cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Box-coxVs. modulus power family of response transformations

Economic theory provides researchers little guidance when selecting the appropriate estimating functional form model, given the data. The flexible Box and Cox [J. Roy. Stat. Soc., 1964] power transformation model is one relatively simple device for minimizing functional approximation errors in single-equation, least-squares models. However, the Box-Cox may induce heteroscedastic residuals [Sarkar, Comm. Stats.Theory and Methods, 1985] and is only operational for strictly positive data values. Dynamic econometric models often involve variables calibrated in differences--not levels. Difference data containing negative values incapacitate Box-Cox transformations. Therefore, John and Draper [Appl. Stats., 1980] proposed the modulus alternative power family of transformations. Currently, implementation of the Modulus for econometric modelling does not exist in the literature. The purpose of this note is to increase the awareness of the Modulus and point out its usefulness when the Box-Cox is incapacitated. Consider the general linear model:
Playing with Others: Head Start Children's Peer Play and Relations with Kindergarten School Competence

Abstract Time-sampled observations of Head Start preschoolers’ (N = 264; 51.5% boys; 76% Mexican American; M = 53.11 and SD = 6.15 months of age) peer play in the classroom were gathered during fall and spring semesters. One year later, kindergarten teachers rated these children's school competence. Latent growth models indicated that, on average, children's peer play was moderately frequent and increased over time during preschool. Children with higher initial levels or with higher slopes of peer play in Head Start had higher levels of kindergarten school competence. Results suggest that Head Start children's engagement with peers may foster development of skills that help their transition into formal schooling. These findings highlight the importance of peer play, and suggest that peer play in Head Start classrooms contributes to children's adaptation to the demands of formal schooling.
Innovative Group Techniques: Handle With Care.

This article points to the haphazard use of powerful group methods by untrained practitioners, particularly members of professional organizations who promote these volatile techniques at conventions through “audience participation.” There is no question that the methods themselves are valuable, but in the hands of inexperienced people who lead a single demonstration or workshop the results can be dangerous. Such leaders seldom consider the damage that can be done either to the participants themselves or to those interacting with the participants after the workshop is over.
Initial Studies in Three-Dimensional Dynamic Photoelasticity

An initial study of stress waves propagating in a half space due to a point load on the surface has been accomplished by employing dynamic three-dimensional photoelasticity. The central plane of the half-space model was isolated for investigation by employing an embedded polariscope. Auxiliary experiments show that the thin elements of the polariscope do not significantly distort the stress wave as it propagates across the joints of the model containing the elements. Photographs of the dynamic fringe patterns were recorded with a Cranz-Schardin multiple spark gap camera operating at 400,000 fps. Three different waves were identified from the fringe patterns; namely, the incident dilatational and distortional waves and the reflected shear wave known as the von Schmidt wave. The data obtained for the shear wave in the form of isochromatic fringe orders were converted to individual values of the principal stresses along the axis of symmetry in the model. The method developed for separation of the principal stresses is only applicable when the distortional wave occurs alone along the axis of symmetry.
Preliminary evaluation of a pulsed 2.15‐μm laser system for fiberoptic endoscopic surgery

There is a need for lasers that are compatible with fiberoptic endoscopes and that provide greater cutting precision than currently can be produced by the widely used Nd:YAG (1.06 micron) laser. Recently available lasers that operate in the 2-micron region fill this need. This laser light energy can be transmitted by low OH- silica fibers and has much less tissue penetration than radiation at 1.06 micron. We have been evaluating a prototype solid state laser system that produces pulses of 2.15 microns light that is delivered by a silica based fiberoptic delivery system with negligible transmission losses. This system is based on a thulium-holmium-chromium doped YAG (Tm-Ho-Cr: YAG) rod that lases at 2.15 micron. The laser does not require cryogenic cooling, toxic gases, or custom utilities and should be practical in a clinical environment. In vivo animal testing of this laser confirms that it provides greater ablating precision than does the Nd:YAG laser at 1.06 micron.
The Investiture Controversy Revisited: Religious Reform, Emperor Maximilian II, and the Klosterrat

The conflicts between episcopal and Habsburg provincial authorities in late sixteenth-century Upper and Lower Austria can be seen in some ways as a continuation of the investiture controversies of the eleventh and twelfth centuries. The long roots of these later conflicts have been pointed out by local historians of Upper Austria like Karl Eder and Rudolf Zinnhobler. The early modern connections help to explain the particular course of religious reform in the Habsburg Hereditary Lands.
Controlling the reactivity of radical intermediates by coenzyme B12-dependent methylmalonyl-CoA mutase

