cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Analysis of the effect of radiation repair mutations on the DEL1 mutator region of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

In DEL1 strains of the yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the iso-1-cytochrome c (CYC1) region is flanked on either side by Tyl elements in direct orientation which promote cyc1 deletions of the bracketed DNA in the haploid cell. In this study, we asked which genes might control this event by testing the possibility that the DEL1 mutation mechanism requires an enzyme (or enzymes) that is also utilized in the repair of damaged DNA. To this end, we independently coupled eight repair mutations, rad3–2, rad4–4, rad6–1, rad6–3, rad9–1, rev3–1, rad50–1, and rad51-1, toDEL1 and asked whether DEL1 was still functional. We found that none of these rad mutations significantly affects the mutation frequency of 10−6-10−5 established in DEL1 strains for the CYC1 locus. Furthermore, we determined that ste7, a temperature-sensitive sterile allele known to alter gene regulation in Ty-mediated mutations, is not required for DEL1 function. Finally, DEL1 is not temperature-sensitive at 23° or 37 °C.
Metal organic framework membranes for separation applications

Microprous metal organic framework materials possess unique properties as membrane materials for gas and liquid separation. An increasing number of metal organic framework membranes have been synthesized. Most studies were focused on more stable zeolitic imidazolate framework membranes for gas separation. Thin metal organic framework membranes are synthesized on porous inorganic or polymer supports by seeded secondary growth or in situ (counter-diffusion) synthesis methods. These membranes exhibit unique gas separation properties, such as high H2/CO2 selectivity, unattainable to other microporous inorganic or polymer membranes. However, much less studies have been reported on the liquid separation properties and stability of metal organic framework membranes. To make metal organic framework membranes a viable separation technology requires understanding of the thermal and chemical stability of metal organic framework materials and membranes, and development of cost-effective synthesis of metal organic membranes with high permeance or on more easily scalable supports.
Variability in commercial electromyographic biofeedback devices

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the functional characteristics of a sample of commercial electromyographic feedback devices for the purpose of determining variability between instruments. Seventeen physical and functional characteristics (such as input impedance, filter bandwidth, and sensitivity) were evaluated on a sample of 11 instruments. Wide variability was found in several important functional characteristics. Input impedance, for example, was found to vary from 13K to more than 1 megohm and filter bandwidths ranged from 55 Hz to 2,600 Hz. Such variability makes the comparison of data from studies using different instruments quite difficult; it also suggests the need to develop equipment standards and common calibration procedures.
Low-power mapping of behavioral arrays to multiple memories

Large data arrays in behavioral specifications are usually mapped to off-chip memories during system synthesis. We address the problem of system power reduction through transition count minimization on the address bus during memory accesses, when mapping behavioral arrays to multiple memory modules drawn from a library. We formulate the problem as three logical-to-physical memory mapping subtask, provide algorithms for each subtask, and present experiments that demonstrate the transition count reductions based on our approach. Our experiments show a transition count reduction by a factor of 1.5-6.7 over a straightforward mapping scheme.
Phorbol ester tumor promoters regulate insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-4 proteolysis

Cultured human fibroblasts secrete a specific protease that alters extracellular insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) structure and function. This enzyme appears to be secreted in a latent form and requires IGFs for activation. To study regulation of the IGFBP-4 protease, we treated normal adult human fibroblasts with various hormones and growth regulatory factors, and collected the human fibroblast-conditioned medium (HFCM) for analysis of IGFBP-4 protease activity. The IGFBP-4 protease assay involved incubation of 50 microliters HFCM with or without 5 nM IGF-II for 6 h at 37 C under cell-free conditions; IGF-activated IGFBP-4 hydrolysis was assessed by Western ligand blotting. In HFCM from cells treated with vehicle, GH, insulin, epidermal growth factor, steroid hormones, or forskolin, IGF-II induced the select loss of detectable IGFBP-4 during the assay. In contrast, IGFBP-4 levels were maintained when HFCM from cells treated with phorbol ester tumor promoters was incubated with IGF-I...
General Formulas for "T"- and "&#928;"-Network Equivalents

This paper presents the development of two sets of general formulas which determine a set of "T" or "Π" impedances equivalent to any linear, lumped-constant, four-terminal network.
Redressing an Internal Imbalance: Women and Science Fiction, 1965–1980

For many years, science fiction has been perceived as “rayguns and rocket ships” boys' literature. Any number of impressionistic and statistical studies have identified the typical SF reader as male, between the ages of twelve and twenty and, in the case of adults, employed in some technical field. Yet I continually find myself having conversations with women, only to find that they, like myself, began reading science fiction between the ages of six and ten, have been reading it voraciously ever since, and were often frustrated at the absence of satisfying female characters and the presence of misogynistic elements in what they read. The stereotype of the male reader and the generally male SF environment mask both the increasing presence of women writers in the field of science fiction and the existence of a feminist dialog within some SF novels. This dialog had its beginnings in the mid‐sixties and is still going strong. It is the hope of the feminist SF community that this effacement can be counteracted.
Induction of labor in the nineties: Conquering the unfavorable cervix

