cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhanced apoptosis of glioma cell lines is achieved by co-delivering FasL-GFP and TRAIL with a complex Ad5 vector

Brain tumors (BTs) are among the most malignant forms of human cancer. Unfortunately, current treatments are often ineffective and produce severe side effects. Cytotoxic gene therapy is an alternative treatment strategy, with the potential advantages of reduced toxicity to normal brain tissue. Apoptosis-inducing "death ligands" Fas ligand and TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) are genes with substantial cytotoxic activity in susceptible tumor cells. Here, we compared the effectiveness of Ad vector-mediated delivery of Fas ligand-green fluorescent protein (FasL-GFP) fusion protein, human TRAIL, and both genes simultaneously. We examined a panel of 13 cell lines (eight derived from primary isolates) for susceptibility to Ad5-based vector infection and for sensitivity to FasL- and TRAIL-mediated apoptosis. All cell lines were efficiently transduced, but, as expected, varied in their sensitivity to ligand-induced apoptosis. Generally, sensitivity to FasL-GFP correlated with cell surface FasR levels, but no such correlation was seen for TRAIL and its functional receptors, DR4 and DR5. The vector expressing both FasL-GFP and TRAIL was more effective than either of the single-gene vectors at comparable transduction levels, and it was effective against a broader range of cell lines. In five cell lines, coexpression resulted in apoptosis levels greater than those predicted for strictly additive activity of the two death ligands. We believe that Ad vector-mediated delivery of multiple death ligands may be developed as a potential BT therapy, either alone or in conjunction with surgical resection of the primary tumor.
Simpson's Rule Is Exact for Quintics

(2006). Simpson's Rule Is Exact for Quintics. The American Mathematical Monthly: Vol. 113, No. 2, pp. 144-155.
If you go down to the woods today . . .: accounting for the survival and eclipse of tree harvesting production systems on the Miramichi River in New Brunswick, Canada

Abstract In a recent article [Technology in Society 1999;21:323–44] we argued that the industrial revolution which has transformed tree-harvesting since the 1960s was driven by employers' efforts to dramatically increase mills' wood supply and the labour productivity of systems. By the end of such a period of industrial development, one would expect the use of only the most productive systems. While something like that did take place, the example of the Miramichi in New Brunswick, Canada shows significant deviations from the expected pattern. In this article we explore the underlying political, social and environmental factors which produce significant local divergences from the general developmental pattern of the forest industry. We argue the outcome of industrial development can be significantly altered in quite unexpected ways by the variable, local, social and material conditions in which production occurs. While the example of the forest industry on the Miramichi is not as dramatic as the examples of the Swedish and Japanese auto industries addressed in the conclusion, all three indicate how different local conditions can significantly alter developmental patterns.
On the Measurement of Price Elasticity of Demand

e,= price elasticity; Q= consumption for the year ended before price change in the trial state; Q2 = consumption for the year beginning after price change in the trial state; Q= consumption in the comparison states for the year before the price change in the trial state; Q4=consumption in the comparison states for the year beginning after the price change in the trial state; P = price for the year before change in the trial state; P2= price for the year after change in the trial state; N = number of comparison states.
Composite leptons and quarks constructed as triply occupied quasiparticles in quaternionic quantum mechanics

We propose a set of rules for constructing composite leptons and quarks as triply occupied quasiparticles, in the quaternionic quantum mechanics of a pair of Harari-Shupe preons T and V. The composites fall into two classes, those with totally antisymmetric internal wave functions, and those with internal wave functions of mixed symmetry. The mixed symmetry states consist of precisely the three spin 12 quark lepton families used in the standard model (48 particle states, not counting doubling arising from antiparticles), plus one doublet of spin 32 quarks (24 particle states). The antisymmetric states consist of a set of spin 32 leptonic states with charges as in a standard model family (16 particle states), and a spin 12 leptonic fractionally charged doublet (4 particle states). We sketch ideas for deriving our rules from a fundamental quaternionic preonic field theory.
Theory for pressure drop in a pulse-jet cleaned fabric filter

Abstract A theory based on Darcy's law has been derived which relates pressure drop in a pulse-jet cleaned fabric filter to characteristics of the filter and dust. Assumptions made are that total pressure drop is the sum of pressure drops across the clean bag and dust deposit, and that the fraction of dust removed from a bag by a cleaning pulse is proportional to the reverse pressure drop across it at cleaning. The theory allows prediction of pressure drop under stable or variable operating conditions including dust concentration, filtration velocity, pulse pressure and pulse frequency, and can be used to identify operating conditions which cause pressure drop to increase without limit. Agreement between the model and experimental data is reasonably good.
Production of radioactive targets for use in high-resolution, Charged-particle reaction spectroscopy

Abstract Radioactive targets for use in charged-particle reaction spectroscopy must be chemically pure, monoisotopic, uniform, thin, and must have small dimensions in order to minimize the total radioactivity. In this paper we discuss isotope-separation techniques that permit fabrication of such targets with half-lives as short as ten days. We show results from a proton inelastic-scattering experiment, using a target we fabricated from 13 y 152Eu.
Processing of mesoporous alumina from a powder precursor

