cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
TAL nucleases (TALNs): hybrid proteins composed of TAL effectors and FokI DNA-cleavage domain

DNA double-strand breaks enhance homologous recombination in cells and have been exploited for targeted genome editing through use of engineered endonucleases. Here we report the creation and initial characterization of a group of rare-cutting, site-specific DNA nucleases produced by fusion of the restriction enzyme FokI endonuclease domain (FN) with the high-specificity DNA-binding domains of AvrXa7 and PthXo1. AvrXa7 and PthXo1 are members of the transcription activator-like (TAL) effector family whose central repeat units dictate target DNA recognition and can be modularly constructed to create novel DNA specificity. The hybrid FN-AvrXa7, AvrXa7-FN and PthXo1-FN proteins retain both recognition specificity for their target DNA (a 26 bp sequence for AvrXa7 and 24 bp for PthXo1) and the double-stranded DNA cleaving activity of FokI and, thus, are called TAL nucleases (TALNs). With all three TALNs, DNA is cleaved adjacent to the TAL-binding site under optimal conditions in vitro. When expressed in yeast, the TALNs promote DNA homologous recombination of a LacZ gene containing paired AvrXa7 or asymmetric AvrXa7/PthXo1 target sequences. Our results demonstrate the feasibility of creating a tool box of novel TALNs with potential for targeted genome modification in organisms lacking facile mechanisms for targeted gene knockout and homologous recombination.
The burning mouth syndrome

Abstract The burning mouth syndrome is characterized by burning and painful sensations of the mouth in the absence of significant mucosal abnormalities. For patients in whom no causative factor can be identified, empiric antifungal, nutritional, and estrogen replacement therapy can be initiated. If these fail, long-term therapy with antidepressants, benzodiazepines, and clonazeparn can be considered. Topical capsaicin and laser therapy have been reported beneficial in a few patients.
“What's the Matter With Kansas?” A Sociological Answer

Thomas Frank's book poses a question: Why do working people in Kansas vote for Republican candidates when supporting them is antithetical to their economic interests? This article analyzes the statistical evidence for such alleged deviant voting and finds support for his thesis that the working class does vote Republican. Also supported is his principal causal suggestion for this hypothesized “backlash,” the decline in average county population. But both variables lack a supporting theory. A “structural ecological” explanation for both facts is introduced that claims that the fear that whites experience as the white population shrinks causes the backlash reaction and the Republican vote that Frank describes. Statistical tests support the alternative explanation and illustrate the difference between Frank's ethnography-based arguments and the approach that most sociologists use.
RNA synthesis in mouse spleen cells as a probe of antibody mediated cytotoxicity.

Abstract A new method of assaying antibody mediated cytotoxicity is described. The method is based on the observation that live spleen cells have a basal level of RNA synthetic activity, whereas dead spleen cells do not. Therefore, incorporation of [ 3 H]uridine into high molecular weight material can be used as an index of the percentage of live cells in a culture. The advantages of measuring RNA synthesis rather than DNA synthesis ([ 3 H]-thymidine incorporation) for this purpose are that a short culturing time can be used and no mitogenic stimulation of the cultures is necessary. If spleen cells are killed with antispleen serum plus complement during a 1 h preincubation, they will not subsequently incorporate [ 3 H]uridine into high molecular weight material. The number of cells, amount of radioactive label, and time of incubation have all been optimized for the RNA synthesis assay procedure. The RNA synthesis assay has been performed using spleen cells from 5 inbred strains of mice: A, C57BL/6, CBA, DBA/1 and SJL. The results obtained with this new assay procedure have been compared to results obtained with the trypan blue dye exclusion assay. The RNA synthesis assay gives identical results to the trypan blue dye exclusion assay, but has the advantages of being refractory to interference by a large number of dead cells, of being independent of operator subjectivity, and of being subject to automation.
Evaluation of assumed-PDF methods in two-phase flows using direct numerical simulation

Abstract The hypothesis of uncorrelated temperature (T) and vapor-fuel mass fraction (Yv), frequently made when modeling reaction rates using assumed-PDF models, is examined utilizing transitional databases from direct numerical simulation (DNS) of three-dimensional mixing-layers two-phase (TP) flows with evaporation. Because the databases do not contain chemical reaction, which would further correlate variables, finding here a correlation between T and Yv is sufficient for invalidating reaction rate modeling of the joint (T, Yv) probability distribution function (PDF) as a product of the marginal PDFs. The databases comprise four multicomponent fuels, two mass loadings and two free-stream gas temperatures. For comparison, databases for single-phase (SP) flows are also analyzed at two initial Reynolds numbers. The examination is conducted in the mixing layer excluding the free streams and in a more restricted part of the mixing layer constituting its core. The analysis is performed at the DNS and large eddy simulation (LES) scales, and subgrid scale (SGS). To obtain the LES database, the DNS database is filtered, and an evaluation of the examined correlation at the LES and SGS scales is made at two filter sizes. At the DNS scale, T and Yv are practically uncorrelated for SP flows, showing the weak influence of the perfect-gas equation of state, whereas for TP flows the correlation is strong and increases with mass loading indicating the powerful effect of the phase change. At the LES scale, the findings emulate those at the DNS scale. The fluctuations of the SGS scale are uncorrelated for SP flows, but the product of the marginal PDFs is different from the joint PDF. For TP flows, the fluctuations are correlated and the correlation increases with temperature, casting doubt on current assumed PDFs used to model chemistry in reacting sprays. These results are independent of filter size. The joint PDFs for TP and SP fluctuations are successfully modeled.
The Use of Daily Aspirin, Nutritional Supplements and Alternative Medications among Amish and non-Amish living in Ohio Appalachia