Objective: To determine the efficacy, safety, and duration of induced labor using an integrative approach (prostaglandin, amniotomy, oxytocin) and to depict these findings graphically. Methods: Five hundred ninety-seven pregnancies requiring induction of labor between October 1993 and May 1995 were analyzed prospectively. Patients were categorized by Bishop score at entry and by parity for comparison of success of induction, maternal and fetal complications, and duration of labor. Results: The women who had a Bishop score at entry of 3 or less had significantly higher rates of failed induction (9.4 versus 0.7%, P Conclusion: Regardless of cervical status and parity, vaginal delivery can be anticipated in the majority of patients undergoing labor induction. The induction characteristics described may assist in the management of induced labor.
Bleeding Stomal Varices: Case Series and Systematic Review of the Literature

Background & Aims: Bleeding stomal varices are a common problem in patients with surgical stomas and portal hypertension, and remain difficult to diagnose and manage. Methods: We identified all patients at our institution with bleeding stomal varices from 1989 to 2004. We surveyed all patients undergoing ileal pouch–anal anastomosis from 1997 to 2007 for bleeding anastomotic varices. Finally, we performed a systematic review of the literature focusing on diagnosis and treatment of bleeding stomal varices that included 74 English language studies of 234 patients. Results: We identified 8 patients with bleeding stomal varices. Recognition of stomal varices typically was delayed, particularly when failing to examine the ostomy without the appliance. Stomal variceal bleeding was confirmed by Doppler ultrasound or angiographic imaging. Simple local therapy usually stopped bleeding, albeit temporarily. Sclerotherapy was effective, but at the expense of unacceptable stomal damage. Decompressive therapy was required for secondary prophylaxis, including transjugular intravascular transhepatic shunts (2 patients), surgical portosystemic shunts (2 patients), and liver transplantation (1 patient). No patient with an ileal pouch–anal anastomosis developed anastomotic bleeding from varices. Conclusions: Primary prevention of bleeding stomal varices requires avoidance of creating enterocutaneous stomas in patients with portal hypertension. Careful inspection of the uncovered ostomy is essential for bleeding stomal varices diagnosis. Once identified, conservative measures will stop bleeding temporarily with definitive therapy required, including transjugular intravascular transhepatic shunts, surgical shunts, or liver transplantation.
Accounting for influence: acknowledgments in contemporary sociology

The scale and significance of acknowledgment behavior in ten highly ranked sociology journals over a 10-year period is analyzed. Almost three quarters of all articles (N = 4200) included an acknowledgment statement; more than half included an acknowledgment attesting to peer interactive communication. Functional and symbolic parallels between acknowledgment and citation are discussed. Almost 5000 individuals were explicitly acknowledged. Only a few were highly acknowledged. No correlation was found between frequency of acknowledgment and frequency of citation. Nor was there a correlation between frequency of acknowledgment and time-in-field as measured from date of terminal degree. The case for incorporating acknowledgment data into the academic audit process, along with more established bibliometric indicators, such as publication and citation counts, is considered. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Race, Racial Context, and Withholding Adjudication in Drug Cases: A Multilevel Examination of Juvenile Justice

In the Florida juvenile justice system the decision to withhold adjudication can serve as a less punitive action by the courts and could prove to be more beneficial for the youth receiving this concession. The current study examined how individual-level variables and community context, with a focus on race and racial context, may influence the decision to withhold adjudication for all juvenile drug cases adjudicated between the years 1999 and 2001. Using hierarchical generalized linear modeling, the results indicated that Black youth were less likely to have adjudication withheld compared to their White counterparts. However, contextual county-level variables did not explain variation in the overall probability of a county to withhold adjudication, nor did these variables affect the Black-adjudication withheld relationship. The implications of these results for future research on racial threat at the individual and contextual levels are discussed.
A rational approach to the outpatient management of lacerations in pediatric patients

Lacerations are a frequent reason for pediatric health care visits. Many are referred to EDs or to surgical specialists but may be treated by the pediatrician who has the time and interest in maintaining wound care skills. Although skin closure is often viewed as the primary event in wound care, local anesthesia and wound toilet are equally important aspects in which expertise is often undervalued. On occasion, patient anxiety and resistance complicates wound care, and a variety of sedative techniques facilitates completion of procedures that otherwise would require general anesthesia. Adherence to basic principles and the occasional use of innovations in wound care enable the clinician to bring about optimal outcomes.
Principles of Motivational Interviewing Geared to Stages of Change: A Pedagogical Challenge

Abstract This article discusses the significance of motivational interviewing as a framework with wide application across the spectrum of social work practice. This article discusses the basic assumptions of the motivational approach and argues that social workers can regard this as a bridge between treatment agencies organized around competing philosophies. Suggestions are made for incorporating content across diverse curriculum areas.
A homoleptic η2 hydroxylaminato CeIV complex with S4 symmetry

