cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Partial purification and properties of diglyceride kinase from Escherichia coli.

Abstract Diglyceride kinase (diacylglycerol kinase E.C. 2.7.1.-), an enzyme localized in the inner membrane of Escherichia coli , has been purified about 600-fold. The purified enzyme exhibits an absolute requirement for magnesium ion; its activity toward both lipid and nucleotide substrates is stimulated by diphosphatidylglycerol or other phospholipids. Adenine nucleotides are much better substrates for the enzyme than are other purine or pyrimidine nucleotides. The purified enzyme preparation catalyzes the phosphorylation of a number of lipids, including ceramide and several ceramide and diacylglycerol-like analogs. The broad lipid substrate specificity of diglyceride kinase suggests that this enzyme may function in vivo for the phosphorylation of an acceptor other than diacylglycerol.
TU-EE-A4-05: Influence of Photon Scatter Modeling On Image Reconstruction Accuracy in CBCT

Purpose: One method for scatter correction in cone beam computed tomography(CBCT) is to compute the scatter with a Monte Carlo simulation. The accuracy of this approach may be influenced by the accuracy of the underlying photon scattering cross sections. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of the level of sophistication of photon interaction models on the computed scatter in CBCT and its influence on the accuracy of image reconstruction.Method and Materials: The investigation is performed using egs_cbct, a new EGSnrc based code for use in CBCT imaging. The EGSnrc treatment of Rayleigh scattering is improved to include measured molecular coherent scatteringform factors (MCSFF) in addition to the commonly used independent atom approximation form factors (IAAFF). A more accurate algorithm for sampling coherent scattering angles is also added. Three photonscatter models are investigated: Compton scattering according to the Klein‐Nishina equation and no Rayleigh scattering (simple); Bound Compton scattering modeled in the relativistic impulse approximation (RIA) and IAAFF; RIA and MCSFF. Scatter calculation and image reconstruction accuracy is tested for a 30 cm diameter water sphere with and without inserts of varying density and materials for a scan with 180 projections. Results: The simple model is not sufficiently accurate for estimating photonscatter in CBCT. The influence of MCSFF on the computed scatter distributions is small and only noticeable at the edges of the phantom. No significant difference in the accuracy of the reconstructed images is observed between the MCSFF and IAAFF coherent scattering models. Conclusion:Rayleigh scattering must be included in the Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the scatter in CBCT imaging. The inclusion of molecular interference effects in coherent scattering has no significant effect in the image reconstruction process.
Sex difference in personality characteristics of deprived adolescents.

What little research is available on personality development in deprived children points to ego development characterized by lack of confidence and negative self-images (Bloom, Davis, & Hess, 1965). In a 6-wk. program of summer enrichment for disadvantaged junior high students from American Indian, Mexican, and European ethnic backgrounds, staff ratings of participant improvement in independence, responsibility and cooperation consistently ranked the boys above the girls, a surprising finding in light of the recognized higher school dropout rate for males. It seemed possible that the poorly motivated, recalcitrant behavior of many girls was related to their earlier maturing and a passive acquiescence to a rather hopeless outlook on life. An example of this was an American Indian girl's theme which began in response to the question, "Twenty years from now . . ." with "I'll probably have ten children though I only want three" (Mason, 1967). To test the significance of these behavioral observations of a sex difference in personality characteristics of deprived adolescents. The California Psychological Inventory (Gough, 1957) was administered to participant groups during each of two consecutive summers. In both samples the females, regardless of ethnic group, scored more negatively, poorly motivated and non-conforming than did the males (Mason, in press a). Follow-up evaluation of the over-all effectiveness of the program indicated that one Mexican girl had dropped out of school, while 11 students had dropped out of comparable control groups (Mason, in press b). At the present time, however, 2 Indian girls ate out of school because of illegitimate pregnancies (including the one quoted above) and one Indian girl planning to be married has dropped out. While the greater economic and social usefulness of the disadvantaged adult female supposedly leads to maladjustment for the male, perhaps the reverse is true for disadvantaged adolescents. The present results intlicate that the deprived adolescent girl may be more defeated than her male counterpart and this may be particularly true for the American Indian girl.
Elastic characterization of platinum/rhodium alloy at high temperature by combined laser heating and laser ultrasonic techniques.