The purpose of this study was to assess daily aspirin and supplement use among Amish and non-Amish adults living in Ohio Appalachia to understand their potential contribution to lower cancer incidence rates among the Amish. A cross-sectional study was conducted with random samples of 134 Amish adults and 154 non-Amish adults. Face-to-face interviews about cancer-related behaviors included questions regarding aspirin and supplement use. Amish compared to non-Amish adults reported 1) taking significantly (P < 0.05) more supplements [mean number of daily products by Amish males (3.5 ± 3.7) and females (5.2 ± 4.3) vs. non-Amish males (1.4 ± 1.3) and females (3.0 ± 3.2)]; 2) taking significantly (P < 0.05) more vitamins, minerals, fiber supplements (females only), and enzymes (females only); 3) taking significantly (P < 0.01) more herbal supplements (approximately 55% and 71% of Amish males and females vs. 17% and 23% of non-Amish males and females, respectively); and 4) taking significantly (P < 0.05) less aspirin on a regular basis. Aspirin and supplement use among Amish and non-Amish adults show significant differences characteristic of their social and cultural norms. Future studies that clarify the impact of aspirin and supplement use among the Amish and their impacts upon the risk of certain cancers and other disease processes are warranted.
Using self-assembly for the construction of nanoscale lateral-transport molecular electronic devices and microscale silicon-based networks

Self-assembly, the spontaneous organization of parts into ordered arrays and structures, is an omnipresent process in nature. Our group explores the use of self-assembly as an engineering concept to construct functional devices across the size scale. In this paper we present two examples of self-assembly. In the first example, we show how self-assembled monolayers of anthryl phosphonic acid can be used to form a nano-scale charge conduction channel. The molecular monolayer forms on a silicon dioxide surface and is placed between two metal electrodes. We have synthesized the molecules, verified the formation of the monolayer with X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy, and characterized the lateral charge carrier transport properties of the molecules. This molecular monolayer provides a facile way for integration of a nano-scale electronic device with conventional circuitry. In the second example, we demonstrate how microfabricated components can self-assemble into an electrical network. We have developed a microfabrication process for parallel production of 100 mm hexagonal silicon parts each carrying a portion of an electrical network. We functionalize the parts either with a low-melting point alloy or with a polymer and allow for their self-assembly into an ordered lattice at an air-water interface due to capillary forces.
A tool kit for multimedia supported group/organizational decision systems (MSGDS)

Abstract When one attempts to define a tool kit for a multimedia decision system, the initial step is to define what is not included. Therefore, the author has started the process by defining what is in a Decision Support System (DSS) Tool Kit and what is in a Group Decision Support System (GDSS) Tool Kit. A Multimedia Supported Group/Organizational Decision Systems (MSGDS) Tool Kit contains features that are unique to applications for the multimedia platform and conceptualization of decision problems.
Primary plasma cell leukaemia.

Summary. Among 750 previously untreated patients with multiple myeloma, 27 (4%) presented with plasma cell leukaemia. All but one patient had high tumour mass and, when compared with comparable patients without leukaemia, more frequent extraosseous involvement, thrombocytopenia, high serum lactate dehydrogenase and hypodiploid plasma cells. Most patients also had complex cytogenetic abnormalities. Treatment with standard melphalan-prednisone was ineffective, with a median survival of 2 months, but more intensive chemotherapy induced responses in approximately one-half of the patients, with a median survival of 20 months. Primary plasma cell leukaemia usually results from the proliferation and extramedullary expansion of immature plasma cells and requires prompt and intensive chemotherapy.
The brittle-to-ductile transition - II: Dislocation dynamics and the strain-rate dependence of the transition temperature

In this paper, the author describes how effects related to dislocation mobility can be incorporated in the instability criterion in a straightforward manner and used to analyze the strain-rate dependence of (Tc). He begins with a simple example and studies the dynamics of a group of dislocations in the vicinity of a crack subjected to Mode 3 loading. If an empirical velocity-stress power-law is assumed for the thermallly activated dislocation motion, the dislocation dynamics in the vicinity of the crack tip can be described in terms of similarity'' solutions. The correlation between the strain-rate dependence of Tc and the temperature dependence of the dislocation mobility is then deduced by incorporating the analytical dynamical solutions in the static criterion for the cooperative instability obtained in 1. The analysis shows that the strain-rate dependence of Tc is due to a combination of the scale-invariant thermal dislocation screening which causes the BDT and the self-similar stress-induced dynamics of dislocation dipoles (or loops) in the vicinity of the crack tip.
Home range and habitat associations of a Bahamian iguana: implications for conservation

