cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
What Is the Gospel’s Relationship to Previous Literary Sources?

This chapter argues that the Gospel of John is literarily independent from the Synoptic Gospels. The Fourth Gospel was addressed to a Gentile audience in Ephesus. As an eyewitness account, it uses as its only literary source a precursor Gospel—the Signs Source—also written by John the Elder but addressed to a Jewish audience in Jerusalem before the city’s destruction by the Romans in 70 ce. This chapter reconstructs the Signs Source. I conclude by explaining the value of my proposals for future scholarship on the structure of the Signs Source and the literary similarities between the Signs Source and material distinct to the Fourth Gospel.
A Commemorative Review of Harvey Greenberg’s Career

Harvey J. Greenberg’s career in Operations Research (OR) and Computer Science (CS) spanned the half-century from his Ph.D. dissertation in 1968 to his death in 2018. The magnitude of his accomplishments in those 50 years is profound, enough so that it is difficult to communicate his legacy’s entire imprint. Harvey had outstanding academic success, but he also played critical roles in guiding public policy, in advancing OR’s industrial employ, and in building community. Most OR professionals could pridefully review their careers with noteworthy success in just one of these categories, but Harvey’s substantive influence in each has distinguished him as one of his era’s definitive bellwethers. Harvey’s era was of particular note because it witnessed OR blossom from its military and industrial origins to its expansive embrace of modern algorithms and computing.
Neuroendocrine and neuroimmune responses in male and female rats: evidence for functional immaturity of the neuroimmune system during early adolescence.

Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by rapid behavioral and physiological changes, including enhanced vulnerability to stress. Recent studies using rodent models of adolescence have demonstrated age differences in neuroendocrine responses and blunted neuroimmune responding to pharmacological challenges. The present study was designed to test whether this neuroimmune insensitivity would generalize to a non-pharmacological stress challenge. Male and female adolescent (P29-33) and adult (P70-80) Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to intermittent footshock for one-, two-, or two-hours + recovery. Plasma corticosterone and progesterone levels as well as gene expression of several cytokines and c-Fos gene expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), the medial amygdala (MeA), and the ventral hippocampus (vHPC) were analyzed. The results of the present study demonstrated differences in response to footshock, with these differences dependent on age, sex, and brain region of interest. Adult males and females demonstrated time-dependent increases in IL-1β and IL-1R2 in the PVN, with these changes not evident in adolescent males and substantially blunted in adolescent females. TNFα expression was decreased in all regions of interest, with adults demonstrating more suppression relative to adolescents and age differences more apparent in males than in females. IL-6 expression was affected by footshock predominantly in the vHPC of adolescent and adult males and females, with females demonstrating prolonged elevation of IL-6 gene expression. In summary, central cytokine responses to acute stressor exposure are blunted in adolescent rats, with the most pronounced immaturity evident for the brain IL-1 signaling system.
Pre-exposure prophylaxis awareness, acceptability and potential stigma among medical and non-medical clinic staff in methadone treatment settings in northern New Jersey: The key role of non-medical staff in enhancing HIV prevention.

Abstract Background HIV prevention is needed among people who use drugs (PWUD) due to mixing sex and drugs, selling/trading sex, and/or injecting drugs. Pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is an extremely effective biomedical HIV prevention strategy, but uptake remains low among communities most in need of HIV prevention, including PWUD. Previous studies have found that providers are less willing to prescribe PrEP to PWUD, yet PWUD express high levels of PrEP acceptance. More research is needed to understand how people who provide substance use treatment services think about PrEP to maximize this biomedical prevention strategy. Methods The study conducted semistructured interviews with 29 staff members in two methadone clinic settings in urban northern New Jersey. Staff members included medical providers, methadone counselors, intake coordinators, front desk staff, lab technicians, security guards, and administrative/leadership personnel. Results All staff recognized the need for HIV prevention among their patient populations, but most were either unaware of PrEP or unfamiliar with its purpose and how it works. Medical providers were more likely to have some PrEP knowledge in comparison to counselors and other staff, but the former largely did not have in-depth knowledge. Among those familiar with PrEP, many confused PrEP with HIV medication, as Truvada was the only FDA-approved PrEP at the time of the study. About half of participants expressed clear support for PrEP, while the other half expressed mixed or negative attitudes related to HIV, sexual behavior, and mistrust of the medication. Both the positive and negative perceptions entailed stigmatizing elements. Recommendations Due to patients' frequent interactions with non–medical staff (e.g., front desk staff, lab technicians, etc.), all staff, not only medical personnel, should be aware of PrEP and comfortable discussing it to foster well-informed, nonjudgmental conversations about HIV prevention with patients. PrEP education should specifically address HIV and sexual-related stigma, as even positive perceptions of PrEP may entail stigmatizing elements.
Predictors of the Provision of Mother's Milk Feedings in Newborns Admitted to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Background: Breast milk reduces morbidity and mortality in infants admitted to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Objectives: We determined predictors of procuring mother's own milk (MOM) among N...
Advanced Oncologic Spine Imaging