Abstract We demonstrate an innovative pump–probe technique combined with laser heating to determine the velocity of a surface Rayleigh wave at high temperature. Laser ultrasonics in a point-source–point-receiver configuration was combined with laser heating to evaluate the elastic properties of micron size specimens. The measurements of the velocity of the surface Rayleigh wave (SRW) were conducted at 1070 K.
Ureteral reconstruction for retroperitoneal tumors in children

Abstract Purpose Removal of solid tumors of the pelvis and abdominal cavity may require resection of an involved ureteral segment. Ureteral stricture can also be a result of intense therapy. We present our experience with urinary reconstruction in this situation. Methods A retrospective review of pediatric oncology patients with solid abdominal/pelvic tumors who underwent a ureteral reconstructive procedure was done. Institutional review board wavier was obtained for the review. Patient data were collected on diagnosis, procedures performed, renal function, and follow-up. Results Thirteen patients were identified: 8 male and 5 female. The mean age at surgery was 10.1 years. The most common reason for surgery was en bloc tumor resection (n = 8) followed by ureteral strictures (n = 3). The Boari flap, Leadbetter-Politano reimplantation, and psoas hitch were the most common procedures preformed. Follow-up studies included measurements of serum urea nitrogen/creatinine levels as well as renal scans to assess functional status; 2 patients had elevated serum urea nitrogen/creatinine levels at follow-up. The mean follow-up time was 18 months; 4 patients died—none was secondary to renal complications. There were no local tumor recurrences. Conclusions Abdominal and pelvic tumors frequently involve the ureter, and their removal should not necessitate acceptance of poor surgical margins. Complete surgical resection of tumor including involved ureteral segments can prolong survival in patients with extensive abdominopelvic cancers. In another group of patients, ureteral strictures arise secondary to therapy and reconstruction may preserve renal function.
Can nurses perform surgical cricothyrotomy with acceptable success and complication rates

Study objective: This study was undertaken to determine whether flight nurses can perform surgical cricothyrotomies with acceptable success and complication rates. Methods: This case series examined the survival, success, and complication rates of surgical cricothyrotomy. A specially trained flight nurse retrospectively reviewed all prehospital, emergency department, inpatient, autopsy, and outpatient follow-up records. Results: Fifty-five consecutive patients in whom surgical cricothyrotomy was attempted by a flight nurse during a two-and-one-half-year period were studied. Patients ranged in age from 9 to 76 years. The airway was not cannulated successfully by a flight nurse in two patients. In two patients, the tube was not in the cricothyroid space (one in the upper tracheal rings, and the other in the larynx). In three patients, packing was insufficient to stop bleeding from around the operative site; and in three the tube became occluded by blood in the emergency department. Finally, two patients developed subglottic stenosis. Conclusion: Surgical cricothyrotomy in the field can be performed reliably by specially trained nurses. Because only the most critically ill or injured patients with unmanageable airways are subjected to this procedure, a significant complication rate can be anticipated.
Motivational deficit in depression

It was recently hypothesized that depression primarily is a motivational deficit, where motivation is defined as the product of expectancies and values. This hypothesis has been supported by literature indicating that depressives possess pessimistic expectancies or low outcome values. The present experiments directly tested the motivational hypothesis of depression by measuring both expectancies and absolute values. Experiment 1 supported the hypothesis by finding that depressives possessed lower values, lower expectancies, and therefore lower motivations for most rewards. Experiment 2 failed to support the motivational hypothesis by finding that depressives possessed lower absolute aversions, normal expectancies, and lower motivation for punishers. Differences were not the result of psychopathology in general. Both experiments supported several theories of depression but contradicted others. The major conclusion was that depression primarily is an affective indifference to almost all outcomes and an impaired motivation for almost all outcomes. Implications were drawn concerning the performances of depressives and concerning their responsiveness to certain psychotherapy techniques.
Concentration reversals in ridge regression

