cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Affinity surfactants as reversibly bound ligands for high-performance affinity chromatography.

Abstract Pyridine was coupled covalently to a nonionic ethoxylated alcohol: octaethylene glycol n -hexadecyl ether. This modified surfactant was found to be a reversible, competitive inhibitor of horse serum cholinesterase. The surfactant bound irreversibly, in aqueous media, to octadecylbonded reverse phase silica particles commonly used for high-performance liquid chromatography. The amount of ligand bound was found to be 550 μmol/ml of packing, a concentration that is over 100 times higher than what can be normally bound to agarose affinity chromatography supports. With this packing, a 280-fold purification of cholinesterase from horse serum and a 79-fold purification of human serum cholinesterase were accomplished, with yields greater than 80%, using a 2-cm-long column and a 7-min elution time. The affinity surfactant could be eluted from the column using a 6:4 (v/v) mixture of methanol and isopropanol. This technique should be generally applicable in the development of biospecific supports for high-performance affinity chromatography.
Effects of signaled reward in instrumental conditioning: Enhanced learning on DRL and DRH schedules of reinforcement

The effects of signaled reward were examined using DRL and DRH schedules of reinforcement. In each case, one group of rats received a brief cue between the reinforced response and the reward, and a second group received brief cues at random times. With the DRL schedule (Experiment 1), signaled reward decreased response rate, increased response efficiency (number of responses per reinforcer), and increased resistence to satiation relative to the control group. With the DRH schedule (Experiment 2), signaled reward increased response rate, efficiency, and resistance to satiation. These results refute an overshadowing explanation of the effects of signaled reward and suggest that food-correlated cues enhance learning of the reinforcement contingencies.
High Power Balanced InGaAs/InP Photodetector Flip-chip Bonded on Diamond

We present monolithic integrated uni-traveling-carrier balanced photodiode flip-chip bonded on diamond. The devices with bandwidth of 15 GHz and 20 GHz demonstrated maximum output power of 27.4 dBm and 24.1 dBm, respectively.
Insulin assay by combined use of 131I labeled insulin, anti-insulin serum and insulinase

Abstract Guinea pig anti-insulin serum (AIS) opposes insulinase action in making 131 I of labeled insulin soluble in dilute trichloracetic acid (TCA). Partial reversal of this AIS effect may be obtained by use of unlabeled insulin. Hence estimations of unlabeled (endogenous) insulin may be made by conjoint use with the unlabeled insulin of labeled insulin, AIS, insulinase and TCA.
Three-Dimensional Conjugate Heat Transfer in a Horizontal Channel With Discrete Heating

Three-dimensional conjugate heat transfer in a rectangular duct with two discrete flush-mounted heat sources has been studied numerically in the context of cooling of electronic equipments. The Grashof number is fixed as 10 6 and the working fluid is taken as air The effects of the spatial arrangement of heat sources, the thermal conductivity ratio of the bottom plate material to air, and the Reynolds numbers on the overall and local heat transfer in the duct are evaluated. The magnitudes of the conduction and the convection transport are compared for different parametric combinations. Of particular interest are the transverse variation in the flow, temperature and heat transfer, the interaction between the heat sources, and the effects of conjugate transport
Effect of absorbed hydrogen on magnetic ordering in Tb6Mn23 and Dy6Mn23

Abstract Magnetic data are presented for R 6 Mn 23 and R 6 Mn 23 H 23 ( R  Tb , Dy ). Exchange in these materials is weak compared with that in the host metal. Dy 6 Mn 23 H 23 remains paramagnetic to 4.2 K whereas the host material has a Curie temperature T c of 443 K. Hydrogenation of Tb 6 Mn 23 lowers its Curie temperature by about 230 K and decreases its magnetization by a factor of about 3. The lowered exchange is attributed to a diminished electron concentration brought about by electron capture by hydrogen. The reduced magnetization is thought to be a crystal field effect.
Conclusions and recommendations for policies on rural aging in the first decades of the 21st century.

: The 2000 Forum on Rural Aging: Policy Debates was one of the main tracks of the first International Conference on Rural Aging held in Charleston, W.Va., in June 2000. The 2000 Forum was a follow-up to the Expert Group Meeting on Rural Aging, which met at Shepherdstown, W.Va., in May 1999. That group considered policy implications of the 1999 International Year of Older Persons for rural aging in four key areas: the situation of older people, multigenerational relationships, lifelong development, and the development and aging of rural populations. As a direct follow-up of the Shepherdstown Expert Group Meeting, the 2000 Forum on Rural Aging formulated the Conclusions and Recommendations for Policies on Rural Aging through a series of working groups. The Conclusions and Recommendations were endorsed by the Conference Plenary Session on June 11, 2000. The Draft Recommendations for Policies on Rural Aging were available for comments on the Internet in the remaining part of the year 2000. Many comments were received. Hana Hermanova and Sally Richardson incorporated the comments into the finalized version.
Murine central and peripheral nervous system transcriptomes : Comparative gene expression