Oxides with significant mesopore volume can be produced from gels through ambient pressure drying (APD) if the oxide network within the gel is sufficiently strong. To obtain a strong alumina gel, a commercial alumina powder (100 nm diameter) was combined with different amounts of ethanol, water, and acid. Significant mesoporosity was observed in dried and calcined gels prepared from this precursor and ethanol alone, particularly when “poor wettability” was established in the gel through azeotropic distillation in toluene. When water (or water and nitric acid) was also utilized the pore volume decreased dramatically; this observation may be attributed to the creation of amorphous alumina from the crystalline precursor that is displaced into the interparticle pores, and in which mesopores are poorly preserved during APD.
Responses of medial reticular neurons to stimulation of the vestibular nerve

Responses of neurons in the medial ponto-medullary reticular formation to stimulation of vestibular nerves, bilateral pericruciate cortex and several cutaneous points were studied in cerebellectomized cats under chloralose-urethan or pentobarbital anesthesia. Reticulospinal neurons were identified by their antidromic responses to stimulation of cervical or lumbar spinal cord.
Estimating the impact of relative expected grade on student evaluations of teachers

Abstract Grade inflation over the past few decades has been a concern for many universities. Course evaluation scores are known to be positively correlated with students’ expected grades, and this paper tests whether or not there is an incentive for the instructor to “buy” higher evaluation scores by inflating grades. To test this hypothesis, I use unique data from the University of Washington's Office of Educational Assessment that includes a measure of each student's relative expected grade in the course. I find that there is an incentive for instructors to grade leniently after accounting for the potential endogeneity of the relative expected grade variable due to unobserved teacher productivity and unobserved heterogeneity of instructors and departments. Instructor fixed effects account for a significant part of the measured effect of relative expected grade on evaluations, and by not including them, the estimated impact of relative expected grade on evaluations is biased upwards.
RF System Considerations in Interlaced-Beam Injector Synchrotrons

The general characteristics of the RF system high-power components and suitable accelerating structures have been studied for several variations of the interlaced multi-ring synchrotron. This type of machine has been considered as a possible component of the injection system for the 200-BeV accelerator.
MAximum Multicore POwer (MAMPO): an automatic multithreaded synthetic power virus generation framework for multicore systems

The practically attainable worst case power consumption for a computer system is a significant design parameter and it is a very tedious process to determine it by manually writing high power consuming code snippets called power viruses. Previous research efforts towards automating the power virus generation process are all limited to the single core processors and are not effective when applied to multicore parallel systems as the components like the interconnection network, shared caches, DRAM and coherence directory also contribute significantly to the power consumption of a multicore parallel system. In this paper we propose MAximum Multicore POwer (MAMPO), which is the pioneer attempt towards a framework to automatically generate a multithreaded power virus for a given multicore parallel system configuration. We show that the the power viruses generated by MAMPO consume 40% to 89% more power than running multiple copies of single-core power viruses like MPrime torture test and the most recent published previous work called SYMPO on 3 different parallel multicore system configurations. The superiority of the MAMPO viruses are also shown by comparing the power consumption of the MAMPO viruses with that of the workloads in the PARSEC benchmark suite and that of the commercial Java benchmark SPECjbb. The MAMPO viruses consume 45% to 98% more power than that of the average power consumption of the workloads in the PARSEC suite and 41% to 56% more power than that of the commercial benchmark SPECjbb.
Wall motion and metabolic changes after coronary occlusion and reperfusion.

Abstract Experiments were conducted in open-chest pigs in which experimental myocardial ischemia was produced. Two groups of animals were evaluated: (1) those with short episodes of coronary occlusion and reperfusion, and (2) those with an initially longer period of occlusion (equal to the sum of the short multiple occlusions) and reperfusion. Indices of myocardial wall motion as determined by echocardiogram, of energy production as measured by mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, and of cellular membrane integrity as measured by calcium uptake by sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles and calcium content of tissue and mitochondria were obtained. Our observation revealed better myocardial preservation in the group with brief periods of occlusion and reperfusion than those with a sustained period of ischemia followed by reperfusion. The concept that myocardium is less well preserved due to reperfusion damage by intermittent aortic cross-clamping or intermittent coronary perfusion during open heart surgery compared to uninterrupted cardiac arrest needs to be reexamined in light of the data presented and investigated in the hypothermic, cardioplegia model.
Capillary and Viscoelastic Effects on Elastohydrodynamic Lubrication in Roller Nips

A viscocapillary model of liquid movement and film-splitting in deformable nips between an elatomer-covered roll and a hard roll is presented here. This soft elastohydrodynamic regime is described by Reynolds' equation of lubrication flow and a simple set of spring-and-dashpot elements for the viscoelastic behavior of elastomeric roll covers. Capillary effects around the film-split are accounted for with an augmented Young-Laplace equation from film-flow theory. Effects of the liquid's surface tension (via capillary number) and the elastomeric cover's relaxation time (via Deborah number) are predicted and compared with available experiments. Application to the flows through the multiple roller nips of printing press systems is discussed.
Randomized geometric algorithms and pseudo-random generators