Ridge regression is often the method of choice for approaching ill-conditioned systems. A canonical form identifies regions in the parameter space where Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) is problematic. A curious but unrecognized property of ridge solutions emerges: Under spherical errors with or without moments, the relative concentrations of the canonical estimators reverse as the ridge scalar evolves, the estimators least concentrated under OLS being most concentrated under ridge regression, and conversely.
Performance of Nondisabled Adults and Adults with Learning Disabilities on a Computerized Multiphasic Cognitive Memory Battery

There is scant research on cognitive impairment in adults with learning disabilities (LD), even though at least some children with LD remain affected throughout adulthood. The present study was designed to examine several memory processes in adults with LD, including (a) recall with and without cueing, (b) item recognition, (c) proactive inhibition, and (d) semantically organized material. Twenty-one adults with learning disabilities (17 males and 4 females) between 18 and 33 years of age were compared with age matched controls (N = 88). There were two noteworthy findings: First, the adults with LD consistently overestimated their ability to remember lists of words; second, adults with LD were especially impaired in the test requiring termination of an exhaustive and thorough search for relevant material. The data suggest that level of expectation and organizational (structural) strategies are areas worthy of further investigation.
Publishing about philanthropy

The number of books and journals published about philanthropy is growing. This article examines that growth, looks at which book and journal publishers are most active in the field, and explores the publishing environment. Philanthropy's interdisciplinary nature raises questions about audience and markets, as well as authors and publishers.
A gyrokinetic one-dimensional scrape-off layer model of an edge-localized mode heat pulse

An electrostatic gyrokinetic-based model is applied to simulate parallel plasma transport in the scrape-off layer to a divertor plate. The authors focus on a test problem that has been studied previously, using parameters chosen to model a heat pulse driven by an edge-localized mode in JET. Previous work has used direct particle-in-cell equations with full dynamics, or Vlasov or fluid equations with only parallel dynamics. With the use of the gyrokinetic quasineutrality equation and logical sheath boundary conditions, spatial and temporal resolution requirements are no longer set by the electron Debye length and plasma frequency, respectively. This test problem also helps illustrate some of the physics contained in the Hamiltonian form of the gyrokinetic equations and some of the numerical challenges in developing an edge gyrokinetic code.
THE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT WITH INDOMETHACIN IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO HYPOTENSION ON THE CEREBRAL CIRCULATION OF NEWBORN PIGLETS. † 1273

THE EFFECTS OF TREATMENT WITH INDOMETHACIN IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO HYPOTENSION ON THE CEREBRAL CIRCULATION OF NEWBORN PIGLETS. † 1273
Amorphous multilayer thin films prepared by the auto-dip-coating technique

ABSTRACT Thin films composed of alternating layers of amorphous barium titanate (BaTiO3) andamorphous silica (Si02) have been fabricated by the sol-gel technique. Thin films of pure amorphous BaTiO3 were also fabricated by the sol-gel technique for comparison. A special dip-coating and heating apparatus was built in order to coat and fire films of up to20 layers. The cycles were adjustable and time-controlled. Upon firing to 400 °C, the films remained amorphous. The thickness and refractive index of each film, varying with concentration of solution, were measured by ellipsometry. The films were characterized byX-ray diffraction, electron diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). UV-visibleabsorption spectra of the films also confirmed the multilayered structure.Key words: amorphous, multilayer thin films, BaTiO3, BaTiO3/Si02, sol-gel. 1. INTRODUCTIONThere are many kinds of multilayer films. Figure 1 shows a schematic structure of a common multilayer film. By changing the materials and thicknesses of layer A and layer B,
Selective sulfonylation and acylation of methyl and benzyl glycopyranosides of D-xylose and D-glucose☆

