cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recurrent pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland: Long-term outcome of patients treated with radiation therapy

Purpose: To evaluate the role of radiation therapy in the management of recurrent pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland. Methods and Materials: Between 1960 and 2004, 34 patients were treated with postoperative radiation therapy for recurrent pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland to a median dose of 5000 cGy (range, 4,500-6,000 cGy). Median age was 48 years (range, 24-72 years). Gross total resection at the time of surgery before radiation was achieved in 30 patients (88%), and histologic analysis demonstrated multifocal disease in 16 patients (47%). Radiation was delivered for a first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth local recurrence in 24%, 21%, 24%, 24%, 6%, and 3% of patients, respectively. Results: With a median follow-up of 17.4 years (range, 2.3-28.9 years), 2 patients had local recurrences at a median of 3.4 years after completion of radiation. The 20-year actuarial local control rate was 94%. One patient developed a second malignancy at approximately 14 years after completion of therapy. Conclusion: The use of postoperative radiation therapy leads to excellent long-term local control for the treatment of recurrent pleomorphic adenoma with acceptable late toxicity. Although the incidence of second malignancy was low in this population, continued follow-up is warranted.
Comparing orthodontic treatment outcome between orthodontists and general dentists with the ABO index

This study used the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) Objective Grading System (ABO index) (ABOI) to compare treatment outcome between patients treated by orthodontic specialists (OS) and patients treated by general dentists (GP). The sample (n = 196) consisted of 126 dental casts of patients treated by OS and 70 treated by GPs. All casts were collected in 1997 and 1998 from 10th grade students attending high schools in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and were scored by 1 operator (Y.A.) calibrated in the use of the ABOI. The mean ABOI score for the OS group was 26.0 +/- 11.4 compared with 29.6 +/- 12.8 for the GP group. This difference was significant at the P < or = .05 level. Of the 7 components used in the ABOI, alignment of teeth was found to be the most significant between groups (OS mean = 5.39 +/- 4.37 versus GP mean = 7.8 +/- 5.21, P < or = .0007). In this sample, a significantly lower ABOI score was found for patients treated by OS compared with patients treated by GP.
“New Terms for the Vindication of our Rights”: William Whipper's Activist Rhetoric

Abstract This study features the contributions of nineteenth-century activist William Whipper to the African American rhetorical tradition. Through analyses of six texts written between 1828 and 1837, I detail Whipper's dedication to open civic discourse; his preference for appeals to reason; his Christian ethos; his appropriation of the rhetoric of white writers, which functions in service of his positive portrayal of black culture; and his mistrust of arguments based on expediency. I also demonstrate how these characteristics shape–and, to a certain extent, evolve in–Whipper's subsequent writings. The conclusion locates Whipper's rhetorical principles in the broader context of nineteenth-century African American rhetoric.
Rapid Changes in Levels of Polyribosomes in Zea mays in Response to Water Stress.

Sucrose gradient profiles of polyribosomes from the coleoptilar node region of seedlings of Zea mays L. were obtained without pelleting and redispersion of the particles. Water stress caused a shift of ribosomes from the polymeric to the monomeric form, starting about 30 minutes after stress initiation and when the water potential of the tissue began to decrease measurably. After about 4 hours of stress (a decrease in tissue water potential of about 5 bars), most of the higher polymers of ribosomes had shifted to monoribosomes. Release of stress caused the ribosomes to revert from monomeric to polymeric form after a lag period apparently determined by the extent of prior stress. Use of bentonite and isolation of polyribosomes from combined stressed and control tissue gave results indicating that the reduced polyribosomal level was not an artifact caused by ribonuclease during isolation.Incubating roots in cycloheximide (2 micrograms per milliliter) had no effect on the proportion of polyribosomes in control roots, but it prevented the loss of polyribosomes caused by stress. Since cycloheximide inhibits the release of nascent polypeptide from polyribosomes, it appears possible that stress-effected loss in polyribosomes occurs only if polypeptides can be terminated and released.
On-line monitoring and PET imaging of the positron-emitting activity created in tissue by proton radiotherapy beams

An imaging system was designed and tested to monitor the positron-emitting activity distribution created by protonradiotherapybeams during treatments. Decay data were acquired and imaged between beam pulses and after irradiation. The range of a 150 MeV protonbeam may be verified after a single beam pulse to within the resolution of the imaging system, which was 1.2 cm. Over 80% of the initial positron-emitting activity is from 15 O while the remainder is primarily 11 C, 13 N, 14 O with traces of 18 F and 10 C. The dose delivered to the patient may also be monitored by observing the increase in the number of coincidence events detected between successive beam pulses. In some situations the width of the plateau region of a Spread-Out Bragg Peak may be inferred from the fall of activity at the distal end of the distribution. Radioisotopic imaging may also be performed along the beam path by fitting decay data collected after the treatment is complete. Using this technique, it is shown that variations in elemental composition in inhomogeneous treatment volumes may be identified and used to locate anatomic landmarks. Radioisotopic imaging also reveals that 14 O is created well beyond the Bragg peak, apparently by secondary neutrons.
System reliability and redundancy in structural design and evaluation

