cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Delineating the role of eIF2α in retinal degeneration

Activation of the unfolded protein response has been detected in various animal models of retinal degeneration. The PERK branch converges on eIF2α to regulate protein synthesis. We previously reported that diseased retinas produce less protein as they degenerate. We also proposed that the majority of this reduction in protein synthesis may not be due to control of eIF2α. Nevertheless, multiple research groups have reported that modulating eIF2α levels may be a viable strategy in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, using two genetic approaches, a systemic Gadd34 knockout and a photoreceptor conditional Perk knockout, to alter p-eIF2α levels in rd16 mice, we demonstrate not only that degenerating retinas may not use this mechanism to signal for a decline in protein synthesis rates but also that modulation of p-eIF2α levels is insufficient to delay retinal degeneration.
A Uniform Shear Assay for Human Platelet and Cell Surface Receptors via Cone-plate Viscometry

Many biological cells/tissues sense the mechanical properties of their local environments via mechanoreceptors, proteins that can respond to forces like pressure or mechanical perturbations. Mechanoreceptors detect their stimuli and transmit signals via a great diversity of mechanisms. Some of the most common roles for mechanoreceptors are in neuronal responses, like touch and pain, or hair cells which function in balance and hearing. Mechanosensation is also important for cell types which are regularly exposed to shear stress such as endothelial cells, which line blood vessels, or blood cells which experience shear in normal circulation. Viscometers are devices that detect the viscosity of fluids. Rotational viscometers may also be used to apply a known shear force to fluids. The ability of these instruments to introduce uniform shear to fluids has been exploited to study many biological fluids including blood and plasma. Viscometry may also be used to apply shear to the cells in a solution, and to test the effects of shear on specific ligand-receptor pairs. Here, we utilize cone-plate viscometry to test the effects of endogenous levels of shear stress on platelets treated with antibodies against the platelet mechanosensory receptor complex GPIb-IX.
Exploration of a College and Career Readiness Leadership Program for Urban Youth

Urban youth living in poverty are less socially and academically prepared to access postsecondary education compared to their more affluent peers. College and career readiness (CCR) programs traditionally focus on skill-building to assist with college and financial aid applications, test taking, and career exploration. The Youth Leadership Academy (YLA) program includes these components, but also incorporates positive youth development (PYD) and leadership skill development strategies to further prepare urban youth for college and career through internship, service, and leadership opportunities. Using a mixed methods approach, this study explored youth perceptions of the YLA, evaluating the influence of the program on youth outcomes and distilling what, if any, program design components contributed to their growth and learning. Qualitative findings suggest participation in the YLA was perceived to support growth in communication skills, social skills, readiness for leadership roles, and preparation and knowledge for future college and career opportunities. Additionally, quantitative results demonstrate positive, significant increases from pre- to post-program test in leadership, communication, problem-solving, and teamwork skills for youth. Program design components shown to support positive outcomes included positive relationships with peer and adults, skill-building sessions, and applied internship experiences. Findings suggest that PYD approaches with CCR and leadership skill development programming may promote positive social outcomes for vulnerable youth. Implications for intervention, practice, and future research are discussed.
A Staged Approach of Proximal Left Anterior Descending Coronary Artery Percutaneous Intervention Followed by Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE STUDY A subset of patients requiring coronary revascularization of the proximal left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) and valve surgery may benefit from a staged approach, rather than combined median sternotomy coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and valve surgery. METHODS A retrospective evaluation was made of the outcomes of patients with significant proximal LAD and valvular heart disease undergoing a staged approach of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) followed by minimally invasive valve surgery (MIVS) at the authors' institution between February 2009 and April 2014. A Kaplan-Meier analysis was performed to estimate mid-term survival. RESULTS A total of 68 consecutive patients (mean age 75.2 ± 8.9 years) was identified. PCI was performed for one- or two-vessel disease in 76.5% and 23.5% of the patients, respectively. Within a median of 39 days (IQR 11-62 days), 91.2% of patients underwent primary MIVS, and 8.8% underwent re-operative MIVS, of which 58 (85.3%) were single-valve and 10 (14.7%) were double-valve operations. At the time of surgery, 72.1% of the patients were receiving dual anti-platelet therapy. The 30-day mortality was 2.9%. At a mean follow up of 26 ± 16 months, 7.4% of the patients had a non-target vessel acute coronary syndrome, and the survival rate was 88.2%. CONCLUSIONS Among a select group of patients with proximal LAD and valvular disease, a staged approach of PCI followed by MIVS can be safely performed for primary or re-operative surgery, with excellent mid-term outcomes.
Fanaticism, Racism, and Rage Online: Corrupting the Digital Sphere.

