cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cholesterol-Phospholipid Interactions: New Insights from Surface X-Ray Scattering Data

In cell membranes, cholesterol-enriched domains are presumably involved in a wide variety of cellular processes. Although a number of conceptual models exist, there is no consensus on the molecular mechanism of cholesterol-phospholipid interactions. Here we report on a systematic study of cholesterol-phospholipid interactions in lipid monolayers using Langmuir isotherms, epifluorescence microscopy, synchrotron X-ray reflectivity (XR), and grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXD) techniques. Lipid monolayers consisted of cholesterol-DPPC mixtures with various cholesterol mole fractions (χCHOL from 0 to 1). XR results demonstrate that cholesterol tends to stay in the acyl chains region of DPPC with its hydroxyl group in a proximity to carbonyl groups of the phospholipid. Increase in cholesterol content promotes ordering of the phospholipid acyl chains. Moreover, X-ray and Langmuir isotherm data used in a complimentary manner indicate that in cholesterol-lipid mixture cholesterol molecule craves to grab an additional 10 A2 of molecular area from the acyl chains directly above the phospholipid headgroups. These results provide a reasonable explanation for the well documented “condensing effect” of cholesterol in lipid mixtures. At high cholesterol concentrations the phospholipid headgroups tilt significantly, but even then appear to be incapable of providing an additional 10 A2 required to enclose the cholesterol molecules. Interestingly, the critical cholesterol concentration at which phospholipids still shield cholesterol molecules is the same as that at which the phase transition from α- to β-region observed with the epifluorescence microscopy. GIXD data yield DPPC crystalline order only in the mixtures with χCHOL below 0.15. At higher χCHOL, cholesterol seizes the places of the acyl chains in the DPPC crystalline lattice at the same stoichiometry as cholesterol and DPPC in the mixture. Diffraction pattern of such mixtures yields a short-range hexagonal packing order with d-spacing increasing as a function of the χCHOL.
Noninvasive Dissolution Measurement Using Perturbed Angular Correlation

A novel noninvasive technique was developed to measure dissolution of the water-soluble component of a solid dosage form using indium 111 and perturbed angular correlation. The method involves time-delayed coincidence counting of two cascading gamma-rays that exhibit angular correlation. This angular correlation can be perturbed if the intermediate excited state of the nucleus is reoriented due to an interaction with its environment. When such an interaction occurs, as in a phase change (solid to liquid), the perturbation changes can be shown by anisotropy. A highly perturbed condition in the solid state results in low values (0.02-0.04), while increasing values of anisotropy indicate dissolution. Anisotropy values reach 0.14-0.15 when the total unperturbed physical state (liquid) exists. The worth of this technique was demonstrated by both in vitro and in vivo determinations of dissolution rates.
Extensions of SSOR

Abstract Kahan in his 1957 thesis was probably the first to use quadratic form arguments to analyze the SOR method. In 1973, Richard Varga used quadratic form arguments to extend the SOR theory to a more general splitting and to obtain upper bound estimates for the spectral radius of an SOR iteration matrix. These estimates then led to a suggested value for the overrelaxation factor ω independent of the theory for consistently ordered matrices. The purpose of this paper is to obtain similar results for SSOR. It presents for SSOR a generalization of the Ostrowski-Reich theorem, bounds for the spectral radius of the SSOR iteration matrix, suggestions for the selection of an overrelaxation factor ω, and a numerical computation for the nine point stencil for the model problem of Laplace's equation on a square.
The peri-appendiceal red patch in ulcerative colitis: review of the University of Chicago experience.

Previous case series have described patients with a limited extent of ulcerative colitis (UC) and an area in the cecum with focal activity surrounding the appendiceal orifice [“peri-appendiceal red patch” (PARP)]. The clinical significance and prognostic implications of this finding are unknown. We used a tertiary care center database to review the clinical characteristics of UC patients with PARP. Patients with a clinical diagnosis of UC, less than pancolitis, and in whom a PARP was described were identified and clinical characteristics were reviewed at the University of Chicago. Of the 622 UC patients, 367 did not have pancolitis. Twenty-nine (7.9%) patients had endoscopically described PARP. Of the 29 patients, 23 (79%) were male, eight had a history of smoking, and none had prior appendectomy. Twenty of 30 (67%) exams that obtained biopsies showed that the histologic activity in the PARP paralleled the activity of the distal colitis. Of the patients, 24 of 29 had a median of 8 years follow-up (range 2–16 years), and these patients had a disease duration of median 12 years (range 0.08–22 years). Eleven of 21 patients with endoscopic follow-up had progression of the extent of disease. We have confirmed the association of peri-appendiceal inflammation in a subset of patients with the otherwise clinical features of UC. The lack of appendectomy, male preponderance, and parallel histologic activity to the distal colitis are important observations that warrant further investigation into the potential relationship of PARP and UC.
Landau quantization in twisted bilayer graphene: The Dirac comb

