cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Congratulation remark for the new journal Biomedical Engineering Letters

I am writing this comment as a congratulation remark for the new journal, Biomedical Engineering Letters, which is an official journal of the Korean Society of Medical and Biological Engineering. The area of biomedical engineering started in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. As the interdisciplinary approach continues to grow, this area has been very active. Biomaterials, biomechanics, bioelectronics diagnostic and imaging, tissue engineering and drug delivery have been included in this active research and development area. The combined discipline has resulted in the creation of better artificial organs. The artificial organ research has created many medical device products. Dr. W.J. Kolff invented the artificial kidney in 1943. He successfully implanted a complete artificial heart in a human in 1983. Numerous other medical devices are produced based on combination of biomaterials and electronics technologies. This research will be continuously active due to the current major market it is fulfilling. Tissue and cell engineering are an important area since this approach is only possible when combining technologies or disciplines, as the pharmaceutical approach is not feasible to do it alone. Stem cells and many other cells are investigated and several clinical evaluations are currently underway. Diagnostic and imaging is another exciting new area since new products and equipment can be developed in shorter time periods. Bioengineers can move into gene therapy research. Gene delivery especially siRNA delivery will be the ultimate method to treat disease patients. Delivery research can be formulated by collaborating with gene biologists. Korea had a duplication period in the early 1970’s with their research and development. It moved into a modification period in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Now it is the time to engage in innovative research. Biomedical engineering has a strong capacity to achieve this objective. I congratulate the inauguration of Biomedical Engineering Letter journal and believe it will be successful.
Photocoagulation does not ablate angiogenic markers in rabbit retina.

• Panretinal photocoagulation (PRP) in rabbits produces treatment areas consisting of destroyed outer retina and intact inner retina separated by areas of normalappearing retina. Intravenous iodoacetate produces widespread destruction of the outer retina with sparing of the inner retina, approximating total, confluent PRP. After PRP (at three weeks), intravenous injection of iodoacetate (at three weeks or four months), and in control rabbits, eyes were harvested and retinas were homogenized in a balanced salt solution. Retinal homogenates were measured for three markers of angiogenic activity: vascular endothelial cell migration, proliferation, and production of plasminogen activator. Retinas subjected to PRP or intravenous iodoacetate (at three weeks or four months) stimulated migration and proliferation above baseline levels twice as much as control retinas and stimulated plasminogen activator production by twofold to 2.5-fold. These data suggest that PRP does not eliminate the ability of the retina to produce angiogenic activity, but rather exerts its antiangiogenic effect in an indirect fashion.
Ultraviolet light induced mutagenesis of mitochondrial genes in the rad6, rev3 and cdc8 mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The frequency of ultraviolet light (UV) induced erythromycin resistant (eryr) mitochondrial mutations is not affected in the rad6-1 and rev3-1 mutants of Saccharomyces cerevisiae defective in UV-induced mutagenesis of nuclear genes, but is lowered in the cdc8-1 mutants, which are defective in chain elongation of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA at the restrictive temperature.
Dysmenorrhea after bilateral tubal ligation: a case of retrograde menstruation.

Abstract BACKGROUND: Endometriosis, arising de novo, is believed to be uncommon in women who have undergone bilateral tubal ligation because the occluded tube prevents outflow of blood and menses. CASE: A woman 10-year status-post bilateral tubal ligation suffered from dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia that began within 1 year after sterilization. At the time of bilateral tubal ligation, no endometriosis was observed. A recent magnetic resonance imaging scan showed no pelvic abnormalities, and the patient underwent a diagnostic laparoscopy in anticipation of finding endometriosis, yet none was found. At laparoscopy performed on day 3 of her menstrual cycle, the proximal segments of her occluded fallopian tubes were dilated with blood. As this was the only abnormality found, we postulated that her dysmenorrhea might be related to the dilated proximal tubal stumps. We evacuated the bloody fluid and occluded the proximal tube at the cornua with Filshie clips. One year after surgery, the patient remains asymptomatic. CONCLUSION: This case is unique because bilateral tubal ligation combined with retrograde menstrual flow appears to have caused dysmenorrhea. Women who have undergone tubal ligation and who have dysmenorrhea may benefit from a diagnostic laparoscopy during menstruation to evaluate the possibility of retrograde menstruation dilating the proximal tubal stumps.
Multiple Sequence Alignment with Evolutionary Computation

In this paper we provide a brief review of current work in the area of multiple sequence alignment (MSA) for DNA and protein sequences using evolutionary computation (EC). We detail the strengths and weaknesses of EC techniques for MSA. In addition, we present two novel approaches for inferring MSA using genetic algorithms. Our first novel approach utilizes a GA to evolve an optimal guide tree in a progressive alignment algorithm and serves as an alternative to the more traditional heuristic techniques such as neighbor-joining. The second novel approach facilitates the optimization of a consensus sequence with a GA using a vertically scalable encoding scheme in which the number of iterations needed to find the optimal solution is approximately the same regardless the number of sequences being aligned. We compare both of our novel approaches to the popular progressive alignment program Clustal W. Experiments have confirmed that EC constitutes an attractive and promising alternative to traditional heuristic algorithms for MSA.
The measurement of threading dislocation densities in semiconductor crystals by X-ray diffraction