The Bahamian Andros iguana (Cyclura cychlura cychlura) is an endangered lizard threatened by habitat loss, illegal hunting, impacts from historic large-scale logging practices and predation by feral animals (e.g. cats, dogs and hogs). There is interest by local and national conservation organisations to demarcate protected areas for the iguana in the southern portion of its range. However, no life history information is available for the lizard. In order to provide data that can be applied in a science-based management strategy for the Andros iguana, we investigated seasonal variation in home-range size and habitat selection of the iguana using radio telemetry. Home ranges were the largest reported to date for free-ranging Cyclura iguanas (Fixed 95% Kernel maximums: 30.58 ha for males, 5.63 ha for females). Habitat selection using the Euclidean Distance method revealed that open pine was the only habitat type out of four where iguanas occurred more than expected by chance. However, the pair-wise comparisons of habitat types reveal that iguanas were found significantly closer to open pine and shrubland than to closed pine. We failed to uncover selection of cumulative home-range placement throughout our multi-habitat study areas. Conservation implications of the dynamic seasonal home-range fluctuations and habitat usage are discussed and recommendations are offered for establishing protected areas.
Nonexistence of localized Hartree-Fock eigenfunctions in crystals

The possibility of localized canonical Hartree-Fock wave functions in periodic systems (crystals) is examined anew. It is argued that such solutions generally do not exist. The impact of nonexistence on concepts of dissociation and the metal-insulator (Mott) transition is assessed.
PC Kiosk Trends in Rural India.

This article presents a series of preliminary, quantitative results on rural PC kiosks in India. An analysis of the data confirms many expected trends and correlations and shows that kiosks still face the challenge of sustainability as a business. This study is based on questionnaires presented to kiosk operators and customers of kiosks operated or franchised by Drishtee and n-Logue, two for-profit rural kiosk companies that operate in various geographies throughout India. Recurring surveys are being run with three questionnaires concerning the daily operation and demographic context of the kiosks. The recurring questionnaires will be repeated once a quarter for three years; the results for this article are from the first two sets only.
Catalog-based service request management

To manage the delivery of services competitively on a large, global scale, an IT (information technology) service provider must efficiently use service delivery resources-in particular, skilled service delivery teams. Service requests form a large and important component of the management of a client's IT infrastructure. Currently, the fulfillment of IT service requests is often managed on a per-account basis. Service-delivery teams fulfill service requests according to account-specific processes by using an account-specific service-request-management environment, making it difficult to leverage the skills of the various delivery teams for multiple accounts. The service delivery management platform (SDMP) uses reusable service components that can be performed by multiple delivery teams and can be assembled into service compositions to which multiple clients can subscribe. The SDMP catalog is the information repository that manages service components, composition, providers, and subscriptions and is used by the service-request runtime environment to implement specific customer service requests. In this paper, we describe a catalog-based architecture for service delivery management and demonstrate how its use can provide a global service-delivery organization with a platform for achieving significant productivity gains.
Lung abscess versus necrotizing pneumonia: implications for interventional therapy.

Objective. To assess and contrast the role of interventional therapy for two types of cavitating pneumonias: lung abscess and necrotizing pneumonia. Materials and methods. We retrospectively reviewed the imaging, interventional therapy, and outcome of 14 children seen between February 1987 and January 1996 with lung abscess and 9 with necrotizing pneumonia. All children were treated with antibiotics prior to intervention. Pulmonary parenchymal fluid was percutaneously aspirated from ten lung abscesses and three necrotizing pneumonias. Percutaneous catheters drained five lung abscesses. Pleural drainage was performed for three lung abscesses and eight necrotizing pneumonias. Results. All 14 children with lung abscesses had positive Gram stains of the pulmonary fluid; 13 cultures were positive. All 14 defervesced within 48 h of intervention. None developed a bronchopleural fistula. All nine necrotizing pneumonias were presumed to be sequelae of prior pneumonia. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the only organism as documented by pleural fluid latex fixation in three patients, gram stain in two, and culture in only one. Seven of these children developed pneumatoceles, five developed bronchopleural fistulae, and three required long-term chest tubes for persistent pneumothoraces. Conclusion. Aggressive interventional therapy can be diagnostic and therapeutic in the infected lung abscess. Interventional therapy can be harmful in postinfectious necrotizing pneumonia.
Picosecond transient grating measurements of singlet exciton transport in anthracene single crystals

