cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Abnormalities of sperm morphology in cases of persistent infertility after vasectomy reversal

Persistent infertility after vasectomy reversal by vasovasostomy may be due to irreversible changes in epididymal physiology producing morphologic abnormalities of the sperm tail. Specimens from 29 men with persistent infertility following vasectomy reversal were analyzed and sperm motility and morphology were evaluated. the percentage of motile sperm was below normal in 23 specimens. Swimming speed evaluation on 20 specimens showed only 4 were below the normal range. In 19 of the 29 specimens 10% or more of the sperm cells examined were characterized by a normal head and a coiled or shortened tail. Within this group the percentage of sperm with tail abnormalities ranged from 2-64% with a mean of 18.1%. The appearance of sperm tail abnormalities in conjunction with normal or high sperm concentrations suggests a disturbance of epididymal physiology. The epididymal environment is required for the final maturation of spermatazoa and the acquisition of normal motility and fertilizing ability. The study results suggest that these epididymal functions may be impaired in some men after vasectomy. A case report of a 32 year old man who had a vasectomy 7 years prior to referral to the evaluation group and a successful vasovasostomy 2 years prior revealed only 20% of the sperm evaluated in the initial specimen had the normal head and tail shape. His semen volume was 3.5 ml with a sperm concentration of 250 million/ml. 25% of the sperm were motile. Reexamination of the semen 8 times during the next year showed no significant changes. The cervical mucus penetration test showed no abnormalities of the sperm-cervical mucus interaction. When the motile sperm were spearated from the immotile cells and incubated with zona-free hamster eggs all of the eggs were penetrated. Attempts were unsuccessful to isolate sufficient numbers of motile cells for artificial insemination however a normal pregnancy was conceived 1 year after the initial evaluation without additional therapy. One other man from the group also produced a pregnancy. It is suggested that the morphologic abnormalities may not confer sterility on the affected individual even when present in the majority of sperm cells as indicated by the ability of sperm with normal tails to fuse with zona-free hamster eggs in vitro.
Discrepancies in the Ideal Perceptions and the Current Experiences of Special Education Teachers.

The field of special education continues to have lower teacher retention rates compared to general education. As a result, concerns over the quality of special education teachers’ professional experiences have risen. Both general and special education teachers have their ideal views of the profession, including ample classroom facilities, available resources, and supportive administration; however, many factors can cause teachers to have less than ideal experiences in the field. The purpose of this study was to examine special education teachers’ ideal perception of teaching compared to their current experiences. The researchers conducted a causal comparative research study using the Perceptions of Success Inventory for Beginning Teachers (Corbell, Osborne, & Reiman, 2010; Corbell, Reiman, & Nietfeld, 2008). The study included a sample of 14 participants employed as special education teachers in one school system located in the southeastern United States. A series of paired sample t -test analyses were conducted. The results revealed special education teachers’ current experiences were rated significantly lower than their ideal perceptions in 7 out of 8 scales (i.e., colleagues, administration, classroom, success, resources, workload, and parents). This research could provide administrators with insight into what special education teachers view as essential, or ideal, for effective teaching. Then, administrators can better determine how teachers’ current experiences are or are not meeting the teachers’ expectations.
Information Assurance and Security in the ACM/IEEE CS2013

The ACM/IEEE Computing Curriculum 2013 is a community effort with representation from Academia and industry to outline curricular recommendations for undergraduate Computer Science degree programs. The effort began in 1968 [1] and conducts a complete review every ten years. The previous complete review was completed in 2001. [2] The current 2013 review is being developed to incorporate rapidly changing topics as technology and the world’s use of technology evolves; however must do so within the curricular constraints of a complete undergraduate curriculum. The construction of the CS2013 is due for completion in December 2013. This effort describes the architecture of CS2013 and the details of the creation of a new knowledge area for Information Assurance and Security in the CS2013 computing curriculum.
An Ebers-Moll model for the heterostructure bipolar transistor

Abstract An Ebers-Moll model for the heterostructure bipolar transistor (HBT) is developed. The model describes both single and double heterojunction transistors with or without band spikes and applies to uniform or graded base HBTs. Model parameters are directly related to device parameters such as doping densities, dimensions and band spikes. Junction velocities are introduced to describe the transport of carriers across the junctions. Results demonstrate that even for compositionally graded junctions, transport across the junctions may limit HBT performance if the base is graded. Use of the model is illustrated by examining a recently proposed technique for extracting conduction band spikes by comparing forward and inverted I - V characteristics.
Instructing and Consulting with Teachers in Behavior Modification and Open Education.