Abstract Several reliability-based structural design and evaluation specifications for buildings, bridges, and offshore platforms have been proposed and implemented in North America, Asia, Australia and Europe. Thus far, however, these are largely limited to individual structural component checks and do not generally include requirements of system reliability and redundanry. The main purpose of this paper is to contribute to the development of more rational system reliability-based structural design and evaluation specifications. In this context, effects of material behavior, correlations, variabilities of resistances and loads, resistance sharing, structural damage, and number of members, on both the system reliability and redundancy of a parallel system are investigated, and a framework for including system effects in structural design and evaluation specifications is proposed.
Feasibility of Computer-Administered Language Assessment

Abstract The assessment of language in early childhood is essential for the early identification of children with special needs. However, administering traditional language assessments to large pre...
Apoptosis: Final common pathway of photoreceptor death in rd, rds, and mutant mice

Mutations in the retinal degeneration, retinal degeneration slow(/peripherin) and rhodopsin genes cause photoreceptor degeneration in humans and mice. Although the phenotypes arising from these mutations are different, suggesting different mechanisms of pathogenesis, we present evidence that apoptosis may be the final common pathway of the disease process linking genotype to phenotype. We observed internucleosomal cleavage of retinal DNA by gel electrophoresis and fragmented DNA at the single cell level by labeling the nicked DNA ends with biotinylated poly(dU). In retinal degeneration mice, DNA fragmentation occurred during the period of photoreceptor degeneration. In retinal degeneration slow mice and in transgenic mice expressing a mutant (Pro347Ser) rhodopsin gene, DNA fragmentation occurred after normal histogenetic cell death (also apoptosis) had ceased. Since DNA fragmentation by internucleosomal cleavage is a cardinal feature of apoptosis, our data suggest that all three of these genetic mutations lead to apoptosis.
Student academic presentations: The processing side of interactiveness

The interactive nature of otherwise largely monologic spoken academic discourse is a feature that has recently attracted some research attention; however, to my knowledge, interactiveness has not been discussed from a processing point of view. In this paper, I argue that the processing side of interactiveness in student presentations should be looked for in presenters’ attempts to use grammatical structure to facilitate their listeners’ processing of dense informational content. The analysis was based on the use of finite adverbial clauses found in L1 and L2 corpora of student presentations. It revealed that presenters’ ordering of adverbial clauses serves both interactional processing and discourse purposes but only their cumulative effect provides a fuller account of students’ ordering preferences in prepared discourse. The findings are discussed in light of the relationship between grammatical weight and informational processing and have implications for L1 and L2 students’ communication training courses.
The quantum computer condition: requirements for viable computation

In this paper we review the content of the Quantum Computer Condition, which is a rigorously specified criterion that provides a set of mathematical constraints that must be satisfied by a physical system if we intend to use that system as a quantum computing machine, and we discuss an important consequence of it known as the Quantum Computing No-Go Theorem, which establishes a bound for decoherence and dissipation beyond which quantum computation is not possible. In connection with this theorem, we explicitly calculate a universal critical damping value for fault-tolerant quantum computation. We also discuss a relevant class of time-dependent generalizations of the Lindblad equation.
Best practices in corporate training and the role of aesthetics: interviews with eight experts

`Stop playing around and get to work' is a common refrain. While the two do not seem to mix, research indicates that play has much to offer corporate training when it comes to learning. This paper presents in narrative form, a summary of the interviews with eight master designers of engaging and immersive learning products and the subsequent aesthetic framework for development of such environments.
Effects of metabolites on the structural dynamics of rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase

Abstract The activity of rabbit muscle pyruvate kinase (PK) is regulated by metabolites. Besides requiring the presence of its substrates, PEP and ADP, the enzyme requires Mg ++ and K + for activity. PK is allosterically inhibited by Phe for activity. The presence of PEP or Phe has opposing effects on the hydrodynamic properties of the enzyme without an apparent change in secondary structure. In this study, the structural perturbation induced by ligand binding was investigated by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Furthermore, the structural dynamics of PK was probed by H/D exchange monitored by FT-IR. Substrates and activating metal ions induce PK to assume a more dynamic structure while Phe exerts an opposite effect. In all cases there is no significant interconversion of secondary structures. PEP is the most efficient ligand in inducing a change in the microenvironments of both helices and sheets so much so that they can be detected spectroscopically as separate bands. These results provide the first evidence for a differential effect of ligand binding on the dynamics of structural elements in PK. Furthermore, the data support the model that allosteric regulation of PK is the consequence of perturbation of the distribution of an ensemble of states in which the observed change in hydrodynamic properties represent the two extreme end states.
Models of the Cytochromes. Redox Properties and Thermodynamic Stabilities of Complexes of “Hindered” Iron(III) and Iron(II) Tetraphenylporphyrinates with Substituted Pyridines and Imidazoles

