cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Soil Corrosivity for Ground Grid of Substations in an Area by Factor Analysis

Soils in a depth corresponding to half length of the buried grouding grids are sampled from sites of 123 substations of a 110 kV transmission network in an area. Their physical and chemical properties(11 indexes) are measured, which then are analyzed and processed by using the method of factor analysis. The results show that soil corrosivity for substation ground grid in this area is mainly influenced by calcium and magnesium ions, pH value, chloride ion and water content. A comprehensive evaluation is made based on these five key corrosive factors. It follows that the soil corrosivity for substation ground grids in this area may be divided into four levels as: exceptionally strong(11 substations), strong(86 substations), relatively strong(14 substations) and middle(12 substations). Meanwhile, the corrosivity of all the soil samples are evaluated according to German Beckman standard method. The results of the two methods are in accord with each other, which indicates that factor analysis can be applied to evaluate the soil corrosivity for substation ground grid with a good reliablility.
The victim-perpetrator asymmetry is stronger in situations where blame is being assigned

Abstract Aggressive behaviors occur when one person, a perpetrator, intentionally harms another person, a victim (e.g., Parrott & Giancola, 2007). When reporting their judgments, victims often report the aggressive behaviors as being more harmful than perpetrators—a so-called victim-perpetrator asymmetry. This asymmetry is well-established (Baumeister et al., 1990; Elshout et al., 2017; Ent & Parton, 2019; McCarthy & Rivers, 2021); however, there is little empirical evidence that experimentally tests the conditions under which the victim-perpetrator asymmetry is especially strong. We propose two studies to examine whether the victim-perpetrator asymmetry is stronger in conditions when people feel they will be evaluated for blameworthiness. Specifically, in our first proposed study, participants will read a vignette describing an aggressive interaction and will be assigned to adopt the perspective of either the victim or the perpetrator. In our second proposed study, participants will either recall an instance when they intentionally harmed another person (as the perpetrator of aggression) or an instance when they were harmed by another person (as the victim of aggression). Further, in both studies, half the participants will be told we are interested in determining who was more to blame in the situation (i.e., “blameworthiness” condition) and half will receive no such instructions (i.e., the control condition). All participants will then rate the harmfulness of the aggressive behavior. We hypothesize that the victim-perpetrator asymmetry will be found in both conditions but will be stronger in situations where blame will purportedly be assigned.
Turning water into a protonic diode and solar cell via doping and dye sensitization

Summary The key advance that led to the digital revolution was the invention of the solid-state diode, due to its ability to effectively rectify electronic current. Analogous, water-based diodes were invented around the same time, yet their ability to rectify protonic current paled in comparison. A suitable platform to fabricate water-based diodes is the bipolar ion-exchange membrane, which serves as a scaffold for dopants that ionize when infiltrated with protonically semiconducting water. Herein, by fashioning bipolar membranes into membrane-electrode assemblies and characterizing them like fuel cells, we report high-quality protonic diodes that, when sensitized to visible light using photoacids, exhibit “reverse” photovoltaic action. These demonstrations will spur innovations in the fields of iontronics, neuromorphic computing, and brain-machine interfaces, among others.
Elastoplastic Fracture Mechanics Analysis

The developments so far have been limited to elastic material behavior. However, it is well understood that, for many problems, the plastic response of the near-crack ‘tip material results in local damage that is not described accurately by linear elastic fracture mechanics analysis. While the stresses are limited to finite values due to plastic effects, the local strain intensity will generally be greater than the elastic case. While non-continuum slip or void formation damage may occur, the present discussion is limited to classical continuum behavior.
Price Considerations in the Market for Corporate Law

The long-standing debate over the market for corporate law has been premised on the assumption that to maximize its revenues, the dominant state, Delaware, seeks to maximize the number of domestic incorporations. This article questions the common assumption that increasing the number of incorporations necessarily increases revenues. Instead, it highlights the role that price, in addition to quantity, plays in determining Delaware revenues. A price considerations analysis of the market for corporate law demonstrates that Delaware's revenues are determined by the following trade-off: On the one hand, the more pro-managerial Delaware law becomes, the more firms it attracts (because managers want to relocate firms to states with pro-managerial laws), while on the other hand, the less it can charge for incorporations (because shareholders will demand compensation in return for accepting pro-managerial laws). As a result, a law that balances managers' and shareholders' interests would result in higher state revenues than catering mainly to one of these groups by racing either to the top or the bottom. Presenting new data and analyzing existing ones, the article shows that Delaware law and the services it provides do not maximize the number of incorporations in the state; instead, they have the effect of deriving significant revenues for the state. Moreover, price considerations analysis accounts for developments in Delaware and other states' law, patterns of incorporations, the higher Tobin's Q ratios of firms incorporated in Delaware and the fact that these ratios decrease over time, the lack of competition, and other characteristics of the market for corporate law. The analysis has implications for the assessment of the current system of state corporate charters and the determination of the desirable extent of federal intervention in the market for corporate law.
Ivar Kreuger Reborn: A Swedish/American Accounting Fraud Resurfaces in Italy and India