The so called randomized incremental algorithms in computational geometry can be thought of as a generalization of Quicksort to higher dimensional geometric problems. They all construct the geometric complex in the given problem, such as a Voronoi diagram or a convex polytope, by adding the objects in the input set, one at a time, in a random order. The author shows that the expected running times of most of the randomized incremental algorithms in computational geometry do not change (up to a constant factor), when the sequence of additions is not truly random but is instead generated using only O(log n) random bits. The pseudo-random generator used is a generalization of the well known linear congruential generator. >
CO2 fixation and its regulation in Anacystis nidulans (Synechococcus)

Anacystis nidulans (Synechococcus) had a minimal doubling time of 5 hrs at 30 degrees C at saturating light intensity and carbon dioxide concentration. Half maximal growth rates in saturating CO2 occured at a light intensity of 0.54 mW per cm2, and there was an apparent threshold intensity of 0.13 mW per cm2 below which no growth occurred. Growth rate in saturating light was dependent on the concentration of CO2+H2CO3 in the medium, rather than on total dissolved CO2; half maximal rates were estimated at 0.1 mM CO2+H2CO3. Under saturating conditions of light and CO2, 14CO2 was fixed primarily into 3-PGA, and subsequently moved into sugar phosphates and amino acids. Incorporation into aspartate was relatively slow. CO2 fixation was strictly light-dependent. The changes in adenylate and pyridine nucleotide pools were followed in light/dark and dark/light transitions. Whereas adenylates relaxed slowly over 15-20 min to the concentrations characteristic of illuminated cells following the abrupt changes induced by darkening, the sharp drop in intracellular NADPH showed little dark recovery although rapid restoration occurred on reillumination. Other pyridine nucleotides showed no changes during these transitions. The nucleotide specificity and Km of partially purfied GAP dehydrogenase suggest a role for this enzyme in the regulation of CO2 fixation.
Design of a cryogenic high-accuracy absolute prism refractometer for infrared through far-ultraviolet optical materials

The next generation of cryogenic, infrared (IR), space optical instrumentation (for NGST and other missions) will require a knowledge of refractive indices for constituent optical materials to a level of accuracy which is not currently attainable. The rationale for and design of a broadband, absolute, prism refractometer for measuring refractive index at cryogenic temperatures to very high absolute accuracy is discussed. The refractometer design also permits similar measurements through the far ultraviolet where accurate refractive index data are scarce for most UV optical materials. The technical challenges in achieving high accuracy in these wavelength regions and at extremely cold temperatures are presented, along with novel solutions under development to meet those challenges.
Management of Late Leaf Spot of Peanut with Benomyl and Chlorothalonil: A Study in Preserving Fungicide Utility

Recent registration of sterol biosynthesis inhibitor and strobilurin fungicides for control of early (Cercospora arachidicola) and late (Cercosporidium personatum) leaf spot diseases of peanut (Arachis hypogaea) has renewed interest in the potential for loss of disease control due to fungicide resistance. The objectives of this study were to use the systemic fungicide benomyl, the protectant fungicide chlorothalonil, and late leaf spot of peanut as a model system to compare fungicide application strategies for fungicide resistance management. Field experiments were conducted at Tifton and Plains, GA, in 1995 and 1996 to determine the effects of alternate applications, mixtures, and alternating block applications of chlorothalonil and benomyl compared with full-season applications of two rates of chlorothalonil and two rates of benomyl alone on late leaf spot of peanut and on the proportion of the pathogen population resistant to benomyl following the various regimes. Tank mix combinations of half rates of the two fungicides and alternations of the full rates of the two fungicides provided better (P ≤ 0.05) control of late leaf spot than full-season applications of either rate of benomyl alone, and were comparable to full rates of chlorothalonil alone. Neither tank mixes nor alternating sprays prevented an increase in the relative frequency of benomyl-resistant isolates compared with other treatments in which benomyl was used. Both mixtures and alternate applications of chlorothalonil and benomyl were effective for management of leaf spot in fields where benomyl alone did not provide season-long leaf spot control.
P.45: The Study of LCD Module Assembly Mura

The direct mechanical touching usually generates mura on a LCD panel. The touch mura cannot always be flashed in a very short period. Touch mura exists in almost every mode of LCD. In this paper, a new type of mura which generated during the LCD module assembly process is investigated. The research results show that LC orientation change from original alignment direction is the main driving-force of light leakage. A solution to prevent this type of mura is proposed for industrial manufacturing process.
Learning Words From Books: The Effects of Read-Aloud on Second Language Vocabulary Acquisition