Abstract The relative reactivities of the hydroxyl groups of methyl α- and β- D -xylopyranosides in selective sulfonylation reactions with methanesulfonyl chloride in pyridine have been determined. For the α-anomer, the order of reactivity is O-2> O-4>O-3, and for the β-anomer O-4>O-3>O-2. Useful yields of mono- or disubstituted xylosides can be obtained from both anomers by suitable choice of reactant ratios and the structures of the major products have been established. Reports that the hydroxyl groups of benzyl α- D -xylopyranoside and benzyl α- D -glucopyranoside show orders of reactivity different from those of the corresponding methyl glycosides have been found to be erroneous. The correct structures of the major products formed by selective p -toluenesulfonylation of benzyl α- D -xylopyranoside and by selective methanesulfonylation and lauroylation of benzyl α- D -glucopyranoside have been established by synthetic routes.
Urban Public Spaces as Representations of Culture The Plaza in Costa Rica

This article illustrates how spatial/cultural representations come into being with data collected during a 7-month ethnographic study of two plazas, the Parque Central and the Plaza de la Cultura i...
Bioprospecting in high temperature environments; application of thermostable protein cages

The first researchers to discover life in high temperature environments could not have anticipated the impact of their findings on the biotechnology industry. Today biotech companies benefit from multimillion dollar sales of enzymes originating from microorganisms that thrive in diverse high temperature environments. In this review we highlight significant advances made towards the development of self-assembling oligomeric protein cages from hyperthermophilic organisms as amenable platforms for diverse applications in biotechnology, electronics and medicine.
Lateral Dynamics and Stability of Two Full Vehicles in Tandem

The lateral dynamics and stability of two full vehicles in tandem are investigated. The nonlinear differential equations of motion of this four-axle articulated vehicle system are presented in matrix form and then linearized. The critical forward velocity of the steady state for oversteering conditions is derived in a closed form, and the criteria for understeer, neutral steer, or oversteer are given. Uncertainty of the critical forward velocity and its sensitivity to errors in the system parameters are evaluated using the root mean square method. Conditions for nonoscillatory and oscillatory instabilities of the linearized vehicle system are given. Effects of the critical system parameters (mainly the mass distribution) on the stability are investigated.
Plasma wave collapse generated by the interaction of two oppositely propagating electron beams with a plasma

The nonlinear stage of the evolution of unstable Langmuir waves excited by two oppositely-propagating beams is studied experimentally. When a pump at frequency omega p is applied, the two monochromatic Langmuir waves thus generated ( omega p, k) and ( omega p, -k) form a standing wave. The ponderomotive force and the generation of cavitons lead to the process of plasma wave collapse to a spatial width of 7 lambda D and an intensity E2/4 pi nT approximately=0.4. Experimental evidence showing that transit time damping is the limiting mechanism for the collapse process is also discussed.
Anticancer Role of PPARγ Agonists in Hematological Malignancies Found in the Vasculature, Marrow, and Eyes

The use of targeted cancer therapies in combination with conventional chemotherapeutic agents and/or radiation treatment has increased overall survival of cancer patients. However, longer survival is accompanied by increased incidence of comorbidities due, in part, to drug side effects and toxicities. It is well accepted that inflammation and tumorigenesis are linked. Because peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ agonists are potent mediators of anti-inflammatory responses, it was a logical extension to examine the role of PPARγ agonists in the treatment and prevention of cancer. This paper has two objectives: first to highlight the potential uses for PPARγ agonists in anticancer therapy with special emphasis on their role when used as adjuvant or combined therapy in the treatment of hematological malignancies found in the vasculature, marrow, and eyes, and second, to review the potential role PPARγ and/or its ligands may have in modulating cancer-associated angiogenesis and tumor-stromal microenvironment crosstalk in bone marrow.
Rapid forgetting of individual spatial reversal problems in rats with parafascicular lesions.

