cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New subspecies of fir dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium abietinum: Viscaceae) from the western United States and northern Mexico

Two new subspecies of fir dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium abietinum, Viscaceae) are described herein: Arceuthobium abietinum subsp. mathiasenii (Mathiasen’s dwarf mistletoe) and Arceuthobium abietinum subsp. grandae (grand fir dwarf mistletoe). The former dwarf mistletoe—Mathiasen’s dwarf mistletoe—parasitizes Rocky Mountain white fir in Nevada, Utah, and Arizona and Durango fir in northern Mexico; whereas, grand fir dwarf mistletoe parasitizes grand fir as well grand fir × white fir hybrids in California, Oregon and Washington. The recognition of these subspecies and, hence, their classification is based on morphological discontinuities and host range differences when compared to white fir dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium abietinum subsp. abietinum), red fir dwarf mistletoe (A. abietinum subsp. magnificae), and Wiens’ dwarf mistletoe (A. abietinum subsp. wiensii). The combined analyses of plant height, third internode length and width, fruit dimensions, staminate spike and petal dimensions, and anther distance to tip, contributed most to the discrimination of subsp. grandae and mathiasenii from subsp. abietinum and magnificae. The flowers of Mathiasen's dwarf mistletoe were larger than all of the other taxa classified under A. abietinum. The shoot color of Mathiasen’s dwarf mistletoe was frequently blue-green, brown, yellow-brown, or red-brown, and plants were often highly glaucous, while the shoot color of the other subspecies were typically yellow-green or yellow, except for Wiens' dwarf mistletoe whose shoots are often green-brown or red-brown. Differences in host specificity and geographic distribution also distinguish the new subspecies from the other taxa of A. abietinum.
Abstract B27: Cellular retinoic acid binding protein 2 (CRABP2) is a novel biomarker and potential therapeutic target for high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas

Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women in the United States, accounting for more deaths than any other gynecologic cancer. There is an unmet medical need for biomarkers that can detect high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) at an early stage. Our laboratory evaluated the biomarker potential of cellular retinoic acid binding protein 2 (CRABP2). Using Western blots (WB) and immunohistochemistry (IHC), we show that CRABP2 is expressed and secreted by HGSOC cells and tissues and is absent in normal fallopian tube (FT) epithelium. CRABP2 expression was associated with poor overall survival in patients with HGSOC. Proteomic analyses quantified specific secretion of CRABP2 in conditioned media from HGSOC cell lines, primary ascites-derived tumor cells, and serum from HGSOC patients. Expression of CRABP2 was positively associated with CRABP2 copy number amplifications by mining The Cancer Genome Atlas database. In addition, DNA methylation studies identified a putative enhancer downstream of CRABP2 that is hyper-methylated in fallopian tube epithelia (FTE) tissue and hypomethylated in HGSOC cells and tissues that expressed CRABP2. Inhibition of DNA methylation with DNA methytransferase (DNMT) inhibitors resulted in robust expression of CRABP2 protein in FT cell lines. Finally, a finding supported by CRABP2 knockdown experiments showed that CRABP2 loss triggers cell death in HGSOC cell lines. In conclusion, CRABP2 may serve as a novel biomarker for HGSOC with clinical potential as a therapeutic target. Citation Format: Yi Feng, Michael Gillette, Eric Kuhn, David Klinkebiel, Marilyn A. Mitchell, Kai Doberstein, Daniele Chaves-Moreira, Sho Sato, Haineng Xu, Brett Bomwell, Michelle S. Hirsch, Carolina Reyes, Adam R. Karpf, Michael J. Birrer, Steven J. Skates, Steven A. Carr, Ronny Drapkin. Cellular retinoic acid binding protein 2 (CRABP2) is a novel biomarker and potential therapeutic target for high-grade serous ovarian carcinomas [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Advances in Ovarian Cancer Research; 2019 Sep 13-16, 2019; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2020;26(13_Suppl):Abstract nr B27.
Deletion of YAP/TAZ in mouse neocortex impaired the proliferation and differentiation ability of neural progenitor cells

YAP (Yes-associated protein) and TAZ (transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif) are downstream effectors of the Hippo pathway, to activate the expression of transcriptional targets that promote cell growth, cell proliferation, and prevent apoptosis. Aberrant hyper activation of YAP/TAZ causes tissue overgrowth and tumorigenesis, whereas their inactivation impairs tissue development and regeneration. Here we report the deletion of Yap and Taz by Emx1-Cre in mouse neocortex leads to aberrant development and dilated ventricle in adult stage. The phenotype can be detected as early as P0: the cells in ventricular zone is reduced in DKO cortex. Consisted with this, the numbers of Sox2+ cell and Tbr2+ cell are reduced and the ratio of tbr2/Sox2 is also reduced at E17.5 when Yap/Taz are deleted. Furthermore, the deletion of YAP/TAZ leads to the disrupted the neuroepithelial cell junctions. The result of immunology experiments show that Yap/Taz are highly expressed in the apical surface of neuroepithelials and colocalized with Sox2+ cells in mouse neocortex. Results of BrdU-EdU labeling experiment suggested that the cell cycle exit is increased. Together, our results reveal that Yap/Taz deletion elongated S phase and total cell cycle length, and increased the cell cycle exit ratio, therefore reduced the proliferation ability of progenitor cells. Yap/Taz deletion also reduced the differentiation of Sox2+ cells into Tbr2+ cells through promoting the premature of Sox+ cells. Together, these results suggest that Yap/Taz are essential for epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation, and the deletion can promote hydrocephalus pathogenesis
To support or to boycott: a public segmentation model in corporate social advocacy