Accounting fraud has been widely publicized in recent years, especially the large frauds perpetrated at U. S. companies such as Enron and WorldCom, but frauds are not country specific, and similar events have occurred in the past decade in many countries, including Italy and India. What is noticeable about the Italian Parmalat fraud and the Indian UTI fraud is their similarity to the Swedish/American fraud perpetrated for many years by Ivar Kreuger and uncovered in 1932. Although the Kreuger & Toll fraud was discovered following the suicide of Kreuger in March 1932, he, or at least his ideas about accounting and auditing, have been reborn in Italy and India. The Parmalat and UTI cases shared many similarities to that of Kreuger, particularly his view that audits and periodic reporting to shareholders were unnecessary. Whether talking about the Ivar Kreuger of 1932, the Indian UTI episode of the 1990s, or Parmalat of 2004, the story is the same; history repeats itself.
The Isolation and Structure Identification of a Disaccharide Containing Manno-muramic Acid from Micrococcus lysodeikticus Cell Wall

Abstract The dialyzable fraction obtained after degradation of Micrococcus lysodeikticus cell wall with egg white lysozyme was fractionated on columns of Dowex 50 and Dowex 1 ion exchange resins. In addition to the di- and tetrasaccharides and disaccharide peptides previously reported, a new tetrasaccharide and a new disaccharide were isolated in low yields, about 3 to 4% and 2%, respectively, of the total carbohydrate chain of the peptidoglycan. The tetrasaccharide contains 2 residues of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucose (N-acetylglucosamine), 1 residue of N-acetylmuramic acid, and 1 residue of muramic acid, probably as the internal amide. The disaccharide contains 1 residue of 2-acetamido-2-deoxy-d-glucose (1 → 4)-linked to 1 residue of manno-muramic acid. The latter component gave by drastic hydrolysis 2-amino-2-deoxy-d-mannose (d-mannosamine) and was found, by gasliquid chromatography of the per(trimethylsilyl) ether of the methyl ester methyl α-d-glycoside, to be identical with synthetic manno-muramic acid.
Reorganizations and Stochastic Collateral Value

Bebchuk and Fried propose using a series of auctions to implement a market-based methodology for valuing secured claims in a reorganization. This Article demonstrates their procedure can result in a secured creditor receiving more than its ex ante bargain, and that the probability distribution of possible collateral values can be relevant to fulfilling the ex ante bargain. This Article further develops and examines a refinement of the Bebchuk and Fried procedure that provides an approximate solution to the overcompensation of secured creditors. This refinement reconceptualizes collateral as comprising two components: (i) a call option on that property, exercisable at the time the secured claim would become due, with an exercise price of the amount that would be due on the secured claim at the corresponding time, and (ii) the property subject to that call option. This Article details how revising the Bebchuk and Fried proposal in light of this insight can yield a market-based methodology that produces an approximation of the ex ante bargain.
ISOLATION OF AN AMINOPEPTIDASE FROM TYPE B CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM

The Okra strain of Clostridium botulinum type B is a highly proteolytic organism which produces potent toxin (Lamanna and Glassman, 1947). Therefore it is of interest to know what type of proteolytic enzyme(s) is produced by this organism. The experiments in this paper demonstrate that this enzyme is an aminopeptidase. Earlier Elberg and Meyer (1939) showed that the proteolytic system of Clostridium parabotulinum type A includes a polypeptidase acting on Witte's peptone and an aminopeptidase hydrolyzing leucyclglycylglycine at pH 7.0-8.0. At the same time Maschmann (1939) reported the isolation of two separate aminopolypeptidases from cultures of Clostridium botulinum, one capable of hydrolyzing leucylglycylglycine and the other capable of hydrolyzing glycylglycylglycine.
Cytoprotection by a synthetic prostaglandin against ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage A double-blind endoscopic study in human subjects

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study compared the cytoprotective effects of misoprostol, a synthetic analog of prostaglandin E 1 , and cimetidine on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal damage. Forty-five healthy male subjects were accepted, following endoscopy to exclude those with upper gastrointestinal disease. Injury to the gastric mucosa was induced by spraying it with 80% ethanol solution. Misoprostol (200 μ g) intragastrically or cimetidine (300 mg) orally or placebo was administrated before the ethanol challenge. The gastric mucosa was graded using a seven-point endoscopic scale by two endoscopists 15 and 30 min after ethanol instillation. Thirty minutes following the instillation of ethanol, the gastric mucosa of placebo-treated subjects showed marked damage, with an endoscopic score (mean ± standard deviation) of 5.5±0.9. Cimetidine partially prevented gastric mucosal damage, with an endoscopic score of 4.5±1.7 as compared to placebo (p=0.04). Misoprostol significantly prevented gastric mucosal injury with a mean endoscopic score of 1±1.7 when compared to placebo (p=0.0001) and to cimetidine (p=0.0002). This cytoprotective action of misoprostol may prove to be clinically very important and warrants further investigation.
The Synthesis and Structure of Tris [2-(1,4-diisopropylimidazolyl)]phosphine Zinc Nitrate, [PimPri 2 ]Zn(NO3)2: Structural Consequences of t-Butyl versus Isopropyl Substitution in Tris (imidazolyl) phosphine Zinc Complexes