In March 2018, Anthony Testaverde, an aide to Republican New York Senator Martin Goldman, posted a comment to Facebook in which he compared a student activist for gun control to Adolf Hitler, juxta...
An Analytic Solution for the Mechanics Performance of Packaging Corrugated Cardboards Containers with Non-rigid Bonding and Under Edgewise Loads

The understanding of the cardboard performance is necessary to the designing of packaging containers and the protection of their contents for safe deliveries. The use of adhesives is unavoidable in the manufacturing of the cardboards. Like all materials, the adhesives have finite stiffness but when used in the literature, they are assumed perfectly rigid. This study changes this assumption by using the real properties of adhesives. A closed-form solution for cardboard panels assembled with non-rigid adhesives, and subjected to edgewise loading, is presented. The solution satisfies the equilibrium equations of the layers, the compatibility equations of stresses and strains at the interfaces, and the boundary conditions. To investigate the effects of the finite values of adhesive stiffness on the responses, numerical evaluations are conducted. The results obtained have shown that the adhesive stiffness has a strong effect on the performance. Beyond a certain level of stiffness, the usual assumption of perfect bonding used in classical theories is acceptable. This could provide an answer to what constitutes perfect bonding in terms of the ratio of the fluted layer, or simply flute, stiffness to the bonding stiffness.
Biogeography of the Antarctic dragonfishes Acanthodraco dewitti and Psilodraco breviceps with re-description of Acanthodraco dewitti larvae (Notothenioidei: Bathydraconidae)

Antarctic dragonfishes (Bathydraconidae) of the suborder Notothenioidei are found only in the Southern Ocean where they diversified in habitats from the surface to the bathypelagic zone thousands of meters deep. Among dragonfishes, the pelagic Gymnodraconinae sister species Acanthodraco dewitti and Psilodraco breviceps remain poorly known. Although A. dewitti is thought to be restricted to Antarctic waters and P. breviceps to be endemic to South Georgia Island, several P. breviceps specimens have occasionally been reported in coastal Antarctica. Here we investigated the molecular genetic identity of the two species and their geographic distribution. Three mitochondrial genetic markers (mt-cyb, mt-co1, and mt-nd2) identified two dragonfish larvae collected on the West Antarctic Peninsula as A. dewitti and showed that all six specimens with available genetic data and reported to be P. breviceps collected in Antarctic waters were also A. dewitti. These results support the allopatric distribution of the two species, with P. breviceps being endemic to South Georgia Island and A. dewitti being endemic to Antarctic waters, potentially with a circumpolar distribution. The biogeography of the sister species A. dewitti and P. breviceps is likely similar to the allopatric distribution of the congeneric sister dragonfish species Parachaenichthys charcoti and P. georgianus. These considerations suggest that the Antarctic Circumpolar Current may geographically isolate the sub-Antarctic and Antarctic species of both sister species pairs, limiting gene flow and promoting speciation. Furthermore, we provide a detailed description of the A. dewitti larvae to supply characteristic morphological features differentiating A. dewitti and P. breviceps larvae.
Where you live can impact your cancer risk: a look at multiple myeloma in New York City

Abstract Purpose To visualize variation in multiple myeloma (MM) incidence and mortality rates by race-ethnicity and geographic location and evaluate their correlation with neighborhood-level population covariates within New York City (NYC). Methods Trends and racial differences in MM incidence and mortality for the United States [Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Cancer Registry (SEER), National Center for Health Statistics], and NYC [New York State Cancer Registry] were compared using Joinpoint regression. Pearson's correlation coefficients measured neighborhood-level MM–covariate relationships (n = 34). Results MM incidence rates are double in African-Americans compared with Whites, in SEER-13 areas (rate ratio (RR) = 2.27; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.22–2.32) and NYC (RR = 2.11; 95% CI = 2.03–2.20). Incidence rates increased faster in NYC (average annual percentage change difference, −1.1; 95% CI, −2.3 to −0.1). NYC African-American men experienced the steepest increase in mortality rates after 2001. In NYC, strong neighborhood-level correlations exist between incidence and mortality rates and high prevalence of residents of African ancestry, Latin American birth, daily sugary beverage and low fruit and vegetable consumption, and neighborhood walkability. Higher MM mortality also correlates with Hispanic ethnicity, obesity, diabetes, poverty, HIV/AIDS, air benzene concentration, and indoor pesticide use. Conclusions NYC neighborhoods with large minority populations have higher prevalence of poverty-related factors associated with MM incidence and mortality, warranting public health policies to address exposures and access to care.
Increased flexor hallucis longus tension decreases ankle dorsiflexion.

Abstract Background Restricted excursion of the flexor hallucis longus (FHL) is associated with several clinical problems. An FHL excursion measurement device (EMD) was used to objectively assess differences between patients with clinically normal or tight FHL tendons. Methods 188 patients (356 feet) were enrolled. The EMD measured maximum ankle dorsiflexion with the great toe in 15°, 30°, and 45° of dorsiflexion. All had clinical assessment of FHL tightness by their provider independently of the EMD measurement. Results Increased hallux DF always caused decreased ankle DF. Patients with clinically tight FHLs demonstrated decreased ankle DF compared to normal subjects at all hallux positions (p Conclusions Tension in the FHL can limit ankle DF. Clinical tightness of the FHL is likely more common than currently recognized.
Investigating inter-league and inter-nation variations of key determinants for penalty success across European football

The aim of this study was to investigate the inter-league and inter-nation variations of key performance, situational and individual variables on penalty success across four elite European football...
1D to 2D Transition in Tellurium Observed by 4D Electron Microscopy.

