cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Can Nervous Nelly Negotiate? How Anxiety Causes Negotiators to Exit Early and Make Steep Concessions

Across three studies, we demonstrate that anxiety is both commonly associated with negotiations and harmful to negotiator performance. In our experiments, we induced either low anxiety or high anxiety. Compared to negotiators experiencing low levels of anxiety, negotiators who experience high levels of anxiety make steeper concessions and exit bargaining situations earlier. The relationship between anxiety and negotiator behavior is moderated by negotiator self-efficacy; high self-efficacy mitigates the harmful effects of anxiety.
Mixing-time evolution of coherent exciton-polariton response due to many-body interactions

Multidimensional coherent spectra are presented for exciton-polaritons in a semiconductor microcavity at cryogenic temperatures as a function of mixing time. A decrease in vacuum Rabi splitting is observed along with spectral phase shifts.
Compiling data-parallel Datalog

Datalog allows intuitive declarative specification of logical inference tasks while enjoying efficient implementation via state-of-the-art engines such as LogicBlox and Souffle. These engines enable high-performance implementation of complex logical tasks including graph mining, program analysis, and business analytics. However, all efficient modern Datalog solvers make use of shared memory, and present inherent challenges scalability. In this paper, we leverage recent insights in parallel relational algebra and present a methodology for constructing data-parallel deductive databases. Our approach leverages recent developments in parallelizing relational algebra to create an efficient data-parallel semantics for Datalog. Based on our methodology, we have implemented the first MPI-based data-parallel Datalog solver. Our experiments demonstrate comparable performance and improved single-node scalability versus Souffle, a state-of-art solver.
GAA-GAA Coexistence in the CBRS Band: Performance Evaluation of Approach 3

The General Authorized Access (GAA) users operate at the lowest priority in the Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) band. So, they must not cause harmful interference to the higher priority users and must cooperate with each other to minimize mutual interference and increase spectrum utilization. Towards this goal, the Wireless Innovation Forum (WInnForum), a standards body, has recommended three schemes. We study performance of one of the schemes, called Approach 3. To the best of our knowledge, there is no performance study available for Approach 3. WInnForum does not specify any performance metrics to evaluate the schemes. We define few performance metrics for Approach 3 that will be useful for the operators in deciding their operating parameters. We choose two actual locations and use real terrain and land cover data of continental USA in our simulation study. Hence, we expect our results to be similar to practical implementations.
p16 immunohistochemistry for primary tumor detection in HPV-positive squamous cell carcinoma of unknown primary.

Abstract Purpose To examine the potential benefit of reevaluation of original slides and p16 immunohistochemistry (IHC) of tonsillectomy specimens for primary tumor identification in cases of human papillomavirus (HPV) positive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck of unknown primary. Materials and methods Through a retrospective review, we identified all patients 18 or older who presented at our institution from 2003 to 2015 with histologically confirmed HPV-positive SCC in a cervical lymph node with unidentified primary tumor after initial workup. For patients for whom specimens were available, an expert head and neck pathologist re-reviewed original hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) slides to confirm absence of tumor and performed p16 IHC and deep sectioning of tissue blocks to identify potential tumor foci. Results Among 735 patient records assessed, 80 were HPV-positive SCC with unknown primary, 28 of which did not have a primary tumor identified, and 20 with original specimens available. Upon re-review of 103 original H&E slides, invasive SCC was identified for 2 patients. Deep sectioning and p16 IHC did not identify additional primary tumors. Conclusion Re-review of original slides by an expert head and neck pathologist, but not p16 staining or deeper H&E sections, was able to identify additional tumors.
Abstract PO-119: DFMO mediated improvement in survival of an orthotopic model of pancreatic cancer is associated with modulating immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment

There remains an urgent need to target pancreatic tumor cells using innovative strategies. KRAS and MYC, are important oncogenes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) which pose a challenge to successful treatment of PDAC. Our previous studies have shown that inhibition of ornithine decarboxylase 1 (ODC1) using difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) decreases MYC expression and tumorigenesis. GW5074 can modulate RAF1, a downstream effector of KRAS. Here we test the responsiveness of pancreatic tumor cells treated with DFMO alone and in combination with GW5074. We used an orthotopic animal model of pancreatic tumor using KRas-driven murine pancreatic cancer cells (PanO2) to test the effects of these compounds on tumor microenvironment and overall survival. Cellular and molecular changes in the tumor microenvironment were assessed using immunohistochemistry. The results showed an inhibition of pancreatic cancer cell viability in DFMO and DFMO+GW5074 treatment groups in vitro, with a significant decrease in tumor weight compared to control treatment group in vivo. However, in terms of overall survival, DFMO alone resulted in a dramatic increase in survival compared to control treatment group. Interestingly, GW5074 alone or DFMO in combination with GW5074 did not result in a detectable effect on survival. Further investigation of immune cells in the tumor microenvironment revealed that standalone DFMO treatment was associated with an increase in infiltration of macrophages, T cell costimulatory marker CD86 and T cell markers (CD3, CD4 and CD8) compared to control and GW5074 treated groups. Additionally, DFMO is associated with decreased MYC expression compared to control and GW5074 treated groups. In conclusion, DFMO decreased MYC expression and associated immune suppression in the PDAC microenvironment. In contrast standalone GW5074 treatment resulted in maintenance of MYC expression and worse survival. In conclusion, the present study highlights the success of DFMO in PDAC treatment in part through downregulation of MYC and a decrease in associated immune suppression. Citation Format: Sai Preethi Nakkina, Sarah B. Gitto, Veethika Pandey, Jordan M. Beardsley, Michael W. Rohr, Jignesh G. Parikh, Otto Phanstiel, Deborah A. Altomare. DFMO mediated improvement in survival of an orthotopic model of pancreatic cancer is associated with modulating immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Virtual Special Conference on Pancreatic Cancer; 2021 Sep 29-30. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(22 Suppl):Abstract nr PO-119.
Metaphor and Writing: Writing as transcription, talk, and voice: A complex metonymy