The zinc complex [PimPr i 2 ]Zn(NO3)2has been synthesized by the reaction of tris[2-(1,4-diisopropylimidazolyl)] phosphine [PimPr i 2 ] with Zn(NO3)2 · 6(H2O). Comparison of the structure of [PimPr i 2 ]Zn(NO3)2 with its more heavily substituted analogue {[PimPr i Bu t ]Zn (NO3)} (NO3)demonstrates the rather dramatic structural consequences of replacing the t-butyl substituents in the 4-positions of the imidazolyl moieties with isopropyl groups. Specifically, [PimPr i 2 ]Zn(NO3)2 exists as a six-coordinate complex with both unidentate and bidentate nitrate ligands whereas {[PimPr i ,Bu t ]Zn(NO3)exists as an ion pair with a single nitrate ligand coordinated to zinc in an anisobidentate mode. [PimPr i 2 ]Zn(NO3)2 is orthorhombic, Pbca (No. 61), a = 18.870(4) A, b = 17.273(7) A, c = 20.641(4) A, V = 6758(3) A3, Z = 8.
Isolation and purification of a low-molecular-weight skeletal growth factor from human bones

Abstract A low-molecular-weight potent bone cell mitogen termed human skeletal growth factor (human SGF) was purified to homogeneity from human bone matrix. Extraction and initial purification steps were done under dissociative conditions to separate human SGF from high-molecular-weight complexes of bone matrix proteins. SGF activity was extracted from human femoral heads by demineralization with 10% EDTA in the presence of 4 M guanidine-HCl and proteinase inhibitors and was purified by hydroxyapatite, HPLC gel-filtration and HPLC reverse-phase chromatography. Human SGF thus purified was homogeneous by HPLC reverse-phase chromatography and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The relative molecular mass of human SGF purified under dissociative conditions was 11 000. Human SGF stimulated bone cell proliferation ([ 3 H]thymidine incorporation and cell number) at picomolar concentrations, with half maximum activity at 2–3 ng/ml (180–270 pM). Human SGF constitutes 0.00024% of organic bone matrix by weight.
Metformin and Insulin Meet in a Most Atypical Way

A recent Cell paper by He et al. (2009) shows how metformin circumvents a block between insulin and atypical protein kinase C in obese and diabetic mice to inhibit gluconeogenesis by stimulating the phosphorylation of CBP and the disassembly of the CREB transcriptional complex.
Success Strategies and Web Elements in Online Marketplaces: A Moderated-Mediation Analysis of Seller Types on eBay

Online marketplaces are among the most prominent and fastest growing markets on the Internet. The leader and main exemplar of this type of market is eBay. This paper provides a comprehensive examination of the salient website elements and strategies as success factors in online marketplaces. The conceptual framework for this examination is based on the marketing mix model and its synthesis with competitive heterogeneity theory, allowing us to formulate a success model for sellers operating in this market. The conceptual model is empirically tested by a random collection of 2231 auction listings from eBay's motor division and tested using a moderated-mediation approach. Our results shed light on the factors that are critical for succeeding in online marketplaces and the significant role of seller types in the impacts of these factors. Implications for theory and practice are discussed and suggestions for future research are suggested.
Fingerprint classification using fast Fourier transform and nonlinear discriminant analysis

In this paper, we present a new approach for fingerprint classification based on discrete Fourier transform (DFT) and nonlinear discriminant analysis. Utilizing the DFT and directional filters, a reliable and efficient directional image is constructed from each fingerprint image, and then nonlinear discriminant analysis is applied to the constructed directional images, reducing the dimension dramatically and extracting the discriminant features. The proposed method explores the capability of DFT and directional filtering in dealing with low-quality images and the effectiveness of nonlinear feature extraction method in fingerprint classification. Experimental results demonstrates competitive performance compared with other published results.
Update on rivastigmine.