We study the Landau quantization of the electronic spectrum for graphene bilayers that are rotationally faulted to produce periodic superlattices. Commensurate twisted bilayers exist in two families distinguished by their sublattice exchange parity. We show that these two families exhibit distinct Landau quantized spectra distinguished both by the interlayer coupling of their zero modes and by an amplitude modulation of their spectra at energies above their low energy interlayer coherence scales. These modulations can provide a powerful experimental probe of the magnitude of a weak coherence splitting in a bilayer and its low energy mass structure.
Experimental demonstration of end-to-end message passing for HPC systems through a hybrid optical switch

We experimentally demonstrate end-to-end message passing through a hybrid optical switch and FPGAs emulating a High Performance Computing system. The experiment-driven simulation results verify the highly-scalable and low-latency nature of the switch.
Cargo inspection system based on pulsed fast-neutron analysis: an update

Pulsed Fast Neutron Analysis (PFNA) is a technique which uses a collimated pulsed beam of fast neutrons to excite the nuclei of common elements in bulk materials. Direct imaging of the elemental contents of the material is accomplished by using time-of-flight analysis to identify the position of the interactions and gamma-ray spectroscopy to identify the elemental gamma rays. From the ratios and absolute measurements of elemental abundances the identification of the material can be deduced. The PFNA Cargo Inspection System uses a volume type negative ion source and a double drift bunching system to create an intense beam of nano-second bunched negative deuterium ions which, after acceleration to around 6 MeV, impinge on a deuterium gas target producing pulsed neutrons. A unique high speed data acquisition system digitizes and analyzes the time-energy data in real time. Experimental studies and computer simulations were extensively employed to characterize and optimize the design parameters of the system. The system described is scheduled for full scale laboratory testing in the fall of 1994 and for field testing at a Government Testbed in Tacoma, WA in 1995.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A scanning electron microscope study of the surface morphology of TD-NiCr oxidized at 800 C to 1200 C.

Scanning electron microscopy was used to study the surface morphology of oxides formed on TD-NiCr at 800, 1000, and 1200° C for times up to 64 hr. Surfaces abraded with 120 grit oxidized to form Cr2O3 which gradually developed large crystals of Cr2O3 (R~5 μm). The shape of the crystals suggested vapor growth. Surfaces polished through 0.5 μm diamond paste and oxidized had NiO on the surface except over grain boundaries and scratches which had Cr2O3 covering them. The NiO was faceted but showed little evidence of vapor growth. Wire samples of TD-NiCr 0.005 in. diam were oxidized at 1200°Cfor up to 50 hr at pressures from 10−5 to 700 Torr. The only oxide formed was Cr2O3. Extensive large surface crystals ofCr2O2 resulting from vaporization and condensation were observed at pressures of 10Torr and above, but not at lower pressures. Humid air oxidation altered the oxide morphology markedly.
In educational circles: Beyond engineering

In a message to electrical engineering students, President Hooven briefly outlines the technological advances and achievements of the past which have led to today's highly industrialized civilization. The engineer's role and responsibilities are emphasized.
Cheating and fear of negative evaluation

Previous research on the personality correlates of cheating behavior has found that both need for approval and test anxiety are positively correlated with cheating. In both instances the explanation has been that subjects high on these measures cheat more because they are more concerned about negative evaluation and poor performance. The present study sought to extend this pattern of results to a direct measure of fear of negative evaluation. Contrary to the hypothesis, subject scores on the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale were found to be negatively correlated with cheating. An explanation is offered in terms of situational differences between the present study and previous studies.
HREM contributions to microstructural characterization of Pt/Co ultra-thin magnetic multilayers

Abstract Using HREM we have determined the relationship of microstructure to synthesis conditions and magnetic properties of Pt/Co multilayers, a candidate for a magneto-optical storage medium. Sputtering with Ne (or Ar) resulted in smoother Pt and Co layers than by vapor deposition, which is a less energetic process. However, sputtered multilayers had their (111)-fcc atomic planes more misaligned relative to the substrate surface than vapor-deposited multilayers, which consequently have superior magnetic properties. The (111)-fcc texture and magnetic anisotropy of sputtered Pt/Co multilayers was improved by growing them on a ZnO underlayer, which had its c-axis normal to the substrate.
Selecting appropriate management strategies for chronic hepatitis B: who to treat.

Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a significant problem. In the United States estimates indicate that 0.3% of the population (1.25 million individuals) have chronic hepatitis B infection. Methods Review of published practice guidelines and literature on management of hepatitis B to determine: 1) Which persons in Western populations are at the highest risk for HBV infection and should be screened for HBV seromarkers to identify those who are chronically infected and those who need to be protected with hepatitis B vaccine; 2) The importance of regular monitoring in persons with chronic hepatitis B, the frequency of monitoring, and which tests should be performed; 3) How to identify the patients who are appropriate candidates for antiviral therapy. Results Recommendations for screening, diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of chronic HBV infection are reviewed. Important differences are discussed between the Practice Guidelines for chronic hepatitis B developed by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL), and the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL). In addition, this article reviews which patients who are no covered by these Guidelines might be candidates for antiviral therapy. Discussion Established practice guidelines provide direction to providers for the diagnosis and management of chronic HBV infection to reduce the risk of serious sequelae. However, not all patients with chronic hepatitis B are identified, and many of those who are diagnosed do not receive adequate management and follow-up.
Occupational Lung Diseases

Occupational lung diseases are those caused by exposure to irritants in the work environment. Materials inhaled in the workplace can cause all the major categories of lung disease except for primary pulmonary vascular disease. Virtually all occupational lung diseases are preventable.
Trends in the relationship between infant mortality and socioeconomic status: 1950 and 1970.

Abstract Using census tracts as the basic unit of analysis and multiple regression techniques this study examines the relationship between infant mortality and socioeconomic status in Toledo, Ohio for the years centering around 1950 and 1970. The analysis shows that socioeconomic status is inverse and more strongly related to infant mortality in 1970 than in 1950 as measured by education and income. These increases occurred for both neonatal and postneonatal mortality. Occupation did not yield any significant relationships. These findings differ from the expectations of several studies carried out in the 1960s and clearly demonstrate the need for continuous research on this vital topic.
Contrast ratio enhancement in a saturable absorber-based photonic analog-to-digital converter

Optical processing techniques are expected to play a key role in the next generation of advanced high-speed analog- to-digital converters (ADCs). These techniques will alleviate the current limitations inherent in conventional electronic ADCs. We are currently developing a novel photonic ADC module that incorporates the use of semiconductor saturable absorbers to perform the data quantization at speeds in the tens of GHz regime. Results will be presented for the experimental material characterization of the semiconductor saturable absorbers used in the data conversion process. Enhancement of the contrast ratio of the saturable absorber between the 'on' state and the 'off' state can also be greatly enhanced by the use of an asymmetric Fabry-Perot etalon. Initial experimental results for a saturable absorber contained within an etalon will also be presented.
A future for technical services

Abstract The technical services function of libraries is due for immense changes. The roles it plays will be needed more than ever, but the skills needed to fulfill those roles will be changing drastically. It is not unlikely that the research library of the future will have an increasing need for the technical services function, especially during the transition period when libraries are doing large amounts of both physical and online access of information.
Acute Spinal Cord Compression: CQI Framework Increases Resource Efficiency While Promoting Delivery of High-Quality Care

Abstract Purpose Literature reports indicate that advanced imaging is overutilized, especially in the emergency setting. At our institution, stat spinal MRI for suspected acute spinal cord compression (ASCC) was perceived to be excessively utilized. A continuous quality improvement process was employed to investigate this trend and improve the efficiency of this diagnosis. Methods Spine imaging in patients with suspected ASCC was retrospectively evaluated for appropriateness of indications and quality of imaging. Based on the results, a new institutional policy for ordering MR for suspected ASCC was implemented, concurrent with development of a new screening spine MRI protocol. Subsequently, indications, efficacy, and imaging utilization of the new strategy were analyzed for improved operational effectiveness. Results The initial retrospective study demonstrated only a 1.4% positive rate of ASCC as well as image-quality degradation due to patient motion resulting from prolonged scan times. Based on these results, a new institutional policy for ordering stat ASCC spine MRI was instituted with an updated screening MRI protocol. This policy resulted in a positive rate of ASCC of 4.4%, and decreased scan time by 50%-70%, while preserving diagnostic image quality and decreasing resource utilization. Conclusions As suspected, stat spinal MRI for ASCC was excessively utilized at our institution. The study demonstrated that systemic improvements regarding this issue can be achieved by using a multidisciplinary approach and following a continuous quality improvement methodology. A new MRI protocol for identification of ASCC was found to preserve image quality and diagnostic confidence, while simultaneously decreasing scan time and use of valuable health care resources.
Reggeon calculus rules for the triple Regge region

Abstract We show that Reggeon unitarity is sufficient to determine the Reggeon calculus rules for the one particle inclusive cross section in the triple Regge region. The central result is that only one vertex in each Reggeon diagram does not conserve E = 1 — angular momentum. The rules, which are most easily expressed using Raleigh-Schroedinger perturbation theory, lead to a simple closed expression for the inclusive cross section.
An On-Line Dictionary for Radiology, Toxicology and Emergency Management

