cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Roles of the three transcriptional attenuators of the Bacillus subtilis pyrimidine biosynthetic operon in the regulation of its expression.

Expression of the Bacillus subtilis pyr operon is regulated by exogenous pyrimidines and the protein product of the first gene of the operon, PyrR. It has been proposed that PyrR mediates transcriptional attenuation at three untranslated segments of the operon (R.J. Turner, Y. Lu, and R.L. Switzer, J. Bacteriol., 176:3708-3722, 1994). In this study, transcriptional fusions of the pyr promoter followed by the pyr attenuation sequences, either individually or in tandem to a lacZ reporter gene, were used to examine the physiological functions of all three attenuators through their ability to affect beta-galactosidase expression. These fusions were studied as chromosomal integrants in various B. subtilis strains to examine the entire range of control by pyrimidines, PyrR dependence, amd developmental control of pyr gene expression. The nutritional regulation of each attenuator separately was roughly equivalent to that of the other two and was totally dependent upon PyrR, and that of tandem attenuators was cumulative. The regulation of a fusion of the spac promoter followed by the pyrP:pyrB intercistronic region to lacZ produced results similar to those obtained with the corresponding fusion containing the pyr promoter, demonstrating that attenuator-dependent regulation is independent of the promoter. Extreme pyrimidine starvation gave rise to two- to threefold-higher levels of expression of a pyr-lacZ fusion that lacked attenuators, independent of PyrR, than were obtained with cells that were not starved. Increased expression of a similar spac-lacZ fusion during pyrimidine starvation was also observed, however, indicating that attenuator-independent regulation is not a specific property of the pyr operon. Conversion of the initiator AUG codon in a small open reading frame in the pyrP:pyrB intercistronic region to UAG reduced expression by about half but did not alter regulation by pyrimidines, which excludes the possibility of a coupled transcription-translation attenuation mechanism. Developmental regulation of pyr expression during early stationary phase was found to be dependent upon the attenuators and PyrR, and the participation of SpoOA was excluded.
Professional Development Partnerships Integrating Educational Technology

AbstractThe Mississippi State University (MSU) Senior Block offers opportunities for MSU faculty and K–8 schools to foster the expansion of unique preservice practicum sites where public schools and universities have the shared goal of enhancing education. Through this full-immersion partnership, all institutions will benefit and become better equipped to provide the best learning environments for K–8 learners, classroom mentor teachers, and preservice teacher education students. Through increased professional development school partnerships that include technology training in their focus, both preservice and inservice teachers can learn to use modern technologies to meet the needs of all 21st-century learners.
Static Coulomb stress-based Southern California earthquake forecasts: A pseudoprospective test

Many studies support the hypothesis that where earthquakes occur, recent changes in resolved Coulomb stress tend to be positive. How about the converse hypothesis, that where resolved Coulomb stress recently increased, earthquakes are more likely to occur? Successful earthquake forecasting by Coulomb stress changes requires the converse. To test this, we calculated stress everywhere in our study area, not just at earthquake locations. We modeled stress accumulation in Southern California since 1812 both from the elastic effect of slip below locked faults and from M ≥ 5 “source” earthquakes up to any given date. To minimize the effect of secondary aftershocks not directly related to the source earthquakes, we measured seismicity using a gridded binary map: each 0.1° × 0.1° cell is “activated” if containing one or more test events (“receiver” earthquakes) of M ≥ 2.8. We then constructed an empirical relationship between resolved Coulomb stress and activation rate within regions with similar stress values, defining probabilities of activated cells during the “test” period, within 11 years of the M7.1 Hector Mine earthquake. We found that Coulomb stress reliably indicates future earthquake locations at the 95% confidence interval. However, smoothed seismicity forecasts outperformed Coulomb forecasts in some areas with large earthquakes due to aftershock clustering. Most earthquakes tend to nucleate in areas with Coulomb stress changes greater than 0.5 MPa or less than −0.5 MPa. Within areas with increased Coulomb stress from older earthquakes, fewer earthquakes occurred than anticipated. After reducing stress uncertainty impact, Coulomb rate-and-state forecasts may also improve upon statistical earthquake forecasts.
A Simple Holding Voltage Analysis for Latchup in Epitaxial CMOS

This paper presents a simple model for the holding voltage of the parasitic thyristor in epitaxial n-well CMOS. Two-dimensional device simulations of the holding point show that the region between the p+ source and the n+ source is conductivity modulated. The vertical extension of the conductivity modulated region is often greater than the tank depth. Conductivity modulation causes these regions of the p-epi and n-well to lose their separate identities. As a result the vertical hole current in both the p-epi and n-well is well represented by the majority carrier flow equations for a single transistor in high current operation. The lateral current flow is drift dominated. An expression for the holding voltage is derived based on this simplification. The analysis explains the improvement in holding voltage with increased n-to-p spacing, thinner epi, substrate backbias, shallow trench and silicided source/drain.
Psychosocial adjustment in children and adolescents with a craniofacial anomaly: diagnosis-specific patterns.