Background Rivastigmine is a carbamate drug designed to inhibit both acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase by reversibly covalently bonding to these enzymes. Butyrylcholinesterase increases as Alzheimer disease progresses, so its inhibition may become more important as the disease worsens. Metabolism of rivastigmine occurs at the synapse rather than at the liver and previous studies have demonstrated no drug-drug interactions. Rivastigmine has a half-life at the synapse of 9 hours allowing for bid dosing. Review Summary Effective therapy requires up-titration from initial dosage of 3 mg/d to 6 mg/d with additional increases to 9 mg or 12 mg/d giving additional benefits in some patients. Beneficial effects with rivastigmine therapy in the functioning of activities of daily living, behavior, cognition, and global functioning have been demonstrated in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer disease in 4 large double-blind, placebo-controlled multicenter clinical trials. Potential adverse effects of nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea in these original Alzheimer trials with rapid (every week) dosage increases occurred in up to 34% of patients and can be minimized by slower monthly up-titrations. Review Summary Rivastigmine also was proven effective in decreasing psychiatric symptoms and cognitive deficits in a large double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in patients with diffuse Lewy body disease. Other studies have suggested that rivastigmine improves symptoms in nursing home patients with more severe stage Alzheimer disease, Parkinson dementia, and subcortical dementia. Follow-up studies have suggested that rivastigmine may delay disease progression and, in patients discontinuing the drug, no withdrawal effects were seen. Conclusion Rivastigmine is an effective therapeutic agent for treating cognitive and behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer disease and diffuse Lewy body disease and may also have beneficial effects in vascular and Parkinson dementias.
Development of Map Construction Skills in Childhood

Two studies examined children's map construction skills when drawing demands were removed from the task and scenes were highly simplified. Study 1 compared the performance of first graders and third graders on their ability to preserve configuration during transformation of pictured arrays from eye-level to aerial views. For children with difficulties, Study 2 exposed groups to enhanced vantage points, either pictured from an elevated view or displayed with actual blocks, to investigate effects of support on performance. Results on eye-level to aerial transformations showed that children's ability to map spatial relations developed significantly between the first and third grades, basic configuration skills were gender-neutral, and specificity of details was better for boys by third grade. Enhanced vantage points significantly improved configuration accuracy for both grades (favoring first graders) and both genders (favoring girls). Enhancements eliminated depth errors that were common in arrays with occl...
Report of the Fourth International Workshop on Human Chromosome 5 mapping 1996.

This report describes the accomplishments of the Second International Workshop on Human Chromosome 5 as was held May 11--13,1992 at the University of Chicago. Included in the report are abstract of individual presentations and a consensus map of the chromosome.
Kinetically caused saturation in the deposition of particles or cells

Abstract Particle deposition from a stagnant suspension onto a flat horizontal collector is theoretically analyzed, using two different approximations, emphasizing the effect of already deposited particles on subsequent deposition. Situations are identified in which the deposition is highly self-retarding, reaching an apparent saturation. This saturation has a kinetic origin and offers a qualitative explanation of experimental evidence on the deposition of colloidal particles, tumor cells, and platelets. It also leads to a physicochemical mechanism of the events responsible for the primary arrest of bleeding, following an injury.
Generating and analyzing combinatorial chemistry libraries

Abstract The past year has seen developments in key areas of combinatorial chemistry, including new encoding and deconvolution strategies, techniques for analyzing library components and alternatives to the obligatory solid-supports utilized for library construction. Highlights include the utility of radiofrequency encoding strategies and the expansion of solution-phase combinatorial synthesis.
On the use of ferrocenyl cations as chiral lewis acids: Evidence for protic acid catalysis

Abstract The preparation of cation 1 is described, as is the use of this material as a catalyst in the Diels-Alder reaction. While the addition of 1 does promote the Diels-Alder reaction, it is not the catalytic species. Rather, it acts as a source of protic acid which is the true catalyst.
Increasing Parent Involvement among Head Start Families: A Randomized Control Group Study.

Parent involvement (PI) during preschool has been linked with strong pre-literacy skills, acquisition of mathematical skills, well-developed social skills, and positive attitudes toward school. Parents’ active involvement in their children’s learning is a recommended strategy in engaging families in children’s education experiences. The purpose of the current study was to estimate the impact of a parent-directed early literacy intervention on three dimensions of PI—home-based, school-based, and home-school conferencing (HSC)—among Head Start parents and their preschool-aged children. Twenty-four preschool children (and their parents) were randomly assigned to an intervention or active control group. PI was assessed at the beginning and end of the intervention. Results of a series of two-way repeated measures analyses of variance indicated significant improvements in home-based PI among parents in the intervention group, but no differences in school-based or HSC types of PI. Parents’ prior experience with their children’s preschool education did not moderate the impact of the intervention on PI. These findings provide support for the effectiveness of this parent-directed early literacy intervention as a strategy to increase home-based PI activities among families in Head Start.
NARCOTIC ABUSERS AND POVERTY

This paper examines whether narcotic abusers known to the Maryland Narcotic Addicts Register are indigent. Samples were drawn from this register and several determinations made as to their membership in populations receiving: medical assistance, public assistance (past and present), residing in public housing or in a low income area. Overall, the proportion of narcotic abusers defined as indigent ranged from 82% to 8.5% for Baltimore City residents However, this same finding did not hold true for those in Maryland counties.
Bioconversion of α- and β-pinene by Pseudomonas sp. strain PIN

Abstract A soil pseudomonad capable of metabolizing either α- or β-pinene as sole carbon and energy source was isolated with an enrichment culture. Culture broth in mineral media gave rise to a pine-like aroma during the initial fermentation stage and a fresh rose-like aroma during the late fermentation stage. No growth inhibition was found up to 10% pinenes concentration. The bioconversion products of α-pinene were identified as limonene, p -cymene, α-terpinolene, camphor, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, endo-borneol, and p -cymene-8-ol. The bioconversion products of β-pinene were the same except for the presence of fenchyl alcohol and the absence of camphor. Most of the accumulated products were p -menthene derivatives such as p -cymene, limonene, and α-terpinolene in both substrates. Total bioconversion was 33.5% of α-pinene and 58.8% of β-pinene.
Application of advanced filtering methods to the determination of the interplanetary orbit of Mariner '71.