The FeIII/FeII and FeII/FeI reduction potentials of a series of model hemes have been measured by cyclic voltammetry in dimethylformamide at 25 °C as a function of the concentration of added axial ligands. The six porphyrinate ligands utilized were tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP), tetramesitylporphyrin (TMP), and a series of “hindered” tetraphenylporphyrins having substituents (OCH3, F, Cl, Br) on both ortho positions of each of the four phenyl rings. The perchlorato salts of the iron(III) porphyrinates were utilized for the titrations. The axial ligands utilized were N-methylimidazole, 2-methylimidazole, and pyridines of basicities ranging in pKa(PyH+) from 9.7 to 1.1. From the electrochemical titration, the equilibrium constants (log β2 and some log β1) of each iron porphyrinate with each ligand were determined. The values of log β2 for the iron(III) complexes decrease in the order Br > Cl > CH3 > OCH3 > H > F, while those for iron(II) decrease in the slightly modified order Br > Cl > CH3 > F > OCH3 > H. Rat...
An introduction to ultrasonic-guided sciatic neuroblockade

The use of ultrasonic guidance to accurately localize nerves, neurovascular sheaths, and vascular structures and to visualize, in “real-time,” needle placement and injectate spread results in safer and more consistently effective regional blockade. In the past decade portable ultrasonic equipment has become smaller, much less expensive, and much more user-friendly. More importantly, the frequency of the associated probes has increased from 3.5 to 12 to 15 MHz. This has allowed for the clear and sharp visualization of peripheral nerves. In this article, we will discuss the use of ultrasonic guidance to help facilitate the placement of sciatic nerve blocks between the ischial tuberosity and the greater trochanter just distal to the piriformis muscle.
Immunochemical quantitation of enzymes using multispecific antisera.

Abstract The single radial immunodiffusion method provides a relatively simple way to quantitate accurately small amounts of protein. Enzyme protein can be readily quantitated by a histochemical adaptation of the basic method. With such an adaptation it is possible to quantitate a single enzyme in a crude preparation using multispecific antisera. Furthermore, a single multispecific antiserum can be used to quantitate several different enzymes in the same crude preparation.
Large Sample Simultaneous Confidence Intervals for Multinomial Proportions

In this paper a method is presented for obtaining a set of simultaneous confidence intervals for the probabilities of a multinomial distribution. Large sample size is assumed and a lower bound given for the confidence coefficient. Use of the method to obtain a ranking of the proportions is illustrated. A computational scheme is illustrated by an example.
Pyrene-terminated phenylenethynylene rigid linkers anchored to metal oxide nanoparticles

Phenylenethynylene (PE) rigid linkers (para and meta) were used to anchor pyrene to the surface of TiO2 (anatase) and ZrO2 nanoparticle thin films through the two COOH groups of an isophthalic acid (Ipa) unit. Four chromophore-linker models were studied in solution and bound. Two are novel meta-pyrene−PE linker systems: dimethyl 5-(3-(1-pyrenylethynyl)phenylethynyl)-isophthalate, carrying one pyrene, and dimethyl 5-(bis-3,5-(1-pyrenylethynyl)phenylethynyl)-isophthalate, carrying two. These were compared with para rigid-rods dimethyl 5-(1-pyrenylethynyl)isophthalate and dimethyl 5-(4-(1-pyrenylethynyl)phenylethynyl)-isophthalate, each carrying one pyrene but varying in length. The length of the PE linkers and the para or meta substitution influence the photophysical properties of the compounds. The extinction coefficient increased, and the long wavelength absorbance of the pyrene chromophore was shifted to the red with increasing conjugation. Compared to unsubstituted pyrene, the pyrene-linker systems wer...
The National Animal Health Monitoring System for Colorado beef herds: management practices and their association with disease rates.

A questionnaire was designed to collect pertinent information on the basic characteristics and management practices of Colorado cow-calf operations that were included in the National Animal Health Monitoring System. Topics covered in the questionnaire were divided into the following management activities: calving, branding, weaning, breeding, and other. Thirty-nine herds were included in this survey. Four annual disease rates were calculated for each herd studied: cumulative incidence rate, case fatality rate, culling rate, and mortality rate. Disease rates were presented for overall morbidity, and for five disease categories: reproductive, respiratory, enteric, sudden death/clostridial diseases, and miscellaneous diseases. Herds where neonatal calves were handled had a significantly (P < 0.05) lower case fatality rate in the reproductive disease class than did herds where there was no contact with neonatal calves. However, the incidence rates of reproductive disease between these two classifications of herds were not significantly different. Herds where there was neonatal calf contact also had a significantly (P < 0.05) higher incidence, case fatality, and mortality rates of enteric disease than did herds in which there was no contact with calves at birth. Statistically significant associations obtained from this study should be interpreted carefully. The association does not imply a cause-effect relationship of the management variables and the disease rates.
Behavioral Biology: Inside the Mind of Proteus?