Abstract The measurement of threading dislocation densities in heteroepitaxial semiconductor layers is important for the development of injection lasers, microwave transistors, and also the integration of devices in disimilar semiconductors. Dislocation density measurements have been made by destructive techniques such as etching and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). However, X-ray rocking curves provide non-destructive measurements of dislocation densities with accuracy equal to crystallographic etches or TEM. The theory of this technique has been described by Gay, Hirsch, and Kelly [P. Gay, P.B. Hirsch, and A. Kelly, Acta Met. 1 (1953) 315] and Hordon and Averbach [M.J. Hordon and B.L. Averbach, Acta Met. 9 (1961) 237], for the case of highly dislocated metal crystals. In this paper, the theory of dislocation density measurement from rocking curves is extended to the case of (001) zinc-blende semiconductors. It is shown that the measurement of several ( hkl ) rocking curve widths with a particular X-ray wavelength allows the calculation of the dislocation density by two independent techniques, thus allowing for a check of self-consistency. It is shown that for the case of epitaxial GaAs on Si(001), dislocation densities determined by these two methods are in good agreement.
The inseparability of modern knowledge management and computer‐based technology

Purpose – This paper makes the case that modern knowledge management (KM) is inseparable from a consideration of technology. While recognizing that there are many non‐technological facets to KM research and practice, it takes issue with the perspective proposed by some that knowledge management has little or nothing to do with technology. Similarly, the perspective that equates knowledge management with information management is challenged.Design/methodology/approach – The research method involves an analysis of the contrasting perspectives to show that each has blind spots that obscure a clear vision of the relationship between computer‐based technology and knowledge management. Building on the ideas of Newell, van Lohuizen, and others, the research advances an alternative perspective to overcome limitations in the other two.Findings – The KM perspective introduced here neither dismisses technology nor identifies with it. From this perspective, this paper develops the contention that modern KM has been t...
CORC—the Cornell computing language

CORC is an experimental computing language that was developed at Cornell University to serve the needs of a large and increasing group of computer users whose demands are both limited and intermittent. These are the laymen of the computing world, who chose to become as little concerned as possible in the computing process and mechanics, but who would like to benefit from the computational ability that is now commonplace. At a university most of the faculty and student users would fall into this category. In recognition of the current significance of the computer in every area of business, science and engineering there is increasing faculty interest in introducing some use of modern computation into the students' academic experience if this can be done without placing too great a burden on an already hard-pressed curriculum. But computing is not going to be widely used in mathematics and engineering courses if the mechanics of its use are a burden to either the teacher or the student, or if the time necessary to prepare, test and operate programs cuts significantly into the subject matter for which the course was intended. Some participation on the part of the student appears to be an academic virtue, as well as a practical economic necessity—we have never heard any university computing center expansionist, in his wildest moments, propose a completely closed shop programming-operating service for general undergraduate use. In their own research many of the faculty are in the same position as their students. They will use the computer if it is convenient to do so and if it does not involve a major diversion into a technical field which is essentially extraneous to the basic subject matter. The closed-shop computing service in which the professor has (in principle anyway) only to describe his problem to a professional is of course intended to serve this need but we believe it is axiomatic that no university computing center will ever be adequately staffed to
Consequence of Regional Trade Agreements to Developing Countries

We investigate the effects of 12 major Regional Trade Agreements (RTAs) on intraand extra-regional trade flows in member developing countries, both intra-RTA trade and the effect of RTAs on non-member trade over 1981~2008. We address and resolve statistical problems caused by logarithms, zero observations, and heteroskedasticity. Our regression results are not favorable to regional integration as a substitute for multilateral trade liberalization, although there are exceptions. Several RTAs fail to generate intrabloc trade creation. Seven of the 12 RTAs generate import trade diversion while most of the extra-bloc export dummies are not statistically significant. However, three of the five African RTAs in the sample increased intra-bloc trade. The differences in RTA performances are related to their implementation policies.
Low-Rank Orthogonal Decompositions for Information Retrieval Applications

Current methods to index and retrieve documents from databases usually depend on a lexical match between query terms and keywords extracted from documents in a database. These methods can produce incomplete or irrelevant results due to the use of synonyms and polysemus words. The association of terms with documents (or implicit semantic structure) can be derived using large sparse {\it term-by-document} matrices. In fact, both terms and documents can be matched with user queries using representations in k-space (where 100 ≤ k ≤ 200) derived from k of the largest approximate singular vectors of these term-by-document matrices. This completely automated approach called latent semantic indexing or LSI, uses subspaces spanned by the approximate singular vectors to encode important associative relationships between terms and documents in k-space. Using LSI, two or more documents may be closeto each other in k-space (and hence meaning) yet share no common terms. The focus of this work is to demonstrate the computational advantages of exploiting low-rank orthogonal decompositions such as the ULV (or URV) as opposed to the truncated singular value decomposition (SVD) for the construction of initial and updated rank-k subspaces arising from LSI applications.
Detecting duplicate biological entities using Shortest Path Edit Distance