A new microwave-enhanced synthesis method for the production of tellurium nanostructures is reported-with control over products from the 1D regime (sub-5 nm diameter nanowires), to nanoribbons, to the 2D tellurene regime-along with a new methodology for local statistical quantification of the crystallographic parameters of these materials at the nanometer scale. Using a direct electron detector and image-corrected microscope, large and robust 4D scanning transmission electron microscopy datasets for accurate structural analysis are obtained. These datasets allow the adaptation of quantitative techniques originally developed for X-ray diffraction (XRD) refinement analyses to transmission electron microscopy, enabling the first demonstration of sub-picometer accuracy lattice parameter extraction while also obtaining both the size of the coherent crystallite domains and the nanostrain, which is observed to decrease as nanowires transition to tellurene. This new local analysis is commensurate with global powder XRD results, indicating the robustness of both the new synthesis approach and new structural analysis methodology for future scalable production of 2D tellurene and characterization of nanomaterials.
Choriocarcinoma Induced Thyrotoxicosis in a Male Adult

Introduction: Germ cell tumors normally occur in the gonads but may be found in extragonadal sites (due to abnormal migration of germ cells during embryogenesis). Metastatic choriocarcionomas are non-seminomatous germ cell tumors which overproduce beta Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG). Rarely, thyrotoxicosis can be driven by germ cell tumor-mediated hCG excess. This hormone binds to the TSH receptor with reduced potency compared to intact TSH. Paraneoplastic thyrotoxicosis, driven by extremely high levels of hCG, is a rare condition which can be associated with choriocarcinomas. Case Presentation: We present a case of 29-year-old man with metastatic extragonadal choriocarcinoma under active treatment with oxaliplatin, paclitaxel, gemcitabine (2 cycles completed), right upper lobe resection and whole brain radiation. He was admitted for small bowel obstruction and persistent tachycardia which prompted evaluation of thyroid function. His initial labs were remarkable for TSH <0.01 mclU/mL (0.27-4.20 mclU/mL), FT4 of 6.38 ng/dL (0.93-1.70 ng/dL), total T3 261 ng/dL (75-170 ng/dL), and beta hCG 578,259 mlU/ML (0-2 mlU/ML). His most recent round of chemotherapy was 7 days prior to admission. He was started on atenolol and methimazole but his FT4 rapidly declined, hence methimazole was stopped after one dose of 40 mg. Sevenfold decrease in FT4 to 0.93 ng/dL correlated with fivefold decrease in beta hCG levels to 98,921 mlU/ML. A week later his FT4 increased to 2.42 ng/dL along with increase of beta hCG to 448,116 mlU/ML. At this point he developed multiple complications due to progressive metastatic disease including acute urinary retention, shortness of breath, abdominal pain, tachycardia, acute anemia and thrombocytopenia, anxiety and was started on methimazole as part of palliative treatment for symptom relief. Unfortunately, he passed away three weeks after initial presentation of thyrotoxicosis due to widespread disease. Discussion: Choriocarcinoma is very rare and aggressive germ cell tumor especially in males. Unfortunately, the widespread nature of choriocarcinomas at the time of diagnosis is a major main reason for poor prognosis. Clinical manifestations of thyrotoxicosis associated with choriocarcinoma such as tachycardia, anxiety, tachypnea are variable and often can overlap with constitutive symptoms in widespread malignancy. Even if a definitive cure of choriocarcinoma is not attainable, recognizing an associated paraneoplastic thyrotoxicosis can provide an important pathway to provide palliative symptom relief.
Inactivation of Blood-Borne Enveloped Viruses with the Nonionic Detergent 2-[4-(2,4,4-Trimethylpentan-2-yl)Phenoxy]Ethanol Does Not Bias Clinical Chemistry Results.

BACKGROUND Patients infected with virulent pathogens require the sophisticated diagnostic capabilities of a core laboratory for optimal care. This is especially true in outbreaks that strain healthcare system capacity. However, samples from such patients pose an infection risk for laboratory workers. We evaluated a strategy for mitigating this risk by preincubating specimens with 2-[4-(2,4,4-trimethylpentan-2-yl)phenoxy]ethanol, a non-ionic detergent commonly calledTriton X-100. METHODS Lithium-heparinized plasma was mixed with the detergent Triton X-100 at 1%. Inactivation of Ebola virus (EBOV), yellow fever virus (YFV), and chikungunya virus (CHIKV) was assessed using a virus-outgrowth assay. The impact of 1% Triton X-100 dilution on the components of a complete metabolic panel (CMP) was assessed on a Roche Cobas analyzer with 15 specimens that spanned a large portion of the analytical measurement range. RESULTS Incubation with 1% Triton X-100 for 5 min was sufficient to completely inactivate EBOV and YFV spiked into plasma but did not completely inactivate CHIKV infectivity even after 60 min of incubation. This was true only for CHIKV when spiked into plasma; CHIKV was completely inactivated in cell culture medium. A bias of -0.78 mmol/L (95% CI, -2.41 to 0.85) was observed for CO2 and 5.79 U/L (95% CI, -0.05 to 11.63) was observed for aspartate aminotransferase after addition of Triton X-100. No other components of the CMP were affected by the addition of Triton X-100. CONCLUSIONS Detergent-based inactivation of plasma specimens may be a viable approach to mitigating the risk that certain blood-borne pathogens pose to laboratory workers in an outbreak setting. However, the effectiveness of this method for inactivation may depend on the specimen type and pathogen in question.
Measuring Direct Teaching Costs: Does an Undergraduate Business Degree Cost More to Produce than a Non-Business Degree?