Rats with posteromedial thalamic lesions were impaired in learning position reversal problems in a T maze. Test trials given after learning each reversal problem disclosed defective retention in the posteromedial thalamic group. Neither bilateral amygdaloid lesions nor unilateral neocortical ablations had any remarkable effects on learning or retention of this spatial task. Analyses of lesion placements suggest that damage to the parafascicular region is critical for the appearance of these learning and retention defects. It is proposed that the parafascicular region contributes to consolidation of spatial memory traces.
The impact of off-resonance effects on water content estimates in surface nuclear magnetic resonance

ABSTRACTSurface nuclear magnetic resonance is a geophysical technique providing the ability to produce images of the subsurface water content profile. To produce reliable images, the physics of the excitation process must be accurately captured. Generally, the excitation is assumed to occur through a process known as on-resonance excitation. This assumes that the precession frequency of the magnetization is described by a single frequency at all locations in the subsurface and that the frequency of the applied magnetic field is set to this single frequency. However, several conditions can occur in which these assumptions may be violated. We explored two scenarios in which this is the case: Magnetic susceptibility contrasts lead to a distribution of precessional frequencies and (1) the transmit frequency is equal to the center of this distribution and (2) the transmit frequency is not equal to the center frequency of the distribution of precessional frequencies. Both of these scenarios leads to a condition...
PROROCENTRUM BELIZEANUM, PROROCENTRUM ELEGANS, AND PROROCENTRUM CARIBBAEUM, THREE NEW BENTHIC SPECIES (DINOPHYCEAE) FROM A MANGROVE ISLAND, TWIN CAYS, BELIZE

Three new benthic dinoflagellate species, Prorocentrum belizeanum, Prorocentrum elegans, and Prorocentrum caribbaeum, from mangrove floating detritus are described from scanning electron micrographs. Species were identified based on shape, size, surface micromorphology, ornamentation of thecal plates, and architecture of the periflagellar area and intercalary band. Cells of P. belizeanum are round to slightly oval with a cell size of 55–60 μm long and 50–55 μm wide. Areolae are round and numerous (853–1024 per valve) and range from 0.66 to 0.83 μm in size. The periflagellar area of P. belizeanum is a broad V-shaped depression; it accommodates a flagellar and an auxiliary pore and a flared, curved apical collar. The intercalary band of P. belizeanum is horizontally striated. Prorocentrum elegans is a small species 15–20 μm long and 10–14 μm wide, with an ovate cell shape. The thecal surface is smooth. Two sizes of valve pores were recognized: large, round pores (20–22 per valve) arranged in a distinct pattern and smaller pores situated in an array along the intercalary band. The periflagellar area is V-shaped; it accommodates an uneven sized flagellar pore, an auxiliary pore, and an angled protuberant flagellar plate. The intercalary band is transversely striated. It is a bloom-forming species. Prorocentrum caribbaeum cells are heart-shaped with a rounded anterior end and a pointed posterior end. Cells range from 40 to 45 μm long and 30 to 35 μm wide. Thecal surface has two different-sized pores: large, round pores (145–203 per valve) arranged perpendicularly from the posterior margins, and small, round pores unevenly distributed on the thecal surface. The periflagellar area is ornate. It is V-shaped with a curved apical collar located next to the auxiliary pore; a smaller protuberant apical plate is adjacent to the flagellar pore. The intercalary band is transversely striated and sinuous. Cells are active swimmers.
A novel, enigmatic histone modification: biotinylation of histones by holocarboxylase synthetase

Holocarboxylase synthetase catalyzes the covalent binding of biotin to histones in humans and other eukaryotes. Eleven biotinylation sites have been identified in histones H2A, H3, and H4. K12-biotinylated histone H4 is enriched in heterochromatin, repeat regions, and plays a role in gene repression. About 30% of the histone H4 molecules are biotinylated at K12 in histone H4 in human fibroblast telomeres. The abundance of biotinylated histones at distinct genomic loci depends on biotin availability. Decreased histone biotinylation decreases life span and stress resistance in Drosophila. Low enrichment of biotinylated histones at transposable elements impairs repression of these elements.
A THEORY OF AGE-DEPENDENT MUTATION AND SENESCENCE