Duplicate entity detection in biological data is an important research task. In this paper, we propose a novel and context-sensitive Shortest Path Edit Distance (SPED) extending and supplementing our previous work on Markov Random Field-based Edit Distance (MRFED). SPED transforms the edit distance computational problem to the calculation of the shortest path among two selected vertices of a graph. We produce several modifications of SPED by applying Levenshtein, arithmetic mean, histogram difference and TFIDF techniques to solve subtasks. We compare SPED performance to other well-known distance algorithms for biological entity matching. The experimental results show that SPED produces competitive outcomes.
ZnMgSe/ZnCdSe and ZnMgSe/ZnSeTe distributed Bragg reflectors grown by molecular beam epitaxy

This article investigates distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs) based on two wide-gap II–VI semiconductor alloy combinations: ZnMgSe/ZnCdSe and ZnMgSe/ZnSeTe. Prior to fabrication of the DBRs, a prism coupler technique was used to determine the indices of refraction n of the above ternary alloys of various compositions prepared by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). Using these values of n, two DBR systems, Zn0.66Mg0.34Se/Zn0.74Cd0.20Se and Zn0.62Mg0.38Se/ZnSe0.56Te0.44, were fabricated, each with a relatively large difference in the indices of refraction between its layer materials. It was found that although a higher reflectivity could be achieved using the ZnMgSe/ZnSeTe combination (since it manifests a larger difference in their indices of refraction Δn=0.35), the number of periods which can be deposited in this DBR system is limited due to growth difficulties that arise when combining ZnMgSe and ZnSeTe. Therefore the ZnMgSe/ZnSeTe DBR system, which was restricted to just 10 periods, yielded a modest reflectivity of 85%. On the other hand, although Δn in the ZnMgSe/ZnCdSe DBR system is smaller (Δn=0.20), it poses fewer growth difficulties, making it possible to grow DBR stacks consisting of a large number of layers without compromising the crystal quality of the structure. By growing 20 periods of the ZnMgSe/ZnCdSe DBR system, we obtained a DBR with a reflectivity as high as 98%.
Automatic video object detection and mask signal removal for efficient video preprocessing

In this work, we consider a generic definition of video object, which is a group of pixels with temporal motion coherence. The generic video object (GVO) is the superset of the conventional video objects discussed in the literature. Because of its motion coherence, the GVO can be easily recognized by the human visual system. However, due to its arbitray spatial distribution, the GVO cannot be easily detected by the existing algorithms which often assume the spatial homogeneousness of the video objects. In this work, we introduce the concept of extended optical flow and develop a dynamic programming framework for the GVO detection. Using this mathematical optimization formulation, whose solution is given by the the Viterbi algorithm, the proposed object detection algorithm is able to discover the motion path of the GVO automatically and refine its spatial location progressively. We apply the GVO detection algorithm to extract and remove the so-called "video mask" signals in the video sequence. Our experimental results show that this type of vision-guided video pre-processing significantly improves the compression efficiency.
Atmospheric effects on CO 2 differential absorption lidar sensitivity

The ambient atmosphere between the laser transmitter and the target can affect CO2 differential absorption lidar (DIAL) measurement sensitivity through a number of different processes. In this work, we will address two of the sources of atmospheric interference with CO2 DIAL measurements: effects due to beam propagation through atmospheric turbulence and extinction due to absorption by atmospheric gases. Measurements of atmospheric extinction under different atmospheric conditions are presented and compared to a standard atmospheric transmission model (FASCODE). We have also investigated the effects of atmospheric turbulence on system performance. Measurements of the effective beam size after propagation are compared to model predictions using simultaneous measurements of atmospheric turbulence as input to the model. These results are also discussed in the context of the overall effect of beam propagation through atmospheric turbulence on the sensitivity of DIAL measurements.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Quality of Life Improves for Pediatric Patients After Total Pancreatectomy and Islet Autotransplant for Chronic Pancreatitis

Background & Aims Total pancreatectomy (TP) and islet autotransplant (IAT) have been used to treat patients with painful chronic pancreatitis. Initial studies indicated that most patients experienced significant pain relief, but there were few validated measures of quality of life. We investigated whether health-related quality of life improved among pediatric patients undergoing TP/IAT. Methods Nineteen consecutive children (aged 5–18 years) undergoing TP/IAT from December 2006 to December 2009 at the University of Minnesota completed the Medical Outcomes Study 36-item Short Form (SF-36) health questionnaire before and after surgery. Insulin requirements were recorded. Results Before TP/IAT, patients had below average health-related quality of life, based on data from the Medical Outcomes Study SF-36; they had a mean physical component summary (PCS) score of 30 and mental component summary (MCS) score of 34 (2 and 1.5 standard deviations, respectively, below the mean for the US population). By 1 year after surgery, PCS and MCS scores improved to 50 and 46, respectively (global effect, PCS P Conclusions Quality of life (physical and emotional components) significantly improve after TP/IAT in subsets of pediatric patients with severe chronic pancreatitis. Minimal or no insulin was required for most patients, although islet yield was reduced in patients with previous surgical drainage operations.
Esophageal carcinoma: Surgery without preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy

Abstract Our experience with 100 consecutive patients with esophageal carcinoma treated with surgical intervention as the primary method of therapy between 1967 and 1987 was reviewed. Preoperative chemotherapy was not administered by us. Follow-up was complete for all 160 patients. Twelve percent of tumors were in the proximal third of the esophagus, 21% were in the middle third, and 67% were in the distal third. Adenocarcinoma accounted for 44% of all tumors, squamous cell for 55%, and adenosquamous for 1%. Six patients were in stage I, 14 were in stage II, and 80 were in stage III; no patient was in stage IV. Surgical procedures included 85 esophagogastrectomies with primary anastomoses, 11 with colon interposition, and 4 with Roux-en-Y small-bowel interposition. Six patients had radical laryngopharyngo-esophagectomy with gastric or colopharyngeal anastomosis. Operative mortality was 3%. The mean survival of stage I patients was 182 months; stage II patients, 25 months; and stage III patients, 18 months. Our data show that surgical resection without preoperative adjuvant chemotherapy remains the cornerstone of therapy for patients with carcinoma of the esophagus.
Serum prolactin heterogeneity in the cow and goat

Abstract Jugular blood samples were taken from Friesian cows and British Saanen goats and the serum prolactin (PRL) heterogeneity profile obtained using a 2.5 × 92 cm Sephadex G-100 column. Two PRL components were identified by radioimmunoassay in cow and goat serum from virgin, pregnant and lactating animals. Using the nomenclature developed for human serum, one component, which eluted off the column just after the void volume (Vf/Vt = 0.09), was called big-big PRL and the second component eluting at a Vf/Vt value of 0.50 was called little PRL. In two out of 5 lactating cows before milking a PRL component with a Vf/Vt value of 0.27 was observed and this component was called big PRL; no big-big PRL was observed for these two cows. After milking the latter two cows the big component disappeared and the big-big component appeared. When PRL was released in response to milking in cows there was a significant decrease (P
An insight into the sialotranscriptome and proteome of the coarse bontlegged tick, Hyalomma marginatum rufipes

Ticks are mites specialized in acquiring blood from vertebrates as their sole source of food and are important disease vectors to humans and animals. Among the specializations required for this peculiar diet, ticks evolved a sophisticated salivary potion that can disarm their host's hemostasis, inflammation, and immune reactions. Previous transcriptome analysis of tick salivary proteins has revealed many new protein families indicative of fast evolution, possibly due to host immune pressure. The hard ticks (family Ixodidae) are further divided into two basal groups, of which the Metastriata have 11 genera. While salivary transcriptomes and proteomes have been described for some of these genera, no tick of the genus Hyalomma has been studied so far. The analysis of 2084 expressed sequence tags (EST) from a salivary gland cDNA library allowed an exploration of the proteome of this tick species by matching peptide ions derived from MS/MS experiments to this data set. We additionally compared these MS/MS derived peptide sequences against the proteins from the bovine host, finding many host proteins in the salivary glands of this tick. This annotated data set can assist the discovery of new targets for anti-tick vaccines as well as help to identify pharmacologically active proteins.
Stress Whitening Quantification of Thermoformed Mineral Filled Acrylics

Stress whitening problem in thermoformed alumina trihydrate (ATH) reinforced poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) was studied. In situ heavy-gage thermoforming of acrylics was entirely replicated under laboratory controlled conditions at different operation parameters. Samples were monitored with optical microscope after the completion of the thermoforming operation. For stress whitening quantification, a new index was proposed from image histograms of processed optical micrographs. Results indicated that stress whitening in PMMA/ATH samples increases with level of plastic deformation at all thermoforming conditions. The influence of the forming rate and forming temperature on the degree of stress whitening was explained in terms of change in material behavior and microdeformation mechanisms around two characteristic temperatures of PMMA/ATH. Developed method for stress whitening quantification characterizes different levels of stress whitening with single numeric values. It is shown that stress whitening index and density of microdeformation features display a strong correlation. Higher density of particle cracks at low forming temperatures results in higher stress whitening levels. Increased surface irregularity and large size voids at high forming temperatures produce lower stress whitening.
A high energy D O submillimeter laser for plasma diagnostics

A narrow line optically pumped D2O laser operating at 385 μm has delivered more than 5J in pulses longer than 3 μsec using a large aperture unstable resonator cavity design. Pulse levels >1J, 1 μsec are necessary for a single shot ion temperature measurement by Thomson scattering in large tokamaks. Experiments have, for the most part, been conducted at a 360J, 5 μsec CO2 laser pump level where high efficiency (∼ 2.5 J at 385 μm) has been obtained. These are the highest energies reported to date in the far infrared. In addition, the pulse length has been extended beyond the vibrational relaxation time.
Thyroid stimulatory autoantibodies in different patients with autoimmune thyroid disease do not all recognize the same components of the human thyrotropin receptor: selective role of receptor amino acids Ser25-Glu30.

