cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Purification, partial characterization, and subcellular localization of a 38 kilodalton, calcium-regulated protein of Rhizobium fredii USDA208

Calcium is essential for the growth of rhizobia and the formation of nitrogen-fixing root-nodules on legumes, but its precise role in these processes remains unknown. We have found that Rhizobium fredii USDA208 accumulates a major 38 kDa protein when grown in media supplemented with 0.3-2 microM Cacl2. We have purified this protein and raised polyclonal antibodies against it. The protein initially is synthesized as a 40 kDa precursor which subsequently undergoes calcium-dependent processing to give rise to the mature polypeptide. Subcellular and immunocytochemical localization studies indicate that the 38 kDa protein accumulates preferentially in the periplasmic space. Its N-terminal sequence, AETIKIGVAGPMTG, shows significant homology to the N-termini of amino acid binding proteins from the periplasm, including leucine-, isoleucine-, and valine-specific binding proteins of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli and a leucine-specific binding protein of E. coli. The R. fredii protein does not, however, bind [3H]-leucine. The 38 kDa protein is encoded by the bacterial chromosome. It is absent in several rhizobia other than R. fredii, but antigenically related polypeptides are present in Escherichia coli and Erwinia carotovora subsp. carotovora.
Metal particle growth during glucose hydrogenation over Ru/SiO2 evaluated by X-ray absorption spectroscopy and electron microscopy.

Biorenewable resources such as carbohydrates are considered alternative feedstocks for oxygenated chemicals. This work investigates the stability of silica-supported Ru catalysts in the aqueous phase conversion of glucose to sorbitol. In situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy at the Ru K edge revealed that air-exposed silica-supported Ru was in an oxidized state but was subsequently reduced in aqueous solutions saturated with 40 bar H2 at 373 K. Furthermore, exposure to aqueous phase conditions resulted in the sintering of Ru particles on the silica surface. However, the presence of glucose in the aqueous phase stabilized the growth of the Ru particles. Batchwise hydrogenation of glucose at 373 K and 80 bar H2 over a Ru/SiO2 (2.67 wt %) catalyst is nearly 100% selective to sugar alcohol with an average turnover frequency of 0.21 ± 0.04 s-1. The hydrogenation reaction was not mass transfer limited according to the Madon−Boudart criterion.
Observed Anisotropy of Spectral Characteristics of Internal Waves Induced by Low-Frequency Currents

Abstract The isotropy of the internal wave field is investigated from short-time spectra of horizontal current measured in the deep sea. A significant anisotropy is detected at high frequencies during most periods of large mean current. The possible cause of this phenomenon is discussed. A theoretical investigation of Doppler distortion of the measurements shows that the Doppler effect cannot produce the observed anisotropy, which is more likely due to the interaction between internal waves and mean shear currents. Data collected during the MODE-0 experiment suggests this anisotropy over short periods of time is produced by the modulation of the internal wave field by the spatial gradients of low-frequency currents, in good agreement with the theory of Muller. The possible influence of critical layer absorption is briefly discussed.
Prostate Stem Cell Antigen Is Overexpressed in Prostate Cancer Metastases

Purpose: Prostate stem cell antigen (PSCA) is expressed by a majority of prostate cancers and is a promising therapeutic target. PSCA protein and mRNA expression was examined in prostate cancer bone, lymph node, and visceral metastases to assess the potential of PSCA as an immunotherapeutic target in advanced prostate cancer. Experimental Design: Immunohistochemical analysis of PSCA protein expression and quantitative mRNA expression analysis of PSCA was done on clinical specimens of prostate cancer bone, lymph node, and visceral metastases. PSCA protein and mRNA expression levels were quantified and compared between available matched pairs of bone and lymph node or visceral metastases. Results: Bone metastases stained with higher intensity of PSCA compared with lymph node or liver metastases in seven of eight (87.5%) matched pairs ( P = 0.035). PSCA mRNA expression was equal or greater than that of LAPC-9, a PSCA expressing xenograft, in 12 of 24 (50%) cases of prostate cancer metastases and was significantly correlated with PSCA protein expression (σ = 0.84, P = 0.0019). Overall, PSCA protein expression was detected in 41 of 47 (87.2%), four of six (66.7%), and two of three (66.7%) cases of bone, lymph node, and liver metastases, respectively. Mean PSCA staining intensity was significantly higher in prostate cancer bone metastases compared with lymph node metastases (2.0 ± 0.02 versus 0.83 ± 0.31, P = 0.014). Conclusions: Prostate cancer metastases express PSCA. However, greater PSCA staining intensity and level of PSCA mRNA expression was associated with bone metastases compared with lymph node metastases. This study suggests that PSCA is a promising tumor marker and potential therapeutic target for patients with metastatic prostate cancer.
Analysis of an Interface Crack for a Functionally Graded Strip Sandwiched between Two Homogeneous Layers of Finite Thickness