(1976). Instructing and consulting with teachers in behavior modification and open education. The Teacher Educator: Vol. 11, No. 4, pp. 30-34.
Remarkable Structural Similarities between Diverse Glycosyltransferases

From a functional standpoint, glycosyltransferases (GTases) comprise one the most diverse group of enzymes in existence. Every category of biopolymer (oligosaccharides, proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids) plus numerous natural products are modified by GTases, with remarkably varied effects. Given the structural and functional diversity of the products of glycosyl transfer combined with the often distant evolutionary relationships between glycosyltransferases, it is not surprising that sequence homologies between glycosyltransferases are low. What is surprising is that the majority of glycosyltransferases belong to only two structural superfamilies, implying that nature has come up with only a few solutions to the ubiquitous problem of how to catalyze glycosyl transfer. The conservation of GTase structure suggests that it will be simpler to manipulate glycosyltransferases for various applications than previously envisioned. A new age in glycoconjugate chemistry is beginning.
Level of Maternal Stress during two pregnancy periods on rat offspring behaviors

Four levels of prenatal stress and two periods during pregnancy were used in this study in an attempt to systematically investigate the varying influences of the prenatal environment on postnatal offspring behaviors. The data suggested significant behavioral decrement in offspring whose mothers were exposed to stress during the second half of pregnancy. In addition, greater behavioral deficit was significantly associated with greater levels of stress. Rates of fertility and viability of the stressed animals were also significantly reduced.
TGFβ/BMP inhibits the bone marrow transformation capability of Hoxa9 by repressing its DNA‐binding ability

Homeobox (Hox) gene mutations and their altered expressions are frequently linked to human leukemia. Here, we report that transforming growth factor β (TGFβ)/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) inhibits the bone marrow transformation capability of Hoxa9 and Nup98-Hoxa9, the chimeric fusion form of Hoxa9 identified in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML), through Smad4, the common Smad (Co-Smad) in the TGFβ/BMP signaling pathway. Smad4 interacts directly with the homeodomain of Hoxa9 and blocks the ability of Nup98-Hoxa9 to bind DNA, thereby suppressing its ability to regulate downstream gene transcription. Mapping data revealed that the amino-terminus of Smad4 mediates this interaction and overexpression of the Hoxa9 interaction domain of Smad4 was sufficient to inhibit the enhanced serial replating ability of primary bone marrow cells induced by Nup98-Hoxa9. These studies establish a novel mechanism by which TGFβ/BMP regulates hematopoiesis and suggest that modification of Hox DNA-binding activity may serve as a novel therapeutic intervention for those leukemias that involve deregulation of Hox.
Rhizosphere disturbance influences fungal colonization and community development on dead fine roots

Little is known about the community dynamics of fungi on decomposing fine roots, despite the importance of fine roots as a source of carbon to detrital systems in forests. We examined fungal communities on dead roots in a sugar-maple dominated northern hardwood forest to test the hypothesis that community development is sensitive to rhizosphere disruption. We generated cohorts of dead fine roots in root windows and disturbed the rhizosphere microbial community in half of the windows by moving roots into sieved bulk soil. We sampled root fragments repeatedly over time and cultured fungi from these fragments to explore temporal patterns of fungal species composition. Disturbing the root rhizosphere prior to initiating decomposition changed the dominant fungal taxa, the distribution of dominant species within the community, and the temporal development in the culturable fungal community. Dominance in control roots shifted from Neonectria in early decay to Umbelopsis in later decay. Disturbance roots were more evenly dominated over time by Trichoderma, Neonectria, another species of Umbelopsis, and Pochonia. Our results suggest that species interactions are important in the ecology of fine root decay fungi, with the rhizosphere community of the living root influencing development of the decay community.
On the estimation of surface radiation using satellite data

Model calculations are used to investigate the uncertainties in the surface radiative flux empirically derived from satellite radiation measurements and theoretically calculated from radiation models using satellite-inferred cloud parameters. The empirical approach depends upon how well the satellite-measured radiances (represented here by the top-of-the-atmosphere flux) correlate with the net flux at the surface. The model calculations show that while the TOA flux and the net surface flux are correlated with respect to changes in optical thickness, they are not correlated with respect to changes in cloud height and negatively correlated with respect to changes in water vapor content. It is also found that the solar zenith angle has a strong effect on these relationships. It is, therefore, important to correct for the effects of atmospheric water vapor content and the solar zenith angle in the empirical estimation of surface radiative flux. The theoretical approach depends upon the net effect of the uncertainty in satellite-inferred cloud parameters. In the solar spectral region, the effects of the uncertainty in satellite retrieval of could cover and optical thickness on the net downward surface flux are systematically in opposite directions, so that the combined effects is typically small (< 7 Wm−2). In the thermal infrared region, an error of 7 Wm−2 could be induced by an uncertainty of 100 mb in the cloud-base height or an uncertainty of 0.1 in the fractional cloud cover. As opposed to what is commonly perceived, the error in the surface flux is likely to be larger in the IR region than in the solar spectral region.
A Randomized, Double‐blind Controlled Study of Jet Lidocaine Compared to Jet Placebo for Pain Relief in Children Undergoing Needle Insertion in the Emergency Department

