3 or IL-1 as a way to further decrease the myelosuppression associated with transplantation.
Vladimir Solovyov: Confronting Dostoevsky on the Jewish and Christan Questions

Cet article considere les reponses explicites et implicites de Solovyov a la position de Dostoievsky sur la question juive en analysant trois des etudes les plus importantes de Solovyov en ce domaine : Trois discours en memoire de Dostoievsky (1884), Judaisme et la question chretienne (1884) et L'ideal national russe (1891). Dans ces trois oeuvres, il critique l'interpretation essentiellement dualiste du bien et du mal de Dostoievsky. Puis il tente de depasser les consequences negatives de cette approche dualiste de la question juive en offrant une vue plus positive du judaisme fondee sur un ideal qui lui est caracteristique.
The moral economy of grades and standards

Although they are ubiquitous, grades and standards are usually considered to be merely convenient technologies for organizing and regulating markets so as to reduce transaction costs. In contrast, in this paper it is argued that grades and standards are part of the moral economy of the modern world. Grades and standards both set norms for behavior and standardize (create uniformity). Grades and standards standardize (1) things, (2) workers, (3) markets, (4) capitalists, (5) standards themselves, (6) those who make the standards, (7) consumers, and (8) the environment. Grades and standards may be established by (1) national and international governmental standards bodies, (2) industry and independent standards setting bodies, (3) industry leaders, (4) specialized standards setting bodies, or (5) purchasing agents. Who participates in setting the standards, the processes by which standards are set and what the consequences of setting the standards are have considerable impact on fundamental questions about who we are and how we shall live.
Characterization of polyester degradation using tapping mode atomic force microscopy: exposure to alkaline solution at room temperature

Abstract Tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used to examine the microstructure of polyester films before and after exposure to an alkaline solution. Phase imaging and force curves showed differences in properties between the degraded and undegraded regions. Additionally, chemical analyses of the degraded films and the immersion solutions were carried out using attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, total carbon analysis and liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry to aid in the interpretation of AFM data. The results showed that the base-catalyzed hydrolysis of polyester was a heterogeneous process, involving the formation of pits that increase in number and size with exposure time. Information provided by this study can be used to better understand the degradation mode and mechanism of polyester coatings in alkaline media.
Investigating Different Approaches for Front-Loading Problem Solving in Product Development: Evidence From Engine Engineering

Front-loading problem solving is a strategy that seeks to improve product development performance by shifting the identification and solving of design problems to the earlier phases of product development process. Front-loading reduces the development time by speeding up problem solving process and eliminating the total number of problems solved in a project. Furthermore, it supports intelligent decision making through loading problem solving tasks with required pieces of knowledge. In this work, front-loading is studied from a conceptual view point. Also different approaches for front-loading are investigated and classified. To support the discussions with practical examples, front-loading in studied in the context of engine engineering.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Electroosmotic Coupling: Incorporating Larger Surface Effects with a New Length Scale

Abstract We derive an expression for the L 12 coefficient responsible for electroosmosis. For constant surface charge, we write this as an extension of the Helmholtz–Smoluchowski result. The leading order correction introduces a geometric length scale similar to the Λ parameter.
Functional innervation of the striatum by ventral mesencephalic grafts in mice with inherited nigrostriatal dopamine deficiency

Weaver mutant mice are characterized by a decrease in striatal dopamine (DA), which is associated with a progressive loss of DA neurones in the substantia nigra. This mutant thus provides the opportunity to examine the functional effects of DA neurones grafted to the striatum in a genetic model of parkinsonism. Ventral mesencephalic tissue from normal foetuses was placed on the surface of the right dorsal striatum of adult weaver mutants. After grafting, animals were tested for methamphetamine-induced circling behaviour. Mutants with DA containing grafts displayed a significant circling bias toward the left, non-grafted side. Mutants without grafts did not display any rotational bias to either side. These results demonstrate that grafted DA containing neurones establish a functional innervation of the weaver striatum and suggest that grafting of neural tissue is a viable approach in restoring function in genetic degenerative disorders of the nigrostriatal system.
Study of saturation in commercial laser goggles