This paper presents the results of the applications of advanced filtering methods to the determination of the interplanetary orbit of the Mariner '71 spacecraft. The advanced techniques are specific extensions of the Kalman filter. The special problems associated with applying these techniques are discussed and the particular algorithmic implementations are outlined. The advanced methods are compared against the weighted least squares filters of conventional application. The results reveal that relatively simple advanced filter configurations yield solutions superior to those of the conventional methods when applied to the Mariner '71 radio measurements.
Intervention: The AMADEUS study in perspective.

The Carillon system is a percutaneously delivered, coronary-sinus-based mitral annuloplasty device. A safety and feasibility trial now demonstrates low rates of major adverse events, with improvements in quality of life. Though promising, this report raises important questions related to relative efficacy and durability compared with other relevant therapies, and related to current clinical indications.
Salivary Gland Tumor “Wishes” to Add to the Next WHO Tumor Classification: Sclerosing Polycystic Adenosis, Mammary Analogue Secretory Carcinoma, Cribriform Adenocarcinoma of the Tongue and Other Sites, and Mucinous Variant of Myoepithelioma

This review is a continuation of suggested tumor additions to the next WHO Tumor Classification. The author will focus on four salivary gland entities that have recently become accepted in the literature as new neoplastic entities: sclerosing polycystic adenosis, mammary analogue secretory carcinoma, cribriform adenocarcinoma of the tongue and other sites, and mucinous variant of myoepithelioma.
State Growth Management Programs and Central-City Revitalization

Abstract During the latter part of the 20th century, many U.S. state governments adopted growth management programs for the purpose of establishing a more proactive role in the regulation of land use. Although many scholars have recently begun to critically examine the implementation of these new state initiatives, few have explored their effects on patterns of intraurban land development. In this article, we develop a framework for thinking about the likely effects of state growth management programs on a central city's ability to attract new residential construction activity and investigate this issue using a panel data approach. Multivariate regression results suggest that these programs have observable effects on the spatial distribution of residential construction activity within urban areas. Furthermore, we accept several hypotheses regarding coefficient stability across states, regions, and program designs. These findings suggest that state growth management programs may be an effective tool for pr...
Profitability and factory-based cotton gin production in the antebellum south

Abstract Before 1820 Northern mechanics started factory-based cotton gin manufacturing to compete with traditional Southern “ginwrights.” Later, cotton gin production in factories was transferred to the South. This paper estimates the profitability of cotton gin makers in the antebellum industrial census. The Southern sector was more profitable than that of the North, explaining the regional migration of machine production resources. Besides transport cost protection, Southern firms had a cost advantage in sales and service networks. Specific factor investments in gin making limited further resource flows from North to South after 1840. It also reduced the industry’s impact on Southern economic development.
How shall we live in space? Culture, law and ethics in spacefaring society

Abstract The US civilian space program is focused on planning for a new round of human missions beyond Earth orbit, to realize a ‘vision’ for exploration articulated by President George W. Bush. It is important to examine this ‘vision’ in the broader context of the global enterprise of 21st century space exploration. How will extending a human presence into the Solar System affect terrestrial society and culture? What legal, ethical and other value systems should govern human activities in space? This paper will describe the current environment for space policy making and possible frameworks for future space law, ethics and culture. It also proposes establishment of a World Space Conference to aid deliberations on the above.
Cholera toxin-induced modulation of gene expression: elucidation via cDNA microarray for rational cell-based sensor design

Abstract Cell-based biosensors utilize functional changes in cellular response to identify the biological threats in a physiological relevant manner. Cell-based sensors have been used for a wide array of applications including toxicological assessment and drug-screening. In this paper, we utilize DNA arrays to identify differential gene expression events induced by toxin exposure for the purpose of developing a reporter gene assay system compatible with insertion into a cell-based sensor platform. HT29, an intestine epithelial cell line, was used as a cell model to study the cholera toxin (CT)-induced host cell modulation using DNA array analysis. A false positive model was generated from analysis of housekeeping genes in untreated control experiments to characterize our system and to minimize the number of false positives in the data. Threshold probability scores (−3.72), which gives
Lovastatin induced cytokine‐mediated inducible nitric oxide synthase (INOS) expression in brain transformed cell lines