Abstract Objective: To obtain descriptive information about diagnosis-specific patterns of psychosocial adjustment for children and adolescents with craniofacial anomalies. Design: Chart review of medical records was used to obtain psychosocial checklists. Scores were compared with published norms to evaluate elevated risk of problems, separately for six diagnostic groups. Setting: Plastic surgery department in urban university medical center. Participants: As part of routine ongoing care, 408 caregivers completed checklists assessing psychosocial adjustment of children aged 2 to 18 years with diagnosis of cleft lip and palate, cleft lip only, cleft palate only, craniosynostosis, hemifacial microsomia, and hemangioma. Main Outcome Measure: Child Behavior Checklist (Achenbach, 1991, 1992). Results: The craniosynostosis group showed elevated rates (beyond norms) of social, academic, and attention problems. The cleft lip and palate group showed elevations in social problems and deficits in social, academic, ...
Preclinical toxicology profile of acyclovir: An overview

Abstract Numerous and extensive toxicologic studies of acyclovir using animal and in vitro assays indicated a low order of toxicity for this antiviral nucleoside analog. Primary cytotoxic effects occurred only at extremely high drug concentrations in plasma or tissue cultures. This correlates well with the high selectivity of the drug for herpes viruses and its low toxicity for uninfected cells in tissue culture. Secondary toxicity in the form of precipitation of acyclovir crystals in the lower nephron of the kidney occurred after rapid intravenous bolus injection causing transient impairment of renal function in the dog, and obstructive nephropathy in the rat. These secondary effects were related to the relatively low solubility of acyclovir in the urine. Dermal and ophthalmic formulations were well-tolerated. No significant primary irritation nor systemic toxic manifestations were associated with the application of these materials. A test in guinea pigs gave no indication that acyclovir has sensitization potential. Acyclovir had no effect on reproductive processes or prenatal, perinatal, or postnatal development of offspring in studies with rats, rabbits, and mice. Positive results occurred in two of 11 in vitro mutagenicity assays. These involved chromosomal damage at extremely high drug concentrations. In contrast, no evidence of chromosomal damage occurred in three in vivo assays at nontoxic dosage levels and under conditions more relevant to clinical use of the drug. While one of two cell transformation assays gave positive results, no oncogenic potential for acyclovir was indicated by lifetime carcinogenicity bioassays in rats and mice. Numerous in vitro and in vivo assays gave no indication that acyclovir might significantly alter immunologic responses at clinically relevant doses.
Heuristic scheduling of resource‐constrained projects with cash flows

Resource-constrained project scheduling with cash flows occurs in many settings, ranging from research and development to commercial and residential construction. Although efforts have been made to develop efficient optimal procedures to maximize the net present value of cash flows for resource-constrained projects, the inherent intractability of the problem has led to the development of a variety of heuristic methods to aid in the development of near-optimal schedules for large projects. This research focuses on the use of insights gained from the solution of a relaxed optimization model in developing heuristic procedures to schedule projects with multiple constrained resources. It is shown that a heuristic procedure with embedded priority rules that uses information from the revised solution of a relaxed optimization model increases project net present value. The heuristic procedure and nine different embedded priority rules are tested in a variety of project environments that account for different network structures, levels of resource constrainedness, and cash-flow parameters. Extensive testing with problems ranging in size from 21 to 1000 activities shows that the new heuristic procedures dominate heuristics using information from the critical path method (CPM), and in most cases outperform heuristics from previous research. The best performing heuristic rules classify activities into priority and secondary queues according to whether they lead to immediate progress payments, thus front loading the project schedule. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Naval Research Logistics 44: 365–381, 1997
Plasma-mediated ablation of biological tissues with ultrashort laser pulses

Plasma mediated ablation of collagen gels and porcine cornea was studied at various laser pulse durations in the range from 350 fs to 1 ns at 1053 nm wavelength. A time resolved stress detection technique was employed to measure transient stress profiles and amplitudes. Optical microscopy was used to characterize ablation craters qualitatively, while a wide band acoustic transducer helped to quantify tissue mechanical response and the ablation threshold. The ablation threshold was measured as a function of laser pulse duration and linear absorption coefficient. For nanosecond pulses the ablation threshold was found to have a strong dependence on the linear absorption coefficient of the material. As the pulse length decreased into the subpicosecond regime the ablation threshold became insensitive to the linear absorption coefficient. High quality ablation craters with no thermal or mechanical damage to surrounding material were obtained with 350 fs laser pulses. The mechanism of optical breakdown at the tissue surface was theoretically investigated. In the nanosecond regime, optical breakdown proceeds as an electron collisional avalanche ionization initiated by thermal seed electrons. These seed electrons are created by heating of the tissue by linear absorption. In the ultrashort pulse range, optical breakdown is initiated by the multiphoton ionization of the irradiated medium (6 photons in case of tissue irradiated at 1053 nm wavelength), and becomes less sensitive to the linear absorption coefficient. The energy deposition profile is insensitive to both the laser pulse duration and the linear absorption coefficient.
Interprofessional Education in Introductory Pharmacy Practice Experiences at US Colleges and Schools of Pharmacy

