cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The myeloproliferative reaction in a child with down syndrome: Cytological and chromosomal evidence for a transient leukemia

Infants with Down syndrome occasionally develop marked myeloproliferative reactions (MPR) indistinguishable from acute myelocytic leukemia but which spontaneously regress. Most authors have attributed MPR to immature or defective control on bone marrow development. In this report serial cytomorphologic and chromosomal findings in the bone marrow and peripheral blood of a child with the MPR suggests that MPR may be due to a spontaneously regressing clone of malignant cells. At the height of the myeloproliferative response, chromosomal studies demonstrated a clone of blast-like cells with a 21-22 translocation consistent with Down Syndrome and an X-8 translocation which was present only in the initial peripheral blood analysis harvested at 24 hours but was not present in the 72 hours samples. This X-8 translocation was not demonstrated in bone marrow or peripheral blood samples obtained at random times throughout the one year followup. During this period there was complete resolution of the MPR. In addition the chromosomes from one cell demonstrated several double minutes at the time of the MPR. Double minutes have previously been reported only in malignant diseases, especially tumors of neural origin and leukemia. These findings raise questions about the benign origin of the MPR and support the idea the MPR may be the result of a spontaneously regressing clone of malignant cells.
IAC-11.A7.2.1: Gamma-ray astronomy technology needs

Abstract In recent decades γ - ray observations have become a valuable tool for studying the universe. Progress made in diverse areas such as gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), nucleosynthesis, and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) has complemented and enriched our astrophysical understanding in many ways. We present an overview of current and future planned space γ - ray missions and discuss technology needs for the next generation of space γ - ray instruments.
Cooperative Localization and Tracking in Distributed Robot-Sensor Networks

Abstract This paper addresses the problem of real-time position and orientation estimation of networked mobile robots in two-dimensional Euclidean space with simultaneous tracking of a rigid unknown object based on exteroceptive sensory information extracted from distributed vision systems. The sufficient and necessary conditions for team localization are proposed. A localization and object tracking approach based on statistical operators and graph searching algorithms is presented for a team of robots localized with heterogeneous sensors. The approach was implemented in an experimental platform consisting of car-like mobile robots equipped with omnidirectional video cameras and IEEE 802.11b wireless networking. The experimental results validate the approach.
THE CIRCULAR DICHROISM OF SODIUM CHOLATE SOLUBILIZED RHODOPSIN

— The near UV and visible circular dichroism (CD) spectra of rhodopsin solubilized and purified in sodium cholate have been determined. The CD properties of rhodopsin in 2 and 20mg/ml sodium cholate are substantially different in terms of the α band to β band ratio, and sensitivity of the near UV CD spectra to bleaching. Rhodopsin in 2mg/ml sodium cholate will regenerate (11-cis-retinal + opsin rhodopsin) and has a CD spectrum similar to rhodopsin in rod outer segment membranes and digitonin which will also regenerate. On the other hand rhodopsin in 20mg/ml sodium cholate will not regenerate and has CD properties similar to other nonregenerable detergents (cetyltri-methylammonium salts and emulphogene). These results indicate that CD reflects the conformational integrity of functional (regenerable) rhodopsin and that sodium cholate can reversibly alter the conformation of rhodopsin. Finally the results further support the validity of using sodium cholate solubilized rhodopsin as a model system for studies on the structure and function of rhodopsin.
S4 enriched multimodal categorial grammars are context-free

Bar-Hillel et al. [Y. Bar-Hillel, C. Gaifman, E. Shamir, On categorial and phrase structure grammars, Bulletin of the Research Council of Israel F (9) (1960) 1-16] prove that applicative categorial grammars weakly recognize the context-free languages. Buszkowski [W. Buszkowski, Generative capacity of non-associative Lambek calculus, Bulletin of the Polish Academy of Sciences: Mathematics 34 (1986) 507-518] proves that grammars based on the product-free fragment of the non-associative Lambek calculus NL recognize exactly the context-free languages. Kandulski [M. Kandulski, The equivalence of non-associative Lambek categorial grammars and context-free grammars, Zeitschrift fur Mathematische Logik und Grundlagen der Mathematik 34 (1988) 41-52] furthers this result by proving that grammars based on NL also recognize exactly the context-free languages. Jager [G. Jager, Residuation, structural rules and context freeness, Journal of Logic, Language and Information 13 (2004) 47-59] proves that categorial grammars based on NL@?, the non-associative Lambek calculus enriched with residuated modalities, weakly recognize exactly the context-free languages. We extend this result, proving that categorial grammars based on NL"S"4, the enrichment of NL@? by the axioms 4 and T, weakly recognize exactly the context-free languages.
Effects of UV repair, error-prone repair and critical site of mutation on mutagenesis induced by N-nitromasines