The interface crack problem for a composite layer that consists of a homogeneous substrate, coating and a non-homogeneous interface was formulated for singular integral equations with Cauchy kernels and integrated using the Lobatto-Chebyshev collocation technique. Mixed-mode Stress Intensity Factors and Strain Energy Release Rates were calculated. The Stress Intensity Factors were compared for accuracy with relevant results previously published. The parametric studies were conducted for the various thickness of each layer and for various non-homogeneity ratios. Particular application to the Zirconia thermal barrier on steel substrate is demonstrated.
Parental Messages on Eating Practices and Guideline Perceptions of College Students

Abstract Prior food habit research of children's eating habits is typically from the caregivers viewpoint. This study examined the nature of eating related parental messages as perceived by 340 undergraduate college students and the association of these messages with current food habits as defined by the Dietary Guidelines. Students in an Introductory Nutrition Class rated frequency of use of 30 food items and 18 parental food/eating messages they perceived growing up. Overall at least 50% of the students followed most Dietary Guidelines practices on a daily basis with the notable exception of whole grains and leafy greens. Factor analysis of Dietary Guidelines responses revealed two different factors related to fat; a vegetable-fruit factor distinct from the variety factor; sugar-salt food items in one factor; and fitness items emerging in the variety factor. Factor analysis of caregiver messages included threat/guilt, picky/fussy eater, food as health, and criticism about weight. Significant correlations indicated that use of threat/guilt messages were related to increased use of fat (r=.16, p=.003). Results suggest that Dietary Guideline categories may not be meaningful for the college age population. In addition, eating and food-related messages heard during childhood may affect eating habits later in life. The results have implications for those using the Dietary Guidelines to assess food intake among adolescents and young adults.
Validation of the Evidence-Based Practice Process Assessment Scale:

Objective: This report describes the reliability, validity, and sensitivity of a scale that assesses practitioners’ perceived familiarity with, attitudes of, and implementation of the evidence-based practice (EBP) process.Method: Social work practitioners and second-year master of social works (MSW) students (N = 511) were surveyed in four sites to assess the scale’s internal consistency reliability and criterion and factorial validity. Additional data on the scale’s criterion validity and sensitivity were gathered in pretests and posttests of 97 social workers participating in EBP continuing education workshops.Results: Findings support the scale’s internal consistency reliability, criterion and factorial validity, and sensitivity.Conclusion: These findings support the use of the scale in surveys or to evaluate efforts to educate students and practitioners in EBP.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF GOLGI COMPLEXES AND THEIR DEPENDENCE UPON THE NUCLEUS IN AMEBAE

The production of Golgi complexes was investigated in Amoeba proteus by introducing a nucleus into cells that had been enucleated for 5 days. Golgi complexes were not detected in 5 day enucleates, nor were they observed in amebae fixed 15 min after renucleation. Samples taken at longer intervals after the introduction of a nucleus exhibited an increase in the size and abundance of Golgi complexes. Small curved smooth cisternae, some of which were aligned in parallel to form small Golgi complexes, were observed 30 min after the operation. Aggregations of small Golgi complexes increased in number in amebae fixed 1 to 6 hr after renucleation. Golgi complexes of normal size were present 6 hr after the operation and became more abundant in samples fixed 12 hr, and 1, 2, and 3 days after renucleation. The possible participation of the granular endoplasmic reticulum in the development of Golgi complexes was suggested by two observations. First, the Golgi complexes in renucleates contained a dense material similar to the content of the endoplasmic reticulum in enucleates and early renucleates. Second, examples of continuity between the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi cisternae were present in renucleates. The possibility that Golgi complexes can be produced in the absence of preexisting Golgi complexes is discussed.
Corticosteroids for Asthma

To the Editors: We were interested to read in the recent report by Stein and Cole (1) that methylprednisolone was not found to be beneficial in the emergency treatment of acute asthma. The study's ...
Gender, Race, and Descriptive Representation in the United States: Findings from the Gender and Multicultural Leadership Project

SUMMARY This research draws on the nation's first comprehensive database of elected leadership of color to provide a multi-cultural, multi-office, and multi-state look at the contours and context of descriptive representation by race and gender and with women of color at the center of analysis. We find that key to the persistent trend of growth in elective office holding of the nation's Black, Latino, and Asian American communities in recent decades is the expanding size of women of color elected officials. Compared to whites, gender gaps in descriptive representation are smaller among nonwhite groups. Although the proportion of nonwhite population may impact the degree of electoral success, we find parity ratios to vary by race, gender, level of office, and state. For example, states that have the highest share of the black population did not produce the highest level of representation of Black women. Finally, we find that gender differences within each race are generally significant, but far greater rac...
An immunogenetic basis for the high prevalence of urogenital cancer in a free-ranging population of California sea lions (Zalophus californianus)

