cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of speckle interferometry images

Speckle interferometry provides a basis for analyzing the dynamic motions of materials through differencing of the field scattered from objects at two different times. Phase differences in the signals measured at different times, inferred from fringe patterns, indicate the degree of deformation present. Automatic analysis of differences images requires significant preprocessing to enhance the contrast of fringe regions. Often fringes that are evident to the human eye cannot be perceived automatically because the fringes usually consist of widely separated high intensity spikes. Median or averaging filters are ineffective at enhancing these patterns. Adaptive filtering similar to that used in SAR image analysis is capable of enhancing the fringe area contrast. A two step process is detailed. In a first phase a filter based on window mean and variance suppresses noise and generates a greater cohesion of high intensity points in the fringe areas. In a second phase the image is average filtered to smooth the intensities in the fringes. An auxiliary routine used to count fringes is discussed. Comparisons with median filtered results show the greater ability to automatically count fringes using this two step method.
PERCEPTIONS OF WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS IN MALE-DOMINATED LEADERSHIP CULTURES: MORE POSITIVE SUPPORT FOR WOMEN THAN MANY THOUGHT

Traditionally, women have had less access to education and have not been expected to run companies, positions typically reserved for men. However, this study demonstrates a trend toward tremendous support for women in business. The purpose of this paper was to gauge indigenous perceptions of the potential for women to own and lead businesses in three developing countries. Based on primary survey data from Thailand, China, and Vietnam, findings provide strong support for educating women, and indicate that women are perceived as being capable of owning and leading businesses and are believed to have the characteristics necessary to be business leaders.
Rapid Incorporation of Heterologously Expressed GPCR CCR5 in Nanoscale Apolipoprotein Bound Bilayers (NABBs)

To study reconstituted membrane proteins in a native-like bilayer environment outside of the cell, we developed a novel self-assembling system using zebrafish apolipoprotein A-I (zap1). Nanoscale apolipoprotein bound bilayers (NABBs) are stable discoidal structures that allow access to both topological surfaces of transmembrane receptors. We showed earlier that the prototypical G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), rhodopsin, is stable and functional when reconstituted into NABBs. [1] Here we report the incorporation into NABBs of an engineered C-C chemokine receptor 5 (CCR5) - a rhodopsin-like GPCR involved in the immune response and used as the primary coreceptor for HIV-1. Recombinant CCR5 was immunoaffinity purified from detergent extracts of a mammalian cell line. CCR5-NABBs were prepared by mixing phospholipids, zap1 and purified CCR5 followed by hydrophobic affinity chromatography to remove detergent. The resulting crude NABBs were purified by size exclusion chromatography. Using a novel sandwich ELISA method, we quantified the yield of correctly-folded CCR5. The CCR5-NABBs induced nucleotide exchange by heterotrimeric G proteins in response to the agonist chemokine ligand, CCL5 (RANTES). We plan to carry out structural and dynamic studies of the reconstituted ternary complex of agonist, receptor, and heterotrimeric G protein. NABBs appear to be a flexible tool for a variety of biophysical studies of engineered heterologously expressed GPCRs.[1] S. Banerjee, T. Huber, T.P. Sakmar. 2008. Rapid Incorporation of Functional Rhodopsin into Nanoscale Apolipoprotein Bound Bilayer (NABB) Particles. J. Mol. Biol. 377, 1067-1081.
DNA replication sites within nuclei of mammalian cells.

DNA replication can occur throughout the nucleus and is not restricted to the inner surface of the nuclear membrane.
Structural basis of the junctional anchorage of the cerebral cavernous malformations complex

The products of genes that cause cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM1/KRIT1, CCM2, and CCM3) physically interact. CCM1/KRIT1 links this complex to endothelial cell (EC) junctions and maintains junctional integrity in part by inhibiting RhoA. Heart of glass (HEG1), a transmembrane protein, associates with KRIT1. In this paper, we show that the KRIT1 band 4.1, ezrin, radixin, and moesin (FERM) domain bound the HEG1 C terminus (K(d) = 1.2 µM) and solved the structure of this assembly. The KRIT1 F1 and F3 subdomain interface formed a hydrophobic groove that binds HEG1(Tyr(1,380)-Phe(1,381)), thus defining a new mode of FERM domain-membrane protein interaction. This structure enabled design of KRIT1(L717,721A), which exhibited a >100-fold reduction in HEG1 affinity. Although well folded and expressed, KRIT1(L717,721A) failed to target to EC junctions or complement the effects of KRIT1 depletion on zebrafish cardiovascular development or Rho kinase activation in EC. These data establish that this novel FERM-membrane protein interaction anchors CCM1/KRIT1 at EC junctions to support cardiovascular development.
Knowledge discovery and system‐user adversary