Patients with cancer are benefiting from rapid advances in oncology, with new discoveries in tumor biology facilitating the development of novel treatments such as immunotherapies and chemotherapies based upon tumor genetic subtypes. The development and increasing use of stereotactic radiosurgery have revolutionized care of patients with osseous metastases, as it provides excellent local tumor control regardless of tumor histology, allowing for treatment of tumor types that were resistant to conventional external beam radiation. In the area of spine surgery, minimally invasive techniques are now utilized on patients who cannot tolerate the larger, morbid surgeries of the past. The growing desirability of evidence-based treatments has resulted in the development of management algorithms that allow a personalized approach to each patient. These frameworks guide discussion in multidisciplinary meetings, suggesting treatments based upon the most current evidence and options. In the midst of all of these advances, imaging—conventional and advanced—remains vital for characterization of disease, before and after treatment. As an integral part of the multidisciplinary treatment team, radiologists must be familiar with the most current treatments, tools, and management paradigms, in order to provide the specific information that informs decision-making for optimal patient care.
'Too Many Asians at this School': Racialized Perceptions and Identity Formation

An examination of the perceptions held by Asian students who are alumnae of Hunter College High School, Stuyvesant High School, Lowell High School, and Boston Latin School. This paper explores the way that Asian Americans at these schools have internalized the model minority stereotype and the ways they deal with their identity. Thesis explores the concept of whiteness amongst Asian Americans and discusses the controversy of the increasing number of Asian students at these schools.
Observations of CO in the stratosphere of Venus via its J = 0 - 1 rotational transition

Carbon monoxide has been observed in the stratosphere of Venus at phase angles of 180 and 120 deg via the J = 0 - 1 rotational transition at 115.2712 GHz. The mixing ratio profile of CO has been obtained by fitting the theoretical spectrum produced by a small number of layers with constant CO mixing ratio to the line profile, and the results suggest that the CO mixing ratio below the 1-mb level increased by at least a factor of 10 between 180 and 120 deg phase angles. The depletion of CO on the nightside of the planet was not anticipated and may require either a new loss mechanism for CO which can operate without sunlight or an increase in the amount of vertical mixing on the nightside.
Bi-flyback single-stage PFC converter with valley switching technique

Valley switching technique can reduce the turn-on switching losses in flyback topology by discharging the MOSFET capacitor before the switch is turned on. In this paper, valley switching technique is applied to single-stage power factor correction (PFC) converters to achieve improved performance. Detailed operation principle, simulation results and experimental data are included.
The gender gap in top corporate jobs in China : Evidence from an establishment‐manager matched survey

Purpose – This study aims to examine the gender pay gap in organizational leadership positions in China. The author seeks to analyse how much of the gap is explained by differences in individual characteristics and how much is explained by firm characteristics.Design/methodology/approach – This study estimates pay functions based on a unique data set from a survey of private firms and top managers in Liuzhou, Guangxi, China.Findings – Female managers receive much lower pay than male managers in China. A larger portion of the gender earnings gap can be attributed to firm‐level characteristics than individual characteristics. Female managers tend to have fewer firm‐level characteristics that are associated with higher pay, and when they do, they tend to receive a smaller pay premium for those characteristics. This is especially the case for the firm size variable where female managers are less likely to be employed in higher paying large firms, and when they are, they receive a smaller firm‐size premium.Res...
Chaos in the dynamics of a few vortices - Fundamentals and applications

The emergence for small N of chaotic dynamics in the N-vortex problem is reviewed. Vortex systems on the unbounded plane, vortex systems confined by boundaries and various “restricted” problems are discussed. Results of relevance to applications are highlighted.
Brief communication: Effect of size biases in the coefficient of variation on assessing intraspecific variability in the prosimian skeleton

This study examines the effect of a measurement size bias in coefficients of variation on the evaluation of intraspecific skeletal variability in a sample of eight prosimian species (Eulemur fulvus, Hapalemur griseus, Lemur catta, Varecia variegata, Galago senegalensis, Otolemur crassicaudatus, Nycticebus coucang, and Tarsius syrichta). Measurements with smaller means were expected to have higher coefficients of variation (CVs) due to the impact of instrumental precision on the ability to assess variability. This was evaluated by testing for a negative correlation between CVs and means in the total sample, within each species, and within each measurement, and by testing for the leveraging impact of small measurements on the significance of comparisons of variability between regions of the prosimian skeleton. Three comparisons were made: cranial versus postcranial variability, epiphysis versus diaphysis variability, and forelimb versus hindlimb variability. CVs were significantly negatively correlated with means within the total sample (r2= 0.208, P < 0.0001) and within each species. CVs and means were significantly correlated within only three of the measurements, which may reflect the relatively low body size range of the species studied. As predicted by the higher variability of smaller measurements, removing the smallest measurements from comparisons of variable classes containing measurements of different mean magnitudes pushed the comparisons below significance. These results indicate caution should be exercised when using CVs to assess variability across sets of measurements with different means. Am J Phys Anthropol 152:151–155, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Foreign Aid as Foreign Policy: The Alliance for Progress in Latin America