Many universities have implemented tuition differentials for certain undergraduate degree programs citing higher degree costs or higher demand. However, most college accounting systems are unsuited for measuring cost differentials by degree program. This research outlines a method that can convert commonly available financial data to a more appropriate form for cost analysis. Results show that the average faculty teaching salary cost differs between degree programs, but these differences are more a function of class size and success rates than average faculty salaries.
On Irreversible Metropolis Sampling Related to Langevin Dynamics

There has been considerable interest in designing Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms by exploiting numerical methods for Langevin dynamics, which includes Hamiltonian dynamics as a deterministic case. A prominent approach is Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC), where a leapfrog discretization of Hamiltonian dynamics is employed. We investigate a recently proposed class of irreversible sampling algorithms, called Hamiltonian assisted Metropolis sampling (HAMS), which uses an augmented target density similarly as in HMC, but involves a flexible proposal scheme and a carefully formulated acceptance-rejection scheme to achieve generalized reversibility. We show that as the step size tends to 0, the HAMS proposal satisfies a class of stochastic differential equations including Langevin dynamics as a special case. We provide theoretical results for HAMS under the univariate Gaussian setting, including the stationary variance, the expected acceptance rate, and the spectral radius. From these results, we derive default choices of tuning parameters for HAMS, such that only the step size needs to be tuned in applications. Various relatively recent algorithms for Langevin dynamics are also shown to fall in the class of HAMS proposals up to negligible differences. Our numerical experiments on sampling high-dimensional latent variables confirm that the HAMS algorithms consistently achieve superior performance, compared with several Metropolis-adjusted algorithms based on popular integrators of Langevin dynamics.
Recurrent Nasal-Type Extranodal Natural Killer/T-Cell Lymphoma with Meningeal Involvement.

Extranodal natural killer/T-cell lymphoma nasal type (NNKTL) is a type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that has been associated with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV). It has an aggressive behavior, known for predilection to metastasize to different organs. Central nervous system (CNS) spread from a primary location has been reported. Different modalities of treatment such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been employed in the management of this disease. Severe toxicities of currently available treatment have made clinicians seek more targeted therapies using molecular profiling. We present a 44-year-old Hispanic patient who was diagnosed with an early-stage NNKTL and treated with the modified SMILE regimen for 6 cycles. His EBV DNA PCR turned undetectable and remained so throughout the treatment. He sustained complete right vision loss due to right optic nerve invasion by the tumor, leading to prophylactic intravitreal methotrexate to the contralateral eye. The patient achieved good response with minimal residual disease. He was supposed to start radiation as a sequential therapy. However, the acute development of severe headache and confusion lead to a complete workup showing leptomeningeal spread. He eventually succumbed to the disease.
Pressure Injury Outcomes of a Prone-Positioning Protocol in Patients With COVID and ARDS.

Background During the COVID-19 outbreak, standard methods for treating acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) were used for patients presenting with ARDS. One such treatment method involves placing patients prone to improve oxygenation and reduce mortality risk. Chal-lenges in preventing pressure injuries in patients placed prone have been reported, and no studies have explored the effects of including a certified wound and skin care nurse as part of the care team on the incidence of pres-sure injuries in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients with ARDS. Objectives To evaluate the association between includ-ing a certified wound and skin care nurse on a multipro-fessional pronation team and prevention of pressure injuries in SARS-CoV-2-infected patients with ARDS. Methods This multicenter observational cohort study used retrospective data from the electronic health record. The intervention group consisted of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients diagnosed with ARDS who were treated by a multidisciplinary prone-positioning team that included a certified wound and skin care nurse specialist. The com-parison group of SARS-CoV-2-infected patients with ARDS was treated by a multidisciplinary prone-positioningteam that did not include a certified wound and skin care nurse specialist. Results As shown by multivariable logistic regression mixed-effect modeling, patients in the intervention group had a 97% lower adjusted odds ratio of a pressure injury developing than did patients in the comparison group (0.03 [95% CI, 0.01-0.14];P < .001). Conclusion The inclusion of a certified wound and skin care nurse on a multiprofessional prone-positioning team sig-nificantly reduced the odds of pressure injuries developing in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. (American Journal of Critical Care. Published online September 13, 2021.)
Endophytic fungi as a promising biocontrol agent to protect wheat from Fusarium graminearum head blight.

