cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Endogenous potentials after anterior temporal lobectomy

The scalp topography of endogenous potentials was studied in patients who had previously undergone unilateral anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL). These excisions include medial temporal lobe (MTL) structures that have been shown to generate large potentials during tasks that evoke P3 at the scalp. Following right or left ATL, patients showed no differences from unoperated control subjects in overall amplitude of P3 or any other potential measured. The topography of P3 was very similar in both ATL groups and the control subjects, with no differences in laterality. These results suggest that the MTL is not the major generator of the P3 recorded at the scalp in the tasks studied here.
Neuroanatomical and cognitive mediators of age-related differences in perceptual priming and learning

Our objectives were to assess age differences in perceptual repetition priming and perceptual skill learning, and to determine whether they are mediated by cognitive resources and regional cerebral volume differences. Fragmented picture identification paradigm allows the study of both priming and learning within the same task. We presented this task to 169 adults (ages 18–80), assessed working memory and fluid intelligence, and measured brain volumes of regions that were deemed relevant to those cognitive skills. The data were analyzed within a hierarchical path modeling framework. In addition to finding age-related decrease in both perceptual priming and learning, we observed several dissociations with regards to their neural and cognitive mediators. Larger visual cortex volume was associated with greater repetition priming, but not perceptual skill learning, and neither process depended upon hippocampal volume. In contrast, the volumes of the prefrontal gray and white matter were differentially related to both processes via direct and indirect effects of cognitive resources. The results indicate that age-related differences in perceptual priming and skill learning have dissociable cognitive and neural correlates.
Statistical strategies to quantify respiratory sinus arrhythmia: Are commonly used metrics equivalent?

Three frequently used RSA metrics are investigated to document violations of assumptions for parametric analyses, moderation by respiration, influences of nonstationarity, and sensitivity to vagal blockade. Although all metrics are highly correlated, new findings illustrate that the metrics are noticeably different on the above dimensions. Only one method conforms to the assumptions for parametric analyses, is not moderated by respiration, is not influenced by nonstationarity, and reliably generates stronger effect sizes. Moreover, this method is also the most sensitive to vagal blockade. Specific features of this method may provide insights into improving the statistical characteristics of other commonly used RSA metrics. These data provide the evidence to question, based on statistical grounds, published reports using particular metrics of RSA.
A Note on the Effective Use of PC-Based Spreadsheets for Course Grading

This correspondence describes the utility and basic mechanics of using a personal computer (PC) and a spreadsheet for record keeping and course grading. This approach allows quick, efficient, and accurate preparation of grades. The ability to quickly calculate and plot indicators of individual student, as well as class performance, consider ``what if'' grading situations, and handle nonnumeric grades is described. The templates provided may serve as a starting point for more complex, instructor-customized grade spreadsheets.
Is the acetylcholine receptor a rabies virus receptor

Rabies virus was found on mouse diaphragms and on cultured chick myotubes in a distribution coinciding with that of the acetylcholine receptor. Treatment of the myotubes with alpha-bungarotoxin and d-tubocurarine before the addition of the virus reduced the number of myotubes that became infected with rabies virus. These findings together suggest that acetylcholine receptors may serve as receptors for rabies virus. The binding of virus to acetylcholine receptors, which are present in high density at the neuromuscular junction, would provide a mechanism whereby the virus could be locally concentrated at sites in proximity to peripheral nerves facilitating subsequent uptake and transfer to the central nervous system.
Systems approach for constructing dynamic motivation models

Abstract Most model constructs in organization studies are descriptive in nature, and the conclusions relating to the model behavior over time are speculative. The comparative study of different theories suffers from the same type of vague qualitative methodology to model hypotheses in organization studies and to examine their dynamic behavior explicitly. The well-known March and Simon motivation model is used to demonstrate the step by step application of System Dynamics to models of this type. The dynamic behavior of the model, both transient and steady state, is obtained. Even though the paper has focused on one model in the area of individual behavior, the approach is general and can be applied to other areas of organizational behavior as well.
Barriers to Success for Women in Academic Life: Perceptions of Participants in a Colleague Pairing Program

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study is to explore empirically the perceptions of senior and junior female faculty members regarding the barriers to success experienced early in the academic career. Twenty‐two pairs of women faculty participated in colleague pairing as part of a mentoring initiative in a faculty development program. A factor analysis of the responses yielded the following three areas of concern: roles and responsibilities, sense of fit and personal security. We analyse the differences between senior and junior women as well as differences before and after participation in the program. Implications of these perceptions for the ability of female faculty members to help themselves and one another succeed professionally in their academic careers are discussed.
Stress waves resulting from hypervelocity impact.

Characteristics method for stress waves from hypervelocity impact of circular cylinder on half space, discussing numerical diffusion effect on pressure and flow fields
Acute posterior ophthalmomyiasis interna treated with photocoagulation.