Objectives: The objectives were to determine whether pretreatment with needleless jet-delivered lidocaine decreases self-reported pain in children undergoing needle insertion in the emergency department (ED) and to explore whether pretreatment with a jet device decreases self-reported pain in children undergoing needle insertion in the ED. Methods: This study examined needle insertion pain in children 5–18 years of age. In the first phase of this study, children received either pretreatment with jet-delivered lidocaine (0.2 mL of buffered 1% lidocaine; n = 75) or pretreatment with jet-delivered placebo (0.2 mL of preservative-free normal saline; n = 75) 60 seconds before undergoing needle insertion. This phase of the study had a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled design. In the second phase, an unblinded, nonconcurrent, nonintervention control group (n = 47) was examined to describe any effect of using the jet device. Patients reported pain upon administration of the jet device and at needle insertion using a 100-mm color analog scale (CAS). Patients also reported their satisfaction with this device. The physicians and nurses performing needle insertions were asked to rate their ability to visualize the vein and their satisfaction with the device. Results: The mean (±standard deviation [SD]) needle insertion pain score for jet lidocaine, 28 (±7) mm, was similar to the mean needle insertion pain score for jet placebo, 34 (±7) mm. The mean needle insertion pain score for both the jet lidocaine and the jet placebo groups were lower than the needle insertion pain scores for the no device group, 52 (±8) mm. The majority of patients receiving the jet device reported that they would request this device for future needle insertions. Providers’ ratings of their ability to visualize veins and the patient cooperation were similar in all three groups. Conclusions: Jet-delivered lidocaine is no more effective than jet-delivered placebo in providing local anesthesia for needle insertion. Jet lidocaine and jet placebo may provide superior analgesia compared to no local anesthetic pretreatment.
Cofactor-type inhibitors of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase via modular approach: targeting the pyrophosphate binding sub-domain.

Abstract Cofactor-type inhibitors of inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase (IMPDH) that target the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) binding domain of the enzyme are modular in nature. They interact with the three sub-sites of the cofactor binding domain; the nicotinamide monophosphate (NMN) binding sub-site (N sub-site), the adenosine monophosphate (AMP) binding sub-site (A sub-site), and the pyrophosphate binding sub-site (P sub-site or P-groove). Mycophenolic acid (MPA) shows high affinity to the N sub-site of human IMPDH mimicking NMN binding. We found that the attachment of adenosine to the MPA through variety of linkers afforded numerous mycophenolic adenine dinucleotide (MAD) analogues that inhibit the two isoforms of the human enzyme in low nanomolar to low micromolar range. An analogue 4, in which 2-ethyladenosine is attached to the mycophenolic alcohol moiety through the difluoromethylenebis(phosphonate) linker, was found to be a potent inhibitor of hIMPDH1 (Ki = 5 nM), and one of the most potent, sub-micromolar inhibitor of leukemia K562 cells proliferation (IC50 = 0.45 μM). Compound 4 was as potent as Gleevec (IC50 = 0.56 μM) heralded as a ‘magic bullet’ against chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). MAD analogues 7 and 8 containing an extended ethylenebis(phosphonate) linkage showed low nanomolar inhibition of IMPDH and low micromolar inhibition of K562 cells proliferation. Some novel MAD analogues described herein containing linkers of different length and geometry were found to inhibit IMPDH with Ki’s lower than 100 nM. Thus, such linkers can be used for connection of other molecular fragments with high affinity to the N- and A-sub-site of IMPDH.
Fabrication of Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) Cantilevers for Photoacoustic (PA) Detection of Terahertz (THz) Radiation

Historically, spectroscopy has been a cumbersome endeavor due to the relatively large sizes (3ft – 100ft in length) of modern spectroscopy systems. Taking advantage of the photoacoustic effect would allow for much smaller absorption chambers since the photoacoustic (PA) effect is independent of the absorption path length. In order to detect the photoacoustic waves being generated, a photoacoustic microphone would be required. This paper reports on the fabrication efforts taken in order to create microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) cantilevers for the purpose of sensing photoacoustic waves generated via terahertz (THz) radiation passing through a gaseous sample. The cantilevers are first modeled through the use of the finite element modeling software, CoventorWare®. The cantilevers fabricated with bulk micromachining processes and are 7x2x0.010mm on a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer which acts as the physical structure of the cantilever. The devices are released by etching through the wafer’s backside and etching through the buried oxide with hydrofluoric acid. The cantilevers are placed in a test chamber and their vibration and deflection are measured via a Michelson type interferometer that reflects a laser off a gold tip evaporated onto the tip of the cantilever. The test chamber is machined from stainless steel and housed in a THz testing environment at Wright State University. Fabricated devices have decreased residual stress and larger radii of curvatures by approximately 10X.
Clinical studies on anticancer agents from 1949 to 1951