Organic dyes often are dissolved in plastic materials to produce filters which serve as laser eye protection. In two recent studies performed on one such filter nonlinear changes in the absorbance of the filter were observed with changes in radiant exposure (J/cm ). The nonlinear changes were noted at a laser wavelength of 694 nm but not at 1064 nm. One proposed mechanism for the changes in absorbance involves " entrapment^" of the excited chromophores in a stable excited triplet state during . the descent to the ground state. This mechanism involves electronic transitions which photons with a wavelength of 694 nm would produce . However photons with a wavelength of 1 0 6 4 nm usually would not be expected to cause electronic transitions. The preseht study was performed to investigate the relationship of wavelength and nonlinear changes in absOrbances . At an intermediate near infrared wavelength the absorbances of three different commercially available plastic laser protective goggles were measured at various radiant exposure levels. A decrease in absorbance with increase in radiant exposure was observed in at least two of the samples. These results suggest that a triplet state may be involved in the region of approximately 750 nm but further investigation is required 2 . BACKGROUND In one frequently used laser eye protective filter designed to absorb at both 694. 3 and 1064 nra a decided drop in
Miniatures under the Magnifying-Glass

Book reviewed in this article: Burton R. Pollin, editor. Collected Writings of Edgar Allan Poe: Volume 2, The Brcvities. New York: Gordian Press, 1985. lx, 575 pp. $45.00.
Corrections to asymptotic scaling laws in a modified liquid droplet model

Abstract Adding to the droplet free energy a term ∝ surface/volume we find for a gas near its critical point corrections to the asymptotic power law behavior. They have the same critical exponents as those of Green et al. If the droplets are assumed to be spherical, the “radius” in their parametric representation has the same temperature dependence as the inverse of the coherence length (typical droplet diameter).
Effect of outpatient treatment of asthma with beta agonists on the response to sympathomimetics in an emergency room.

Abstract It has been suggested that tolerance to the bronchodllating effects of sympathomlmetics may develop in asthmatic patients after long-term use of these agents. In an emergency room setting, the effects of inhaled and injected sympathomimetlc therapy in 58 patients who had pretreated themselves with beta agonists were compared with the results observed in 38 patients who had not used such drugs. The two groups had similar degrees of obstruction on presentation and were also well-matched with respect to the clinical features of their illness. Both populations showed equal responses to treatment; no significant differences were found in either the amount of bronchodilatlon or the incidence of adverse effects in those who had or had not taken sympathomlmetics as outpatients. These findings indicate that drug resistance does not account for outpatient treatment failures with sympathomlmetics and that beta agonists can be usefully employed in the treatment of acute asthma, irrespective of a patient's medication history.
Editorial: Arthroplasty outcomes are improving, but why isn't my patient with rheumatoid arthritis doing as well?

This issue of the Arthritis and Rheumatism has two new studies of outcomes after arthroplasty by Ravi et al. (ref Ravi) and Lalmahomed et al. (ref Lalmahomed). Findings from these epidemiological studies can help us better understand the evolving trends in arthroplasty outcomes and the associated risk factors in patients undergoing total knee or hip arthroplasty (TKA or THA).
Intensive referral to 12-step dual-focused mutual-help groups.

Abstract Background : This study implemented and evaluated procedures to help clinicians effectively refer dually diagnosed (substance use and psychiatric disorders) patients to dual-focused mutual-help groups (DFGs). Methods: Using a cohort cyclical turnover design, individuals with dual diagnoses beginning a new outpatient mental health treatment episode ( N = 287) entered a standard- or an intensive-referral condition. Participants provided self-reports of 12-step mutual-help (DFG and substance-focused group [SFG]) attendance and involvement and substance use and psychiatric symptoms at baseline and six-month follow-up. The intensive referral intervention focused on encouraging patients to attend DFG meetings. Results: Compared to patients in the standard condition, those in the intensive referral intervention were more likely to attend and be involved in DFGs and SFGs, and had less drug use and better psychiatric outcomes at follow-up. Attending more intensive-referral sessions was associated with more DFG and SFG meeting attendance. More need fulfillment in DFGs, and more readiness to participate in SFGs, were associated with better alcohol and psychiatric outcomes at six months. However, only 23% of patients in the intensive-referral group attended a DFG meeting during the six-month follow-up period. Conclusions: The intensive referral intervention enhanced participation in both DFGs and SFGs and was associated with better six-month outcomes. The findings suggest that intensive referral to mutual-help groups focus on its key components (e.g., linking patients to 12-step volunteers) rather than type of group.
Oxygen dynamics in a static membrane oxygenator for organ preservation.