Objective. To assess the extent to which US colleges and schools of pharmacy are incorporating interprofessional education into their introductory pharmacy practice experiences (IPPEs), and to identify barriers to implementation; characterize the format, structure, and assessment; and identify factors associated with incorporating interprofessional education in IPPEs. Methods. An electronic survey of 116 US colleges and schools of pharmacy was conducted from March 2011 through May 2011. Results. Interprofessional education is a stated curricular goal in 78% of colleges and schools and consistently occurred in IPPEs in 55%. Most colleges and schools that included interprofessional education in IPPEs (70%) used subjective measures to assess competencies, while 17.5% used standardized outcomes assessment instruments. Barriers cited by respondents from colleges and schools that had not implemented interprofessional education in IPPEs included a lack of access to sufficient healthcare facilities with interprofessional education opportunities (57%) and a lack of required personnel resources (52%). Conclusions. Many US colleges and schools of pharmacy have incorporated interprofessional education into their IPPEs, but there is a need for further expansion of interprofessional education and better assessment related to achievement of interprofessional education competencies in IPPEs.
To object or not to object: The question of women judges in Egypt

Developing countries where women have not been permitted into the judiciary are excluded from feminist scholarship on women and the law. Such exclusion limits comparative views to a specific cultural‐historical domain. This paper explores the case of Egypt, where women have not entered the judiciary, in an attempt to extend the cross‐cultural discussion. A premise of the paper is that a theological vision of women's gender roles, which is qualitatively different from the prevailing one in the West, is a strong influencing factor on women's access to the judiciary in Egypt. After presenting a brief overview of women's status in Islam, this paper explores perspectives on women's role as judges within Islamic Shari'a. Building on the brief exploration of Islam's views regarding women's access to the judiciary, this paper then presents contemporary debates regarding women as judges in the Egyptian case. A recommendation for a more careful examination of the theological influences on the Egyptian debate regard...
Empirical model for the transconductance-current dependence of short-channel MOSFETs

this work is concerned with the gm-I dependence of sub-micrometer MOSFETs. The transconductance-current expression given by the Advanced Compact Model (ACM) is reviewed and simple modification is proposed. The modification yields an expression which (with proper parametrization) captures the g m -I dependence of short-channel MOSFETs. The proposed expression is “universal” in the sense that it is capable of modeling the g m -I dependence of long-channel MOSFETs, short-channel MOSFETs, and resistively-degenerated BJTs.
Does off-pump revascularization reduce coronary endothelial dysfunction?

BACKGROUND: Off-pump coronary revascularization (OPCAB) has been shown to reduce markers of acute inflammation but its effect on coronary endothelial function is unknown. This experimental study sought to determine whether OPCAB reduces endothelial dysfunction, compared to standard cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) with and without the anticomplement agent soluble complement receptor-1 (sCR(1)). METHODS: In 10 pigs, OPCAB was simulated by snaring the left anterior descending (LAD) artery for 15 minutes followed by 3 hours of reperfusion. On-pump revascularization was simulated in 20 pigs by 15 minutes of LAD occlusion on CPB with cold blood cardioplegic arrest followed by 3 hours of reperfusion. Ten of these animals received sCR(1) (10 mg/kg) prior to CPB. Inflammatory response was monitored by percent (%) lung water increase, wall motion scores (WMS) with transthoracic echocardiography where 4 = normal to -1 = dyskinesia, and endothelial function in the distal LAD with bradykinin-induced coronary artery relaxation using organ chamber methodology. RESULTS: OPCAB had no effect on lung edema (% increase = 1.7 +/- 1.4 OPCAB vs. 3.4 +/- 0.5 CPB vs. 2.3 +/- 0.9 CPB + sCR(1)) and failed to prevent wall motion changes (WMS = 2.65 +/- 0.08 OPCAB vs. 2.70 +/- 0.04 CPB vs. 3.10 +/- 0.07* CPB + sCR(1), *p < 0.01) and coronary endothelial dysfunction (% relaxation = 41 +/- 9 OPCAB vs. 40 +/- 9 CPB vs. 78 +/- 8** CPB + sCR(1), **p < 0.001), which was best preserved with sCR(1). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that agents which directly inhibit complement activation such as sCR(1) are more important in preventing endothelial dysfunction during coronary revascularization than merely avoiding CPB.
Genomic imprinting and candidate genes in the Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes

The Prader-Willi and Angelman syndromes are now well established as the paradigm of genomic imprinting in human disease. Over the past year, much has been learnt about the mechanisms by which these syndromes arise and molecular diagnostics for the majority of patients are now available. Mouse models for aspects of the syndromes have been established, and the first association between a gene, located in chromosome 15, at 15q11-q13, and a phenotype (albinism) has been proven. Large parts of the critical regions have been cloned and at least six genes identified. Three genes or DNA sequences may be imprinted: two of these demonstrate DNA-methylation imprints and one is functionally imprinted in mouse. While the molecular mechanism of imprinting is not yet understood, it is beginning to yield its secrets to DNA methylation, replication, and chromatin structure studies of the phenomenon.
Time-dependent collisional-radiative modeling for analyzing spectra obtained in PBFA-II light ion beam experiments