This study proposes a theoretical model that provides a segmentation method of publics based on their cognitive, affective, and behavioral responses toward corporate social advocacy (CSA). As one o...
Improving Sentiment Classification in Low-Resource Bengali Language Utilizing Cross-Lingual Self-supervised Learning.

One of the barriers of sentiment analysis research in low-resource languages such as Bengali is the lack of annotated data. Manual annotation requires resources, which are scarcely available in low-resource languages. We present a cross-lingual hybrid methodology that utilizes machine translation and prior sentiment information to generate accurate pseudo-labels. By leveraging the pseudo-labels, a supervised ML classifier is trained for sentiment classification. We contrast the performance of the proposed self-supervised methodology with the Bengali and English sentiment classification methods (i.e., methods which do not require labeled data). We observe that the self-supervised hybrid methodology improves the macro F1 scores by 15%–25%. The results infer that the proposed framework can improve the performance of sentiment classification in low-resource languages that lack labeled data.
The Future of Critical Management Studies: A Paleo-Marxist Critique of Labor Process Theory

For many years, the core of critical management studies was "labor process theory" (LPT), building on Braverman's (1976) reading of Marx. Recently, LPT has been losing momentum in favor of poststruturalist approaches. This paper takes one step back with the hope of taking critical management studies two steps forward. Whereas poststructuralists have largely discarded the Marxist foundations of LPT, this paper argues that LPT has been hobbled by its insufficiently Marxist foundations. I argue that LPT ignored the fundamental contradiction Marx saw between the progressive "socialization" of the labor process and the persistence of capitalist "valorization" constraints. Understood in Marx's terms, socialization is the movement away from local isolation towards "universal interdependence," and it is a key trend both in the objective structure of industry and in subjective self-construals. I use this framework to develop a modified conception of skill, one that reveals how capitalist development drives a process of long-term skill upgrading. On this platform, I sketch a reinterpretation of two well-known cases of work reorganization - Taylorism and lean production. In both cases, useful insight is garnered by showing how the socialization of the labor process represented by these new management principles and the associated skill upgrading were simultaneously stimulated, retarded, and distorted by valorization pressures.
The disenfranchisement of ex-felons

In fourteen states some or all former prisoners who have completed their sentences, their paroles, and the terms of their probation are prohibited from voting. This short book provides an overview of the history, nature, and consequences of denying ex-felons the right to vote. Readers learn of state practices, the arguments that have been used in court houses, legislatures, and the press to justify disenfranchisement, and the attempts to remedy the situation through recourse to state and federal governments. Elizabeth Hull enumerates the disproportionate effect of these policies on African-Americans and the ways current criminal justice practices cause those effects. The book contains an Appendix on the 2004 election.
The Systems Role in the Development of Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Batteries

A successful subsystem development must be properly guided by an interactive systems activity. Development targets must be derived from the overall Program goals and recognize the interactive nature of all the vehicle-related considerations. Data requirements must be generated in order to support system-level evaluations at each phase of development. A logic-path process and a systems methodology for creating goal sets are discussed.
How to make a Cobol course a course in both organization and logic

Programming courses typically concentrate on encouraging ingenuity in solving programming assignments, leaving it to the student to lay out the preliminary plans, writing the program code and, of course, producing some output. Such planning tasks are frequently ignored even by the most talented programmer, especially if they are in a hurry to start coding. In this article, I advocate and lay out a set of detailed steps to enhance organizational skills, planning, and logic. Emphasis is placed on using the eventual output as a guide to what must come earlier. A series of deliverables, such as a spreadsheet to help foreshadow the output, are utilized to achieve this end.
Regulation reversal mutation: characterization of end product-activated mutants of Bacillus subtilis.