Table of Contents: Dedication Acknowledgements Introduction d1 Chapter 1 Changing Course in Latin America 19 Chapter 2 Implementing the Alliance for Progress 48 Chapter 3 Kennedy to Johnson 80 Chapter 4 Chile and the Alliance for Progress 105 Chapter 5 Brazil and the Alliance for Progress 155 Chapter 6 The Dominican Republic and the Alliance for Progress 207 Chapter 7 Colombia and the Alliance for Progress 253 Chapter 8 The Alliance for Progress in the Late 1960s 291 Conclusion 323 Appendix A 328 Appendix B 334 Appendix C 349 Appendix D 351 Appendix E 369
Evaluation and universal curves of the photon loss probability

In the transfer of radiation in a plasma, an important parameter (which measures the coupling between the radiation field and the electron gas) is the photon loss probability per scattering epsilon, defined as the ratio of collisional de-excitation to total de-excitation. The evaluation of epsilon requires normally knowledge of specific collisional excitation rates and radiative transition rate coefficients. In the considered investigation a general formula for epsilon is obtained which depends only on electron density, temperature, and line wavelength. Use is made of a simple Bethe-Coulomb expression recently derived by Kastner (1980) for the collisional excitation rate coefficient. Epsilon is obtained as a function of the three variables, and universal curves of it can be constructed with one of the variables as parameter. As an example of the application of the considered procedure, the variation of epsilon with height h in the solar atmosphere is shown in a graph for several solar lines.
Joining of Composite Material Structures

In the design of composite material structures, components must be joined in such a manner that the overall structure retains its structural integrity while performing its intended function, subjected to loads (static and dynamic) and environment (temperature, humidity).
Anomalous Tunneling Characteristics

Quasiparticle tunneling1 into superconducting transition metals often shows current—voltage characteristics differing from the ideal curves: an excess current peak or “knee” occurring at biases near the sum of the half-energy gaps of the two superconducting electrodes. In the present work we give evidence that this knee is probably caused by excess adsorbed oxygen in the oxide insulating barrier. Its presence and temperature and magnetic field dependence can be explained by a simple physical model considering impurity energy states in the junction barrier. The knee is most easily identified as an extra dip in the derivative of the characteristic (Fig. 1.).
Group Frames With Few Distinct Inner Products and Low Coherence

Frame theory has been a popular subject in the design of structured signals and codes in recent years, with applications ranging from the design of measurement matrices in compressive sensing, to spherical codes for data compression and data transmission, to spacetime codes for MIMO communications, and to measurement operators in quantum sensing. High-performance codes usually arise from designing frames whose elements have mutually low coherence. Building off the original “group frame” design of Slepian which has since been elaborated in the works of Vale and Waldron, we present several new frame constructions based on cyclic and generalized dihedral groups. Slepian’s original construction was based on the premise that group structure allows one to reduce the number of distinct inner pairwise inner products in a frame with $n$ elements from ${n(n-1)\over 2}$ to $n-1$ . All of our constructions further utilize the group structure to produce tight frames with even fewer distinct inner product values between the frame elements. When $n$ is prime, for example, we use cyclic groups to construct $m$ -dimensional frame vectors with at most ${n-1\over m}$ distinct inner products. We use this behavior to bound the coherence of our frames via arguments based on the frame potential, and derive even tighter bounds from combinatorial and algebraic arguments using the group structure alone. In certain cases, we recover well-known Welch bound achieving frames. In cases where the Welch bound has not been achieved, and is not known to be achievable, we obtain frames with close to Welch bound performance.
Improving the Success of Wetland Creation and Restoration with Know-How, Time, and Self-Design

The creation and restoration of new wetlands for mitigation of lost wetland habitat is a newly developing science/technology that is still seeking to define and achieve success of these wetlands. Fundamental requirements for achieving success of wetland creation and restoration projects are: understanding wetland function; giving the system time; and allowing for the self-designing capacity of nature. Mitigation projects involving freshwater marshes should require enough time, closer to 15-20 yr than 5 yr, to judge the success or lack thereof. Restoration and creation of forested wetlands, coastal wetlands, or peatlands may require even more time. Ecosystem-level research and ecosystem modelling development may provide guidance on when created and restored wetlands can be expected to comply with criteria that measure their success. Full-scale experimentation is now be- ginning to increase our understanding of wetland function at the larger spatial scales and longer time scales than those of most ecological experiments. Predictive ecological mod- elling may enable ecologists to estimate how long it will take the mitigation wetland to achieve steady state.
Transperitoneal preperitoneal laparoscopic lumbar incisional herniorrhaphy