The content of writing is speech, just as the written word is the content of print, and print is the content of the telegraph. If it is asked, “What is the content of speech?,” it is necessary to say, “It is an actual process of thought, which is in itself nonverbal.” Marshall McLuhan, Understanding Media Dear 'Owells – I've struck it! And I will give it away – to you. You will never know how much enjoyment you have lost until you get to dictating your autobiography; then you will realize, with a pang, that you might have been doing it all your life if you had only had the luck to think of it. And you'll be astonished (& charmed) to see how like talk it is, & how real it sounds, & how well & compactly & sequentially it constructs itself, & what a dewy & breezy & woodsy freshness it has, & what a darling & and worshipful absence of the signs of starch, & flat iron, & labor & fuss & the other artificialities! Mrs. Clemens is an exacting critic, but I have not talked a sentence yet that she has wanted altered. […]
Effects of mifepristone (RU-486) on heme metabolism and cytochromes P-450 in cultured chick embryo liver cells Possible implications for acute porphyria

Mifepristone (RU-486), a potent progesterone receptor antagonist and inducer of cytochromes P-450, is currently in use in Europe, particularly as a post-coital oral contraceptive. Soon it will be available in the United States, as well. Since progesterone has been implicated in the pathogenesis of acute attacks of porphyria, the use of RU-486 or related compounds might be considered in porphyric patients. However, as with other cytochrome P-450 inducers, RU-486 may have the ability to precipitate or exacerbate attacks of acute porphyria. The acute porphyrias in relapse are associated with an increase in activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase, the first and normally rate-controlling enzyme in heme biosynthesis. We have used primary cultures of chick embryo liver cells to test the ability of RU-486 to induce delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase activity and mRNA, cytochromes P-450, porphyrin accumulation, and heme oxygenase. We found that RU-486, at concentrations observed in human plasma after a single oral dose, induced the mRNA and activity of delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase, both by itself and in the presence of deferoxamine, a potent iron chelator that inhibits ferrochelatase. RU-486 and deferoxamine together also produced significant accumulations of protoporphyrin. These results indicate that RU-486 may pose a risk in patients with known acute porphyria and should be used with caution. RU-486 increased the concentration of total cytochrome P-450, and the activity of erythromycin demethylase, an activity specifically catalyzed by cytochrome P-450 3A. Unlike several other porphyrogens (e.g. hydantoins, barbiturates), RU-486 does not produce accumulation of uroporphyrin or induction of heme oxygenase in chick embryo liver cells.
Work practices, fatigue, and nuclear power plant safety performance

This paper focuses on work practices that may contribute to fatigue-induced performance decrements in the commercial nuclear power industry. Specifically, the amount of overtime worked by operations, technical, and maintenance personnel and the 12-h operator shift schedule are studied. Although overtime for all three job categories was fairly high at a number of plants, the analyses detected a clear statistical relationship only between operations overtime and plant safety performance. The results for the 12-h operator shift schedule were ambiguous. Although the 12-h operator shift schedule was correlated with operator error, it was not significantly related to the other five safety indicators. This research suggests that at least one of the existing work practices--the amount of operator overtime worked at some plants--represents a safety concern in this industry; however, further research is required before any definitive conclusions can be drawn.
Preparing Students for Global Citizenship: Role Play as a Pedagogical Tool

Preparing students for global citizenship is a mission that requires innovative teaching and inspired learning. Instruction in political science fields such as International Relations and Comparative Politics challenges educators to identify teaching tools that awaken students to citizenship beyond their immediate borders. Identifying such tools is no simple task given the varied interests of students and their general reluctance to reach beyond their comfort zones in real life. This paper explores role play as a pedagogical tool and examines its potential for preparing parochial minded students for global citizenship. The paper reviews techniques for promoting global citizenship and illustrates how allowing students to switch citizenship roles with persons of the other world can enthuse them with global understanding and ready them for global leadership and service.
Reliability and Lifetime Prediction for Ceramic Components