A new study of the escape behavior of the cockroach has found that its spatial variability is based on some underlying regularity. This constrained variability may maximise the effectiveness of the escape strategy.
The B30.2(SPRY) Domain of the Retroviral Restriction Factor TRIM5α Exhibits Lineage-Specific Length and Sequence Variation in Primates

Tripartite motif (TRIM) proteins are composed of RING, B-box 2, and coiled coil domains. Some TRIM proteins, such as TRIM5α, also possess a carboxy-terminal B30.2(SPRY) domain and localize to cytoplasmic bodies. TRIM5α has recently been shown to mediate innate intracellular resistance to retroviruses, an activity dependent on the integrity of the B30.2 domain, in particular primate species. An examination of the sequences of several TRIM proteins related to TRIM5 revealed the existence of four variable regions (v1, v2, v3, and v4) in the B30.2 domain. Species-specific variation in TRIM5α was analyzed by amplifying, cloning, and sequencing nonhuman primate TRIM5 orthologs. Lineage-specific expansion and sequential duplication occurred in the TRIM5α B30.2 v1 region in Old World primates and in v3 in New World monkeys. We observed substitution patterns indicative of selection bordering these particular B30.2 domain variable elements. These results suggest that occasional, complex changes were incorporated into the TRIM5α B30.2 domain at discrete time points during the evolution of primates. Some of these time points correspond to periods during which primates were exposed to retroviral infections, based on the appearance of particular endogenous retroviruses in primate genomes. The results are consistent with a role for TRIM5α in innate immunity against retroviruses.
Decreasing Cognitive Load for Novice Students: Effects of Explanatory versus Corrective Feedback in Discovery-Based Multimedia.

This paper examines one of the potentialroles that software agents may have inhelping students reduce working memoryload while learning from discovery-basedmultimedia environments: providingexplanatory feedback. Two studiesexamined the guided feedbackhypothesis according to which, discoverylearning environments that use explanatoryfeedback (EF) to guide novice students inthe process of meaning making promotedeeper learning than those that presentidentical materials using correctivefeedback (CF) alone. In both experiments,the EF group produced higher transferscores, rated the computer game as morehelpful, and gave comparable interest andmotivation ratings than the CF group. Mental load rating scales providedevidence in both experiments that EF waseffective due to reductions in cognitiveload. Results support the use of agentguidance in the form of EF for novicestudents who learn with discovery-basedmultimedia games.
Solution of the Navier-Stokes equation—I

Abstract The decomposition method is applied to the Navier-Stokes equation to provide a solution without linearization or discretization, or restrictions on randomness.
Fence-Line Contact Between Wild and Farmed White-Tailed Deer in Michigan: Potential for Disease Transmission

Interactions between wild and farmed white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) along perimeter fences may play a role in the transmission of diseases like bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease. However, no study has evaluated direct contact between wild and farmed deer through fences. We used animal-activated cameras to estimate rates of interaction between wild and farmed deer at 6 high-fenced commercial white-tailed deer farms in Michigan, USA, during October 2003 to January 2005. We recorded only 2 direct, naso-oral contacts between wild and farmed deer during >77,000 hours of camera monitoring. We documented little direct contact between wild and captive deer through fences and, therefore, believe there is limited potential for direct transmission of diseases. However, we suspect our results are conservative and do not rule out the risks of direct or indirect disease transmission into or out of deer farms. Our findings will be of use to federal and state agencies responsible for regulating deer farms as well as managers of such facilities.
Musculoskeletal human-spacesuit interaction model

Extravehicular Activity (EVA) is a highly demanding activity during space missions. The current NASA spacesuit, the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU), might be thought of as the ‘world's smallest spacecraft’ and is quite an engineering achievement. However, the EMU has also led to discomfort and musculoskeletal injuries, mainly due to the lack of mobility in the pressurized suit that makes moving and operating within the suit challenging. A new musculoskeletal modeling framework is developed in OpenSim to analyze human-spacesuit interaction and musculoskeletal performance during EVA. Two spacesuits are considered: the current EMU and NASA's Mark III spacesuit technology demonstrator. In the model, the effect of the spacesuits is represented as external torques applied to the human body, based on experimental data. Muscle forces during knee flexion/extension are calculated and compared in “suited” and “unsuited” conditions. Results suggest that the maximum peak force exerted during knee flexion significantly increases from unsuited conditions to Mark III-suited conditions to EMU-suited conditions. In particular, the peak forces exerted by the biceps femoris long head (BFL), the gastrocnemius (GM), the gracilis (GR), and the sartorius (SR) knee-flexor muscles are significantly higher in “suited” conditions. Conversely, the knee-extensor muscles do not show significant differences between the unsuited and suited conditions. The musculoskeletal analysis provides new insights into human-spacesuit interaction and musculoskeletal performance in “suited” conditions, and contributes to the assessment of astronaut health and safety during EVA, informing flight surgeons, EVA operation teams, researchers and spacesuit designers.
A Descriptive Study of Vocal Maturation among Male Adolescent Vocalists and Instrumentalists.