Purpose/Methods We studied a patient with subretinal myiasis with pain and rapidly progressive visual loss and found that prompt photocoagulation resulted in marked visual improvement. A 16-year-old boy had subconjunctival hemorrhage and periocular pain associated with progressive visual loss to 6/200 over a four-day period. Results/Conclusions A live maggot found crawling in the subretinal space was promptly photocoagulated with an argon green laser. Within one month, the visual acuity improved to 20/50. Laser treatment of a subretinal larva does not generally induce marked inflammation and often results in good visual recovery.
A transient liquid crystal thermography technique for gas turbine heat transfer measurements

This paper presents in detail the transient liquid crystal technique for convective heat transfer measurements. A historical perspective on the active development of liquid crystal techniques for convective heat transfer measurement is also presented. The experimental technique involves using a thermochromic liquid crystal coating on the test surface. The colour change time of the coating at every pixel location on the heat transfer surface during a transient test is measured using an image processing system. The heat transfer coefficients are calculated from the measured time responses of these thermochromic coatings. This technique has been used for turbine blade internal coolant passage heat transfer measurements as well as turbine blade film cooling heat transfer measurements. Results can be obtained on complex geometry surfaces if visually accessible. Some heat transfer results for experiments with jet impingement, internal cooling channels with ribs, flow over simulated TBC spallation, flat plate film cooling, cylindrical leading edge and turbine blade film cooling are presented for demonstration.
ANALYSIS OF THE REINFORCEMENT AND EXTINCTION COMPONENTS IN DRO CONTINGENCIES WITH SELF-INJURY

Previous research has shown that self-injurious behavior (SIB) maintained by positive reinforcement may be reduced under differential-reinforcement-of-other-behavior (DRO) contingencies. In this study, we conducted an analysis of the reinforcement and extinction components of DRO while treating the self-injury of 3 women with developmental disabilities. A functional analysis revealed that each subject's SIB was maintained by positive reinforcement in the form of attention. Subsequent reinforcer assessments identified preferred and nonpreferred stimuli for later use in conjunction with DRO. Results showed high rates of SIB for all 3 subjects during baseline, which persisted when DRO was implemented without the relevant extinction component (withholding of attention for SIB) for 2 of the subjects. Low rates of SIB were observed for all subjects when DRO plus extinction was implemented or when extinction was implemented alone, suggesting that extinction may be a critical component of DRO schedules.
Metaldehyde Molluscicide Action in Mice: Distribution, Metabolism, and Possible Relation to GABAergic System

Abstract Two proposed modes of toxic action of the molluscicide metaldehyde are considered here by studies in orally treated mice of symptomatology, acetaldehyde and metaldehyde concentrations in tissues, and characteristics of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor complex. An earlier proposal that metaldehyde-induced poisoning is due to acetaldehyde liberation is not supported by either their different symptomatology or tissue analyses. Unmetabolized metaldehyde is excreted to the extent of 8% and the urinary metabolites from [ 13 C]metaldehyde and [ 13 C]acetate are consistent with primary degradation of metaldehyde via acetaldehyde and acetate. Poisoning signs are initiated at ∼12 ppm metaldehyde in brain, progressing to tonic convulsions and death at ∼40 ppm and lessened by diazepam and phenobarbital without greatly altering the tissue levels of metaldehyde. Possible involvement of the GABAergic system in metaldehyde toxicity is suggested by the lowered levels of GABA in the brain of poisoned mice determined by (1) earlier chemical analysis of the whole brain (Homeida and Cooke, J. Vet. Pharmacol. Ther. 5, 77 (1982)) and (2) the presently observed reduced effect of endogenous inhibitors (primarily GABA) in preventing binding of [ 3 H]ethynylbicycloorthobenzoate ([ 3 H]EBOB) to brain membranes. Metaldehyde (1 m M ) does not: (1) inhibit [ 3 H]EBOB binding in vitro at the noncompetitive blocker site, (2) alter the coupled effects on [ 3 H]EBOB binding of GABA as an inhibitor (acting at the GABA recognition site) and the amidine steroid RU 5135 in reversing this inhibition (acting primarily as a competitive antagonist), or (3) inhibit glutamic acid decarboxylase activity. Thus, the toxicity of metaldehyde is not due to degradation to acetaldehyde but instead may result from disrupting the GABAergic system by a mechanism which remains to be determined.
Evolution of metatherian and eutherian (mammalian) characters: a review based on cladistic methodology