Adenosylcobalamin or coenzyme B(12)-dependent enzymes are members of the still relatively small group of radical enzymes and catalyse 1,2-rearrangement reactions. A member of this family is methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, which catalyses the isomerization of methylmalonyl-CoA to succinyl-CoA and, unlike the others, is present in both bacteria and animals. Enzymes that catalyse some of the most chemically challenging reactions are the ones that tend to deploy radical chemistry. The use of radical intermediates in an active site lined with amino acid side chains that threaten to extinguish the reaction by presenting alternative groups for abstraction poses the conundrum of how the enzymes control their reactivity. In this review, insights into this issue that have emerged from kinetic, mutagenesis and structural studies are described for methylmalonyl-CoA mutase.
Direct gene transfer with DNA-liposome complexes in melanoma: expression, biologic activity, and lack of toxicity in humans

Abstract Direct gene transfer offers the potential to introduce DNA encoding therapeutic proteins to treat human disease. Previously, gene transfer in humans has been achieved by a cell-mediated ex vivo approach in which cells from the blood or tissue of patients are genetically modified in the laboratory and subsequently returned to the patient. To determine the feasibility and safety of directly transferring genes into humans, a clinical study was performed. The gene encoding a foreign major histocompatibility complex protein, HLA-B7, was introduced into HLA-B7-negative patients with advanced melanoma by injection of DNA-liposome complexes in an effort to demonstrate gene transfer, document recombinant gene expression, and determine the safety and potential toxicity of this therapy. Six courses of treatment were completed without complications in five HLA-B7-negative patients with stage IV melanoma. Plasmid DNA was detected within biopsies of treated tumor nodules 3-7 days after injection but was not found in the serum at any time by using the polymerase chain reaction. Recombinant HLA-B7 protein was demonstrated in tumor biopsy tissue in all five patients by immunochemistry, and immune responses to HLA-B7 and autologous tumors could be detected. No antibodies to DNA were detected in any patient. One patient demonstrated regression of injected nodules on two independent treatments, which was accompanied by regression at distant sites. These studies demonstrate the feasibility, safety, and therapeutic potential of direct gene transfer in humans.
METHOTREXATE SYSTEMIC CLEARANCE INFLUENCES PROBABILITY OF RELAPSE IN CHILDREN WITH STANDARD-RISK ACUTE LYMPHOCYTIC LEUKAEMIA

108 children with standard-risk acute lymphocytic leukaemia (ALL) were randomised to a post-induction treatment protocol including 15 doses of intermediate-dose methotrexate (1000 mg/m2) in addition to conventional oral therapy of mercaptopurine and low-dose methotrexate. After median follow-up of 26 months, 22 patients have had relapses. Among the 108 patients, rates of methotrexate systemic clearance ranged from 44.7 to 132 ml/min/m2. When the group was divided into three subgroups according to the patients' rates of methotrexate clearance, statistical analysis of the Kaplan-Meier curves estimating the probability of complete remission showed significant differences (p = 0.016) among the subgroups, patients with faster clearance having higher probability of relapse. Multivariate Cox's regression analysis incorporating other potential prognostic variables identified three significant variables influencing the risk of relapse--methotrexate clearance and white-blood-cell count and haemoglobin level at diagnosis (p = 0.0015). This study has demonstrated the potential clinical importance of the rate of drug clearance in children with ALL.
Signaling through JAM-1 and αvβ3 is required for the angiogenic action of bFGF: dissociation of the JAM-1 and αvβ3 complex

Growth factor-induced neovascularization has received a great deal of attention because it is fundamental to the growth and metastasis of solid tumors. This multistep process requires extensive signaling through growth factor receptors and integrins. Among the integrins involved in this process, integrin alphavbeta3 is specific to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-induced angiogenesis. Here we show that junctional adhesion molecule 1/A (JAM-1/A) and alphavbeta3 form a complex in the absence of bFGF. JAM-1, which is normally localized at the cell-cell junctions of quiescent endothelial cells, redistributes to the cell surface on bFGF treatment. Blockage of the extracellular domain of JAM-1 inhibits bFGF-induced endothelial cell morphology, proliferation, and angiogenesis. Additionally, mutation in the JAM-1 cytoplasmic domain blocks bFGF-induced mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activation and ablates its ability to induce endothelial cell tube formation, suggesting that signaling through JAM-1 is key to bFGF-induced signaling. Immunoprecipitation analysis suggests that bFGF signaling dissociates the JAM-1/ alphavbeta3 complex, allowing for signaling through JAM-1 and alphavbeta3. In addition, blockage of either JAM-1 or alphavbeta3 inhibits bFGF-induced MAP kinase activation. Thus, our results suggest that signaling through JAM-1 and alphavbeta3 is necessary for bFGF-induced angiogenesis.
Improving area swept estimates from bottom trawl surveys