To study the interaction between TSH, autoantibodies and the amino-terminal half of the TSH receptor extracellular region (amino acids 1-260; domains ABC), we constructed 20 LH/CG chimeric receptor cDNAs. The prototypic receptor for modification contained domains ABC of the TSH receptor and domains DE of the LH/CG receptor. Segments (6-13 amino acids) within the ABC domains were replaced with the corresponding amino acids of the rat LH/CG receptor. Fifteen of the 20 chimeric receptors could be expressed functionally in Chinese hamster ovary cells. Twelve retained both high affinity TSH binding and normal signal transduction. These 12 receptors were tested with a panel of 10 patients' immunoglobulin G (IgG) samples containing potent TSH receptor stimulatory activity. With 11 of the receptor variants, the cAMP responses were similar to those with the prototype receptor (TSH-LHR-6). However, the -A1 variant of TSH-LHR-6 (Ser25-Glu30) responded poorly to 6 of 10 IgGs. The same pattern was observed when the Ig...
Postoperative vaginal radiation in endometrial cancer using a remote afterloading technique.

Carcinoma of the endometrium is the most common malignancy of the female genital tract. In early stage endometrial cancer, surgery remains the primary mode of treatment while radiation therapy plays an adjuvant role. Prophylactic vaginal radiation has been shown to reduce significantly the incidence of vaginal recurrences. Between the years 1969-1976, 330 patients with FIGO Stages I and II endometrial cancer were treated according to a standard departmental policy in which 40 Gy of external radiation was given to high risk Stage I and all Stage II patients in combination with surgery and intravaginal radiation. Stage I was considered high risk if the tumor was of high grade or exhibited deep myometrial invasion. Vault radiation was delivered with a remote afterloading technique to a point .5 cm from the surface of the applicator; a total dose of 21 Gy was delivered in three fractions spaced two weeks apart over four elapsed weeks. With this regimen, the mucosal surface received a total equivalent dose of 40 Gy. These treatments were given on an outpatient basis without the need for any sedation or analgesics. All patients, regardless of stage, grade, or depth of myometrial invasion received adjuvant post-operative vaginal radiation. The minimum follow-up was 5 years, with a median follow-up of 8.5 years. The overall pelvic and/or vaginal recurrence rate was 2.7%. The incidence of vaginal complications was 3.7%. It appears that the remote afterloading treatment (RAT) for vaginal radiation is a very cost-effective therapeutic alternative, which produces minimal early or late complications and gives complete protection from radiation exposure to the medical staff. The advantages of a remote afterloading technique in delivering vaginal vault radiation in endometrial cancer are discussed in this paper.
A wire-guided transducer for acoustic emission sensing

A novel transducer for active or passive sensing has been developed and tested experimentally. It features a steel wire acting as a wave guide between a piezoceramic element and the structure under test. Some advantages of the wire-guided transducer include its applicability to structures operating at high temperature, which otherwise preclude the surface mounting of piezoceramics, its small contact area to the structure, which enables several such transducers to be deployed in an arc around a known crack location as an acoustic emission sensor array, and its low cost and ease of installation. Another potential advantage is simplified signal processing for source localization, which is developed in this paper and evaluated experimentally. The various steel wires used in our experiments to date are less than 1 mm in diameter and between 10 cm and 100 cm in length. The wire guides have been studied with active excitation under a pulse excitation as used in ultrasonic testing, at a relatively high frequency such as 1 MHz, and in the frequency range of 100 kHz to 500 kHz which is often of interest for Lamb wave generation in thin plates or for acoustic emission sensing. Our tests confirm that the wire acts as a cylindrical rod in which the fastest wave is the lowest longitudinal mode, displaying a sharp arrival, and in which the lowest flexural mode and lowest torsional mode are also excited; we report excellent agreement between measured and predicted wave speeds, as expected. We show experimental results in which a group of wire-guided transducers permit the localization of an impact on a thin plate and discuss the automation of this task for use in the field. We also show the ability of the wire-guided transducer to detect acoustic emission events simulated physically by pencil lead breaks.
Losing your audience: Desistance from terrorism in Egypt after Luxor

On 17 November 1997, terrorists affiliated with the Islamic Group massacred 62 people, mostly foreign tourists, in Luxor, one of Egypt's foremost historical sites. Within a year, much of what remained of the Islamic Group had renounced violence, a rare step for a terrorist group. How did this fast desistance come about? Our case study indicates that Egyptian society experienced a major shift in its relationship with the Islamic Group and extremist Islamism in general. The massacre's economic and political repercussions permitted a moral claim against terrorism that was unlimited in its application, a claim the government used to its advantage. Sympathy and support for terrorism collapsed after what appeared at first to be a terrorist triumph at Luxor.
Oligomerization of NHERF-1 and NHERF-2 PDZ domains: differential regulation by association with receptor carboxyl-termini and by phosphorylation.