Cladistic methodology is used to test the hypothesis that three major monophyletic groups exist among living mammals–the oviparous monotremes (Prototheria), and the viviparous marsupials (Metatheria) and placentals (Eutheria). Evaluation is made of the polarity (i.e. the direction of change in a primitive-to-derived sequence) of numerous characters which distinguish some or all of these groups, and of the usefulness of these characters in phylogenetic inference. An attempt is made to establish the state of these characters in the common Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous therian ancestor of marsupials and placentals. It is concluded that the most basic division of the Mammalia is the dichotomy into the subclasses Prototheria (including Monotremata, Multituberculata, Triconodonta, Docodonta) and Theria (including Metatheria, Eutheria, Pantotheria and Symmetrodonta). Two major groups exist among living viviparous mammals, the Metatheria and Eutheria; in a cladistic framework these are sister-groups. It is demonstrated that there is no special (sister-group) relationship between monotremes and marsupials, and there is no justification for placing them in a group Marsupionta.
Review of the Long-Term Effectiveness of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Compared to Medications in Panic Disorder

Panic disorder is a recurrent and disabling illness. It is believed that Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) has a long-term protective effect for this disorder. This would offer CBT considerable advantage over medication management of panic disorder, as patients often relapse when they are tapered off their medications. This is a review of the literature about the long-term effectiveness of CBT. We searched for follow-up studies of panic disorder using CBT. Of the 78 citations produced in the initial search, most had major methodological flaws, including ignoring losses to follow-up, not accounting for interval treatment, and unclear reporting. Three papers met strict methodological criteria, and two of these demonstrated a modest protective effect of CBT in panic disorder patients. We make recommendations for well-designed studies involving comparisons of medications and cognitive behavior therapy.
Locking the door but leaving the computer vulnerable: Factors inhibiting home users' adoption of software firewalls

In the new era of a ubiquitously networked world, security measures are only as good as their weakest link. Home computers with access to the Internet are one of the weaker links as they are typically not as well protected as computers in the corporate world. Malicious actors can not only target such computers but also use them to launch attacks against other systems connected to the Internet, thus posing severe threats to data and infrastructure as well as disrupting electronic commerce. This paper investigates the factors that affect the use of security protection strategies by home computer users in relation to a specific, but crucial security technology for home - a software firewall. This paper proposes individuals' concern for privacy, awareness of common security measures, attitude towards security and privacy protection technologies, and computer anxiety as important antecedents that have an impact on the users' decision to adopt a software firewall. The results of our study suggest that attitude plays a more important role than perceived usefulness in shaping users' intention to use firewalls. We attribute this interesting finding to the non-functional nature of firewall systems that work best in the background with a complex relationship to users' productivity. Hence, the results add to our current understanding of Technology Acceptance Model vis-a-vis technologies that serve non-functional needs such as security. We then present a set of guidelines to home computer users, Internet Service Providers, e-commerce companies, and the government to increase home users' adoption rate of privacy and security protection technologies.
Some state space models of HIV pathogenesis under treatment by anti-viral drugs in HIV-infected individuals.

In this paper we have extended the model of HIV pathogenesis under treatment by anti-viral drugs given by Perelson et al. [A.S. Perelson et al., Science 271 (1999) 1582] to a stochastic model. By using this stochastic model as the stochastic system model, we have developed a state space model for the HIV pathogenesis under treatment by anti-viral drugs. In this state space model, the observation model is a statistical model based on the observed numbers of RNA virus copies over different times. For this model we have developed procedures for estimating and predicting the numbers of infectious free HIV and non-infectious free HIV as well as the numbers of different types of T cells through extended Kalman filter method. As an illustration, we have applied the method of this paper to the data of patient Nos. 104, 105 and 107 given by Perelson et al. [A.S. Perelson et al., Science 271 (1999) 1582] under treatment by Ritonavir. For these individuals, it is shown that within two weeks since treatment, most of the free HIV are non-infectious, indicating the usefulness of the treatment. Furthermore, the Kalman filter method revealed a much stronger effect of the treatment within the first 10 to 20 h than that predicted by the deterministic model.
Rapid deconvolution of combinatorial libraries using HPLC fractionation

Abstract The rapid deconvolution of combinatorial libraries prepared via solution-phase simultaneous addition of functionalities is demonstrated using HPLC. Libraries containing 25–216 members are screened for biological activity, and active libraries are fractionated into discreet pools using reversed-phase HPLC. The entire process can be completed from a single synthesis of 15–50 mg, without the need for fixed positions, serial synthesis, or tagging. The method is demonstrated for libraries with charged and uncharged functional groups, and for a library containing substituted benzyl moieties. Biologically active combinatorial libraries prepared via solution phase simultaneous addition of functionalities are deconvoluted using HPLC fractionation.
Effects of a Deep Mixed Shell on Solar g-Modes, p-Modes, and Neutrino Flux