Abstract The physical and enzymatic properties of prephenate dehydratase from three regulatory mutants and the wild type of Bacillus subtilis are compared. The mutants were selected on the basis of their resistance to growth inhibition by the phenylalanine analogue β-thienylalanine. The three mutant enzymes either are resistant to feedback inhibition and are inherently more active than the enzyme from the parent strain or are capable of being activated by l-phenylalanine, the feedback inhibitor of the wild type enzyme. We have termed the gene modification giving rise to these end product-activated mutants "regulation reversal mutation." The wild type enzyme is protected from heat and storage inactivation by its inhibitor, phenylalanine. In the presence of phenylalanine the enzyme gives substrate saturation curves which are not strictly first order. The Km for barium prephenate is ≅5 x 10-3 m. A molecular weight of approximately 65,000 was determined by sucrose gradient centrifugation. The prephenate dehydratase from mutant WB740 is resistant to phenylalanine inhibition, is protected from heat denaturation by the substrate barium prephenate but not by phenylalanine, and shows Michaelis-Menten kinetics in substrate saturation curves. The Km for barium prephenate is 8.3 x 10-4 m. The molecular weight is approximately 190,000, roughly 3 times the value obtained for the wild type enzyme. A second thienylalanine-resistant mutant, WB2136, has two readily separable species of prephenate dehydratase which differ from each other in several characteristics. One species resembles the enzyme from WB740 in molecular weight (approximately 190,000) and heat stability characteristics. However, unlike WB740, it is extremely labile when stored at 0° in the absence of phenylalanine. Substrate saturation curves reveal Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The Km for barium prephenate is 2.3 x 10-3 m. The second species resembles the wild type enzyme in molecular weight (approximately 65,000) and heat stability characteristics. This species gives sigmoid substrate saturation curves. Although interconversion of the two enzymes could not be demonstrated in vitro, conversion in vivo very likely occurs, since the mutation to end product activation is expressed in both enzyme species. A third thienylalanine-resistant mutant, WB2155, has a single species of prephenate dehydratase, which is capable of being activated by phenylalanine. The molecular weight of this enzyme is approximately 65,000, the same as the wild type enzyme and the light enzyme of WB2136. Substrate saturation curves (determined in the presence of the activator) were nearly identical with those observed for the light enzyme of WB2136. The enzyme is not protected from heat inactivation by either phenylalanine or barium prephenate. The sites concerned with analogue resistance in all three mutants map within, or extremely close to, the structural gene for prephenate dehydratase.
Effect of Image Linearization on Normalized Compression Distance

Normalized Information Distance, based on Kolmogorov complexity, is an emerging metric for image similarity. It is approximated by the Normalized Compression Distance (NCD) which generates the relative distance between two strings by using standard compression algorithms to compare linear strings of information. This relative distance quantifies the degree of similarity between the two objects. NCD has been shown to measure similarity effectively on information which is already a string: genomic string comparisons have created accurate phylogeny trees and NCD has also been used to classify music. Currently, to find a similarity measure using NCD for images, the images must first be linearized into a string, and then compared. To understand how linearization of a 2D image affects the similarity measure, we perform four types of linearization on a subset of the Corel image database and compare each for a variety of image transformations. Our experiment shows that different linearization techniques produce statistically significant differences in NCD for identical spatial transformations.
Improvement of predictive models of risk of disease progression in chronic hepatitis C by incorporating longitudinal data.

Existing predictive models of risk of disease progression in chronic hepatitis C have limited accuracy. The aim of this study was to improve upon existing models by applying novel statistical methods that incorporate longitudinal data. Patients in the Hepatitis C Antiviral Long-term Treatment Against Cirrhosis trial were analyzed. Outcomes of interest were (1) fibrosis progression (increase of two or more Ishak stages) and (2) liver-related clinical outcomes (liver-related death, hepatic decompensation, hepatocellular carcinoma, liver transplant, or increase in Child-Turcotte-Pugh score to ≥7). Predictors included longitudinal clinical, laboratory, and histologic data. Models were constructed using logistic regression and two machine learning methods (random forest and boosting) to predict an outcome in the next 12 months. The control arm was used as the training data set (n = 349 clinical, n = 184 fibrosis) and the interferon arm, for internal validation. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for longitudinal models of fibrosis progression was 0.78 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.74-0.83) using logistic regression, 0.79 (95% CI 0.77-0.81) using random forest, and 0.79 (95% CI 0.77-0.82) using boosting. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for longitudinal models of clinical progression was 0.79 (95% CI 0.77-0.82) using logistic regression, 0.86 (95% CI 0.85-0.87) using random forest, and 0.84 (95% CI 0.82-0.86) using boosting. Longitudinal models outperformed baseline models for both outcomes (P < 0.0001). Longitudinal machine learning models had negative predictive values of 94% for both outcomes. Conclusions: Prediction models that incorporate longitudinal data can capture nonlinear disease progression in chronic hepatitis C and thus outperform baseline models. Machine learning methods can capture complex relationships between predictors and outcomes, yielding more accurate predictions; our models can help target costly therapies to patients with the most urgent need, guide the intensity of clinical monitoring required, and provide prognostic information to patients. (Hepatology 2015;61:1832–1841)
Interpreting "Indigenous Articulations"

Ann Fienup-Riordan. Boundaries and Passages: Rule and Ritual in Yup'ik Eskimo Oral Tradition. Norman and London: University of Oklahoma Press, 1994. xxiv. 389 pp.
Emotional and Cognitive Self-Regulation following Academic Shame.