In response to an unprecedented prevalence of cancer recently identified in free-ranging populations of California sea lions [(CSL) (Zalophus californianus], we examined the role of the immunologically important major histocompatibility (MHC) genes in this disease epidemic. Associations between MHC genes and cancer have been well established in humans, but have never before been investigated in wildlife. Using a previously developed technique employing sequence-specific primer-based PCR with intercalating dye technology, MHC genotypes were examined from 27 cancer-positive and 22 cancer-negative CSL stranded along the California coastline. Analyses elucidated an underlying immunogenetic component to the high prevalence of urogenital cancer in sea lions. Furthermore, these results demonstrate the functional relevance of CSL class II MHC by revealing a non-random nature of cancer susceptibility associated with the presence of specific genes.
Claiming the Second World War and Its Lost Generation: Unsere Mütter, unsere Väter and the Politics of Emotion

When the ZDF miniseries Unsere Mutter, unsere Vater aired in March 2013, promoters and critics heralded it as the German television event of the year. Beginning in 1941, before the invasion of the Soviet Union, the miniseries relays the story of five friends, all in their early twenties – two Wehrmacht soldiers (Wilhelm and Friedhelm), one singer (Greta), one newly charged front nurse (Charlotte), and one Jew (Viktor) – who promise on the eve of different deployments to reunite in Berlin when the war is over, “bis Weihnachten.” In the course of three instalments and 270 minutes, the miniseries graphically depicts the horrors of the eastern front, a conquest that was neither swift nor successful, and the emotional and moral devastation of its protagonists. The miniseries concludes in 1945 with the promised reunion, albeit under circumstances far from those once imagined. Its promotional campaign credits the film with introducing a new phase in processing the collective trauma Germans incurred through their experiences in the Second World War: namely, by bringing to life the war generation, full of youth, hopes, and dreams, it facilitates an intergenerational dialogue to break the “silence” on family involvement in war crimes and National Socialism and on the trauma incurred by soldiers (Hempel, “Fernsehereignis”; on cultural trauma, see Alexander; on collective silence, see Giesen; Heimannsberg and Schmidt). Drawing on average more than seven million viewers per episode, the media event clearly struck a nerve in the German psyche, begging the question to what extent hype and fact indeed converge. While the Second World War has been depicted in German film and television throughout the decades, its representation has reflected evolving stages of working through the German past, the different identity politics of East and West Germany, and shifting generational perspectives borne out through time (see Cooke and Silberman). Within this chronology, Unsere Mutter, unsere Vater appears at a point when cultural representations of non-Jewish German suffering in the Second World War are flooding the market (Cohen-Pfister and WienroederSkinner; Taberner and Berger; Schmitz). As the last members of the war generation die, these representations not only furnish visual or literary entertainment but also provide a social platform for today’s generations of Germans to discuss publicly their nation’s past. The memory debates they fuel reflect tensions between transnational and national memory narratives and the political dimensions of who and what is included in the construction of the national imaginary.
The Threat-Strategy Interview

Operators in dynamic work environments use strategies to manage threats in order to achieve task goals. We introduce a structured interview method, the Threat-Strategy Interview (TSI), and an accompanying qualitative analysis to induce operator-level threats, strategies, and the cues that give rise to them. The TSI can be used to elicit knowledge from operators who are on the front line of managing threats to provide an understanding of strategic thinking, which in turn can be applied toward a variety of problems.
Arthroscopic stabilization of acromioclavicular joint dislocation using the AC graftrope system.

Background Separation of the acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) is a common orthopaedic injury among athletes involved in contact sports and victims of motor vehicle accidents, particularly motorcycle crashes. High-grade ACJ disruptions (type IV-VI) are managed surgically through a variety of procedures. These range from simple plate and screw fixation to more complex procedures involving ligament repair, transfer, and reconstruction. Methods This paper describes a new technique utilizing a direct subacromial arthroscopic approach to performing a reconstruction of the ruptured coracoclavicular ligaments. The appropriately over-engineered fixation device is made up of a subcoracoid button secured via nonabsorbable sutures to a special clavicular washer and augmented by a centrally placed soft tissue graft. Results To date, the senior author has performed 10 cases on both acute and chronic high-grade ACJ separations. All patients greater than 6 months out from surgery have returned to their normal pre-injury level of activity. No complications (infection, hardware, or graft failure) have been documented, and all have maintained the interoperative reduction of the acromioclavicular joint and coracoclavicular space. Conclusion The arthroscopic reconstruction of the AC separation is a low-morbidity, safe, and reproducible operation that provides adequate fixation and stability combined with the use of a soft tissue graft to promote sound biologic healing.
Context effects and retrieval in recognition memory

The assumption that recognition memory tasks involve no retrieval processes has recently been questioned by the finding of context effects in recognition. The typical finding is that changing the word(s) accompanying the to-be-remembered word from study to test impairs performance as compared to a condition in which the context remains intact. The present experiment was designed to test predictions derived from a model of recognition memory that assumes no retrieval processes ( Bernbach, 1967 ). The data bore out predictions of decreasing d ′ performance with increasing lag and of a constant ratio of same to different context d 's across all values of lag. It is argued that context effects do not necessarily imply retrieval processes in recognition.
Influence of the charge exchange process on the (d, p) stripping cross sections☆