Estimation of area swept is a key component for standardizing catch per unit effort (CPUE) data from fishery independent bottom trawl surveys and survey trawl gear experiments. Given technological advances and the proliferation of data streams from net mensuration equipment and global positioning system (GPS), techniques for estimating survey effort can be improved. Here we investigate new analytical techniques for improving the accuracy and precision of survey effort estimation. Sources of error and bias associated with two of the components used to compute area swept as a measure of fishing effort, distance fished by the trawl and net spread, are systematically examined and their influence quantified using both simulated and survey data. New analytical methods, a cubic spline smoothing algorithm to smooth GPS and net spread data, a haversine great circle algorithm to calculate distance between smoothed GPS track points, and a sequential outlier rejection algorithm to diminish the influence of noise on mean net spread estimates are shown to reduce or even eliminate the influence of biased observations on area swept estimators.
Norm order and geometric properties of holomorphic mappings in\(\mathbb{C}^n \)

We introduce a new notion of the order of a linear invariant family of locally biholomorphic mappings on then-ball. This order, which we call the norm order, is defined in terms of the norm rather than the trace of the “second Taylor coefficient operator” of mappings in a family. Sharp bounds on ‖Df(z)‖ and ‖f(z)‖, a general covering theorem for arbitrary LIFs and results about convexity, starlikeness, injectivity and other geometric properties of mappings given in terms of the norm order illustrate the useful nature of this notion. The norm order has a much broader range of influence on the geometric properties of mappings than does the “trace” order that the present authors and many others have used in recent years.
Fatal adenovirus serotype 21 infection associated with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis and multiorgan failure

Abstract Recent reports describe an increase in the incidence of fatal adenovirus infections. Several severe cases have been linked to adenovirus serotype 21. The exact etiology for this unexpectedly high mortality remains unknown. We report the case of a patient with severe adenovirus serotype 21 pneumonia resulting in hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) with acute respiratory distress syndrome and rapidly progressive multiorgan dysfunction syndrome (MODS). HLH describes a cytokine storm due to uncontrolled accumulation of activated T-lymphocytes and activated histiocytes. This results in organ infiltration with these cells, and subsequent hemophagocytosis of erythrocytes, leukocytes and platelets. In its most severe form, HLH leads to a sepsis-like picture and MODS. The association between adenovirus 21 and HLH may at least in part explain the recently observed increase in incidence of fatal adenoviral infections. We suggest that HLH should be considered in cases of severe adenoviral infection. If HLH is present, aggressive treatment is warranted.
Alterations in plasma complement levels after human ischemic stroke.

OBJECTIVE Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Recent animal studies have implicated the complement system in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and suggest that complement inhibition may improve stroke outcomes. To assess the applicability of these findings to humans, we evaluated the characteristics and time course of human complement activation after stroke. METHODS We compared peripheral blood levels of complement factor 3a (C3a), 5a (C5a), and sC5b-9 drawn from 15 patients on poststroke Days 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 to age-, race/ethnicity-, and sex-matched controls from the same population. Statistical analysis was performed using unpaired Mann-Whitney nonparametric tests with Bonferroni correction. All data is presented as the mean +/- standard deviation. RESULTS Mean C3a concentrations showed significant early elevations in stroke patients relative to matched controls (controls: 1080 +/- 189 ng/ml; Day 1: 1609 +/- 422 ng/ml, P = 0.0008; Day 3: 1520 +/- 317 ng/ml, P = 0.0005; Day 7: 1526 +/- 386 ng/ml, P = 0.001). C3a was also significantly elevated on Day 28 (1448 +/- 386 ng/ml, P = 0.004). Before poststroke Day 7, mean C5a levels did not differ significantly from controls. However, beginning on Day 7 and continuing through Day 14, there were significant elevations in C5a (controls: 3.33 +/- 2.1 ng/ml; day 7: 6.86 +/- 3.5 ng/ml, P = 0.005; Day 14: 7.65 +/- 4.6 ng/ml, P = 0.004). Mean sC5b-9 concentrations showed early depressions that reached significance on Days 1 and 2 (controls: 275.6 +/- 107 ng/ml; Day 1: 167.0 +/- 108 ng/ml, P = 0.006; Day 2: 156.3 +/- 80.0 ng/ml, P = 0.005) and did not differ significantly from controls at any other time point. CONCLUSION C3a is acutely elevated after human ischemic stroke, C5a shows delayed elevations 7 to 14 days after cerebral ischemia, and sC5b-9 is acutely depressed after stroke. Together, these data confirm complement activation after stroke and suggest that this activation is a heterogeneous process, with varying responses for different components.
A family of sensorless observers with speed estimate for rotor position estimation of IM and PMSM drives

The paper discusses the problem of sensorless rotor flux angle/rotor position estimation for the permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) and for the induction motor (IM) and presents a family of sensorless observer designs that use a speed estimate. In sensorless AC drive control, it is typical to measure the motor's voltages and currents and to estimate the other quantities of interest: speed, fluxes (EMFs) and rotor position. The simultaneous estimation of these quantities is possible, however, the methods available are rather complicated and the accuracy is often questionable, especially under parameter variations. The paper proposes a sequential approach which is simpler: first, estimate the drive's speed; then, use this speed estimate along with the measurements to estimate the states of the motor model and to obtain the field orientation angle. A family of observers for the IM and the PMSM is presented - these are constructed using their models in the stationary reference frame. The observers are developed assuming that the speed estimate obtained is different from the real speed; it is shown that despite this inaccuracy, with special gain designs, the correct field orientation angle is obtained. The observers are developed using Sliding Mode and/or Lyapunov methods. They can be directly applied in sensorless field-oriented drives that do not require the magnitude of the flux.
Prediction of Munsell appearance scales using various color‐appearance models