An electron rich, air-stable hydroxylamine ligand and a strongly stabilized cerium(IV) hydroxylaminato complex are described. The synthesis of Ce[η2-ON(tBu)(2-OMe-5-tBu-C6H3)]4 (1) proceeded through a one pot protonolysis and oxidation procedure. Complex 1 crystallized with the molecule in exact S4 symmetry. The hydroxylaminato ligands were bound in an η2 mode that is of interest for potential application in the separations chemistry of rare earth metals.
Potential role of α-2μ-globulin, protein droplet accumulation, and cell replication in the renal carcinogenicity of rats exposed to trichloroethylene, perchloroethylene, and pentachloroethane

Trichloroethylene (TCE), perchloroethylene (PER), and pentachloroethane (PENT) are used extensively as industrial solvents. These agents cause an increased incidence of renal tumors in male, but not female, rats. Male and female F-344 rats were gavaged for 10 days with TCE (1000 mg/kg), PER (1000 mg/kg), and PENT (150 mg/kg) to determine if chlorinated hydrocarbon-induced changes in levels of renal alpha-2 mu-globulin (alpha 2 mu), protein droplet accumulation (PDA), and cell replication were male rat specific. The animal strain, dose, and route of administration were the same as previous chronic bioassays in order to better understand the relationship between alpha 2 mu, PDA, and cell replication to the sex-specific renal carcinogenicity. In male rats, increases in protein droplet and crystalloid accumulation in the cytoplasm of the P2 segment of the proximal tubule were evident after PER and more notably PENT administration. Cell replication rates in male rats increased specifically in the histologically damaged P2 segments after PER or PENT exposure. Protein droplets and cell replication did not differ from controls in TCE-treated male rats or in female rats treated with TCE, PER, or PENT. Immunohistochemical staining for alpha 2 mu revealed a marked correlation between the presence of alpha 2 mu and the protein droplets. Renal alpha 2 mu concentrations in male rats increased after PER or PENT but not TCE administration. The protein droplet nephropathy induced in male rats after PER and PENT treatment appears identical to that observed with other male-rat-specific renal carcinogens such as unleaded gasoline. The differences observed in male and female rats after chlorinated hydrocarbon exposure suggest that increases in cell replication may be directly linked to the male-rat-specific protein alpha 2 mu. Since compensatory cell division is postulated to affect all stages of the carcinogenic process, the increased incidence of renal tumors in male rats after PER or PENT treatment may be related to nephrotoxicity and resulting enhanced cell replication. Mechanisms involved in TCE-induced renal carcinogenicity appear to be different from PER- and PENT-induced renal carcinogenicity.
Prior Perceptions, Personality Characteristics and Portfolio Preferences among Fund Managers: An Experimental Analysis

This article examines the question of cross-domain risk-taking behavior. That is, will risky behavior in one arena translate into risky behavior in another arena? The specific area of interest concerns lifestyle risk taking and financial risk-taking behavior. We utilize several psychological tests to test the respondents for the following biases: familiarity, optimism, unique invulnerability, sensation-seeking and impulsivity. The methodology utilizes tests that have not been employed in other studies. The respondents were given these tests plus a portfolio preference survey to test for effects on investing decisions. Two cohorts of student-managed investment fund managers were surveyed. These were predominantly twenty-something males who were college seniors. These subjects were chosen for two reasons: they represented a risk-taking population in general and they were sophisticated investors. We found no discernible biases present in their survey results. We also tested the mean responses to the portfoli...
The advanced neutron source

Abstract A progress report on the design of the Advanced Neutron Source is presented. This facility will have a reactor of flux approaching 1020 neutrons m-2s-1 and a full array of experimental tools for neutron scattering, isotope production, and material irradiation. There will be a strong emphasis on beam research using cold neutrons. The power level will be about 300 MW. The estimated construction cost is $400M, with criticality scheduled for 1997.
Comparison of two commercial broth-culture systems for microbial detection in dialysates of patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis.

Abstract The capability of two commercial systems was studied for microbial detection in dialysis effluents from patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). Two methods of processing dialysate from patients on CAPD were compared: (a) direct inoculation of 10 ml of dialysate into a single bottle broth culture system (Signal; Oxoid, U.S.A., Columbia, Maryland) and 5 ml into each of two BACTEC blood culture bottles (Johnston Laboratories, Towson, Maryland); and (b) centrifugation of 50 ml of dialysate and culture of the sediment in an Oxoid bottle. Of the 196 specimens cultured, 99 (51%) yielded growth. Recovery rates of significant isolates were 95% for the BACTEC system, 89% for the Oxoid system, and 88% for the centrifugation-Oxoid system. Recovery of eight isolates from the Oxoid system was by subculture rather than a visual “signal.” The Oxoid system is a practical, cost-effective, alternative culture method for effluents from CAPD patients in laboratories not having access to the BACTEC system.
Optimizing remediation strategies for a former dry‐cleaner site