Fluency in foreign languages is becoming more and more important for university students and professionals. Especially since the European Union has expanded to the East, possibilities of collaboration between the new and old members have multiplied. Bachelor and Master programs usually contain courses providing basic knowledge of English and other languages, but these cannot go into details. We therefore decided to develop an on-line dictionary for the technical terminology used by students and professionals in the fields of Radiology, Toxicology and Emergency Management. The dictionary allows users to type in any specific term relevant to these subjects in one language, and get the equivalent in one of four other languages. Input or output is possible in Czech, English, German, Russian, and Slovak. The dictionary is accessible on the website of our department, but we are also able to provide a CD version. With the help of existing dictionaries and relevant textbooks, a word list has been created, which for a start contains about 3,000 terms. The dictionary, of course, needs completion and correction, so our website asks users to contribute further terms, and suggest changes in the translations offered. While the project is in progress, we would also like to see whether colleagues from other countries are interested to join and add other languages.
Injection Water Treatment at the Source: Biocide-Enhanced Corrosion Inhibitor Squeeze Treatments of Water Supply Wells in a Central Arabia Oilfield

A novel inhibitor squeeze program has been applied to control SRB (sulfate-reducing bacteria) and microbially-influenced corrosion (MIC) in the injection water supply wells of a sweet, Arab Superlight oilfield located in Central Saudi Arabia. The treatment is based on a biocide-enhanced corrosion inhibitor squeeze, spear-headed by concentrated biocide, and is unique in attempting to affect control of SRB and MIC from within the aquifer supplying injection water to the system. Applications of the treatment were intensively monitored in the field to assess the rate of return of the chemical, and their effects on microbial populations in the wells. Non-surface active biocide components were produced back in short, concentrated slugs comparable to shock doses in pipeline treatment programs, providing effective short-term control of SRB activity in the water supply wells. Regrowth, however, resumes once the chemicals are flushed from the wells during normal production, limiting the effective life of the biocide treatment in these wells to 2 - 3 weeks. Amines are extensively adsorbed on clay minerals, and are produced back at low concentrations for extended periods of time. The data provide insight into the range of rock-chemical interactions that can occur when squeezing multi-component oilfield chemicals into a sandstone aquifer containing significant quantities of clay minerals. The investigation highlights the importance of effective microbiological control during initial drilling and completion operations, and the difficulty in treating established microbial populations in porous media with biocides developed primarily for pipeline systems.
New Pedagogies of Motivation: Reconstructing and Repositioning Motivational Constructs in the Design of Learning Technologies

In this article the authors examine motivational constructs through the lens of new media-supported educational efforts. By examining a range of online, new-media-based learning communities and instructional technologies, they analyze the ways in which motivation is positioned within the field of education, how ecologies of motivation embedded within new media might be understood, how motivation might be organized and represented, and how constructions of motivational elements in designed learning technologies might help us better understand their fit in different educational contexts and with different students.
Defending Democracy in Wartime: Thomas P. Gore's Liberal Dissent in World War One

The global war on terror, in conjunction with America's invasion of Iraq, has prompted liberals to reconsider the relationship between democracy and security both at home and abroad. Upholding the civil liberties of Americans, while enhancing government power to interdict terrorists and protect borders, cannot be understood apart from the nation's interests and moral aspirations in a conflict-prone world. Far too little attention has been devoted to how America at war in a global setting reopens an old foreign policy debate that divided liberal and progressive groups at the time of America's entry into the First World War. Historians have devoted considerable attention to the alignment of progressive groups that supported Woodrow Wilson's defense of American foreign policy leadership at the time of the war. Yet there were other liberal-minded politicians who shared Wilson's assumptions about America's greatness without endorsing Wilsonian methods of statecraft. Senator Thomas P. Gore, a former Democratica...
Effective radii of noble gas atoms in silicates from first-principles molecular simulation

An understanding of how noble gas atoms are dissolved in mantle minerals and melts is necessary to infer geological information from the constraints provided by noble gas geochemistry. For this purpose, first-principles molecular simulations are carried out on liquid and crystalline (stishovite) silica systems with dissolved noble gas atoms (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, and Xe). The first principles nature of the simulations, which do not involve empirical force field parameters, enables the determination of the effective radii and structural environments of the noble gas atoms. The noble gas atoms are shown to be highly compressible, so that their effective radii depend strongly on the molar volume of the system (which in turn depends on pressure). Due to the continuous nature of interatomic forces, the effective radii also depend on the extent to which the surrounding atoms can relax in response to the presence of the noble gas atom. In this regard, different definitions of effective radii are relevant in different situations: “equilibrium radii” that correspond to the optimal interatomic distances at the molar volume of the system, and “repulsive wall” radii that correspond to the interatomic distances where the interatomic potentials of mean force change from attractive to repulsive at that molar vol ume. The equilibrium radii determine the interatomic distances in a melt, and the repulsive wall radii determine the interatomic distances for interstitial sites in a crystal. Based on these effective radii, the structural environment surrounding the noble gas atoms at high pressure is shown to correspond to a close packing of O atoms around the central noble gas atom. Compression of the noble gas atoms is shown to correspond closely to the compression of the porosity within the silicate melt structure.
Short-term memory and intertrial interval