Abstract Experiments were performed to determine the oxygen transfer dynamics of a small static membrane oxygenator used for kidney preservation. A linear increase in oxygen flow was needed to maintain a fixed pO2, when the amount of kidney tissue was increased. Increasing the pO2 to 350 mmHg however, did not alter oxygen extraction by the organ. Increasing the oxygen flow to the system resulted in a nonlinear increase in the pO2, as defined by a power function equation. These results show that in spite of the reduction in size, and the absence of a rocker, this oxygenator is capable of adequate oxygen transfer, at least for hypothermic organ perfusion.
Elevated serum bromide concentrations following repeated halothane anaesthesia in a child.

A 20-month-old child received 25 brief halothane general anaesthetics over a five-week period to allow cranial irradiation treatments for a posterior fossa ependymoma. Personality change during the last week of the treatment protocol raised the question of possible bromide intoxication. Serum bromide concentrations, using a gold chloride assay technique, were monitored at that time, and at four- and six-week intervals thereafter. Serum bromide concentrations demonstrated a four-fold change during this period ranging from peak levels of 2.2 mEq · L−1 (176 μg · kg−1) during the fifth week of treatment decreasing to < 0.5 mEq · L−1 (< 40 μg · ml−1) six weeks following the end of treatments. This demonstrates the possibility for repetitive, short halothane exposures to result in elevations of serum bromide and the potential of bromide intoxication in paediatric neurooncology patients.
Document quality indicators and corpus editions

Corpus editions can only be useful to scholars when users know what to expect of the texts. We argue for text quality indicators, both general and domain-specific.
Structural Identification and Distribution of Proanthocyanidins in 13 Different Hops

Ten newly isolated hop proanthocyanidin oligomers and flavan-3-ol monomers from 13 different hops have been identified as gallocatechin, gallocatechin-(4alpha-->8)-catechin, gallocatechin-(4alpha-->6)-catechin, catechin-(4alpha-->8)-gallocatechin, catechin-(4alpha-->6)-gallocatechin, afzelechin-(4alpha-->8)-catechin, catechin-(4alpha-->8)-catechin-(4alpha-->8)-catechin, epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-catechin, catechin-(4alpha-->8)-gallocatechin-(4alpha-->8)-catechin, and gallocatechin-(4alpha-->8)-gallocatechin-(4alpha-->8)-catechin, together with seven previously isolated oligomers, namely, catechin, epicatechin, epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-catechin, epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-epicatechin, catechin-(4alpha-->8)-catechin, catechin-(4alpha-->8)-epicatechin, and epicatechin-(4beta-->8)-catechin-(4alpha-->8)-catechin. These compounds were subjected to acid-catalyzed degradation in the presence of phloroglucinol or by partial or complete acid-catalyzed degradation and reaction with benzyl mercaptan followed by desulfurization. The resultant adducts when compared to authentic samples by high-performance liquid chromatography-atmospheric pressure chemical ionization tandem mass spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry served to identify the precursors. The composition of proanthocyanidins from 13 different hops was similar, but the concentration of individual compounds showed some differences, which indicated that hop proanthocyanidin profiles are affected by geographic origin and are variable depending on the cultivars.
Stage 4 neuroblastoma diagnosed at more than 1 year of age: Gross total resection and clinical outcome