Ceramic materials are used extensively in non-nuclear components in the weapons stockpile including neutron tubes, stronglinks, weaklinks, batteries, and current/voltage stacks. Ceramics also perform critical functions in electronics, passively as insulators and actively as resistors and capacitors, Glass and ceramic seals also provide hermetic electrical feedthrus in connectors for many weapons components.
MEMS revolutionary impact on RF to millimeter-wave systems

Summary form only given. MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems) technology has been applied to the RF/microwave/mm-wave frequency range, and a whole set of high performance, low cost components have been developed. This includes extremely low-loss and high isolation series and shunt switches from 1 GHz to 60 GHz, low-loss phase shifters from X-band to W-band frequencies, high-Q resonators and low-loss filters at 10-60 GHz, high-Q varactors and low-phase noise oscillators from 1 GHz to 30 GHz, high efficiency antennas from 30 GHz to 3 THz, and very low loss mm-wave transmission lines. The article summarizes the results and discusses MEMS revolutionary impact on RF to mm-wave systems.
Effect of captopril on infantile haemangiomas: a retrospective case series.

The mechanism of action of beta adrenergic blockers in the involution of infantile haemangioma (IH) remains unclear. It has been proposed that the renin-angiotensin pathway may play a role. We present a retrospective case series of 17 patients with IH who were treated with oral corticosteroid therapy and developed hypertension requiring treatment with the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril. All patients, with written documentation, demonstrated an improvement in their lesion at the start of oral corticosteroid therapy (n = 14). Captopril alone did not sustain the corticosteroid-induced involution with a documented worsening of infantile haemangioma in seven out of 12 patients (58%).
Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging Protocols for High-throughput Histopathology

Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopic imaging is rapidly emerging as a potentially attractive tool for histopathology. Results that are initially encouraging are being tested in larger settings and protocols for clinical translation are being developed. In this chapter, we highlight the key attributes of efforts to develop protocols for high-throughput histology by large scale sampling, development of fast and robust algorithms and optimization of experimental parameters. Further, we discuss the importance of an integrative approach to the development of practical protocols using prostate histopathology as an example. Keywords: FT-IR spectroscopic imaging; tissue microarray; metric Bayesian classifier; resolution; signal-to-noise ratio; histology; pathology; histopathology; prostate
THE STATUTE OF THE CITY AND THE MASTER PLAN: INSTRUMENTS FOR SUSTAINABLE CITIES

The Master Plan is an important instrument to promote significant changes in Brazilian cities in order to achieve a sustainable development and create a new relationship between man and the environment. As far as this planning is concerned, the Master Plan is a basic tool to stablish guidelines to meet citizens necessities, as well as quality of life and social-economic development. For this purpose, citizens supervision and participation in local activities are necessary, so that Constitutional principles and democracy are accomplished. Civil society should be part of the decision-making process concerning enviromental public policies, as well as integrate elaboration, and supervision of these policies, taking into consideration that the public authorities, as well as the society, have to protect and defend the environment for the future generations (article 225, of the Federal Constitution). In this context, this task aims, firstly, evaluare the general guidelines od the Statute of the City (Law no 10.257/01) and the importance of the Master Plans. Afterwards, adresses the participatory management as a way of implementing the sustainable cities.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.17768/pbl.a3.n3-4.p342
Chemical defense production in Lotus corniculatus L. I. The effects of nitrogen source on growth, reproduction and defense

The carbon to nitrogen balance theory was examined for a legume, Lotus corniculatus L., which allocates carbon to nitrogen fixation. N-fixation can influence the ratio of carbon to nitrogen in legumes by providing nitrogen in nutrient-poor habitats, and by consuming carbon for support of symbiotic N-fixation. L. corniculatus clones (genotypes) were grown under two levels of nitrogen fertilization: a treatment which suppressed nodulation with fertilization and a treatment which received no additional fertilization. These plants relied solely on symbiotic N-fixation. Plants which supported symbionts had lower biomass and lower tannin concentrations than fertilized plants; this appears to be a result of the large carbon demand on N-fixation. Plants supporting symbionts often had relatively lower protein concentrations than fertilized plants. Cyanide concentration was influenced by plant genotype but not by nitrogen source. Although symbiotic N-fixing plants were smaller, they had three times the reproductive output of fertilized plants.
Sweating the small stuff in educational psychology: how effect size and power reporting failed to change from 1969 to 1999, and what that means for the future of changing practices 1

Methodologists have written for years about the importance of attending to important details in quantitative research, yet there has been little research investigating methodological practice in the social sciences. This study assessed the extent to which innovations and practices are adopted by researchers voluntarily. In particular, I use the case of power analysis and effect size reporting as the primary example, but I also examine other reporting behaviours. Results show that while observed power and effect sizes in the educational psychology literature tend to be strong, researchers do not seem eager to adopt practices such as reporting effect sizes and power, and neither do they tend to report their testing assumptions or the quality of their measurement. There is room for much improvement in how we attend to the basics of quantitative research, and it does not appear that persuasion and professional communication are effective in changing practice.
Pictures at an Exhibition: Woodrow Wilson Portraits

Television programmes reviewed in this article The American Experience: Woodrow Wilson. Episode 1: “A Passionate Man” and Episode 2: “The Redemption of the World.”
Metabolism of Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate and Inositol 1,3,4,5-Tetrakisphosphate by the Oocytes of Xenopus laevis