Many N-nitrosamines have been assayed for mutagenic activity in bacteria but few have been systematically compared in a series of strains. In this study through the use of several Salmonella tester strains, we have examined the effects of Uvr repair, error-prone repair, and the critical site for mutation (GC or AT base pair) on the mutagenic activities of a diverse group of N-nitrosamines. We have employed the histidine autotrophs, TA1975 (uvrB+), TA1535 (uvrB-) and TA100 (uvrB-/pKM101) which are hisG46 strains, sensitive mainly to G-C base damage, and TA104 (uvrB-/pKM101), a hisG428 strain, which can be reverted at the hisG428 locus by damage to A-T base-pairs, or by suppression at G-C base pairs. The N-nitrosamines studied were, N-nitroso: dimethylamine, diethylamine, dipropylamine, dibutylamine, pyrrolidine, piperidine, morpholine, methylbenzylamine, bis-(2-hydroxypropyl)amine, bis-(2-oxopropyl)amine and 3,4-dichloropyrrolidine. For all of the nitrosamines larger than diethylnitrosamine (except for methylbenzylnitrosamine) mutagenesis was greatly enhanced (3-20 X) by the lack of uvrB activity, indicating that the DNA adducts produced by these nitrosamines can be classified as "bulky adducts". For most nitrosamines the plasmid, pKM101, enhanced mutagenesis in hisG46 strains, several fold, suggesting that error-prone DNA repair plays a role in mutagenesis by these compounds. All of the compounds tested were more mutagenic in TA100 than TA104 except diethylnitrosamine and methylbenzylnitrosamine which were more potent in TA104. Revertants induced by all of the nitrosamines in TA100 were due predominantly to damage at G-C base pairs. Revertants induced by all the nitrosamines except diethylnitrosamine and dibutylnitrosamine resulted mainly from damage to G-C base pairs in TA104.
The Impact of Saudi Arabia King Abdullah's Scholarship Program in the U.S.

This paper provides an overview of the current Saudi educational landscape in the U.S. Information is provided on the King Abdullah Scholarship Program that makes it possible for Saudi students to study abroad, information on the top states and colleges with the largest Saudi student enrollments, and what the future looks like for the Scholarship Program. This paper is the first of two papers dealing with Saudi education in the U.S. The next paper is based on original research and provides the results of surveys administered to Saudi students throughout the U.S. about their experiences on U.S. campuses. Directors of International Programs were also surveyed and the paper contrasts their perceptions with Saudi student perceptions in addressing student needs. The next paper also discusses the impact western education is having on Saudi culture and how Saudi culture is affecting colleges and universities in the U.S.
ON THE FORM OF STIMULUS GENERALIZATION CURVES FOR VISUAL INTENSITY1

Twelve pigeons were given successive discrimination training involving variable-interval reinforcement for key pecking in the presence of one intensity of monochromatic light randomly alternated with extinction for pecking during another intensity. All of the pigeons were then tested in extinction for generalization along the intensity dimension, and all showed a displacement of maximal responding from the positive stimulus in the direction opposite the negative stimulus. For six of the pigeons, for which the test included only three values beyond the positive stimulus, four showed peaked gradients but two did not, showing monotonic gradients with maximal responding to the most extreme test value. For another six pigeons tested over a wider range, all showed peaked gradients. Thus, when a sufficiently wide range of test values is employed, generalization gradients for visual intensity have the same peaked form as do gradients for qualitative visual dimensions such as wavelength or line angle.
A further evaluation of the motorcycle rider course

A more extensive evaluation than previously was made of the Motorcycle Safety Foundation's Motorcycle Rider Course. A questionnaire survey was completed by 913 persons who had taken the course between 1980 and 1983 in Illinois and by a control group of 500 motorcyclists who had not taken the course. Compared to the control group, those who had taken the course did not have a lower violation rate, a lower accident rate, a lower total cost of damage to accident-involved motorcycles, a significantly lower mean cost of injury treatment per accident, or a lower total cost of injury treatment. Those who had taken the course did have a lower mean cost of damage to the motorcycle per accident, suggesting that they were involved in less severe accidents. They also made more use of protective clothing. About 30% of those who had taken the course did not subsequently drive motorcycles.
Renal function and systolic blood pressure in very-low-birth-weight infants 1-3 years of age

Preterm very-low-birth-weight (PT-VLBW) infants are at risk of an elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) in infancy and adulthood; however, the pathogenesis remains unclear. Altered renal development or function may be associated with increased SBP, but their contribution in PT-VLBW is unknown. We determined renal function and its relationship to SBP in three groups of PT-VLBW at 1, 2, and 3 years of age, using serum cystatin-C to calculate the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Cystatin-C levels decreased from 0.84 ± 0.2 (SD) within the 1-year group to 0.70 ± 0.1 mg/l (±SD; P < 0.001) at 3 years and were unrelated to gender, fetal growth, and neonatal indomethacin exposure. eGFR rose from 121 ± 59 in the 1-year group to 138 ± 21 ml/min·1.73 m2 (P < 0.001) at 3 years. At 1 year, cystatin-C levels decreased with increasing SBP (P < 0.007), and infants with SBP ≥ 90th% had lower cystatin-C and higher eGFR (P < 0.05). At 3 years, infants with lower birth weight (P < 0.03) and gestational age (P = 0.06) had reduced eGFR. Preterm very-low-birth-weight infants demonstrate increasing renal function with advancing age. An elevated SBP and eGFR at 1 year suggests dysfunctional renal autoregulation and hyperfiltration, which may alter subsequent renal function and contribute to the lower eGFR seen at 3 years in infants with the lowest birth weight and gestational age.
From Incident Reports to Improvement Recommendations: Analyzing IT Help Desk Data