Examines the relationship between systems and their users from the knowledge discovery perspective. Recently knowledge discovery in databases has made important progress, but it may also bring some potential problems to database design, such as issues related to database security, as an unauthorized user may derive highly sensitive knowledge from unclassified data. There is a need for a comprehensive study on knowledge discovery in human‐computer symbiosis. Borrowing terms from algorithm design and artificial intelligence literature, proposes a notion called database‐user adversarial partnership. This notion is general enough to cover various knowledge discovery and security issues related to databases and their users. Furthermore, the notion of database‐user adversarial partnership can be further generalized into system‐user adversarial partnership. Opportunities provided by knowledge discovery techniques and potential social implications are discussed and illustrated by examples.
Interstellar dust spectra between 2.5 and 3.3 microns - A search for hydrated silicates

Spectra in the 2.5-3.3 micron wavelength region of VI Cyg 12, AFGL 2205, and AFGL 2885 were obtained in a search for bound water, hydroxyl groups, and hydrated minerals in interstellar dust. No new absorption bands were found. Comparison of expected strengths of bands of serpentine and chlorite-like minerals with the data suggests that less than 25 percent and 50 percent, respectively, of the silicate in the grains is composed of these materials.
Hox Genes and Spinal Cord Development

The spinal cord is differentiated along the rostrocaudal axis into large domains with regional distinctions reflected in the position and projection of specific cell types. Spinal cord patterning is likely to be mediated by the local expression and activity of transcription factors. This review will examine the expression of one class of transcription factors, encoded by the Hox genes, that are active in spinal cord patterning. Hox genes encode homeodomain-containing proteins with overlapping rostrocaudal domains of expression in the developing spinal cord. Rostrally expressed Ant-p/Ubx/Abd-D-related Hox genes may function in patterning the cervical spinal cord, while Abd-D-related, caudally expressed Hox genes may pattern the lumbar spinal cord. Changes in spinal cord patterning are apparent following Hox gene inactivation, supporting a role for these genes in defining or establishing this pattern.
ANCA: A Family of Fluorescent Probes that Bind and Stain Amyloid Plaques in Human Tissue.

A new family of fluorescent markers containing an amino naphthalenyl-2-cyano-acrylate (ANCA) motif has been synthesized and evaluated for its capability to associate with aggregated β-amyloid (Aβ) peptides. These fluorescent probes contain a nitrogen donor group that is connected via a naphthalene unit to an electron acceptor motif containing water solubilizing groups (WSGs). Chemical modifications were introduced to explore their effect on the capability of the ANCA-based probes to fluorescently label aggregated Aβ peptides. All synthesized probes bind to aggregated Aβ fibrils with low micromolar affinity and fluorescently stain amyloid deposits in human brain tissue from patients with Alzheimer’s disease. We found that structural modifications of the WSG site do not affect considerably the binding affinity. However, changes of the nitrogen donor group alter significantly the binding affinity of these probes. Also, increasing the hydrophilicity of the donor group leads to improved contrast between the Aβ...
Influence of cortisone on free hydroxyproline in the developing chick embryo.

SummaryA chromatographic examination was made of the free amino acids of tissues of normal and cortisone-injected chick embryos. The content of free hydroxyproline was increased markedly in the tissues of the cortisone-treated embryos. The results were confirmed by a colorimetric procedure. With the exception of glycine, in which increases were noted in some instances, the other amino acids showed no consistent changes as a result of the injection of cortisone. The injection of Δ1-17 α-hydroxy progesterone produced slight decreases in free hydroxyproline content.
Internal polyadenylation of the parvovirus B19 precursor mRNA is regulated by alternative splicing

Alternative processing of parvovirus B19 (B19V) pre-mRNA is critical to generating appropriate levels of B19V mRNA transcripts encoding capsid proteins and small nonstructural proteins. Polyadenylation of the B19V pre-mRNA at the proximal polyadenylation site ((pA)p), which prevents generation of full-length capsid proteins encoding mRNA transcripts, has been suggested as a step that blocks B19V permissiveness. We report here that efficient splicing of the B19V pre-mRNA within the first intron (upstream of the (pA)p site) stimulated the polyadenylation; in contrast, splicing of the B19V pre-mRNA within the second intron (in which the (pA)p site resides) interfered with the polyadenylation, leading to the generation of a sufficient number of B19V mRNA transcripts polyadenylated at the distal polyadenylation site ((pA)d). We also found that splicing within the second intron and polyadenylation at the (pA)p site compete during processing of the B19V pre-mRNA. Furthermore, we discovered that the U1 RNA that binds to the 5′ splice donor site of the second intron is fully responsible for inhibiting polyadenylation at the (pA)p site, whereas actual splicing, and perhaps assembly of the functional spliceosome, is not required. Finally, we demonstrated that inhibition of B19V pre-mRNA splicing within the second intron by targeting an intronic splicing enhancer using a Morpholino antisense oligonucleotide prevented B19V mRNA transcripts polyadenylated at the (pA)d site during B19V infection of human erythroid progenitors. Thus, our study reveals the mechanism by which alternative splicing coordinates alternative polyadenylation to generate full-length B19V mRNA transcripts at levels sufficient to support productive B19V infection.
Temperature dependence of the rate coefficients for the reaction of chlorine atoms with chloromethanes