Purpose: Flank incisions may be associated with flank hernias, which may be complicated by incarceration and strangulation. Furthermore, they may be the cause of significant patient dissatisfaction with the surgical outcome. To avoid an open surgical procedure with its associated morbidity for hernia repair we describe a novel laparoscopic technique for repairing flank hernias with minimal morbidity and an excellent outcome.Materials and Methods: Three cases of flank hernia were managed by the transperitoneal preperitoneal laparoscopic approach using polypropylene mesh to repair the fascial defect. An initial transperitoneal approach helps to identify the limits of the hernia. A 2 to 3 cm. margin of overlying peritoneum is incised around the hernia margin. It is important not to dissect overlying bowel. The mesh is placed behind the peritoneal envelope and secured with hernia staples.Results: All cases were managed successfully via laparoscopy. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. ...
Molecular Dynamics Simulation and Thermal Analysis of Macromolecular Crystals

Thermal analysis as developed in the ATHAS, the Advanced THermal Analysis System, has led in the last 10 years to the description of about 150 polymers. The discussion of the entropy and the detailed study of heat capacities has resulted in understanding of disorder and motion in many crystalline polymers. The conformationally disordered state (condis crystalline state) was identified and shown to be different from liquid or plastic crystals. Example polymers range from the flexible polyethylene, polybutadienes, PTFE, and nylons to more rigid polyparaxylylene and aromatic polyesters and polyamides. The conformational disorder and motion could be shown to be introduced either gradually, or at a sharp transition. To get more insight, molecular dynamics simulation on supercomputers was used in cooperation with Dr. D. W. Noid and Dr. B. Sumpter of our institutions. At present crystals with over 6000 chain atoms can be simulated for times up to 30 ps. The crystal is normally 100 chain atoms long (crystallographic c-direction) and data were obtained for a variety of temperatures for a) single chains, b) chains included in one rigid ring nearest neighbors (7 chains), and a chain surrounded by c) one, d) two and e) three mobile rings of nearest neighbors held at constant volume by an additional rigid ring (19 and 37 and 61 chains, respectively) as well as f) without a rigid ring of chains (37 mobile chains). The computed heat capacity effect agrees with the simulation. Rotational isomers seem to be strongly altered by the intermolecular forces. Defects that were proposed based on molecular mechanics calculations seem to have extremely limited life-time.
The need for a taxonomy of health in the study of African therapeutics.

Abstract Most medical ethnographies in Africa have focused on notions and taxonomies of disease, their causes and the therapies available to treat them. This ‘negative’ pathology-oriented perspective misses, or underplays, important although often unlabelled practices and ideas of hygiene, adaptation to the environment, normative health, and the conscious maintenance of health ideals, all of which are increasingly important in planning health programs based on popular support and rooted in cultural values. It is argued in the paper that medical anthropology needs to consider, as a single domain, both disease and health, both taxonomies of disease and of health, and the study of this expanded domain. In order to more adequately identify and analyze such an expanded domain, the paper reviews numerous ethnographic works on medicine and health in Africa—including Heinz on the !Ko, Evans-Pritchard on the Azande. Buxton on the Mandari, Ngubane on the Nyuswa-Zulu, and Janzen on the Kongo—exploring their potential for understanding alternative logics in therapeutics and for explaining sources of change in medical and health thought.
Reverse micellar synthesis of cerium oxide nanoparticles

Cerium oxide, CeO2, nanoparticles were prepared using reverse micellar synthesis, using cerium nitrate as a starting material, sodium hydroxide as a precipitating agent, n-octane as the oil phase, cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) as the surfactant, and 1-butanol as the co-surfactant. Using x-ray diffraction (XRD) and high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), the average size of the nanoparticles obtained was found to be around 3.7 nm, and the particles had a well defined polyhedral shape. The particles also showed strong UV absorption and room temperature photoluminescence. The photoluminescence peak was sensitive to the particle concentration and showed a blue-shift upon dilution.
Pulmonary actinomycosis in children

The radiological features of three cases of pulmonary actinomycosis in children are presented. Two of the cases had the classical roentgen features of chronic consolidation with overlying rib periostitis. The third had non specific consolidation but demonstrated extension through the diaphragm. Two of our cases were mentally subnormal children in institutional care. Their pulmonary pathology is almost certainly attributal to poor dental hygiene, a constant problem in this group of children. Hence, although pulmonary actinomycosis is rare in the general populus, we suggest it might be suspected more often in the subnormal group when chronic consolidation is present.
A T4 DNA fragment containing genes for the baseplate central plug: Endonuclease restriction, gene expression and cell wall changes