Abstract Picosecond transient grating experiments are used to measure the rate of exciton transport in anthracene single crystals. The method permits a direct measurement of the transport by introducing an accurate distance scale into the sample. Results from transient grating experiments at 10 K are presented, and the diffusion constant along the â crystal axis for the anthracene singlet exciton is reported. Preliminary studies of the temperature dependence of the exciton diffusion constant are also discussed.
A Climatology of Derecho-Producing Mesoscale Convective Systems in the Central and Eastern United States, 1986–95. Part I: Temporal and Spatial Distribution

Abstract In 1888, Iowa weather researcher Gustavus Hinrichs gave widespread convectively induced windstorms the name “derecho”. Refinements to this definition have evolved after numerous investigations of these systems; however, to date, a derecho climatology has not been conducted. This investigation examines spatial and temporal aspects of derechos and their associated mesoscale convective systems that occurred from 1986 to 1995. The spatial distribution of derechos revealed four activity corridors during the summer, five during the spring, and two during the cool season. Evidence suggests that the primary warm season derecho corridor is located in the southern Great Plains. During the cool season, derecho activity was found to occur in the southeast states and along the Atlantic seaboard. Temporally, derechos are primarily late evening or overnight events during the warm season and are more evenly distributed throughout the day during the cool season.
Macro practice and policy in cyberspace: teaching with computer simulation and the Internet at the baccalaureate level

SUMMARY The integration of computer training within social work education is necessary for social workers to keep abreast of technological changes occurring within human service agencies. This article presents several techniques to integrate computer simulations and Internet research within the baccalaureate curriculum. Emphasis is placed on the use of these techniques to teach policy and macro practice.
If you are quick enough, I will think about it: Information speed and trust in public health organizations

Social media continues to gain prominence as an information resource. However, little is known about how people perceive trust and credibility in social media messages, particularly in terms of abstract dispositions toward organizations. The current experiment examines the role of speed of updates on a twitter feed with perceptions of trust. The experiment is also used to address the convergent validity of the RAND Public Health Disaster Trust Scale. The results do not provide evidence of a direct relationship between speed of twitter feed updates and trust, but do support a mediation model in which cognitive elaboration mediates the relationship. Further, the convergent validity of the RAND Public Health Disaster Trust Scale is discussed, along with its utility for future studies of this type.
Exceptional Female Students of Color: Academic Resilience and Gender in Higher Education

In researching the exceptional academic performance of 31 female and 19 male low socioeconomic college students of color, three distinctly female approaches to exceptional achievement arose from the data. These included the inordinate degree of familial resistance faced by the females and their approaches to that resistance, the value and importance of post-college goals and ambition, and the presence of effective cross-gender mentoring relationships. The impact of racial, ethnic, class and gender-based identities in relation to academic performance is also explored.
Octree-based hierarchical encoding for video conferencing

We introduce a new scalable video encoding technique which is geared to support video communication over unreliable channels. Our video encoding technique is based on the octree representation of frames and vector quantization. The algorithms divides the video sequence into blocks and then cubes, which are encoded as a 3D entity. Then, we apply a mean-removal algorithm on each block separately. Then, we generate the octree for each block and use vector quantization to compress the octree data. This resulting encoding is both highly scalable and robust. We make use of the temporal dependency between frames by using a 3D encoding. We show that this encoding is time-efficient to generate and gives a very good compression ratio. In addition, we demonstrate its ability to tolerate and conceal communication errors. Moreover, we illustrate the ability of our encoding technique to react to changing network traffic patterns. The new encoding technique, besides its simplicity and effectiveness, proved to perform well with respect to both scalability and robustness attributes.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease New Recommendations From the American Heart Association

Since the original American Heart Association (AHA) Science Advisory was published in 1996,1 important new findings have been reported about the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids on cardiovascular disease (CVD). Omega-3 fatty acids are obtained from two dietary sources: seafood and certain nut and plant oils. Fish and fish oils contain the 20-carbon eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and the 22-carbon docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), whereas canola, walnut, soybean, and flaxseed oils contain the 18-carbon α-linolenic acid (ALA). ALA appears to be less potent than EPA and DHA. The evidence supporting the clinical benefits of omega-3 fatty acids derive from population studies and randomized, controlled trials, and new information has emerged regarding the mechanisms of action of these nutrients. These are outlined in a recent Scientific Statement, “Fish Consumption, Fish Oil, Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Cardiovascular Disease.”2 See page e20 Large-scale epidemiologic studies suggest that people at risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) benefit from consuming omega-3 fatty acids from plants and marine sources. Although the ideal amount to take is not firmly established, evidence from prospective secondary prevention studies suggests that intakes of EPA+DHA ranging from 0.5 …
Observation of excitation transfer among neighboring quantum dots

Coupling between spatially separated zero-dimensional states has been observed in a system of self-assembled In{sub 0.55}Al{sub 0.45}As quantum dots. Photoluminescence excitation spectra, taken at 4.2 K with a near-field scanning optical microscope, reveals narrow resonances in the emission lines of individual dots when the excitation energy is tuned below the barrier band edge. A fraction of these resonances occur simultaneously in emission corresponding to different dots, evincing lateral interdot excitation transfer. Experiments show that the wetting layer in the sample consists solely of localized states which are then invoked to explain the excitation transfer over the relatively large interdot spacing.
Cd8+ but Not Cd8− Dendritic Cells Cross-Prime Cytotoxic T Cells in Vivo