Residual tetrachloroethene (PCE) contamination at the former Springvilla Dry Cleaners site in Springfield, Oregon, posed a potential risk through the vapor intrusion, direct contact, and off-site beneficial groundwater uses. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality utilized the State Dry Cleaner Program funds to help mitigate the risks posed by residual contamination. After delineation activities were complete, the source-area soils were excavated and treated on-site with ex situ vapor extraction to reduce disposal costs. Residual source-area contamination was then chemically oxidized using sodium permanganate. Dissolved-phase contamination was subsequently addressed with in situ enhanced reductive dechlorination (ERD). ERD achieved treatment goals across more than 4 million gallons of aquifer impacted with PCE concentrations up to 7,800 micrograms per liter prior to remedial activities. The ERD remedy introduced electron donors and nutrient amendments through groundwater recirculation and slug injection across two aquifers over the course of 24 months. Adaptive and mass-targeted strategies reduced total remedy costs to approximately $18 per ton within the treatment areas. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Alteration in age-specific risks for chromosomal trisomy by maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein and human chorionic gonadotropin screening.

Maternal serum screening for alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) increases the detection rate of Down's syndrome (DS) pregnancies. To estimate the risk of a DS pregnancy for a particular woman, Wald et al. combine a trivariate function of AFP, hCG, and unconjugated oestriol with age-specific risk. Calculation of independent likelihood ratios (LRs) for AFP and hCG has allowed us to examine the predictive value of each test alone and the combination. AFP and hCG were measured in stored serum samples from 672 normal, 8 trisomy 21 (DS), 9 trisomy 18, and 2 trisomy 13 pregnancies. AFP and hCG multiples of the median (MOM) were calculated for each sample. The LRs for AFP MOM and hCG MOM were calculated and combined with age-specific risk. Of eight DS pregnancies, six had increased risk based on age and AFP. Addition of hCG detected two additional DS pregnancies. Of nine trisomy 18 pregnancies, four (44 per cent) had hCG MOM under 0–25. Three out of nine would have been classified as high risk by AFP, but none by combined AFP and hCG. Amniocentesis would have been recommended in 74 per cent of aneuploid pregnancies if both age and serum screening were used. Abandonment of amnio-centesis based on age alone would have excluded two abnormal pregnancies from detection. Screening programmes should note that combined risk figures are specific for DS and do not include other trisomies. Detection of other trisomies requires inclusion of low hCG level as a discriminator and continuation of age-based testing.
Groundwater Nitrate Concentration Reductions in a Riparian Buffer Enrolled in the NC Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program

Riparian buffers have been used for many years as a best management practice to decrease the effects of nonpoint pollution from watersheds. The NC Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (NC CREP) has established buffers to treat groundwater nitrate-nitrogen (NO3−-N) from agricultural sources in multiple river basins. A maturing 46 m wide riparian buffer enrolled in NC CREP was studied to determine its effectiveness in reducing groundwater NO3−-N concentrations from a cattle pasture fertilized with poultry litter. Three monitoring blocks that included groundwater quality wells, water table wells, and soil redox probes, were established in the buffer. NO3−-N concentrations decreased significantly across the buffer in all of the monitoring blocks with mean reductions of 76-92%. Many biological processes, including denitrification and plant uptake, may have been responsible for the observed NO3−-N reductions but could not be differentiated in this study. However, mean reductions in Cl− concentrations ranged from 48-65% through the blocks, which indicated that dilution was an important factor in observed NO3−-N reductions. These findings should be carefully considered for future buffer enrollments when assigning nitrogen removal credits.
LibQUAL+ and the Community College Library

Abstract Community colleges can use market surveys to better understand the delivery of library services from the standpoint of the end user. One such survey, LibQUAL+, measures library service in three dimensions: 1. Affect of Service (patron interaction with library staff); 2. Information Control (availability of needed resources and ease of accessing); and 3. Library as Place (the physical environment). Waubonsee Community College in Sugar Grove, Illinois, used LibQUAL+ in 2005, and as a result of the survey, added tenure-track staff, increased the house at two satellite campuses, and made updates to its information delivery capabilities.
Underweight, Overweight, and Pediatric Bone Fragility: Impact and Management

Skeletal health is modulated by a variety of factors, including genetic makeup, hormonal axes, and environment. Across all ages, extremes of body weight may exert a deleterious effect on bone accretion and increase fracture risk. The incidence of both anorexia nervosa and obesity, each involving extreme alterations in body composition, is rising among youth, and secondary osteoporosis is increasingly being diagnosed among affected children and adolescents. Compared with the elderly, the definition of osteoporosis that stems from any underlying condition differs for the pediatric population and special precautions are required with regard to treatment of young patients. Early recognition and management of both underweight and overweight youth and the accompanying consequences on bone and mineral metabolism are essential for preservation of skeletal health, although prevention of bone loss and optimization of bone mineral accrual remain the most important protective measures.
THE AMINO ACID COMPOSITION OF BOVINE FIBRINOGEN.