Abstract This study compares the gains made in second language vocabulary as a direct result of different literacy lessons implementing two bilingual methodologies: concurrent translation and preview-review. Students in the three randomly selected third-grade classes in the Los Angeles area were chosen to serve as the control (no treatment), concurrent translation, and preview-review groups. The children were given a pre test to assess their knowledge of selected vocabulary items. After the administration of the pre-test students in Group 1 (control) listened to a story in English with no intervention or explanation of the story. Students in Group 2 listened to the same story in English with the reader using the concurrent method (translating the story from one language to the other). Group 3 heard the same story in English after having the teacher build background knowledge by previewing important points and difficult vocabulary in Spanish (preview). They also reviewed the story in Spanish after the read...
Perturbative solution to the single-mode model of superradiance

We use a perturbative approach to analyze the diffusion equation for the atomic quasiprobability function derived by Narducci, Coulter, and Bowden, and demonstrate explicitly that the first-order correction contributes to the atomic moments only to order $\frac{1}{N}$, where $N$ is proportional to the cooperation number.
Stability of Nmi protein is controlled by its association with Tip60

Tip60 exerts diverse biological functions through mechanisms that are either dependent or independent on its intrinsic histone acetyltransferase activity. In the present study, we identified Nmi (N-Myc and STATs Interactor) as a novel binding partner for Tip60 by a yeast two-hybrid screen. The association of Tip60 with Nmi was further confirmed by coimmunoprecipitation in mammalian cells. The zinc finger domain of Tip60 interacts with the NID repeats of Nmi, a region essential for the cytoplamic localization and homo- and heterodimerization of Nmi. We further showed that Nmi is an unstable protein and is targeted for proteasome-mediated degradation. The stability of Nmi can be enhanced by its association with Tip60, a process that is dependent on histone acetyltransferase activity of Tip60. The stabilization of Nmi by Tip60 is in part mediated by the translocation of Tip60 into cytoplasm to form distinct large cytoplasmic speckles. Our finding that Tip60 stabilizes Nmi through the formation of distinct cytoplasmic speckles provides a new mechanism to modulate Nmi-mediated functions.
Patterns of spatial integration in the detection of compound visual stimuli.

Abstract Increment thresholds were measured for foveally viewed square and circular stimuli varying in area from 400 min 2 to 1600 2 of visual angle They were presented singly or in pairs. one stimulus component superimposed upon the other (square upon square or circle upon circle). The single stimuli yielded a traditional areal summation curve. Thresholds for the compound stimuli were lower. The contribution of the small component to the visibility of a compound stimulus depended upon the overall area of the compound. These results suggested that more than one pattern of spatial integration is available. The results are discussed in terms of the meaning of the areal summation function and the existence of size-tuned detector mechanisms in the human visual system.
Kinetics and products of the reactions of selected diols with the OH radical

Using a relative rate method, rate constants have been measured at 296 ± 2 K for the gas-phase reactions of OH radicals with 1,2-butanediol, 2,3-butanediol, 1,3-butanediol, and 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, with rate constants (in units of 10−12 cm3 molecule−1 s−1) of 27.0 ± 5.6, 23.6 ± 6.3, 33.2 ± 6.8, and 27.7 ± 6.1, respectively, where the error limits include the estimated overall uncertainty of ±20% in the rate constant for the reference compound. Gas chromatographic analyses showed the formation of 1-hydroxy-2-butanone from 1,2-butanediol, 3-hydroxy-2-butanone from 2,3-butanediol, 1-hydroxy-3-butanone from 1,3-butanediol, and 4-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-pentanone from 2-methyl-2,4-pentanediol, with formation yields of 0.66 ± 0.11, 0.89 ± 0.09, 0.50 ± 0.09, and 0.47 ± 0.09, respectively, where the indicated errors are the estimated overall uncertainties. Pathways for the formation of these products are presented, together with a comparison of the measured and estimated rate constants and product yields. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J Chem Kinet 33: 310–316, 2001
Autoreactivity to myelin antigens: myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein is a prevalent autoantigen

Autoreactive T cells specific for myelin antigens are thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS). We compared T cell proliferative responses in peripheral blood following challenge in vitro with myelin/oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (recombinant protein, rMOG), myelin basic protein (MBP) and proteolipid apoprotein (PLP) in 50 patients with MS and 40 healthy controls. T cell reactivity against rMOG (defined by a specific stimulation index of 2.5 or greater) was present in 13 (26%) MS patients and 12 (30%) healthy controls and was MHC-restricted, as anti-MHC class II antibodies abolished all proliferative responses. By contrast, reactivity against PLP was present in only one (2%) MS patient and six (15%) controls, and no reactivity against MBP was found in any subject. Thus, by the criteria of the present study, an increased reactivity of circulating T cells to MOG is present to a similar degree in healthy individuals and in patients with MS. This finding raises the possibility that additional factors contribute to the pathogenicity of these autoreactive T cell populations in demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system.
Explosive volcanism and the graphite-oxygen fugacity buffer on the parent asteroid(s) of the ureilite meteorites