Subjects attempted to recall a single word-triad after 9-sec retention interval. The interval between successive tests (each with a different triad) was varied over a wide range. Proactive inhibition was found to decrease as a function of the length of the intertrial interval; when this interval exceeded 2 min, proactive inhibition was negligible. It did not appear to cumulate across a series of several trials.
Cytotoxicity of acetaminophen and papaverine in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes

Abstract Primary cultures of hepatocytes obtained from postnatal Sprague-Dawley rats were grown in arginine-deficient medium to inhibit fibroblastic overgrowth and to selectively isolate relatively pure cultures of parenchymal hepatocytes. The cultures were grown on collagen-coated lens paper which freely floated in the medium and thus facilitated the exchange of nutrients and waste products between the cells and the culture medium. This system of primary hepatocytes was used to study the cytotoxicity of acetaminophen, papaverine, nitrofurantoin, and sodium salicylate. Cytotoxicity was monitored by measurement of leakage of intracellular enzymes into the culture medium: argininosuccinate lyase (ASAL), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT), and acid phosphatase (AP). Cultures were treated with each of the agents in concentrations ranging from 5 × 10 −6 to 5 × 10 −3 m and for durations from 1 to 24 hr. ASAL was found to be most sensitive in predicting early cell injury and AP the least sensitive. GPT, GOT, and LDH were intermittent in value and equally sensitive in evaluating cytotoxicity. No sign of cytotoxicity was observed within 3 hr of treating cultures with different concentrations of acetaminophen and papaverine. At 6 hr a significant increase in leakage of enzymes into the culture medium was observed relative to controls. After the first 3 hr the hepatotoxic agents demonstrated a time- and dose-dependence of cytotoxicity. Treatment of the cultures with acetaminophen and papaverine (5 × 10 −5 m ) for 12 hr resulted in ASAL leakage that was 360 and 260% of control values, respectively. In contrast, nitrofurantoin and sodium salicylate were only minimally toxic to the cultured cells. The time lag observed in the cytotoxicity of acetaminophen and papaverine may be related to the period required for metabolite(s) accumulation and saturation of detoxifying systems of the cultured liver cells.
A test of the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids in phytoplankton food quality for Daphnia using liposome supplementation

We conducted a series of experiments using the herbivorous zooplankter Daphnia pulex to investigate the nutritional importance of dietary polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Daphnia were fed three different diets: (1) a PUFA-deficient cyanophyte mixture, (2) a cyanophyte mixture with fatty acid (FA) amendments, or (3) a PUFArich cryptophyte mixture. We devised a novel method using customized phosphatidylcholine liposomes to deliver specific FA amendments in a pure and bioavailable form that closely mimics their form in natural diets. We added FA-impregnated liposomes to the cyanophyte mixtures at levels equivalent to the observed differences in FA concentrations between the cyanophyte and cryptophyte mixtures. Liposome control amendments (without FAs added) had no effect on Daphnia growth. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)-impregnated liposome amendments accounted for 30% of Daphnia somatic growth-rate differences and 38% of clutch-size differences between the cyanophyte and cryptophyte diets. Liposome supplementation of a FA mixture, which included a saturated fatty acid and the four v3 PUFAs most prevalent in cryptophytes but rare in cyanophytes, accounted for 59% of Daphnia somatic growthrate differences and 47% of clutch-size differences between the cyanophyte and cryptophyte diets. Our study suggests that phytoplankton v3 PUFA, and especially EPA, content plays an important direct role in herbivorous zooplankton nutrition.
Individualizing management of vesicoureteral reflux.

Abstract: Background: Approaches to the management of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) in children have changed rapidly in recent years. Multiple studies published over the last decade have contributed to these changes by challenging the dogma that all children with reflux require and benefit from continuous antibiotic prophylaxis. The advent and wide acceptance of endoscopic treatment for VUR has also contributed to these changes. Although new guidelines for VUR management have recently been proposed, they are broad and relatively non-specific. Many physicians and parents remain unsure which children are at risk from their VUR, and which would benefit from antibiotic prophylaxis or surgical intervention. Materials and Methods: A literature search, followed by an additional search based on bibliographies, was performed for articles reporting on VUR and the utility of antibiotic prophylaxis for its treatment, as well as the chance of spontaneous resolution. Results: Articles selected for review included those that provided information to assist physicians in determining if a child with VUR is at increased risk of pyelonephritis or persistent VUR, and would benefit from intervention. Particular emphasis was placed on recent prospective, randomized trials in children with VUR. Conclusions: Because of the multiple factors affecting risk in a child with VUR, specific guidelines for intervention cannot be provided. However, an accurate understanding of these risk factors will help the physician and parents to develop a more individualized management plan for a child with VUR.
Analyzing the impact of intermediaries in electronic markets: an empirical investigation of online consumer-to-consumer (C2C) auctions