Abstract The effect of the charge exchange (p, n) scattering in the proton channel is explicitly included in a DWBA expression for the (d, p) stripping reaction. The expression obtained predicts anomalies in the energy dependence of the cross section.
Marital satisfaction in couples with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective To understand correlates of marital satisfaction in persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and their spouses. Methods In a cross-sectional survey, 79 persons with RA and 78 spouses completed the Kansas Marital Satisfaction Scale, the revised Ways of Coping Questionnaire scales, and the Health Assessment Questionnaire. A series of linear regression analyses were then performed to investigate correlates of marital satisfaction for patients and spouses. Results Seventy-six percent of patients were women. Mean patient age was 56.5 years (± 12.5 years), number of years married was 30.7 (± 13.5), and duration of RA was 14.2 years (± 9.0 years). Demographic features of spouses resembled those of patients. Patients and spouses were generally satisfied with their marriages. Linear regression analyses showed that lower marital satisfaction in patients was associated with higher education level (P < 0.01), patient's greater use of escape into fantasy (P < 0.01), patient's greater use of finding blame (P < 0.05), and spouse's higher use of escape into fantasy (P < 0.001). Spouses less satisfied with their marriages were more likely to use passive acceptance (P < 0.05) and less likely to find blame (P < 0.05). Female spouses were less likely to be satisfied in their marriages (P < 0.01) than male spouses. Conclusions This study indicates that certain passive coping styles are associated with lower marital satisfaction in persons with RA and their spouses. More highly educated patients and female spouses are also less satisfied in their marriages. These cross-sectional correlations should not be regarded as causal and should be examined further in longitudinal studies.
Objective Evaluation of Surface Microreplication by Dental Impression Materials

Twenty-two materials, including 19 dental impression elastomers, were compared in their ability to replicate microscopic detail. Some polysulfide, silicone, and polyether materials performed well. Curiously, microscopic replication ability generally correlated inversely with that expected from the nominal consistency. The test method developed appears to be a suitable microreplication evaluation standard.
Recent SEC prosecution and insider trading on forthcoming merger announcements

Abstract While trading on nonpublic information is illegal, the enforcement of this law has been elusive, particularly in the area of trading in advance of merger announcements. We examine the impact of insider trading on daily stock price changes for firms identified by the SEC in the Antoniu-Newman insider trading case. Using residual analysis, the abnormal returns occuring prior to the announcement are calculated and compared with a sample of 188 typical merger candidates not identified in the Antoniu-Newman case to determine whether or not there was an unusually large market reaction prior to the forthcoming merger announcement on the subset of merger candidates involved in the court procedure.
Absolute measurement of the viscosity of classical and quantum fluids by rotating-cylinder viscometers

We discuss the use of rotating-cylinder viscometers to determine absolute shear viscosities of classical fluids and of helium II in the context of past and current knowledge of the stability and flow of these fluids between concentric cylinders. We identify a problem in measuring the absolute viscosity when the inner cylinder is rotating and the outer cylinder is at rest. We conclude by discussing the design of viscometers for absolute viscosity measurements in helium I and helium II.
Lysosomal pool of free-amino acids

Abstract Free (non-protein) amino acids were measured in whole rat liver and in unmodified lysosomes which were prepared from rat liver by the technique of free-flow electrophoresis. Significant intralysosomal pools of threonine, serine, valine, cystine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, tyrosine, phenylalanine, lysine and arginine were found. No efflux occurred from rat liver lysosomes in isotonic buffered sucrose at 0°C, but all amino acids showed various degrees of efflux at 20 0 and 37 0 .
Fluorine-18-labeled fluoromisonidazole positron emission and computed tomography-guided intensity-modulated radiotherapy for head and neck cancer: a feasibility study.

Purpose Hypoxia renders tumor cells radioresistant, limiting locoregional control from radiotherapy (RT). Intensity-modulated RT (IMRT) allows for targeting of the gross tumor volume (GTV) and can potentially deliver a greater dose to hypoxic subvolumes (GTV h ) while sparing normal tissues. A Monte Carlo model has shown that boosting the GTV h increases the tumor control probability. This study examined the feasibility of fluorine-18–labeled fluoromisonidazole positron emission tomography/computed tomography ( 18 F-FMISO PET/CT)–guided IMRT with the goal of maximally escalating the dose to radioresistant hypoxic zones in a cohort of head and neck cancer (HNC) patients. Methods and Materials 18 F-FMISO was administered intravenously for PET imaging. The CT simulation, fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT, and 18 F-FMISO PET/CT scans were co-registered using the same immobilization methods. The tumor boundaries were defined by clinical examination and available imaging studies, including fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT. Regions of elevated 18 F-FMISO uptake within the fluorodeoxyglucose PET/CT GTV were targeted for an IMRT boost. Additional targets and/or normal structures were contoured or transferred to treatment planning to generate 18 F-FMISO PET/CT-guided IMRT plans. Results The heterogeneous distribution of 18 F-FMISO within the GTV demonstrated variable levels of hypoxia within the tumor. Plans directed at performing 18 F-FMISO PET/CT–guided IMRT for 10 HNC patients achieved 84 Gy to the GTV h and 70 Gy to the GTV, without exceeding the normal tissue tolerance. We also attempted to deliver 105 Gy to the GTV h for 2 patients and were successful in 1, with normal tissue sparing. Conclusion It was feasible to dose escalate the GTV h to 84 Gy in all 10 patients and in 1 patient to 105 Gy without exceeding the normal tissue tolerance. This information has provided important data for subsequent hypoxia-guided IMRT trials with the goal of further improving locoregional control in HNC patients.
Use and limitations of serum total and lipid-bound sialic acid concentrations as markers for colorectal cancer