The pathway and kinetics of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3) metabolism were measured in Xenopus laevis oocytes and cytoplasmic extracts of oocytes. Degradation of microinjected IP3 in intact oocytes was similar to that in the extracts containing comparable concentrations of IP3 ([IP3]). The rate and route of metabolism of IP3 depended on the [IP3] and the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]). At low [IP3] (100 nM) and high [Ca2+] (>/=1 microM), IP3 was metabolized predominantly by inositol 1,4, 5-trisphosphate 3-kinase (3-kinase) with a half-life of 60 s. As the [IP3] was increased, inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase (5-phosphatase) degraded progressively more IP3. At a [IP3] of 8 microM or greater, the dephosphorylation of IP3 was the dominant mode of IP3 removal irrespective of the [Ca2+]. At low [IP3] and low [Ca2+] (both </=400 nM), the activities of the 5-phosphatase and 3-kinase were comparable. The calculated range of action of IP3 in the oocyte was approximately 300 micron suggesting that IP3 acts as a global messenger in oocytes. In contrast to IP3, inositol 1,3,4, 5-tetrakisphosphate (IP4) was metabolized very slowly. The half-life of IP4 (100 nM) was 30 min and independent of the [Ca2+]. IP4 may act to sustain Ca2+ signals initiated by IP3. The half-life of both IP3 and IP4 in Xenopus oocytes was an order of magnitude or greater than that in small mammalian cells.
"Sunlight" -induced mammalian cell killing: a comparative study of ultraviolet and near-ultraviolet inactivation.

— We have examined the relationship between the survival curves obtained with UV light (254 nm) and those obtained with a near-UV sburce (Westinghouse Sun Lamps, FS20) simulating sunlight for cultured Chinese hamster cells, C3H mouse cells, and HeLa cells. In no case do the “sunlight” survival curves have the same shape as the UV survival curves. Also, the combined lethal effects of UV and near-UV, sunlight-like exposures are not entirely additive. Hence, we conclude that (1) the cell-killing photolesions induced by these radiations are at most only partly the same, and (2) in view of (I), caution should be exercised in predicting near UV-induced dose-dependencies of other end points based upon observations with UV.
Fellowships: a modest proposal.

Excerpt To the editor: Training in internal medicine is in transition. Patients and payers want more general physicians, but we are still training too many subspecialists. Teaching hospitals need c...
Phenylalanine deficiency syndrome

Clinical observations are recorded on two infants in whom failure to gain, eczema and listlessness developed during severe dietary restriction of phenylalanine. Regular diet was resumed when they were found not to have phenylketonuria; in spite of improvement in their nutritional status, their developmental progress remained slow. The similarity of these findings to those in "overtreated" patients with phenylketonuria is discussed.
Haplotype analysis and polymorphic frequency data at two factor IX loci (F9-192 and F9-Hha1) in a Chinese population.

Gene frequencies and haplotypes for two factor IX markers, F9-192 and F9-Hhal, were determined in a Chinese population. The frequencies for F9-192 are 0.86 for A and 0.14 for G. For F9-Hhal, the gene
Factors that affect the amplitudes and latencies of the vertex short latency acoustic responses in the cat

The latencies and amplitude of the short latency (less than 10 msec) acoustic evoked responses recorded from the vertex of the cat have been studied as a function of acoustic stimulus parameters. A change in the stimulus intensity, duration, or rate of repetition resulted in parallel changes in the first 5 evoked responses, i.e., the latencies shifted the same amount and the amplitudes were modified in the same proportion. Comparison of responses to monaural versus binaural stimuli indicated an occlusive effect of binaural stimulation only in potential 4.
Postoophorectomy Estrogen Use and Breast Cancer Risk

Objective To estimate whether the protective effect of premenopausal bilateral oophorectomy on breast cancer risk is mitigated by estrogen therapy use after surgery.
Distribution of Helicity, CAPE, and Shear in Tropical Cyclones

Abstract The previous study of helicity, CAPE, and shear in Hurricane Bonnie (1998) was extended to all eight tropical cyclones sampled by NASA during the Convection and Moisture Experiments (CAMEX). Storms were categorized as having large or small ambient vertical wind shear, with 10 m s−1 as the dividing line. In strongly sheared storms, the downshear mean helicity exceeded the upshear mean by a factor of 4. As in the previous study, the helicity differences resulted directly from the tropical cyclone response to ambient shear, with enhanced in-up-out flow and veering of the wind with height present downshear. CAPE in strongly sheared storms was 60% larger downshear. Mean inflow near the surface and the depth of the inflow layer each were 4 times larger downshear. At more than 30% of observation points outside the 100-km radius in the downshear right quadrant, midlatitude empirical parameters indicated a strong likelihood of supercells. No such points existed upshear in highly sheared storms. Much small...
Time dependent closed quantum systems: Nonlinear Kohn–Sham potential operators and weak solutions