A new model of the production of the uniformly low plagioclase and Al contents of ureilites is proposed. It is argued that those contents are consequences of widespread explosive volcanism during the evolution of the parent asteroid(s). It is noted that the great abundance of graphite on the ureilite asteroid(s) made them ideal sites for explosive volcanism driven by oxidation of graphite in partial melts ascending within the asteroid(s).
Simple preparation of iron stabilized carboxonium ions. Concurrent complexation, rearrangement and alcohol addition to terminal acetylenes

Abstract CpFe(CO) 2 [C(OEt)R]BF 4 complexes can be prepared by reaction of CpFe(CO) 2 (isobutylene)BF 4 with monoalkylated acetylenes in methylene chloride/ethanol solutions. Methyl propiolate yields methyl trans -2-ethoxy-acrylate, in a reaction catalytic in CpFe(CO) 2 (isobutylene)BF 4 , and internal acetylenes can be transformed to CpFe(CO) 2 (vinyl ether)BF 4 complexes.
Promoting Self-Esteem in the Hospitalized Adolescent: Clinical Interventions

Self-concept is the single most important factor affecting behavior. Adolescence is a particularly critical period in which the self-concept is forming. Illness and hospitalization during this period can interfere with the adolescent's ability to achieve developmental tasks. The potential loss of independence and subjection to multiple traumatic experiences (both physical and psychological) that accompany hospitalization can be detrimental to the adolescent's ability to gain and maintain self-esteem. This article discusses some approaches that can be used by health-care professionals to assist adolescents in improving or maintaining their level of self-esteem while hospitalized.
The effect of birthrate granularity on the release-to-birth ratio for the AGR-1 in-core experiment

The AGR-1 Advanced Gas Reactor (AGR) tristructural-isotropic-particle fuel experiment underwent 13 irradiation intervals from December 2006 until November 2009 within the Idaho National Laboratory Advanced Test Reactor in support of the Next Generation Nuclear Power Plant program. During this multi-year experiment, release-to-birth rate ratios were computed at the end of each operating interval to provide information about fuel performance. Fission products released during irradiation were tracked daily by the Fission Product Monitoring System using 8-hour measurements. Birth rates calculated by MCNP with ORIGEN for as-run conditions were computed at the end of each irradiation interval. Each time step in MCNP provided neutron flux, reaction rates and AGR-1 compact composition, which were used to determine birth rates using ORIGEN. The initial birth-rate data, consisting of four values for each irradiation interval at the beginning, end, and two intermediate times, were interpolated to obtain values for each 8-hour activity. The problem with this method is that any daily changes in heat rates or perturbations, such as shim control movement or core/lobe power fluctuations, would not be reflected in the interpolated data and a true picture of the system would not be presented. At the conclusion of the AGR-1 experiment, great efforts weremore » put forth to compute daily birthrates, which were reprocessed with the 8-hour release activity. The results of this study are presented in this paper.« less
Copurification of RNA polymerase I and the glucocorticoid-regulated transcription factor IC.

Abstract A simple and rapid method to copurify RNA polymerase I and the glucocorticoid-regulated transcription factor, TFIC, is described. This protocol results in 1262-fold purification and 15% total recovery of the enzyme and factors needed to support faithful transcription in vitro from cloned mouse rRNA gene (rDNA). Using this method, proteins involved in rDNA transcription were purified from exponentially growing lymphosarcoma P1798 cells as well as cells treated with 0.1 μ m dexamethasone. A combination of transcription and reconstitution assays using G-free cassette-containing constructs and polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic analysis upon silver staining were used to detect TFIC activity as well as the characteristic TFIC polypeptides in control and dexamethasone-treated cell extracts. Treatment of P1798 cells with 0.1 gm dexamethasone for 24 h results in an over 95% reduction of TFIC activity, but no significant differences in the amount of TFIC polypeptides in the final product purified from control and glucocorticoid-treated cells could be detected. Our data indicate that glucocorticoid regulation of transcription of rDNA is mediated via post-translational modulation of the activity of TFIC.
Energy optimized-ventilation constrained variable air volume system control

Abstract The analytical energy performance of an advanced energy optimized-ventilation constrained control approach to variable air volume systems was compared to four other controls. The other controls are either currently used or have been proposed in the literature. The advanced control demonstrated its potential to meet the ventilation requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62–1989 for every zone of the building with minimal energy consumption. The analytical work was carried out in a single story prototypical commercial building. The building was analyzed in five US cities to provide insight into the impact of climate on the performance of the advanced control. The advanced control consumed less total energy, considerably less in some cities, than the other four controls. The advanced control provides an excellent opportunity to apply to buildings new automation equipment and software never attempted before.
Genetic screen to dissect protein–protein interactions: ribonuclease inhibitor–ribonuclease A as a model system

Abstract Protein–protein interactions are critical for the function of biological systems. Here, we describe a means to dissect a protein–protein interaction. Our method is based on the in vivo interaction between a target protein and the peptide epitopes derived from its partner. This interaction is detected by using hybrid proteins in which the target protein and peptide epitopes are fused to the DNA-binding domain of the lambda repressor protein. An interaction prevents the transcription of a reporter gene. The efficacy of this approach is demonstrated with the ribonuclease inhibitor protein and ribonuclease A, which form a complex with an equilibrium dissociation constant in the femtomolar range. Our method can enable the identification of residues important in a designated protein–protein interaction and the development of antagonists for that interaction.
Kinetics of a Ca(2+)-sensitive cross-bridge state transition in skeletal muscle fibers. Effects due to variations in thin filament activation by extraction of troponin C.