Rate coefficients for the reaction of Cl atoms with CH3Cl (k1), CH2Cl2 (k2), and CHCl3 (k3) have been determined over the temperature range 222–298 K using standard relative rate techniques. These data, when combined with evaluated data from previous studies, lead to the following Arrhenius expressions (all in units of cm3 molecule−1 s−1): k1 = (2.8 ± 0.3) × 10−11 exp(−1200 ± 150/T); k2 = (1.5 ± 0.2) × 10−11 exp(−1100 ± 150/T); k3 = (0.48 ± 0.05) × 10−11 exp(−1050 ± 150/T). Values for k1 are in substantial agreement with previous measurements. However, while the room temperature values for k2 and k3 agree with most previous data, the activation energies for these rate coefficients are substantially lower than previously recommended values. In addition, the mechanism of the oxidation of CH2Cl2 has been studied. The dominant fate of the CHCl2O radical is decomposition via Cl-atom elimination, even at the lowest temperatures studied in this work (218 K). However, a small fraction of the CHCl2O radicals are shown to react with O2 at low temperatures. Using an estimated value for the rate coefficient of the reaction of CHCl2O with O2 (1 × 10−14 cm3 molecule−1 s−1), the decomposition rate coefficient for CHCl2O is found to be about 4 × 106 s−1 at 218 K, with the barrier to its decomposition estimated at 6 kcal/mole. As part of this work, the rate coefficient for Cl atoms with HCOCl was also been determined, k7 = 1.4 × 10−11 exp(−885/T) cm3 molecule−1 s−1, in agreement with previous determinations. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 31: 515–524, 1999
DIFFERENTIAL IMPACT OF FEMALE GENDER ON MORTALITY BY PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE FOLLOWING PCI: RESULTS FROM A SINGLE–CENTER REGISTRY WITH 15,990 PATIENTS

Women are at increased risk for adverse events after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is more common in women and also increases cardiac risk. Whether or not the impact of gender on adverse events after PCI varies by CKD status is unknown. We studied 15,990
Glucocorticoids and acidosis stimulate protein and amino acid catabolism in vivo

Glucocorticoids and acidosis stimulate protein and amino acid catabolism in vivo. We have shown that chronic metabolic acidosis in awake rats accelerates whole body protein turnover using stochastic modeling and a continuous infusion of L-[1-13C] leucine. To delineate the role that glucocorticoids play in mediating these catabolic responses, we measured protein turnover in awake, chronically catheterized, adrenalectomized rats in the presence or absence of glucocorticoids and/or a NH4Cl feeding regimen which induced chronic metabolic acidosis. In adrenalectomized rats receiving no glucocorticoids there was no statistical difference in amino acid oxidation, protein degradation or synthesis whether or not the rats had acidosis. In contrast, chronically acidotic, adrenalectomized rats receiving glucocorticoids demonstrated accelerated whole body protein turnover with a 84% increase in amino acid oxidation and a 26% increase in protein degradation, compared to rats not receiving glucocorticoids or those given the same dose of glucocorticoids but without acidosis. We conclude that metabolic acidosis accelerates amino acid oxidation and protein degradation in vivo, and that glucocorticoids are necessary but not sufficient to mediate the catabolic effects of metabolic acidosis.
Rapid Differentiation of Aspergillus Species from Other Medically Important Opportunistic Molds and Yeasts by PCR-Enzyme Immunoassay

We developed a PCR-based assay to differentiate medically important species of Aspergillus from one another and from other opportunistic molds and yeasts by employing universal, fungus-specific primers and DNA probes in an enzyme immunoassay format (PCR-EIA). Oligonucleotide probes, directed to the internal transcribed spacer 2 region of ribosomal DNA from Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus terreus, Aspergillus ustus, and Aspergillus versicolor, differentiated 41 isolates (3 to 9 each of the respective species; P < 0.001) in a PCR-EIA detection matrix and gave no false-positive reactions with 33 species of Acremonium, Exophiala, Candida, Fusarium, Mucor, Paecilomyces, Penicillium, Rhizopus, Scedosporium, Sporothrix, or other aspergilli tested. A single DNA probe to detect all seven of the most medically important Aspergillus species (A. flavus, A. fumigatus, A. nidulans, A. niger, A. terreus, A. ustus, and A. versicolor) was also designed. Identification of Aspergillus species was accomplished within a single day by the PCR-EIA, and as little as 0.5 pg of fungal DNA could be detected by this system. In addition, fungal DNA extracted from tissues of experimentally infected rabbits was successfully amplified and identified using the PCR-EIA system. This method is simple, rapid, and sensitive for the identification of medically important Aspergillus species and for their differentiation from other opportunistic fungi.
Separation of Mercury into Isotopes in a Steel Apparatus

BY 305 hours of repeated fractional vaporisation from a steel trough in a vacuum at low pressures we have obtained a difference of 0.1 unit in the atomic weight of mercury without other cooling than that given by ice. The trough holds 190 c.c. of mercury, but another larger apparatus has been constructed in which the capacity is 10 kilos. In this the mercury is heated by an insulated wire which lies in the bottom of the trough, the insulation being obtained by a coating of magnesium oxide, which is covered with a steel sheath. This wire is produced by the General Electric Company.
Thalamic projections of spinothalamic pathways in monkey.