Most help desk operations keep records on incidents and how they are resolved. Rarely are these analyzed with respect to recommendations for improvements. At the same time, improvements have the potential to decrease costs of helpdesk operations and increase effectiveness. We analyzed incident reports of two products (one incident prone, the other not incident prone) used at a major, multinational corporation at which one of the authors works. We were able to derive several recommendations for improvements of help desk operations.
The significance of combining evaluations of competency to stand trial and sanity at the time of the offense

Joint evaluations of competency to stand trial (CST) and mental state at the time of the offense (MSO) are common practice and implicitly assumed to be unrelated to evaluators' psycholegal opinions. To investigate this assumption, the authors used a sample of 5,731 forensic evaluations conducted over a 17-year span to determine (a) the prevalence of joint versus CST-only and MSO-only evaluations; (b) their association with evaluators' opinions regarding defendants' competency and/or sanity; and (c) whether referral source, defendant-specific and evaluation characteristics, and psycholegal criteria interact with joint versus referral-specific evaluations in determining evaluators' opinions. RESULTS indicate that a joint evaluation structure occurred in 54% of the evaluations. Opinions of incompetency were significantly more likely in CST-only relative to joint evaluations. Conversely, opinions of insanity were significantly more likely in joint relative to MSO-only evaluations. Within the joint evaluations, competent and sane was the most frequent opinion. In CST-only evaluations, opinions of incompetency were associated with defendants' medication noncompliance at the time of the offense, being charged with a nonviolent offense, and the evaluator receiving defendants' criminal records. These variables were not associated with an incompetency opinion in joint evaluations. In joint evaluations, the absence of prior conviction was related to an opinion of incompetency; this was not the case for CST-only evaluations. The predictors of insanity did not interact with evaluation structure. These findings suggest that the evaluation structure is more important than commonly assumed for forensic practice and may help to inform the clinical practices of evaluators. Language: en
Three Lenses on the Multinational Enterprise: Politics, Corruption and Corporate Social Responsibility

Scholars who study multinational enterprises (MNEs) recognize the complex relationship between international business and society. However, compared to other international business topics, research on politics, corruption and corporate social responsibility (CSR) - three 'lenses' on the MNE - remains somewhat embryonic, with critical unresolved issues regarding frameworks, measurement, methods and theory. This creates rich opportunities for integration and extension of disciplinary perspectives, which we explore in this article. Building on the three lenses framework, we identify common concepts and tools, outline an agenda for additional theoretical and empirical research, and review the papers in this special issue.
Utilitarian supersymmetric gauge model of particle interactions

A remarkabale U(1) gauge extension of the supersymmetric standard model was proposed 8 years ago. It is anomaly free, has no μ term, and conserves baryon and lepton numbers automatically. The phenomenology of a specific version of this model is discussed. In particular, leptoquarks are predicted, with couplings to the heavy singlet neutrinos, the scalar partners of which may be components of dark matter. The Majorana neutrino mass matrix itself may have two zero subdeterminants.
A crystalline "lathyrus factor" from Lathyrus odoratus.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to isolate the toxic factor from crude Lathyrus odoratus meal. Rats were used in assays for the toxic factor, and the presence of skeletal deformities as revealed by x-ray was used as the chief criterion of lathyrus toxicity. A crystalline substance was isolated which produced bony changes exactly similar to those seen in rats fed the toxic meal. Analyses of the purified toxic factor agreed with the formula C8H13O3N3.
Chemical vapor deposition growth of monolayer MoSe2 nanosheets

The synthesis of two-dimensional (2D) layered materials with controllable thickness is of considerable interest for diverse applications. Here we report the first chemical vapor deposition growth of single- and few-layer MoSe2 nanosheets. By using Se and MoO3 as the chemical vapor supply, we demonstrate that highly crystalline MoSe2 can be directly grown on the 300 nm SiO2/Si substrates to form optically distinguishable single- and multi-layer nanosheets, typically in triangular shaped domains with edge lengths around 30 μm, which can merge into continuous thin films upon further growth. Micro-Raman spectroscopy and imaging was used to probe the thickness-dependent vibrational properties. Photoluminescence spectroscopy demonstrates that MoSe2 monolayers exhibit strong near band edge emission at 1.55 eV, while bilayers or multi-layers exhibit much weaker emission, indicating of the transition to a direct band gap semiconductor as the thickness is reduced to a monolayer.
Model-based task planning system for a space laboratory environment

This paper describes the design of a model-based autonomous planning system that will enable robots to manage a space-borne chemical laboratory. In a model-based planning system, knowledge is encapsulated in the form of models at the various layers to support the predefined system objectives. Thus the model-based approach can be considered as an extended planning paradigm which is able to base its planning, control, diagnosis, repair, and other activities on a variety of objectives-related models. A System Entity Structure/Model Base framework is employed to support autonomous system design through the ability to generate a family of planning alternatives as well as to build hierarchical event-based control structures. The model base is a multilevel, multiabstraction, and multiformalism system organized through the use of system morphisms to integrate related models.
Self-immobilization of recombinant Caulobacter crescentus and its application in removal of cadmium from water.