The rate constant of tension redevelopment (ktr; 1986. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 83:3542-3546) was determined at various levels of thin filament activation in skinned single fibers from mammalian fast twitch muscles. Activation was altered by (a) varying the concentration of free Ca2+ in the activating solution, or (b) extracting various amounts of troponin C (TnC) from whole troponin complexes while keeping the concentration of Ca2+ constant. TnC was extracted by bathing the fiber in a solution containing 5 mM EDTA, 10 mM HEPES, and 0.5 mM trifluoperazine dihydrochloride. Partial extraction of TnC resulted in a decrease in the Ca2+ sensitivity of isometric tension, presumably due to disruption of near-neighbor molecular cooperativity between functional groups (i.e., seven actin monomers plus associated troponin and tropomyosin) within the thin filament. Altering the level of thin filament activation by partial extraction of TnC while keeping Ca2+ concentration constant tested whether the Ca2+ sensitivity of ktr results from a direct effect of Ca2+ on cross-bridge state transitions or, alternatively, an indirect effect of Ca2+ on these transitions due to varying extents of thin filament activation. Results showed that the ktr-pCa relation was unaffected by partial extraction of TnC, while steady-state isometric tension exhibited the expected reduction in Ca2+ sensitivity. This finding provides evidence for a direct effect of Ca2+ on an apparent rate constant that limits the formation of force-bearing cross-bridge states in muscle fibers. Further, the kinetics of this transition are unaffected by disruption of near-neighbor thin filament cooperativity subsequent to extraction of TnC. Finally, the results support the idea that the steepness of the steady-state isometric tension-calcium relationship is at least in part due to mechanisms involving molecular cooperativity among thin filament regulatory proteins.
Numerical modeling of parasitic barrier formation at the SiGe/Si heterojunction due to p–n junction displacement

Abstract The formation and characteristics of a parasitic conduction band barrier located at a SiGe/Si heterojunction have been investigated using a commercial numerical simulator and a simple, three-region model of a heterojunction with a nearby p–n junction. The barrier’s formation is examined as a function of the displacement of the p–n junction from the heterojunction, but also found to depend on the germanium concentration, junction doping and the applied bias. The phenomenon is of interest for understanding the performance of SiGe/Si heterojunction bipolar transistors, where the p–n junction is intentionally displaced from the heterojunction at either the emitter or collector junctions or where boron outdiffusion from the base produces p–n junction displacement. The barrier is found to scale with the germanium mole fraction and to be significantly larger when the heterojunction is displaced into the p-side of the p–n junction. Beyond some minimum separation of the junctions, the barrier height rises with junction displacement and saturates. For a given displacement, the barrier’s height can be suppressed with reverse bias or enhanced by forward bias of the p–n junction. The results of the numerical simulations are compared with those from a simple analytical model as an aid in understanding the barrier’s formation and characteristics.
Exchange effects in the coupled-equations nuclear-reaction formalism

Exchange symmetry is used to eliminate reference to physically indistinguishable channels in the coupled-equations nuclear-reaction formalism. The resulting equations are similar in structure to the original ones except that they are far fewer in number and the interactions contain exchange operators.
Factors Influencing Dental Decision Making

In clinical decision making, dentists routinely choose between alternative treatments such as crown vs amalgam/composite buildup, root canal vs extraction, fixed bridge vs removable partial denture, and prophylaxis vs subgingival curettage or periodontal scaling. A number of technical and patient factors can influence dentists' choice of treatment in these situations; however, little is known about their relative importance. To address this issue, a list of technical (e.g., periodontal status and caries rate) and patient (e.g., cost and patient preference) factors possibly influencing choice of treatment was developed for each pair of services. Responding to a mail questionnaire, 156 general dentists in Washington State listed the top three factors influencing their choice of service in each pair. Results revealed that dentists took different factors into account in choosing among alternative treatments. Technical factors dominated over patient concerns; only about 33 percent of the dentists considered patient factors important in choosing alternative therapies. The latter group was less preventively oriented, were solo practitioners, worked longer hours, and had lower prices. Results suggest patients may have little influence on prescriptions of therapy among experienced general dentists.
Seasonal buffering of atmospheric pressure on Mars

An isothermal reservoir of carbon dioxide in gaseous contact with the Martian atmosphere would reduce the amplitude and advance the phase of global atmospheric pressure fluctuations caused by seasonal growth and decline of polar CO2 frost caps. Adsorbed carbon dioxide in the upper roughly 10 m of Martian regolith is sufficient to buffer the present atmosphere on a seasonal basis. Available observations and related polar cap models do not confirm or refute the operation of such a mechanism. Implications for the amplitude and phase of seasonal pressure fluctuations are subject to direct test by the upcoming Viking mission to Mars.
Linear dichroism demonstrates that the bases in poly[d(AC)].poly[d (GT)] and poly[d(AG)].poly[d(CT)] are inclined from perpendicular to the helix axis.