In the face of shame, students may need to turn the global focus of their failures into more discrete behaviors that they can control. Instructors can facilitate this process by informing students of specific behaviors they can enact to support successful achievement, including study and volitional strategies. Students' use of multiple study and volition strategies can facilitate their self-regulation of stressful emotions and failure perceptions. These strategies provide students with options for controlling their learning. Study strategies provide students with multiple alternatives for connecting with course material while volition strategies provide students with multiple alternatives for boosting their motivation to engage in learning activities. Many entering college students are not aware of multiple learning strategies, particularly strategies needed for deeper processing, nor do they come to college with a repertoire of volitional strategies. Colleges and universities can identify common first-ye...
Physical aspects of wet granulation III. effect of wet granulation on granule porosity

AbstractThe porosity of granules produced by wet granulation has been studied using mercury porosimetry. Granule pore size distribution appears to be bimodal, with a population of micropores and macropores. Pore surface area varies with kneading time, going through a maxima at a point where physical properties such as flow and bulk density also exhibit a maxima. True granule density displays a direct relationship to rate of flow. The information in general supports the postulate that equilibrium microporous granules are formed first in the wet granulation process, followed by consolidation with subsequent formation of microporous twins and agglomerates.
Experiments with an interactive paired comparison simplex method for molp problems

In this paper, an interactive paired comparison simplex based method formultiple objective linear programming (MOLP) problems is developed and compared to other interactive MOLP methods. The decision maker (DM)’s utility function is assumed to be unknown, but is an additive function of his known linearized objective functions. A test for ‘utility efficiency’ for MOLP problems is developed to reduce the number of efficient extreme points generated and the number of questions posed to the DM. The notion of ‘strength of preference ’ is developed for the assessment of the DM’s unknown utility function where he can express his preference for a pair of extreme points as ‘strong ’, ‘weak ’, or ‘almost indifferent ’. The problem of ‘inconsistency of the DM’ is formalized and its resolution is discussed. An example of the method and detailed computational results comparing it with other interactive MOLP methods are presented. Several performance measures for comparative evaluations of interactive multiple objective programming methods are also discussed.
Path assignment for virtual circuit routing

We consider a network which routes on a virtual-circuit. Each virtual-circuit is associated with a session. Virtual-circuit is assigned to a session at the time the session is initiated. We address the dynamic case where new sessions arrive and old sessions terminate. We formulate an optimal control problem to deduce which virtual-circuit an incoming session will be assigned to. We then discuss various approximations to the problem and show that the heuristic rule, "route on the shortest marginal delay path", is close to optimal in an asympotic sense.
Diameters and albedos of thirty-six asteroids

Radiometric diameters and albedos of 36 asteroids, most previously unmeasured by this technique, are reported. These objects were selected primarily to resolve taxonomic ambiguities resulting from the lack of albedo information. Of the sample of 36, most are of the common types C, S, and M, but also represented are types A, D, F, and P. One object, 214 Aschera, is of the rare E type (only the fourth of its kind known); 87 Sylvia is the largest known member of the P class. Albedo and Arizona eight-color data from Tholen (1983) indicate that 336 Lacadiera is of type D, one of the few members of this class found in the main asteroid belt and a prime candidate for future space missions.
Some informational properties of the lognormal distribution (Corresp.)

The marginal, joint, and conditional entropy and the trans-information are derived for random variables with lognormal probability distributions, revealing some interesting deviations from its sister distribution, the normal. A maximal entropy property, capacity theorem for the lognormal channel, and implications for some nonlinear transformations are also presented. Potential applications of the measures to psychophysics are mentioned.
Segmentation of X-ray and C-scan images of fiber reinforced composite materials

Abstract This paper is concerned with the segmentation of images corrupted by non-uniform illumination and sensor noise. Four segmentation techniques, i.e. simple thresholding, the adaptive thresholding scheme of Chow and Kaneko, the iterated conditional modes method of Besag, and the adaptive thresholding scheme of Yanowitz and Bruckstein, are presented here. The results of these four methods applied to three sets of artificial and real images are compared. Since these segmentation results are not satisfactory, an algorithm based on the adaptive thresholding method proposed by Yanowitz and Bruckstein and the Canny edge detector is proposed for the segmentation of real X-ray and C-scan images of composite materials. This method has been applied to several images of composite specimens containing a variety of defects. The segmentation results of X-ray and C-scan images are satisfactory which are further improved by a simple fusion technique.
Mammalian sperm metabolism: oxygen and sugar, friend and foe