Bone marrow–derived antigen-presenting cells (APCs) take up cell-associated antigens and present them in the context of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I molecules to CD8+ T cells in a process referred to as cross-priming. Cross-priming is essential for the induction of CD8+ T cell responses directed towards antigens not expressed in professional APCs. Although in vitro experiments have shown that dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages are capable of presenting exogenous antigens in association with MHC class I, the cross-presenting cell in vivo has not been identified. We have isolated splenic DCs after in vivo priming with ovalbumin-loaded β2-microglobulin–deficient splenocytes and show that they indeed present cell-associated antigens in the context of MHC class I molecules. This process is transporter associated with antigen presentation (TAP) dependent, suggesting an endosome to cytosol transport. To determine whether a specific subset of splenic DCs is involved in this cross-presentation, we negatively and positively selected for CD8− and CD8+ DCs. Only the CD8+, and not the CD8−, DC subset demonstrates cross-priming ability. FACS® studies after injection of splenocytes loaded with fluorescent beads showed that 1 and 0.6% of the CD8+ and the CD8− DC subsets, respectively, had one or more associated beads. These results indicate that CD8+ DCs play an important role in the generation of cytotoxic T lymphocyte responses specific for cell-associated antigens.
Lesion-Induced synaptogenesis in brain: A study of dynamic changes in neuronal membrane specializations

When incoming fibers to a given brain region are damaged and degenerate, the remaining undamaged fibers can, in some cases, form new synapses, and restore physiologically functional circuitry. Synaptic membrane events underlie this reconstruction: the connection between membranes is broken and reformed. In order to understand these membrane events, it is necessary to know the molecular composition of the synapse and the nature of the interaction between pre- and postsynaptic membranes. The synaptic membranes are probably joined by proteins extending from their surfaces. The postsynaptic membrane has on its outer surface an array of lectin receptors, probably glycoproteins. On its inner surface, juxtaposed to the bilayer, the membrane has an electron-dense structure called the postsynaptic density which, from studies on the isolated structure, is composed of a few polypeptides. On the basis of the molecular composition and structure of CNS synapses and ultrastructural studies of the lesion-induced synaptogenesis, some of the underlying dynamic events at synaptic membranes are inferred. New synapses are formed either by reutilization of the old contact sites or by generation of new ones. The protein and carbohydrates in the cleft are enzymatically degraded and a new synapse is generated in response to ingrowing fibers by the addition or reutilization of the specialized proteins of postsynaptic membrane, which differentiate a small segment of the postsynaptic membrane.
Protein Sensors for Membrane Sterols

Cholesterol is an essential component of animal cell membranes, and its concentration is tightly controlled by a feedback system that operates at transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Here, we discuss recent advances that explain how cells employ an ensemble of membrane-embedded proteins to monitor sterol concentrations and adjust sterol synthesis and uptake.
Nonconserved Lysine Residues Attenuate the Biological Function of the Low-Risk Human Papillomavirus E7 Protein

The mucosotrophic human papillomaviruses (HPVs) are classified as high-risk (HR) or low-risk (LR) genotypes based on their neoplastic properties. We have demonstrated previously that the E7 protein destabilizes p130, a pRb-related pocket protein, thereby promoting S-phase reentry in postmitotic, differentiated keratinocytes of squamous epithelia, and that HR HPV E7 does so more efficiently than LR HPV E7. The E7 proteins of LR HPV-11 and -6b uniquely possess lysine residues following a casein kinase II phosphorylation motif which is critical for the biological function of E7. We now show that mutations of these lysine residues elevated the efficiency of S-phase reentry, independent of their charge. An 11E7 K39,42R mutation moderately increased the association with and the destabilization of p130. Unexpectedly, polyubiquitination on these lysine residues did not attenuate E7 activity, as their mutation caused elevated proteasomal degradation and decreased protein stability. In this regard, the biologically more potent HR HPV E7 proteins were also less stable than the LR HPV E7 proteins. We infer that these lysine residues impede functional protein-protein interactions. A G22D mutation of 11E7 at the pocket protein binding motif possessed augmented efficiency in promoting S-phase reentry and strongly enhanced association with p130 and pRb. The combined effects of these two classes of 11E7 mutations exhibited an efficiency of S-phase reentry comparable to that of HR HPV E7. Thus, these nonconserved residues are primarily responsible for the differential abilities of LR and HR HPV E7 proteins to promote unscheduled DNA replication in organotypic raft cultures.
Reading, Writing, and Publishing Digital Text