Flow linear dichroism is used to measure specific inclinations for each of the four bases in poly[d(AC)]·;poly[d(GT)] and poly[d(AG)]·poly[d(CT)] in both the B and A forms. For the B form in solution the bases are found to have a sizable inclination. Inclination is increased in the A form, as expected. In all cases the pyrimidines are more inclined than the purines. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A Review of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infection and HPV Vaccine–Related Attitudes and Sexual Behaviors Among College-Aged Women in the United States

Abstract Objective: To identify human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and HPV vaccine–related attitudes among college-aged women and the relationship between HPV vaccine uptake and subsequent sexual behaviors. Methods: PubMed, MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Google Scholar searches were performed from 2006, the date after the first HPV vaccine became available, to present. Results: Of the 13 studies identified, most were cross-sectional. College-aged women saw HPV infection as serious and had positive attitudes toward the HPV vaccine. Barriers (ie, cost, lack of insurance coverage) existed that prevented women from obtaining the vaccine and many women did not see themselves at risk for HPV. The vaccine uptake rate, although increasing, has been slow. Conclusion: College-aged women in the United States may need unbiased information about HPV and HPV vaccine. Studies that focus on risk perception and the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, vaccine uptake, and sexual behaviors are needed to inform interventions a...
Bupropion Mimics a Transient Ischemic Attack

OBJECTIVE:To report the development of symptoms suggesting transient ischemic attacks during bupropion treatment for smoking cessation.CASE SUMMARY:A 67-year-old white man experienced paresthesia, dizziness, tinnitus, confusion, and gait impairment shortly after starting bupropion as an aid to smoking cessation. Bupropion was discontinued on hospital admission, and testing for vertebral basilar artery disease was negative. His symptoms resolved, and he remained asymptomatic until restarting bupropion two days after hospital discharge.DISCUSSION:Although separate case reports have reported sensory disturbances, tinnitus, and balance impairment associated with bupropion use, the combination of symptoms occurring in this patient has not been previously published.CONCLUSIONS:The temporal relationship between bupropion exposure and symptomatology suggests that bupropion caused symptoms mimicking transient ischemic attacks in this patient.
Is monotherapy for febrile neutropenia still a viable alternative

Monotherapy for empirical treatment of febrile neutropenia is effective and often less costly than combination therapy but remains controversial. The controversy results from observations that combination therapy for Pseudomonas aeruginosa improved outcomes, and this approach became a standard. Many subsequent publications, including the Infectious Diseases Society of America guidelines for febrile neutropenia, now support monotherapy. However, changes in the pathogens involved in febrile neutropenia and in their resistance prompt a reevaluation. In the evaluation of new antibiotics, recent trials comparing either cefepime or meropenem with combination therapy or with ceftazidime confirm that monotherapy remains a viable therapeutic approach, with infectious mortality in the 5% range in all arms. The choice of monotherapy should, however, be made on the basis of resistance patterns seen in an institution. The agent selected should be very active against the organisms that are likely to cause rapidly fatal infections, and clinicians must be prepared to modify monotherapy as appropriate.
Effect of magnetospheric tail on cosmic ray cut-offs

Abstract We find if the magnetospheric tail is longer than a characteristic length (estimated to be of the order of magnitude of one astronomical unit), then diffusion allows cosmic ray particles to enter the tail and appear essentially isotropically over the polar caps. The polar caps should then display no Stoermer-like latitude cut-offs whatsoever. For example, the recently observed fluxes of 3–12 MeV electrons should appear over the polar caps with the same intensity as in interplanetary space. Other available experimental data are compared with the theoretical prediction of zero cut-off energy for the polar caps.
Trichomonas vaginalis infection among women receiving gynaecological care at an Alabama HIV Clinic