Mammalian spermatozoa expend energy, generated as intracellular ATP, largely on motility. If the sperm cell cannot swim by use of its flagellar motion, it cannot fertilize the egg. Studies of the means by which this energy is generated span a period of six decades. This review gives an overview of these studies, which demonstrate that both mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, for which oxygen is friend, and glycolysis, for which sugar is friend, can provide the energy, independent of one another. In mouse sperm, glycolysis appears to be the dominant pathway; in bull sperm, oxidative phosphorylation is the predominant pathway. In the case of bull sperm, the high activity of the glycolytic pathway would maintain the intracellular pH too low to allow sperm capacitation; here sugar is enemy. The cow's oviduct has very low glucose concentration, thus allowing capacitation to go forward. The choice of the pathway of energy generation in vivo is set by the conditions in the oviduct of the conspecific female. The phospholipids of the sperm plasma membrane have a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids represented in their acyl moieties, rendering them highly susceptible to lipid peroxidation; in this case oxygen is enemy. But the susceptibility of the sperm membrane to lethal damage by lipid peroxidation allows the female oviduct to dispose of sperm that have overstayed their welcome, and so keep in balance sperm access to the egg and sperm removal once this has occurred.
Effects of Pump versus Twice-Daily Injection Delivery of Synthetic Parathyroid Hormone 1-34 in Children with Severe Congenital Hypoparathyroidism

Objective To compare the response with synthetic human parathyroid hormone (PTH) 1-34 delivered by twice-daily injection vs insulin pump in children with severe congenital hypoparathyroidism due to calcium receptor mutation or autoimmune polyglandular syndrome type 1. Study design Children and young adults aged 7-20 years with congenital hypoparathyroidism (N = 12) were randomized to receive PTH 1-34, delivered either by twice-daily subcutaneous injection or insulin pump for 13 weeks, followed by crossover to the opposite delivery method. The principal outcome measures were serum and urine calcium levels. Secondary outcomes included serum and urine magnesium and phosphate levels and bone turnover markers. Results PTH 1-34 delivered via pump produced near normalization of mean serum calcium (2.02 ± 0.05 [pump] vs 1.88 ± 0.03 [injection] mmol/L, P 2 , P = .3), and significantly reduced markers of bone turnover ( P P P Conclusion Compared with twice-daily delivery, pump delivery of PTH 1-34 provides more physiologic calcium homeostasis and bone turnover in children with severe congenital hypoparathyroidism.
Studies on nonmetals during irradiation: IV — The effect of strain applied during irradition on the gamma-ray-induced F-center coloring of KCl at room temperature

Abstract KCl F-center coloring curves measured at room temperature on unstrained crystals contain one linear and three saturating exponential components. After deformation beyond 0.25 per cent, the coloring is markedly increased, and is described by a linear term and two exponential components. The post-strain coloring curves can be reconstructed from the measured parameters with strain the only independent variable. These observations indicate that the strain-related coloring depends on dislocation content.
An individualized approach to the child with thyroid cancer

Children with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) often present with extensive disease that inclined clinicians in prior decades toward aggressive treatment including total thyroidectomy, radical neck dissection and universal prescription of radioactive iodine (RAI). Recent series with 40 years of follow-up have shown that fewer than 2% of children ultimately die from DTC, but they may have increased all-cause mortality from second malignancies that might be related to previous radiation exposure. In this article, we review data to support the notion that an individualized, risk-stratified approach to therapy should be used for children with DTC. Ideally this will provide aggressive therapy for those in whom aggressive treatment is warranted, but withhold aggressive and risk-associated therapy from those who are not likely to benefit.
Judgmental overshadowing: Further evidence of cue interaction in contingency judgment

We investigated a phenomenon called judgmentalovershadowing. Subjects predicted whether each of several patients had a disease on the basis of whether or not the patient had each of two symptoms. For all the subjects, the presence of the disease was moderately contingent on the presence of one of the symptoms (Sl.).In Condition 1 of our first experiment, the presence ofthe dis­ ease was highly contingent on the presence of the other symptom (S2). In Condition 2, the pres­ ence of the disease was independent of S2. Judgmental overshadowing occurred in that the Sl­ disease contingency was judged to be stronger in Condition 2 than in Condition 1. Subsequent experiments showed that judgmental overshadowing depends little on the form of the judgment, is not due to a response bias or contrast effect, and does not depend on subjects' actively diagnos­ ing each patient. These results are consistent with, and are generally predicted by, an associative­ learning model of contingency judgment.
Systematic Deletion Analysis of Ricin A-Chain Function SINGLE AMINO ACID DELETIONS

The A-chain of ricin is a cytotoxic RNA N-glycosidase that inactivates ribosomes by depurination of the adenosine at position 4324 in 28 S rRNA. Of the 267 amino acids in the protein, 222 could be deleted, in one or another of 74 mutants, without the loss of the capacity to catalyze hydrolysis of a single specific nucleotide in rRNA (Morris, K. N., and Wool, I. G.(1992) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 89, 4869-4873). The 45 amino acids that could not be omitted when the deletions were in sets of 20, 5, or 2 residues have now been deleted one at a time; 9 of these deletion mutants retained activity. A RNP-like structural motif in ricin A-chain that may mediate binding to ribosomal RNA has been identified.
Genetic and Physiological Factors Affecting Repair and Mutagenesis in Yeast

Current views of DNA repair and mutagenesis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae are discussed in the light of recent data and with emphasis on the isolation and characterization of genetically well-defined mutations that affect DNA metabolism in general (including replication and recombination). Various “pathways” of repair are described, particularly in relation to their involvement in mutagenic mechanisms. In addition to genetic control, certain physiological factors such as “cell age,” DNA replication, and the regulatory state of the mating-type locus are shown to also play a role in repair and mutagenesis.
Assessing the agreement between 3-meter and 6-meter walk tests in 136 community-dwelling older adults.