A fragment of Escherichia coli bacteriophage T4D DNA, containing 6.1 Kbp which included the six genes (genes 25, 26, 51, 27, 28 and 29) coding for the tail baseplate central plug has been partially characterized. This DNA fragment was obtained originally by Wilson et al. (1977) by the action of the restriction enzyme EcoRI on a modified form of T4 DNA and was inserted in the pBR322 plasmid and then incorporated into an E. coli K12 strain called RRI. This plasmid containing the phage DNA fragment has now been reisolated and screened for cleavage sites for various restriction endonucleases. Restriction enzymes Bgl 11 and Xbal each attacked one restriction site and the enzyme Hpa 1 attacked two restriction sites on this fragment. The combined digestion of the hybrid plasmid containing the T4 EcoRI DNA fragment conjugated to the pBR322 plasmid with one of these enzymes plus Bam H1 restriction enzyme resulted in the localization of the restriction site for Bgl 11, Xba 1 and Hpa 1. Escherichia coli strain B cells were transformed with this hybrid plasmid and found to have some unexpected properties. E. coli B cells, which are normally restrictive for T4 amber mutants and for T4 temperature sensitive mutants (at 44°) after transformation, were permissive for 25am, 26am and 26Ts, 51am, and 51Ts, 27Ts, and 28Ts T4 mutants. Extracts from the transformed E. coli cells were found in complementation experiments to contain the gene 29 product, as well as the gene 26 product, the gene 51 product, and the gene 27 product. The complementation experiments and the permissiveness of the transformed E. coli B cells to the various conditional lethal mutants clearly showed that the six T4 genes were producing all six gene products in these transformed cells. However, these cells were not permissive for T4 amber mutants in genes 27, 28, and 29. The transformed E. coli B cells, as compared to untransformed cells, were found to have altered outer cell walls which made them highly labile to osmotic shock and to an increased rate of killing by wild type T4 and all T4 amber mutants except for T4 am29. The change in cell walls of the transformed cells has been found to be due to the T4 baseplate genes on the hybrid plasmid, since E. coli B transformed by the pBR322 plasmid alone does not show the increase in osmotic sensitivity.
Comparison of coronary angiographic features and oral dipyridamole thallium 201 tomography.

Coronary angiography and left ventriculography is commonly used to identify those patients with incomplete infarctions and therefore, a need for revascular ization. The authors compared coronary angiography and left ventriculography with thalliumm 201 tomography using oral dipyridamole to identify patients with potential ischemia in the infarct zone indicating viable tissue. Forty-five patients (37 men, 8 women) with acute myocardial infarctions (29 anterior, 16 inferior) who received intravenous thrombolytic therapy were studied. On the basis of the left ventriculograms, only 16 patients were judged to have residual function in the infarct zone . Six of these patients had no thallium redistribution in the infarct zone, indicating lack of residual ischemia. Of the 29 patients with no residual function in the infarct zone, 18 had redistribution in the infarct zone, suggesting residual ischemic myocardium and thus viable tissue . Among the 32 patients with open infarct vessels, 15 had no redistribution in t...
Residue 19 of the parathyroid hormone: structural consequences.

Residue 19 of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) has been shown to play an important role in both binding to and activation of the PTH receptor; specifically, Arg19-containing analogues have improved biological function over similar Glu19 peptides {Shimizu et al. (2002) Biochemistry 41, 13224−13233}. Additionally the juxtamembrane portion of the receptor is involved in the different biological responses. Here, we determine the conformational preferences of PTH analogues to provide a structural basis for their biological actions. On the basis of circular dichroism results, the Arg19 → Glu19 mutations within the context of both PTH(1−20) and PTH(1−34) analogues lead to increases in helix content, ranging from a 8−15% increase. High-resolution structures as determined by 1H NMR and NOE-restrained molecular dynamics simulations clearly illustrate the difference between Arg19 and Glu19−PTH(1−20), particularly with the extent and stability of the C-terminal helix. The Arg19-containing analogue has a well defined, st...
In vitro enhancement of tumor cell radiosensitivity by a selective inhibitor of cyclooxygenase-2 enzyme: mechanistic considerations.