Radiogold. Radioactive isotopes continue to be the most used inorganic chemica1 agents for the treatment of cancer. MtiIIer has conducted extensive investigations on the use of radiogold. He empIoyed baIIoons fiIIed with the isotope on patients with carcinoma.11ol114 He aIso used intraperitonea1 injections of coIIoida1 radiogoId against ovarian carcinoma.“* MiiIIer and Rossier113 resorted to intravenous injections for patients with Iung cancer. MiiIIer and Held115 treated Iymph tumors by direct i&Itration with coIIoida1 Au-198. Jentzer and WengerT6 employed radiogoId intraperitoneaIIy in the treatment of carcinoma. HarshaGb reported the isotope usefu1 in palliation of ff uid formation in neopIastic ascites and in lymph nodes. Radiobromine. SmithersLS3 used an intravesical bag to treat carcinoma of the bIadder. Radiocobalt. MiiIIer110~111~114 included Co-60 in his study of the therapeutic action of artificially radioactive elements on carcinoma of the bladder, rectum, uterus, etc. Radioiodine. Carcinoma of the thyroid continues to be treated successfuIIy with I-131. 110,114.153.155,181,182 Freedberg and UreIes54
Conformational constraint in protein ligand design and the inconsistency of binding entropy.

It is an accepted practice in ligand design to introduce conformational constraint with the expectation of improving affinity, justified by the theoretical possibility that an unfavorable change in binding entropy will be reduced. This rationale of minimizing the entropic penalty through imposing structural constraints upon a ligand, however, has been voiced more often than verified. Here we examine three modified cyclic peptides, along with multiple versions of their linear control analogs, and determine their thermodynamic parameters when binding the same host, the third PDZ domain (PDZ3) of the mammalian postsynaptic density-95 (PSD-95) protein. To begin a two-stage investigation, the initial evaluation involved solution binding studies with isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC), which provided the changes in Gibbs free energy (ΔG), enthalpy (ΔH), and entropy (TΔS) upon formation of the protein-ligand complex. In the second stage, a selected macrocycle along with two matched linear controls were subjected to more rigorous analysis by ITC, which included (1) change in heat of buffer ionization (ΔHion) titrations, to examine the role of proton transfer events; (2) change in heat capacity (ΔCp) determinations, to indirectly probe the nature of the binding surface; and (3) osmotic stress experiments, to evaluate desolvation effects and quantitate water release. Together, these demonstrate that the entropic relationship between a macrocyclic ligand and a linear counterpart can be a complex one that is difficult to rationalize. Further, the addition of constraint can, counterintuitively, lead to a less favorable change in binding entropy. This underscores the need to use matched linear control ligands to assure that comparisons are made in a meaningful manner. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Biopolymers 89: 653–667, 2008. This article was originally published online as an accepted preprint. The “Published Online” date corresponds to the preprint version. You can request a copy of the preprint by emailing the Biopolymers editorial office at biopolymers@wiley.com
Mechanism of graphite hydrogenation catalyzed by nickel

Monolayer channeling of Ni particles (less than 2000 A diameter) on the basal plane of graphite was studied for the catalyzed CH2 reaction (producing methane). The preferred wetting of Ni on the {101l} zigzag edge of graphite determines the channel orientation and is also the driving force for channeling. The reaction follows these sequential steps: dissolution of carbon at monolayer step/Ni interface, diffusion of carbon in Ni, reaction of carbon with chemisorbed hydrogen at the Ni/gas interface. The last step (the surface reaction) is the rate-limiting step. The close similarity between the turnover rates of the surface reaction for monolayer channeling, deep-layer channeling, bulk reaction (using mixed NiC), and methanation (from CO + H2) suggests that the surface reaction is the common rate-limiting step. Moreover, Ni is approximately two orders of magnitude more active than Pt for all modes of action except for methanation, where CH4 is not the only product from Pt.
The leader's role in controlling aggressive behavior in a monkey group

An established group of pigtailed monkeys (Macaca nemestrina) was evaluated for aggressive behavior. The four highest ranking members of the group were removed one-by-one. Aggression was higher during all periods when the leader was absent and it decreased when he was returned. The leader male of aM. nemestrina group plays the major role in the control of aggression within the group.
Initial Pb of the Amîtsoq gneiss, West Greenland, and implications for the age of the Earth

Pb isotopic abundances and U-Th-Pb concentrations are reported for feldspar megacrysts from the 3.59 AE old Amitsoq gneisses, Godthaab District, West Greenland. The distinctive Pb in the feldspars is the most primitive terrestrial Pb so far observed. It is observed in feldspars which are from different geographic localities and which exhibit varying degrees of deformation and recrystallization. This appear to be either the initial Pb in the Amitsoq gneiss or the initial Pb only slightly modified by subsequent metamorphism in a low ^(238)U/^(204)Pb environment. ^(238)U/^(204)Pb in the feldspars is low and the corrections for in situ produced Pb are only 0.4% for ^(207)Pb/^(206)Pb and 0.6% for ^(204)Pb/^(206)Pb. The mean corrected isotopic abundances are ^(204)Pb/^(206)Pb = 0.08720, ^(207)Pb/^(206)Pb = 1.1513, and ^(208)Pb/^(206)Pb = 2.7350. The feldspars contain a very small amount of easily leachable radiogenic Pb which is correlated with U and which indicates the formation of U-rich phases at about 2.7 AE. The matrix surrounding the feldspar megacrysts contains Pb which is much evolved relative to the megacrysts and this matrix does not appear to have behaved as a simple closed system. Element redistribution and open system behavior at about 2.7 AE is also suggested by Pb in feldspar from a dike cutting across the gneiss. Assuming that the Amitsoq gneiss feldspar Pb corrected for in situ U decay was the initial Pb in the gneiss at 3.59 AE (Baadsgaard, 1973), a single-stage “age of the earth” is determined as 4.47 ± 0.05 AE and μ is 8.5. This is indistinguishable from the single-stage age for modern rocks and is distinctly younger than the 4.55 AE age of some meteorites. If the feldspar Pb was modified by metamorphism at 2.7 AE the model age of the earth is calculated as 4.53 AE which is similar to the 4.55 AE age of some meteorites. Two-stage models using the nominal 3.59 AE initial Pb indicate that if the earth is ~4.55 AE old then μ values were low in the early Earth's history and differentiation occurred within a few hundred million years after the planet formed.
The Gland in the Sella: What to Do When Things Go Wrong