Objective: Walking speed is an important marker of functionality that is measured over courses of varying lengths, but it is unclear if course length affects measured pace. Method: A total of 136 older adults completed two consecutive trials each of 3-m and 6-m walking courses, the order of which was randomly assigned. We calculated concordance correlation coefficients (CCC) and created Bland–Altman plots to evaluate the relationship between the two course distances. Results: Average walking speed was faster for the 6-m course and the second trial of each course. There was high concordance between the first and second trials for both the 3-m and 6-m courses. Discussion: The 3- and 6-m courses had excellent test–retest reliability and faster walking speed in later than earlier trials. Higher concordance between courses for later trials suggests the utility of practice trials and adjusting for course length when combining walking speed measurements between different course lengths.
Laser surface modification of Al–4Cu–1Mg alloy for enhanced thermal conductivity

Abstract The feasibility of enhancing thermal conductivity of Al–4Cu–1Mg alloy by depositing 80Cu–20Mo coating using high-power lasers has been examined. Coatings of 667±2.5 μm thickness were formed with metallurgically sound interface. Results showed an 86% increase in the thermal conductivity of Al–4Cu–1Mg alloy due to laser-deposited 80Cu–20Mo alloy coating. This coating approach can potentially be used on low coefficient of thermal expansion metal matrix composites to enhance their thermal conductivity in electronic devices.
Race, Ethnicity, and Wage Inequality Among Women: What Happened in the 1990s and Early 21st Century?

This article examines trends in Black-White and Latina-White wage inequality among women from 1989 to 2003. Building on Bound and Dresser’s conclusion that the Black-White earnings gap widened in the 1980s, the authors find that in the 1990s and early 21st century, the Black-White earnings differential remained fairly constant and that education plays a pivotal role in the Latina-White earnings gap. In every year, Latinas show larger wage differences with Whites than Black women; however, when controlling education and experience, Black women see the greatest earnings disadvantage in comparison to White women. Although the Latina-White earnings differential stood at parity in 1989, a wage gap opened and steadily increased through the 1990s and into the 21st century. This trend was not the result of an influx of Latinas with few years of schooling entering the labor force; the largest opening in relative wages occurred among Latinas with a college degree.
Severe Islet Amyloidosis in Congenital Generalized Lipodystrophy

OBJECTIVE Islet amyloidosis may be one mechanism for pancreatic islet β-cell loss that is associated with the development of NIDDM. However, the question remains whether chronic overstimulation of insulin and islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP) secretion in states of insulin resistance could lead to formation of islet amyloidosis and hence NIDDM in some patients. We studied pancreatic islet pathology in congenital generalized lipodystrophy, a genetic syndrome of extreme insulin resistance that may provide some clues. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Our patient was a 24-year-old African-American woman with congenital generalized lipodystrophy. Severe acanthosis nigricans was noted in her since age 6. At ages 12 and 16, normal and impaired glucose tolerances, respectively, were noted on oral glucose tolerance tests but were accompanied by extreme fasting and post-prandial hyperinsulnemia. Overt diabetes developed at age 18 and she required ∼180 U of insulin daily. Immediately after an accidental death at age 24, an autopsy was performed. Pancreatic histology was studied in detail using routine methods and immunohistochemical techniques. RESULTS Some scarring of the pancreas as a result of previous episodes of acute pancreatitis was observed. Severe amyloidosis was noted in 89% of the islets, sparing those that were rich in pancreatic polypeptide-secreting cells. Amyloid deposits stained intensely on immunostaining with antibodies against amylin. Marked paucity of β-cells was evident. The ratio of β- to α-cells was reduced to 1:1 (normal ratio ∼ 4:1). CONCLUSIONS These observations suggest that chronic presence of extreme insulin resistance may induce premature and severe islet amyloidosis as well as β-cell atrophy.
Colchicine prevents the translation of mRNA molecules transcribed immediately after proliferative activation of hepatocytes in regenerating rat liver.