Abstract Purpose: Selective cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors have been reported to enhance the tumor response to radiation in vivo , but the cellular mechanisms underlying the radiosensitizing effect are not understood. In the present study, we investigated several possible mechanisms using a murine sarcoma cell culture system. Methods and Materials: Cells derived from a murine sarcoma, designated NFSA, were cultured in vitro and exposed to different (either single or split) doses of radiation with and without a pretreatment of SC-236 (4-[5-(4-chlorophenyl)-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrazol-l-yl] benzene sulfonamide), a selective cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor. The cells were assayed for clonogenic survival to determine the radiosensitizing effect of SC-236. In addition, MTT assay and TUNEL assay were performed to determine the effects of SC-236 and radiation on the cell survival and cell cycle distribution. RNase protection assay was performed on the total RNA extract using probes that encoded for selected cell cycle regulatory proteins, such as cyclins and cyclin-dependent kinases. To monitor the extent of COX-2 activity and its role in radiosensitization, the cellular content of prostaglandin E2, a major metabolite of COX-2 activity on arachidonic acid, was also determined. Results: The cell clonogenic survival assay showed that SC-236 significantly enhanced tumor cell radiosensitivity: 50 μM SC-236 increased it by a factor of 1.51 at the 0.1 cell survival level. Treatment with SC-236 (50 μM, 3 days) removed the "shoulder" region on the radiation survival curve, suggesting that the drug inhibited repair of sublethal radiation damage. The inhibition was confirmed by split-dose experiments where two doses (3 Gy each) of radiation were given 4 h apart. The cells exposed to radiation only repaired the damage by a factor of 1.44, whereas those treated with SC-236 plus radiation repaired it by a factor of 1.1 only. Whereas SC-236 induced apoptosis in these NFSA cells, radiation did not. No further increase in apoptosis was observed when the cells were exposed to both SC-236 and radiation, suggesting that SC-236 did not render tumor cells more susceptible to radiation-induced apoptosis. The RNase protection assay showed that SC-236 (50 μM, 3 days) inhibited the expression of cyclins A and B, as well as cyclin-dependent kinase-1. Inhibition of these cell cycle regulatory elements by SC-236 was associated with the arrest of cells in the radiosensitive G2-M phase (67%), determined by flow cytometry. Conclusions: SC-236 significantly enhanced radiosensitivity of tumor cells; the magnitude of sensitivity was dependent on the drug's concentration. The likely mechanisms involve accumulation of cells in the radiosensitive G2-M phase of the cell cycle and inhibition of repair from sublethal radiation damage.
Chromosome-21-dosage effect on inducibility of anti-viral gene(s).

UNLIKE the bacterial situation little is known about gene regulation in mammalian cells. Inducible systems are being used to study regulatory gene functions in normal and abnormal mammalian cells1–3, and have shown for example, that inhibitors of macromolecular synthesis enhance rather than inhibit the expression of an inducible enzyme. Actinomycin D enhances the induction of tyrosine aminotransferase (TAT) by steroid hormones in hepatoma cells4. Commonly referred to as superinduction, this effect has led to the hypothesis that a regulatory gene(s) modulates the expression of the structural TAT gene4. Of course, alternative explanations have been offered for the superinducing effect of actinomycin D (refs 5 and 6). Similarly, the induction of interferon by viruses and poly(I)·poly(C) and the induction of the anti-viral state (AVS) by interferon have been used to probe regulatory mechanisms in normal mammalian cells7–13. It has been demonstrated that with judicious use of metabolic inhibitors the amount of interferon and the level of AVS induced can be enhanced 100–1,000 times and 10–100 times respectively, over that obtained in cultures exposed to inducer alone. This suggested that one or more regulatory gene(s) modulate the expression of the structural gene for interferon and AVS7–19 I have used a new approach to assess the presence of a regulatory gene function which modulates the expression of the structural gene for AYS. 1 found evidence to suggest that the regulation of ithe anti-viral genes in human cells is controlled by regulatory gene element(s) located on a separate chromosome.
A gene homologous to plasminogen located on human chromosome 2q11-p11.

Abstract A plasminogen probe encoding kringles 1–3 detects homologous loci on human chromosomes 6 and 2 by somatic cell hybrid analysis. Regional localization by in situ hybridization places the loci at 6q26–27 and 2q11–q11. Further analysis by varying washing stringencies of hybridization filters reveals a greater homology with the chromosome 6 locus than with the chromosome 2 locus. These results confirm localization of the plasminogen gene to human chromosome 6q26–27 and indicate that a homologous sequence of unknown identity resides on chromosome 2p11–q11.
Self-tuning wireless network power management

Current wireless network power management often substantially degrades performance and may even increase overall energy usage when used with latency-sensitive applications. We propose self-tuning power management (STPM) that adapts its behavior to the access patterns and intent of applications, the characteristics of the network interface, and the energy usage of the platform. We have implemented STPM as a Linux kernel module---our results show substantial benefits for distributed file systems, streaming audio, and thin-client applications. Compared to default 802.11b power management, STPM reduces the total energy usage of an iPAQ running the Coda distributed file system by 21% while also reducing interactive file system delay by 80%. Further, STPM adapts to diverse operating conditions: it yields good results on both laptops and handhelds, supports 802.11b network interfaces with substantially different characteristics, and performs well across a range of application network access patterns.
On the Generalized Ray‐Singer Conjecture for Covering Spaces

We find a relation between L2 -combinatorial torsion and analytic torsion associated with a small spectrum of the Witten-type Laplacian on a covering space. The result is used as one crucial step in a proof of the generalized Ray-Singer conjecture for covering spaces.
A Chemical Information Literacy Program for First-Year Students

The ability to navigate and understand the chemical literature is integral to the scientific research process. Learning these skills is therefore an important, though often overwhelming, part of an...
Further difficulties in the analysis of functional-response experiments and a resolution

The Holling disc equation (Type-II functional response) for predation, which is mathematically equivalent to the Michaelis–Menten enzyme-kinetics and to the Monod microbial-growth equations, has been used in several linear transformations for parameter estimation. The most commonly used is the Lineweaver–Burk double reciprocal. We compare 4 linearizations of the disc equation and a direct nonlinear fit to stimulated predation data. We conclude that (1) the best parameter estimates are obtained by the direct nonlinear method and (2) the Lineweaver–Burk is the worst of the (all unsatisfactory) linearizations. We propose a new nonparametric technique to use when nonlinear methods cannot be used.
Dynamics of cytochemically distinct subpopulations of macrophages in elicited rat peritoneal exudates.