Abstract Diseases of the Pituitary. Diagnosis and Treatment. Edited by Margaret E. Wierman. Totowa, Humana, 1997, $125.00 (x +405 pages), ISBN 0-896-03364-3 .
Lactoferrin effects on the interaction of blood forms of Trypanosoma cruzi with mononuclear phagocytes.

Abstract Mouse macrophages and human monocytes displayed increased capacities to take up blood trypomastigotes of Trypanosoma cruzi after a 24-h and 2-h lactoferrin (LF) pretreatment, respectively. Lactoferrin binding to trypomastigotes was not detectable by indirect immunofluorescence and pretreatment of the parasite with LF did not affect its capacity to interact with macrophages. Macrophages treated with LF also displayed a greater capacity to kill T. cruzi , whether the treatment was applied before or after parasite internalization. Since serum levels of LF increase during T. cruzi infection, the noted effects might play a role in host defense.
Strategy Implementation Pedagogy: A Survey of AACSB-Accredited Business Schools.

Abstract American business schools are increasingly criticized for producing graduates incapable of meeting the needs of action-oriented employers. A case in point is the overemphasis on strategy formulation and insufficient attention paid to strategy implementation. A mail survey concerning the state of the art of strategy implementation pedagogy was sent to 264 AACSB-accredited business schools. Analysis of 149 usable responses (56.4%) revealed the teaching methods commonly used, popular and heavily covered strategy implementation topics, and reasons for omission of certain topics.
First Report of Iris yellow spot virus on Onion (Allium cepa) in Texas

Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV; family Bunyaviridae, genus Tospovirus) has emerged as a potentially devastating and widespread virus of onion. IYSV was first reported in the United States from Idaho in 1993 and has since spread to many of the onion-producing areas (1). In South America, the most recent reports of the virus on onion were from Peru and Chile (2,4). In 2005, onion plants in Uvalde County, Texas exhibited necrotic lesions on leaves typical of IYSV and disease incidence approached 100% in some fields with yield loss and quality problems. Five of six plants tested were positive for IYSV with double antibody sandwich-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA; Agdia Inc., Elkhart, IN). In 2006, similar lesions were observed on onion plants in Uvalde County and approximately 400 km south in Hidalgo and Cameron counties. Infection points generally started as a single plant near the edge of fields and spread to plants in a 3- to 4-m area after 1 to 2 weeks. Early-season disease incidence was low in onions grown for bulbs and transplants, <10% in 2006. Disease incidence increased in some fields until the crop was harvested. Leaves of symptomatic plants were tested for IYSV and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) using DAS-ELISA, and 18 of 23 samples from the Hidalgo County area and 12 of 21 samples from the Uvalde County area were positive for IYSV. All samples tested for TSWV from these counties were negative. Virus infection in some ELISA-positive plants was verified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers derived from the small RNA of IYSV. The primers flanked the IYSV nucleocapsid (N) gene (5'-TAA AAC AAA CAT TCA AAC AA-3' and 5'-CTC TTA AAC ACA TTT AAC AAG CAC-3' (3). RT-PCR gave a PCR product of expected size (approximately 1.2 kb). The DNA amplicon was cloned and sequenced (GenBank Accession No. DQ658242). Nucleotide sequence analysis confirmed the identity of the amplicon as that of IYSV N gene and sequence comparisons with known IYSV N gene sequences showed 95 to 98% sequence identity. The primary vector of IYSV, onion thrips (Thrips tabaci), is a widespread and destructive pest of onion in south Texas. The year-to-year incidence of IYSV and the severity of the disease will probably depend on the onion thrips population levels. Bulb yield reduction could be severe during years with high thrips populations. More research is needed to determine the impact of IYSV on bulb yield in Texas, the relationship between IYSV incidence and T. tabaci population levels, and oversummering hosts. To our knowledge, this is the first known report of IYSV in Texas. References: (1) D. H. Gent et al. Plant Dis. 88:446, 2004, (2) S. W. Mullis et al. Plant Dis. 90:377, 2006, (3) H. Pappu et al. Arch. Virol. 151:1015, 2006. (4) M. Rosales et al. Plant Dis. 89:1245, 2005.
WHAT IS A CORRESPONDENCE THEORY OF TRUTH