It has been widely believed that the Internet and electronic markets will eliminate traditional intermediaries. However, a close examination of the market mechanism indicates that the impact of intermediaries is indispensable. Specifically, we consider intermediaries’ impacts in price discovery and trust building. Intermediaries provide a buffer for temporary misalignment between supply and demand by buying low and selling high, and also help build trust by engaging in transactions with risk-averse buyers and sellers who otherwise will not participate in the market. Using a dataset from eBay’s online auctions, we examine empirically these two impacts of human intermediaries. We find that the presence of brokers has a significant impact on market liquidity, resulting in more successful trades and higher auction prices. In addition, we find that brokers are more likely to engage in transactions with less established sellers. Their presence reduces reputation penalty faced by these players and further facilitates the successful sale of items in auctions.
The Symbolic Growth Experience

I have developed a concept I call the Symbolic Growth Experience (SGE). This concept refers to those significant moments in life when we create personal meaning by symbolizing our immediate experience in the interest of heightened consciousness and personal growth. The SGE suggests a radical way of apprehending and responding to our experience. As we perceive or create the symbolic dimensions of our experience we become profound and sensitive interpreters of our innermost lives and creative agents in our growth. The SGE is intimately related to the developmental process. At the time an SGE occurs, many complex psychological and environmental forces converge to form a harmonious and meaningful pattern. It is the propitious timing of this Gestalt formation that strongly suggests Carl Jung's concept of "synchronicity." This important concept aids us in understanding the nature of the SGE; the SGE, in turn, extends and enriches the meaning of synchronicity.
Assembly of the 30S ribosomal subunit.

Ribosomes are large macromolecular complexes responsible for cellular protein synthesis. The smallest known cytoplasmic ribosome is found in prokaryotic cells; these ribosomes are about 2.5 MDa and contain more than 4000 nucleotides of RNA and greater than 50 proteins. These components are distributed into two asymmetric subunits. Recent advances in structural studies of ribosomes and ribosomal subunits have revealed intimate details of the interactions within fully assembled particles. In contrast, many details of how these massive ribonucleoprotein complexes assemble remain elusive. The goal of this review is to discuss some crucial aspects of 30S ribosomal subunit assembly.
Communication-Aware Load Balancing for Parallel Applications on Clusters

Cluster computing has emerged as a primary and cost-effective platform for running parallel applications, including communication-intensive applications that transfer a large amount of data among the nodes of a cluster via the interconnection network. Conventional load balancers have proven effective in increasing the utilization of CPU, memory, and disk I/O resources in a cluster. However, most of the existing load-balancing schemes ignore network resources, leaving an opportunity to improve the effective bandwidth of networks on clusters running parallel applications. For this reason, we propose a communication-aware load-balancing technique that is capable of improving the performance of communication-intensive applications by increasing the effective utilization of networks in cluster environments. To facilitate the proposed load-balancing scheme, we introduce a behavior model for parallel applications with large requirements of network, CPU, memory, and disk I/O resources. Our load-balancing scheme can make full use of this model to quickly and accurately determine the load induced by a variety of parallel applications. Simulation results generated from a diverse set of both synthetic bulk synchronous and real parallel applications on a cluster show that our scheme significantly improves the performance, in terms of slowdown and turn-around time, over existing schemes by up to 206 percent (with an average of 74 percent) and 235 percent (with an average of 82 percent), respectively.
Study of balun effects with electrically small antennas for a whitespace direction finding system

Direction finding is potentially useful to whitespace radio applications. Direction finding capability opens the possibility of direction aware communication for channel sharing. However, direction finding systems are typically large, and thus, not suitable for many packages. An electrically small, co-located direction finding system [1] creates the possibility for direction finding on size-constrained applications. This system works by calibrating to the distorted antenna patterns of the co-located elements. To ensure repeatability in the measurement of the radiation patterns of these elements, carefully designed baluns must be implemented. If the antenna current is unbalanced, or the balun allows too much current on the cable, the radiation patterns change dramatically and the performance suffers. This work discusses the limitations and practical effects of these baluns at and away from the designed frequency of operation. Two types of baluns are examined: the quarter wavelength bazooka balun, and the folded bazooka balun.
Analysis of active and reactive power control of a stand-alone PEM fuel cell power plant

This paper presents analytical details of how active and reactive power output of a stand-alone proton-exchange-membrane (PEM) fuel cell power plant (FCPP) is controlled. This analysis is based on an integrated dynamic model of the entire power plant including the reformer. The validity of the analysis is verified when the model is used to predict the response of the power plant to: 1) computer-simulated step changes in the load active and reactive power demand and 2) actual active and reactive load profile of a single family residence. The response curves indicate the load-following characteristics of the model and the predicted changes in the analytical parameters predicated by the analysis.
A Test of Religious Commitment and Spiritual Transcendence as Independent Predictors of Underage Alcohol Use and Alcohol-Related Problems