A mixed-shell model that reflects g-modes away from the Sun's center is developed further by calibrating its parameters and evaluating a mixing mechanism: buoyancy. The shell roughly doubles g-mode oscillation periods and would explain why there is no definitive detection of their periods. But the shell has only minor effects on most p-modes. The model provides a mechanism for causing short-term fluctuations in neutrino flux and makes plausible the correlations between this flux and solar activity levels. Relations are derived for a shell heated asymmetrically by transient increases in nuclear burning in small "hot spots." The size of these spots and the timing of a heating event are governed by sets(l) of standing asymptotic g-modes, coupled by a maximal principle that greatly enhances their excitation and concentrates power toward the equator, assisting the detection of higher-l sets. Signals from all sets, except one, in the range 2 ≤ l ≤ 8 are identified by difference periods between consecutive radial states using the method of Garcia et al. and reinterpreting their latest spectrum. This confirms two detections of sets in a similar range of l by their rotation rates. The mean radius of shell mixing is rm = 0.16 R ☉, which improves an earlier independent estimate of 0.18 by the author. The shell may cause the unexplained dip in measured sound speed at its location. Another sound speed error, centered near 0.67 R ☉, and reversing flows in the same place with a period originally near 1.3 yr suggest that the g-modes are depositing there about 3% of the solar luminosity. That implies the shell at rm is receiving a similar magnitude of power, which would be enough energy to mix the corresponding shell in a standard solar model in 107 yr.
Chalcone synthase mRNA and activity are reduced in yellow soybean seed coats with dominant I alleles

The seed of all wild Glycine accessions have black or brown pigments because of the homozygous recessive i allele in combination with alleles at the R and T loci. In contrast, nearly all commercial soybean (Glycine max) varieties are yellow due to the presence of a dominant allele of the I locus (either I or i) that inhibits pigmentation in the seed coats. Spontaneous mutations to the recessive i allele occur in these varieties and result in pigmented seed coats. We have isolated a clone for a soybean dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR) gene using polymerase chain reaction. We examined expression of DFR and two other genes of the flavonoid pathway during soybean seed coat development in a series of near-isogenic isolines that vary in pigmentation as specified by combinations of alleles of the I, R, and T loci. The expression of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase and DFR mRNAs was similar in all of the gene combinations at each stage of seed coat development. In contrast, chalcone synthase (CHS) mRNA was barely detectable at all stages of development in seed coats that carry the dominant I allele that results in yellow seed coats. CHS activity in yellow seed coats (I) was also 7- to 10-fold less than in the pigmented seed coats that have the homozygous recessive i allele. It appears that the dominant I allele results in reduction of CHS mRNA, leading to reduction of CHS activity as the basis for inhibition of anthocyanin and proanthocyanin synthesis in soybean seed coats. A further connection between CHS and the I locus is indicated by the occurrence of multiple restriction site polymorphisms in genomic DNA blots of the CHS gene family in near-isogenic lines containing alleles of the I locus.
Multifunctional Gas Sensor Array with Improved Selectivity Through Local Thermal Modification

This work involves the development of small, easily manufactured, potentiometric gas sensor arrays for continuous monitoring of pollutant (NOx, CO, HCs) concentrations. These low-power devices consist of coplanar sensing electrodes operating in the same gas environment without the need for an air-reference. The selectivity of a sensing electrode-pair is temperature dependent and may be enhanced with the use of integrated heating elements. Finite Element Modeling was used to predict thermal distributions and find the ideal locations of sensing electrodes and heating elements. General trends of baseline shift and sensitivity with changes in individual electrode temperatures are discussed. The results demonstrate that a gas sensor array with thermally modified sensing electrodes yields a device capable of selectively determining the concentrations of combustion byproducts.
Improving the user interface for people with disabilities

This course will explore the current state of the art in computer user interfaces (UIs) designed for people with disabilities, and will identify problems in the current models that may warrant alternative strategies. The course will begin by exploring a variety of UIs designed for people who are unable to see, hear, or use their hands, as well as those designed for people with dyslexia and other processing disabilities. Attendees will discover that the wide spectrum of available UIs makes it possible for almost anyone to use information technology. However, they will also experience examples of how this UI model breaks down when the software, document, form or website users are trying to access is designed in a way that fails to support user diversity. Current models are dependent on designers, developers, and authors to create products that are accessible, and these models are largely failing. Despite laws that require accessible design, and standards and guidelines that define it, people with disabilities still face daunting barriers that prevent them from accessing technology. This course will explore this problem in some depth, and participants will brainstorm possible solutions. This course is intended for all audiences. Everyone who designs or develops interfaces, and everyone who authors content, should be aware of how the interface or content they create affects individuals with disabilities. Attendees will learn current techniques and best practices for minimizing accessibility barriers, and will have an opportunity to contribute to the discussion regarding possible alternative solutions.
Investing in Product Development and Production Capabilities: The Crucial Linkage between Time-to-Market and Ramp-Up Time