Objective Trichomoniasis vaginalis is a risk factor for the acquisition and transmission of HIV. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of T vaginalis (using culture) among HIV-infected women receiving gynaecological care at an university HIV clinic in Alabama in addition to predictors of infection. Methods Electronic medical record review of women presenting to the clinic for gynaecological care during 2006–2012 was performed. Demographic and sexual history data was abstracted in addition to absolute CD4 cell count, HIV-1 viral load and sexually transmitted infection (STI) (including T vaginalis ) testing results. Analysis was conducted using Stata V.12. Results T vaginalis was prevalent in 17.4% (83/478) of HIV-infected women; other STIs were less prevalent. Among these women, 384 presented for routine STI screening, of which 12% (46/384) were T vaginalis -infected. Younger age, African-American race, lifetime history of tobacco and drug abuse, lack of HIV therapy, HIV-1 viral load >400 copies/ml, and report of seeking gynaecological care for reasons other than routine STI screening (ie, having symptoms) were significant predictors of T vaginalis in univariate analysis. Age, African American race, and report of seeking gynaecological care for reasons other than routine STI screening remained associated with T vaginalis in multivariable analysis. Conclusions T vaginalis remains highly prevalent among HIV-infected women, a proportion of which may be asymptomatic. If left undiagnosed and untreated, these women may be more likely to transmit HIV. Increased emphasis on screening for high risk sexual behaviours, testing for T vaginalis , and risk reduction counselling is necessary for all HIV-infected women.
Safety Effectiveness of Integrated Risk Reduction Strategies for Rail Transport of Hazardous Materials

Railroad transportation plays a critical role in safely and economically moving hazardous materials throughout North America. Effective management of the risk of hazardous materials transportation is a high priority of both the American rail industry and government. A number of strategies and technologies have been implemented or are being developed to reduce this risk. Each risk reduction strategy has an effect on rail safety as well as a corresponding implementation cost. In addition, risk reduction strategies may have interactive effects. However, little prior research has addressed the interactive effects between different risk reduction strategies or how elements of them should be compared or combined, or both, to achieve the maximum risk reduction in the most cost-effective manner. A preliminary methodology was developed to estimate the reduction in the risk of the release of hazardous materials by implementing integrated risk reduction strategies, including accident prevention, tank car safety desi...
Process dynamics of starch-based microcellular foams produced by supercritical fluid extrusion. II: Numerical simulation and experimental evaluation

Abstract This paper presents the numerical simulation results for the process dynamics model for SCFX processing and post-extrusion drying developed in Part I. The SCFX model was written in Visual Basic, and experimental data for pregelatinized corn and potato starch based SCFX extrudates with 4–7% whey protein concentrate were used for validation. Predicted bubble radius ( R ) was 50–220 μm, expansion ratio (ER) 4–11 and open cell fraction ( f o ) 0.05–0.27, as the drying temperature varied from 70 to 95 °C. Moreover, the model predicted decrease in extrudate collapse and open cell fraction with increase in yield and failure stresses of the melt, respectively. Simulation results compared well with experimental R and f o . The model provided a good understanding of the mechanisms of bubble growth and collapse, post extrusion drying and open cell formation during SCFX processing. The model was also used to estimate the effect of various processing and material parameters on extrudate structural characteristics, and can be a useful tool in a priori design of extrudates of specific characteristics.
Pole-Placement Design with Adjustable Robustness Using Sliding-Mode Technique

A pole-placement design with adjustable performance robustness is proposed in this paper, in which the effect of parameter uncertainties and external disturbances on system performance can be arbitrarily attenuated to cluster all closed-loop eigenvalues within specified regions in the complex plane.Due to parameter uncertainties or variations in a real system, closed-loop eigenvalues through linear state feedback are perturbed away from desired ones, and would not be retained within specified regions in the complex plane.In conventional sliding-mode control, the system constrained in a sliding mode is completely insensitive to system perturbations satisfying the matching condition.However, this invariance property of a sliding mode almost always brings undersirable chatter phenomenon.In this paper, the proposed scheme using the slinding-mode technique is designed to attenuate the effect of uncertainties to an acceptable extent, instead of being completely insensitive.One advantage of this design over the conventional sliding-mode control is the reduction of chatter level, chatter alleviation.Moreover, the sliding mode in this design exists during an entire response, while in the conventional sliding-mode control there exists a reaching phase before the existence of a sliding mode and no invariance property is guaranteed during this phase.
Paulo Freire, Disability, and Sociological Consciousness in a Southern Metropolis: The Knoxville Mayor’s Council on Disability Issues

This article examines attitudes and opinions among members of the Mayor’s Council on Disability Issues (CODI) of Knoxville, Tennessee. Using focused interviews, respondent commentary is presented on topics such as the disability rights movement, employment and education, the nature of defining disability, and the functionality and relative importance of CODI as a whole. Paulo Freire’s (1968) model of oppression is used as a frame of reference to examine CODI members’ attitudinal assumptions of these issues.
Permanent Pacemaker Implantation Using the Femoral Vein: A Preliminary Report

A permanent pacemaker was implanted through the femoral vein in 23 patients using the percutaneous puncture technique. The pulse generator was placed in the lower abdominal wall. The method is simple and reduces (he time necessary to accomplish implantation. Catheter extrusion in one patient was easily corrected. Another patient had late thrombophlebitis, possibly unrelated to the procedure. Catheter dislodgement occurred in four (4) patients and penetration of the right atrial appendage and right ventricular apex each occurred once. We believe these problems can be circumvented with more experience and expect the femoral approach to be a simple and practical method of permanent pacemaker implantation.