Abstract The amino acid composition of highly purified bovine fibrinogen has been determined with the automatic amino acid analyzer of Spackman, Stein, and Moore. Tyrosine, tryptophan, amide, and hexose were also determined by independent methods. The total nitrogen content of the protein has been estimated. The refractive index and partial specific volume have been calculated from the composition of the molecule and compared with experimental values.
The relationship between age and frequency of disfluency in preschool children

Abstract The frequencies of nine types of disfluency, including silent pauses, were studied in 60 nonstuttering males, 3.5 and 5 yr-of-age. The younger children evidenced significantly higher rates of part word, word, and phrase repetitions, incomplete phrases, and disrhythmic phonations. The older children demonstrated significantly more grammatical pauses. The two groups did not differ in the frequency of interjections, ungrammatical pauses, and revisions. The most powerful discriminating category between the two age groups was phrase repetition. The results are compared with findings from other recent investigations of disfluency in nonstuttering preschool males. Possible explanations for the discrepancies among the various investigations and for the high degree of variability in disfluency reported in the literature are proposed. The results of this investigation suggest that nonstuttering children begin to show more adult-like disfluency patterns toward the later preschool years.
The transformation and survival of fortune 500 industrial corporations through mergers and acquisitions, 1981-1995

The 1980s leveraged buyouts followed by the 1990s stock swap mergers represent the most dynamic period in U.S. business history. Using Cox regression with time-varying covariates, we examine the re...
Detectability index of differential phase contrast CT compared with conventional CT: a preliminary channelized Hotelling observer study

Under the framework of model observer with signal and background exactly known (SKE/BKE), we investigate the detectability of differential phase contrast CT compared with that of the conventional attenuation-based CT. Using the channelized Hotelling observer and the radially symmetric difference-of-Gaussians channel template , we investigate the detectability index and its variation over the dimension of object and detector cells. The preliminary data show that the differential phase contrast CT outperforms the conventional attenuation-based CT significantly in the detectability index while both the object to be detected and the cell of detector used for data acquisition are relatively small. However, the differential phase contrast CT’s dominance in the detectability index diminishes with increasing dimension of either object or detector cell, and virtually disappears while the dimension of object or detector cell approaches a threshold, respectively. It is hoped that the preliminary data reported in this paper may provide insightful understanding of the differential phase contrast CT’s characteristic in the detectability index and its comparison with that of the conventional attenuation-based CT.
From here to paternity: Neural correlates of the onset of paternal behavior in California mice (Peromyscus californicus)

In a minority of mammalian species, including humans, fathers play a significant role in infant care. Compared to maternal behavior, the neural and hormonal bases of paternal care are poorly understood. We analyzed behavioral, neuronal and neuropeptide responses towards unfamiliar pups in biparental California mice, comparing males housed with another male ("virgin males") or with a female before ("paired males") or after ("new fathers") the birth of their first litter. New fathers approached pups more rapidly and spent more time engaging in paternal behavior than virgin males. In each cage housing two virgin males, one was spontaneously paternal and one was not. New fathers and paired males spent more time sniffing and touching a wire mesh ball containing a newborn pup than virgin males. Only new fathers showed significantly increased Fos-like immunoreactivity in the medial preoptic nucleus (MPO) following exposure to a pup-containing ball, as compared to an empty ball. Moreover, Fos-LIR in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (STMV and STMPM) and caudal dorsal raphe nucleus (DRC) was increased in new fathers, independent of test condition. No differences were found among the groups in Fos-LIR in oxytocinergic or vasopressinergic neurons. These results suggest that sexual and paternal experiences facilitate paternal behavior, but other cues play a role as well. Paternal experience increases Fos-LIR induced by distal pup cues in the MPO, but not in oxytocin and vasopressin neurons. Fatherhood also appears to alter neurotransmission in the BNST and DRC, regions implicated in emotionality and stress-responsiveness.
Lake Orta: the undermining of an ecosystem

From 1927 to 1986 Lake Orta (North-western Italy) received loadings coming from a rayon factory, rich in copper and ammonium sulphate. Immediately after the onset of pollution, the food web was destroyed: first phytoplankton, then zooplankton, and finally fish and ultraplankton disappeared from the lake. Twenty years later a rise in nitrate nitrogen and copper ions was recorded and in the early sixties ammonium nitrogen started to accumulate and pH to fall. In the meanwhile, a poorly structured biological community appeared, mainly composed of Cyclops abyssorum (copepod), Hexarthra fennica (rotifer) and Coccomyxa minor (green alga). Fish and benthonic animals were still absent. In 1986 the ammonium loading was substantially reduced (copper had been partially recovered since 1956), so that the in-lake ammonium concentration began to decrease. Some phyto- and zooplankton as well as benthic species were recorded in this period. Nevertheless, as pH was still very acid and alkaline reserve absent: a proposal to lime the lake was accepted and funded by regional authorities. Liming was performed in May 1989-June 1990 and resulted in a real improvement of the environment.
On the interaction between fundamental and subharmonic instability waves in a turbulent round jet