Laboratory experiments show us that the deleterious character of accumulated novel age-specific mutations is reduced and made less variable with increased age. While theories of aging predict that the frequency of deleterious mutations at mutation-selection equilibrium will increase with the mutation's age of effect, they do not account for these age-related changes in the distribution of de novo mutational effects. Furthermore, no model predicts why this dependence of mutational effects upon age exists. Because the nature of mutational distributions plays a critical role in shaping patterns of senescence, we need to develop aging theory that explains and incorporates these effects. Here we propose a model that explains the age dependency of mutational effects by extending Fisher's geometrical model of adaptation to include a temporal dimension. Using a combination of simple analytical arguments and simulations, we show that our model predicts age-specific mutational distributions that are consistent with observations from mutation-accumulation experiments. Simulations show us that these age-specific mutational effects may generate patterns of senescence at mutation-selection equilibrium that are consistent with observed demographic patterns that are otherwise difficult to explain.
Salvage of renal allograft using venous thrombectomy in the setting of iliofemoral venous thrombosis

A 49-year-old Caucasian female underwent a second kidney–pancreas transplant in May 2002 for end-stage diabetic nephropathy. Her postoperative course was complicated by intra-abdominal sepsis and the development of bilateral deep venous thrombosis (DVT). The patient was treated conservatively, with a 6-month course of oral anticoagulation. One month after discontinuation of oral anticoagulation, the patient noted a 7-day history of a painful and swollen left lower extremity. Three days prior to admission she noted paresthesia, pain and pallor of her left lower extremity. The next day she noticed left lower quadrant abdominal pain over her renal allograft associated with anuria. On the day of admission, initial creatinine at her referring physician’s office was 1.7mg/dl. Seven hours later, her creatinine had climbed to 4.7mg/dl with persistent anuria. On examination, her left leg was oedematous and swollen. Her renal allograft was tender to palpation in the left lower quadrant. Duplex examination revealed venous thrombosis arising in the post-tibial veins and extending to the iliac veins, an enlarged renal allograft (>1 cm in increase in length compared with previous ultrasound) and a patent renal artery with absence of diastolic flow consistent with venous outflow obstruction. The patient was systemically anticoagulated with unfractionated heparin. A decisionwasmade to attempt graft salvage by performing a venous thrombectomy. Via local cut down to the femoral vein, venography of the vena cava and the left common iliac veins was completed using <30 cc of half strength Visipaque contrast. This confirmed the extension of thrombus distal to the renal allograft venovenostomy and the absence of flow within the left iliac vein. A standard venous thrombectomy was performed via a common femoral vein venotomy. A Fogarty thromboembolectomy catheter (Edwards Lifesciences, Irvine, CA) and Esmarch compression were used proximally and distally, respectively, for thrombus removal. Repeat venography (30 cc of half strength Visipaque) demonstrated a widely patent left iliac vein with dye washout at the level of the renal allograft venostomy. Repeat duplex of the renal allograft on postoperative day 1 demonstrated normal arterial and venous flow to the transplanted kidney with appropriate diastolic flow. Her creatinine steadily declined to baseline (1.0mg/dl) postoperatively and she was discharged on postoperative day 5 with lifelong anticoagulation. At 6 months postoperative, her creatinine is normal (0.8 mg/dl) with venous duplex examination demonstrating absence of residual thrombus.
A Modest Proposal to Move RCR Education Out of the Classroom and into Research

Requirements for training in responsible conduct of research have significantly increased over the past 25 years, but worries about the integrity of science have only intensified. The approach to training has relied largely on short-term experiences, either online or in person. Even if done well, such strategies remain separate from, and a negligible fraction of, the practice of research. A proposed alternative is to empower faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and graduate student leaders to foster conversations about research ethics in the research environment.
Extreme makeover: bending the rules to reduce risk rewriting complex systems

We describe our experience using XP to reimplement sophisticated, high-performance imaging software in a research environment. We focus especially on practices we used to derive value from the existing software, notably reimplementation by ransacking and conversion as learning. Our experience suggests that some of the classic 12 practices which define XP should be adjusted when there is a existing, well-structured system to serve as a guide.
Warts and All?: An Elusive Balance in Contracted Corporate Histories about Energy and Environment