The chromaticities of the Munsell Renotation Dataset were applied to eight color-appearance models. Models used were: CIELAB, Hunt, Nayatani, RLAB, LLAB, CIECAM97s, ZLAB, and IPT. Models were used to predict three appearance correlates of lightness, chroma, and hue. Model output of these appearance correlates were evaluated for their uniformity, in light of the constant perceptual nature of the Munsell Renotation data. Some background is provided on the experimental derivation of the Renotation Data, including the specific tasks performed by observers to evaluate a sample hue leaf for chroma uniformity. No particular model excelled at all metrics. In general, as might be expected, models derived from the Munsell System performed well. However, this was not universally the case, and some results, such as hue spacing and linearity, show interesting similarities between all models regardless of their derivation. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Col Res Appl, 25, 132–144, 2000
Effects of ethanol, fructose, and ethanol plus fructose infusions on plasma glucose concentration and glucose turnover in monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) as measured by [6-3H]glucose.

Abstract 1. 1. Six adult, female, cynomolgus monkeys were fasted for 64 hr and then continuously infused with [6-3H]glucose to determine the rates of glucose turnover and clearance while they were also being infused with ethanol (110μmol/min/kg), 1,3-butanediol (110μmol/min/kg), fructose (30 μmol/min/kg) or ethanol plus fructose (110 and 30 μol/min/kg) respectively. 2. 2. Both ethanol and 1,3-butanediol infusions decreased the glucose turnover rate (the steady-state input-output rate from the plasma glucose pool) and the plasma glucose concentration by halving the glucose production rate. 3. 3. In contrast, fructose infusions increased the glucose turnover rate and glucose concentration by increasing the glucose production rate by 20%. 4. 4. The plasma clearance rate of glucose was lowest when the animals were infused with ethanol plus fructose; this suggests that acetate from ethanol oxidation may have a glucose-sparing effect if normoglycemia is maintained.
Technoeconomics of butanol extractive fermentation in a multiphase fluidized bed bioreactor

The design, performance, and projected economics of a new conceptual process for thein situ solvent extraction of butanol within a multiphase fluidized bed bioreactor are discussed. The process appears to have the potential to increase the effective concentration of product over tenfold while maintaining actual concentrations in contact with the organism at 10 g/L, i.e., below the threshold of inhibition. If this performance can be realized in commercial operation, the selling price to yield a 30% pretax return on investment could be reduced from over $1.25 per pound of butanol for the present process to $0.59 per pound for the new process.
Inserted questions as aids to reading text

There has been a major shift in the psychology of language from a behavioristic to a cognitive view of learning. One important reason for this shift in thinking was that behavioristic theory simply could not account for language behavior as portrayed in Chomsky's theory of language. Within educational psychology, instructional research has assumed a more cognitive posture as well, particularly research involving the stimulation of prose processing through interspersing questions in text. Originally based on the associative or behavioristic model, early (1965–1970) adjunct question research can be characterized as having a “variables orientation”. Within this orientation, primary consideration was given to examining the effects of manipulating question position (before or after text segments) and question frequency on text comprehension. In this early research, inserted questions were invariably pitched at a rote or verbatim learning level. Since the onset (c. 1970) of the cognitive revolution, however, adjunct question research has been focussed on examining the effects of different cognitive levels of inserted questions on text comprehension, and on developing methods for assessing processes produced by adjunct questions. However, the degree to which cognitive levels as operationalyzed in the experiments reviewed here captures the richness of cognition as it occurs in the schools is, of course, open to question. Other areas of cognitively-oriented research include the assessment of the relationship between individual differences and adjunct question treatments, and the generation of questions by subjects while reading. This more recent thrust in adjunct question research can be termed a “processes orientation”. Research associated with both the “variables orientation” and the “processes orientation” are reviewed. Finally, some remarks are made concerning the paucity of theory in adjunct question research, the possible use of semantic memory theories as a basis for future research within the adjunct question paradigm, and the need for new question paradigms that more closely “match” question answering in general.
Stressed state of cylindrical bodies with multilayer inhomogeneous coatings

We deduce engineering formulas for the evaluation of stresses in a cylinder with inhomogeneous multi-layer coatings by using the approach based on the application of generalized boundary conditions and the approach based on the reduction of the corresponding boundary-value problem of elasticity to the solution of integral equations. We also compare and analyze the ranges of applicability of each approach.
Effect of longitudinal stress gradient on the ultimate strength of thin plates