Concentrations of total serum N-acetyl-neuraminic acid (NANA) by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and lipid-bound sialic acid (LSA) by resorcinol procedure were evaluated and compared to carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) as markers for colorectal carcinoma. Elevated concentrations of NANA were found in 32% of patients with nonmalignant disorders, 28% of patients with localized cancer, and 87% of patients with metastatic cancer. All three markers correlated with the extent of metastasis of colorectal carcinoma. Strong correlation was found between NANA and LSA measurements, whereas measurement of the sialic acid markers provide information that can not be derived from the measurement of CEA. NANA and LSA show promise as supplemental markers for staging and monitoring colorectal cancer, but they are neither sensitive nor specific enough for cancer screening.
Alternatives for Validating Interest Inventories Against Group Membership Criteria.

Interest inventories are frequently validated against group membership criteria. Two approaches are considered, only one of which is commonly used. The choice between the two approaches depends on the application being validated. The first and most common approach assumes that interest inventories are to be used in predicting which occupation coun selees will enter or prefer. The second assumes that interest inventories are to be used in suggesting oc cupations for counselees to consider on the basis of compatibility of interests. Validation of these two uses of interest inventories requires different treat ment of criterion group base rates. As illustrated by data drawn from a published study, the two ap proaches to validation can produce substantial dif ferences in criterion group hit rates. Such differ ences may be found in any study validating group membership predictions if criterion group sizes vary greatly.
An image-based technique to assess the perceptual quality of clinical chest radiographs

Purpose: Current clinical image quality assessment techniques mainly analyze image quality for the imaging system in terms of factors such as the capture system modulation transfer function, noise power spectrum, detective quantum efficiency, and the exposure technique. While these elements form the basic underlying components of image quality, when assessing a clinical image, radiologists seldom refer to these factors, but rather examine several specific regions of the displayed patient images, further impacted by a particular image processing method applied, to see whether the image is suitable for diagnosis. In this paper, the authors developed a novel strategy to simulate radiologists' perceptual evaluation process on actual clinical chest images. Methods: Ten regional based perceptual attributes of chest radiographs were determined through an observer study. Those included lung grey level, lung detail, lung noise, rib-lung contrast, rib sharpness, mediastinum detail, mediastinum noise, mediastinum alignment, subdiaphragm-lung contrast, and subdiaphragm area. Each attribute was characterized in terms of a physical quantity measured from the image algorithmically using an automated process. A pilot observer study was performed on 333 digital chest radiographs, which included 179 PA images with 10:1 ratio grids (set 1) and 154 AP images without grids (set 2), to ascertain the correlationmore » between image perceptual attributes and physical quantitative measurements. To determine the acceptable range of each perceptual attribute, a preliminary quality consistency range was defined based on the preferred 80% of images in set 1. Mean value difference ({mu}{sub 1}-{mu}{sub 2}) and variance ratio ({sigma}{sub 1}{sup 2}/{sigma}{sub 2}{sup 2}) were investigated to further quantify the differences between the selected two image sets. Results: The pilot observer study demonstrated that our regional based physical quantity metrics of chest radiographs correlated very well with their corresponding perceptual attributes. The distribution comparisons, mean value difference estimations, and variance ratio estimations of each physical quantity between sets of images from two different techniques matched our expectation that the image quality of set 1 should be better than that of set 2. Conclusions: The measured physical quantities provide a robust reflection of perceptual image quality in clinical images. The methodology can be readily applied for automated evaluation of perceptual image quality in clinical chest radiographs.« less
Multiple protein: protein interactions between the snRNP common core proteins.

Abstract The snRNP core proteins (B, D3, D2, D1, E, F, and G) assemble with snRNA and form the snRNP core particle with a suggested stoichiometry of B 2 [D1, D2(E, F, G) 2 ]D3. The newly synthesized snRNP core proteins are stored in the cytoplasm in three RNA-free complexes of (1) B at 2S–6S; (2) [D1, D2(E, F, G) 2 ] at 6S; and (3) (B, D3, and 69 kDa) at 20S. The snRNP proteins assemble stepwise with snRNAs that appear transiently in the cytoplasm before returning to the nucleus as mature snRNP particles. In this report, two approaches are used to investigate the protein:protein interactions between the snRNP proteins. First, the 6S and 20S cytoplasmic complexes chromatographed as intact structures, supporting their identifications as discrete complexes. Second, the cDNAs for the proteins were used to test all pair-wise interactions between the seven major core proteins using the yeast two-hybrid system. The two-hybrid system identified four strong reciprocal interactions, one weak reciprocal interaction, five one-way interactions, and one homotypic interaction. The strongest interactions were between proteins within the 6S particle. Other interactions were between proteins in the 6S and 20S particles or within the 20S particle itself. These interactions are likely to occur within the cytoplasmic snRNP core protein complexes and the mature snRNP particle.
Circulating Immunoreactive Endothelin-1 in Children with Pulmonary Hypertension: Association with Acute Hypoxic Pulmonary Vasoreactivity