We present results from time-dependent collisional-radiative calculations to investigate the properties of moderate density plasmas in light ion fusion experiments at Sandia National Laboratories. Our models are applied to studies of ion beam transport in the PBFA-II Ar gas cell. In this case, electron densities are 10/sup 16/-10/sup 18/ cm/sup -3/ while experimental time scales are 10/sup -9/-10/sup -8/ sec. In our analysis, atomic level populations are obtained from the solution of multilevel time-dependent atomic rate equations. Calculated spectra are obtained by solving radiation transport equations. We compare our preliminary results with experimental spectra.
The annealing of glass as a physical problem

Abstract The fundamental principles underlying the annealing of glass and the present state of knowledge concerning changes in the nature of glass during heating and cooling are briefly reviewed. Emphasis is placed on the fact that a quantitative explanation of the formation and removal of strain in glass, and a precise determination of the requisite conditions for any desired degree of annealing, may be obtained on a purely mechanical basis, without consideration of the internal constitution of materials in the vitreous state. Annealing Practice. —An improvement in the definition of annealing time (made feasible by the relatively great speed with which large strains are released) allows a considerable simplification in the determination of the proper procedure for annealing. As an illustration, the procedure for annealing a disk of Pyrex glass, 200 inches in diameter, is given. The best conditions for annealing, when for any reason the temperature must be above or below the most favorable temperature, are also discussed. Effect of Internal Stresses on Density. —It is demonstrated that internal stresses can have no effect on the total volume or on the average density of a block of glass. The stresses may cause a deficiency in density of the interior portion and an excess near the outside, but the mean density of any large or small piece is exactly the same as if the glass of any large or small piece is exactly the same as if the glass were free from stress. Although unannealed glass may have an abnormally low density, the stresses themselves have nothing to do with this effect. The Vitreous State. —The anomalies of glass in the annealing range, the relation between viscosity and rigidity, the physical basis of the rate of release of strain, and the possibility that glass at low temperatures may have a finite strength, are discussed. Although a lack of data prevents the drawing of any positive conclusions, nevertheless the state of aggregation of glass is a problem of very great interest. It appears that more attention should be given to the physico-chemical side of the problem; but it is essential not to confuse phenomena that involve the internal constitution of glass with those that do not.
MEASUREMENT OF ANAEROBIC GLYCOLYSIS IN BRAIN AS RELATED TO POLIOMYELITIS

Experiments with mouse brain, homogenates show that the anaerobic glycolysis of such preparations can be increased tenfold by addition of appropriate coenzymes and phosphate esters. The previously reported alterations in anaerobic glycolysis during poliomyelitis, as measured with low activity preparations, are believed to be of doubtful value in so far as the changes may be related to any specific phase of metabolism. In order to obtain this type of information, the experiment usually must be designed specifically to measure the desired factor.
Lexical decisions in patients with Alzheimer's disease: Some notes on automatic versus controlled processing

This study examined the lexical decisions of age, gender and education matched groups of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and normally aging (NA) subjects. The subjects were asked to make lexical decisions on real word, pseudoword and nonword orthographic stimuli. Analysis of the data revealed that the accuracy of the lexical decisions of the AD group was comparable to those of their NA peers for real word stimuli, but significantly different for the pseudo-word and non-word stimuli. The findings appeared to support the notion that AD patients' single word decoding may be disrupted in a way that is not readily apparent during the mild stages of the disease course.
Sex Differences in Fetal Rabbit Pulmonary Surfactant Production

Male infants have a higher risk of respiratory distress syndrome than females at concurrent gestations. Recent evidence in humans has linked fetal sex with differences in amniotic fluid indices of lung maturation. We tested the hypothesis that the late gestation surge in pulmonary surfactant production occurs later in the male fetus than in the female fetus in the rabbit model. We measured saturated phosphatidylcholine and total phosphatidylcholine in lung lavage at 26, 28, and 30 days gestation and in amniotic fluid at 24, 26, 28, and 30 days gestation (term = 31 days). The saturated phosphatidylcholine/sphingomyelin ratios were 158 and 55% higher in female fetal lung lavage at 26 and 28 days, respectively, and 75% higher in amniotic fluid at 28 days (P less than 0.05). The total phosphatidylcholine/sphingomyelin ratios were 39% higher in female fetal lung lavage and 35% higher in female amniotic fluid at 28 days (P less than 0.05). Significant differences were not detected in the very immature (24 day) or the mature (30 day) fetuses. This provides clear evidence of a biochemical difference according to fetal sex in the maturation of pulmonary surfactant production.
Directional Derivatives for Extremal-Value Functions with Applications to the Completely Convex Case