Digital text and the ideas that underlie digital publishing have critical implications for teaching and learning. The methods by which students, teachers, and researchers conduct their business of reading, writing, and conducting research is undergoing significant change through such media as the Internet, CD-ROMs, electronic books, electronic libraries, and other technology-based resources. These new digital platforms call for a fresh look at such issues as instructional strategies, accessibility, and copyright. Vignettes offer a positive scenario for educational use of digital text.
Dynamic charge disproportionation in the 1D chain material PdTeI

PdTeI features quasi-1D –Pd–Te–Pd–Te– chains with palladium formally in the 3+ oxidation state. Using pair distribution function analysis of X-ray and neutron total scattering data, we find that there is a local charge-density wave arising from the disproportionation of Pd3+ towards Pd2+ in pseudo-square planar, and Pd4+ in pseudo-octahedral, coordination. The magnitude and coherence length for this distortion is small, such that the average structure determined by Bragg diffraction techniques possesses higher symmetry than the local structure at all temperatures. Temperature-dependent resistivity measurements show a transport anomaly at TCDW = 50 K, corresponding to the reduced fluctuations of the charge separated Pd2+ and Pd4+ sites. At higher temperatures, the charge separation is dynamic, with local Pd2+/Pd4+ pairs persisting up to room temperature.
A Comparison of Two Path Models for Predicting Reading Fluency

Federal mandates such as No Child Left Behind and the Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 are prompting elementary schools to carefully monitor early literacy outcomes. The shift toward monitoring early literacy outcomes requires the identification of valid sublexical fluency measures. In the current study, sublexical fluency measures that focus on phonological awareness, phoneme decoding, letter naming, and automatic word recognition are used to predict reading fluency. Results of two path models are discussed within the context of reading acquisition and a prevention-oriented approach.
Identification of putative QTL that underlie yield in interspecific soybean backcross populations.

Glycine soja, the wild progenitor of soybean, is a potential source of useful genetic variation in soybean improvement. The objective of our study was to map quantitative trait loci (QTL) from G. soja that could improve the crop. Five populations of BC2F4-derived lines were developed using the Glycine max cultivar IA2008 as a recurrent parent and the G. soja plant introduction (PI) 468916 as a donor parent. There were between 57 and 112 BC2F4-derived lines in each population and a total of 468 lines for the five populations. The lines were evaluated with simple sequence repeat markers and in field tests for yield, maturity, plant height, and lodging. The field testing was done over 2 years and at two locations each year. Marker data were analyzed for linkage and combined with field data to identify QTL. Using an experimentwise significance threshold of P=0.05, four yield QTL were identified across environments on linkage groups C2, E, K, and M. For these yield QTL, the IA2008 marker allele was associated with significantly greater yield than the marker allele from G. soja. In addition, one lodging QTL, four maturity QTL, and five QTL for plant height were identified across environments. Of the 14 QTL identified, eight mapped to regions where QTL with similar effects were previously mapped. Many regions carrying the yield QTL were also significant for other traits, such as plant height and lodging. When the significance threshold was reduced and the data were analyzed with simple linear regression, four QTL with a positive allele for yield from G. soja were mapped. One epistatic interaction between two genetic regions was identified for yield using an experimentwise significance threshold of P=0.05. Additional research is needed to establish whether multiple trait associations are the result of pleiotropy or genetic linkage and to retest QTL with a positive effect from G. soja.
Determinants of clinal variation in life history of dusky salamanders (Desmognathus ocoee): prey abundance and ecological limits on foraging time restrict opportunities for larval growth

Recent models argue that thermal environments are the major cause of ectotherm life-history clines. However, elevational clines in body size in the mountain dusky salamander Desmognathus ocoee (family Plethodontidae) shift from positive at hatching, to negative at metamorphosis to positive again as adults, and so are not consistent with this explanation. The clinal shift from hatching to metamorphosis was investigated by examining the clinal and seasonal feeding patterns of larval salamanders at high and low elevation sites in rockface and woodland habitats. Repeated cohort sampling was also used to examine clinal and seasonal patterns in body size and to estimate average growth rates. Larval growth in both rockface and woodland habitats was tightly correlated with feeding activity. Although temperature was found to vary between high and low elevation sites, the greatest growth occurred in a cold woodland habitat with a high elevation, and the lowest growth occurred in an adjacent rockface habitat. Because this difference in growth cannot be attributed to thermal differences, we conclude that local food resource levels are the predominant source of local differences in growth. These findings, clinal patterns of variation in other predatory salamanders, and experimental analyses in which both food and temperature are orthogonally manipulated, indicate that general models that single out temperature as the principle cause of ectotherm life-history clines should be viewed with caution.
Parallel multisplitting, block Jacobi type solutions of linear systems of equations

Thre parallel iterative schemes to solve banded systems of equations are presented in this study. The techniques are special implementations of the theory of matrix multisplitting. The resulting algorithms are implemented on a Multiple Instruction Multiple Data (MIMD) grid architecture using 16 Transputer processors. Parametric analyses are performed to develop convergence criteria and examine the speed-up of solution
Interactions between the tropical ISO and midlatitude low-frequency flow