The importance of gross total resection of the primary tumor in stage 4 neuroblastoma is controversial. The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of gross total resection of the primary tumor on clinical outcome in patients with stage 4 neuroblastoma diagnosed at more than 1 year of age. The authors retrospectively analyzed 70 newly diagnosed cases treated with one of five regimens of increasing dose-intensity. Outcome variables included survival time from diagnosis, and time to local recurrence or local tumor progression. Patient variables analyzed for impact on survival included age, anatomic location of the primary tumor, radiation treatment of the primary site, complete resection at diagnosis, gross total resection (GTR) at any time in the course of therapy, and treatment protocol dose-intensity. GTR was accomplished in seven patients at the time of diagnosis and in 32 patients after chemotherapy. The likelihood of complete gross resection after chemotherapy increased with greater protocol intensity. The only patient variables that correlated with improved survival were GTR (P = .03) and chemotherapy protocol (P = .01). GTR was also associated with improved local control. Although an independent effect of GTR on survival was not demonstrable because complete resection after chemotherapy correlated strongly with increasing protocol intensity, its association with improved overall survival was striking. These results support a continued role for GTR in high-risk neuroblastoma, along with intensive chemotherapy.
Clinical data used by pediatric residents to assess parenting.

Abstract To determine how pediatricians assess parenting at well-child visits, pediatric residents were interviewed following the well-child visit of a child less than 24 months of age. Using a structured format, the residents were interviewed about their judgments concerning the characteristics of the mother just seen and the data used to make these judgments. In addition, ratings were made of the quality of the descriptions of the parents. Fifty interviews, 2 each with 25 residents, were completed. Residents described the parenting abilities of 82% of the mothers in predominantly positive terms and 18% in negative terms. To make these judgments, residents relied on one or more of five categories of data: how mothers used the medical system (98%); observations during the office visit of the motherchild interactions (96%), of the child (74%), and of the mother (68%); and information obtained by interview about the mother's caregiving skills and her feelings toward the child (50%). In 30% of cases the residents' descriptions of the mother contained only minimal information. We conclude that residents rely more on observational data than data acquired during the interview. These findings suggest that residency training programs should sharpen the residents' ability to make behavioral observations and teach more effectively the process of interviewing so that residents will be able to make appropriate assessments of parenting skills.
Economic efficiency of optimizing the preparation of commercial gasolines

1. The great effectiveness, reliability, and accuracy of the mathematical methods of choosing the optimal component-blending variant in the production of commercial gasolines have been confirmed. 2. The calculations made by the Twenty-Second CPSU Congress Ufa Refinery showed that it can make an additional profit of not less than one million rubles per year only through the optimization of gasoline blending.
Association of farm management practices with risk of Escherichia coli contamination in pre-harvest produce grown in Minnesota and Wisconsin

Microbiological analyses of fruits and vegetables produced by farms in Minnesota and Wisconsin were conducted to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli in pre-harvest fruits and vegetables. During the 2003 and 2004 harvest seasons, 14 organic (certified by accredited organic agencies), 30 semi-organic (used organic practices but not certified) and 19 conventional farms were sampled to analyze 2029 pre-harvest produce samples (473 organic, 911 semi-organic, 645 conventional). Before each harvest season, a farmer survey was conducted to collect relevant information on farm management practices that might affect the risk of E. coli contamination in fresh produce. The use of animal wastes for fertilization of produce plants increased the risk of E. coli contamination in organic (OR=13.2, 95% CI=2.2-61.2, P-value<0.0001) and semi-organic (OR=12.9, 95% CI=2.9-56.3, P-value<0.0001) produce significantly. Improper ageing of untreated animal manure significantly increased this risk in organic produce (OR=4.2 95% CI=1.7-12.3, P-value=0.005) grown using such manure as a fertilizer. Organic growers who used cattle manure for fertilization of their crops showed significantly greater risk of contamination with the E. coli (OR=7.4, 95% CI=1.6-36.8, P-value=0.003), compared to those who used other types of manure-based fertilizer. In Minnesota, organic and semi-organic produce collected from the southeastern (SE) part of the state were at a significantly greater risk of E. coli contamination (OR=3.45, 95% CI=1.8-35.2, P=0.008), compared to those collected from farms located in the southern (S) regions of the state. In Wisconsin, organic and semi-organic produce collected from the southern (S) cluster of farms were at approximately 3-times greater risk of E. coli contamination (OR=2.67, 95% CI=1.3-9.4, P=0.004), compared to those grown in the northern (N) cluster of farms.
Thermal analysis of polyaniline. Part I. Thermal degradation of HCl-doped emeraldine base.