The search for beneficial endophytes that can be part of a constructed microbial community has increased in recent years. We characterized three endophytic fungi previously isolated from wheat for their in vitro and in planta antagonism toward the Fusarium head blight pathogen, Fusarium graminearum. The endophytes were phylogenetically characterized and shown to be Alternaria destruens, Fusarium commune, and Fusarium oxysporum. Individual fungal endophytes significantly increased seed weight and lowered the accumulation of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol compared to F. graminearum infected wheat heads without endophyte pretreatment. Investigation into the mechanism of competition in vitro showed that endophytes competitively excluded F. graminearum by pre-emptive colonization and possible inhibition over a distance. Investigations on the use of these endophytes in the field are in progress. Identification of these three endophytes highlights a common quandary in searching for beneficial microbes to use in agriculture: species definitions often do not separate individual isolates' lifestyles. A greater understanding of the risks in using intraspecies variants for biocontrol is needed and should be examined in the context of the ecology of the individuals being investigated.
The 1928–29 Dance Season in New York

Abstract After consideration of a description of the 1928–29 concert dance season in New York City, the following can be inferred, (a) The quantity of dance performances became significant. (b) The recital became a common occurrence, (c) Dance critics began to have influence, (d) There was an unusually large variety of excellent dancers performing and an unusual number of types of dancing represented, (f) Ballet was merely “popular” and the romantic dance was being displaced by the modern movement. By extension, it can be said that the 1928–29 concert dance season was a turning point in the history of dance in America.
Thymic Regulation--Hidden in Plain Sight

The thymus is the nursery where T cell precursors mature into T cells of theandlineages. In a Perspective, Rothenberg discusses intriguing findings that reveal a new level of regulation in the thymus ( Silva-Santos et al.). Apparently, double-positive T cells that are destined to mature intoT cells directly regulate the development of theT-cell lineage through the production of lymphotoxin and the action of a transcription factor called RORt.
On the 3E1u - 1A1g intercombination in benzene

Abstract The lifetime and the oscillator strength for the 3 E 1u - 1 A 1g intercombination has been calculated. The perturbing singlets for the 3E1u state are the 1 E 1u (π, π ∗ ) and two 1 A 2u (σ, π ∗ ) . One of the 1A2u perturbing singlet is obtained by promotion of one electron from a σ bonding molecular orbital of the carbon-carbon bonds, the other 1A2u perturbing singlet is obtained by promotion of one electron from a σ bonding molecular orbital of the carbon-hydrogen bonds. The one-electron part and the two-electron part of the spin orbital Hamiltonian are both considered in the calculation. The electric field acting on the electrons is obtained following the approximation introduced by Hameka. The two center integrals were computed in the cases where the one center integrals are vanishing and are otherwise neglected. The results of the calculation show that the 3E1u transition has an f value of ∼2 × 10−10 and lifetime τ ≅ 20 seconds; consequently the 3E1u transition is too weak to be identified with the system of weak bands observed in liquid benzene spectra and crystal benzene spectra in the 2600-A region. The oscillator strength of the 1 A 2u - 1 A 1g transitions is estimated to be in the range f = 2 – 5 × 10−2 the more definite value depending on the still unknown location of the 1A2u perturbing states.
Transfection of Escherichia coli spheroplasts. II. Relative infectivity of native, denatured, and renatured lambda, T7, T5, T4, and P22 bacteriophage DNAs.

The change of infectivity of phage DNAs after heat and alkali denaturation (and renaturation) was measured. T7 phage DNA infectivity increased 4- to 20-fold after denaturation and decreased to the native level after renaturation. Both the heavy and the light single strand of T7 phage DNA were about five times as infective as native T7 DNA. T4 and P22 phage DNA infectivity increased 4- to 20-fold after denaturation and increased another 10- to 20-fold after renaturation. These data, combined with other authors' results on the relative infectivity of various forms of phiX174 and lambda DNAs give the following consistent pattern of relative infectivity. Covalently closed circular double-stranded DNA, nicked circular double-stranded DNA, and double-stranded DNA with cohesive ends are all equally infective and also most highly infectious for Escherichia coli lysozyme-EDTA spheroplasts; linear or circular single-stranded DNAs are about 1/5 to 1/20 as infective; double-stranded DNAs are only 1/100 as infective. Two exceptions to this pattern were noted: lambda phage DNA lost more than 99% of its infectivity after alkaline denaturation; this infectivity could be fully recovered after renaturation. This behavior can be explained by the special role of the cohesive ends of the phage DNA. T5 phage DNA sometimes showed a transient increase in infectivity at temperatures below the completion of the hyperchromic shift; at higher temperatures, the infectivity was completely destroyed. T5 DNA denatured in alkali lost more than 99.9% of its infectivity; upon renaturation, infectivity was sometimes recovered. This behavior is interpreted in terms of the model of T5 phage DNA structure proposed by Bujard (1969). The results of the denaturation and renaturation experiments show higher efficiencies of transfection for the following phage DNAs (free of single-strand breaks): T4 renatured DNA at 10(-3) instead of 10(-5) for native DNA; renatured P22 DNA at 3 x 10(-7) instead of 3 x 10(-9) for native DNA; and denatured T7 DNA at 3 x 10(-6) instead of 3 x 10(-7) for native DNA.
The Teaching of Writing, 85th Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education, Part II, edited by Anthony R. Petrosky and David Bartholomae. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1986, 212 pp., softcover. (ISBN 0-226-59949-3)