In this study, we investigate the interaction between the tropical Intraseasonal Oscillation (ISO) and midlatitude atmospheric low-frequency variability, using observational data and numerical models, with a special emphasis on the role of the synoptic eddy feedback. A statistical closure for the synoptic eddy-to-low frequency flow feedback is constructed, based on a singular value decomposition (SVD) method with observational data. Applying this statistical closure to a barotropic model and a baroclinic 2½-layer model, we study the role of the synoptic eddy feedback in the midlatitude response to the tropical ISO forcing. Both observational and modeling studies show that the strongest synoptic eddy forcing appears at the Pacific and Atlantic storm-track regions, and the synoptic eddy exerts a positive feedback to the midlatitude low-frequency flow induced by tropical ISO forcing. Our numerical experiments demonstrate the possible role of midlatitude disturbance forcing in the ISO initiation at the equator. The signal of the midlatitude perturbations propagates southeastward in the form of a Rossby wave package. It may reach the equator within several days under either easterly or westerly basic flow regimes. The response at the equator has observed ISO-like structure and eastward propagation characteristics.
Replantation Surgery and Microsurgical Technique

The development of surgery using high magnification has allowed reconstructive surgeons to operate on the small blood vessels of the distal extremity which previously were beyond technical limits. Using this new technology reconstructive surgeons are able to replant amputated upper extremities with a high degree of survival and functional success.The world's first successful clinical replantation was performed by Malt and McKhann1 in 1962. They replaced the arm of a 12 year old boy who had been amputated at the mid-humeral level. In 1965, Komatsu and Tamai2 used the surgical microscope to replant a thumb amputated at the metacarpophalangeal level.This first successful microsurgical replantation was preceded by considerable ex perimental work. Jacobson and Suarez3 using an operating microscope reported a 100 percent patency rate in arteries 1.4 mm in diameter. Harry Buncke, a plastic surgeon continued development of the microsurgical technique, instruments, and sutures, that would result in successful repl...
"You Make Them Do What?": A National Survey on Field Seminar Assignments

This national study of MSW field directors provides data on field seminars and assignments. Field directors at CSWE accredited or in-candidacy MSW programs were surveyed regarding program data, presence and nature of a field seminar, required assignments, and opinion questions about CSWE requirements. Findings from the 141 completed surveys (66.2% response rate) show assignments are similar between foundation and concentration years, and also similar to assignments required in the BSW curriculum. This raises questions of curriculum redundancy and how to properly sequence field assignments. Other findings about field education and field seminar are also presented.
A 10 GHz Bandwidth Pseudomorphic GaAs/InGaAs/AIGaAs MODFET-Based OEIC Receiver

Summary form only given. High-performance quarter-micrometer pseudomorphic modulation-doped field-effect transistors (MODFETs) and a metal-semiconductor-metal (MSM) photodetector have been used in the design of a 0.85- mu m wavelength sensitive high-speed OEIC (optoelectronic integrated circuit) lightwave receiver. The receiver circuit utilizes a transimpedance amplifier topology with all active components including a variable active feedback resistor consisting of a common-gate FET. Discrete MODFETs with -0.7-V thresholds exhibit transconductances of over 500 mS/mm and f/sub T/s of approximately 70 GHz. Receiver transimpedance gains (Z/sub T/) from 200 to 1500 Omega are obtained by varying the active feedback resistor. An amplifier 3-dB analog bandwidth of 10 GHz is measured with a maximally flat Z/sub T/ response of 300 Omega , resulting in a transimpedance-bandwidth product of 3 THz- Omega . The receiver frequency response, deduced from optical pulse measurements, confirms a 10-GHz bandwidth and indicates that the receiver is suitable for unequalized 18-Gb/s NRZ communications. >
Human muscle–derived stem/progenitor cells promote functional murine peripheral nerve regeneration

Peripheral nerve injuries and neuropathies lead to profound functional deficits. Here, we have demonstrated that muscle-derived stem/progenitor cells (MDSPCs) isolated from adult human skeletal muscle (hMDSPCs) can adopt neuronal and glial phenotypes in vitro and ameliorate a critical-sized sciatic nerve injury and its associated defects in a murine model. Transplanted hMDSPCs surrounded the axonal growth cone, while hMDSPCs infiltrating the regenerating nerve differentiated into myelinating Schwann cells. Engraftment of hMDSPCs into the area of the damaged nerve promoted axonal regeneration, which led to functional recovery as measured by sustained gait improvement. Furthermore, no adverse effects were observed in these animals up to 18 months after transplantation. Following hMDSPC therapy, gastrocnemius muscles from mice exhibited substantially less muscle atrophy, an increase in muscle mass after denervation, and reorganization of motor endplates at the postsynaptic sites compared with those from PBS-treated mice. Evaluation of nerve defects in animals transplanted with vehicle-only or myoblast-like cells did not reveal histological or functional recovery. These data demonstrate the efficacy of hMDSPC-based therapy for peripheral nerve injury and suggest that hMDSPC transplantation has potential to be translated for use in human neuropathies.
DEVELOPMENT OF A VIRTUAL VISUALIZATION ENVIRONMENT FOR LARGE-SCALE DESIGN