Shorter product life cycles, more rapid product obsolescence, and the increasing intensity of global competition have driven firms to strive for a more rapid introduction of new products to market. We introduce a normative model which yields insights concerning several key new product development (NPD) decisions. First, we examine investment strategies related to the timing and duration for investments in both design and process capacity over a given planning horizon. Second, the model offers guidance regarding the optimal time-to-market and ramp-up time necessary to meet peak demand for the new product. The model thus provides both theoretical and managerial insights into the crucial linkage between time-to-market and ramp-up time decisions. Finally, the implications of several specific NPD investment mechanisms on these NPD metrics are explored.
The impact of IT-business strategic alignment on firm performance in a developing country setting: exploring moderating roles of environmental uncertainty and strategic orientation

Aligning information technology (IT) strategy with business strategy has been one of the top concerns of practitioners and scholars for decades. Although numerous studies have documented positive effects of IT-business alignment on organizational performance, our knowledge about this relationship is still limited due to the complexity of contingent factors. The extant literature is largely based on research in the context of developed countries and few studies have explicitly considered the effects of contextual factors such as market environment and competitive strategy on this relationship. In this study, we attempt to fill these gaps by testing the alignment–performance relationship in a developing country setting and investigating the moderating roles of environmental uncertainty and strategic orientation on the performance effects of strategic alignment using survey data collected in Turkey. Our analyses show that this positive effect is statistically significant in highly uncertain environments and varies across performance measures. Our results also show that the strategic alignment between IT and business has a significant impact on performance across all choices of strategic orientation – defender, prospector, or analyzer. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed and future research directions are explored.
Coloured by revolution: the political economy of autocratic stability in Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan contains all the ingredients that observers have long argued would lead to not only regime change but civil war: economic, political and religious repression. Despite the presence of these factors, the autocratic regime in Uzbekistan has remained remarkably stable in the face of revolutions in neighbouring countries. This article suggests three complementary reasons why the regime has remained firm as others crumbled around it, including relatively strong economic performance, state capacity to repress revolutionary aspirations and government co-optation of local institutions. Understanding autocratic stability requires that we move beyond the ‘agency-structure’ debates that pervade the literature on post-communist institutional development toward a more encompassing explanation that recognizes how institutional and structural factors both liberate and constrain individual choices.
Inactivating germ-line and somatic mutations in polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 12 in human colon cancers

Aberrant glycosylation is a pathological alteration that is widespread in colon cancer, and usually accompanies the onset and progression of the disease. To date, the molecular mechanisms underlying aberrant glycosylation remain largely unknown. In this study, we identify somatic and germ-line mutations in the gene encoding for polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 12 (GALNT12) in individuals with colon cancer. Biochemical analyses demonstrate that each of the 8 GALNT12 mutations identified inactivates the normal function of the GALNT enzyme in initiating mucin type O-linked protein glycosylation. Two of these inactivating GALNT12 mutations were identified as acquired somatic mutations in a set of 30 microsatellite stable colon tumors. Relative to background gene mutation rates, finding these somatic GALNT12 mutations was statistically significant at P < 0.001. Six additional inactivating GALNT12 mutations were detected as germ-line changes carried by patients with colon cancer; however, no inactivating variants were detected among cancer-free controls (P = 0.005). Notably, in 3 of the 6 individuals harboring inactivating germ-line GALNT12 mutations, both a colon cancer and a second independent epithelial cancer had developed. These findings suggest that genetic defects in the O-glycosylation pathway in part underlie aberrant glycosylation in colon cancers, and they contribute to the development of a subset of these malignancies.
Comparative fit indexes in structural models

Normed and nonnormed fit indexes are frequently used as adjuncts to chi-square statistics for evaluating the fit of a structural model. A drawback of existing indexes is that they estimate no known population parameters. A new coefficient is proposed to summarize the relative reduction in the noncentrality parameters of two nested models. Two estimators of the coefficient yield new normed (CFI) and nonnormed (FI) fit indexes. CFI avoids the underestimation of fit often noted in small samples for Bentler and Bonett's (1980) normed fit index (NFI). FI is a linear function of Bentler and Bonett's non-normed fit index (NNFI) that avoids the extreme underestimation and overestimation often found in NNFI. Asymptotically, CFI, FI, NFI, and a new index developed by Bollen are equivalent measures of comparative fit, whereas NNFI measures relative fit by comparing noncentrality per degree of freedom. All of the indexes are generalized to permit use of Wald and Lagrange multiplier statistics. An example illustrates the behavior of these indexes under conditions of correct specification and misspecification. The new fit indexes perform very well at all sample sizes.
Beyond a motor disorder: A prospective evaluation of sleep quality in cervical dystonia