(1990). The Teaching of Writing, 85th Yearbook of the National Society for the Study of Education, Part II, edited by Anthony R. Petrosky and David Bartholomae. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1986, 212 pp., softcover. (ISBN 0-226-59949-3). The Educational Forum: Vol. 54, No. 4, pp. 423-426.
Spin-cluster effects and frustration in the uniaxial spin glass Fe 2-x Ti 1+x O 5

Transverse-field (TF) muon-spin-relaxation (μSR) and Mossbauer experiments on the uniaxial insulating spin glass Fe2−xTi1+xO5 (x=0.25) have been performed near and below the spin-glass temperature (T g). The effect of a transverse field on the spin-freezing process and spin-glass state has been investigated by measuring the field-and temperature-dependencies of the μSR parameters. Spin-cluster effects signaled by anomalous μ-spin relaxation have been observed in a temperature region just aboveT g. An interpretation supported by recently developed theoretical models addressing non-linear relaxation in an intermediate Griffiths phase is offered.
Dynamic bond percolation in networks

Bond percolation is a network process that traditionally addresses the question when there is a path between two sites or two clusters in a network. This has been used to study the circulation of goods or flows in networked structures as well as network resilience. This paper proposes and analyzes a dynamic bond percolation model where bonds (i.e., edges) open (i.e., form) or close (i.e., terminate) according to random micro interactions. We model the edge dynamics through topology independent and topology-dependent processes — spontaneous formation or termination of edges and the formation of edge {a, b} between two sites a and b that depends on the current number of existing edges at a and b. We show that the resulting network process is Markov and reversible, and we determine analytically its equilibrium distribution, avoiding having to solve a eigenvalue-eigenvector problem that quickly becomes intractable for even moderate sized networks.
Examining the effects of information system characteristics and perceived usefulness on post adoption usage of information systems

Understanding post adoption behavior has emerged as an important issue in IS research. Organizations have invested in a plethora of Information Systems (IS) and the benefits that can be gained from these systems depend on their usage. Prior research has examined factors that impact users' intention to continue using the IS. However, comprehending post adoption IS usage behavior has not received much attention. Building on TAM and IS success model, this study proposes that information quality and system integration influence perceived IS usefulness which will then drive post adoption usage of the IS. Post adoption IS usage is conceptualized as a broad concept that includes extended usage and exploratory usage. Data (N=1032) was collected to test the model, in the context of a web-based student information system that students use to manage their academic work. The results show that at the post adoption stage, perceived IS usefulness is a good predictor of extended usage and exploratory usage. However, surprisingly IS usefulness was found to explain a much larger variance in exploratory usage. Information quality and system integration were found to influence IS usefulness. However, information quality also has a direct affect on extended usage, while system integration directly influenced exploratory usage. Assessment of the moderating role of gender and internet experience on model relationships reveals interesting insights. Implications are drawn for future research and practice.
The Use of Separate Sessions in Family Mediation

Whatever their professional background, family mediators adhere to a com­ mon set of operating principles. The mediator holds several sessions with the parties. The parties consult attorneys and other advisers outside these ses­ sions. The mediator employs pragmatic intervention techniques, adapted from several disciplines, within a set of increasingly accepted ethical con­ straints. Confidentiality is a lodestar of the process. There is one major exception to this developing consensus: Family medi­ ators remain divided over the usefulness of holding separate sessions (some­ times called caucuses) with each spouse during negotiations. Mediators make extensive use of separate sessions when resolving labor­ management, environmental, and community disputes, among others. Many family mediators also use separate sessions because this technique seems, em­ pirically, to speed the resolution of difficult issues. However, no coherent ar­ gument has been made about why this should be so. Taking a contrary position, a significant number of family mediators, many with therapeutic backgrounds, contend that separate sessions may compromise the impartiality of the mediator, reduce trust between the par­ ties, and threaten the collegial ideal underlying family mediation. As these objections invoke many of the canons of dispute resolution, the controversy over using this technique is more than a matter of "stylistic" dif­ ferences. In this article, after outlining the practical uses and drawbacks of separate sessions, I will suggest that family mediators have affirmative obliga­ tions to clients that cannot be discharged unless separate sessions are employed routinely. Although the focus here is on family matters, particularly separation and divorce, mediators in other contexts face a fundamentally similar question: Are there situations in which everyone's interests are best served by separat­ ing the disputants? The final section of this article will discuss the degree to which the justifications for separate sessions are likely to hold across the range of disputes served by mediation.
The role of health services research in the Veterans Administration-and beyond.

The papers presented at the conference are summarized and the critical points of each are highlighted. There appears to be a real role for health services research in the Veterans Administration health care system, and it can be used to carry out the threefold task of learning what is now being done in the system, what has been achieved, and what needs to be done. The task is difficult but the VA and health services researchers have the skill, dedication, and resources to meet the challenge.
Steric factors in the inhibitory interaction of imidazoles with microsomal enzymes.