Abstract The thalamic distribution of peripherally initiated sensory activity which ascends through the ventrolateral fasciculus of the spinal cord has been studied in monkeys in which the dorsal columns had been sectioned. Evoked unitary discharges were routinely recorded from the external segment of the ventrobasal complex in these animals following stimulation of discrete portions of the body. Evidence was obtained which indicated that this spinothalamic projection is somatotopically organized with reference to the body surface. Other thalamic nuclei from which evoked responses were recorded included cell groups of internal medullary lamina and the centrum medianum. Unitary potentials or multiunit recordings from these other responsive zones were found to be evoked by inputs stemming from large, frequently bilateral areas of the body. In addition, nuclei were also shown to respond which were homologous to some of those comprising the posterior nuclear group in cat. The active points in the posterior region also did not show a somatotopic arrangement of the ventrobasal type and were initiated by stimulation of bilateral peripheral inputs. In two instances, responses were also recorded in the external medullary lamina. These results indicate that the spinothalamic systems of monkey are comprised of pathways through which an area to point relationship exists between the opposite side of the body and the ventrobasal complex, and of diffuse projections which carry input from wide areas of body surface to nuclei adjacent to the ventrobasal complex.
Biologically-based alternatives to synthetic fungicides for the control of postharvest diseases

Recently, biological control has been advanced as an alternative to synthetic fungicides and considerable success in laboratory and pilot scale tests has been realized utilizing antagonistic microorganisms to control postharvest diseases. Several antagonistic yeasts and bacteria have been isolated and shown to have a broad spectrum of activity against a number of postharvest pathogens on a variety of fruit. However, for biological control methods to emerge as an economically viable option, their consistency and efficacy in controlling postharvest decay needs to be enhanced to a level comparable to that of synthetic fungicides. This could be possible through an integrated strategy that exploits the additive and synergistic effects of different biological approaches.
A cannula assembly for inducing cortical spreading depression in free-moving animals

Abstract A simple cannula system is described which permits application of potassium chloride solution directly onto the dura of the free-moving rat. This system should be useful in situations where handling and stressing of animals must be minimized and where timing of induction of cortical spreading depression is critical.
Biodiversity & Environmental Sustainability amid Human Domination of Global Ecosystems

Concern about the loss of Earth's biological diversity sparked two decades of research of unprecedented intensity, intellectual excitement, and societal relevance. This research shows that biodiversity is among the most important factors determining how ecosystems function. In particular, the loss of biodiversity decreases the productivity, stability, and efficiency of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. These research findings come at a time of rapidly increasing threats to global biodiversity resulting from agricultural land clearing, climate change, and pollution caused by globally accelerating demand for food and energy. The world faces the grand, multifaceted challenge of meeting global demand for food and energy while preserving Earth's biodiversity and the long-term sustainability of both global societies and the ecosystems upon which all life depends. The solutions to this challenge will require major advances in, and syntheses among, the environmental and social sciences.
Accuracy of atlantic and eastern north pacific tropical cyclone intensity forecast guidance

Abstract Five statistical and dynamical tropical cyclone intensity guidance techniques available at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) during the 2003 and 2004 Atlantic and eastern North Pacific seasons were evaluated within three intensity phases: (I) formation; (II) early intensification, with a subcategory (IIa) of a decay and reintensification cycle; and (III) decay. In phase I in the Atlantic, the various techniques tended to predict that a tropical storm would form from six tropical depressions that did not develop further, and thus the tendency was for false alarms in these cases. For the other 24 depressions that did become tropical storms, the statistical–dynamical techniques, statistical hurricane prediction scheme (SHIPS) and decay SHIPS (DSHIPS), have some skill relative to the 5-day statistical hurricane intensity forecast climatology and persistence technique, but they also tend to intensify all depressions and thus are prone to false alarms. In phase II, the statistical–dynamical models SH...
Absorption of Positive Pions by Deuterium at 76 and 94 Mev

The absorption of positive pions by liquid deuterium has been studied with scintillation counters, using a collimated pion beam from the Chicago synchrocyclotron. The differential cross sections for the production of protons at angles of 35\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, 45\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, 60\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}, and 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} are 1.189\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.076, 0.926\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.058, 0.643\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.061, and 0.442\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.052 millibarns per steradian at 94 Mev and 1.010\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.102, 0.718\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.081, 0.431\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.073, and 0.300\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.058 millibarns per steradian at 76 Mev in the center-of-mass system. The angular distribution can be represented by $a+{cos}^{2}\ensuremath{\theta}$ with the following values of $a:0.268\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.089$ at 76 Mev and 0.388\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.082 at 94 Mev. The total cross sections are 7.38\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.21 millibarns at 76 Mev and 9.70\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.03 millibarns at 94 Mev.
Catalytic CC bond forming transformations via direct β-CH functionalization of carbonyl compounds