The central and peripheral nervous systems exhibit significant embryological, morphological, and functional differences. Moreover, the pathology of most acquired and hereditary neurological diseases preferentially targets specific components of the nervous system. In order to test the hypothesis that central and peripheral neural transcriptomes show fundamental quantitative differences, Affymetrix GeneChip expression arrays were used to compare murine lumbar spinal cord (SC) and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) gene expression. As the crucial component of a novel technique to preserve RNA integrity, mice were perfusion-fixed with RNAlater before the SC and DRG were harvested. As per Affymetrix terminology, a total of 111 transcripts were present (P) on all DRG arrays, absent (A) on all SC arrays, and demonstrated at least 10-fold greater expression in DRG than in SC. Conversely, a total of 112 transcripts were present on all SC arrays, absent on all DRG arrays, and showed at least 10-fold greater expression in SC than in DRG. For a subset of transcripts, quantitative real-time RT-PCR was used to corroborate and validate microarray results. Among those genes enriched in DRG, many belonged to a few distinct functional classes: G-protein coupled receptor-protein signaling pathways, potassium transport, sodium transport, sensory perception, and cell-surface receptor-linked signal transduction. In contrast, genes associated with synaptic transmission, organic acid transport, neurotransmitter transport, and circulation were enriched in SC. Notably, the majority of genes causally associated with hereditary neuropathies were highly enriched in DRG. These differential neural gene expression profiles provide a robust framework for future molecular and genetic studies of neuropathy and SC diseases.
l-DOPA and l-3-carboxy-6,7-dihydroxy-1,2,3,4- tetrahydroisoquinoline, a new imino acid, from seeds of Mucuna mutisiana

Abstract The isolation of l -DOPA and a new naturally occurring imino acid, l -3-carboxy-6,7-dihydroxy- 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline, from the seeds of Mucuna mutisiana is described. The structure of the imino acid has been confirmed by synthesis.
On the accuracy of a separable approximation

Abstract We show that a separable approximation can reproduce the two-body Malfliet-Tjon T-matrix quite accurately. We agree with their three-body binding energy to an accuracy of 2%.
Anatomical basis for cannabinoid-induced antinociception as revealed by intracerebral microinjections.

Cannabinoids suppress behavioral and neurophysiological responses to noxious stimuli in rodents when administered systemically. The purpose of this study was to extend previous studies of the site of cannabinoid analgesia. Rats were tested in the tail flick test before and after microinjections of the cannabinoid agonist WIN55, 212-2 (5 microg) into one of 17 different brain regions. WIN55,212-2 significantly elevated tail-flick latencies when injected into the amygdala, the lateral posterior and submedius regions of the thalamus, the superior colliculus and the noradrenergic A5 region. By contrast, pain behavior was unaffected by microinjections of the cannabinoid into the other 11 areas examined (prefrontal cortex, nucleus accumbens, lateral hypothalamus, substantia nigra, cuneiform nucleus, anterior pretectal, intralaminar, parafasicular, posterior, thalamic nuclei, as well as the ventral medial, ventral lateral nuclei in the posterior thalamus).
PEDIATRIC RETROPERITONEAL LAPAROSCOPIC PARTIAL NEPHRECTOMY: COMPARISON WITH AN AGE MATCHED COHORT OF OPEN SURGERY

ABSTRACTPurpose: We assessed the clinical usefulness of laparoscopic retroperitoneal partial nephrectomy (LRPN) in children by comparing an age matched cohort of pediatric patients undergoing open partial nephrectomy (OPN) to those undergoing LRPN for safety, efficacy, operative time, blood loss, inpatient narcotic use and length of hospitalization.Materials and Methods: A retrospective case-control study was performed of 1 group undergoing LRPN (treatment arm) and 1 undergoing OPN (controls) between 1997 and 2003. The 14 patients in each group were matched by age (mean 1.9 years in LRPN group vs 2.2 years in OPN group, p = 0.98) and gender.Results: All patients had duplication anomalies. Mean operative time was 194 minutes in the LRPN group and 193 minutes in the OPN group (p = 0.83). The single complication in the LRPN group was a urinoma that did not require intervention. There were no complications in OPN group. LRPN patients had a mean hospitalization of 1.7 days compared to 4.7 days in OPN patients ...
Successful Teaching Techniques in Dairy Foods Courses

Abstract Students preparing for careers in the dairy food industries need opportunities to develop interpersonal, computer, problem solving, and communication skills as well as technical competency in dairy foods. Dairy foods courses have traditionally offered a multidisciplinary framework for providing a successful learning environment. The application of classroom theory to realistic situations has been a product of knowledgeable faculty and strong daily industry cooperation through site visits, guest speakers and internship/co-op programs. This paper presents examples of traditional problem solving and hands-on teaching models and examines the developing resources related to computer technology. The modern facilities at the Michigan State University Dairy Foods Complex are used as the basis for demonstration of the commingling of traditional educational opportunities with modern process control and multimedia teaching resources. The examples demonstrate the continued ability of dairy foods courses to be foundational learning experiences for both dairy and food science programs.
Multi-terminal determinant decision diagrams: a new approach to semi-symbolic analysis of analog integrated circuits