Abstract Background Little is known about sleep disturbances in cervical dystonia (CD), particularly the relationship to motoric symptoms. It is critical to clarify these points given the impact on quality of life. Methods Primary CD patients receiving botulinum toxin (BoNT) injections and age- and gender- matched healthy controls were included. In both groups, sleep quality and daytime sleepiness were assessed. In CD, these assessments were repeated following BoNT injections. CD severity, mood symptoms, and health impact of CD were also assessed. Results 54 CD patients and 55 controls were included. Impaired sleep quality was more frequent in CD compared to controls ( t = 4.82, p F = 5.62, p = 0.020). Excessive daytime sleepiness was not significantly different between groups ( t = 1.67, p = 0.1). 48 patients received BoNT and returned for follow-up. There was no improvement in sleep quality ( t = 0.834, p = 0.41) or daytime somnolence ( t = 1.77, p = 0.083) despite improvement in CD severity ( t = 4.77, p t = 2.10, p = 0.04). Conclusion Sleep quality was more impaired in CD patients, compared to healthy subjects, and did not improve following BoNT treatment, despite a robust improvement in CD severity. This dichotomy suggests that sleep aberrations in CD require separate focus for effective treatment and cannot be viewed as secondary complications of the motor elements of this condition.
Formulation and evaluation of a hydrophobic composite plastic

Summary A hydrophobic co-polymer, helptafluorobutylmethacrylate co-para vinyl phenol, was compounded with ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and silanated quartz to produce a hydrophobic composite. The experimental composite had satisfactory working properties and had mechanical properties comparable to commercial composite but a higher modulus of resilience. The wear resistance was equal to or greater than the commercial composite depending on whether a two-body abrasion test or a track width versus normal load test was used for the evaluation. The thermal coefficient of expansion and water sorption values were somewhat higher than those of commercial composites.
Multiple small potential steps at a rotating disk electrode and applications

Abstract A method of multiple small potential steps was applied to obtain current–potential curves at a rotating disk electrode (RDE), which is more accurate than the classical potential scan RDE method. Several basic benefits of the new RDE method were summarized, including reducing charging current, removing adsorption current, identifying kinetic current and separating kinetic and diffusion reactions. The practical application of this new method is to study high surface area powder catalysts for fuel cell research. An example of using this new method was demonstrated by measuring the current–potential curves of catalytic oxygen reduction on heat-treated metalloporphyrins coated graphite rotating disk electrode. A successful kinetic analysis of catalytic oxygen reduction at the powder catalyst coated electrode was achieved.
Protein-protein interactions for cancer therapy.

The p53 tumor suppressor network is frequently disabled by mutation of its molecular node, the p53 gene 1–3. However, the p53 gene is wild type in ≈50% of human cancers. In the early 1990s, the p53–MDM2 autoregulatory feedback loop was discovered (reviewed in refs. 4 and 5) (Fig. 1). MDM2 (murine double minute 2; also termed HDM2 for its human equivalent) is an oncoprotein. In response to cellular stress, p53 transcriptionally transactivates the MDM2 gene, and then the MDM2 protein binds to and transports the p53 to the cytoplasm where MDM2, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, promotes p53 ubiquitination and degradation by the proteasome. Increased expression of MDM2 in human cancer involves four mechanisms: gene amplification, increased expression by activated p53, stabilization by an aberrantly spliced form of HMDX, or augmented translation (4, 6). In addition to these cancer-related mechanisms, functional single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) may modulate MDM2 expression. For example, increased p53-mediated expression of MDM2 due to an SNP at nucleotide 309 (SNP309) in the MDM2 gene occurs in the germ line of the population that can increase tumor progression (7). Because MDM2 is overexpressed in certain cancers (8) and may reduce the effectiveness of p53-dependent cancer therapies, the disruption of the p53–MDM2 autoregulatory feedback loop emerged as a molecular targeting strategy. Although the interactive binding sites on p53 and MDM2 were well defined by crystallography (9), the strategy of using drug-like small molecules to block such protein–protein interactions was not considered as attractive by both academia and the pharmaceutical industry as were inhibitors of key cancer-related enzymes such as kinases. Challenging this widely held dogma, Vassilev et al. (10) developed a class of small molecules, the nutlins, that occupy the p53-binding pocket in MDM2, prevent its binding to p53, and, thus, facilitate the p53 tumor suppressor network to inhibit human cancer cell lines in vitro and as xenografts in vivo. Vassilev and coworkers (11), in this issue of PNAS, extend these initial observations by demonstrating that the nutlin-3, a tetra-substituted imidazoline, induces apoptosis most robustly in cancer cell lines with increased MDM2 expression, and this response correlates with the in vivo antitumor efficacy of nutlin-3.
Anaphora in Basal Reader Selections: How Frequently Do They Occur?.