Abstract Strategies have emerged over the past decade to enable the direct functionalization of the remote and inert β-C H bonds of carbonyl compounds. Based on these strategies, a wide collection of novel β-C C bond formation transformations have been developed, including arylation, alkylation, alkenylation, alkynylation, and carbonylation. This review summarizes these recent methods for C C bond formations via direct β-C H functionalization of carbonyl compounds. The scope and limitation of each strategy are also discussed.
Control of information in the United States: An annotated bibliography

An essential reference book to the most important and relevant publications on the control of information in the United States, it includes books and articles on every aspect of this highly topical subject--from philosophical theory to the freedom of the press. It is the first bibliography to deal exclusively with this area and will be of interest to all those concerned with research in journalism, law, communications, and general American history.
The myth and the symbol of biofeedback.

This paper argues that biofeedback suffers from misrepresentation of its historical background and early development, false claims about its effects (e.g. mind-expansion) and that it now symbolizes political and social positions with which it has no connection. The myth that biofeedback arose as a revolutionary break from established science is shown to be false. The symbolization of biofeedback as antifascist and libertarian is also debunked. Unfair demands on biofeedback for miracle cures and excessive profiteering from the biofeedback technology are also criticized. It is urged that scientists and clinicians who know better about the real history and applicability of biofeedback should speak out whenever possible against these misrepresentations.
Experimental aerodynamic characteristics of an NACA 0012 airfoil with simulated glaze ice

The effect of a simulated glaze-ice accretion on the aerodynamic performance of a NACA 0012 airfoil was studied experimentally. Two ice shapes were tested: one from an experimentally measured accretion, and one from an accretion predicted using a computer model given the same icing conditions. Lift, drag, and pitching moment were measured for the airfoil with both smooth and rough ice shapes. The ice shapes caused large lift and drag penalties, primarily due to large separation bubbles. Surface pressure distributions clearly showed the regions of separated flow. The aerodynamic performance of the two shapes compared well at positive, but not negative, angles of attack.
Self-dual maps on the sphere

Abstract We show how to construct recursively all self-dual maps on the sphere together with their self-dualities, and classify them according to their edge-permutations.
An extended application of importance-performance analysis.

Abstract This study, an application of Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) to local Mexican restaurants, shows how the original IPA can be extended to identify the strengths and weaknesses of individual restaurants in a competitive target marketplace. A survey was conducted with customers at two restaurants during a seven-day period. Results indicated that an extended IPA framework, which yielded six different market positions, provided an advantage over the original IPA method in that it analyzed and presented various market positions of the target restaurant and its competitors on the same IPA grid. Suggestions and implications of the extended IPA are developed for restaurant managers.
The relative impact of macroeconomic and yearling-specific variables in determining thoroughbred yearling price

The Present study is the first to examine the relative importance of macroeconomic and yearling-specific variables on the price of thoroughbred yearlings. Regression results indicated that it is the yearling-specific variables that are more influential in explaining yearling price, yet both types of variables are important. The main explanatory variables are the stud fee of the yearlingan's sire, and the annual gross total dollar purchases of thoroughbred yearlings by foreign investors.
The pharmacology of 4-[2-(5-phenyloxazoyl)]-1-methylpyridinium chloride and p-toluenesulfonate

It has been shown that 4-[2-(5-phenyloxazoyl)]-1-methylpyridinium chloride or p -toluenesulfonate produced a dose dependent hypotension which could not be modified by atropine and pyrilamine maleate. There was no significant effect on respiration until exitus. Electrocardiographic changes indicate that these compounds are toxic to the heart. There was no evidence that the pyridinium compounds had any cholinergic, adrenergic or ganglionic blocking properties. Although the pyridinium compounds produced hypothermia, their potency was of a low order, while their toxicity was of a high order, thus preventing use in therapeutics. The pyridinium compounds do not induce or prevent chromoachryodynia in rats, but their vasodilator effect does prevent epinephrine death in mice.
Hypersensitivity reaction to high-dose methotrexate and successful rechallenge in a pediatric patient with osteosarcoma

Hypersensitivity reactions to methotrexate are rare, but have been reported. Methotrexate has shown activity against many malignancies, and omission of methotrexate therapy may increase the risk of cancer-related death in some patients. Therefore, rechallenging patients with methotrexate following hypersensitivity may be beneficial. We report a case of a child with metastatic osteosarcoma who experienced a hypersensitivity reaction to high-dose methotrexate and was successfully rechallenged with methotrexate using a 6-hour infusion. Using this regimen, adequate peak methotrexate plasma concentrations were achieved and no further hypersensitivity reactions were noted.
A miniaturized technique for assessing protein thermodynamics and function using fast determination of quantitative cysteine reactivity