Abstract We discuss time dependent quantum systems on bounded domains from the perspective of nonlinear, time-dependent potentials. The time dependence of the Kohn–Sham potentials distinguishes this study from that of the so-called nonlinear Schrodinger equation, much studied in the mathematical community. We are interested in establishing a framework for potentials including the external potential, the Hartree potential and the exchange correlation potential that occur in time dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). As in the previous work, we make use of the time-ordered evolution operator. A departure from the previous work is the use of weak solutions for the nonlinear model; this necessitates a new framework for the evolution operator based upon dual spaces. We are able to obtain unique global solutions. The author thanks Eric Polizzi for discussions leading to the incorporation of a version of the exchange correlation potential in the model.
Web-Based Chatting: Consumer Communication in Cyberspace

The World Wide Web has the potential to change much about consumer behavior and consumer communication. Web-based chatting, the focus of this study, is one example. In this article, we provide an illustrative description of various consumer chatting situations, examine the motivations underlying Web-based chatting, and discuss the ways in which chatters act as “naive marketers” in their attempt to attract chatting partners. Using information gathered through the combined use of an Internet survey and a content analysis, we explore five research questions: who chats, why individuals chat, how chatters communicate, what links exist between Web chatting and other consumer behaviors, and which factors lead to a successful chatting experience? The findings provide some insight into how consumers market themselves in cyberspace and the effectiveness of their “personal advertisements” in attracting other chatters.
The morphology and transplantability of mofse embryo cells transformed in vitro by polyoma virus

Abstract Variofs properties of polyoma virus (Py)-infected mofse embryo cultures were compared with those of uninfected control cultures in order to elucidate the transformation process and to study its relationship to in vivo carcinogenesis. The changes previofsly used to characterize Py-induced transformation were occasionally fofnd to occur rapidly in control cultures. These principally included the acquisition of the ability to form “thick,” multilayered cell sheets and, correlated with this in the uninfected cultures, the acquisition of the ability to form tumors upon implantation. However, when several tumor-forming lines were tested for the Py-specific antigen, it was fofnd that the Py-infected ones possessed it whereas the uninfected lines did not. This result suggests that Py infection of mofse embryo cultures can induce a cellular change that wofld not have occurred spontaneofsly. The relation between morphological change in Py-infected mofse embryo cultures and their tumor-producing ability was also studied. It was fofnd that the tumor-producing cultures differed from the non-tumor-producing cultures in several characters. In particular, the tumor-producing cultures possessed cells which cofld form dense, heaped-up colonies in vitro .
DeTEKting Ubiquitination of APC/C Substrates

Regulated protein degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway ensures the unidirectionality of mitotic progression by removing cell-cycle regulators required at earlier stages. The APC/C ubiquitin-protein ligase targets proteins by appending polyubiquitin degradation signals that are subsequently recognized by the 26S proteasome. Reporting in this issue, Jin et al. (2008) identify a TEK motif in both ubiquitin and substrates of APC/C that mediates assembly of these degradation signals.
A Model of the Gas-Phase Chemistry of Boron Nitride CVD From BCl3 and NH 3*

The kinetics of gas-phase reactions occurring during the CVD of boron nitride (BN) from BCl3 and NH3 are investigated using an elementary reaction mechanism whose rate constants were obtained from theoretical predictions and literature sources. Plug-flow calculations using this mechanism predict that unimolecular decomposition of BCl3 is not significant under typical CVD conditions, but that some NH3 decomposition may occur, especially for deposition occurring at atmospheric pressure. Reaction of BCl3 with NH3 is rapid under CVD conditions and yields species containing both boron and nitrogen. One of these compounds, Cl2BNH2, is predicted to be a key gas-phase precursor to BN.
Failure of Acute Bilateral Adrenalectomy to Influence Brain Serotonin Levels in the Rat

SummaryThese experiments find no effect on brain serotonin level as a result of acute bilateral adrenalectomy when the chemical fluorimetric procedure is used for estimating serotonin.
Interleukin‐1 modulates phosphorylation of proteins in human osteoblastic cells

Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is a potent bone resorbing cytokine with diverse biological effects. We previously reported that IL-1 inhibits PDGF-AA-induced biological activities including PDGF-AA-induced tyrosyl phosphorylation. In the present studies, we first investigated and compared the tyrosyl phosphorylation pattern induced by EGF, IGF-1, PDGF-AA, and bFGF in human osteoblastic cells. We then examined the effect of IL-1 on the tyrosyl phosphoproteins induced by each ligand. Immunoblot analyses show that EGF, IGF-1, and PDGF-AA each elicit a different pattern of tyrosyl phosphorylated proteins in normal human osteoblastic cells. IL-1 beta inhibits PDGF-AA induced autophosphorylation by down-regulation of the PDGF-alpha receptor, as demonstrated by immunoprecipitation experiments. For other ligand-induced tyrosyl phosphoproteins, IL-1 beta reduced the intensity of EGF-induced pp55,000, and IGF-1 induced pp185,000 and pp175,000. These experiments indicate that IL-1 inhibits phosphorylation of specific proteins induced by growth factors. By using inhibitors of secondary message pathways, we determined that the inhibitory effect of IL-1 beta on PDGF-AA receptor binding and receptor tyrosyl autophosphorylation was not dependent on protein kinase A, protein kinase C, or the formation of prostaglandins. These data suggest the existence of an alternative pathway that may participate in IL-1 beta signaling.
Disquiet on the eastern front: The Christian democratic union in Germany's new Länder