Basal reader excerpts were examined for the frequency with which various forms of anaphora occur. Two 1,000-word narrative and two 1,000-word expository excerpts were selected from the second-, fourth-, and sixth-grade levels of four popular basal reader series. This resulted in a total pool of 48,000 running words (12,000 for each publisher, 16,000 at each grade level, and 24,000 for each genre). A slightly modified version of the Baumann and Stevenson (1986a) taxonomy of anaphora was used to calculate frequencies per 1,000-word excerpt for various types of noun, verb, and clause substitutes. Inferential statistics indicated that (a) anaphora frequency did not differ as a function of grade level of text, (b) anaphora occurred more frequently in narrative than in expository text, (c) anaphora differed as a function of publisher, and (d) grade level, genre, and publisher did not interact in any way. Descriptive statistics revealed that (a) noun substitutes comprised the majority of all anaphora forms, (b) ...
Jacoumaric acid, a new triterpene ester from Jacaranda caucana

Abstract Jacoumaric acid isolated from Jacaranda caucana is shown to be 2α-hydroxy-3β- trans-p -coumaryloxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid.
On the regularity of viscosity solutions of fully nonlinear elliptic equations

Abstract In this expository paper, we examine an open question in the regularity theory of viscosity solutions of fully nonlinear uniformly elliptic equations. We focus our attention on the simplest equations of the form F ( v xx ) = 0 . We look at specific examples of nondegenerate second-order Isaacs equations, which come from the theory of differential games.
On the closure of characters and the zeros of entire functions

The problem to be studied in this paper concerns the closure properties on an interval of a set of characters {e~nx}~, where A = {2n}~ is a given set of real or complex numbers without finite point of accumulation. This problem is for obvious reasons depending on the distribution of zeros of certain entire functions of exponential type. The main problem of the paper is to determine the closure radius Q = Q(A)defined as the upper bound of numbers r such that (ei~x)~EA span the space L 2 ( r , r ) . The value of r does not change if a finite number of points are removed from or adjoined to A. Nor does Q(A) change if the metric in the previous definition is replaced by any other LV-metric, or by a variety of other topologies. I f A contains complex numbers we shall always assume (1)< 6~t ~ (0.1) 9 ~eA ~
Lateral dislocation of the elbow joint accompanied by a supracondylar/intercondylar humerus fracture in an adult

A 43-year-oldmale arrived in the emergency department after falling from a height of 20 ft onto a concrete surface. Identified injuries included: a right elbow dislocation associated with an open supracondylar/intercondylar humerus fracture (Fig. 1), an acetabular fracture, and fractures of both right and left distal radii. No other injuries were diagnosed. The patient was taken to the operating room for irrigation, debridement, and fracture stabilization.
Estimating age of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) with incisor teeth and morphometrics

We compared annuli counts from sets of canine, postcanine, and incisor teeth from 450 subsistence-harvested harbor seals, submitted blind to a laboratory. Postcanine and incisor ages were highly correlated with canine age estimates (r = 0.985 and r = 0.984, respectively), as were postcanine and incisor teeth (r = 0.984). Age estimates from teeth of 23 known-aged seals were highly correlated; canine teeth r = 0.987; postcanine r = 0.996; incisor r = 0.992, although age for all tooth-types was underestimated for a 29-yr-old seal. Incisor estimates were variable; comparison of age estimates from two incisors/individual (n = 42) was r = 0.992 if only high-quality age estimates were used and r = 0.705 if lower-quality estimates were used. Morphometrics and incisor-based ages of 164 live-captured seals were explored to derive a method of estimating ages of harbor seals when age estimates are needed immediately; 39 seals were of known age. Curvilinear length, mass, and axial girth were most predictive of age for females, and curvilinear length and mass for males (equations for morphometrically calculating ages are given). Morphometric-based age estimates were highly correlated with known ages (r = 0.896) and incisor-based estimates (r = 0.904) and discrepancies between known and morphometric-based ages were small for younger seals. Morphometric-based age estimates also accurately distinguished between young and mature individuals.
Leg recirculation in horizontal plane locomotion

A protocol prescribing leg motion during the swing phase is developed for the planar lateral leg spring model of locomotion. Inspired by experimental observations regarding insect leg function when running over rough terrain, the protocol prescribes the angular velocity of the swing-leg relative to the body in a feedforward manner, yielding natural variations in the leg touch-down angle in response to perturbations away from a periodic orbit. Analysis of the reduced order model reveals that periodic gait stability and robustness to external perturbations depends strongly upon the angular velocity of the leg at touch-down. While the leg angular velocity at touch-down provides control over gait stability and can be chosen to stabilize unstable gaits, the resulting basin of stability is much smaller than that observed for the original lateral leg spring model with a fixed leg touch-down angle. Comparisons to experimental leg angular velocity data for running cockroaches reveal that while the proposed protocol is qualitatively correct, smaller leg angular accelerations occur during the second half of the swing phase. Modifications made to the recirculation protocol to better match experimental observations yield large improvements in the basin of stability.
The Other Side of the Fence: Seeing Black and White in a Small Southern Town