Protein thermodynamic stability is a fundamental physical characteristic that determines biological function. Furthermore, alteration of thermodynamic stability by macromolecular interactions or biochemical modifications is a powerful tool for assessing the relationship between protein structure, stability, and biological function. High-throughput approaches for quantifying protein stability are beginning to emerge that enable thermodynamic measurements on small amounts of material, in short periods of time, and using readily accessible instrumentation. Here we present such a method, fast quantitative cysteine reactivity (fQCR), which exploits the linkage between protein stability, sidechain protection by protein structure, and structural dynamics to characterize the thermodynamic and kinetic properties of proteins. In this approach, the reaction of a protected cysteine and thiol-reactive fluorogenic indicator is monitored over a gradient of temperatures after a short incubation time. These labeling data can be used to determine the midpoint of thermal unfolding, measure the temperature dependence of protein stability, quantify ligand-binding affinity, and, under certain conditions, estimate folding rate constants. Here, we demonstrate the fQCR method by characterizing these thermodynamic and kinetic properties for variants of Staphylococcal nuclease and E. coli ribose-binding protein engineered to contain single, protected cysteines. These straightforward, information-rich experiments are likely to find applications in protein engineering and functional genomics.
An Overview of the Logic and Rationale of Hierarchical Linear Models

Due to the inherently hierarchical nature of organizations, data collected in organizations consist of nested entities. More specifically, individuals are nested in work groups, work groups are nested in departments, departments are nested in organizations, and organizations are nested in environments. Hierarchical linear models provide a conceptual and statistical mechanism for investigating and drawing conclusions regarding the influence of phenomena at different levels of analysis. This introductory paper: (a) discusses the logic and rationale of hierarchical linear models, (b) presents a conceptual description of the estimation strategy, and (c) using a hypothetical set of research questions, provides an overview of a typical series of multi-level models that might be investigated.
Spin-valve and tunnel-valve structures with in situ in-stack bias

The use of in-stack longitudinal magnetic stabilization for spin-valve and tunnel-valve recording head sensors has been investigated. An in-stack ferromagnetic layer pinned with an IrMn antiferromagnet is used to magnetostatically stabilize the free layer by flux closure. The use of IrMn with lower blocking temperature than PtMn allows the bias layer to be set independently from the PtMn-pinned reference layer in the spin-valve or tunnel-valve. A Ta spacer 10-30 /spl Aring/ in thickness is used to separate the free layer from the bias layer resulting in low coupling fields. IrMn delivers up to 0.34 erg/cm/sup 2/ of pinning strength, resulting in stable unshielded sensor operation for device sizes below 0.2 /spl mu/m.
Ocular Manifestations of Graft-vs-Host Disease

In patients who have graft-vs-host disease (GVHD) after bone marrow transplantation, ocular involvement occurs in approximately 60% of cases. Among 13 such GVHD patients, the most frequent ocular manifestations included keratoconjunctivitis sicca, cicatricial lagophthalmos, and sterile conjunctivitis and uveitis. The severe ocular complications of persistent corneal epithelial defects and both noninfected and infected stromal ulceration were related to the concomitant dry-eye condition and could be managed by conventional therapy including topical lubricants and antibiotics, punctal occlusion, bandage soft contact lenses, tarsorrhaphy, tissue adhesive, conjunctival flap, and conjunctival homograft. Postmortem and surgical tissues from four patients revealed conjunctival and corneal epithelial thinning and keratinization, lacrimal inspissation without inflammatory infiltration, and diffuse choroiditis. Keratoconjunctivitis sicca in GVHD patients might be a combined result of drug toxicity effects and GVHD. The frequent and potentially severe ocular problems in these patients suggest that close ophthalmic monitoring is mandatory in bone marrow transplant recipients.
Realization of a distributed OS component for internal clock synchronization in a LAN environment

A key challenge in keeping distributed clocks well synchronized in a LAN environment via OS-or middleware-level mechanisms is to create an interference-free condition in a network channel(s) and a nonpreemptible on-alert condition in the responsible thread in each node during each resynchronization round while keeping the length of each round as short as possible. An approach for meeting this challenge which is based on the middleware architecture TMOSM, has been presented. A prototype implementation and its measurements indicated that with a typical network of PCs connected via a 10 Mbps Ethernet, the PC nodes can be kept synchronized within the deviation bound of 0.5 milliseconds. The organizing principle is believed to be applicable to many real-time OSs or middleware used to support distributed computing applications.
Self-consistent field electronic structure calculations for compressed magnesium oxide☆

Abstract Recently there have been reports that magnesium oxide and other ionic solids have been converted into metallic conductors when subjected to pressures of about 1 Mbar. Electronic structure calculations for compressed magnesium oxide indicate that the gap between valence and conduction bands does not close until much higher pressures are reached—perhaps around 50 Mbar.
Micromechanical resonators with integrated waveguides and Fabry-Perot cavities