Microbial biofilms can be valuable in many biotechnological applications, including bioremediation. We have previously constructed a recombinant strain of Caulobacter crescentus JS4022/p723-6H by inserting a hexahistidine peptide to a permissive site of the host surface layer (S-layer) protein RsaA. This engineered strain is highly effective in removal of cadmium from water as free cells. In this communication, we examined the biofilms formed by self-immobilized JS4022/p723-6H and evaluated their ability to retrieve cadmium from contaminated water samples. According to light and electron microscopic observations, JS4022/p723-6H cells developed a uniform monolayer biofilm on borosilicate surfaces through their intrinsic appendage, a stalk with an adhesive holdfast. The density of the biofilms reached a maximum after 48 h of incubation and was not affected by exposure to at least 1 ppm cadmium. When 0.4 ppm Cd(II) was added to the growth medium, immobilized JS4022/p723-6H removed 76.9% of the total metal, whereas the control strain only removed 13.5%. When a water sample collected from Lake Erie was spiked with various amounts of CdCl2, immobilized JS4022/p723-6H was able to sequester 44∼51% of the total metal, compared to 37∼42% accumulated by the control strain. By combining two powerful techniques, cell surface display and self-immobilization, we achieved complete separation of dissolved heavy metals from contaminated water in a single step. This study laid down the foundation to cost-effectively construct large-scale bioreactors with high efficiency and specificity to retrieve environmental contaminants from water.
Late Paleozoic Stratigraphy of the Gore Area, Colorado: ABSTRACT

The area is located in Eagle and Summit counties in west-central Colorado. Two new late-Paleozoic formational names are proposed. In the area the name Battle Mountain formation is given for the clastics which were originally assigned to the Weber shale, Weber grit, and Maroon formation. The Belden shale member of this same formation is proposed to include the lower dark shale originally called the Weber shale. Much of the Battle Mountain formation is found to be of Des Moines age. The name State Bridge formation (of Donner) is applied to the red siltstones and shales which lie between the Battle Mountain formation and the Triassic sediments. These beds may be either Pennsylvanian or Permian in age. At least a part of the gypsum of the Eagle Basin is shown to belong in the Des Moines series. End_of_Article - Last_Page 916------------
Relationship of lipid metabolism to the respiration and growth of pea stem sections.

Biologically active lipids increase the growth of pea stem sections within 3 hours at the same time their respiration is increased and their growth rate is more than that of the intact plant. The greater final length of the intact internode is due to a longer growth period. Both active and inactive lipids are rapidly taken up and enter all major metabolic fractions: among centrifugal fractions methyl oleate tends to label those that contain metabolically active membranes. It is concluded that lipids active in the bioassay are probably the effective molecules at the subcellular site of action. No direct effect of lipids on isolated mitochondria could be shown. The respiration of stem tissue was not influenced by dinitrophenol and carbonyl cyano m -chlorophenyl hydrazone although dinitrophenol inhibited growth. Lipid-induced respiration was sensitive to these agents as well as to cyanide, indicating cytochrome oxidase is probably involved. The promotion of growth and respiration by lipids is not linked to protein synthesis, since actinomycin D, puromycin and cycloheximide failed to inhibit the respiratory increase even though strongly limiting amino acid incorporation into protein. It is most likely that the effect of lipids on growth is due to their promotion of respiration.
A homogeneous, nonradioactive high-throughput fluorogenic protein kinase assay.

Abstract Protein kinases play an important role in many cellular processes and mediate cellular responses to a variety of extracellular stimuli. They have been identified by many pharmaceuticals as valid targets for drug discovery. Because of the large number of protein kinases, and the large number of compounds to be screened, it is important to develop assay systems that are not only sensitive but also homogeneous, fast, simple, nonradioactive, and cost-effective. Here we present a novel, rapid, robust assay to measure the enzyme activity of low concentrations of several serine/threonine and tyrosine protein kinases. It is based on the use of fluorogenic peptide substrates (Rhodamine 110, bis peptide amide) that are cleaved before phosphorylation to release the free Rhodamine 110; upon phosphorylation, cleavage is hindered, and the compound remains as a nonfluorescent peptide conjugate. The assay can be carried out in single- as well as multiwell plate formats such as 96- and 384-well plates. The signal-to-noise ratio is very high (40), the Z ′ is over 0.8, and the signal is stable for at least 4 h. Finally, the assay is easily adapted to a robotic system for drug discovery programs targeting protein kinases.
Of Stroke Treatment, Algorithms, Trials, and Such