A graph representation called Multi-Terminal Determinant Decision Diagrams (MTDDD's) is proposed for the semi-symbolic transfer functions of analog integrated circuits. With multiple numeric terminals (instead of only terminal 1 and terminal 0 in Determinant Decision Diagrams -- DDD's), MTDDD's can describe naturally numeric coefficients that arise from semi-symbolic analysis, where some circuit parameters are considered symbols and the others are given as numeric values. Similar to DDD's, MTDDD's are capable of representing a huge number of symbolic/semi-symbolic product terms in a compact manner. An efficient DDD-based algorithm is described to construct MTDDD's. Experimental results have demonstrated that semi-symbolic transfer functions for practical analog circuits like µA741 can be generated in less than a minute on a Pentium-II 450MHz PC.
Evaluating Polyglutamine Peptide Monomers and Dimers with Enhanced Sampling MD Simulations

Huntington's disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by mutations causing polyglutamine (polyQ) repeats in proteins. Mutated proteins misfold, aggregate, and form amyloid-like fibrils in the neuron. Experimental techniques such as resonance Raman, circular dichroism, and ssNMR are used to analyze properties of polyQ systems, but lack the ability to monitor the molecular aggregation mechanism. In this work, polyQ peptide monomers and dimers are studied using molecular dynamics (MD) methods in order to better understand early stages of aggregation. We have characterized the monomeric conformational ensemble of D2Q10K2 peptides in aqueous and protein-globule environments. We also investigate dimerization properties of these peptides. Adaptive biasing force paired with MD is used to evaluate the dimerization free energies and conformations of D2Q10K2 peptides. Classical MD is used to simulate the favorable dimeric conformations in equilibrium, as to better understand the interactions and dynamics of these structures. These results will be presented and discussed.
Preventing Substance Abuse in Hispanic Immigrant Adolescents: An Ecodevelopmental, Parent-Centered Approach:

This article discusses the challenges that Hispanic immigrant families face and reviews the potential negative consequences of these challenges for Hispanic adolescents. The article outlines the theoretical background, goals, and intervention components of Familias Unidas, a substance-abuse-prevention program for poor immigrant Hispanic adolescents and their parents. Familias Unidas is an ecodevelopmentally based, parent-centered intervention delivered by way of parent participatory-learning groups, parent-adolescent discussion circles, and periodic home visits. Through participation in Familias Unidas, parents acquire skills for communicating with and supporting their adolescents, managing adolescent behavior problems, and becoming actively involved in their adolescents' social and academic lives, all of which are protective against substance abuse. This article delineates the key intervention principles of Familias Unidas that increase parental involvement and collaboration within the adolescents' famil...
Enhancing the prediction of response to a communication situation from communication traits

The conflict in personality research between trait and situationist positions is reviewed because of its relevance to communication trait research. It is maintained that the weight of reasoning and evidence is clearly in favor of the trait position. Despite the value and validity of a trait approach, this article contends that an interactionist approach to communication may be more useful. A communication theory which is inherently interactionist, a recent theory of argumentativeness, is explained. A study is reported which tests two hypotheses derived from the theory's propositions. The hypotheses were supported. The results of the study suggest the possible value of interactionist approaches to the study of communication.
Angiotensin-converting enzyme in discrete areas of the rat forebrain and pituitary gland.

Abstract With the use of a sensitive radioisotopic method we have examined the activity of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE, E.C. 3.4.15.1) in specific nuclei of the rat forebrain and in the anterior, intermediate and posterior lobes of the pituitary gland of the rat. We reported that ACE activity is heterogenously distributed in the rat forebrain, with a 200-fold difference between the lowest and the highest values. Highest enzyme activities were found in the subfornical organ and in the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. High ACE activity was also detected in the intermediate and anterior lobes of the pituitary gland, the caudate nucleus, and the medial habenular nucleus. Substantial activity also existed in the globus pallidus, the median eminence, the supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei, the lateral habenular nucleus and the organon vasculosum laminae terminalis. Our results demonstrate that one of the components of the renin-angiotensin system, the angiotensin-converting enzyme, is highly localized to a few discrete brain structures and the pituitary gland. These findings suggest that angiotensin II could be formed locally in some of these structures, supporting previous immunohistochemical data.
Abstract B13: Occult progression by Apc-deficient intestinal crypts as a target for chemoprevention