Abstract Hydrochloric acid-doped emeraldine base has been subjected to programmed thermal degradation under high vacuum conditions. The temperature profiles of the degradation processes have been mapped using thermogravimetry (TG) in conjunction with thermal volatilization analysis (TVA). Product distributions have been ascertained using the fractionating capability of the TVA system in conjunction with ancillary techniques of analysis such as infrared (IR) and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). At low temperatures ( c . 200 °C) HCl gas is evolved. At higher temperatures the polymer is subject to complex and overlapping processes involving chain scissions, ring fusions and fragmentations, and heterocycle production. These observations are rationalized through the construction of a family of plausible reaction mechanisms which are consistent with our measured product distributions.
Pregnenolone and pregnenolone sulfate metabolism by human fetal testes in vitro

Abstract Homogenates of testes from human fetuses of 12–16 weeks gestation were incubated in vitro with pregnenolone-4- 14 C and pregnenolone-7- 3 H-sulfate. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and pregnenediol sulfate, each bearing the tritium label only, were identified in the conjugated fraction. Progesterone, 17α-hydroxyprogesterone, 17α-hydroxypregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone, androstenedione and testosterone, each bearing both a tritium and 14 C-label, were identified in the organic fraction. In a similar incubation, with pregnenolone-7- 3 H-sulfate- 35 S as substrate, the direct conversion to 17α-hydroxypregnenolone sulfate was demonstrated. The presence of slight sulfatase activity was also noted. The direct metabolism of steroid sulfates and the presence of sulfatase activity in this fetal tissue and the possible significance of these findings in the developing male fetus are discussed.
Experimental study of rivulet formation on an inclined plate by fluorescent imaging

The instability of a two-dimensional moving contact line is studied for a thin liquid film flowing down an inclined plane, leading to the formation of rivulets. A fluorescent imaging method was developed to facilitate accurate measurement of the spacing between rivulets, tip velocity, three-dimensional shape and dynamic contact line. A fluid circulation system produced steady films at constant volumetric flux, in contrast to time-varying films at constant total volume, as in previous measurements. Comparisons are made with the existing data for constant-volume films, and with theoretical predictions for the wavelength of the rivulets formed at constant inlet flow rate. Data were also obtained for rivulet shapes, tip speeds and contact angles as functions of the angle of inclination of the plate and liquid Reynolds number.
IMMUNOREACTIVE P53 PROTEIN IN HIGH-GRADE PROSTATIC INTRAEPITHELIAL NEOPLASIA

Summary p53 protein accumulation in the nuclei o f prostatic carcinoma cells, as detected by immunohistochemistry, has been associated with increased cell proliferation rate, increased histologic grade and stage, androgen independence and decreased patient survival. Little is known, however, o f p53 in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN), the putative precursor proliferation for moderately to poorly differentiated peripheral zone carcinoma o f the prostate. In this investigation, we utilized a panel o f antibodies reactive with p53 protein to assess p53 protein accumulation in prostatic epithelial hyperplasia, PIN and prostatic carcinoma. Forty patients who had undergone radical prostatectomy were selected for study based on the presence of high grade PIN and carcinoma in the same prostate tissue block. Tissue sections were treated with microwave irradiation for antigen retrieval, and antibodies DO-7, PAb1801 and CM-1 were used for immunohistochemical analysis. An intense signal for immunoreactive p53 was identified in the nuclei o f 7140, (17.5%) clinically-localized prostatic carcinomas. In all 7 cases, high grade PIN also exhibited intense p53 immunoreactivity, whereas only one case o f hyperplasia contained immunoreactive p53 protein. These findings support a close relationship between high grade PIN and carcinoma in a subset o f primary prostatic carcinomas with high-level p53 protein accumulation.
Support vector machines committee classification method for computer-aided polyp detection in CT colonography1