Micromechanical resonators incorporating waveguide Fabry-Perot cavities are designed and losses affecting optical finesse are studied. A doubling of the effective Q-factor in a coupledoptical-mechanical resonator is obtained, enabling high-resolution resonant sensors with optical readout.
Some new complexes of indium(III) with olefinic phosphines

Abstract Complexes of InI3 with vinyldiphenylphosphine and n-butenyldiphenylphosphine have been prepared, their stoichiometries being InI3 (CH2CHPPh2) and InI3 (CH2CHCH2CH2PPh2)2. The complex with n-butenyldiphenylphosphine does not have the double bond coordinated which has also been found with the complex CdBr2(CH2CHCH2CH2PPh2)2. The structure of the complex with vinyldiphenylphosphine is discussed and it is considered likely that it is polymeric. The complex InBr3[(C6H11)3P]2 has been prepared which represents the first 5-coordinate complex which has been obtained with tricyclohexylphosphine. Complexes of InX3(X = Cl, Br, I) with MePh2P and Me2PhP are reported and their far i.r. and 1H NMR spectra given.
Biomaterials by freeze casting

The functional requirements for synthetic tissue substitutes appear deceptively simple: they should provide a porous matrix with interconnecting porosity and surface properties that promote rapid tissue ingrowth; at the same time, they should possess sufficient stiffness, strength and toughness to prevent crushing under physiological loads until full integration and healing are reached. Despite extensive efforts and first encouraging results, current biomaterials for tissue regeneration tend to suffer common limitations: insufficient tissue-material interaction and an inherent lack of strength and toughness associated with porosity. The challenge persists to synthesize materials that mimic both structure and mechanical performance of the natural tissue and permit strong tissue-implant interfaces to be formed. In the case of bone substitute materials, for example, the goal is to engineer high-performance composites with effective properties that, similar to natural mineralized tissue, exceed by orders of magnitude the properties of its constituents. It is still difficult with current technology to emulate in synthetic biomaterials multi-level hierarchical composite structures that are thought to be the origin of the observed mechanical property amplification in biological materials. Freeze casting permits to manufacture such complex, hybrid materials through excellent control of structural and mechanical properties. As a processing technique for the manufacture of biomaterials, freeze casting therefore has great promise.
Self-assembled multilayers of gold nanoparticles: nitrate-induced rectification of quantized capacitance charging and effects of alkaline (earth) ions in aqueous solutions.

Gold nanoparticle multilayers were self-assembled onto an electrode surface by using a dipping method. The particle assemblies exhibited quantized capacitance charging characteristics in aqueous media that were rectified by hydrophobic anions such as PF6−, BF4− and ClO4−, similar to the behavior with the monolayer counterparts. More interestingly, even in the presence of less hydrophobic anions such as NO3−, very well-defined single electron transfers were observed voltammetrically with these particle multilayers, a response unseen previously with particle monolayers. This was ascribed, in part, to the enhanced interactions between the particle multilayers and the electrolyte anions as well as the minimization of the structural defects within the particle thin films as compared to the monolayer counterparts. Further studies showed that with particles functionalized with oligo(ethylene oxide) moieties, the particle charge transfer properties were also found to be affected by electrolyte cations, reflected by the variation of the particle molecular capacitance and formal potentials with the nature of the alkaline (earth) metal ions.
Evolution of Mouse T-box Genes by Tandem Duplication and Cluster Dispersion

The T-box genes comprise an ancient family of putative transcription factors conserved across species as divergent as Mus musculus and Caenorhabditis elegans. All T-box gene products are characterized by a novel 174-186-amino acid DNA binding domain called the T-box that was first discovered in the polypeptide products of the mouse T locus and the Drosophila melanogaster optomotor-blind gene. Earlier studies allowed the identification of five mouse T-box genes, T, Tbx1-3, and Tbr1, that all map to different chromosomal locations and are expressed in unique temporal and spatial patterns during embryogenesis. Here, we report the discovery of three new members of the mouse T-box gene family, named Tbx4, Tbx5, and Tbx6. Two of these newly discovered genes, Tbx4 and Tbx5, were found to be tightly linked to previously identified T-box genes. Combined results from phylogenetic, linkage, and physical mapping studies provide a picture for the evolution of a T-box subfamily by unequal crossing over to form a two-gene cluster that was duplicated and dispersed to two chromosomal locations. This analysis suggests that Tbx4 and Tbx5 are cognate genes that diverged apart from a common ancestral gene during early vertebrate evolution.
Buckling Behavior of Polyethylene Liner System