Nitric oxide (NO) produced by inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) in different cells including brain cells in response to proinflammatory cytokines plays an important role in the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases. The present study underlines the involvement of RhoA protein in the expression of iNOS via NF-κB in transformed brain cell lines [rat C6 glioma, human astrocytoma (T98G and A172) and immortal rat astrocytes]. Treatment of C6 glioma cells with lovastatin resulted in the induction of iNOS mRNA and increased NO production in a dose and time dependent manner. Addition of mevalonate and geranylgeranylpyrophosphate reversed the lovastatin-mediated effect. A selective inhibitor of geranylgeranyltransferase inhibitor (GGTI 298) further enhanced the lovastatin as well as cytokine-mediated iNOS expression suggesting the involvement of geranylgeranylated proteins in the down regulation of iNOS expression. Inactivators of Rho A family (bacterial toxin B), Rho A protein (C3 toxin from C. botulinum) and Rho A associated kinases (Y-27632) increased the iNOS expression. Lovastatin induced NO production mediated by increasing IkB? degradation and NF-κB translocation via inactivation of Rho A protein. Co-transfection studies using dominant negative form of RhoA along with iNOS luciferase and NF-κB luciferase reporter constructs further supported these observations. Taken together, these studies document a role for Rho A in lovastatin mediated induction of iNOS expression in brain glial cell lines. Acknowledgements: Supported by NIH grants NS-22576, NS-34741 and NS-37766.
Enterprise blogging in a global context: comparing Chinese and American practices

We present three studies that compare adoption and appropriation between China and the United States of BlogCentral, an internal blogging tool employed by a large global enterprise. We first analyzed 23 months of usage logs for users in both countries and found that compared to the U.S., Chinese users were much less active, with less activity and sparser user interaction. We then conducted 25 interviews and surveyed 213 bloggers in both countries to understand user motivations and behaviors of corporate blogging in more detail. The results show that Chinese employees use internal blogs for organizing personal work and short term team formation, unlike U.S. users who are driven more by the goal of sharing information to a broad community. The Chinese users were seeking (and not finding) greater social interaction and felt instead a sense of alienation from the global blogging community. We further identify a gap between Chinese users' requirement for local community and the existing global aspect of enterprise blogging tools. Lastly we discuss implications from the data analysis.
Microfabrication meets microbiology

This Review summarizes methods for constructing systems and structures at micron or submicron scales that have applications in microbiology. These tools make it possible to manipulate individual cells and their immediate extracellular environments and have the capability to transform the study of microbial physiology and behaviour. Because of their simplicity, low cost and use in microfabrication, we focus on the application of soft lithographic techniques to the study of microorganisms, and describe several key areas in microbiology in which the development of new microfabricated materials and tools can have a crucial role.
Rapid line scan technique for artifact-free images of moving objects.

Moving objects (e.g., heart, lung, chest wall, etc.) typically cause artifacts to appear in two-dimensional Fourier transform ("spin warp") images. The rapid line scan (RLS) technique is a simple inexpensive technique that can rapidly produce artifact-free images of moving objects, without requiring enormous magnetic field gradients or periodic motions. The basic concepts and potential industrial applications of the RLS technique are described.
Studies on the impact of paths on the dune vegetation at Winterton, Norfolk, England

Abstract A study was made of paths on a dune system at Winterton, Norfolk, by ground and aerial surveys and a map produced of the 35 km of major paths in 104 ha of dune. Experiments were carried out on the resistance to trampling of a tall Festuca ovina-Carex arenaria sward. Estimates were made of the comparative vulnerability of other plant communities. The range extended from Ammophila arenaria, which was 10 x as vulnerable, to a short rabbit-grazed sward, only 1 3 − 1 4 x as vulnerable. The more vulnerable habitats unfortunately attract more people. 42% of the paths at Winterton occur on the steep slopes dominated by Ammophila. Comparisons are made with a similar site at Meijendel where greater recreational pressure necessitated laid-out paths and fencing to control visitors. It is suggested that if visitor pressure increases at Winterton, similar management may also be required there.
Distribution of hydroxide ions in doped alkali halide crystals

Abstract The available information concerning the distribution of hydroxide ions in alkali halide crystals is reviewed. The various possible reactions among the hydroxide ions and divalent cation impurities and their accompanying charge compensating cation vacancies are given and discussed in terms of the available ionic conductivity and optical absorption data. The possible hydroxide ion complexes are discussed in terms of ESR results. Complexes containing hydroxide ions, each on their own anion site, with cation impurities and vacancies on adjacent sites are indicated as being the most probable to occur. Different geometries of such a complex are discussed in terms of the available experimental data.
Synthesis and characterization of nanophase face-centered-cubic titanium

Abstract Unalloyed Ti is sputter deposited in the formation of two trilay er films. Each layer within the combinations of Ni-Ti-Ni and Ti-Ni-Ti is less than 0.1 μm thick. High resolution imaging and electron diffraction results are presented for the microstructural characterization of both trilayer films. Nanophase fcc Ti is initially found in crystalline layers grown on Ni whereas hcp Ti is found in layers grown without a Ni epilayer. Conditions are further examined under which the fcc to hcp transition occurs for Ti deposited on Ni.
Mechanisms of Transformation by MLL