Several techniques in mathematical programming involve the constrained optimization of an extremal-value function. Such functions are defined as the extremal value of a related parameterized optimization problem. This paper reviews and extends the characterization of directional derivatives for three major types of extremal-value functions. The characterization for the completely convex case is then used to construct a robust and convergent feasible direction algorithm. Such an algorithm has applications to the optimization of large-scale nonlinear decomposable systems.
Sexually Dimorphic BDNF Signaling Directs Sensory Innervation of the Mammary Gland

How neural circuits associated with sexually dimorphic organs are differentially assembled during development is unclear. Here, we report a sexually dimorphic pattern of mouse mammary gland sensory innervation and the mechanism of its formation. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), emanating from mammary mesenchyme and signaling through its receptor TrkB on sensory axons, is required for establishing mammary gland sensory innervation of both sexes at early developmental stages. Subsequently, in males, androgens promote mammary mesenchymal expression of a truncated form of TrkB, which prevents BDNF-TrkB signaling in sensory axons and leads to a rapid loss of mammary gland innervation independent of neuronal apoptosis. Thus, sex hormone regulation of a neurotrophic factor signal directs sexually dimorphic axonal growth and maintenance, resulting in generation of a sex-specific neural circuit.
Attention effects during visual short-term memory maintenance: Protection or prioritization?

Interactions between visual attention and visual short-term memory (VSTM) play a central role in cognitive processing. For example, attention can assist in selectively encoding items into visual memory. Attention appears to be able to influence items already stored in visual memory, as well; cues that appear long after the presentation of an array of objects can affect memory for those objects (Griffin & Nobre, 2003). In five experiments, we distinguished two possible mechanisms for the effects of cues on items currently stored in VSTM. Aprotection account proposes that attention protects the cued item from becoming degraded during the retention interval. By contrast, aprioritization account suggests that attention increases a cued item’s priority during the comparison process that occurs when memory is tested. The results of the experiments were consistent with the first of these possibilities, suggesting that attention can serve to protect VSTM representations while they are being maintained.
Non-destructive Inhibition of Metallofullerenol Gd@C 82 (OH) 22 on WW domain: Implication on Signal Transduction Pathway

Endohedral metallofullerenol Gd@C82(OH)22 has recently been shown to effectively inhibit tumor growth; however, its potential adverse bioeffects remain to be understood before its wider applications. Here, we present our study on the interaction between Gd@C82(OH)22 and WW domain, a representative protein domain involved in signaling and regulatory pathway, using all-atom explicit solvent molecular dynamics simulations. We find that Gd@C82(OH)22 has an intrinsic binding preference to the binding groove, particularly the key signature residues Y28 and W39. In its binding competition with the native ligand PRM, Gd@C82(OH)22 is shown to easily win the competition over PRM in occupying the active site, implying that Gd@C82(OH)22 can impose a potential inhibitory effect on the WW domain. Further analyses with binding free energy landscapes reveal that Gd@C82(OH)22 can not only directly block the binding site of the WW domain, but also effectively distract the PRM from its native binding pocket.
Relationships between Systematic Errors in Medium Range Numerical Forecasts and Some of the Principal Modes of Low-Frequency Variability of the Northern Hemisphere 700 mb Circulation

Abstract The relationship between the existence of low-frequency 700 mb height anomalies in the initial conditions of NMC's MRF global spectral model and subsequent 5-, 7-, and 10-day forecasts of 700 mb height from 1982 to 1988 is explored. Low-frequency 700 mb flow regimes are specified in each of four two-month seasons by performing a rotated principal component analysis (RPCA) on 38 or 39 year time series of daily, low-pass filtered 700 mb height analyses. In a given season, the amplitude time series (ATS) for each mode is used to decide which MRF forecast error maps should be used in forming a composite map corresponding to either the “+” phase or the “−” phase of the given mode. Several methods, including Monte Carlo simulations, are used to evaluate the statistical significance of the composite maps. Many modes, including the Pacific North American (PNA) mode in winter and the leading summer mode, are found to be related to either unusually strong or unusually weak systematic error signature. Two d...
Performance Characterization of a Traveling-Wave Electrohydrodynamic Micropump

Microscale fluidic manipulation using traveling-wave, induction electrohydrodynamics is demonstrated. A three-phase traveling-wave device fabricated for the experiments provides a temporally and spatially varying electric field which helps induce ions in a fluid subject to a temperature gradient. These ions are moved as the traveling wave propagates, resulting in a drag force being exerted on the surrounding fluid. Repulsion-type electrohydrodynamic flow is visualized in a microchannel of depth 50 μm, and results are presented in terms of velocity measurements using particle image velocimetry.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
SU‐GG‐T‐504: Verification of Accuracy of the Monte Carlo Based Electron Treatment Planning System