To determine whether circulating levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor peptide, are elevated in children with pulmonary hypertension and related to the degree of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, we measured arterial and mixed venous plasma concentrations of immunoreactive ET-1 (irET-1) in 13 children during cardiac catheterization. Clinical diagnoses in seven children with pulmonary hypertension (PH) included chronic lung disease (four children), congenital heart disease after surgical repair (two children), and primary ("reactive") pulmonary hypertension (one child). Blood samples were simultaneously obtained from pulmonary artery (venous) and systemic arterial sites during baseline conditions. Plasma irET-1 was elevated in children with PH (12.3 +/- 3.4 versus 3.6 +/- 0.7 pg/ml, PH versus non-PH; p < 0.01). Arterial/venous irET-1 ratios in the PH group (1.1 +/- 0.2) were not different from those in the non-PH group. During acute hypoxia, mean Ppa increased from 27 +/- 3 to 40 +/- 5 mm Hg. Basal irET-1 correlated strongly with the degree of elevation of mean Ppa during acute hypoxia (r = 0.69; p < 0.02). We conclude that irET-1 levels are often elevated in children with PH, and they are strongly correlated with pulmonary vasoreactivity during acute hypoxia. Whether elevated irET-1 levels contribute directly to or are markers of altered pulmonary vascular tone and reactivity in children with PH remains speculative.
Sequential Intraluminal Ultrasound Evaluation of Balloon Angioplasty of an Iliac Artery Lesion

This report describes intravascular ultrasound imaging of a localized 81% stenosis in the left common iliac artery of a 52-year-old woman. The lesion was dilated using an 8 mm balloon and was imaged pre- and post-dilatation using arteriography and a 5F, 30 Mhz intravascular ultrasound catheter. The same site was imaged again intraoperatively at two months following the initial procedure using an 8F, 20 Mhz intravascular ultrasound catheter when the patient had a femoropopliteal bypass for continuing ischemia. Intravascular ultrasound imaging allowed accurate, sequential, on-line calculation of the cross-sectional area and volume of the lesion both, acutely and following healing of the site. The morphology of the fractured arterial plaque was clearly defined, demonstrating distribution of calcification, and intraluminal flaps not apparent on arteriography. The case demonstrates the unique potential of intravascular ultrasound in assessing the immediate effect of interventions and evaluating the long-term healing.
Thermo-mechanical characterization of copper through-wafer interconnects

Copper through wafer interconnects (TWIs) have become a viable solution to providing interconnectivity between stacked die. In a world where minimizing chip real estate while increasing functionality is the goal for further miniaturization of electronics, TWIs hold a key role as new packaging schemes become critical for overall higher density. Little is known, however, about the impacts of mismatched coefficients of thermal expansion (CTEs) inherent to the materials used in their construction. CTE differences, if left unresolved, can pose reliability issues during TWI operation. This research focuses on providing insight into the stress levels experienced by TWI materials through finite element analysis to gain a better understanding of the possible failure mechanisms associated with the CTE differences.
The shrink-free ceramic crown.

Abstract A process for the fabrication of a full crown that uses a nonshrink alumina ceramic substrate and reinforced aluminous porcelain veneer has been described. The technique used is direct and is capable of producing precise fitting ceramic restorations.
Evolution of Stereotactic Radiosurgery

Four photon-energy radiosurgery devices have been competitive in the market due to their uniqueness and specific advantages over the other systems (see Chap. 2). In the near future, these systems will compete with the evolution of non-photon delivery systems, such as proton beam systems. Inexpensive proton beam systems have been on the radar for many years. Now, one such device still five times more expensive than the photon delivery systems is making its way into the market and may be successful due to potentially better dose distributions (Kjellberg et al. 1983). However, the intrinsic advantage of the proton beam with its Bragg peak delivery has yet to match the current developments of the photon beam exploitations, such as multiple beams (200+ gamma beams), continuous beam delivery with shaping and modulation (LINACs), 150+ non-isocentric nodes of the Cyberknife® (Accuray Inc, Sunnyvale, CA), or the tomographic capabilities of Tomotherapy® (TomoTherapy, Madison, WI). Systems combining all the predicates of these four systems are also likely to gain market share. An example is the VERO™ (Brainlab AG, Feldkirchen, Germany), already in use in Europe.
Individual and Collective Interorganizational Guanxi: The Dynamics of Guanxi and Knowledge Sharing