Although Apc mutation is widely considered an initiating event in colorectal cancer, little is known about the earliest stages of tumorigenesis following sporadic Apc loss. Therefore, we have utilized a novel mouse model that facilitated the sporadic inactivation of Apc via frameshift reversion of Cre in single, isolated cells. Our system enables tracking the fates of Apc-deficient intestinal stem cells. Our results suggest that consistent with Apc being a “gatekeeper”, loss of Apc early in life during intestinal growth leads to adenomas or increased crypt fission, manifested by fields of mutant but otherwise normal-appearing crypts. By contrast, later-occurring in life Apc loss has minimal consequences with mutant crypts being less prone to either increased crypt fission or adenoma formation. Using the stem cell specific Lgr5-CreER mouse, in which Apc loss is induced at defined ages and in varying numbers of crypts, we find that Apc-deficient field size again correlates with progression to adenoma. To evaluate this early stage prior to adenoma formation as a therapeutic target, we examined the chemopreventive effects of sulindac on Apc-deficient crypt field formation. We found that sulindac reduces adenomas and inhibits the morphologically occult spread of Apc-deficient crypts. Taken together these results suggest that: 1) A field of Apc-deficient crypts is an important intermediate between loss of Apc and adenoma formation, 2) Earlier Apc loss promotes increased crypt fission and subsequent field formation, and 3) Normal-appearing Apc-deficient crypts are potential unappreciated targets for cancer screening and chemoprevention. Citation Format: Jared M. Fischer, Darryl Shibata, R Michael Liskay. Occult progression by Apc-deficient intestinal crypts as a target for chemoprevention. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Third AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Basic Cancer Research; Sep 18-22, 2013; National Harbor, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(19 Suppl):Abstract nr B13.
Direct generation of invariants for reactive models

Recently, software practitioners, using model-based engineering and similar methods, have begun developing software from models. After creating a model of the required system behavior, a developer can obtain assurance of the model by validating that it captures the intended behavior and verifying that it satisfies critical properties. Invariants are important to both validation, as a check that the model's behavior matches the intended behavior, and verification, as auxiliaries in proving critical system properties, either automatically or with human guidance. A common approach to discovering invariants is to propose and then check candidate invariants. In contrast, our invariant generation techniques deduce invariants directly from the specification of a model. This paper presents more powerful versions of our earlier techniques for invariant generation and illustrates their utility for a real-world AirLock system.
A comparative study of differences in subjective likelihood estimates made by individuals, interacting groups, Delphi groups, and nominal groups☆

Abstract This research evaluated four methods of eliciting subjective likelihood ratio estimates. The methods differed in terms of amount and structure of interaction permitted between estimators. These processes were individual estimates, and three group processes: a Talk-Estimate process approximating an interacting group, an Estimate-Feedback-Estimate process as an approximation of a Delphi group, an Estimate-Talk-Estimate process as combination of nominal and interacting groups. In this study the Estimate-Talk-Estimate group process was superior in approaching correct estimates in this judgmental task. This is consistent with the long research tradition which favors group as opposed to individual problem-solving in judgmental situations. The individual Estimate process and the Estimate-Feedback-Estimate technique performed about equally well with respect to both error and variability. If anything, written feedback appeared to lead to a reduction in the quality of estimates. Finally, the relatively poor results from the Talk-Estimate process are consistent with other studies which have pointed out dysfunctions of interacting group processes for judgmental tasks.
PMothra: scheduling mutants for execution on a hypercube

Reliable software testing is a time consuming operation. In addition to the time spent by the tester in identifying, locating, and correcting bugs, a significant time is spent in the execution of the program under test and its instrumented or fault induced variants. When using mutation based testing to achieve high reliability, the number of such variants can be very large. In this paper we describe the architecture of a tool named PMothra that is designed to provide an architecture-transparent interface to a tester. In its current version, PMothra exploits the hypercube architecture by scheduling the execution of mutants on a 128-node Ncube/7 hypercube.
Multiplane Transesophageal Echocardiography: Image Orientation, Examination Technique, Anatomic Correlations, and Clinical Applications

Multiplane transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) consists of a single ultrasound array or imaging sector that can be rotated around the long axis of the ultrasound beam typically in a 180° arc. This capability produces a circular (conical) continuum of tomographic two-dimensional images. The principal advantage of multiplane TEE is that the transducer can be rotated to an image-specific orientation and critically optimized. Thus, manipulation of the transducer is less complex than with the biplane technique, and user adaptation is considerably enhanced. The logical image notation (that is, degrees of rotation) and orientation are described in this report. A step-by-step approach to the multiplane TEE examination, which evolved from our initial experience with 400 consecutive patients, is correlated with accompanying tomographic anatomic corroboration. The unique clinical applications are discussed and related to the amplification of diagnostic information. Although the multiplanar TEE transducer is relatively large, all adult patients who weigh 40 kg or more can be examined. No major complications occurred in our initial experience with this promising new technology.
Least Squares Distance Method of Cognitive Validation and Analysis for Binary Items Using Their Item Response Theory Parameters

The validation of cognitive attributes required for correct answers on binary test items or tasks has been addressed in previous research through the integration of cognitive psychology and psychometric models using parametric or nonparametric item response theory, latent class modeling, and Bayesian modeling. All previous models, each with their advantages and disadvantages, require item score information and do not focus on conditional validation of cognitive attributes across ability levels and individual test items. This study proposes a method of estimating the probability of correct performance on cognitive attributes across fixed ability levels. The proposed method, referred to here as the least squares distance method (LSDM), is based on the minimization of matrix norms using the Euclidean least squares distance. The LSDM does not require raw or trait scores of examinees as long as IRT estimates of the item parameters are available.
An efficient ARP for large-scale IEEE 802.11s-based Smart Grid networks