Purpose: To verify accuracy of the Monte Carlo based electron treatment planning system (Varian Eclipse, eMC 8.1) in modeling blocked electron fields. Method and Materials: Dose distributions, for open field with cones sizes 10×10cm2 and 15×15cm2 at standard source‐to‐surface distance (SSD) and extended SSD (113cm); plus blocked fields of 3×3cm2, 4×4cm2, 5‐cm diameter circle, and an irregular field at 100SSD, using various electron energies, measured using MapCheck device, are compared to those generated by eMC algorithm. γ index (3%/3mm) is used for analysis. Inhomogeneous (air and 3mm Al) and angular effects are also evaluated. Output measurements are confirmed with ion chamber.Results: There is a good agreement between measured and planned dose distributions for 10×10cm2 and 15×15cm2 cones at 100SSD and 113SSD at the depth of 2.5cm for 9 MeV and 3cm for 12–22 MeV, except eMC algorithm overestimates low dose regions in all energies. For 12 MeV, the algorithm overestimates dose less than 20cGy by 40%. The eMC algorithm can predict dose distributions well when different cutouts are inserted. However, 34% of measured points had γ >1 (TH= 10%) for irregular field with 18 MeV. Obliquity effect has test for 9 and 15 MeV. γ values for 9 and 15 MeV, measured at 105SSD with 10×10 cm2 cone, are 97.7% and 89.2% for gantry angle of 10° and 94.7% and 91.5% for 20°. The algorithm also shows a good agreement when inhomogenity present. But it underestimates dose under an air cavity for 9 MeV by 13.7%. Dose measured when computed MU delivered is within tolerance. Conclusion: Study shows that eMC can model dose distributions for blocked fields and different setup geometries with more than 90% of accuracy. This provides better dose estimation for treatment over critical organs. Further study is need for air cavity interface.
Semi-analytic solution of the motion of two spheres in arbitrary shear flow

Abstract The semi-analytic solution for the motion of two spheres suspended in arbitrary, unbounded shear flow is developed. The solution is a generalization of classical bispherical-coordinate solutions for two spheres moving along or perpendicular to the line of centers, rotating about the centerline in a quiescent liquid, and suspended in linear flow. The semi-analytic solution is highly efficient and can be used to study dilute sphere interactions in low Reynolds number flows. Several application problems are considered including the net particle migration of rough spheres in Couette and Poiseuille flow and the self-diffusivity of spheres in linear and nonlinear flow. Although it has been established previously that rough sphere pairs in nonlinear shear flow migrate towards the low shear rate region of the flow field, the physics behind this migration is elucidated. It is also shown that, under certain circumstances, a rough sphere pair undergoing short period oscillatory Poiseuille flow can actually migrate towards the high-shear rate region of the flow field. Finally, new results are generated for the effect of particle radius ratio on the migration phenomenon.
Challenges in Governance for the PSA as a Regional Sociological Association

In this essay we identify and discuss some of the challenges currently faced by the Pacific Sociological Association (PSA) related to its governance. The PSA is not unlike other regional associations and faces similar challenges. The rapid growth in membership for the association has repeatedly placed strains on the governance structure, particularly on the office of the Executive Director. The formal organization of governance has not always matched the actual ways in which governing is carried out, almost entirely by volunteers. Although there is growth, there is also significant turnover in members from year to year and this presents a challenge for maintaining an active, vibrant organization. The governing structure of elected committees and officers has not changed with membership growth but the number of standing committees has increased dramatically, spreading the volunteer membership thin. To meet these challenges, we make several suggestions. We argue for the importance of maintaining a stable membership; that the PSA should continue its work to formally define roles and positions including a restructuring of its committees; and an emphasis should be placed on providing an intellectual home for the members of the PSA. We elaborate on these responses to the challenges faced by the PSA and suggest considerations for the association as it moves into the final decade of its first 100 years.
Exploring public relations in Croatia through relational communication and media richness theories

Abstract This article examines the practice of public relations in Croatia through the theories of relational communication and media richness. The findings suggest that the Croatian model of public relations is a mix of traditional media relations and personal influence. Croatian public relations is characterized by a heavy reliance on personal invitations, telephone contacts, and other relational methods for conducting and evaluating public relations. This preference for richer media tactics has implications for public relations practice and theory building.
Baryogenesis in a supersymmetric model with Z 3 matter parity

We analyze a scenario for baryogenesis at low temperature ([similar to]1 TeV) in supersymmetric extensions of the standard model. These extensions contain gauge singlets and discrete symmetries that suppress unwanted baryon- and lepton-number violation, and offer a framework to accommodate nonstandard neutrino physics. In our scenario, the decay of the lightest supersymmetric particle generates a net lepton number that is subsequently converted, via anomalous electroweak processes, into baryon number. We find that this possibility could be realized in models incorporating a [ital Z][sub 3] discrete symmetry, although it requires a scalar singlet as the lightest supersymmetric particle and a somewhat complicated pattern of couplings and fields in the singlet sector.
Association between Plant Canopies and the Spatial Patterns of Infiltration in Shrubland and Grassland of the Chihuahuan Desert, New Mexico