In this ethnographic short story, the author wrestles with personal intricacies of being White in American society, posing contradictions of identity and community and problematizing the quandary of speaking openly about race and racism. The story of her romantic involvement with an African American male while growing up White in a small southern town provides a venue by which to portray race relations in the rural South during the 1960s. Returning to this small town to visit in 1993 sets the stage to reflect on this experience and to compare race relations in urban university communities during the 1990s. Readers are invited into the author's lived contradictory circumstances in the hopes that acknowledging and experiencing the experiences will help us figure out how to unthink and even unfeel processes that may perpetuate racism.
The nuestra Iowa project: creating a digital collection as a tool for history education

This poster describes the progress of a research project exploring how public digital publishing affects undergraduate research and learning. Participants are students in "Latina/o Immigration", an undergraduate-level history course at the University of Iowa. Students use a custom web interface to create a digital exhibit about the history of Latino/as in Iowa, using multimedia primary-source materials from the Iowa Women's Archives (IWA). Students also use the tool to learn the concepts related to metadata and digital libraries.
Endoscopic approach for benign tumor ablation of the forehead and brow

Resection of benign tumors of the forehead and brow raises aesthetic concerns. An endoscopic subperiosteal approach to benign bony and soft-tissue tumors in the supraorbital and frontotemporal regions permits extirpation of these masses without producing visible facial scars. Therefore, this technique was used for tumor resection in 4 patients. This procedure demonstrated magnified visualization of the masses, and safe access for excisional biopsy and bony contouring. In addition to more acceptable surgical scars, patients experienced no significant postoperative morbidity and a reduced incidence of swelling, discomfort, and scalp anesthesia. Therefore, we conclude that the endoscopic subperiosteal approach is a favorable alternative for resection of suitable tumors.
Theory of melting of submicron crystalline globules

A statistical mechanical model of the effect of surface on the thermophysical characteristics of melting of a submicron crystalline globule has been developed.
Frictionless Contact with BEM Using Quadratic Programming

The contact surface, with its accompanying load transfer, may well constitute the critical factor in a structural member. Thus it is essential to be able to perform contact stress analysis of a component accurately and efficiently. Considerable research effort is represented in the literature for contact analysis using finite elements. To obtain reliable results in the contact zone, it is necessary to provide a very fine discretization in that zone. Many distinct contact zones may exist, which may force the entire domain, and not just the contact zones, to be discretized finely. This generally leads to an excessive number of degrees of freedom (dof), resulting in an uneconomical, and sometimes intractable, analysis. The boundary element method (BEM), which deals with the discretization of only the boundary of the structure being analyzed, may be used to circumvent these difficulties and provide accurate, economical results. While a fine discretization of the contact zone is still unavoidable, the BEM lead...
Root starches other than those of white and sweet potato

Such starches are not produced in the United States but are imported. Tapioca, from cassava roots, constitutes about 86% of them and is particularly valued in the food and adhesive industries. Sago from the pith of palm trees and cycads is used primarily as an adhesive; arrowroot from a rhizome as a food starch.
The Association Between Apo E Genotype and Depressive Symptoms in Elderly African-American Subjects

In this study of 138 elderly subjects (112 without and 26 with dementia) obtained from a community sample of elderly African-American subjects, there were no significant differences in mean Geriatric Depression Scale scores by Apo E ɛ4 status for dementia or nondementia subjects. Three subjects received a diagnosis of major depressive disorder. None of these subjects were Apo E ɛ4-positive. These results do not support an association between depressive symptoms and Apo E allele status in this elderly African-American population.
Rescuing the in vitro function of a globin pseudogene promoter

The mouse globin gene loci are collections of active genes and inactive pseudogenes1–4. Not only are the globin pseudogenes α3 and α4 not expressed in globin-producing cells3, but RNA polymerase II does not transcribe these templates in vitro in conditions in which transcription of the active genes (for example, α1) is initiated accurately1,5. To localize the globin gene promoter and to determine whether the pseudogenes are promoter mutants whose function can be rescued by replacing mutant sequences with the analogous wild-type DNA, we have now analysed the transcriptional activity of several truncated and hybrid templates constructed from active α1 and inactive α4 genes. Our results indicate that a 44-base pair (bp) stretch of DNA (spanning nucleotides −55 to −11) is sufficient to direct RNA polymerase II to initiate transcription accurately in vitro. However, transcription efficiency is increased if the stretch of α1-globin DNA at the capping/initiation site (from −10 to +7) is included as part of the promoter segment. Analysis of hybrid promoters constructed from the active and pseudogenes, α1 and α4, demonstrated that replacement of the pseudogene's capping/initiation site with that of the active gene (nucleotides −9 to +7) restores the pseudogene promoter function in vitro. In addition, transcription studies with two other hybrid promoters indicate that the pseudogene's capping/initiation site is not simply a negative control element, but that RNA polymerase II may actually recognize and interact with a segment of DNA up to 60 nucleotides long.