Abstract The ability of substituted imidazoles to bind to cytochrome P-450 (type II) and to inhibit microsomal drug-metabolizing enzyme activity is highly dependent on the position of the substituent in the imidazole ring. Compounds containing substituents in the 1-, 4(5)- and 1,5-positions are effective inhibitors of the epoxidation of aldrin in rat liver microsomes and armyworm ( Spodoptera eridania ) gut preparations and exhibit low spectral dissociation constants ( K s . In contrast, compounds containing 2- and/or 4-substitutents are essentially inactive as inhibitors and exhibit high K s values (low binding). It appears that both binding and inhibition depend on the accessibility of the non-bonded electrons on the nitrogen atom at position — 3 of the ring.
Optimal Advance Scheduling

The dynamic assignment of patients to exam days in order to manage daily variations in demand and capacity is a long-standing open research area in appointment scheduling. In particular, the dynamic assignment of advance appointments has been considered to be especially challenging because of its high dimensionality. We consider a canonical model of dynamic advance scheduling with two patient classes: an urgent demand class, which must be served on the day of arrival, and a regular demand class, which can be served at a future date. Patients take the earliest appointments offered and do not differentiate among providers. We derive a surprising characterization of an optimal policy and an algorithm to compute the policy exactly and efficiently. These are, to our knowledge, the first analytical results for the dynamic advance assignment of patients to exam days. We introduce the property of successive refinability, which allows advance schedules to be easily computable and under which there is no cost to the system to making advance commitments to patients. We allow multiple types of capacity to be considered and both demand and capacity to be nonstationary and stochastic.
Exploring the relative bending of a CVD graphene monolayer with gap-plasmons.

We report a spectroscopic indicator showing the bending of a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) graphene monolayer on Cu foil or an arbitrary substrate after transfer. Using a Au nanoparticle (NP)–graphene monolayer–Au thin film (TF) junction system, the Radial Breathing-Like Mode (RBLM) Raman signal from the sandwiched graphene monolayer is evidently observed by employing a local z-polarized incident field formed at the Au NP–Au TF junction. We also utilized the RBLM intensity as a quantitative tool with a wide dynamic range (∼300%) compared to the 2D peak width (∼35%) for determining the relative degree of bending on the Au TF substrate. The RBLM signal from the CVD graphene monolayer is anticipated to be used as a valuable marker in exploring out-of-plane directional properties.
Studies of interfacial structure in WC multilayers

This paper reports on a set of interfacial structure studies in WC multilayers. Statistical investigations were conducted to ascertain whether building up layers containing, on the average, an integer number of atoms could in any way minimize the effects of interfacial roughness.
Direct imaging of Earth-like planets from space (TPF-C)

The "big question" that the average person will ask an astronomer today is, "Are there Earth-like planets?" followed immediately by "Is there life on those planets?" We live in an age when we are privileged to be able to ask such a question, and have a reasonable expectation of receiving an answer, at least within the coming decade. As astronomers and physicists we are even more privileged to be the people who can provide those answers. This paper discusses the roles of four space missions that are planned by NASA to search for and characterize extrasolar planets: Kepler, Space Interferometer Mission (SIM-PlanetQuest), Terrestrial Planet Finder Coronagraph (TPF-C), and Terrestrial Planet finder Interferometer (TPF-I). The Kepler and SIM-PlanetQuest missions will search for and discover planets down to the few-Earth size and mass, around distant and nearby stars respectively. In favorable cases they will even be able to find Earth-size or mass planets. But to answer the questions "is a given planet habitable?" and "does it show signs of life?" we will need the TPF-C and TPF-I missions. Only these missions can isolate the light of the planet from the confusion of otherwise blinding starlight, and only these missions can perform spectroscopy on the planets. Visible and thermal infrared spectroscopy together will tell us if a planet is habitable and shows signs of life. TPF-C and TPF-I will build on the legacy of Kepler and SIM-PlanetQuest, and together these four missions will provide complete and unambiguous answers to our "big questions." This paper concentrates on the TPF-C mission.
Physiological changes associated with hypnosis: the effect of hypnosis on temperature.

Abstract This study investigated the physiological effect on temperature of hypnosis. Under neutral hypnosis, 20 Ss experienced an increase of oral temperature averaging 0.6[ddot] F., which subsided after termination of the trance. When skin temperature on the forehead, chest, and hand were measured on 4 Ss, there was an even more pronounced increase; measurements on the volar surface of the foot were equivocal. Control oral temperature measurements using relaxation without hypnosis showed no significant increase. It was concluded that neutral hypnosis is generally accompanied by an increase in oral and skin temperature.
Electron Affinities, Well Depths, and Vibrational Spectroscopy of cis- and trans-HOCO