A dual-labelling technique has been used to establish that partial hepatectomy has no effect on the degradation of poly (A)+ mRNA and confirms that the increased incorporation of precursor into mRNA during early prereplicative development reflects an actual increase in mRNA biosynthesis. Simultaneous studies on the changes in nuclear RNA metabolism support the conclusion that an increase in gene transcription does occur. Colchicine, at concentrations known to disrupt microtubules, has no effect on this increase in gene transcription but prevents the translation of the gene products by promoting polysome disaggregation transiently during a critical stage of prereplicative development. Studies with mefenamic acid and hydrocortisone, specific inhibitors of prostaglandin metabolism, have ruled out any involvement of prostaglandins in the induction of prereplicative mRNA synthesis.
Determination of individual hydrocarbons in automobile exhaust from gasoline-, methanol- and variable-fueled vehicles

Abstract A method was developed for determining individual hydrocarbon (HC) emissions from gasoline-, methanol- and variable-fueled vehicles. The exhaust samples are collected in Tedlar ® bags, and a portion of the sample is injected into a gas chromatograph, equipped with a DB-1 60 m × 0.32 mm I.D. (1.0 μm) fused-silica column. Methanol was well resolved from the gasoline HC species and did not interfere in the analysis. Validation, stability and intercomparison studies for total HC are also reported in this paper. In addition, an impinger—gas chromatography (GC) technique for determining unburned methanol emissions is also described. The detection limits of the GC methods for individual HCs and methanol was about 50 and 250 parts per billion (10 9 ) C, respectively. This corresponds to a vehicular mass emission rate of 0.1 mg/mile HC and 1.3 mg/mile methanol, respectively, for the Federal Test Procedure emissions test.
A universal automatic recording titrator

Abstract A universal automatic macro-micro recording titration unit is described which has the capabilities of a multitude of commercial single-purpose titration instruments without the attendant duplication of hardware. It is based on a modified Precision Dow Recording Titrator and offers the operator a choice of liquid or coulometrically generated titrants and potentiometric, amperometric, thermometric, photometric, or conductometric end-point detection systems. The potentiometric system gives straightforward curve-presentation; the photometric mode employs a monochromator for maximum sensitivity and is equally adaptable to colorimetric, turbidometric, and chemiluminescent titrimetry; the conductometric mode employs a novel electrolytic conductivity transducer which produces a d.c. signal proportional to the 60-cycle a.c. current between the electrodes. All components are easily constructed or are commercially available.
Coupling of the Quasi-biennial Oscillation and the Extratropical Circulation in the Stratosphere through Planetary Wave Transport

The effects of tropical winds on the extratropical circulation are examined using calculations of eddy transport with tropical flow that is representative of the easterly and westerly phases of the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). A dependence of extratropical circulation on tropical winds and the QBO is shown to originate in planetary wave transport. Also, the effects of low latitude flow on high latitude circulation and the behavior of the vortex in opposite phases of the QBO are examined.
Kinetic and bifurcation analysis of the cooxidation of CO and H2 in catalytic monolith reactors

Abstract Existing micro and global reaction kinetic models are not able to capture some of the key experimentally observed light-off trends of the CO – H 2 – O 2 system in a monolithic reactor. We modify the literature microkinetic mechanisms to correctly predict the H 2 light-off at room temperature in the absence of CO, selectivity towards CO oxidation before the simultaneous light-off of CO and H 2 , the enhancement effect of H 2 , and the inhibiting effect of CO on light-off in a CO – H 2 – O 2 system. To explain the effect of H 2 on light-off behavior of CO, we have proposed the formation and decomposition of a H–CO complex on Pt. This results in a decrease of CO desorption activation energy with an increase in the coverage of H species on Pt, thus assisting in the creation of more sites for oxygen adsorption. Based on the microkinetic studies and experimental results available in the literature, modifications have also been made to the global reaction kinetics, which currently do not distinguish between CO and H 2 oxidation kinetics, and also do not contain the effect of H 2 on CO oxidation kinetics. We propose global kinetics with composition dependent activation energies to explain the experimentally observed light-off behavior. A bifurcation analysis of a short monolith reactor model has been conducted to study the effect of inlet temperature, inlet concentrations and the exposed Pt surface area on the light-off and multiplicity behavior. A comparison of the light-off curves generated using the global model and microkinetic model is done and the effect of rate parameters on the region of multiplicity is investigated.
Electron Affinities, Fluoride Affinities, and Heats of Formation of the Second Row Transition Metal Hexafluorides: MF6 (M = Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag)

High-level electronic structure calculations were used to evaluate reliable, self-consistent thermochemical data sets for the second row transition metal hexafluorides. The electron affinities, heats of formation, first (MF6 → MF5 + F) and average M−F bond dissociation energies, and fluoride affinities of MF6 (MF6 + F− → MF7−) and MF5 (MF5 + F− → MF6−) were calculated. The electron affinities are higher than those of the corresponding third row hexafluorides, making them stronger one-electron oxidizers. The calculated electron affinities, in good agreement with the available experimental values, are 4.23 eV for MoF6, 5.89 eV for TcF6, 7.01 eV for RuF6, 6.80 eV for RhF6, 7.95 eV for PdF6, and 8.89 eV for AgF6. The corresponding pentafluorides are also very strong Lewis acids, although their acidities on the pF− scale are about one unit lower than those of the third row pentafluorides. The performance of a wide range of DFT exchange-correlation functionals was benchmarked by comparing them to our more accur...
UNCONVENTIONAL VACCINE TARGETS: Immunization for Pregnancy, Peptic Ulcer, Gastric Cancer, Cocaine Abuse, and Atherosclerosis