When thin-walled sections are subjected to a moment gradient, the plates that comprise the section are themselves subjected to a longitudinal stress gradient. This paper analyzes the effect of longitudinal stress gradient on the ultimate strength of thin plates. Two types of thin plates are investigated: (1) plates simply supported on all four edges; and (2) plates simply supported on three edges, and with one longitudinal edge free. These two cases illustrate the influence of longitudinal stress gradient on stiffened and unstiffened elements of cold-formed steel sections, respectively. Nonlinear finite element analysis (ABAQUS) was performed to determine the ultimate strength of thin plates under a longitudinal stress gradient. The results indicate that the longitudinal stress gradient increases the strength of both types of thin plates, but has significantly more influence on unstiffened elements than stiffened elements. The beneficial effect of longitudinal stress gradients can be accounted for in design by using a plate buckling coefficient modified to account for the longitudinal stress gradient, an example of the impact of this change on a common cold-formed steel channel is provided.
Semiconductor-ferroelectric nonvolatile memory using anomalous high photovoltages in ferroelectric ceramics

A small ferroelectric ceramic element is used with an insulating gate transistor and two diodes as an electrically addressed, nonvolatile memory device which is read out nondestructively. The device uses the anomalous photovoltaic effect in ferroelectric ceramics, an effect in which the polarity and magnitude of photovoltages depend on the direction and magnitude of remanent polarization. Experimental results give memory characteristics. The device could be programmed with pulses as short as 200 ns. There is long-time retention of stored data.
Fully-connected networks with local connections

Fully-connected mesh networks with local connections are described. Each connector links only nearest neighbors of the node lattice and carries enough passive pass-through vias to provide direct one-to-one links between all the nodes. If the nodes form a one-dimensional ring, then each connector must contain at least N(N−1)/2 physical channels. However, if the nodes are arranged in a d-dimensional hyper-torus, the number of channels per connector drops to N(N 1/d −1)/2, which scales much more favorably at large N. Such arrangements can provide fully-meshed connectivity when parts of the network are physically inaccessible or when the network needs to be scaled up in a modular fashion.
Leaf Conductance during the Final Season of a Senescing Aspen Branch.

Leaf conductance, transpiration, and environmental conditions were measured on two aspen ( Populus tremuloides Michx.) branches in a natural stand, using an automatic cuvette system. Fortuitously, leaves on one branch senesced about 10 days early, allowing comparison between a senescing branch and a normal branch. Terminal bud development was retarded on the senescent branch, and a portion of the branch eventually abscised about 20 centimeters from the end. Roughly 1% to 2% of the other branches on the study tree and adjacent trees of that clone also senesced and were dead the following spring. Although no visual symptoms of senescence were observed until September, stomatal behavior was atypical shortly after leaves were fully expanded. During July and August, leaf conductances under full sunlight were higher on the branch which senesced than on the branch which was normal, reaching values greater than 1.0 centimeters per second, and conductance was highly variable.
Surveillance for renal cell carcinoma: Why and how? When and how often?

Patient's history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and radiographic evaluation are the cornerstones of postoperative surveillance. It has been shown that localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC) can recur in nearly all organs of the body, but most commonly in the lung, bone, liver, brain, and renal fossa. Lung metastases can be sensitively detected through radiographic evaluation. Treatment of lung metastases might prolong survival, which supports surveillance x-ray or computed tomography scans. Surgical treatment of early detected liver metastases and local recurrences may also prolong survival, which supports a close abdominal surveillance program. Brain and bone metastases are usually symptomatic when they occur, and their treatment is generally palliative. Hence, surveillance protocols do not usually include their routine radiographic evaluation. Because partial nephrectomy does not increase the risk of local recurrence over radical nephrectomy, we recommend identical surveillance for completely resected tumors regardless of surgical approach. The risk of recurrence after nephrectomy is generally related to tumor stage, tumor grade, and patient performance status. The majority of recurrences occur within the first 5 years after surgery, supporting a more intense surveillance strategy within the first 5 years. The University of California Integrated Staging System (UISS) combines TNM stage, Fuhrman grade, and performance status, and categorizes patients into 3 different risk groups. The current surveillance protocol at our institution is based on the UISS. It is expected that molecular markers such as p53 will allow more individualized surveillance strategies in the future.
Effect of vesicular—arbuscular mycorrhizae on growth of Chrysanthemum morifolium Ramat

Benefits of inoculation with the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus fasciculatus (Thaxter) Gerd. Trappe, on growth of Chrysanthemum morifolium ‘Circus’ were determined for varied conditions of N fertilization (375, 1500 or 3000 kg N/ha/year) and irradiance (6 or 800 μE m−2s−1) during lighting long-day treatments. High N fertilization combined with high level of irradiance produced the most mycorrhizal infection. Mycorrhizal infection generally increased C. morifolium height, especially with continuation of long-day lighting to 8 weeks. Mycorrhizae also improved flower, stem and root dry weight for most treatments, particularly the 1500 or 3000 kg N/ha/year fertilization rate and 4- or 8-week long-day light treatments. Although mycorrhizal inoculation increased C. morifolium growth most under extended long-day treatments, only the 2-week duration night lighting resulted in commercially acceptable plant size.
Stabilization of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus L Polymerase Protein by P Protein Binding: A Small Deletion in the C-Terminal Domain of L Abrogates Binding