PDZ domains bind to the carboxyl-termini of target proteins, and some PDZ domains are capable of oligomerization to facilitate the formation of intracellular signaling complexes. The Na + /H + exchanger regulatory factor (NHERF-1; also called "EBP50") and its relative NHERF-2 (also called "E3KARP", "SIP-1", and "TKA-1") both have two PDZ domains. We report here that the PDZ domains of NHERF-1 and NHERF-2 bind specifically to each other but not to other PDZ domains. Purified NHERF-2 PDZ domains associate with each other robustly in the absence of any associated proteins, but purified NHERF-1 PDZ domains associate with each other only weakly when examined alone. The oligomerization of the NHERF-1 PDZ domains is greatly facilitated when they are bound with carboxyl- terminal ligands, such as the carboxyl-termini of the ‚2-adrenergic receptor or the platelet-derived growth factor receptor. Oligomerization of full-length NHERF-1 is also enhanced by mutation of serine 289 to aspartate (S289D), which mimics the phosphorylated form of NHERF-1. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments with differentially tagged versions of the NHERF proteins reveal that NHERF-1 and NHERF-2 form homo- and hetero-oligomers in a cellular context. A point-mutated version of NHERF-1 (S289A), which cannot be phosphorylated on serine 289, exhibits a reduced capacity for co-immunoprecipitation from cells. These studies reveal that both NHERF-1 and NHERF-2 can oligomerize, which may facilitate NHERF-mediated formation of cellular signaling complexes. These studies furthermore reveal that oligomerization of NHERF-1, but not NHERF-2, is highly regulated by association with other proteins and by phosphorylation.
Flotation of Metals from Acid-Digested Coal Ash

Adsorptive bubble techniques are used for the simultaneous separation of the metal cations of Cu, Co, Ni, Mn, Fe, Pb, Zn, V, Al, and Cr from acid-digested coal ash. Recovery of the elements is achieved through the addition of sulfide ion and careful adjustment of the solution pH.
Analytical techniques for conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) analysis

Interest in conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) research has increased significantly in recent years because various CLA isomers have been reported to exhibit different beneficial physiological effects in laboratory animals. These findings are detailed in the first book on this subject entitled Advances in CLA Research, Volume 1, edited by M. P. Yurawecz, M. M. Mossoba, J. K. G. Kramer, M. W. Pariza, and G. J. Nelson, and published by the American Oil Chemists Society, Champaign, Illinois, USA, in 1999. Various mixtures of CLA isomers are sold as dietary supplements today, but the biological activities observed in animal models have yet to be demonstrated in humans. Hurdles to achieving this goal include the commercial unavailability of many individual CLA isomers, and the challenge of isolating, separating and confirming the identity of low levels of CLA isomers and their metabolites in complex chemical and/or biological matrices. Therefore, there has been a critical need for analytical methodologies that can meet these difficult objectives. This dossier is about a collection of useful analytical techniques and procedures some of which are well known, while others have only recently been developed and successfully applied to CLA research. These include GC, Ag+-HPLC, RP-HPLC, GC-MS, GC-IR, and NMR.
Platelet transfusion reactions: febrile nonhemolytic reaction or bacterial contamination? Diagnosis, detection, and current preventive modalities.

IN 1994, APPROXIMATELY 500,000 patients in the United States underwent cardiac surgery employing cardiopulmonary bypass.1 Cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with deleterious effects on platelet number and function, leading to excessive bleeding in 5% to 25% of patients.2,3 About half of the 7 million units of platelets transfused annually in the United States are to patients undergoing cardiac surgery, most of which are administered by anesthesiologists.4 The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) guidelines for platelet administration are outlined in Table 1. Because of the widespread use of platelet transfusions, many adverse effects have been recognized. In this review, the incidence, cause, and currently available treatment modalities to treat febrile reactions after platelet transfusions are discussed. In particular, attention is focused on the importance of bacterial contamination of platelets, a rare but potentially fatal complication.
Influence of plant age, water stress, larval damage, and presence of conspecific eggs on oviposition by Heliothis virescens (F.) on cotton