The spatial interactions between a fundamental instability wave and its subharmonics in a turbulent round jet are studied for ‘natural’ or forced exit conditions. Time-averaging and conditional-averaging techniques are used to split each flow component into a mean one, a random turbulence one and several wave-like coherent-structure components at fundamental and subharmonic frequencies. The energy equations for the flow components are derived and integrated across the jet. Shape assumptions regarding the radial distributions of each flow component are used to obtain a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations representing the energy interactions between the coherent components, while interacting with the mean flow and with the background turbulence. Vortex pairing is viewed here as occurring when the subharmonic absorbs energy from the fundamental and from the mean flow and exceeds the fundamental's level to become the dominant instability component. At the proper initial phase difference between the subharmonic and fundamental only the first subharmonic was found to amplify if the fundamental Strouhal number based on diameter is in the range of 0.6–1.0. For higher Strouhal numbers, several subharmonics can amplify. The pairing location moves closer to the nozzle exit with increasing excitation Strouhal number. The time-averaged coherent Reynolds stresses exhibit regions of sign change, indicating a reversal in the direction of energy transfer between the mean flow and the coherent components.
Functional characterization of propane-enhanced N-nitrosodimethylamine degradation by two actinomycetales.

Propane-induced cometabolic degradation of n-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) by two propanotrophs is characterized through kinetic, gene presence, and expression studies. After growth on propane, resting cells of Rhodococcus sp. RR1 possessed a maximum transformation rate (v(max,n)) of 44 ± 5 µg NDMA (mg protein)(-1) h(-1); the rate for Mycobacterium vaccae (austroafricanum) JOB-5 was modestly lower with v(max,n) of 28 ± 3 µg NDMA (mg protein)(-1) h(-1). Both strains were capable of degrading environmentally relevant, trace quantities of NDMA to below the experimental limit of detection, calculated as 20 ng NDMA L(-1). However, a comparison of half saturation constants (K(s,n)) and NDMA degradation in the presence of propane revealed pronounced differences between the strains. The K(s,n) for strain RR1 was 36 ± 10 µg NDMA L(-1) while the propane concentration needed to inhibit NDMA rates by 50% (K(inh)) occurred at 7,700 µg propane L(-1) (R(2) = 0.9669). In contrast, strain JOB-5 had a markedly lower affinity for NDMA verses propane with a calculated K(s,n) of 2,200 ± 1,000 µg NDMA L(-1) and K(inh) of 120 µg propane L(-1) (R(2) = 0.9895). Genomic and transcriptional investigations indicated that the functional enzymes involved in NDMA degradation and propane metabolism are different for each strain. For Rhodococcus sp. RR1, a putative propane monooxygenase (PrMO) was identified and implicated in NDMA oxidation. In contrast, JOB-5 was not found to possess a PrMO homologue and two functionally analogous alkane monoxygenases (AlkMOs) were not induced by growth on propane. Differences between the PrMO in this Rhodococcus and the unidentified enzyme(s) in the Mycobacterium may explain differences in NDMA degradation and inhibition kinetics between these strains.
Measurement of grain charge in dusty plasma Coulomb crystals

We report the measurement of the grain charge on individual dust grains of a dusty plasma Coulomb crystal. These dust grains, grown in a radio frequency plasma from constituent gases, are formed by the aggregation of nanometer sized crystallites. The Coulomb crystal formed from the dust grains appears to be made of mutually repulsive columns of grains confined by the walls of the electrode. A direct measurement of the grain charge was performed using a Faraday cup. The average measured value of the grain charge using this technique was found to be 2/spl times/10/sup 5/ e. This value of the grain charge is approximately consistent with estimates based on the plasma parameters. The corresponding electrostatic interaction energy between the dust grains is found to be 200 times greater than the dust thermal energy.
Selection for new codons corresponding to position 234 of the tryptophan synthetase alpha chain of Escherichia coli.

Previous studies have demonstrated many amino acid and codon substitutions at position 211 of the alpha chain of tryptophan synthetase of Escherichia coli. In order to extend our studies on suppressor tRNAs and, in general, on accuracy in the translation of genetic information, we have devised specific selections for sense and nonsense codons corresponding to alpha chain position 234. Using codon-specific suppressors and selection for missense revertants of nonsense mutations, we have brought to 18 (from six) the number of codons at 234. This number includes all three nonsense codons and ten (of the remaining 15) that code for nonfunctional amino acids at that position. Furthermore, by adding to these results the testing of the suppressibility of trpA(234) nonsense mutations by suppressor tRNAs of known aminoacylation specificity, we have increased to 12 (from five) the number of amino acids whose functionality at position 234 is known.
Seasonal Precipitation Timing and Ice Core Records

This is a commentary on global circulation model experiments of moisture source changes in Greenland, urging caution in how they are applied because they have important implications for paleoclimate reconstruction from ice cores. The work comes from preliminary find is of a ice core (GISP2) of the authors. The authors conclude that at present anomalies in Greenland ice core records should not be interpreted solely in terms of source region variations. The combined use of oxygen 18, D and ionic species in the new Summit, Greenland cores should make it possible to answer empirically some of the questions raised by the GCM experiments as to the interpretation of oxygen 18 records in terms of temperature. 4 refs., 1 fig.
Intra-BM injection to enhance engraftment after myeloablative umbilical cord blood transplantation with two partially HLA-matched units