A lining system for pipeline rehabilitation uses the method of deforming then reforming a conventional polyethylene pipe to allow installation inside an existing pipe. The liner pipe can be structurally designed as a flexible pipe using existing field and operating conditions. One of the important design factors is its wall buckling under short-term external loads, such as those resulting from floods, sudden increase of soil pressure, or sudden drop in internal pressure. This paper examines some of the buckling formulas introduced by various researchers, and proposes a simplified design methodology based on experimental research for estimating critical buckling pressure under short-term external loads. Considerations are given in this method to liner thickness, diameter, standard dimension ratio (SDR), and stresses induced by manufacturing and installation processes.
Evolving populations of expert neural networks

In standard neuroevolution, the goal is to evolve one neural network that would compute the right answer most often. However, it often turns out that the population as a whole could perform even better, if we could only choose the right network for each input. One way to do this is to evolve networks that output not only the answer, but also an estimate of that answer's correctness. Experiments in the handwritten character recognition domain show that such an evolutionary process, combined with an effective technique for speciation, can create a population of networks that collectively performs better than any individual network.
Brownian-Motion-Based Convective-Conductive Model for the Thermal Conductivity of Nanofluids

The research community has been perplexed for the past five years with the unusually high effective thermal conductivity of nanofluids. Although various mechanisms and models have been proposed in the literature to explain the high conductivity of these nanofluids, no concrete conclusions have been reached. Through an order-of-magnitude analysis of various possible mechanisms, we show that convection caused by the Brownian movement of these nanoparticles is primarily responsible for the enhancement in the thermal conductivity of such colloidal nanofluids. We also introduce a convective-conductive model which accurately captures the effects of particle size, choice of base liquid, thermal interfacial resistance between the particles and liquid, temperature, etc. This model is a combination of the Maxwell-Garnett (MG) conduction model and the convection caused by the Brownian movement of the nanoparticles, and reduces to the MG model for large particle sizes.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
The effects of social support and stress perception on bulimic behaviors and unhealthy food consumption

Two studies tested a model where perceived stress was the proposed mediator for the relationship between perceived social support and bulimic behaviors, and between perceived social support and unhealthy food consumption among undergraduate students. Study 1 was a longitudinal, online study in which undergraduate students completed the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support and the Bulimia Test-Revised at the Time 1 assessment, and the Perceived Stress Scale and the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire at the Time 2 assessment, approximately four weeks later. Study 2 was an experimental study in which female participants were randomly assigned into a group with or without social support. Stress was induced with a speech task, followed by a bogus taste task paradigm designed to assess unhealthy food consumption. Bootstrap analyses revealed an indirect effect of perceived social support on bulimic behaviors and unhealthy food consumption through perceived stress. Perceived social support was associated with lower perceived stress in both studies. Lower perceived stress was associated with less self-reported bulimic behaviors in Study 1 and greater consumption of unhealthy foods in Study 2. The negative association between perceived stress and calorie consumption in Study 2 was moderated by dietary restraint. Findings suggest that stress perception helps to explain the relationship between perceived social support and bulimic behaviors, and between perceived social support and calorie consumption. Stress perception may be an important treatment target for eating disorder symptoms among undergraduate students.
Sonochemical Synthesis and Characterization of Submicrometer Crystals of the Metal–Organic Framework Cu[(hfipbb)(H2hfipbb)0.5]

The metal–organic framework (MOF) Cu(4,4′-hexafluoroisopropylidene-bis-benzoate)1.5 (Cu–hfipbb) has been projected as an important new nanoporous material for fabricating membranes with applications in gas separation and CO2 capture, among others. Synthesis of submicrometer crystals of Cu–hfipbb, however, is impeded by several factors, including the extreme hydrophobicity of the hfipbb ligand. We report a fast synthesis of submicrometer particles of Cu–hfipbb via a sonochemical technique, at temperatures as low as 0 °C, and with the addition of 2-propanol to control the particle morphology. The particles were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, thermogravimetry, light scattering, and electron microscopy to ascertain the effects of synthesis parameters on the size distribution, structure, and morphology. The presence of a small amount of 2-propanol substantially alters the particle morphology from needles to a more isotropic shape. The Cu–hfipbb particles produced by this approach are suitable for u...
Incipient slip and long range plastic strain localization in microtextured Ti-6Al-4V titanium

Abstract High resolution scanning electron microscope digital image correlation (SEM DIC) was performed in situ during uniaxial loading on Ti-6Al-4V rolled titanium plate to determine the dependence of strain localization on microstructure and microtexture. Individual grains with preferred orientation for basal slip exhibited plastic localization along basal planes before macroscopic yielding. With additional strain, but still below macroscopic yielding, pyramidal and prismatic plastic activity was observed as slip bands transmitting across many grains and entire microtextured regions (MTRs). The localization of long range plastic strain occurred within MTRs that allowed for slip transmission across grains with low angle boundaries. The rolled titanium plate material having strong [ 0001 ] and [ 10 1 ¯ 0 ] texture components showed pyramidal and prismatic type slip extending across entire MTRs at strains well below macroscopic yielding. These strain localization processes occur much earlier in straining and over lengthscales much longer than observed with conventional slip offset imaging. The implications for properties are discussed.