Recently, wireless mesh networks (WMNs) have been touted as one of the suitable communication infrastructure for Smart Grid (SG) Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) applications due to their ease of deployment and reasonable costs. These WMNs are typically based on the upcoming IEEE standard, namely IEEE 802.11s. However, 802.11s has performance related issues regarding scalability. One of the inefficiencies is related to the Address Resolution Protocol (ARP) when creating and maintaining the ARP cache and issuing path discovery within large-scale networks. In this paper, we propose an efficient ARP scheme for large-scale AMI networks. Specifically, we utilize the proactive Path Request (PREQ) message of 802.11s standard to perform the MAC address resolution during routing tree creation and maintenance and hence eliminate the broadcasting of ARP requests. Simulation results with the implementation of 802.11s in Network Simulator 3 (NS-3) show that compared to the original broadcast operations our approach improves the packet delivery ratio and throughput significantly.
Strategies and Performance in the Thrift Industry: 1979-1987

From the late seventies until 1989, the regulatory environment of the thrift industry was changed from one that permitted little managerial discretion to one in which managers were allowed to choose from a wide variety of lending and borrowing activities. In this article, cluster analysis is used to separate thrifts into strategic groups based on the extent to which they utilized their new powers. Differences among the groups and the relationship between group membership and performance is tested over the period 1979–1987 using analysis of variance.
CASEIN KINASE I: ANOTHER COG IN THE CIRCADIAN CLOCKWORKS

Multiple components of the circadian central clock are phosphoproteins,and it has become increasingly clear that posttranslational modification isan important regulator of circadian rhythm in diverse organisms, from dinoflagellatesto humans. Genetic studies in Drosophilahave identified double-time (dbt), a serine/threonine protein kinase that is highlyhomologous to human casein kinase I epsilon (CKIe), as the first kinaselinked to behavioral rhythms. Identification of a missense mutation in CKIeas the tau mutation in the Syrian hamsterplaces CKIe within the core clock machinery in mammals. Most recently,identification of a phosphorylation site mutant of hPER2 in a family withan inherited circadian rhythm abnormality strongly suggests that PER2 is aphysiologically relevant substrate of CKI. Phosphorylation may regulate multipleproperties of clock proteins, including stability and intracellular localization.(Chronobiology International, 18(3), 389–398,2001)
The Challenge of Project Team Incentives

Project teams have been around since the 1980s but lost popularity because of our limited knowledge of how to make them effective. Today, project teams have been successfully accomplishing mission-critical projects accompanied by a growing understanding of team dynamics. But what have we learned about rewarding project teams? This article addresses the challenge of using project team incentives in today’s environment. It discusses the advantages of project teams and how they are typically rewarded, how to develop an architectural framework for effective team incentives, how to involve best practices and what pitfalls to avoid when implementing project team incentives.
The mechanism of chemical mutagenesis. II. Interactions of selected compounds with manganous chloride.

Abstract Interactions between MnCl 2 and other mutagens, assessed by measuring changes in mutation rates from streptomycin-dependence ( sd -4) to independence, and from cysteine-requirement ( cys-2 ) to prototrophy in E. coli , Sd-4-73, varied from highly synergistic to less than additive (antagonistic). The combined action of MnCl 2 and azaserine exceeded the theoretical additive effect by a factor of 50. A few nonmutagenic substances influenced the MnCl 2 activity as promutagens or antimutagens. Most notable among them was actinomycin D, which, albeit inconsistently, was capable of almost completely suppressing the action of the mutagen.
Effect of oxygen on human platelet monoamine oxidase.

Abstract Effect of oxygen on the determination of human platelet monoamine oxidase (MAO) was studied by using three different substrates at three different temperatures. MAO activity using phenylethylamine as substrate increased about two times with oxygenation at all three temperatures. On the other hand, there was virtually no alteration in activity using benzylamine as substrate at any temperature. Using tryptamine as substrate, the rate of increase in MAO activity varied with the temperature used. Our findings suggest that the catalytic site(s) of the human platelet enzyme responds differentially to various substrates at different temperatures under different concentrations of oxygen.
Myosin Lever Arm Directs the Collective Movement Patterns of Motor Proteins