During the process of unification, Helmut Kohl's CDU established itself as the major political force in eastern Germany. Yet its initial electoral successes and cohesion rested in part on the unique conditions of 1990. As Kohl's government struggled to deal with the task of rebuilding eastern Germany during the next two years, his party dropped quickly in public approval, exposing the underlying fragility of its early support. Internal issues, largely played down during 1990, also began to strain its internal unity. These included, firstly, differences between a membership drawn largely from the pre‐1989 East‐CDU, a ‘bloc‐party’ under communism, and post‐unification recruits who urged ‘renewal’ of party personnel. A second challenge lay in integrating the party's eastern and western branches, still divided by differing experiences and expectations. These tasks tested the CDU's unity in the eastern states themselves and at the federal level ‐ in the party organisation, the Bundestag and to some extent Kohl...
Transnational Entrepreneurs and Drug War Violence Between Ciudad Juárez and El Paso

The Mexico-U.S. border was disproportionately impacted by the 2006 drug war violence and the 2008 global economic downturn that affected borderlands regions like Ciudad Juarez in Mexico and El Paso in the United States. This article explores the negative cross-border externalities associated with drug war violence, crime, and the economic downturn in Ciudad Juarez that interlocked to force entrepreneurs to migrate to El Paso, U.S. The data for this study is based on survey data (N= 35) collected from members of La Red, a network of Mexican and American business people investing in the El Paso economy who resettled in this region. Findings illustrate that transnational entrepreneurs were impacted by the negative externalities associated with the interlocking of violence and depreciating labor markets. In conclusion we argue that this migratory flow of Mexican entrepreneurs to the U.S. created a new border market.
Shaping geometric objects by cumulative translational sweeps

Cumulative translational sweeps are used to shape geometric objects in a computer model, and they permit display of the resulting changes in shape in the object modelled, and control of processes involving the object modelled. If the geometric object is polyhedral, the cumulative translational sweeps, by creating additional facets, effect selective rounding along model edges and around model vertices. This permits computer modelling of the growth of layers, encompassing in addition to flat surface growth, growth with rounding around corners and over obstacles. Such growth occurs in the manufacture of semiconductors. Modelling a change in a solid structure in stages of growth (or shrinking) and of rounding, as might take place during processing of integrated circuits is achieved by controlled sweep sequences that sweep the structure a finite number of times in accordance with a rayset and stipulated parameters of shape, balance, convexity/concavity, degree of faceting, and memory limitation. The cumulative translational sweep (CTS) is applied in combination with Boolean operations to simulate growth and shrinking over the boundary regions of polyhedral models. By creating additional facets, it effects stipulated selective or global rounding effects along model edges and around model vertices. Such sweeps are examined in terms of Minkowski sums--of the geometric objects that are swept, with structuring geometric shapes that are convex polyhedron from the zonotope subclass of the mathematical family of objects known as polytopes.
Porosity-grain growth relationships in the sintering of nanocrystalline ceramics

Abstract The microstructural development of nanocrystalline TiO 2 is followed throughout second stage sintering. Porosimetry data reveal that pore growth and pore shrinkage adhere relatively well to Kingery's predictions based on a critical pore-size grain size ratio. In addition, it appears that open pores severely limit grain growth during stage II sintering. The grain size is sufficiently well correlated with the average spacing between open pores that instantaneous grain sizes can be directly calculated from pore size distributions.
Sandwich Antibody Arrays Using Recombinant Antibody-Binding Protein L

Antibody arrays are a useful for detecting antigens and other antibodies. This technique typically requires a uniform and well-defined orientation of antibodies attached to a surface for optimal performance. A uniform orientation can be achieved by modification of antibodies to include a single site for attachment. Thus, uniformly oriented antibody arrays require a bioengineered modification for the antibodies directly immobilization on the solid surface. In this study, we describe a “sandwich-type” antibody array where unmodified antibodies are oriented through binding with regioselectively immobilized recombinant antibody-binding protein L. Recombinant proL-CVIA bearing C-terminal CVIA motif is post-translationally modified with an alkyne group by protein farnesyltransferase (PFTase) at the cysteine residue in the CVIA sequence to give proL-CVIApf, which is covalently attached to an azido-modified glass slide by a Huisgen [3 + 2] cycloaddition reaction. Slides bearing antibodies bound to slides coated w...
Strain hardening and plastic flow properties of nitrogen-alloyed Fe-17Cr-(8–10)Mn-5Ni austenitic stainless steels