The articles in this issue present a spectrum of information regarding the vaccine technologies and recent, new, and up and coming immunizations for protection against a variety of infectious diseases. The methodologies used for the production of these vaccines can and have been applied to much more unconventional targets. This article details immunizations being developed to prevent pregnancy, peptic ulcer, gastric carcinoma, cocaine abuse, and atherosclerosis.
Staffing long range planning groups

Abstract Drs. Litschert and Nicholson are Associate Professor of Business Administration and Assistant Professor of Management, respectively, at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia. This paper investigates the characteristics of long-range planning group personnel in four industries: electronics, chemical, oil refining, and heat and power utilities. The authors conclude that with the exception of the planning director and perhaps an economist, long-range planning groups are not staffed by career planners. Contrary to a wide-spread belief that planning groups are composed mainly of specialists, the authors find that line managers are often rotated through the planning group as part of their training and professional development.
The SLAM family member CD48 (Slamf2) protects lupus-prone mice from autoimmune nephritis

Polymorphisms in the SLAM family of leukocyte cell surface regulatory molecules have been associated with lupus-like phenotypes in both humans and mice. The murine Slamf gene cluster lies within the lupus-associated Sle1b region of mouse chromosome 1. Non-autoreactive C57BL/6 (B6) mice that have had this region replaced by syntenic segments from other mouse strains (i.e. 129, NZB and NZW) are B6 congenic strains that spontaneously produce non-nephritogenic lupus-like autoantibodies. We have recently reported that genetic ablation of the SLAM family member CD48 (Slamf2) drives full-blown autoimmune disease with severe proliferative glomerulonephritis (CD48GN) in B6 mice carrying 129 sequences of the Sle1b region (B6.129CD48(-/-)). We also discovered that BALB/c mice with the same 129-derived CD48-null allele (BALB.129CD48(-/-)) have neither nephritis nor anti-DNA autoantibodies, indicating that strain specific background genes modulate the effects of CD48 deficiency. Here we further examine this novel model of lupus nephritis in which CD48 deficiency transforms benign autoreactivity into fatal nephritis. CD48GN is characterized by glomerular hypertrophy with mesangial expansion, proliferation and leukocytic infiltration. Immune complexes deposit in mesangium and in sub-endothelial, sub-epithelial and intramembranous sites along the glomerular basement membrane. Afflicted mice have low-grade proteinuria, intermittent hematuria and their progressive renal injury manifests with elevated urine NGAL levels and with uremia. In contrast to the lupus-like B6.129CD48(-/-) animals, neither BALB.129CD48(-/-) mice nor B6 × BALB/c F1.129CD48(-/-) progeny have autoimmune traits, indicating that B6-specific background genes modulate the effect of CD48 on lupus nephritis in a recessive manner.
Detection of hepatitis B virus sequences in liver tissues of seronegative organ donors

Abstract The HBV carrier rate is higher in southeast Asia than in other parts of the world. To explore the possibility of HBV transmission through organ transplantation, we tested the presence of HBV DNA in liver tissue of six HBV seronegative organ donors from China. DNA extracted from liver tissue was analysed by a sensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the S, C and X genes of HBV followed by Southern blot (SB) and hybridization with a 32 P-labeled HBV specific probe. All six liver specimens were found to be negative for both HBsAg and HBcAg by immunohistochemical staining and no histological changes were observed, but four liver extracts were positive for HBV S and C sequences, and one of the four was positive for the X region by PCR-SB. This suggests that seronegative HBV markers do not exclude the existence of low copy number of HBV DNA in liver tissue. PCR followed by Southern blot analysis is recommended for HBV screening of organ donors from high endemic areas to reduce the potential for HBV transmission by organ transplantation.
A perturbative approach to the pomeron (I). The multifireball expansion

Abstract We present a perturbative S-matrix description of the pomeron motivated by the two-component model of multiparticle production. The latter is taken as a first approximation and corrections are generated by repeated pomeron exchange. Each term in the expansion is associated with a well-defined class of scattering processes, and the convergence properties are related to the smallness of pomeron couplings. The present paper emphasizes the basic ideas, a general formalism, and the interrelationship of various Regge singularities. A following paper discusses a simplified model in more detail.
A Study of Geomagnetic Effects Associated with Auroral Zone Electron Precipitation Observed by Balloons

Magnetograms and geomagnetic micropulsation data were reviewed for fifteen bremsstrahlung X-ray events detected by balloon borne counters at College, Alaska, from 1960 to 1962. Derived total disturbance field variations and line current electrojet triangulations were of value in interpreting the magnetic field effects associated with the particle precipitation. The micropulsations and rapid fluctuations in auroral zone bays are thought to have their source in the enhanced conductivity created by and local to the particle precipitation.
Research in Primatology

In the book review by G. E. Erikson (Science, 17 July, p. 256), the sentence in line 4, column 3, page 256, should read "Andrews reviews a whole universe of behavior in ‘The displays of the primates’. . . ." Line 8, column 1, page 257, should read "the task of relating karyotype to taxonomy."