The emergence of movement patterns, as in flocking of birds and schooling of fish, is a widespread phenomenon in nature. This collective movement can also be seen at the nanoscale in how the molecular motor myosin teams up to drive muscle contraction, membrane traffic, and cell division in biological cells. To systematically dissect the role of intra- and inter-motor interactions on collective function, we engineered a model system consisting of a branched polarized actin network and a biomimetic DNA origami scaffold patterned with defined number of myosin V and VI. Here, we report on the emergent movement patterns of scaffolds patterned with myosin V and VI. Quantitative analysis of the scaffold movement patterns shows that most myosin VI trajectories are linear while a substantial fraction of myosin V trajectories are highly skewed. We find the flexibile lever arm of myosin VI gives rise to the observed linear movement patterns, while the skewed trajectories of scaffolds with myosin V motors is driven by their rigid lever arm. By pairing simulations and experiments with chimeras, we find that the interplay between the torsional strain on the motor lever arm and inter-motor tension dictates collective motion in groups of motors. Our findings suggest that structural features unique to each myosin confer selective advantages to cellular functions. Beyond the biological relevance, our study uncovers a simple engineering principle for designing efficient molecular transporters.
Improve Music Teaching Quality throughout Using Information Technology

This study focuses on the question whether IT-assisted can improve music teaching quality. To answer this question, we design two questionnaires, for music teachers and students, respectively, and a music achievement test for students who accepted students’ questionnaires. We use qualitative and quantitative methods to analyze the answers to the questionnaires and results of the music achievement test. The analysis indicates that IT-assisted music teaching can improve music teaching quality.
The Promise of Title IX: Longitudinal Study of Gender in Urban School Administration, 1972 to 2002

Using statistical data collected during a 30-year period, the article reports on the significant movement of females into all of the line administrative positions in the largest school districts in the country (by student population) since the passage of Title IX with one notable exception, that of superintendent. The position of superintendent remains, as it was in 1972, overwhelmingly male. In terms of the promise of Title IX to redress gender inequity in school administration, it would appear to have been successful save for that one persistent, resistant, powerful top spot.
IcsA Surface Presentation in Shigella flexneri Requires the Periplasmic Chaperones DegP, Skp, and SurA

A Shigella flexneri degP mutant, which was defective for plaque formation in Henle cell monolayers, had a reduced amount of IcsA detectable on the bacterial surface with antibody. However, the mutant secreted IcsA to the outer membrane at wild-type levels. This suggests that IcsA adopts an altered conformation in the outer membrane of the degP mutant with reduced exposure on the cell surface. IcsA is, therefore, unlikely to be accessible to actin-nucleating proteins within the eukaryotic cell cytoplasm, which is required for bacterial movement within the host cell and cell-to-cell spread. The degP mutant was somewhat more sensitive to detergents, antibiotics, and the antimicrobial peptide magainin, indicating that the degP phenotype was not limited to IcsA surface presentation. The plaque defect of the degP mutant, which is independent of DegP protease activity, was suppressed by overexpression of the periplasmic chaperone Skp but not by SurA. S. flexneri skp and surA mutants failed to form plaques in Henle cell monolayers and were defective in cell surface presentation and polar localization of IcsA. Therefore, the three periplasmic folding factors DegP, Skp, and SurA were all required for IcsA localization and plaque formation by S. flexneri.
Analyses of Physical Data to Evaluate the Potential to Identify Class I Injection Well Fluid Migration Risk

Injection wells have been used for disposal of fluids for nearly 100 years. Design of injection well systems have advanced over the years, but environmental concerns due to the potential for migration of injected fluids remain. Fluids range from hazardous materials, to mining waste to treated wastewater. This paper presents an evaluation of wells injecting treated wastewater to assess which create the greatest risk to migration potential. Prior studies have looked at the risks of Class I injection wells for wastewater disposal, but limited data was available at that time. This research involved collecting data and evaluating the differences as a means to predict the potential for fluid migration in the wells. This study investigated variables to predict migration issues. PCA, correlation, canonical and discriminant analysis were used to identify primary variables that could lead to suspected migration. The results indicate that PCA and discriminant analysis in particular could provide useful data. Well age, depth and overlying formation were issues that might lend themselves to migration.
Synthesis and Characterization of a Novel iNOS/Akt Inhibitor Se,Se′-1,4-phenylenebis(1,2-ethanediyl)bisisoselenourea (PBISe) – against colon cancer

Our studies demonstrate that substitution of sulfur with selenium in known iNOS inhibitor increases the compound's potency by several folds in variety of different cancers cell lines tested. Hence, this approach may be used as a strategy to increase the efficacy of the anticancer agents.
A genetic pathway for the specification of the vulval cell lineages of Caenorhabditis elegans

Twenty-three genes have been assigned to particular steps in a genetic pathway for the specification of the vulval cell lineages of the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Mutations in most of these genes cause homoeotic transformations in the fates of individual cells, suggesting that these lineages may be specified by a series of decisions that distinguish between alternative cell fates. Fifteen of the genes function in a system involved in the intracellular response to the extracellular signal that induces vulval formation.
Minimally weakly almost periodic groups