Rationale and objectives A new classification scheme for the computer-aided detection of colonic polyps in computed tomographic colonography is proposed. Materials and methods The scheme involves an ensemble of support vector machines (SVMs) for classification, a smoothed leave-one-out (SLOO) cross-validation method for obtaining error estimates, and use of a bootstrap aggregation method for training and model selection. Our use of an ensemble of SVM classifiers with bagging (bootstrap aggregation), built on different feature subsets, is intended to improve classification performance compared with single SVMs and reduce the number of false-positive detections. The bootstrap-based model-selection technique is used for tuning SVM parameters. In our first experiment, two independent data sets were used: the first, for feature and model selection, and the second, for testing to evaluate the generalizability of our model. In the second experiment, the test set that contained higher resolution data was used for training and testing (using the SLOO method) to compare SVM committee and single SVM performance. Results The overall sensitivity on independent test set was 75%, with 1.5 false-positive detections/study, compared with 76%–78% sensitivity and 4.5 false-positive detections/study estimated using the SLOO method on the training set. The sensitivity of the SVM ensemble retrained on the former test set estimated using the SLOO method was 81%, which is 7%–10% greater than the sensitivity of a single SVM. The number of false-positive detections per study was 2.6, a 1.5 times reduction compared with a single SVM. Conclusion Training an SVM ensemble on one data set and testing it on the independent data has shown that the SVM committee classification method has good generalizability and achieves high sensitivity and a low false-positive rate. The model selection and improved error estimation method are effective for computer-aided polyp detection.
Application of monoclonal anti-HY antibody for human H-Y typing

We have successfully produced monoclonal anti-H-Y antibody by fusing NS-1 myeloma cells with splenocytes from C57BL/6 females immunized with syngeneic male splenocytes. We have proved that the antibody is male specific and that it cross reacts with human H-Y. We have further tested 80 normal individuals for H-Y antigen and obtained significant differences between males and females. Therefore, the monoclonal anti-H-Y antibody is useful for clinical typing of human H-Y antigen.
Retrieval of aerosol properties from moments of the particle size distribution for kernels involving the step function: cloud droplet activation

Aerosol properties such as the number of particles that activate to form cloud drops and the mass contained within specified size ranges (as in the PM 2.5 and PM 10 regulatory standards) require integration over only part of the full size range of the particle distribution function (PDF) and may be formally expressed as integrals over kernels involving the Heaviside step function. Determination of these properties requires essentially that the size spectrum be partitioned into two (or more) portions, and poses a special challenge for aerosol modeling with the method of moments. To assess the ability of moment-based methods to treat kernels involving step functions, several algorithms for the estimation of aerosol properties associated with cloud activation have been evaluated. For 240 measured continental distributions employed here as test cases, the full size spectrum of the PDF was partitioned into three distinct portions based upon characteristic critical radii for activation in cumulus and stratiform clouds, and mass- and number-concentration metrics were evaluated for each portion. The first six radial moments yielded results accurate to within about 10% or better, on average, and the numbers of particles activated as cloud drops and the aerosol mass taken into cloud water were estimated to an accuracy of 5% or better. Of the moment-based approaches evaluated, the multiple isomomental distribution aerosol surrogate (MIDAS) (Wright, J. Aerosol Sci. 31 (2000) 1) technique performed best. Accurate results were also obtained with the randomized minimization search technique (RMST) (Yue et al., Geophys. Res. Lett. 24 (1997) 651; Heintzenberg et al., Appl. Opt. 20 (1981) 1308).
Nutraceuticals, apoptosis, and disease prevention

Chemoprevention is the use of small molecules, including dietary or herbal chemicals, to prevent diseases, as opposed to chemotherapeutics, where chemicals, mostly synthetic, are used to remove or alleviate the symptom of diseases. The concept of chemoprevention, although prevalent in the East for thousands of years, has not gained scientific recognition in the West until recently. Large-scale clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of using tamoxifen, raloxifene, both estrogen receptor antagonists, and fenretinide, a synthetic retinoid, in protecting women from breast cancer.1–3 The report by the Chemoprevention Working Group to the American Association for Cancer Research was a watershed that signaled the acceptance of chemoprevention as a viable alternative means in cancer control.4 Therefore, it is of interest to explore the possibility of using phytochemicals or other dietary chemicals as chemopreventive agents. Further, the study of the biological effects of these phytochemicals at cellular level provides the molecular basis for their anti-disease function and helps to establish the platform for generating more potent chemopreventive and even chemotherapeutic agents.
Dental examination guidelines for children requiring infective endocarditis prophylaxis

Clinical findings, not routine prescribing, should determine the timing of the appropriate antibiotic.
Cortical afterdischarge and functional response thresholds: results of extraoperative testing.