This descriptive study was designed to examine middle school adolescent boys’ singing voices ( N = 104) comprising volunteers enrolled in band (n = 72) or choir (n = 32). The authors sought to confirm possible earlier voice change, to compare vocal characteristics among frequent (choir) and infrequent (band) singers, and to determine use of falsetto during each voice stage. To assess falsetto, the authors had participants view and then imitate a segment of Shrek, in which characters speak in falsetto and bass. Students then spoke a line at high, medium, and low pitches. They then self-selected their highest and lowest singing pitches, sustaining them as long as possible. Following Cooksey procedures, the authors identified the boys’ speaking pitch and guided them to their highest and lowest pitches. Data consisted of demographic information; changing voice stages; high, medium, and low speaking contrasts; highest and lowest sung pitches (both self-selected and instructor-guided); number of seconds pitches...
Elicitation and utilization of application-level utility functions

We present a non-analytic approach to self-assessment for Autonomic Computing. Our approach leverages utility functions, at the level of an autonomic application, or even a single task or feature being exercised within that application. This paper describes the fundamental steps of our approach: instrumentation of the application; collection of exhaustive samples of runtime data about relevant quality attributes of the application, as well as characteristics of its runtime environment; elicitation of a utility function through statistical correlation over the collected data points; and embedding of code corresponding to the equation of the elicited utility function within the runtime of the application, which enables online evaluation of utility values. To illustrate our elicitation method, as well as our framework for instrumentation, monitoring, and utility function embedding/evaluation, we discuss our experience with two different case studies, with their results and implications.
Formation of 1,2-oligomeric ferrocenes from ullmann reactions of iodoferrocenes

Abstract A mixed Ullman reaction between iodoferrocene and 1,2-diiodoferrocene as well as an Ullmann reaction involving only 1,2-diiodoferrocene both produce biferrocene as well as linear 1,2-oligomeric ferrocenes, including 1,2-terferrocene, meso-1,2-quaterferrocene, dl-1,2-quaterferrocene and several isomeric 1,2-quinqueferrocenes. The formation, spectral characteristics and structures of these products are discussed.
A Variation-Tolerant Sub-200 mV 6-T Subthreshold SRAM

In this paper, we present a deep subthreshold 6-T SRAM, which was fabricated in an industrial 0.13 mum CMOS technology. We first use detailed simulations to explore the challenges of ultra-low-voltage memory design with a specific emphasis on the implications of variability. We then propose a single-ended 6-T SRAM design with a gated-feedback write-assist that remains robust deep in the subthreshold regime. Measurements of a test chip show that the proposed memory architecture functions from 1.2 V down to 193 mV and provides a 36% improvement in energy consumption over the previously proposed multiplexer-based subthreshold SRAM designs while using only half the area. Adjustable footers and headers are introduced, as well as body bias techniques to extend voltage scaling limits.
Glittering Light on Water

Light that glitters off a lake at sunset is more than just a beautiful picture, it tells a story of wind direction, air temperature, and more.
NADH hyperoxidation correlates with enhanced susceptibility of aged rats to hypoxia

Aging increases mitochondrial dysfunction and susceptibility to hypoxia. Previous reports have indicated an association between post-hypoxic hyperoxidation of intra-mitochondrial enzymes and delayed neuronal injury. Therefore we investigated the relationship between NADH fluorescence and neuronal function during and after hypoxia across the lifespan. Hippocampal slices were prepared from adult (1 to >22 months) F344 rats. NADH fluorescence, extracellular voltage and tissue PO(2) were recorded from the CA1 region during hypoxia (95% N(2)) of various lengths following onset of hypoxic spreading depression (hsd). Slices from younger rats recovered evoked neuronal responses to a greater degree and exhibited less hyperoxidation after a hypoxic episode, than slices from older rats. However, the use of Ca(2+) free-media in slices from >22 month old rats improved recovery and delayed NADH hyperoxidation (2.5 min hypoxia after hsd). Post-hypoxic decrease of NADH fluorescence (hyperoxidation) was age dependent and correlated with decreased neuronal recovery. Slices exposed to repeated hypoxic episodes yielded data suggesting depletion of the NAD(+) pool, which may have contributed to the deterioration of neuronal function.
ICCD Speckle Observations of Binary Stars. IV. Measurements During 1986-1988 from the Kitt Peak 4-m Telescope

Six-hundred twenty-one observations of 487 binary star systems, observed by means of speckle interferometry with the 4 m telescope on Kitt Peak, are presented. The median separation determined in these measurements, made mainly during 1989 and 1990, was 0.21″. These data include an additional component to a known wide pair and a previously undetected component to a high-velocity star
Sustainable Construction: Green Building Design and Delivery

Sustainable construction: green building design and delivery , by Charles J. Kibert, Hoboken, NJ, Wiley, October 30, 2012, 560 pp., €68.00, ISBN 978-0-470-90445-9 The new edition of the book Sustai...
Altered (transition) states: Mechanisms of solution and enzyme catalyzed RNA 2′-O-transphosphorylation