Abstract A noncompact locally compact group G is minimally weakly almost periodic (w.a.p.) if each w.a.p. function on G can be written as g + h where g is almost periodic and h vanishes at infinity. If G is minimally w.a.p., then the coefficient functions of unitary representations which have no nonzero finite-dimensional subrepresentations vanish at infinity. We show that M(n), the motion group of the Euclidean n-space, and SL(2, R) are minimally w.a.p. We also show that a noncompact locally compact connected solvable group G is minimally w.a.p. if and only if G K(G) ≅ M(2) where K(G) is the largest compact normal sub-group of G.
Box–Cox transformations in Bayesian analysis of compositional data

Compositional data often result when raw data are normalized or when data is obtained as proportions of a certain heterogeneous quantity. These conditions are fairly common in geology, economics and biology. The result is, therefore, a vector of such observations per specimen. The usual multivariate procedures are seldom adequate for the analysis of compositional data and there is a relative dearth of alternative techniques suitable for the same. The presence of covariates further adds to complexity of the situation. In this manuscript, a complete Bayesian methodology to model such data is developed and is illustrated on a real data set comprising sand, silt and clay compositions taken at various water depths in an Arctic lake. Alternative methods such as maximum likelihood estimates are compared with the proposed Bayesian estimates. Simulation based approach is adopted to ascertain adequacy of the fit. Several models are finally compared via a posterior predictive loss measure. Copyright © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multichannel permutation filters

Vector order statistic based filters designed to exploit the correlation between the channels of a multichannel signal offer improved performance over purely marginal processing. In this paper, the class of permutation filters are extended to handle multichannel signals. Permutation filters are well suited for image processing; they are robust, able to preserve details, and edges in image and video signals, and can also model complicated non-linear systems accurately. Multichannel permutation filters are based on the permutation of a set of sequential observations from a multidimensional process. There exists no unique method for the ranking of vectors, so we evaluate two ranking formulations that preserve characteristics useful in constructing estimators. Simulation results for a video restoration problem are presented.
Energy Extremum Principle for Charged Black Holes

For a set of $N$ asymptotically flat black holes with arbitrary charges and masses, all initially at rest and well separated, we prove the following extremum principle: the extremal charge configuration ($|{q}_{i}|={m}_{i}$ for each black hole) can be derived by extremizing the total energy, for variations of the black hole apparent horizon areas, at fixed charges and fixed Euclidean separations. We prove this result through second order in an expansion in the inverse separations. If all charges have the same sign, this result is a variational principle that reinterprets the static equilibrium of the Majumdar-Papapetrou-Hartle-Hawking solution as an extremum of total energy, rather than as a balance of forces; this result augments a list of related variational principles for other static black holes, and is consistent with the independently known Bogomol'nyi-Prasad-Sommerfield (BPS) energy minimum.
Otic Pathology of Caprine β-Mannosidosis

Caprine p-mannosidosis is an autosomal recessive defect of glycoprotein catabolism with a defi- ciency of tissue and plasma p-mannosidase activity and tissue accumulation of oligosaccharides within lyso- somes. This rapidly fatal genetic disorder of Nubian goats is expressed at birth by a variety of clinical signs including deafness. Affected goats had folded pinnas, and the tympanic cavity was decreased due to multiple, polypoid projections of bone covered by middle ear mucosa which obstructed the view of the cochlear promon- tory. Numerous cells of the cochlear duct including mesothelial and epithelial cells of Reissner's membrane, mesothelial cells lining the scala tympani, cells of the stria vascularis, numerous supportive cells of the organ of Corti, cochlear hair cells, endothelial cells, perithelial cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, and neurons of the spiral ganglion contained numerous nonstaining intracytoplasmic vacuoles which resulted in distention of affected cells and caused thickening of involved structures. Ultrastructurally, the vacuoles were membrane- bound and consistent with lysosomes. Vacuolated cells were desquamated into the scala vestibuli and scala tympani. This is one of few reports describing light and electron microscopic otic alterations of a storage disease. Goats with p-mannosidosis appear to be good models of hearing loss in patients with storage disease. Caprine P-mannosidosis is an autosomal recessive defect of glycoprotein catabolism with a deficiency of tissue and plasma P-mannosidase activity'O and tissue accumulation of oligosaccharides within lyso- somes.11J8 This rapidly fatal genetic disorder ofNubian goats is expressed at birth by an inability to rise from a recumbent position, intention tremor, eye move- ments resembling pendular nystagmus, bilateral Hor- ner's syndrome, carpal contractures, pastern joint hy- perextension, thickened skin, and, to a varying degree, a dome-shaped skull. l3 Pathologic changes in affected goats include cytoplasmic vacuolation in many cell types in the nervous system and viscera, axonal spher- oids, and myelin pa~city.*,~J~~~ Clinical deafness of affected goats has been confirmed by auditory-evoked brainstem potential testing, and results indicate sen- sorineural deafnes~.~,~J~ Light microscopic otic alter- ations have been described on a limited basis in two affected goat~,~,~J~ but the consistency of the lesions has not been determined. The objective of this study was to define otic lesions in additional goats with p-mannosidosis in order to assess the consistency of the lesions and determine the ultrastructural charac- teristics, and, by focusing on lesions that could cause sensorineural deafness, to define the pathogenesis of the deafness.
“I'm Learning the Trade” Mentoring Networks of Black Women Teachers