Abstract We showed previously that cells expressing the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) L polymerase gene via the vaccinia–T7 RNA polymerase system accumulated 2- to 5-fold more L protein when the P protein was coexpressed (Canter et al., 1993, Virology 194, 518–529). The results presented here provide an explanation for this phenomenon. Pulse–chase analysis revealed that L was unstable with a half-life of 3 to 6 hr if expressed in the absence of P protein, but was stable for at least 16 hr when coexpressed with a 10- to 15-fold molar excess of P. The P protein, in contrast, was stable under both conditions. Stabilization correlated with formation of a P:L polymerase complex evidenced both by coimmunoprecipitation and by glycerol gradient sedimentation analyses. A mutant L protein, lacking amino acids 1638 to 1673, was not stabilized by coexpression and showed no binding to P protein. Its anomalous sedimentation, however, suggested misfolding and/or aggregation as the cause for the failure to bind P. Transcription reconstitution in vitro, using extracts from cells expressing excess of P over L protein, strongly depended on coexpression of the proteins for optimal activity. We propose that the coexpression dependence for polymerase reconstitution documented here for VSV, as well as that reported previously for the Sendai paramyxovirus, reflects the protective effect of P protein on L protein stability.
Process research, development, and pilot-plant preparation of clofencet, a novel wheat hybridizing agent: Lewis acid-catalyzed reaction of ethyl diazoacetate with 4-chlorophenyl hydrazonoacetaldehyde

Described are studies directed toward the chemical research and development of an alternative synthesis to 9, the penultimate intermediate of clofencet (1), a novel wheat-hybridizing agent. Retrosynthetic analyses as well as the results obtained from feasibility studies are detailed, leading to the successful development of an alternative process. The key features of the novel route are a method for preparing on-scale ethyl diazoacetate (28) in a safe and effective manner, and the Lewis acid-catalyzed reaction of 28 with hydrazonoacetaldehyde 29, affording β-ketoester 30. The synthesis is completed via propionylation of 30, acid-catalyzed cyclization of 31 to pyridazinecarboxylic acid ester 32, followed by saponification and isolation of carboxylic acid 9. The results and challenges of eight pilot-plant runs are reported. The baseline process developed produced over 45 kg of 9 in 43−45% yield.
The association between negative affect and prescription opioid misuse in patients with chronic pain: the mediating role of opioid craving.

Abstract Over the past decade, considerable research has accumulated showing that chronic pain patients experiencing high levels of negative affect (NA) are at increased risk for prescription opioid misuse. The primary objective of the present study was to examine the factors that underlie the association between NA and prescription opioid misuse among patients with chronic pain. In this study, 82 patients with chronic musculoskeletal pain being prescribed opioid medication completed the Current Opioid Misuse Measure, a well-validated self-report questionnaire designed to assess prescription opioid misuse. Patients were also asked to complete self-report measures of pain intensity, NA, and opioid craving. A bootstrapped multiple mediation analysis was used to examine the mediating role of patients' pain intensity and opioid craving in the association between NA and prescription opioid misuse. Consistent with previous research, we found a significant association between NA and prescription opioid misuse. Interestingly, results revealed that opioid craving, but not pain intensity, mediated the association between NA and opioid misuse. The Discussion addresses the potential psychological and neurobiological factors that might contribute to the interrelationships among NA, opioid craving, and prescription opioid misuse in patients with pain. The clinical implications of our findings are also discussed. Perspective Our study provides new insights into the factors that underlie the association between negative affect and prescription opioid misuse in patients with chronic pain. Our findings could have important clinical implications, particularly for patients being prescribed opioid medication, and for reducing rates of opioid misuse in patients with pain.
Degradation of respirable fibrils of poly(p‐phenylene terephthalamide) by solar ultraviolet radiation

After ∼ 160 days in the environment, the polymer in a respirable-size poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide) fibril (diameter = 0.3 μm) is expected to degrade, due to solar ultraviolet radiation, from an initial molecular weight of ∼ 20,000 to less than 400. This estimate is based on ultraviolet absorption characteristics, photolytic degradation kinetics, and judgments regarding how these translate into actual time in the environment. Degradation to this molecular weight level will cause the fibril tensile strength and modulus to decrease to ∼ 1% of their initial values. Mechanically, such a degraded fibril will be weak and brittle with properties similar to those of uncooked spaghetti. © 1994 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Pulmonary and cardiovascular responses of rats to inhalation of a commercial antimicrobial spray containing titanium dioxide nanoparticles

Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that application of an antimicrobial spray product containing titanium dioxide (TiO2) generates an aerosol of titanium dioxide in the breathing zone of the applicator. The present report describes the design of an automated spray system and the characterization of the aerosol delivered to a whole body inhalation chamber. This system produced stable airborne levels of TiO2 particles with a median count size diameter of 110 nm. Rats were exposed to 314 mg/m3 min (low dose), 826 mg/m3 min (medium dose), and 3638 mg/m3 min (high dose) of TiO2 under the following conditions: 2.62 mg/m3 for 2 h, 1.72 mg/m3 4 h/day for 2 days, and 3.79 mg/m3 4 h/day for 4 days, respectively. Pulmonary (breathing rate, specific airway resistance, inflammation, and lung damage) and cardiovascular (the responsiveness of the tail artery to constrictor or dilatory agents) endpoints were monitored 24 h post-exposure. No significant pulmonary or cardiovascular changes were noted at low and mid...
Single-follicular-unit hair transplantation to correct cleft lip moustache alopecia.

Abstract Objective: To present the case of an 18-year-old boy with a cleft lip scar and an obligatory need for facial hair who underwent single–follicular-unit graft hair transplantation that resulted in significant moustache hair restoration in a single procedure. Setting: The surgery was performed in an outpatient private practice setting using oral sedation and local anesthesia. Results: Advances in instrumentation technology and an increased understanding of the anatomical clustering of hair follicles into so-called “follicular units” containing one to six hairs per unit has resulted in a rapid expansion of hair restoration surgery into new areas including female–pattern alopecia, scarring alopecias, and cosmetic surgery scars. These new techniques can be employed to create natural-looking hair lines in front of artificial hair replacement systems; to improve unnatural looking, old “large-plug” hair transplants; and to correct discontinuity of eyebrows and hairlines in patients with congenital facial ...
Random myosin loss along thick-filaments increases myosin attachment time and the proportion of bound myosin heads to mitigate force decline in skeletal muscle

Diminished skeletal muscle performance with aging, disuse, and disease may be partially attributed to the loss of myofilament proteins. Several laboratories have found a disproportionate loss of myosin protein content relative to other myofilament proteins, but due to methodological limitations, the structural manifestation of this protein loss is unknown. To investigate how variations in myosin content affect ensemble cross-bridge behavior and force production we simulated muscle contraction in the half-sarcomere as myosin was removed either (i) uniformly, from the Z-line end of thick-filaments, or (ii) randomly, along the length of thick-filaments. Uniform myosin removal decreased force production, showing a slightly steeper force-to-myosin content relationship than the 1:1 relationship that would be expected from the loss of cross-bridges. Random myosin removal also decreased force production, but this decrease was less than observed with uniform myosin loss, largely due to increased myosin attachment time (ton) and fractional cross-bridge binding with random myosin loss. These findings support our prior observations that prolonged ton may augment force production in single fibers with randomly reduced myosin content from chronic heart failure patients. These simulations also illustrate that the pattern of myosin loss along thick-filaments influences ensemble cross-bridge behavior and maintenance of force throughout the sarcomere.
Type I collagen shows a specific binding affinity for bovine dentin phosphophoryn.

Bovine dentin phosphophoryn was iodinated with125I, then tested for binding to native monomeric collagen, to collagen fibrils, and to gelatin. The phosphophoryn was found to bind reversibly, but not to denatured collagen (gelatin). Competitive binding studies showed that bovine serum albumin, fibronectin, and bovine bone 34K glycoprotein (osteonectin) did not compete with phosphophoryn and did not inhibit its binding to collagen fibrils. Phosvitin, a phosphoserine-rich protein, did compete, but sixfold higher concentrations of phosvitin than of unlabeled phosphophoryn were required to reduce iodinated phosphophoryn binding to the same extent. Quantitative analyses of the binding showed binding to be limited to the fibril surfaces. Bound phosphophoryn enhanced the uptake of45Ca onto collagen fiber surfaces. These data support the hypothesis that, in dentin, the phosphophoryn plays an important role in localizing the calcium binding leading to the growth of collagen-oriented calcium hydroxyapatite crystals.
Isopycnography of intact cells—III: Concentration of ribosomes in Escherichia coli versus growth rate

Abstract The relative quantification of the ribosomal content in a population of cells permits correlation between growth rate and available protein synthesis machinery. Isopycnometry of living cells indicates that this correlation is linear in E. coli B. Additionally, the narrow band-widths imply great homogeneity of response by the population at any one time. The precision of this method appears to surpass that of previous determinations.
Pedagogy and Diversity: Enrichment and Support for Social Work Instructors Engaged in Social Justice Education

The primary purpose of faculty development is to create and sustain a culture of teaching excellence. For social work faculty, an important part of teaching excellence involves incorporating core social work values such as social justice and diversity across the curriculum and developing pedagogical skills and strategies to teach these issues effectively. In this article, we present a model of a faculty development seminar that offers a facilitated space for instructors to discuss how issues of diversity, social identity, and oppression influence their teaching, the classroom environment, student interactions, and the overall campus climate.
Combining Abilities and Heterosis for Forage Yield among High-Yielding Accessions of the Alfalfa Core Collection