In this issue of the Mayo Clinic Proceedings (pages 1027 to 1039), Brown and colleagues from the Mayo Clinic stroke service present a detailed, carefully considered, timely algorithm that incorporates their current advice for assessment and management of patients with minor strokes and transient ischemie attacks (TIAs). The report includes the rationale behind the practical advice and provides support for their positions from studies in the literature. My reaction is unreserved admiration. Bravo. I believe in algorithms—they are the best approach for now and the future. The Mayo stroke service is among the most experienced and distinguished in the United States. Brown and his current associates were preceded by Siekert, Millikan, Whisnant, Sundt, Karnes, and Sandok—all well-known leaders in the field of cerebrovascular disease. Furthermore, the algorithm is scholarly, relatively clear, and practical. I am aware of only four previous published attempts at presenting guidelines for management of stroke,14 all of which differed considerably and only one of which provided an algorithm.4 Why should algorithms be used? Hearing or reading the most erudite didactic presentation often does not tell a physician how to approach and manage an actual patient. The clinical approach to patients involves a series of questions; decisions are sequential and depend on answers to these queries.5-6 The "what-if approach mimics the bedside experience better than does a didactic lesson. Algorithms and decision trees graphically illustrate the what-if approach and define key decision points. Do algorithms have negative aspects? Algorithms concern disease. Physicians treat unique patients. The preferences, biases, and knowledge of patients and their families, the presence of other illnesses and conditions, and individual needs, wants, and demands are difficult to incorporate into an algorithm. The nuances of complex diseases such as stroke are also difficult to include in an algorithm, as are unusual disorders, findings, and exceptions to the rules. Algorithms are not meant to be law. They are only guides or maps to help direct the way in caring for the "average" patient. What should algorithms include? Of foremost importance is identification of the key questions. Physicians who
The Design of Income Maintenance Programmes

This paper provides a comprehensive treatment of a basic income maintenance problem for a group of individuals who differ in their income generating abilities. It stresses the impact that imperfect information about such abilities has on programme design. The analysis serves two purposes. First, we are able to unify the theoretical literature on the income maintenance problem. Second, we examine the impact of allowing the government to impose workfare on recipients of income support. In addition to being of policy interest, this is a theoretically challenging problem since it requires solving a multi-dimensional screening problem. The solution that we find is strikingly simple. It separates the poor into two categories, with the lower income groups subject to workfare while facing a 100% marginal tax rate on earnings. The second group does no public work and is offered a benefit schedule which taxes earnings at a lower rate.
Turbulent Lifted Flames in the Hysteresis Regime and the Effects of Coflow

A study of the characteristics of turbulent lifted-jet flames in the hysteresis regime was performed using methane and ethylene fuels in laminar and turbulent air coflows. Reattachment velocities and lifted flame heights just prior to reattachment vary linearly as for laminar flames in coflow. The flow regime of the coflow (i.e., laminar or turbulent) did not appear to affect the behavior of these flames. These observations are of utility in designing maximum turndown burners in air coflow, especially for determining stability criteria in low fuel-flow applications.
Trajectory of Functional Recovery After Hospital Discharge for Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Although there are extensive data on long-term disability after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), there are few data on the trajectory of functional recovery after hospital discharge. From October 2009 to April 2010, we prospectively followed consecutive patients with non-traumatic SAH discharged from a university hospital. Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) scores were calculated at discharge from chart review and at 6 months by standardized telephone interview. Good functional status was defined as a mRS score of 0–2, and poor status as an mRS score of 3–6. Descriptive statistics were used to assess the trajectory of functional recovery and determine the proportion of patients whose functional status improved from poor to good. Among 52 patients with non-traumatic SAH (79 % aneurysmal) who were discharged alive, most (71 %) were discharged home. Median (IQR) mRS score was 3 (2–4) at discharge and 2 (1–2) at 6 months. Some functional recovery (any improvement in mRS score) was seen in most patients (83 %; 95 % CI, 72–93 %). Of the 28 patients with poor functional status at discharge, 16 (57 %) improved to good functional status at 6 months. All patients with Hunt–Hess grade 4 or 5 hemorrhages (n = 14) had poor functional status at discharge, but half (95 % CI, 20–80 %) recovered to a good functional status at 6 months. Although our sample size is small, our findings suggest that a substantial proportion of patients with SAH who are disabled at discharge go on to regain functional independence within 6 months.
Molecules and mechanisms of dendrite development in Drosophila

Neurons are one of the most morphologically diverse cell types, in large part owing to their intricate dendrite branching patterns. Dendrites are structures that are specialized to receive and process inputs in neurons, thus their specific morphologies reflect neural connectivity and influence information flow through circuits. Recent studies in Drosophila on the molecular basis of dendrite diversity, dendritic guidance, the cell biology of dendritic branch patterning and territory formation have identified numerous intrinsic and extrinsic cues that shape diverse features of dendrites. As we discuss in this review, many of the mechanisms that are being elucidated show conservation in diverse systems.
(1→3)-β-d-Glucans as biological response modifiers: a review of structure-functional activity relationships