The influence of plant age, water stress, and damage on the ovipositional response of Heliothis virescens (F.) to cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., was tested in field cages. Further, the impact of presence of conspecific eggs on oviposition by H. virescens was tested in laboratory cages. Females laid more eggs on smaller, younger, and more pubescent leaves than older, larger leaves. The presence of conspecific eggs on these leaves appeared to elicit further oviposition as indicated by significant correlation between increase in egg density and the initial egg density. There was a significant negative correlation (r = −0.92) between oviposition and leaf moisture but a strong positive correlation (r = 0.98) between oviposition and pubescence among leaf classes. Nitrogen content did not vary significantly among leaf classes and did not show any correlation with egg density. Adult females were able to discriminate between damaged and undamaged plants, the latter receiving significantly higher numbers of eggs. Eight week-old potted cotton plants appeared to be more acceptable to moths than younger and older plants. Oviposition on cotton plants subjected to suspension of water for up to 7 days did not vary significantly. Based on data presented, it appears that other factors, e.g., hairiness, may override leaf moisture content in affecting oviposition by H. virescens. Zusammenfassung Einflus von Pflanzenalter, Wasserstres, Larvenfras und Anwesenheit arteigener Eier auf die Eiablage von Heliothis virescens (F.) an Baumwolle Untersuchungen in Freilandkafigen und im Labor ergaben, das die Heliothis-Weibchen mehr Eier an kleineren, jungeren und starker behaarten Blattern ablegten als an solchen mit gegenteiligen Eigenschaften. Die Anwesenheit arteigener Eier schien auf die Weibchen als Stimulans fur das Hinzulegen ihrer Eier zu wirken. Zwischen Eizahl und Blattfeuchtigkeit bestand eine negative (r = −0.92), zwischen Eizahl und Blattbehaarung dagegen eine positive Korrelation (r = 0.98). Der N-Gehalt der Pflanze zeigte sich ohne Einflus auf die Zahl abgelegter Eier. Die Weibchen waren in der Lage, zwischen beschadigten und unbeschadigten Pflanzen zu unterscheiden und legten auf letztere mehr Eier ab. Acht Wochen alte Baumwolltopfpflanzen erwiesen sich fur die Eiablage als attraktiver als altere. Unter Wasserstres (bis zu 7 Tage dauernde starke Bewasserung) stehende Baumwollpflanzen unterschieden sich in der Zahl abgelegter Eier nicht signifikant von normal behandelten. Auf der Grundlage dieser Ergebnisse scheinen fur die Eiablage von H. virescens an Baumwolle morphologische Faktoren (Grose, Behaarung) wichtiger zu sein als physiologische (Feuchtigkeits- und N-Gehalt).
Theory of error applied to factor loadings resulting from combination target factor analysis

Abstract The theory of error for target factor analysis is used to derive a simple equation from which the root-mean-square error in the factor loadings can be calculated. The method is applied to a problem in gas—liquid chromatography and is shown to agree with errors estimated by the 'jackknife' method.
A mathematical model for weed dispersal and control

Mathematical models for weed dispersal and control are developed, analyzed and numerically simulated. A model incorporating periodic control, e.g. herbicide application, is derived for a plant population in a spatially homogeneous setting. The model is extended to a spatially heterogeneous population where plant dispersal is incorporated. The dispersal and control model involves integrodifference equations, discrete in time and continuous in space. The models are analyzed to determine values of the control parameter that prevent weed spread. The effects of the control on travelling wave solutions are investigated numerically.
Effect of a 0.05% neutral NaF mouthrinse on coronal and root caries of adults.

Three-year coronal and root caries increments were compared in adults rinsing with either a 0.05% neutral NaF mouthrinse or a placebo mouthrinse. 1006 subjects, initially 20–65 years old (mean age: 39.9 yrs). who resided in fluoride deficient communities used a fluoride or placebo mouthrinse daily in their homes and brushed with an A.D.A. accepted fluoride dentifrice provided by the study. After three years, 731 subjects remained. Compliance was good. There were no significant differences (t-test, p≤ 0.05) in coronal DMFT, coronal DMFS, root DFT and root DFS between the two groups. In subjects exhibiting root caries at the final examination, the DF root surface increment was 25.1% less in the fluoride mouthrinse users compared to those using the placebo rinse, but this difference was not statistically significant. The only significant difference in the caries increment between the two study groups was found for the mesio-distal root surfaces of 45–65 year old participants.
Site-Specific Fluorescent Labeling of DNA Using Staudinger Ligation

We report the site-specific fluorescent labeling of DNA using Staudinger ligation with high efficiency and high selectivity. An oligonucleotide modified at its 5' end by an azido group was selectively reacted with 5-[(N-(3'-diphenylphosphinyl-4'-methoxycarbonyl)phenylcarbonyl)aminoacetamido]fluorescein (Fam) under aqueous conditions to produce a Fam-labeled oligonucleotide with a high yield (approximately 90%). The fluorescent oligonucleotide was characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Because of the relatively high yield of the Staudinger ligation, simple purification of the product by size-exclusion chromatography and desalting is sufficient for the resulting fluorescent oligonucleotide to be used as a primer in a Sanger dideoxy sequencing reaction to produce fluorescent DNA extension fragments, which are analyzed by a fluorescent electrophoresis DNA sequencer. The results indicate that the Staudinger ligation can be used successfully and site-specifically to prepare fluorescent oligonucleotides to produce DNA sequencing products, which are detected with single base resolution in a capillary electrophoresis DNA sequencer using laser-induced fluorescence detection.
The Big Five and adolescent adjustment: An empirical test across six cultures.