Religiousness exerts a protective effect against underage alcohol use, but it is largely unknown whether its protective quality extends equally to alcohol-related problems. It is also unclear to what extent spirituality, which is related to religiousness, exerts a similar protective effect. The current study examined whether facets of religiousness and spirituality—religious commitment and spiritual transcendence—were differentially related to alcohol use and alcohol-related problems among an underage sample of young adults. Despite being underage, most participants (n 344; 61% female) reported having an alcoholic drink at least once a month and having at least two to three drinks per occasion. Results of hierarchical linear regression analyses that controlled for demographics, positive alcohol expectancies, and impulsivity found unique associations between religious commitment and spiritual transcendence and alcohol use. Specifically, religious commitment operated as a protective factor, while spiritual transcendence operated as a risk factor for alcohol use. Neither religious commitment nor spiritual transcendence predicted alcohol-related problems. Results of this study inform future research by highlighting the importance of studying religiousness and spirituality as unique constructs with the potential for differential predictive utility.
Effects of human immunodeficiency virus and methamphetamine on cerebral metabolites measured with magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and methamphetamine (METH) use disorders are associated with cerebral dysfunction. To determine whether these effects were evident on in vivo neuroimaging, quantitative, single voxel magnetic resonance (MR) spectroscopy was used to assess frontal white matter, frontal gray matter, and basal ganglia in 40 HIV+/METH+, 66 HIV+/METH-, 48 HIV-/METH+, and 51 HIV-/METH-participants. HIV was associated with lower N-acetylaspartate (NAA) in frontal white and frontal gray matter but METH was not associated with cerebral metabolite differences in any region. Among HIV+ individuals, lower CD4 counts and higher plasma HIV viral loads were associated with lower NAA in frontal gray matter and basal ganglia. The relationship between detectable plasma HIV viral load and NAA in frontal white matter was significantly stronger in the HIV+/METH+ group, compared to HIV+/METH-. Higher detectable plasma HIV viral load was significantly associated with higher myo-inositol (MI) in frontal white and gray matter for HIV+/METH+, but not HIV+/METH-. For the HIV-/METH+ group, lifetime duration of METH use was associated with higher choline levels in frontal gray matter and higher MI levels in basal ganglia. Our findings are consistent with significant disruption of neuronal integrity in the frontal lobes of HIV-infected individuals. Although METH was not associated with cerebral metabolite levels, other findings suggested that METH use did affect the brain. For example, the relationship between detectable plasma HIV viral load and NAA levels was limited to HIV+/METH+ individuals. This evidence indicates when HIV is poorly suppressed, METH may modify the effects of the virus on neuronal integrity.
Weaving a tapestry: Anti‐racism and the pedagogy of clinical social work practice

Abstract This paper aims to describe how. the Smith College School for Social Work's commitment to anti‐racism, affirmed in 1994, shapes the teaching of clinical social work practice. The discussion is situated in a review of the School's mission statement, the guiding teaching principles of cultural competence as developed by social work's professional organizations, and current research and clinical findings. A brief review of the literature pertaining to anti‐racism in clinical practice follows. Various assumptions and myths are addressed concerning what constitutes clinical practice grounded in anti‐racism. I then present a case method of teaching clinical practice based on a social constructivist view of valuing multiple theoretical lenses, an “informed not knowing” stance and the intersubjective space. Three central principles inform the teaching of cultural responsiveness. They are: (1) values, ethics and self‐reflection; (2) cross‐cultural knowledge and skills; and (3) empowerment and advocacy. Al...
The Heterotrimeric G-Protein Subunits GNG-1 and GNB-1 Form a Gβγ Dimer Required for Normal Female Fertility, Asexual Development, and Gα Protein Levels in Neurospora crassa

We have identified a gene encoding a heterotrimeric G protein γ subunit, gng-1, from the filamentous fungus Neurospora crassa. gng-1 possesses a gene structure similar to that of mammalian Gγ genes, consisting of three exons and two introns, with introns present in both the open reading frame and 5′-untranslated region. The GNG-1 amino acid sequence displays high identity to predicted Gγ subunits from other filamentous fungi, including Giberella zeae, Cryphonectria parasitica, Trichoderma harzianum, and Magnaporthe grisea. Deletion of gng-1 leads to developmental defects similar to those previously characterized for Δgnb-1 (Gβ) mutants. Δgng-1, Δgnb-1, and Δgng-1 Δgnb-1 strains conidiate inappropriately in submerged cultures and are female sterile, producing aberrant female reproductive structures. Similar to previous results obtained with Δgnb-1 mutants, loss of gng-1 negatively influences levels of Gα proteins (GNA-1, GNA-2, and GNA-3) in plasma membrane fractions isolated from various tissues of N. crassa and leads to a significant reduction in the amount of intracellular cyclic AMP. In addition, we show that GNB-1 is essential for maintenance of normal steady-state levels of GNG-1, suggesting a functional interaction between GNB-1 and GNG-1. Direct evidence for a physical association between GNB-1 and GNG-1 in vivo was provided by coimmunoprecipitation.
Ethics in Finance II