Summary: We have evaluated the afterdischarge thresholds and functional response thresholds in 21 patients with chronically implanted arrays of subdural electrodes. Afterdischarge thresholds varied from 2 to > 15 mA over the tested cortex, by as much as 12 mA in individual patients, and by as much as 12 mA between adjacent electrodes. Thresholds for functional alteration varied from 2 to 15 mA in tested cortex, by as much as 9.5 mA in individually tested patients, and by as much as 6.5 mA between adjacent electrodes. We conclude that the optimal localization of functional cortical areas requires different stimulation intensities at different points. The use of too high an intensity would produce afterdischarges at some positions. The use of too low an intensity would falsely make others appear functionally “silent.” RESUMEN Hemos evaluado los umbrales post-descarga y los umbrales de respuesta funcional en 21 pacientes con series de electrodos subdurales implantados cronicamente. Los umbrales post-descarga variaron entre 2 y mas de 15 miliamperios en la corteza investigada, variaron tan to como 12 miliamperios en pacientes individuales y tanto como 12 miliamperios entre electrodos contiguos. El umbral de la alteracion funcional vario de 2 a 15 miliamperios en la corteza explorada, tanto como 9.5 miliamperios en un mismo enfermo y tanto como 6.5 miliamperios entre electrodos contiguos. Hemos concluido que para localizar las areas funcionales corticales optimas se requieren diferentes estimulos electricos en puntos diversos. La utilizacion de intensidades demasiado elevadas podria producir post-descargas en algunas posiciones. El uso de intensidades demasiado bajas haria que otras areas aparecieran como falsas silentes, funcionalmente. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG Wir haben bei 21 Patienten mit chronisch implantierten subduralen Elektroden, die Schwelle der Nachentladung und der funktionellen Antwort gepruft. Uber dem untersuchten Cortex variierten die Schwellen fur die Nachentladung von 2 bis iiber 15 Milliampere; sie variierten innerhalb einzelner Patienten um mehr als 12 Milliampere und zwischen benachbarten Elektroden um etwa 12 Milliampere. Die Schwellenwerte fur die funktionellen Veranderungen variierten von 2 bis 15 Milliampere im getesteten Cortex, um 9,5 Milliampere bei einzelnen Individuen und um 6,5 Milliampere zwischen benachbarten Elektroden. Wir folgern daraus, das die optimale Lokalisation funktioneller kortikaler Areale unterschiedliche Reizintensitaten an unterschiedlichen Punkten erfordert. Die Verwendung zu hoher Intensitaten wurde an einzelnen Stellen Nachentladungen hervorrufen. Die Benutzung zu schwacher Intensitaten wurde andere Areale falschlich erweise als stumm ausweisen.
Modulations in structural and ferroelectric properties due to tensile strain in BiFeO3 films on MgAl2O4 substrates induced by thermal-expansion

Abstract The effect of tensile strain on structural and ferroelectric properties of BiFeO3 epitaxial films was investigated. The films grown by pulsed laser deposition on MgAl2O4 (0 0 1) substrates revealed monoclinic structure deviated from the bulk rhombohedral structure due to a tensile strain along the in-plane direction. The strain is induced by the difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the film and the substrate. A Poisson ratio is calculated from the in-plain and out-of-plain lattice constants at different temperatures measured by reciprocal space maps of X-ray diffraction. The small Poisson ratio compared to the bulk suggests a weaker elastic response at high temperature. The ferroelectric polarization of the tensile-strained film along the (0 0 1) is also decreased from the bulk value.
"Latino Night": Performances of Latino/a Culture in Northwest Ohio.