It is often thought that instances of the T-schema such as“ ‘snow is white’ is true if and only if snow is white” state correspondences between sentences andthe world, and that therefore such sentences play a crucial role in correspondence theories oftruth. I argue that this assumption trivializes the correspondence theory: even a disquotationaltheory of truth would be a correspondence theory on this conception. This discussionallows one to get clearer about what a correspondence theory does claim, and toward the end of thepaper I discuss what a true correspondence theory of truth would involve.
A note on the cluster variation method

Kikuchi's cluster variation method (CVM) is reformulated as the truncation of a Mobius inversion. An attempt is made to explicate and simplify the various approaches to the CVM. This formulation makes apparent the connection of the method with other types of cluster approximation. An illustration of the procedure is provided.
Effects of site-directed mutations in the central domain of 16 S ribosomal RNA upon ribosomal protein binding, RNA processing and 30 S subunit assembly☆

Abstract Using a multicopy plasmid encoding the Escherichia coli rrnB ribosomal RNA operon and the techniques of in vitro site-directed mutagenesis, we have introduced several small alterations into the central domain of 16 S rRNA, which encompasses nucleotides 560 to 890. Four of the rRNAs studied contained deletions and one contained an insertion. The altered small ribosomal subunit rRNAs were used to investigate relationships among 16 S rRNA processing, protein- 16 S rRNA interactions and assembly of the 30 S ribosomal subunit. Analysis of plasmid-coded transcripts from maxicells revealed that products from wild-type 16 S rRNA genes were fully processed and assembled into mature 30 S subunits. Under the same conditions, the processing and assembly of transcripts derived from the mutant plasmids were severely impaired. In some instances, the mutations completely blocked both processes, while in other cases rRNA maturation and ribosome assembly were retarded, but not eliminated completely. In all cases, the mutations led to the accumulation of the 17 S precursor to 16 S rRNA. The mutant 17 S rRNAs were purified and incubated with various combinations of E. coli ribosomal proteins S6, S8, S15 and S18, which are known to bind to the central domain of 16 S rRNA. Ribonuclease digestion of the resulting protein-17 S rRNA complexes and fractionation of the products permitted detection of three distinct protein-RNA fragment complexes which contained S8, S8 + S15, or S6 + S8 + S15 + S18. Whereas wild-type 17 S rRNA was able to form all three of these complexes, deletion of nucleotides 693 to 721 or 822 to 874 abolished the interaction of S6 and S18, and removal of nucleotides 659 to 718 prevented the binding of S6, S15 and S18. In contrast, elimination of residue 614, or the presence of a 16-base insertion between nucleotides 614 and 615, had no significant effect on the binding of any of the four proteins tested. Together, our results demonstrate that 16 S rRNA maturation and 30 S subunit assembly are tightly coupled, and show that, in at least some cases, defects in these processes can be correlated with the inability of particular ribosomal proteins to associate with altered rRNA molecules. Moreover, we have confirmed the essentiality of certain rRNA sequences for the formation and/or stabilization of these protein-rRNA interactions. Our findings are also consistent with the description of the binding sites for proteins S6, S8, S15 and S18 in the 16 S rRNA that was presented in the preceding paper and demonstrate the utility of sitedirected mutagenesis as a means for studying protein binding sites in RNA molecules.
Identification and characterization of a Marek's disease virus gene encoding DNA polymerase☆

Abstract DNA sequence analysis revealed a gene encoding the Marek's disease virus (MDV) DNA polymerase (pol) within the BamHI-E fragment of the long unique region of the virus genome. Identification is based on an extensive amino acid homology between the MDV open reading frame and the DNA pol (UL30) of the herpes simplex virus. We describe here a 3540-base-pair fragment of the MDV DNA encoding 1180 amino acids with a Mr of 133,920 daltons as the viral DNA pol gene, with the analysis of transcription and translation. In Northern blot hybridization, a transcript of 4.0 kb was detected in GA-MDV-infected duck embryo fibroblast (DEF) cells. An antiserum was generated in rabbit using TryE-pol fusion protein expressed in E. coli. This antiserum specifically immunoprecipitated a protein of 135 kD from lysates of MDV-GA-infected DEF cells. MDV DNA pol showed extensive homology to five distantly related herpesviruses: equine herpesvirus (EHV), varicella-zoster virus (VZV), herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV). Comparison of amino acid sequences among the herpesviruses highlights nine highly conserved regions. Three of the conserved regions are in the N-terminus in the 3′−5′ exonuclease domains and the remaining six are in the C-terminus in the catalytic domains. The predicted structural characters are in good agreement with the published data on a number of human herpesvirus DNA pol. The identification of MDV DNA pol gene may lead to a better understanding of MDV replication.
Application of Neural Networks and Fuzzy Logic to the calibration of the seven-hole probe