The significance of interorganizational relationship is discussed in multiple streams of literature. However, many studies assume that interorganizational relationship is a uni-level construct. This paper suggests that interorganizational guanxi presents at both the individual and collective levels, and discusses how the dynamics of interorganizational guanxi influences knowledge sharing between alliances. The paper reinforces the concept of collective level interorganizational guanxi, reveals the link between individual level and collective level guanxi, and distinguishes the two levels of guanxi by analyzing their impacts on knowledge sharing between organizations. A theoretical model is developed and calls for further investigation through empirical research.
Damping shaft Torsional Oscillations with Application to High Speed Reclosure

A method of damping torsional oscillations in large steam turbine generators is presented. The method utilizes a small AC-DC converter connected to the high voltage side of the generator step up transformer. The DC side of the converter is connected to a large inductor which is used to store energy. By modulating the inductor energy appropriately, damping can be added to the torsional modes of a turbo-generator. It is shown that this added damping significantly reduces the shaft torques occurring as a result of unsuccessful high speed reclosure thus reducing the possibility of shaft damage
On the consequences of strong stable stratification at the top of Earth's outer core

The consequences of strong stable stratification at the top of the earth's fluid outer core are considered, concentrating on the generation of the geomagnetic secular variation. It is assumed that the core near the core-mantle boundary is both strongly stably stratified and free of Lorentz forces: it is found that this set of assumptions severely limits the class of possible motions, none of which is compatible with the geomagnetic secular variation. Relaxing either assumption is adequate: tangentially geostrophic flows are consistent with the secular variation if the assumption that the core is strongly stably stratified is relaxed (while retaining the assumption that Lorentz forces are negligible); purely toroidal flows may explain the secular variation if Lorentz forces are included.
On maximum lifetime routing in Wireless Sensor Networks

Lifetime maximization is an important optimization problem specific to Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) since they operate with limited energy resources which are therefore eventually depleted. This paper considers first the problem of routing in a WSN with the objective of lifetime maximization based on a simple model for battery dynamics. Specifically, we discuss the equivalence of two different formulations and solutions in the existing literature. We then revisit a related problem, the optimal allocation of a total energy amount over all nodes so as to maximize network lifetime. We prove that this is equivalent to a shortest path problem on a weighted graph and can therefore be efficiently solved. Finally, we present a more realistic model for battery dynamics, and numerically solve the lifetime maximization problem. The empirical results obtained indicate that, while a static routing policy is not expected to be optimal, such a policy is a good approximation of the optimal dynamic routing policy.
Effects of Surface Roughness on Laminar Separation Bubble over a Wing at a Low-Reynolds Number

Laminar separation bubbles (LSBs) are often found over the wing of micro air vehicles (MAV) at low Reynolds numbers, and strongly influence the lift, drag and other aerodynamic performance parameters. A numerical investigation of a passive LSB control techniques by using roughness bumps on a low-Reynolds number wing is conducted in this paper. A high-order spectral difference unstructured grid Navier-Stokes solver is employed in the simulations. The study of surface roughness on laminar separation and turbulent transition can provide insights into the design of future passive control devices on wings. The transitional flow with LSB past a SD7003 rectangular wing with Reynolds number of 60,000 is used as the basic (uncontrolled) case. In the controlled cases, roughness bumps are strategically located near the leading edge of the wing for the purpose of improving aerodynamic performance. The location, bump size, the number of bumps and the angle-ofattacke (AoA) are varied to study the effects. The pressure drag forces in the controlled cases are found to be reduced when the LSB are diminished or avoided, resulting in much improved lift over drag ratio
Intimacy and theatricality: Mike Leigh’s topsy-turvy

T HIS THOUGHTFUL, RAVISHING period film treats us to a work of serious historical scholarship and theoretical speculation on narrative and history, disguised as the old-fashioned plot about the difficulties leading up to a famous theatrical production. Taking as its focus the well-chosen moment in the creative conflict between Gilbert and Sullivan that was eventually resolved in their successful 1885 production of The Mikado , Topsy-Turvy seems throughout its stately first half to be leading us chronologically toward that resolution as if toward its own fulfillment. But meanwhile, in the film’s antic second half, a serious play sets in for the duration, and that traditional momentum is disrupted. By the time of the film’s complex closure — which is both bittersweet and deliberately, astutely, provocatively unsettling — resolution has broken down into multiple divisions once again: between the characteristically divergent responses of Gilbert and Sullivan to their mutual success; between men and women on and off the stage; between theatrical illusion and life behind the scenes. In the fragments from the film’s production of The Mikado — one, in particular, at the very end of the film — we rest for a while in the humor and beauty of its otherworldly charm, but with the uneasy sense of how tenuous, how arduously produced this beauty must be. This play-within-a-film is, among its many other virtues, the best present-day representation of a Gilbert and Sullivan production that I have ever seen.
BLAST: efficient computation of nonlinear delay sensitivities in electronic and biological networks using barycentric Lagrange enabled transient adjoint analysis