Abstract (1→3)-β- d -Glucans that have β- d -glucopyranosyl units attached by (1→6) linkages as single unit branches enhance the immune system systemically. This enhancement results in antitumor, antibacterial, antiviral, anticoagulatory and wound healing activities. The (1→3)-β- d -glucan backbone is essential. The most active polymers have degrees of branching (DB) between 0.20 and 0.33. Data suggest both that triple helical structures formed from high molecular weight polymers are possibly important for immunopotentiating activity and that activity is independent of any specific ordered structure. Other data indicate that it is the distribution of the branch units along the backbone chain that is responsible for activity. There are data that indicate both that β- d -glucopyranosyl units are required for immunopotentiating activity and that the specific nature of the substituent is unimportant. There are also data that indicate both that the more water-soluble polymers are more active (up to a certain degree of substitution (DS) or DB) and that some insoluble aggregates are more stimulatory than the soluble polymers. The best conclusion at this time is that the immunopotentiating activity of (1→3)-β- d -glucans depends on a helical conformation and on the presence of hydrophilic groups located on the outside surface of the helix. Immunopotentiation effected by binding of a (1→3)-β-glucan molecule or particle probably includes activation of cytotoxic macrophages, helper T cells, and NK cells, promotion of T cell differentiation, and activation of the alternative complement pathway.
Volatile, Potential Attractants from Ripe Coffee Fruit for Female Mediterranean Fruit Fly

Twenty-eight volatile compounds from freshly crushed, ripe, dark red coffee fruit, Coffea arabica, were identified by dynamic headspace analysis techniques. Identifications were made on the basis of a comparison of Kovats indices and GC-MS spectra for unknowns and authentic samples. Of the compounds identified, 10 were alcohols, nine were aldehydes, five were ketones, and four were monoterpenes. The five most abundant volatiles in decreasing order were hexanal (21%), 2-(E)-hexenal (11%), 3-methyl-1-butanol (9.0%), 3-methyl-1-butanal (8.5%), and 1-hexanol (8.4%). The five least abundant volatiles of the 28 identified, in increasing order, were decanal (0.19%), methyl hexanoate (0.33%), pulegone (0.44%), α-isomenthone (0.45%), and 2-nonanone (0.55%). In preliminary tests, many of the identified volatiles attracted more female Mediterranean fruit flies than the control.
Aurelia labiata (Scyphozoa) jellyfish in Roscoe Bay: Their spatial distribution varies with population size and their behaviour changes with water depth

During 2003 and 2004, there were large numbers of Aurelia labiata medusae in Roscoe Bay and they distributed themselves across the entire bay. A smaller population present during 2006 and 2007 typically formed an aggregation in the west half of the bay. Since currents would have been the same during these two time periods, the behaviour of medusae must have influenced their distribution. The way medusae spaced themselves in aggregations appeared to interact with tidal currents to produce the difference in medusae distribution during the two time periods. In a second series of observations, I found that medusae were not stranded on a Roscoe Bay beach by ebb tides. When the depth of the water column declined to about 1 m or less, medusae in an intertidal zone dove down and bumped into the bottom or swam into rocks or oysters. Their response to these collisions was to swim to the surface or within a few centimetres of the surface. Since the ebb stream was at the surface, being at the surface increased the probability that medusae drifted out of the intertidal zone. The influence of medusae behaviour on their distribution and on their avoidance of stranding is a further indication of the importance of adaptive behaviour in the ecology of Aurelia labiata medusae.
Demographic effects of natural disasters: a case study of Hurricane Andrew

Many studies have considered the economic, social, and psychological effects of hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, tornadoes, and other natural disasters, but few have considered their demographic effects. In this paper we describe and evaluate a method for measuring the effects of Hurricane Andrew on the housing stock and population distribution in Dade County, Florida. Using information collected through sample surveys and from other data sources, we investigate the extent of housing damages, the number of people forced out of their homes, where they went, how long they stayed, and whether they returned to their prehurricane residences. We conclude that more than half the housing units in Dade County were damaged by Hurricane Andrew; that more than 353,000 people were forced to leave their homes, at least temporarily; and that almost 40,000 people left the county permanently as a direct result of the hurricane. We believe that this study will provide methodological guidance to analysts studying the demographic effects of other large-scale natural disasters.
Separation control - Review

Under certain conditions, wall-bounded flows separate. To improve the performance of natural or man-made flow systems, it may be beneficial to delay or advance this detachment process. The present article reviews the status and outlook of separation control for both steady and unsteady flows. Both passive and active techniques to prevent or to provoke flow detachment are considered and suggestions are made for further research.
Laminar flow and heat transfer in blocked annuli

Laminar flow and heal transfer in annular passages with axially nonuniform inner tubes are obtained numerically. A characteristic feature of these passages is that the flow separates in the streamwise direction. An axisymmetric coordinate system with an algebraic transformation in the radial direction kas been used. Fully elliptic vorticity-slream function and energy equations in the transformed coordinates are solved using an iterative alternate direction implicit (ADI) method. In an annulus with a smooth blockage, the flow separates immediately downstream of the blockage at Reynolds numbers greater than 100. The main features of the flow are established at a Reynolds number of 1000. The pressure drop is drastic near the maximum constriction. The heat flux is also high in the constricted region. A sharp increase in the heat transfer occurs where the fluid reattaches itself to the wall. The increase in the total pressure drop is about an order of magnitude greater than that in the average Nusselt number.
Raman measurements of the mobile cation vibrations in Na, K, Ag and Li β″-alumina