The theory and techniques of Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Fuzzy Logic Systems (FLS) are applied toward the formulation of accurate and wide-range calibration methods for such flow-diagnostics instruments as multi-hole probes. Besides introducing new calibration techniques, part of the work's objective is to : (a) apply fuzzy-logic methods to identify systems whose behavior is described in a crisp rather than a linguistic framework and (b) compare the two approaches, i.e., neural network versus fuzzy logic approach, and their potential as universal approximators. For the ANN approach, several network configurations were tried. A Multi-Layer Perceptron with a 2-node input layer, a 4-node output layer and a 7-node hidden/middle layer, performed the best. For the FLS approach, a system with center average defuzzifier, product-inference rule, singleton fuzzifier, and Gaussian membership functions was employed. The Fuzzy Logic System seemed to outperform the Neural Network/Multi-Layer Perceptron
Clotrimazole Is a Potent Vasodilator of the Rat Coronary Microcirculation

Abstract Clotrimazole (CLT), used in the treatment of patients with sickle cell disease, directly blocks Ca 2+ -activated K + (K + Ca ) channels in red cells and in portal vein smooth muscle cells by a cytochrome P 450 (cyt P 450 )-independent mechanism. Therefore, we examined the effects of CLT on vasomotor tone of coronary arterioles. Rat coronary arterioles (80–180 μm in diameter) were studied in vitro in a pressurized no-flow state with a video microscopy. CLT (0.1 μmol/L) elicited in nonprecontracted vessels a small contraction ( P + channel. However, similar contraction was produced by the cyt P 450 blocker 17-octadecynoic acid (17-ODYA, 100 μmol/L), suggesting possible involvement of arachidonate metabolites of cyt P 450 . In contrast, microvessels precontracted with the thromboxane A 2 analog U46619 dilated in response to CLT [>90% relaxation of the U46619-induced precontraction at 100 μmol/L ( P 450 -independent, since the in vivo CLT metabolite (CLT-carbinol) was equipotent with CLT, and 17-ODYA did not promote relaxation. CLT-induced dilation was not inhibited by the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N G nitro- l -arginine (100 μmol/L, P > 0.5) or affected by endothelial denudation ( P > 0.5). Thus, CLT at concentrations >1 μmol/L is a potent vasodilator of rat coronary arterioles. This dilation is likely mediated through a vascular smooth muscle mechanism independent of cyt P 450 and is not modulated by nitric oxide or by the endothelium. This effect may arise from CLT's reported ability to inhibit voltage-gated Ca 2+ channels or to inhibit, in some tissues, Ca 2+ release from intracellular stores. The CLT- and FLT-induced relaxation may be a property common to this class of drugs and have clinical applicability.
Leadership and Organizational Justice: Similarities and Differences across Cultures

International management scholars and practitioners agree that managers cannot simply assume that leadership behaviors effective in one culture can be readily transferred to other cultures. This study examines the relationship of transformational leadership and leader member exchange to organizational justice and job satisfaction in five separate cultures. Results indicate that while there is consistent support for some of the proposed linkages, there are also some interesting differences across cultures. Implications for theory and future research on international business are discussed.
On the environment of ionizable groups in globular proteins.

Abstract The environment of ionizable groups in 36 proteins is characterized in terms of solvent-accessibility, salt-bridge formation and hydrogen-bonding. Possible implications of our results as to the protonation state of buried ionizable groups are considered and patterns useful for model building studies on proteins are derived. The most interesting finding is that there are on average two completely buried ionizable groups per protein of which at least 20% do not form saltbridges. However, all buried ionizable groups form hydrogen bonds with neutral polar groups.
Ozone-induced chromosome breakage in human cell cultures.

OZONE-INDUCED effects in biological systems may be particularly significant in radiation biology. The decomposition of ozone in water produces the same active radicals (OH and HO2) which are generally considered the biologically active products of irradiation of protoplasm. Phillips1 has reported on the effects of active radicals chemically produced by the catalytic decomposition of hydrogen peroxide with ferric ions; this system, however, has a low radical yield, as was evidenced by the extremely low frequency of chromosome aberrations produced over a wide range of reactant concentrations.
The Reliability and Precision of Total Scores and IRT Estimates as a Function of Polytomous IRT Parameters and Latent Trait Distribution.

A classic topic in the fields of psychometrics and measurement has been the impact of the number of scale categories on test score reliability. This study builds on previous research by further articulating the relationship between item response theory (IRT) and classical test theory (CTT). Equations are presented for comparing the reliability and precision of scores within the CTT and IRT frameworks. This study presented new results pertaining to the relative precision (i.e., the test score conditional standard error of measurement for a given trait value) of CTT and IRT, and the new results shed light on the conditions where total scores and IRT estimates are more or less precisely measured. The relative reliability of CTT and IRT scores is examined as a function of item characteristics (e.g., locations, category thresholds, and discriminations) and subject characteristics (e.g., the skewness and kurtosis of the latent distribution). CTT total scores were more reliable when the latent distribution was m...
"But I Know It's True": Environmental Risk Assessment, Justice, and Anthropology