Rearrangements of the mixed-lineage leukemia gene MLL1 (MLL, HRX, ALL1), the human homologue of the Drosophila gene trithorax, are associated with aggressive acute leukemias in both children and adults. Transformation by rearranged forms of MLL1, including in-frame fusion proteins, partial tandem duplications, and amplification of MLL1 through upregulation of Hox gene and cofactor expression apparently results in a block in hematopoietic differentiation. MLL1 regulates Hox gene expression via direct promoter binding and histone H3 Lys 4 methylation mediated by the intrinsic methyltransferase activity of the SET domain. Mll1 knockout leads to loss of Hox gene expression, defects in hematopoiesis, and embryonic lethality. A close homologue, MLL2 is amplified in some solid tumors. MLL2 also has histone H3 Lys 4 methyltransferase activity that is dependent on menin, a protein mutated in multiple neoplasia type I (MEN1) and which is required for normal Hox expression. These findings underscore the importance of the MLL histone methyltransferases in development and disease.
Synthesis of 14C-methotrexate: (N-[p-[[2,4-diamino-4-deoxy-6-pteridinyl]methyl]methylamino]-benzoyl) -L-14C-glutamic acid

A simple and general method for the synthesis of folate analogs labeled in the glutamate moiety with 14C is described. The synthesis makes use of the trimethylsilyl derivative of L-glutamic acid 8 for the coupling reaction with the activated pteroate analogs. Deprotection under mild conditions circumvented the potential problems associated with deamination at the 4-position of 2. Methotrexate, folic acid, and N10 - methyl folic acid were prepared in ˜50% yield by the use of this procedure.
Dysferlin and myoferlin regulate transverse tubule formation and glycerol sensitivity.

Dysferlin is a membrane-associated protein implicated in muscular dystrophy and vesicle movement and function in muscles. The precise role of dysferlin has been debated, partly because of the mild phenotype in dysferlin-null mice ( Dysf ). We bred Dysf mice to mice lacking myoferlin ( MKO ) to generate mice lacking both myoferlin and dysferlin (FER). FER animals displayed progressive muscle damage with myofiber necrosis, internalized nuclei, and, at older ages, chronic remodeling and increasing creatine kinase levels. These changes were most prominent in proximal limb and trunk muscles and were more severe than in Dysf mice. Consistently, FER animals had reduced ad libitum activity. Ultrastructural studies uncovered progressive dilation of the sarcoplasmic reticulum and ectopic and misaligned transverse tubules in FER skeletal muscle. FER muscle, and Dysf - and MKO -null muscle, exuded lipid, and serum glycerol levels were elevated in FER and Dysf mice. Glycerol injection into muscle is known to induce myopathy, and glycerol exposure promotes detachment of transverse tubules from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Dysf, MKO , and FER muscles were highly susceptible to glycerol exposure in vitro , demonstrating a dysfunctional sarcotubule system, and in vivo glycerol exposure induced severe muscular dystrophy, especially in FER muscle. Together, these findings demonstrate the importance of dysferlin and myoferlin for transverse tubule function and in the genesis of muscular dystrophy.
Hierarchical clustering and k-means analysis of HPC application kernels performance characteristics

In this work, we present the characterization of a set of scientific kernels which are representative of the behavior of fundamental and applied physics applications across a wide range of fields. We collect performance attributes in the form of micro-operation mix and off-chip memory bandwidth measurements for these kernels. Using these measurements, we use two clustering methodologies to show which applications behave similarly and to identify unexpected behaviors, without the need to examine individual numeric results for all application runs. We define a methodology to combine metrics from various tools into a single clustering visualization. We show that some kernels experience significant changes in behavior at varying thread counts due to system features, and that these behavioral changes appear in the clustering analysis. We further show that application phases can be analyzed using clustering to determine which section of an application is the largest contributor to behavioral differences.
Intracapsular vs. Extracapsular Tonsillectomy: A Comparison of Pain

Objective: To measure differences in postoperative pain in children undergoing intracapsular tonsillectomy vs. extracapsular tonsillectomy. Study Design: Prospective clinical trial carried out at a tertiary children's hospital over 1 year. Methods: The study included 43 patients age 5 to 19 years with adenotonsillar hypertrophy, 27 undergoing extracapsular tonsillectomy and 16 undergoing intracapsular tonsillectomy. Tonsillectomy was performed in either an intracapsular or extracapsular fashion using bipolar electrosurgical scissors and monopolar suction cautery for hemostasis. Residents under faculty supervision performed all operations. Postoperative pain was assessed using the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale through postoperative day 10. The patients recorded in a standardized diary pain scores and analgesic use. The main outcome measure was postoperative pain as measured by the Wong-Baker Faces Pain Scale. The quantity of postoperative pain medicine consumed was a secondary outcome measure. Results: Average postoperative pain for extracapsular tonsillectomy was 5.21 on a 10-point scale versus 2.75 for intracapsular tonsillectomy (P < .0001). Conclusions: Intracapsular tonsillectomy with bipolar scissors results in less postoperative pain than extracapsular tonsillectomy with bipolar scissors in children age 5 to 19 years.
The Role of Ablation of the Atrioventricular Junction in Patients with Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation

Ablation of the atrioventricular junction (AVJ) is a technically easy procedure that is safe and has a high success rate as an intervention for effective ventricular rate control in patients in symptomatic atrial fibrillation. AVJ ablation has been reported to improve quality of life, left ventricular ejection fraction, and exercise duration in these patients and minimize the incidence of inappropriate shocks. Because right ventricular pacing after AVJ ablation may result in decrease in left ventricular function and worsening of heart failure symptoms, there is increasing evidence to support the effectiveness of cardiac resynchronization therapy in atrial fibrillation populations.
Myosin VIIA Defects, which Underlie the Usher 1B Syndrome in Humans, Lead to Deafness in Drosophila

Summary In vertebrates, auditory and vestibular transduction occurs on apical projections (stereocilia) of specialized cells (hair cells). Mutations in myosin VIIA (myoVIIA), an unconventional myosin, lead to deafness and balance anomalies in humans, mice, and zebrafish; individuals are deaf, and stereocilia are disorganized [1–3]. The exact mechanism through which myoVIIA mutations result in these inner-ear anomalies is unknown. Proposed inner-ear functions for myoVIIA include anchoring transduction channels to the stereocilia membrane, trafficking stereocilia linking components, and anchoring hair cells by associating with adherens junctions [4–7]. The Drosophila myoVIIA homolog is crinkled ( ck ) [8]. The Drosophila auditory organ, Johnston's organ (JO), is developmentally and functionally related to the vertebrate inner ear. Both derive from modified epithelial cells specified by atonal and spalt homolog expression, and both transduce acoustic mechanical energy ([9] and references therein). Here, we show that loss of ck/myoVIIA function leads to complete deafness in Drosophila by disrupting the integrity of the scolopidia that transduce auditory signals. We demonstrate that ck/myoVIIA functions to organize the auditory organ, that it is functionally required in neuronal and support cells, that it is not required for TRPV channel localization, and that it is not essential for scolopidial-cell-junction integrity.
Tissue plasminogen activator production from cells cultured in milk extract

Abstract Mammalian cells are conventionally cultured in nutrient medium containing 10% foetal calf serum (FCS). The aim of the project was to investigate whether bovine milk extract could be used to replace or minimise the use of serum in cell culture without affecting the level of product expression, thereby significantly reducing the overall cost and risk of microbial contamination. Cells producing tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) were cultured in nutrient medium containing varying concentrations of either milk extract or FCS or different combinations of both. Cell number, cell morphology and product expression were monitored with time in comparison with the control culture grown in 10% FCS. The results obtained indicate that the milk extract, in itself, was a poor substitute for serum in terms of cell growth. However, it was found that with a combination of 2% milk extract and 1% FCS in nutrient medium, the cells remained attached to the substrate over longer periods and the cell number reached about 75–85% of that observed in the control cultures. Further reduction of FCS below 0.5% in milk+serum supplemented culture medium had a detrimental effect on cell growth. t-PA expression, as measured by chromogenic assay, from cells grown in 2% milk+1% FCS supplemented medium was similar to the control culture over a 12 day period. One of the advantages of this system is that it can avoid the need to change the culture medium from serum-containing to serum-free, before harvesting the product. These data indicate that milk extract, combined with low concentrations of serum, has a beneficial effect on cell attachment and growth with little or no effect on expression. Thus, the use of milk extract may prove to be economically advantageous in large scale cell culture for natural products, such as t-PA and recombinant proteins.
The core-binding factor beta subunit is required for bone formation and hematopoietic maturation.

Core-binding factor β (Cbfβ) is the common non-DNA-binding subunit of the Cbf family of heterodimeric transcription factors. Mice deficient in Cbfβ have a severe block in fetal liver hematopoiesis at the stage of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) emergence1,2. Here we show that by providing Cbfβ function in endothelial cells and hematopoietic progenitors we can rescue fetal liver hematopoiesis in Cbfβ-deficient embryos. The rescued mice die at birth, however, with severe defects in skeletal development, though intramembranous ossification occurs to some extent. Fetal liver hematopoiesis is restored at embryonic day (E) 12.5, but by E17.5 significant impairments in lymphopoiesis and myelopoiesis are observed. Thus, we conclude that the Cbfβ subunit is required for HSC emergence, bone formation and normal differentiation of lymphoid and myeloid lineage cells.
Effects of availability of microcomputers on student and faculty research

The effect of the widespread availability of microcomputers on research is discussed. Student projects in a course in computer applications in psychology improved markedly, and faculty who had previously not believed that there was great value in using computers discovered innovative ways of facilitating their research.