Abstract Polarized Raman measurements have been made for single crystals of Na, K, Ag and Li β″-alumina. For each material, the modes due principally to the mobile cations have been identified. The number and symmetry of the observed modes can best be explained by considering the local ordering of the cations as a two-dimensional superlattice. Raman spectra for a number of Na β″-alumina samples with different growth temperatures, compositions, and degrees of hydration were carefully compared. Several of the observed differences in the Raman intensities can be attributed to the effects of either composition or short-range superlattice ordering. A Raman mode which is a likely candidate for the attempt mode for diffusion has been identified for the Na, K and Ag crystals.
Steroids, hypertension, and fluid retention in the genesis of postoperative seizures with inflammatory bowel disease in childhood.

Abstract Five of 21 children, with inflammatory bowel disease, including two with ulcerative colitis, and three with Crohn's disease had multiple grand-mal seizures during the first 72 hr of the postoperative period. Seizures were controlled with either intravenous phenobarbital or Valium. Significant arterial hypertension reaching a peak of 170–180110–120 prior to the onset of seizures, positive cumulative fluid balance, ranging from 2 to 4 liters without peripheral edema, diminished urine output, and elevated urine specific gravity (1.030–1.050) were observed in the seizure group. The exaggerated ADH response accompanied by a hypertensive episode is conjectured to trigger convulsive activity in a patient having a lowered seizure threshhold from chronic steroid administration.
The executive suite: Are women perceived as ready for the managerial climb?

In a developing profession, emphasis is placed on two key ingredients for a successful climb to the executive suite — namely, interpersonal skills and an appropriate personality structure than can cope with forms of stress and uncertainty. The data presented in this study were collected from one of the major accounting firms and offers insights into men and women on the upward climb within the accounting profession. Analysis of this data shows that although appropriate personality characteristics are predicated on a male managerial model, women and men perceive themselves similarly with respect to these characteristics. However, others' perceptions of women, male accountants as well as clients, seemed more skeptical of women's ability to succeed. Furthermore, there are indications that women and men have different job assignments along their career paths. Our data collected in the latter half of the seventies tend to corroborate many of the findings in the first half — in general women are not perceived as ready for the managerial climb.
Mixed-polarization modes of Michelson-type optical resonators

A complete analysis is made of the mode structure in Michelson-type optical resonators using an eigenvalue method that gives solutions in terms of arm lengths, loss-gain parameters, and beam-splitter reflectivities. It is shown that mode suppression can be obtained in several possible ways, one of them based on the use of mixed polarization in the resonator. Also, it appears that more general mode control functions are possible, such as obtaining modes in pairs or triplets with frequency separations that can be adjusted by choosing appropriate design parameters.
The effect of pyrophosphate concentrations on calcium phosphate growth on well-crystallized octacalcium phosphate and hydroxyapatite seed crystals

Abstract The comparative effects of 0.3, 1 and 3 μM P 2 O 4- 7 concentrations on the growth of calcium phosphate on octacalcium phosphate (OCP) and on “well-crystallized” hydroxyapatite (OHAp) seeds were studied. The control growth rates (without P 2 O 4- 7 ) were adjusted by weight or surface area of the seed crystals. The induction periods were longer with higher P 2 O 4- 7 concentrations a nd longer on OCP seeds than on the OHAp seeds. However, the final growth rates were about the same on both kinds of seeds when equal concentrations of P 2 O 4- 7 were used, suggesting that the same phase was growing on both kinds of seeds. The growth rates were faster when higher concentrations of OHAp seeds were used. The crystal growth on both OCP and OHAp seeds was accelerated when most of the labeled P 2 O 4- 7 disappeared from the solution. The composition of the initial phase that grew on either OCP or OHAp seed crystals appears to be OCP or partially hydrolyzed OCP. These results lead to the conclusion that apparently OCP, but not OHAp, grew on OCP and OHAp seeds in the presence of P 2 O 4- 7 .
Cracking the Corporate Code: The Revealing Success Stories of 32 African-American Executives

The article presents a review of the book “Cracking the Corporate Code: The Revealing Success Stories of 32 African-American Executives,” by Price M. Cobbs and Judith L. Turnock.
Functional forms in studies of reputation in online auctions

Many studies have examined how various factors affect prices in online auctions. These studies assume that the relationship between price and the seller's reputation take a variety of functional forms, most frequently linear or linear-log. Others divide the sellers into categories by their reputations, and control for dummy variables indicating the seller's category. Identifying the correct functional form is a critical issue for research on any topic involving online auctions. Studies that assume the wrong functional form run the risk of generating biased and inconsistent estimates of the effect of their variables of interest. In this study, the price-reputation relationship is estimated under each of these functional forms using data from auctions of three different products. The estimated effect of reputation on price is substantially larger when using a categorical specification. The models are then subjected to specification tests which suggest that the categorical model is the most appropriate choice.
An E/H Control Design for Poppet Valves in Hydraulic Systems