Shrubs have invaded extensive areas of grassland in the southwestern United States. The zones of nutrient-rich soil found beneath plant canopies, referred to as “islands of fertility,” are more intense and spaced farther apart in shrubland than in grassland. This difference in the spatial pattern of soil nutrients may reinforce shrub invasion. Changes in water availability in the soil could also influence shrub invasion. Here we compare the spatial patterns of infiltration, defined as the total equivalent water depth entering the soil following individual rainfall events or summed over many events, at adjacent grass- and shrub-dominated sites in the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge. We use two infiltration data sets. First, following four rainfall events, we measured soil moisture and wetting front depth at 10-cm intervals along 24-m transects. We estimate infiltration from these data. Second, we use vertical arrays of soil moisture probes to compare infiltration between adjacent canopies and interspaces following 31 storms. In both the grassland and shrubland, infiltration is typically greater beneath plant canopies than beneath interspaces. Canopies are oases where soil moisture is higher than in the surrounding areas. However, infiltration is not greater beneath canopies when surface runoff is limited. In the shrubland, the canopy–interspace infiltration ratio increases as storm size, and therefore runoff, increases. This relationship also exists in the grassland, but it is not as strong or clear. The magnitude of spatial variability of infiltration is similar in shrubland and grassland. In addition, the distance over which infiltration is correlated is approximately 50 cm in both environments. Most of the spatial variability exists between the stem and canopy margin in the shrubland and straddling the canopy margin in the grassland. The most notable difference is that subcanopy oases are spread farther apart in the shrubland because canopies are separated by larger interspaces in this environment.
Configuration of the C/D ring junction in equilenin and other steroids.

THE configuration of the C/D ring fusion in equilenin has been the subject of a number of communications1–3. We consider that the arguments advanced for a trans ring junction leave much to be desired. Shoppee's1 conclusion that the dehydrogenation of equilin to equilenin under mild conditions proves the steric identity of the C/D union in these two substances can no longer be accepted, since isoequilin, which is now known4,5 to be also trans, gives isoequilenin (which has the opposite C/D configuration to equilenin) under the same conditions6.
Generalized principles of unchanging total concentration.

We consider the transport of multiple reacting species under the continuum assumption in situations such as those that frequently arise in electroanalytical chemistry. Under certain limitations, it...
Src homology 2 protein tyrosine phosphatase (SHPTP2)/Src homology 2 phosphatase 2 (SHP2) tyrosine phosphatase is a positive regulator of the interleukin 5 receptor signal transduction pathways leading to the prolongation of eosinophil survival

Interleukin-5 (IL-5) regulates the growth and function of eosinophils. It induces rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of Lyn and Jak2 tyrosine kinases. The role of tyrosine phosphatases in IL-5 signal transduction has not been investigated. In this study, we provide first evidence that SH2 protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHPTP2) phosphotyrosine phosphatase plays a key role in prevention of eosinophil death by IL-5. We found that IL-5 produced a rapid activation and tyrosine phosphorylation of SHPTP2 within 1 min. The tyrosine phosphorylated SHPTP2 was complexed with the adapter protein Grb2 in IL-5–stimulated eosinophils. Furthermore, SHPTP2 appeared to physically associate with β common (βc) chain of the IL-5 receptor (IL-5βcR). The association of SHPTP2 with IL-5βcR was reconstituted using a synthetic phosphotyrosine-containing peptide, βc 605–624, encompassing tyrosine (Y)612. The binding to the phosphotyrosine-containing peptide increased the phosphatase activity of SHPTP2, whereas the same peptide with the phosphorylated Y612→ F mutation did not activate SHPTP2. Only SHPTP2 antisense oligonucleotides, but not sense SHPTP2, could inhibit tyrosine phosphorylation of microtubule-associated protein kinase, and reverse the eosinophil survival advantage provided by IL-5. Therefore, we conclude that the physical association of SHPTP2 with the phosphorylated βc receptor and Grb2 and its early activation are required for the coupling of the receptor to the Ras signaling pathway and for prevention of eosinophil death by IL-5.
Determination of anisotropy parameters in magnetically uniaxial specimens by torque derivatives

Formulae are given for determination, from torque curve slopes, of the first- and second-order anisotropy parameters in magnetically uniaxial specimens. The customary situation in which torque is plotted versus applied magnetic field orientation angle is examined. Corrections to measured torque slope arise from the off-set of the magnetization vector \overrightarrow{M}_{s} , from the applied magnetic field \overrightarrow{H} direction.
IR-MALDESI Mass Spectrometry Imaging of Biological Tissue Sections Using Ice as a Matrix