The best way to approach professional ethics, whether in the finance profession or elsewhere, is from the perspective of virtue-ethics theory. This theory places particular emphasis on the character and motivations of an individual professional and on the organizational community in which the individual acts. This article extends and clarifies the central argument of an earlier article on financial ethics. Several real-world examples illustrate the role of virtue ethics in professionalism.
Psychological, Relational, and Sexual Correlates of Pornography Use on Young Adult Heterosexual Men in Romantic Relationships

Pornography is both prevalent and normative in United States' culture; however, little is known about the psychological and relational affects that it can have on men in romantic relationships. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine theorized antecedents (i.e., gender role conflict and attachment styles) and consequences (i.e., poorer relationship quality and sexual satisfaction) of men's pornography use among 373 young adult heterosexual men. Findings revealed that both frequency of pornography use and problematic pornography use were related to greater gender role conflict, more avoidant and anxious attachment styles, poorer relationship quality, and less sexual satisfaction. In addition, the findings provided support for a theorized mediated model in which gender role conflict was linked to relational outcomes both directly and indirectly via attachment styles and pornography use. Finally, psychometric support for the Pornography Use Scale developed for this study is provided.
Growth of the femur and tibia of a commercial broiler line

The objective of this experiment was to characterize the relationship between growth and skeletal development in commercial broilers as a function of both age and BW. From hatch through 43 d, birds were randomly selected weekly from the same commercial flock for measuring BW, tibia, and femur characteristics. Final BW was 1.8 kg for females and 2.1 kg for males. The fat-extracted weight of the tibia and femur increased proportionately with BW through 43 d of age. Length and width measures as a proportion of their final values at 43 d increased more rapidly than relative changes in BW. The length of the femur as a function of BW reached a plateau at 1.5 kg (35 d of age), whereas the length of the tibia did not plateau through 43 d of age. Differences in width measures between the two long bones were not apparent as BW increased through 43 d of age. The ash percentage of the diaphyseal region (mid-10% of bone) was consistently greater in the tibia than the femur from 15 to 43 d (P < or = 0.05). Differences in mineralization rates and growth characteristics suggest that the functionality and integrity of the femur should not be assumed solely from tibia measurements.
Introducing social and ethical perspectives on gene-environment research

Sociologists are increasingly involved with the design and execution of studies that examine the interplay between genes and environment, requiring expertise in measurement of both genetic and nong...
Aprotinin But Not ε-Aminocaproic Acid Decreases Interleukin-10 After Cardiac Surgery With Extracorporeal Circulation Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study in Patients Receiving Aprotinin and ε-Aminocaproic Acid

Background Extracorporeal circulation induces a systemic inflammatory response, which may adversely affect organ function. One manifestation of this response is increased fibrinolysis. Antifibrinolytic drugs such as aprotinin and e-aminocaproic acid have been effective in reducing fibrinolysis and blood loss after extracorporeal circulation; however, the effects of antifibrinolytic drugs on proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory mediators are not known. This study examined the effects of aprotinin and e-aminocaproic acid on plasma levels of proinflammatory [interleukin-6 (IL-6)] and anti-inflammatory [interleukin-10 (IL-10)] cytokines during and after extracorporeal circulation. Methods and Results Seventy-two patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with extracorporeal circulation were randomly assigned in a double-blind study to receive high-dose aprotinin, e-aminocaproic acid, or saline placebo. Plasma levels of IL-6 and IL-10 were measured at 5 time points before, during, and after extracorp...
Relationships between the stocking levels of live trees and dead tree attributes in forests of the United States

There has been little examination of the relationship between the stocking of live trees in forests and the associated attributes of dead tree resources which could inform large-scale efforts to estimate and manage deadwood resources. The goal of this study was to examine the relationships between the stocking of standing live trees and attributes of standing dead and downed dead trees using a national inventory of forests in the United States. Results indicated that from the lowest to the highest class of live tree relative stand density, the mean biomass/ha of live trees increased over 2000% while standing dead and downed dead trees biomass/ha increased 295 and 75%, respectively. Correlations between downed deadwood biomass and stand/site attributes increased as live tree stocking increased. The size/density attributes of standing and downed deadwood exhibited no relationship with standing live stocking possibly due to the confounding factors of decay and breakage. This study proposes a conceptual deadwood stocking model with standing live tree stocking as an axis along which deadwood accretion factors (e.g., disturbance, self-thinning, and senescence) and depletion factors (e.g., decay, harvest, and stagnation) ultimately determine deadwood stocking.