It's something they can relate to. You know, assimilate. They go there, talk in Spanish, not worry about it, drink, have fun, do it all in a language they're accustomed to, or at least with people they feel more comfortable with. I guess that's why a lot of them come Monday nights from these distances. That's what I was trying to explain to Chris. If you have a Latino night it's going to be successful because us as Latinos don't have a lot of options for us to go or places for us to go.
The seismograph and friction

The friction at the marking point of seismographs recording on smoked paper has always been a difficulty. The direction of the frictional force is always changing. The elementary theory in which the friction is considered a constant force and at right angles to the lever has proved unsatisfactory. Galitzin attempted to improve it by assuming that the friction is a constant plus term proportional to the first and the second powers of the velocity, but he neglected the variation in the direction. Direct experiments show that the friction is practically a constant, and that it is necessary to take account of its varying direction.
How Much Mortgage Pool Information Do Investors Need

Investors in pools of single-family mortgage loans may have only limited information about the individual loans within a pool. Would more information be useful? The authors use data on individual loans to estimate a model of sales, refinancings, and defaults. They construct hypothetical loan pools and examine their prepayment sensitivity to collateral and credit information not universally made available to investors. Simulations show that loan-level data can be extremely valuable in predicting pool durations. In particular, information on the distributions of homeowners9 loan-to-value ratios—and to a lesser extent on their credit scores—can be quite important in distinguishing fast-paying from slow-paying pools.
Asian brains: U.S. v. Europe.

In discussing the important effect of foreign scientists on the U.S. science establishment, the Special Section on Brains and Borders (28 May, pp. [1277][1]-1288) makes some important points concerning the remarkable Asianization of many U.S. scientific disciplines during the past three decades. A
The Poe language-based editor project

Editor Allan Poe (Pascal Oriented Editor) is a full-screen language-based editor (LBE) that knows the syntactic and semantic rules of Pascal. It is the first step in development of a comprehensive Pascal program development environment.Poe's design began in 1979; version 1 is currently operational on Vax 11s under Berkeley Unix and on HP 9800-series personal workstations. Poe is written in Pascal, and is designed to be readily transportable to new machines. An editor-generating system called Poegen is operational, and much of the language-specific character of Poe is table-driven and retargetable.
Aniracetam improves contextual fear conditioning and increases hippocampal γ‐PKC activation in DBA/2J mice

DBA/2J (D2) mice display poor contextual learning and have less membrane-bound hippocampal protein kinase C (PKC) compared with C57BL/6 (B6) mice. Aniracetam and oxiracetam were previously shown to improve contextual learning in D2 mice and increase PKC activity. This study investigated a possible mechanism for learning enhancement by examining the effects of aniracetam on contextual fear conditioning and activation of the γ isoform of PKC (γ-PKC) in male D2 mice. In comparison to animals treated with vehicle only (10% 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin), mice treated with aniracetam (100 mg/kg) 30 min prior to fear conditioning training demonstrated significantly improved contextual learning when tested 30 min and 24 h after training. This corresponded with a significant increase in activated, membrane-bound hippocampal γ-PKC 30 min after training. No increase in learning or γ-PKC was found 5 min after training. These results suggest an altered time course of activation of γ-PKC in response to treatment with aniracetam, which improves learning in D2 mice. Hippocampus 2002;12:76–85. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Charging in a dusty plasma

Abstract Dust grains immersed in a plasma will become charged. Of the various currents to the dust cloud which can be considered, this work examines the primary ion and the primary, secondary and tunneling electron currents. The equilibrium value to which the dust will charge depends upon the ratio of the number density of dust to the number density of plasma particles, the constitution and shape of the grains as well as various plasma parameters. This work shows that oppositely charged dust grains can be obtained by considering only a size-dependent secondary electron yield and the plasma sink provided by the dust grains. Both single-sized dust clouds and clouds with size distributions are considered.
Imagine No Possessions: Librarians, the Net-Generation Student, and the Imminent Victory of Plagiarism

Plagiarism's evolution, growing cultural acceptance, and sustained presence in student writing has overwhelmed deficient, outdated academic integrity policies. Cultural differences present in today's Net-generation students require academic librarians and teaching faculty to develop a partnership in order to reassess beleaguered and vague plagiarism definitions and compromised prevention strategies. Current ACRL policies and strategies on plagiarism prevention are examined to reveal their inadequacies. As instruction sessions often fail to consistently address the ethical use of scholarly sources and the Net-generation student's injudicious uses of technology, a new direction is offered, one that is centered not on punitive online detection policies or acquiescence to wavering ethical standards, but rather on the collaborative efforts of the entire academic community.