Although there have been great strides in defining the mechanisms of RNA strand cleavage by 2′-O-transphosphorylation, long-standing questions remain. How do different catalytic modes such as acid/base and metal ion catalysis influence transition state charge distribution? Does the large rate enhancement characteristic of biological catalysis result in different transition states relative to solution reactions? Answering these questions is important for understanding biological catalysis in general, and revealing principles for designing small molecule inhibitors. Recent application of linear free energy relationships and kinetic isotope effects together with multi-scale computational simulations are providing tentative answers to these questions for this fundamentally important class of phosphoryl transfer reactions.
Orientation and dielectric overlayer effects in InGaP/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors

Abstract Emitter orientation effects in AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) in which DC current gain was greater for the [0 1 1] emitter orientation compared to the [0 1 1 ] orientation were previously attributed to the piezoelectric effect, however no effects of dielectric overlayers were examined. In this work, we establish that for InGaP/GaAs HBTs, dielectric passivation effects can be as important as the piezoelectric effect. Non-self-aligned InGaP/GaAs HBTs with ECR SiON dielectric deposited at 25 °C exhibited greater stress and showed less current gain difference and lower base current ideality factors for these orientations than identical HBTs that were passivated with plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) SiN dielectric. Non-self-aligned HBTs with ECR SiON passivation also showed slightly better rf performance for the [0 1 1] orientation with ft of 48 GHz compared to ft of 44 GHz for the [0 1 1 ] orientation. These differences in dielectrics are attributed to higher dielectric-induced damage in emitter–base space-charge region for the PECVD SiN film.
Cholecystokinin activates specific enteric neurons in the rat small intestine

Cholecystokinin (CCK) is a peptide hormone released from the I-cells of the upper small intestine. CCK evokes a variety of physiological responses, such as stimulation of pancreatic secretion, reduction of food intake and inhibition of gastric emptying. Previously, we reported that CCK activates enteric neurons in the rat. However the specific subpopulations of enteric neurons activated by CCK have not been identified. In the work reported here, we utilized immunohistochemical detection of nuclear Fos, a marker for neuronal activation, and selected phenotypic markers to identify some of the neuronal subpopulations activated by CCK. The phenotypic markers that we examined were: nitric oxide synthase (NOS), neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R), calbindin (Cal), Calretinin (Calr), and neurofilament-M (NF-M). We found that in the myenteric plexus of the rat duodenum and jejunum, CCK activated NOS immunoreactive neurons. In the submucosal plexus of duodenum and jejunum, CCK activated Cal, Calr and NF-M immunoreactive neurons. CCK failed to activate NK-1R immunoreactive neurons in either plexus. Our results indicate that CCK activates distinct enteric neurons in the rat upper small intestine. Furthermore the fact that NOS immunoreactive neurons were activated suggests that CCK modulates the activity of inhibitory motor neurons in the myenteric plexus. Expression of Fos immunoreactivity in Calr and Cal immunoreactive neurons is consistent with a role for CCK in modulation of intrinsic sensory and/or secretomotor neuronal activity in the submucosal plexus.
Leucine-rich repeat glycoproteins of the extracellular matrix

The extracellular matrix plays an integral role in the pivotal processes of development, tissue repair, and metastasis by regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, adhesion, and migration. This review is focused on a family of related glycoproteins represented by at least one member in all specialized extracellular matrices. This family currently comprises nine members grouped together on the basis of their presence in the extracellular matrix and by virtue of a leucine-rich repeat motif that dominates the structure of the core protein. It is likely that most, if not all the members of this group exist as proteoglycans in some tissues, and thus have been termed the Small Leucine-Rich Proteoglycan family, or SLRPs. The leucine-rich repeat (LRR) is usually present in tandem array and has been described in an increasing number of proteins, giving rise to a LRR-superfamily. The LRR domain of the SLRP family is unique within the superfamily in that it is flanked by cysteine clusters, and the 24 amino acid consensus for SLRP members is x-x-I/V/L-x-x-x-x-F/P/L-x-x-L/P-x-x-L-x-x-L/I-x-L-x-x-N-x-I/L, where x is any amino acid. Enormous progress has been made in describing the membership, structure and localization of this family, and recently new insight has emerged into the putative function of these molecules not just as modulators of matrix assembly but also on their intriguing role in regulating cell growth, adhesion, and migration. Determination of membership, structure and putative function of this fascinating class of molecules is summarized in this review.
Isolation and characterization of vaccinia virus "nucleoids".