This paper describes the development of a virtual visualization environment for large-scale Multidisciplinary Design Optimization (MDO) problems. The environment described provides a designer with the ability to see and interact with a 3-D Virtual Reality (VR) representation of the design or problem being worked on. The designer also has the option of working with subsets of the design space on either a 2-D or 3-D coordinate axis system. The environment provides a means of viewing an actual system being designed (beam, truss, etc.) as well as visual representations of that system in a VR based environment. The designer can make graphical alterations to the design and see the effects in real-time.
Potential contribution of wind energy to climate change mitigation

The increased use of wind turbines for power generation could play an important role in climate change mitigation efforts. This study shows that, assuming greenhouse gas emissions are kept in check and energy-use efficiency increases, crossing the 2 °C warming threshold could be significantly delayed or even avoided altogether depending on how aggressively wind energy is taken up over coming decades.
Bactericidal activity and chemotaxis in pemphigus vulgaris and bullous pemphigoid.

Host defense mechanisms were studied in six patients with pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and six patients with bullous pemphigoid (BP). Polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocyte killing of Staphylococcus organisms was evaluated, and chemotaxis of PMN and mononuclear (MN) leukocytes in patients was compared with that in twenty ageand sex-matched controls. All patients had extensive widespread disease with the clinical diagnosis confirmed by immunopathologic studies. No statistically significant differences were observed in the PMN leukocyte bactericidal activity between PV patients and controls. In BP patients, PMN leukocyte bactericidal activity was very slightly reduced when normal cells and patient serum were used, but activity was normal when patient cells and patient serum were used. PMN leukocyte chemotaxis was normal in PV and BP patients. MN leukocyte chemotaxis was normal in PV patients and increased in BP patients when compared with that in controls. This study indicated that in spite of very severe and extensive disease, patients with PV and BP have intact neutrophil and monocyte functions. Drugs that compromise the patient's ability to fight infections should be used cautiously and judiciously.
Dynamic compression and weak shock formation in an inert gas due to fast piston acceleration

Unsteady gasdynamic concepts are used to model the piston-driven compression of a confined gas. Perturbation methods, based on the limit of small piston Mach number, are used to construct solutions. The piston Mach number increases smoothly from zero to a maximum value, Mp = O(10−2) during an acoustic time period ta* = O(10−4 s). A linear a coustic field is generated and is represented in terms of an infinite series of Fourier spatial modes. During the longer piston time period tp* = O(10−2 s) the piston moves at constant speed. A multiple-timescale formulation is used to separate the instantaneous acoustic field from the accumulated bulk response of the gas to piston compression. The latter is found to be identical to the classical quasi-static results from equilibrium thermodynamic calculations. Nonlinear effects become important on the piston timescale. Modal interactions are represented by a system of coupled, nonlinear ordinary differential equations for the time-dependent Fourier coefficients. A numerical solution for this system describes the wavefront steepening to form a weak shock and its propagation back and forth repeatedly inside the cylinder.
Superior vena cava obstruction after Mustard repair of d-transposition of the great arteries.

Superior vena caval obstruction following Mustard repair of d-transposition of the great arteries is usally relieved by partial or complete revision of the intra-atrial repair. We employed a different approach in a patient with isolated total obstruction of the superior vena caval pathway, who suffered from fatigue, venous congestion in the upper part of the body and mild hydrocephalus. A 12 mm polytetrafluoroethylene tube was interposed between the left innominate vein and the left (functionally right) atrial appendage. Early and medium-term relief was demonstrated by repeat catheterization of the right heart and computed tomography brain scan three months postoperatively. The rationale for use of prosthetic material in the venous system is discussed and the need for long-term follow-up is stressed.
Liver disorder detection based on artificial immune systems

Liver is one of the most important internal organs in human body which performs many vital functions such as filtering out toxins and harmful chemicals. However, liver disorder is usually difficult to diagnose because its symptoms can be vague and sometimes easily confused with other health problems. In this research, algorithms based on artificial immune systems (AIS) are employed for liver disorder detection by analyzing blood test results. Two modified real-valued negative selection algorithms based on AIS are proposed; their performances are compared with artificial neural networks (ANN) and other typical classification methods via computer simulations. It is shown that both the modified variable-radius algorithm (MVD) based on AIS and the ANN model yields better results than traditional algorithms such as C4.5 detection trees etc. Though ANN outperforms the MVD algorithm by a small margin, it fails to perform when only “normal” (or “self”) data are available for training. By contrast, the new proposed MVD algorithm can be trained by “normal” (or “self”) samples only and still yields a competitive detection rate of 81.18%. Note this feature of AIS is especially important for the field of biomedical research, where “normal” samples are usually much easier to obtain.