In this study, the uniform plastic strain behavior of a series of high-nitrogen (0.13 to 1.0 wt% N) austenite stainless steels was modeled using the modified Ludwik equation proposed by Ludwigson: {sigma} = K{sub 1}{var_epsilon}{sup n{sub 1}} + {Delta}, where {Delta} = e{sup (K{sub 2} + n{sub 2}{var_epsilon})}. The following comments can be made regarding the plastic flow behavior: (1) the strain hardening rate increases proportionally with nitrogen; (2) deviation of the flow curves from the Ludwik behavior (i.e., {Delta}) increases with nitrogen; (3) the strength coefficient (K{sub 1}) increases proportionally with nitrogen; (4) increasing nitrogen results in small decreases in the true-strain at ultimate load and therefore has a negative effect on the strain hardening exponent, n{sub 1}; (5) true yield stress [exp(K{sub 2})] increases proportionally to nitrogen, correlating with the engineering yield stress; (6) n{sub 2} becomes more negative, but changes only slightly with large increases in nitrogen; (7) the transition strain {var_epsilon}{sub L} decreases only slightly with increasing nitrogen indicating that higher nitrogen levels, in the materials studied, extend the range whereby the Ludwik relation accurately describes the flow behavior. The effect of nitrogen on the transition strain observed is contradictory to the notion that stacking faultmore » energy decreases with increasing nitrogen. However, the transition strain exhibited by these materials (higher than most f.c.c. materials) is consistent with very low stacking fault energy f.c.c. materials.« less
Identifying barriers to psychosocial spiritual care at the end of life: A physician group study:

Objective.The recent literature addresses the need to improve care for dying patients. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers to the psychosocial spiritual care of these patients by their physicians. Psychosocial spiritual care is defined as aspects of care concerning patient emotional state, social support and relationships, and spiritual well-being. The study was an exploratory means for generating hypotheses and identifying directions for interventions, research, and training in care for the dying.Design and participants.The study used a qualitative group discussion format. Seventeen physicians at a university-based health sciences center representing 10 areas of medical specialty—including internal medicine, oncology, pediatrics, and geriatrics—met in two groups for 20 75-minute discussion sessions over the course of one year. Discussions were recorded, analyzed, and categorized.Results.Barriers to psychosocial spiritual care were grouped into three domains and seven themes. The cultural d...
HFAA: a generic socket API for Hadoop file systems

Hadoop is an open-source implementation of the MapReduce programming model for distributed computing. Hadoop natively integrates with the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS), a user-level file system. In this paper, we introduce the Hadoop Filesystem Agnostic API (HFAA) to allow Hadoop to integrate with any distributed file system over TCP sockets. With this API, HDFS can be replaced by distributed file systems such as PVFS, Ceph, Lustre, or others, thereby allowing direct comparisons in terms of performance and scalability. Unlike previous attempts at augmenting Hadoop with new file systems, the socket API presented here eliminates the need to customize Hadoop's Java implementation, and instead moves the implementation responsibilities to the file system itself. Thus, developers wishing to integrate their new file system with Hadoop are not responsible for understanding details of Hadoop's internal operation.In this paper, an initial implementation of HFAA is used to replace HDFS with PVFS, a file system popular in high-performance computing environments. Compared with an alternate method of integrating with PVFS (a POSIX kernel interface), HFAA increases write and read throughput by 23% and 7%, respectively.
Transport of water in frozen soil IV. Analysis of experimental results on the effects of ice content

Abstract Effects of ice content on the transport of water in frozen soil are studied experimentally and theoretically under isothermal conditions. A physical law, that the flux of water in unsaturated frozen soil is proportional to the gradient of total water content is proposed. Theoretical justification is made by the use of the two-phase flow theory. The experimental results are shown to support the proposed physical law. The results of this study are presented in two parts and this is the second paper describing the theoretical aspects of the study.
Spectroscopic investigation of oxygen vacancies in solid oxide electrolytes

The primary species in both solid-state conduction and heterogeneous electrocatalysis of solid oxide electrolytes is the anion vacancy. The nature and effect of the local environment on anion vacancies in 10 m/o yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) and 20 m/o erbia stabilized bismuth oxide (ESB) was studied using uv-visible absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy. Partial reduction of YSZ and ordering of the oxygen sublattice in ESB is discussed. The species common to both of these phenomena, anion vacancies, was found to be luminescent and the absorption and fluorescence spectra attributable to F-center type defects is described.
Quantitative assessment of phase composition and morphology of two-phase gelatin–pectin gels using fluorescence microscopy

Abstract A technique for quantitative determination of the concentrations of polysaccharide and protein in two-phase mixtures by fluorometry has been developed and compared with chemical analysis. In the first case, a general method for fluorescent labeling of carbohydrate polymers was developed. For the latter purpose, two micro-assays were developed on the basis of recent polymer macro-assays. A blend of low-methoxyl pectin and gelatin B was used as a model system. The commercial components were subjected to multi-step purification procedures, and phase separation was initiated by the addition of NaCl to aqueous solutions containing the two polymers. Samples were withdrawn for microscopy after various holding times at 60°C. Tie-lines were determined using both the fluorescent and chemical methods. The results from these methods were in fair agreement with each other and with literature data. A three-phase region was discovered in the pseudo-ternary phase diagram. The morphology of double labeled gels was also studied in two and three dimensions using confocal scanning laser microscopy. The results show promise for the quantitative assessment of phases that contain carbohydrate polymers and in the study of morphological changes that occur during thermo-mechanical processing.
XRCC1 protects cells from chromate-induced chromosome damage, but does not affect cytotoxicity

Hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) is a well known human carcinogen. This genotoxic metal induces DNA strand breaks and chromosome damage. However, the relationship between these lesions is uncertain. Our study focused on examining the role of XRCC1 in sodium chromate-induced cytotoxicity and chromosomal aberrations in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells. Three different cell lines were used: AA8 (parental), EM9 (XRCC1 mutant) and H9T3 (EM9 complemented with human XRCC1 gene). Results show that concentration-dependent decreases in relative survival are similar in all three cell lines, indicating that XRCC1 is not crucial for protecting cells from sodium chromate-induced cytotoxicity. Similarly the frequency of damaged metaphase cells was not affected by XRCC1 deficiency. However, the total number of Cr(VI)-induced chromosome aberrations was exacerbated by XRCC1 deficiency and the spectrum of chromosome damage changed dramatically. Specifically, chromatid and isochromatid lesions were the most prominent aberrations induced in the cell lines and XRCC1 was essential to reduce the formation of chromatid lesions. In addition, XRCC1 deficiency caused a dramatic increase in the number of chromatid exchanges indicating that it is involved in protection from Cr(VI)-induced chromosome instability.
Effect of Erionite on the Pleural Mesothelium of the Fischer 344 Rat

Objective This study sought to assess the fibrogenic and carcinogenic potential of erionite (a fibrous zeolite) on the pleural mesothelium of the Fischer 344 rat (n=24). Design The study was designed to examine rat pleural mesothelial changes by three independent observers at timed intervals, ranging from 1 to 480 days postinoculation using erionite from the Pine Valley, Nevada (USA) area. The mean length and width of the erionite fibers were 2.29 and 0.48 μm, respectively. Only microscopic observations made by majority (2/3) or unanimity (3/3) were accepted for final diagnosis. Results Pleural and lung tissue were available for examination in 21 of the 24 rats. Fibrosis, chronic inflammation, and foreign body reaction occurred in 6 of 21 rats. Mesothelial hyperplasia and dysplasia occurred in 9 and 3 of the 21 rats, respectively. A single mesothelioma was identified at 434 days in a rat that had gross nodular pleural lesions. Conclusions The findings reported herein confirm the strong fibrogenic potential of erionite but are at variance with previous studies reporting much higher yields of mesothelioma. The reasons for the low yield of mesothelioma in this study are not known, but may be related to the study design, the strict criteria used for histopathologic diagnosis, and/or possible differences in erionite physicochemical properties, associated with its geographic distribution, most previous animal studies having used erionite from the Rome, Oregon (USA) area.
On the relationship between T 1 and T 2 for stochastic relaxation models

We consider the relaxation dynamics of two quantum levels coupled to a stochastic bath. We emphasize that even if the matrix elements of the fluctuating Hamiltonian are Gaussian, a second-order cumulant truncation is not exact. For various stochastic models, including the case of a spin-1/2 particle in a fluctuating magnetic field, we calculate 1/T 1, the population relaxation rate, and 1/T 2, the phase relaxation rate, up to fourth order in perturbation theory. We show that unlike the commonly accepted second-order result that 1/T 2⩾1/2T 1, when fourth-order terms are included, in some instances 1/T 2<1/2T 1.
Pregnancy characteristics and outcomes of Cambodian refugees.

This study describes the perinatal characteristics of Cambodian refugees in Massachusetts. Data were abstracted from the records of 452 consecutive pregnancies among Cambodian women and 110 low-income Whites receiving obstetrical services at the same clinic and hospital in Lowell, Massachusetts. Pregnancies of Cambodian women were marked by a higher proportion of older mothers, grand multiparas, previous adverse birth outcomes, and short interpregnancy intervals. We identified maternal anemia (29.9 percent with hemoglobin less than 110 g/L) and inadequate utilization of prenatal care (32.3 percent with first visit in the 3rd trimester) as possible risk factors for the Cambodians. The prevalence of primary cesarean birth was only 6.3 percent in the Cambodians, compared to 15.6 percent in the comparison group, largely due to the infrequent occurrence of prolonged labor among multiparas. Despite the prominence of several risk factors for adverse birth outcomes in this population, major pregnancy complication...
Growth of Streptococcus Starter Cultures in Milk Fortified with Nucleic Acid Derivatives

Summary Fortification of milk with purines or purine ribosides stimulated acid production by lactic streptococcus starter cultures. Addition of inosine or adenosine resulted in production of more acid than any other individual purine or purine riboside tested. Fortification of milk with pyrimidines is not necessary for the optimum growth of these bacteria. The purine or purine ribosides were interchangeable in the nutrition of these bacteria; they produced as much acid in the presence of inosine as in a mixture of all four naturally occurring purines or purine ribosides. However, growth was slow when none of the exogenous purines or purine ribosides was supplied. Promotion of growth by inosine was not the maximum, because supplementation with pancreas extract resulted in enhanced growth of the cultures.