Abstract Qualitative and quantitative changes in rat peritoneal macrophage (Mφ) subpopulations, differing in their ultrastructural peroxidatic staining characteristics were followed over the course of a thioglycollate (TG) broth-induced inflammatory response. In addition, selected functional features of the normal steady-state and 4-day TG-induced populations of Mφ were compared. The steady-state population consisted primarily of Mφ with peroxidatic staining limited to the nuclear envelope (NE) and rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER); such cells are called resident Mφ. Within hours of TG injection, there was an influx of monocyte-derived exudate Mφ, the number of which reached a maximum, by 24 hr. During the next 24 hr, the proportion of exudate Mφ decreased with a concomitant increase in peroxidatic activity (PA)-negative Mφ. These two cell types continued to predominate for the next 48 hr during which there was a gradual increase in resident Mφ and so-called “exudate-resident” Mφ, the latter of which exhibits both exudate and resident PA patterns. Thus, the 4-day TG-induced population consisted of four Cytochemically distinct Mφ subpopulations: ≈50% PA-negative Mφ, ≈25% exudate Mφ, ≈15% resident Mφ, and ≈10% exudate-resident Mφ. Differences in Fc receptors and complement receptors 1 and 3 were noted between Mφ in the steady-state and 4-day TG-elicited populations. Also, there was a distinct difference between the two populations in the presence of progenitors that give rise to colonies of Mφ in liquid culture in response to murine-derived colony-stimulating factor 1. The implications of these results in regard to the origin(s) of Mφ diversity are discussed.
Monomial patterns in the sequence Akb

Abstract We consider the pattern of zero and nonzero elements in the sequence A k b , where A is an n × n nonnegative matrix and b is an n × 1 nonnegative column vector. We establish a tight bound of k n for the first occurrence of a given monomial pattern, and we give a graph theoretic characterization of triples ( A, b, i ) such that there exists a k , k ⩾ n , for which A k b is an i -monomial. The appearance of monomial patterns with a single nonzero entry is linked to controllability of discrete n -dimensional linear dynamic systems with positivity constraints on the state and control.
Effect of antioxidant vitamins on low density lipoprotein oxidation and impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation in patients with hypercholesterolemia

Objectives. The aims of this study were to determine whether antioxidant vitamins could reduce the susceptibility of low density lipoprotein (LDL) to oxidation and improve endothelium-dependent vasodilator responsiveness in patients with hypercholesterolemia. Background. Animals and humans with hypercholesterolemia have exhibited impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation. In vitro studies suggest that oxidatively modified LDL can impair nitric oxide production. Methods. Forearm blood flow was measured with strain gauge plethysmography and brachial artery drug infusions in 19 patients, aged 52 ± 9 years, with hypercholesterolemia (mean ± SD total cholesterol 283 ± 22 mg/dl, LDL 197 ± 31 mg/dl) and in 14 subjects, aged 48 ± 8 years, with normal cholesterol levels (total cholesterol 169 ± 20 mg/dl, LDL 102 ± 25 mg/dl). Acetylcholine (7.5, 15 and 30 μg/min) was utilized as an endothelium-dependent vasodilator, and sodium nitroprusside (0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 μg/min) was used to test endothelium-independent vasodilation. Oxidative susceptibility of LDL was measured by a spectrophotometric assay of conjugated diene production after the addition of copper chloride. Hypercholesterolemic patients then received daily antioxidant vitamin supplements (beta-carotene [30 mg], ascorbic acid [vitamin C] [1,000 mg], vitamin E [800 IU]) for 1 month, with repeat measurement of both forearm blood flow responsiveness to the same agonists and LDL oxidizability. Results. The maximal flow in response to acetylcholine was impaired in patients compared with that in normal subjects (9.8 ± 7.8 vs. 15.9 ± 8.1 ml/min per 100 ml, p = 0.03), with similar maximal flow responses to sodium nitroprusside (9.5 ± 4.2 vs. 9.0 ± 2.8 ml/min per 100 ml, p = 0.72). After 1 month of vitamin therapy, the onset of LDL oxidation was prolonged over baseline measurements by 71 ± 67%, and the maximal rate of oxidation was decreased by 26 ± 25% (both p < 0.001). However, the maximal forearm blood flow response to acetylcholine remained unchanged from baseline values (maximal flow after acetylcholine 9.0 ± 6.2 vs. 9.8 ± 7.8 ml/min per 100 ml, p = 0.57). This study had 80% power (alpha = 0.05) to exclude a 45% increase over baseline value in acetylcholine-stimulated flow during vitamin therapy. Conclusions. Although 1 month of administration of antioxidant vitamin supplements in hypercholesterolemic patients reduced the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation, impairment in endothelial function remained unaltered. The use of nonvitamin antioxidants or concomitant reduction in LDL levels, as well as more sensitive techniques for measuring vascular responsiveness, may be required to show a beneficial effect on endothelial vasodilator function.
The Value of Experiments in Education