We report vibrationally resolved photoelectron spectra of internally cold HOCO(-) and DOCO(-) anions at wavelengths near and well above the detachment threshold. These spectra are dominated by a strong Franck-Condon progression of three low-energy modes of the cis isomer, the first gas-phase measurement of these vibrations. Using highly resolved, near-threshold spectra we are able to reassign the electron affinities (EM) of cis- and trans-HOCO to 1.51 +/- 0.01 and 1.37 +/- 0.01 eV, respectively. Using these EM, well depths with respect to OH + CO are determined to be 1.07 +/- 0.02 eV for trans-HOCO and 0.99 +/- 0.02 eV for cis-HOCO. High-level ab initio calculations show excellent agreement with all experimental results. These values will be of direct use in thermochemical calculations and will help to aid in the identification of the HOCO radical in complex reactions.
Optimal Allocation of Heat Transfer Surface of a Two-Stage Refrigeration System

The purpose of this study is to investigate how the heat exchanger inventory allocation plays a role in maximizing the thermal performance of a two-stage refrigeration system with two evaporators. First, the system is modeled as a Carnot refrigerator and a particular heat transfer parameter is kept constant as the heat exchanger allocation parameter is allowed to vary. The value of the heat exchanger allocation parameter corresponding to the maximum coefficient of performance (COP) is noted. The results are compared to those of a non-Carnot refrigerator with isentropic and non-isentropic compression. It is found that the Carnot refrigerator can be used to predict the value of the heat exchanger allocation parameter where the maximum COP occurs for a non-Carnot refrigerator. In order to improve the accuracy of that prediction, the predicted value of the heat exchanger allocation parameter has to be inputted into the set of equations used for the non-Carnot refrigerator. This study is useful in designing a low cost, high-performance refrigeration system.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Nonenzymic Catalysts of Lipid Oxidation in Mackerel Ordinary Muscle

Lipid oxidation catalyzed by the 150 KD fraction of ordinary muscle was inhibited by ceruloplasmin suggesting that iron was released from ferritin.
Role of the lateral suprasylvian visual area in behavioral recovery from effects of visual cortex damage in cats

Abstract The purpose of the present experiment was to determine the specific cortical areas involved in the behavioral recovery observed after visual cortex damage. Eight cats were trained preoperatively on brightness, form and pattern discriminations. They then underwent bilateral removal of visual cortical areas 17, 18, and 19. Postoperatively, the cats showed a loss of the learned discriminations. In agreement with previous studies, they were able to recover their visual discrimination ability, and all 8 cats reattained criterion performance on all three discriminations. Retention tests of the postoperatively learned tasks were then conducted after a period of 40 days or more. They showed that cats with visual cortex lesions have good retention of easier discriminations, but show some forgetting of more difficult tasks. Following the visual cortex lesion and recovery, 4 cats received a second lesion of the crown of the middle and posterior suprasylvian gyri (CROWN group). This produced no loss of the discriminations beyond what is expected on the basis of forgetting, as determined by the retention tests. The remaining cats received a second lesion which included the lateral suprasylvian visual area in the middle and posterior suprasylvian sulci (LS group). In two of these animals, the lesion also damaged some of the crown of the suprasylvian gyrus (LS + CROWN group). These lesions produced a second loss of the form and pattern discriminations, and relearning was more prolonged than that following damage to visual cortex alone. There was no difference between the LS and the LS + CROWN groups. These results indicate that the lateral suprasylvian visual area plays an important role in the behavioral recovery of form and pattern discrimination ability following visual cortex damage in cats.
Carotid Artery Injection Technique: Bounds for Bolus Mixing by Plasma and by Brain:

Estimation of Michaelis-Menten kinetic parameters (Km, Vmax) of blood–brain barrier (BBB) transport processes with the carotid artery single injection technique assumes that mixing of the bolus with unlabeled substrate either from (a) circulating plasma or (b) amino acid efflux from brain, is minimal. The maximum extent to which the bolus could mix by these two sources is quantified in the present studies by measuring 14C-phenylalanine extraction in pentobarbital-anesthetized and conscious rats after the addition of 0–80% rat serum to the arterial injection solution. An upper bound (±SE) of bolus mixing due to mixing from both sources, expressed in terms of percentage of rat plasma, is 8.8 ± 1.9 and 7.0 ± 2.1% for the anesthetized and conscious rat, respectively. The estimated contribution to bolus mixing due to amino acid efflux from brain is 3.3 and 2.1% for the anesthetized and conscious rat, respectively. Based on these estimates, the upper bound for bolus mixing with circulating rat plasma is only 5....
FINE STRUCTURE OF SYNAPSES IN THE CEREBRAL CORTEX.

The synaptolemma of axo-dendritic synapses in the rabbit striate and peristriate cortex has been examined in the electron microscope. Observations are reported of 1) a subsynaptic organelle, in the juxta-membranous part of the dendrite cytoplasm; 2) a typical attenuation of the synaptic cleft, located at the circumference or at the center of the synaptolemma; 3) interlemmal elements of two types, designated A and B.
Industrial sales management in the 1980s

Abstract This article offers suggestions for sales management in the 1980s. Experts believe that energy and other resources will decline, government regulation will increase, and increased attention will be given to social responsibility. Several recommendations for dealing with these anticipated pressures are presented.