Characterization of genetic parameters in plant germplasm repository populations can facilitate their utilization in commercial breeding programs. This study investigated genetic combining abilities and heterosis for forage yield among diallel hybrids derived from nine previously selected high-yielding accessions of the USDA-ARS National Plant Germplasm System core collection of alfalfa (Medicago sativa subsp. sativa L.). These accessions originated from Turkey, South Africa, Greece, Afghanistan, Israel, Uzbekistan, Mexico, Morocco, and the USA. Forage yield response of the parents and their hybrids was determined near Las Cruces, New Mexico. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were significant. The magnitudes of the GCA effects were about 5% (<0.71 Mg ha-1) relative to the mean yield of the parents (15.4 Mg ha-1). The Turkey, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan accessions demonstrated significant positive GCA effects. Accessions from Greece and Morocco demonstrated negative GCA effects. Six hybrids outperformed the average of six commercial cultivars. Five of these six hybrids demonstrated positive SCA effects. Midparent heterosis ranged from -17 to 17%. The results indicate that crossing between alfalfa populations possessing high per se performance and different fall regrowth responses is likely to produce a higher proportion of high-yielding hybrids in environments experiencing intermittent subfreezing winter conditions.
Improved initial data for black hole collisions

Numerical relativity codes now being developed will evolve initial data representing colliding black holes at a relatively late stage in the collision. The choice of initial data used for code development has been made on the basis of mathematical definitiveness and usefulness for computational implementation. By using the ``particle limit'' (the limit of an extreme ratio of masses of colliding holes) we recently showed that the standard choice is not a good representation of astrophysically generated initial data. Here we show that, for the particle limit, there is a very simple alternative choice that appears to give excellent results. That choice, ``convective'' initial data is, roughly speaking, equivalent to the start of a time sequence of parameterized solutions of the Hamiltonian constraint; for a particle in circular orbit, it is the initial data of the steady state solution on any hypersurface. The implementation of related schemes for equal mass holes is discussed.
Structural Requirements of the Photoreceptor Phosphodiesterase γ-Subunit for Inhibition of Rod PDE6 Holoenzyme and for Its Activation by Transducin

The central enzyme of the visual transduction cascade, cGMP phosphodiesterase (PDE6), is regulated by its γ-subunit (Pγ), whose inhibitory constraint is released upon binding of activated transducin. It is generally believed that the last four or five C-terminal amino acid residues of Pγ are responsible for blocking catalysis. In this paper, we showed that the last 10 C-terminal residues (Pγ78–87) are the minimum required to completely block catalysis. The kinetic mechanism of inhibition by the Pγ C terminus depends on which substrate is undergoing catalysis. We also discovered a second mechanism of Pγ inhibition that does not require this C-terminal region and that is capable of inhibiting up to 80% of the maximal cGMP hydrolytic rate. Furthermore, amino acids 63–70 and/or the intact α2 helix of Pγ stabilize binding of C-terminal Pγ peptides by 100-fold. When PDE6 catalytic subunits were reconstituted with portions of the Pγ molecule and tested for activation by transducin, we found that the C-terminal region (Pγ63–87) by itself could not be displaced but that transducin could relieve inhibition of certain Pγ truncation mutants. Our results are consistent with two distinct mechanisms of Pγ inhibition of PDE6. One involves direct interaction of the C-terminal residues with the catalytic site. A second regulatory mechanism may involve binding of other regions of Pγ to the catalytic domain, thereby allosterically reducing the catalytic rate. Transducin activation of PDE6 appears to require interaction with both the C terminus and other regions of Pγ to effectively relieve its inhibitory constraint.
Using Phylogenomic Patterns and Gene Ontology to Identify Proteins of Importance in Plant Evolution

We use measures of congruence on a combined expressed sequenced tag genome phylogeny to identify proteins that have potential significance in the evolution of seed plants. Relevant proteins are identified based on the direction of partitioned branch and hidden support on the hypothesis obtained on a 16-species tree, constructed from 2,557 concatenated orthologous genes. We provide a general method for detecting genes or groups of genes that may be under selection in directions that are in agreement with the phylogenetic pattern. Gene partitioning methods and estimates of the degree and direction of support of individual gene partitions to the overall data set are used. Using this approach, we correlate positive branch support of specific genes for key branches in the seed plant phylogeny. In addition to basic metabolic functions, such as photosynthesis or hormones, genes involved in posttranscriptional regulation by small RNAs were significantly overrepresented in key nodes of the phylogeny of seed plants. Two genes in our matrix are of critical importance as they are involved in RNA-dependent regulation, essential during embryo and leaf development. These are Argonaute and the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 6 found to be overrepresented in the angiosperm clade. We use these genes as examples of our phylogenomics approach and show that identifying partitions or genes in this way provides a platform to explain some of the more interesting organismal differences among species, and in particular, in the evolution of plants.