Teacher mentoring in the era of educational reform is used to address teacher retention, teacher professionalism, and teacher leadership, particularly among teachers of color. This qualitative study examines mentoring networks of Black women teachers. Informed by a womanist framework, study findings point to culturally based orientations of mentoring networks in themes of Black women teachers' standpoints, modeling for leadership, and racism within the ranks. The study holds implications for developing culturally based models of teacher mentoring and understanding how race and culture inform professional development and enhancement.
Al-Ta bilayer as an oxidation resistant barrier for electrode structures in high dielectric constant capacitors

Aluminum-tantalum bilayers have been investigated for their potential to serve as conductive barriers to oxygen diffusion when annealed at conditions corresponding to crystallization of perovskite dielectrics such as lead lanthanum titanate (PLT). Ta (50 nm)/Al (15 nm) structures have been deposited on Si substrates and annealed in oxygen at 650 and 700 °C for various amounts of time. The as-deposited and annealed structures have been characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Rutherford backscattering spectroscopy (RBS), and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) analysis and by four-point probe electrical measurements. It has been found that the Al–Ta structures can withstand complete oxidation when exposed to oxygen at 650 °C for 30 min or 700 °C for 1 min and the oxide layer formed at the surface of the structure acts as a barrier to further oxygen diffusion. When a PLT film was deposited directly on the Al–Ta structures intermixing took place. It was therefore necessary to insert a Pt layer between the Al–Ta barrier and PLT layer. In such a case the PLT showed electrical properties similar to those obtained when deposited on SiO2/Pt; however, the Al–Ta structure did interact with Pt during the perovskite formation anneal. It has been found that this interaction can be prevented by preannealing the Al–Ta, in oxygen, prior to the deposition of Pt.
A dose of our own medicine: alternative medicine, conventional medicine, and the standards of science.

The discussion about complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is sometimes rather heated. “Quackery!” the cry goes. A large proportion “of unconventional practices entail theories that are patently unscientific.” “It is time for the scientific community to stop giving alternative medicine a free ride. There cannot be two kinds of medicine — conventional and alternative. There is only medicine that has been adequately tested and medicine that has not, medicine that works and medicine that may or may not work.” “I submit that if these treatments cannot withstand the test of empirical research, … then we have wasted a lot of time and effort. The time has been wasted on all the people who have spent years learning falsehoods about acupuncture points and the principles of homeopathy. And the patients have wasted their time, money, and efforts receiving treatments that were not what they were represented to be or were harmful.”
Tlatilco sculptures, diprosopus, and the emergence of medical illustrations.

Tlatilco was a farming village on the outskirts of what is now Mexico City, and it has long been recognized as one of the earliest New World artistic centers [2]. It became a rich archeological site in 1942, after the discovery of innumerable enigmatic, anthropomorphic figurines and countless burials [3]. Dated to between 1200 and 700 BC,1 these sculptures are among the most ancient representations of the human figure in the Western Hemisphere, as well as the most aesthetically appealing [4–8].2 The majority of these objects, found in more than 500 tombs and trash pits cut into the earth, are solid, hand-modelled female figurines, many of which are designated informally as being in the “pretty lady” configuration (Fig. 1). The figurines are 6 to 30 cm high and are ceramic. Controlled excavations at Tlatilco (Nahuatl for “the place where things are hidden”) have turned up “pretty lady” terracottas in the open fields (and throughout various strata) as well, suggesting that in addition to acting as burial equipment these figurines were sown or ritually buried in the four corners of the cornfields.
Effect of Pleistocene glaciation upon oceanographic characteristics of the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea

Abstract During intervals of Pleistocene glaciation, insolation of the high-latitude northern hemisphere was lower than today, particularly during summer. Growth of continental ice sheets resulted in a lowering of sea level by more than 100 m in the Bering Sea. As a result, the Bering Strait was closed and most of the Bering continental shelf exposed. A proposed model predicts that (1) sea-ice formation would occur along the (modern) outer continental shelf, (2) advection would transport the sea ice over the deep basin, and (3) brine would flow into the basin at some intermediate depth to enhance the halocline. The result would be a low-salinity surface layer with a cold, thick halocline and reduced vertical mixing. Diatom microfossils and lithologic changes in sediment cores from the North Pacific Ocean and Bering Sea support the model and suggest that the proposed oceanographic conditions extended into the North Pacific, where the cold low-salinity layer was enhanced by meltwater from continentally derived icebergs.
The role of memory of intelligent information systems

The concept of an intelligent organizational information system is presented. It is noted that although computer-based organizational information systems possess many of the attributes required for intelligent behavior, they rarely take an active role in supporting the decision-making activities of the organization. The role of memory processes in determining intelligent courses of action is reviewed, and categories of organizational information systems are defined. A technique using Boolean memory functions is described that is capable of supporting intelligent behaviour in information systems. Future research directions are discussed. >