Abstract The current cross-cultural study tested the measurement of the Big Five personality dimensions and the relationships between them and four measures of adjustment and well-being, namely measures of depression, anxiety, well-being, and self-esteem. Anonymous data were collected on 5835 middle and late adolescents from six different cultural contexts, namely China, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Taiwan, and Turkey. Based on an ESEM approach, which fit the data better than a CFA, configural invariance was found for a 28-item short form of the BFI, suggesting that the Big Five model fit adequately across cultures. Findings from path analyses provided evidence that the Big Five factors explained from an average of 21% of the variance in anxiety to 26% in low well-being, net any effects by background variables. Consistent with some previous work, the study provides new evidence on the links between the Big Five and four measures of adolescent adjustment and well-being across six distinct cultural contexts. It also illustrates some of the inherent challenges of modeling the structure and psychometric properties of the Big Five in a cross-national comparative framework.
Obesity, Insulin Resistance, and Alzheimer's Disease

Obesity has reached epidemic proportions in our society, affecting over one-third of US adults, with two-thirds overweight or obese (1). Trends toward overweight and obesity among younger age groups are alarming; 27.5% of men and 34.0% of women ages 20–39 are obese (1), and 11.3% of children 2–19 years of age are at or above the 97th percentile for 2000 BMI-for-age growth charts (2). The majority of overweight or obese individuals are also insulin resistant (3). The adverse health consequences of obesity and insulin resistance (IR) are well-documented, particularly with respect to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). More recently, these conditions have also been linked to an increased risk of cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) (4). AD is the most common cause of dementia, and the fifth leading cause of death in the United States among those 65 and older (5). The number of patients affected by AD in the United States is projected to increase from 5.3 million currently, to 16 million in 2050 as the population ages (5), imposing extraordinary monetary and non-monetary costs on patients, caregivers, and the healthcare system. Currently approved therapies for AD provide modest symptomatic benefits to some patients, but do not affect the underlying pathology. Identification of modifiable risk factors to delay or prevent progression to clinical dementia and functional impairment could have a dramatic impact on the prevalence and costs associated with AD. Although there is currently insufficient evidence to firmly link any modifiable risk factor with AD, substantial empirical evidence supports a role for several cardiovascular risk factors, including obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetes, and IR (6). All of these factors have been implicated in the development and progression of AD, both individually and in aggregate (i.e., the metabolic syndrome) (7,8). A growing body of literature has demonstrated insulin dysregulation as a risk factor for both AD and its prodrome, mild cognitive impairment (4,9,10). Furthermore, IR represents a preclinical stage on the path to diabetes during which efforts at intervention are likely to have maximal effect. We focus here on the potential role of IR in the pathogenesis of AD, and discuss interventions that target IR as possible approaches to prevent or delay progression of AD.
A neutron detector for measurement of total neutron production cross sections

Abstract A neutron detector has been constructed and calibrated for the accurate measurement of total neutron production cross sections. The detector consists of a polythylene sphere of 60 cm diameter in which eight 10 BF 3 counters have been installed radially. The relative efficiency of this detector has been determined for average neutron energies from 30 keV to 1.5 MeV by counting neutrons from 7 Li(p,n) 7 Be. By adjusting the radial positions of the BF 3 counters in the polythylene sphere the efficiency for neutron detection was made nearly constant for this energy range. Measurement of absolute efficiency for the same neutron energy range has been done by counting the neutrons from 51 V(p,n) 51 Cr and 57 Fe(p,n) 57 Co reactions and determining the absolute number of residual nuclei produced during the measurement of neutron yield. Details of absolute efficiency measurements and the use of the detector for determination of neutron production cross sections are given.
ORDERING AT SURFACES FROM ELASTIC AND ELECTROSTATIC INTERACTIONS

Elastic and electrostatic interactions can sometimes have a profound influence on surface morphology. Here, we review the conditions under which surface stress or surface dipole variations can give rise to spontaneous domain formation at surfaces, and focus especially on the case of the Si(100) surface. In principle, the anisotropy of the surface stress should cause the spontaneous formation of a striped domain structure on Si(100). In practice, the length scale for this domain structure turns out to be so large as to prevent its direct observation, although the influence of the elastic interactions has been observed indirectly in a variety of related experiments. It is now evident that by introducing Ge or B atoms, the conditions can be tuned in such a way that the spontaneous domain formation is strikingly observed. Because surface electrostatic dipolar interactions scale in the same way as elastic ones, it follows that similar effects can arise from these sources. We consider a simple model two-phase surface system with 1/r3 dipolar interactions, and find that the model exhibits spontaneous formation of two kinds of periodic domain structure. A striped domain structure is stable near half-filling, but as the area fraction is changed, a transition to a hexagonal lattice of almost-circular droplets occurs. The relation of this model to experimental surface systems, especially that of Langmuir layers at the water–air interface, will be discussed.