Abstract One of the major story lines of the growth of civilization is the advance of the experiment. From the food we eat to the diseases we conquer to our understanding of how we think and behave, we have profited enormously from an approach that marries our models of the world with tests of their validity through systematic variation to determine cause and effect. These same tools of thought and action are no less critical to the advance of education than to medicine, agriculture, psychology, or transportation. There has been impressive growth in the use of experimental methods in education over the past decade. As a result, much more is known today about what works and what does not. Future progress will be enhanced by research that better explicates process: linking trials to administrative data; serving the interest of local and state officials in examining the impact of their policies and practices; better preservice training for education practitioners in the logic and value of rigorous research; ...
Security standards for the RFID market

As the RFID market expands, we'll see the continued proliferation of RFID tags built for highly specialized vertical markets, which means greater variety and the consequent need to ensure interoperability. A great deal of research and development is currently under way in the RFID security field to mitigate both known and postulated risks. Manufacturers; business managers, and RFID systems engineers continue to weigh the trade-offs between chip size, cost, functionality, interoperability, security and privacy with the bottom-line impact on business processes. Security features supporting data confidentiality, tag-to-reader authentication, optimized RF protocols, high-assurance readers, and secure system engineering principles should become available. Security and privacy in RFID tags aren't just technical issues; important policy questions arise as RFID tags join to create large sensor networks and bring us closer to "ubiquitous computing." With public attention focused on the RFID landscape, security and privacy have moved to the forefront in RFID standards work, and the results are worth watching.
Normal rabbit intestinal cytosol as a source of binding protein for the 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 assay

Abstract Cytosol prepared from small intestine of vitamin D-sufficient rabbits contains a specific high-affinity binding protein for 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3). This binding protein sediments at 3.0–3.5 S in sucrose density gradients containing 0.3 m KCl. Scatchard analysis using intestinal cytosol demonstrated a Kd of 0.05 n m and a maximum binding capacity of 92 fmol/mg cytosol protein for 1,25(OH)2D3 at 4°C. Competitive binding studies with various metabolites of vitamin D showed a relative binding affinity of this protein for 1,25(OH)2D3 > 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 > vitamin D3. With 200 μg of rabbit intestinal cytosol protein, as little as 1.0–2.5 pg of 1,25(OH)2D3 reproducibly displaced the tracer sterol from the binding protein. Analyses of human plasma 1,25(OH)2D3 content yielded values consistent with published results. The vitamin D-replete rabbit provides a convenient, plentiful, and inexpensive source of binding protein for 1,25(OH)2D3 assays.
Analytical Representation of Solutions to Lattice-Hole Theory

The Simha and Somcynsky (S-S) lattice-hole theory has been shown to represent accurately the pressure-volume-temperature (PVT) surface of chain molecular melts and their mixtures. Proceeding beyond its original intent, it has led to correlations with other properties and extension into the steady state and relaxing glass. The equilibrium results appear as the solutions of two coupled equations, involving the variables of state and the hole fraction, h = h (V, T) – a kind of free volume quantity. These are to be solved numerically. Notwithstanding the theory's quantitative success, its implicit form has on some occasions been a practical limitation. We remedy this situation by fitting the scaled and thus general solutions of the coupled equations to accurate algebraic equations, V = V (T, P) and h = hV, T). In this manner, explicit analytical expressions for configurational thermodynamic functions and their derivatives are now available. The new expressions for V and h are simple to employ; the convergence of the non-linear least-squares fit is obtained in seconds. The numerical values of the scaling parameters so derived are nearly identical to those computed from the original coupled equations. Having h and V from the original theory, the cohesive energy density [CED = δ2V, T)] was also considered. The results are again well represented by a simple algebraic expression. An expression for the reduced solubility parameter δ = δ (T, P) is also given. The usefulness of these solutions is further illustrated by an application to the PVT surfaces of polystyrene and polyphenylene ether blends.
Macrocyclic, square planar, tetraalkynyl tetraiodonium salts: structures, stabilities, and vibrational frequencies via ab initio calculations

The geometries and stabilities of HCCH, ICCH, ICCI, IF 3 , IF 2 CCH, IF(CCH) 2 , I(CCH) 3 , I 4 (CC) 4 4+ , and four isomers of I 4 (CC) 4 F 4 were calculated at the ab initio HF/LANL1DZ level. Final geometries were used for electron correlation calculations at the MP4/LANL1DZ level. The results of the calculations demonstrate considerable stability and suggest square planar structures for the macrocyclic tetraalkynyl tetraiodonium compounds