Abstract After treating vaccinia virions labeled with [ 3 H]thymidine in their nucleic acid and with 14 C-labeled amino acids in their polypeptides with 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at room temperature, the products of the reaction were subjected to sedimentation analysis in 15–30% sucrose-SDS gradients. Particles were isolated containing all of the virion DNA but only 25–30% of the virion polypeptides. Negatively stained preparations showed that most of the particles were spherical and about 300 nm in diameter. These particles lacked the palisade layer seen on viral cores as well as the core membrane and are therefore subcore particles or nucleoids. When the DNA from nucleoids was analyzed, it was found to co-sediment with DNA from mature virions at 68 S in neutral sucrose gradients. When digested with DNase, only 15–20% of the [ 3 H]thymidine-labeled DNA in nucleoids was rendered acid soluble. Analysis of the DNA from DNase-treated preparations in neutral sucrose gradients showed the DNA had been cleaved into segments which sedimented at about 10–15 S relative to adenovirus 2 DNA. Acrylamide-gel electrophoretic analysis of the polypeptides in nucleoids showed that in addition to the surface polypeptides of mature virions, two major core polypeptides, VP-4A and VP-8, were removed by treatment with SDS, as well as components from the VP-1 and VP-2 polypeptide groups. Morphologically, the nucleoids resembled SubV-4, an intermediate in the uncoating of virions detected in the cytoplasm of HeLa cells early after infection. SubV-4 particles, labeled with 14 C-labeled amino acids, were isolated from the cytoplasm of HeLa cells and purified by sedimentation in 20–60% sucrose-D 2 O gradients. Polyacrylamide-gel electrophoretic analysis of the polypeptides in SubV-4 particles showed that their polypeptide composition was like that of nucleoids prepared in vitro .
2 å crystal structure of an extracellular fragment of human CD40 ligand

Abstract Backgound The CD40 ligand (CD40L) is a member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family of proteins and is transiently expressed on the surface of activated T cells. The binding of CD40L to CD40, which is expressed on the surface of B cells, provides a critical and unique pathway of cellular activation resulting in antibody isotype switching, regulation of apoptosis, and B cell proliferation and differentiation. Naturally occurring mutations of CD40L result in the clinical hyper-IgM syndrome, characterized by an inability to produce immunoglobulins of the IgG, IgA and IgE isotypes. Results We have determined the crystal structure of a soluble extracellular fragment of human CD40L to 2 a resolution and with an R factor of 21.8%. Although the molecule forms a trimer similar to that found for other members of the TNF family, such as TNF α and lymphotoxin- α , and exhibits a similar overall fold, there are considerable differences in several loops including those predicted to be involved in CD40 binding. Conclusion: The structure suggests that most of the hyper-IgM syndrome mutations affect the folding and stability of the molecule rather than the CD40-binding site directly. Despite the fact that the hyper-IgM syndrome mutations are dispersed in the primary sequence, a large fraction of them are clustered in space in the vicinity of a surface loop, close to the predicted CD40-binding site.
An integrated traffic-driving simulation framework: Design, implementation, and validation

This paper first describes the process of integrating two distinct transportation simulation platforms, Traffic Simulation models and Driving Simulators, so as to broaden the range of applications for which either type of simulator is applicable. To integrate the two distinct simulation platforms, several technical challenges needed to be overcome including reconciling differences in update frequency, coordinate systems, and the fidelity levels of the vehicle dynamics models and graphical rendering requirements of the two simulators. Following the successful integration, the integrated simulator was validated by having several human subjects drive a 2.5 mile long segment of a signalized arterial in both the virtual environment of the integrated simulator, and in the real-world during the evening “rush hour”. Several aspects of driving behavior were then compared between the human subjects’ driving in the “virtual” and the real world. The comparisons revealed generally similar behavior, in terms of average corridor-level travel time, deceleration/acceleration patterns, lane-changing behavior, as well as energy consumption and emissions production. The paper concludes by suggesting possible extensions of the developed prototype which the researchers are currently pursuing, including integration with a computer networking simulator, to facilitate Connected Vehicle (CV) and Vehicle Ad-hoc Network (VANET) related studies, and a multiple participant component that allows several human drivers to interact simultaneously within the integrated simulator.
Humanitarian otolaryngology: a navy hospital ship experience.

The USNS Comfort (T-AH-20) is 1 of 2 United States Navy hospital ships. In 2011, she deployed to 9 countries in Central and South America including Jamaica, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, and Haiti. Eight surgical specialties including otolaryngology were involved, for a combined total of about 150 cases per country. An advance team coordinated patients with the Host Nation to be seen for presurgical screening. Selected patients were then taken aboard the ship for surgery and recovered in either the ship’s intensive care unit or ward. They were then discharged prior to ship embarkment to the next country. A total of 95 otolaryngology cases were performed during 9 mission stops. The mean number of procedures performed was 12 per country, with thyroidectomy being the most common. A wide variety of general otolaryngology procedures were performed without significant complications, markedly impacting the quality of life in these underserved countries.
Performance evaluation of bending actuators made from electrostrictive graft elastomers

Recently a new class of electrostrictive polymers, called electrostrictive graft elastomers, was developed at NASA Langley Research Center. In this work, the output force of a bending actuator made from electrostrictive graft elastomer was measured and modeled to understand the dependence of performance on device configuration. This understanding should lead to better actuator design and fabrication. The prototype bending actuator is 47micrometers thick and 8 mm wide. The output bending force at the tip was measured as a function of applied voltage and the distance from the tip to the holding stage. The output force at 2.1 kV increases from 124(mu) N at a length of 33.5 mm to 662(mu) N at 7 mm. Accourding to a small displacement, 5-layer, a strength-of- materials model, the output bending force of the actuator varies inversely with its length and directly with the square of the applied voltage. Consequently, the output bending force can be about 5 mN when the length of the actuator is reduced to 1 mm for application to micro- electromechanical (MEMS) devices. The experimental results will be presented and a method for enhancing the performance will also be discussed.
Dual citizenship and american democracy: Patriotism, national attachment, and national identity