Few social issues depend as heavily on scientific information as environmental problems. Yet activists, governmental officials, corporate entities, and even scientists agree that much of the science behind environmental risk assessments is controversial and uncertain. Using a low-income African-American neighborhood as a primary case example, this paper illustrates in concrete terms how environmental risk assessments can exclude the experiences of the poor and people of color. Further, race and class experiences intensify a community's susceptibility to, and perceptions of, risk. These experiences and perceptions underpin the ways that communities contest scientific biases in everyday practice. After discussing alternative approaches to contemporary risk assessment that combine ethnographic research with other kinds of scientific expertise, I conclude by offering a four-fold model for resolving some of the problems raised by this essay. This model draws upon multiple kinds of knowledge bases and includes ...
Observation of Changes in Bacterial Cell Morphology Using Tapping Mode Atomic Force Microscopy

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used in tapping mode to probe morphological changes in surface-confined cells resulting from adhesion-modifying chemicals. Bacteria (Burkholderia cepacia G4 and Pseudomonas stutzeri KC) were exposed to Tween 20, heparin, disodium tetraborate, sodium pyrophosphate, low ionic strength water, lysozyme/ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), and 3-(4-morpholino)propanesulfonic acid sodium salt (MOPS) buffer (as a control), and the surface topography of the cells was examined after exposure to each chemical. Cells were attached to glass slides for AFM imaging by a new method of cross-linking carboxyl groups on the bacterial surfaces with amine groups that had been coupled to glass slides. Topographic images, phase images, traces of surface topography, and analyses of surface roughness were performed on all samples. We are not aware of any studies besides the present one in which phase imaging has been used on bacteria. Height traces illustrated the effect of different chemical...
Acoustic Emission/Microseismic Source Location Analysis for a Limestone Mine Exhibiting High Horizontal Stresses

A thin and rigid limestone roof and high horizontal stresses in an underground limestone mine have caused severe roof fall problems. To help the mine address these problems, an acoustic emission/microseismic system was installed at the mine. However, the efficiency of this system was hampered by high background noise and inadequate source locations. The focus of this research was therefore to resolve these problems. The most beneficial outcome of this research was to demonstrate that the source location calculation at the mine could be improved through a comprehensive source location approach, which includes digital filtering, an absolute value-based optimization method, an advanced simplex location algorithm, and reliability analysis.
Low CD4+ T cell count as a major atherosclerosis risk factor in HIV-infected women and men

Recent studies among HIV-infected populations have linked use of combination antiretroviral therapy with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events [1-4] and subclinical atherosclerosis [5-7]. Among HIV-infected individuals, low CD4+ T-cell count has also been identified as a vascular risk factor [5]. However, the data have not been consistent as other studies have not confirmed the reported associations of antiretroviral use [8-11] or low CD4+ T-cell count [2] with clinical or subclinical CVD. Several potential mechanisms have been described that may link HIV disease and its treatment with increased risk of vascular disease. Individuals with untreated HIV infection have decreased levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and increased levels of triglycerides [12-14], which are adverse risk factors for vascular disease. On the other hand, persons with untreated HIV infection also have reductions in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and total cholesterol, which may be favorable characteristics with regard to atherosclerotic risk [12-14]. Initiation of antiretroviral therapy tends to normalize lipid parameters (total cholesterol, LDL-C and triglycerides, but not HDL-C) [14]. Some therapies, notably protease inhibitors (PI), may have adverse effects on LDL-C and triglyceride levels, blood pressure, and risk of diabetes [15-19]. Use of nucleoside analogs has been associated with body fat changes, insulin resistance and diabetes [20-22]. Circulating markers of inflammation such as C-reactive protein (CRP) may be elevated among individuals with HIV infection, especially during progression to AIDS [23]. The purpose of the present investigation was to assess the association of HIV infection, HIV disease parameters (including CD4+ T-cell counts, HIV viral load, and AIDS) and antiretroviral medication use with subclinical vascular disease. We report the results from two studies, conducted in parallel, within the Women's Interagency HIV Study (WIHS) and the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). WIHS and MACS are population-based US cohort studies that offer several important strengths, including large sample size, inclusion of HIV-uninfected persons who were recruited from the same at-risk populations as the HIV-infected individuals, and extensive longitudinal, protocol-driven data collection on clinical, behavioral, and demographic variables. The present report describes data from the baseline phase of a WIHS-MACS Carotid Ultrasound Substudy, which features standardized image acquisition and measurement of carotid artery intima-media thickness, a quantitative measure of atherosclerosis burden.
Detection of double-stranded RNA by immunoblot electrophoresis

A procedure is described which permits the serological detection of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) which has been electrophoretically transferred from agarose gels to Zeta-Probe blotting membranes. Cucumber mosaic virus replicative forms of RNAs 1-3 and cassava (Manihot esculenta) clone 'Secundina' dsRNAs can be routinely detected from 1 g of leaf tissue. This procedure allows for the detection and size estimation of dsRNAs in crude nucleic acid preparations.