The time to neutrophil engraftment for adult patients after myeloablative double unit umbilical cord blood (UCB) transplantation is 23 days when the two units are given i.v. We hypothesized that the intra-BM injection (IBMI) of one of the two UCB units would reduce systemic loss of hematopoietic progenitors and shorten time to neutrophil recovery after myeloablation. Ten patients with a median age of 35 years were transplanted. The unit to be given by IBMI was randomly assigned; the other unit was given i.v. The median infused graft total nucleated cell dose was 3.7 × 107/kg with no difference between i.v. and IBMI units. All patients tolerated the procedure well, and there was no severe adverse event related to IBMI. The median time to neutrophil engraftment and plt recovery >50 000/μl was 21 and 69 days, respectively. In all, 9 of 10 patients engrafted, 5 with the i.v. unit and 4 with the IBMI unit; 7 of 8 evaluable patients developed acute GVHD and 5 of 10 patients died from treatment-related causes. Survival was 47% at 1 year. Despite safety of administration, IBMI of one of two UCB units did not shorten the time to neutrophil engraftment and offers no advantage over conventional double unit transplantation.
Low risk of vertebral fracture in Mexican American women.

• Ethnicity is important in assessing risk for osteoporotic fractures, and should be considered in decision-making about the use of prophylactic treatments. Few data are available, however, on fracture risks among Hispanic patients. To assess the risk of vertebral fracture in Mexican Americans, we determined the prevalence of vertebral fracture among 822 patients, aged 15 to 86 years, who underwent spinal roentgenography in a study of low-back pain. After adjusting for age, use of steroids, drug or alcohol abuse, and recent trauma, the odds ratio for Mexican American women compared with non-Hispanic whites was 0.55 (95% confidence interval, 0.32 to 0.95), indicating a substantially lower risk. These results are concordant with earlier data documenting a reduced risk of hip fracture among Mexican American women. Thus, recommendations for prophylactic treatments for osteoporosis may be different for Mexican Americans than for non-Hispanic whites. (Arch Intern Med1987;147:1437-1439)
Product diversification, performance criteria and compensation at the corporate manager level

The paper describes a test of the Galbraith and Nathanson (1978) model of stages of development. In particular, Galbraith and Nathanson hypothesized that in highly diverse firms: (1) performance criteria are more objective, (2) bonus is a larger proportion of total compensation, and (3) bonus allocation decisions are based more on an objective ‘formula’ of performance evaluation than on the discretion of the firm President or Chief Executive Officer. The study compared the three variables across three diversification groups (high, medium, low), based on Rumelt's (1974) classification (single product, vertically integrated, dominant, related, unrelated, and conglomerate). The study used written surveys of corporate managers in Fortune 1000 manufacturing firms.
Overt employment discrimination in MNC affiliates: home-country cultural and institutional effects

Using job announcements posted by MNC subsidiaries in Taiwan and Thailand, we investigated the effects of MNC home-country cultural and institutional forces on the use of employment gender and age discriminatory criteria in host countries where anti-discrimination legislation was absent. We examined the cultural effects with composite measures taken from the work of Hofstede and Schwartz. The effects of the existence of anti-age and anti-gender discrimination employment legislation in an MNC home country were also assessed to control for institutional factors. Logit analysis shows that MNC home-country culture and institutional environment can have a strong impact on the use of discriminatory criteria by MNCs in host countries, at least those lacking protective legislation. Specifically, MNCs based in countries that have existing and effective age and gender discrimination laws, and have more individualist and less masculine cultures, are less likely to engage in at least overt gender-based and age-based discrimination.
Simulation of the alignment sensitivity on the coupling efficiency of a ball-lens capped TO-can laser diode source into a single-mode fiber

Numerical Simulation of the coupling efficiency for the light emitting from a commercially available ball-lens capped TO-can laser diode into a single-mode fiber (SMF) is reported. The alignment sensitivity of the coupling efficiency for this laser-to-lens-to-fiber optical configuration is investigated in detail. The result is useful for defining the design tolerances and assembly specifications of economic SMF pigtailed To-can laser diode packages. An optical simulation software package is used to compute the laser-to-lens-to-fiber coupling efficiency. By adjusting the nominal system parameters of the given optical configuration, the maximum coupling efficiency calculated from the best fitted simulation result being equal to 17.3% is obtained, which very well agrees with experimental result of /spl sim/16%. However, it is a bit lower than that of previously reported. It is noticed that in the presence of the ball lens, the axial alignment sensitivity on the coupling efficiency is much relieved as compared to the butt-coupling configuration. However, the lateral alignment sensitivity is still very stringent. An experimental measurement is done on this optical system The alignment sensitivities of the coupling efficiency on both directions are obtained. The results are compared with that from the simulation. A very good fit of the data onto simulated curve can be obtained by adjusting some of the critical system parameters.
Dorsoventral patterning in the Drosophila central nervous system: the vnd homeobox gene specifies ventral column identity