Infrared matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (IR-MALDESI) mass spectrometry imaging of biological tissue sections using a layer of deposited ice as an energy-absorbing matrix was investigated. Dynamics of plume ablation were first explored using a nanosecond exposure shadowgraphy system designed to simultaneously collect pictures of the plume with a camera and collect the Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance FT-ICR mass spectrum corresponding to that same ablation event. Ablation of fresh tissue analyzed with and without using ice as a matrix were compared using this technique. Effect of spot-to-spot distance, number of laser shots per pixel, and tissue condition (matrix) on ion abundance were also investigated for 50 μm-thick tissue sections. Finally, the statistical method called design of experiments was used to compare source parameters and determine the optimal conditions for IR-MALDESI of tissue sections using deposited ice as a matrix. With a better understanding of the fundamentals of ablation dynamics and a systematic approach to explore the experimental space, it was possible to improve ion abundance by nearly one order of magnitude.
Analysis of High Volume Fraction Irregular Particulate Damping Composites

Concentrated suspensions of inclusions occur in asphalt and dental composite resins. Concentrated suspensions are also of use in achieving a combination of high stiffness and loss (the product E tan δ), desirable in damping layer and structural damping applications. For realizable particulate microstructures, analytical solutions for monodisperse inclusion morphologies such as spherical, random fibrous and platelet, are valid only in the case of a dilute concentration of inclusions. Finite element analyses were conducted of hierarchical particulate composites with high volume fractions of particles of irregular shape. For particle volume concentration 40 percent or less, the results are close to the Hashin-Shtrikman lower formula in a stiffness versus concentration plot and in a stiffness loss map. For larger concentration, stiffness is higher and E tan δ is lower. The irregular particle shape therefore enhances stiffness at a given concentration, and reduces damping layer performance.
Shedding light on UVR and Hodgkin lymphoma.

In this issue of Blood , Monnereau and colleagues pool 4 retrospective (case-control), observational epidemiologic studies to demonstrate an inverse association between UV radiation (UVR) exposure and risk of developing Hodgkin lymphoma (HL).[1][1] ![Figure][2] Global mean erythemal UVR
THE CONTROL OF THE RENAL EXCRETION OF WATER : I. THE EFFECT OF VARIATIONS IN THE STATE OF HYDRATION ON WATER EXCRETION IN DOGS WITH DIABETES INSIPIDUS.

Water and electrolyte excretion has been studied in a series of dogs with diabetes insipidus, in which the extent of neurological damage was subsequently determined. The animals were studied before and after the introduction of variables which produce marked changes in the state of hydration,—administration and restriction of water and the substitution of 0.5 per cent sodium chloride for it as a drinking fluid. Observations were made on those factors, both general and renal, which appear to be important in determining the excretion of water and electrolyte, or which may be expected to yield information on the mechanisms by which the regulation of such excretion is achieved. These are the volume of extracellular fluid and plasma and the concentration of the contained electrolyte, glomerular filtration rate, and the excretion of electrolyte, urea, and water itself, as well as the tonicity of the urine.
RFID enhances materials handling

Describes developments in radio frequency identification [RFID] techniques, using examples from existing applications in the motor industry, breweries and mail order companies. Looks at the miniaturization resulting from integrated circuit technology, the advantages of passive transponders and one of the latest versions of transponder, the Multipage [M/P], a tag which contains the equivalent of 17 individual transponders in a single unit. Concludes that the advent of low‐cost integrated RFID technology has enabled new solutions to production problems in the materials handling environment. Tagging brings improvements in efficiency, security and accuracy by uniquely labelling units with the production process.
Treatment Effects for Adolescent Struggling Readers: An Application of Moderated Mediation.

This study used multigroup structural equations to evaluate the possibility that a theory-driven, evidence-based, yearlong reading program for sixth-grade struggling readers moderates the interrelationships among elements of the simple model of reading (i.e., listening comprehension, word reading, and reading comprehension; Hoover & Gough, 1990). Our specific interest was in the relation of theory, program, and evaluation. Our motivating assumptions were that 1) a well-designed, theory-based program affects performance in predictable ways and that 2) treatment effects may be present even when group differences in posttest means are not robust. The analysis sample comprised 327 students, 113 in the business-as-usual condition and 214 in treatment. We pretested students in the fall of sixth grade and collected posttest data in the fall of seventh grade. There were 217 cases in the posttest sample, 47 comparison students and 170 treatment students at posttest. The findings support the possibility that treated sixth-grade students improved in response to an intensive, yearlong intervention, when conceptualizing change in terms of predictable interrelationships of important underlying skills, rather than in terms of group mean differences at posttest. Specifically, the results suggest that verbal knowledge is less proximal to the reading comprehension of students who have become proficient in the use of text processing and reading comprehension strategies.
Dynamic filtering by two-dimensional 1H NMR with application to phage lambda repressor

Flexible regions of proteins play an important role in catalysis, ligand binding, and macromolecular interactions. Because of its enhanced sensitivity to motional narrowing, two-dimensional coupling constant J-correlated 1H NMR may be used to observe these regions selectively. Dynamic filtering is an intrinsic feature of this experiment because cross-peak amplitude decays rapidly as linewidths approach the coupling constant. We demonstrate here the flexibility of the NH2-terminal arm of phage lambda repressor, which is thought to wrap around the double helix in the repressor-operator complex. The assignment of arm resonances is made possible by the construction of mutant repressor genes containing successive NH2-terminal deletions.