In this paper, an E/H control design is proposed for flow control in hydraulic systems using poppet valves. With the pressures at the valve input and output ports being known, the proposed poppet valve flow control is formulated as tracking the desired poppet displacement xd (t) under the system disturbances. No pilot pressure is required. Using the control pressure at its equilibrium points, the proposed control law largely simplifies the real world implementation with bounded tracking error. Preliminary studies show that the proposed controller is capable of controlling the flow in both directions, with some limitations on the pressure difference between input and output ports while flow is reversed. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the presented control design and experimental validations are scheduled in near future.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Role of the Maillard Reaction in Aging of Tissue Proteins ADVANCED GLYCATION END PRODUCT-DEPENDENT INCREASE IN IMIDAZOLIUM CROSS-LINKS IN HUMAN LENS PROTEINS

Dicarbonyl compounds such as glyoxal and methylglyoxal are reactive dicarbonyl intermediates in the nonenzymatic browning and cross-linking of proteins during the Maillard reaction. We describe here the quantification of glyoxal and methylglyoxal-derived imidazolium cross-links in tissue proteins. The imidazolium salt cross-links, glyoxal-lysine dimer (GOLD) and methylglyoxal-lysine dimer (MOLD), were measured by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry and were present in lens protein at concentrations of 0.02–0.2 and 0.1–0.8 mmol/mol of lysine, respectively. The lens concentrations of GOLD and MOLD correlated significantly with one another and also increased with lens age. GOLD and MOLD were present at significantly higher concentrations than the fluorescent cross-links pentosidine and dityrosine, identifying them as major Maillard reaction cross-links in lens proteins. Like theN-carboxy-alkyllysinesNe-(carboxymethyl)lysine andNe-(carboxyethyl)lysine, these cross-links were also detected at lower concentrations in human skin collagen and increased with age in collagen. The presence of GOLD and MOLD in tissue proteins implicates methylglyoxal and glyoxal, either free or protein-bound, as important precursors of protein cross-links formed during Maillard reactions in vivo during aging and in disease.
Sodium and Fluid Management in Acute Brain Injury

Sodium and fluid management in the brain injured patient directly impacts cerebral edema and cerebral perfusion pressure. Sodium is a major determinant of neuronal size and therefore hyponatremia is aggressively avoided, as hypoosmolar states result in cerebral edema. Negative fluid balance is often avoided because resultant drop in cerebral perfusion pressure can contribute to cerebral ischemia, further inducing secondary neuronal injury. Patients with brain injury are at risk for disorders of sodium and fluid balance (eg, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuresis, cerebral salt wasting, and diabetes insipidus). Knowledge of normal homeostatic and brain regulatory volume mechanisms is necessary to avoid inducing further neuronal or systemic injury while trying to correct sodium and fluid disorders in brain injured patients. Osmotherapy is a common part of managing cerebral edema in neurocritical care units, but more studies are needed to establish practice guidelines.
A dominant-negative mutant of human DNA helicase B blocks the onset of chromosomal DNA replication.

A cDNA encoding a human ortholog of mouse DNA helicase B, which may play a role in DNA replication, has been cloned and expressed as a recombinant protein. The predicted human DNA helicase B (HDHB) protein contains conserved helicase motifs (superfamily 1) that are strikingly similar to those of bacterial recD and T4 dda proteins. The HDHB gene is expressed at low levels in liver, spleen, kidney, and brain and at higher levels in testis and thymus. Purified recombinant HDHB hydrolyzed ATP and dATP in the presence of single-stranded DNA, displayed robust 5′-3′ DNA helicase activity, and interacted physically and functionally with DNA polymerase α-primase. HDHB proteins with mutations in the Walker A or B motif lacked ATPase and helicase activity but retained the ability to interact with DNA polymerase α-primase, suggesting that the mutants might be dominant over endogenous HDHB in human cells. When purified HDHB protein was microinjected into the nucleus of cells in early G1, the mutant proteins inhibited DNA synthesis, whereas the wild type protein had no effect. Injection of wild type or mutant protein into cells at G1/S did not prevent DNA synthesis. The results suggest that HDHB function is required for S phase entry.
Laser scanning microscopic analysis of DNA damage in frozen tissues

DNA damage is central to research in many fields, especially cancer research and toxicology. The possible loss of DNA structural integrity during freezing or sustained maintenance at low temperatures may present difficulties in the interpretation of data accumulated in studies of tissues collected over a period of time and subsequently evaluated. Using laser scanning microscopic analysis of the recently developed single-cell gel (SCG) assay to measure DNA strand breaks in individual cells, we found that the basal levels of DNA damage in frozen tissue was higher than fresh tissue, but tissues frozen for greater lengths of time do not appear to contain significantly more DNA damage than those frozen for a short period. Evaluation of DNA damage in tumors stored by or collected using cryopreservation may produce artificially exaggerated levels of damage, which could limit analytical interpretations.