Transient waveform sensitivities are useful in optimization and also provide direct insight into system metrics such as delay. We present a novel method for finding parametric waveform sensitivities that improves upon current transient adjoint methods, which suffer from quadratic complexity, by applying barycentric Lagrange interpolation to reduce computation to near linear in the time-interval of interest. We apply our technique to find sensitivities of a "nonlinear" Elmore-delay like metric in digital logic and biochemical pathway examples. Our technique achieves order-of-magnitude speedups over traditional adjoint and direct sensitivity computation.
OTA Congressional Fellowship

The Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) is seeking qualified candidates from academia, industry, and government for its Congresional Fellowship Program for 1984–1985. The program, similar to AGU's Congressional Fellowship Program, provides an opportunity for individuals who have demonstrated outstanding ability to gain a better understanding of science and technology issues facing Congress and the ways in which Congress establishes national policy related to these issues. OTA will select up to six fellows for a 1-year program, to begin September 1984 on Capitol Hill. The fellowship is open to men and women of all disciplines who have demonstrated exceptional competency in the physical or biological sciences, engineering, law, economics, environmental and social sciences, or public policy. Candidates must have completed research and training at the doctoral level or have equivalent experience, as judged by the OTA selection committee. Salaries for successful candidates will range from $25,000 to $41,000 per year, based on the fellow's current salary and/or training and experience.
Pharmacological Inhibition of Endotoxin Responses Is Achieved by Targeting the TLR4 Coreceptor, MD-2

The detection of Gram-negative LPS depends upon the proper function of the TLR4-MD-2 receptor complex in immune cells. TLR4 is the signal transduction component of the LPS receptor, whereas MD-2 is the endotoxin-binding unit. MD-2 appears to activate TLR4 when bound to TLR4 and ligated by LPS. Only the monomeric form of MD-2 was found to bind LPS and only monomeric MD-2 interacts with TLR4. Monomeric MD-2 binds TLR4 with an apparent Kd of 12 nM; this binding avidity was unaltered in the presence of endotoxin. E5564, an LPS antagonist, appears to inhibit cellular activation by competitively preventing the binding of LPS to MD-2. Depletion of endogenous soluble MD-2 from human serum, with an immobilized TLR4 fusion protein, abrogated TLR4-mediated LPS responses. By determining the concentration of added-back MD-2 that restored normal LPS responsiveness, the concentration of MD-2 was estimated to be approximately 50 nM. Similarly, purified TLR4-Fc fusion protein, when added to the supernatants of TLR4-expressing cells in culture, inhibited the interaction of MD-2 with TLR4, thus preventing LPS stimulation. The ability to inhibit the effects of LPS as a result of the binding of TLR4-Fc or E5564 to MD-2 highlights MD-2 as the logical target for drug therapies designed to pharmacologically intervene against endotoxin-induced disease.
Affirmative Action - 'Racial Division or Racial Unification' in a Post-Racial World in Higher Education

The paper provides an assessment of Affirmative Action over the past twenty five years. The issue of affirmative action in higher education has been given some unique interpretations by the United States Supreme Court. The focal point of the paper is the backdrop of affirmative action as adjudicated in Gratz v. Bollinger (2003), Grutter v. Bollinger (2003), and Fisher v. University of Texas (2013). The Supreme Court in these three cases present an "ambivalent" and arguably conflicting view of race-conscious affirmative action programs and polices in higher education. It has been suggested that the confusion left by the adjudicatory decision in these cases continue to cloud the perspective of whether affirmative action in higher education presents a racial divide or provides the framework for racial unification in higher education in a "Post-Racial" world. The question resonates following the decisions of Gratz, Grutter, and Fisher, as to whether what the Supreme Court gave in earlier years with one hand, has now in later years been taken away with the other hand.
An image decomposition model using the total variation and the infinity Laplacian

This paper is devoted to a recent topic in image analysis: the decomposition of an image into a cartoon or geometric part, and an oscillatory or texture part. Here, we propose a practical solution to the (BV,G) model proposed by Y. Meyer. We impose that the cartoon is a function of bounded variation, while the texture is represented as the Laplacian of some function whose gradient belongs to L (infinity) . The problem thus becomes related with the absolutely minimizing Lipschitz extensions and the infinity Laplacian. Experimental results for image denoising and cartoon + texture separation, together with details of the algorithm, are also presented.
The effect of aflatoxin on complement activity in broiler chickens.

Abstract Groups of broiler chickens were fed rations containing .625, 1.25, or 2.5 μg total aflatoxin/g of feed from one day to 42 days of age. Treatment groups were segregated according to sex and control groups were maintained. The chickens were bled at 14-day intervals, and serum was collected for assay of total complement (C) activity using a radial hemolytic procedure. No significant differences were found in C titers between males and females of the same age group. For the sexes combined, mean C titers of chickens fed aflatoxin were compared to mean titers of controls. For each age group, significant differences in C titers existed only between the control group and those chickens fed 2.5 μg/g aflatoxin. Complement is a major component of the humoral immune response and this study adds to the evidence that aflatoxin can be immunosuppressive to chickens.