The Drosophila CNS develops from three columns of neuroectodermal cells along the dorsoventral (DV) axis: ventral, intermediate, and dorsal. In this and the accompanying paper, we investigate the role of two homeobox genes, vnd and ind, in establishing ventral and intermediate cell fates within the Drosophila CNS. During early neurogenesis, Vnd protein is restricted to ventral column neuroectoderm and neuroblasts; later it is detected in a complex pattern of neurons. We use molecular markers that distinguish ventral, intermediate, and dorsal column neuroectoderm and neuroblasts, and a cell lineage marker for selected neuroblasts, to show that loss of vnd transforms ventral into intermediate column identity and that specific ventral neuroblasts fail to form. Conversely, ectopic vnd produces an intermediate to ventral column transformation. Thus, vnd is necessary and sufficient to induce ventral fates and repress intermediate fates within the Drosophila CNS. Vertebrate homologs of vnd (Nkx2.1 and 2.2) are similarly expressed in the ventral CNS, raising the possibility that DV patterning within the CNS is evolutionarily conserved.
The analysis of Nash equilibria of the one-shot random-access game for wireless networks and the behavior of selfish nodes

We address the fundamental question of whether or not there exist stable operating points in a network in which selfish nodes share a common channel, and if they exist, how the nodes behave at these stable operating points. We begin with a wireless communication network in which n nodes (agents), which might have different utility functions, contend for access on a common, wireless communication channel. We characterize this distributed multiple-access problem in terms of a one-shot random-access game, and then analyze the behavior of the nodes using the tools of game theory. We give necessary and sufficient conditions on nodes for the complete characterization of the Nash equilibria of this game for all n ≥ 2. We show that all centrally controlled optimal solutions are a subset of this game theoretic solution, and almost all (w.r.t. Lebesgue measure) transmission probability assignments chosen by a central authority are supported by the game theoretic solution. We analyze the behavior of the network throughput at Nash equilibria as a function of the costs of the transmitters incurred by failed transmissions. Finally, we conclude the paper with the asymptotic analysis of the system as the number of transmitters goes to infinity. We show that the asymptotic distribution of the packet arrivals converges in distribution to a Poisson random variable, and the channel throughput converges to - (c/ (1 + c)) In (c/ (1 + c)) with c > 0 being the cost of failed transmissions. We also give the best possible bounds on the rates of convergence of the packet arrival distribution and the channel throughput.
'Old' Money Matters: The Sensitivity of Mutual Fund Redemption Decisions to Past Performance

This paper shows that individual investors are reluctant to sell mutual funds that have appreciated in value and are willing to sell losers, in stark contrast to their stock trading where the disposition effect dominates. Comparison of trades in taxable and tax-deferred accounts suggests that a good share of this negative relation can be explained by tax-motivated trading, with the remainder of the negative relation consistent with investors' belief in fund performance persistence. Aggregating transaction-level data for a sample of individual investors to construct fund inflows and outflows, we find that both inflows and outflows of individual investors are sensitive to past performance, but in very different ways. Inflows are largely driven by relative performance, suggesting that new money chases the best performers in an objective, with little relation to the fund's absolute performance. In contrast, outflows are exclusively driven by the absolute performance of the fund, the relevant benchmark for tax purposes, with little relation to relative performance.
Mounting-Angle Estimation for Personal Navigation Devices

This paper presents several methods to estimate the three mounting angles (roll, pitch, and yaw) of an inertial measurement cluster for use in a personal navigation device (PND) within a ground vehicle. Previous research in global positioning system (GPS) and inertial navigation systems assumes that the orientation of the inertial cluster relative to the host vehicle is already known. A typical driver would arbitrarily mount a PND in their vehicle, and the driver would have no simple way to measure the PND orientation angles. Proper mechanization of the inertial measurements for navigation requires these angles to be precisely known. Methods utilizing forward and rearward acceleration and vehicle orientation from GPS velocity components to determine the PND mounting angles are described. The pitch, roll, and yaw mounting angles are estimated to within 2° of truth when utilizing consumer-grade accelerometers.
Attenuation of lipopolysaccharide anorexia by antagonism of caudal brain stem but not forebrain GLP-1-R.

The central glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) system has been implicated in the control of feeding behavior. Here we explore GLP-1 mediation of the anorexic response to administration of systemic LPS...
An Iterative Optimal Control and Estimation Design for Nonlinear Stochastic System

This paper presents an iterative Linear-Quadratic-Gaussian method for locally-optimal control and estimation of nonlinear stochastic systems. The new method constructs an affine feedback control law obtained by minimizing a novel quadratic approximation to the optimal cost-to-go function. It also constructs a non-adaptive filter optimized with respect to the current control law. The control law and filter are iteratively improved until convergence. The performance of the algorithm is illustrated on a complex biomechanical control problem involving a stochastic model of the human arm.