Until recently, with one historical exception, America was able to take for granted a coherent national culture and identity. Successive waves of immigrants entered a country that assumed that their ultimate assimilation was a desirable, not an oppressive, outcome. The United States did not prove equally hospitable to everyone: some groups endured enormous hardships on their way to a fuller realization of America's great promise of opportunity and freedom. Yet, throughout U.S. history, the dream of common purpose and community propelled the collective desire to live up to this promise and provided the framework within which progress was understood and made.
Observing Spontaneous Metaphor in Children.

Abstract The study considered whether apparent metaphors are a frequent part of child language and whether the child recognizes the metaphoric relation created. Seventy-three nursery and kindergarten children (2 to 6 years of age) were observed for one or two half-hour periods of free play. Naturally occurring utterances in unconventional uses were recorded. The children were then questioned about their possible metaphoric creations to determine their awareness and understanding of their utterances. Results suggest that metaphoric processes exist quite early in development, as exemplified by a high frequency of spontaneous metaphor in the free play of young children. The semantic extensions were often deliberate and used appropriately. On some occasions the child was able to articulate the rationale for the verbal substitution. The content and cognitive features of the figures are discussed. Several hypotheses are offered for the developmental trend of decline in frequency of metaphor use with age.
Nonequilibrium thermodynamics of ferroelectric domain evolution

A ferroelectric crystal tends to form domains. Internal and external fields can cause domain walls to move, resulting in macroscopic phenomena such as aging, creep and fatigue. Domain evolution is a nonequilibrium thermodynamic process. The domain pattern, the state of the crystal, can be described with a set of generalized coordinates. The free energy of the crystal is a function of the generalized coordinates, to be pictured as a surface in the thermodynamic space, the free energy erecting and the generalized coordinates spanning. A point on this surface represents a (nonequilibrium) state of the crystal, the slopes of the tangent plane contacting the surface at the point are the generalized forces, and a curve on the surface is an evolution path. Thermodynamics requires that the path descend on the surface, but by itself does not determine the path. To complete this global picture of structural evolution, we formulate a variational principle that includes kinetics. The functional to be minimized consists of the free energy rate and a dissipation potential involving the domain wall mobility. The variational principle equips a viscosity matrix to every point on the thermodynamic surface. The approach results in a set of ordinary differential equations that govern the evolution of the generalized coordinates. We outline the operational aspects of this approach, make contact with the finite element method, and illustrate the approach by examples of one or two degrees of freedom.
Sodium-coupled dicarboxylate and citrate transporters from the SLC13 family

The SLC13 family in humans and other mammals consists of sodium-coupled transporters for anionic substrates: three transporters for dicarboxylates/citrate and two transporters for sulfate. This review will focus on the di- and tricarboxylate transporters: NaDC1 (SLC13A2), NaDC3 (SLC13A3), and NaCT (SLC13A5). The substrates of these transporters are metabolic intermediates of the citric acid cycle, including citrate, succinate, and α-ketoglutarate, which can exert signaling effects through specific receptors or can affect metabolic enzymes directly. The SLC13 transporters are important for regulating plasma, urinary and tissue levels of these metabolites. NaDC1, primarily found on the apical membranes of renal proximal tubule and small intestinal cells, is involved in regulating urinary levels of citrate and plays a role in kidney stone development. NaDC3 has a wider tissue distribution and high substrate affinity compared with NaDC1. NaDC3 participates in drug and xenobiotic excretion through interactions with organic anion transporters. NaCT is primarily a citrate transporter located in the liver and brain, and its activity may regulate metabolic processes. The recent crystal structure of the Vibrio cholerae homolog, VcINDY, provides a new framework for understanding the mechanism of transport in this family. This review summarizes current knowledge of the structure, function, and regulation of the di- and tricarboxylate transporters of the SLC13 family.
Performance analysis of steady-state harmonic elastography.

Shear modulus estimation can be confounded by the ill-posed nature of the inverse elasticity problem. In this paper, we report the results of experiments conducted on simulated and gelatin phantoms to investigate the effect of various parameters (i.e., regularization, spatial filtering and the subzone generation process) associated with shear modulus reconstruction on the statistical accuracy (mean squared error), and image quality (i.e., contrast and spatial resolution) of the recovered mechanical properties. The results indicate several interesting observations. Firstly, the intrinsic spatial resolution of magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) is dependent on both regularization and spatial filtering. Secondly, the elastographic contrast-to-noise ratio (CNRe) increases with increasing regularization and spatial filtering, but it was not affected by the zoning parameters (i.e., the subzones and the extent of the overlap). Thirdly, the statistical accuracy (MSE) of the recovered property improved with increasing regularization, and spatial filtering weight, but the size of the subdomains and their overlap had no significant effect.