Contract histories of organizations pose special challenges for public historians. Carefully worded contracts can establish procedures and guarantees that safeguard the historian’s independence. Such safeguards can help the historian capture as much as possible from the sponsored research for the history profession, while also completing a work that satisfies the needs of the sponsoring organization. The successful completion of such a project requires a reasonable deadline, a well-organized book, and an author or team of authors with special knowledge of the organization. Well-designed organizational histories have much to contribute to our understanding of historical efforts to balance the demand for energy with the need for a cleaner environment. Viewing events from inside corporations, regulatory agencies, and citizens’ groups, the historian can reconstruct the interaction of the key players who shaped our energy/environmental history.
Software metrics: view from education, research and training

The area of software metrics is uniquely positioned to help students see how they are programming and to learn to evaluate themselves so that they can improve their work. It also goes beyond the realm of programming into people issues, project management, system architectures, software evolution and software life-cycles (requirements, specification planning, design, implementation, integration, maintenance). This paper highlights current practice in and the future of using software metrics in a computing or training curriculum to assess and improve the ability of students to program and to perform better in the areas listed above. It covers such topics as the personal software process (W.S. Humphrey, 1995), novel uses of metrics (such as increasing the safety of software), metrics in training and metrics for beginning programmers. The topics are explored by looking at the current state of the art, considering the use of CASE tools for metrics collection, discussing how to introduce students to metrics, and presenting the results of metrics collection. Other issues discussed include what role metrics may play in the professional licensing of software engineers and which metrics may be best for students and professionals as they progress through an education or training curriculum.
Random Sequence Mutagenesis and Resistance to 5-Fluorouridine in Human Thymidylate Synthases

Thymidylate synthase (TS) catalyzes the methylation of dUMP to dTMP and is the target for the widely used chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil. We used random sequence mutagenesis to replace 13 codons within the active site of TS and obtain variants that are resistant to 5-fluorodeoxyuridine (5-FdUR). The resulting random library was selected for its ability to complement a TS-deficient Escherichia coli strain, and sequence analysis of survivors found multiple substitutions to be tolerable within the targeted region. An independent selection of the library was carried out in the presence of 5-FdUR, resulting in a more limited spectrum of mutations. One specific mutation, C199L, was observed in more than 46% of 5-FdUR-resistant clones. A 5-FdUR-resistant triple mutant, A197V/L198I/C199F, was purified to apparent homogeneity. Kinetic studies with the substrate dUMP indicate that this mutant is similar to the wild type in regards to k cat and K m values for dUMP and the cosubstrate CH2H4-folate. In contrast, equilibrium binding studies with the inhibitor, FdUMP, demonstrate that the dissociation constant (K d) for FdUMP binding into the ternary complex was 20-fold higher than values obtained for the wild-type enzyme. This 5-FdUMP-resistant mutant, or others similarly selected, is a candidate for use in gene therapy to render susceptible normal cells resistant to the toxic effects of systemic 5-fluorouracil.
Application of fluctuation solution theory to strong electrolyte solutions

Abstract Fluctuation solution theory via direct correlation integrals for correlating and predicting the densities and activities of aqueous strong electrolytes up to saturation is described theoretically and from experiment. The subtlety, but importance, of the McMillan-Mayer ( MM ) treatment is contrasted with other thermodynamic developments. Also, formal results are shown which distinguish the effects of solvent compressibility (fluctuations) and electrostatics on property divergences in systems near the solvent's critical point.
Psychosocial registry for persons with cancer: a method of facilitating quality of life and symptom research

Research focused on the psychosocial aspects of the experience of persons with cancer and their family caregivers is hampered by the methodological challenges inherent in quality of life research. A data registry offers a potential solution to many of these problems in providing a large, comprehensive database, using standardized instruments. We report here our preliminary experience with establishing a Psychosocial Registry designed to advance research in the psychological, social, and spiritual aspects of quality of life of newly diagnosed cancer patients and their family caregivers. The first six months of enrollment demonstrated that the majority of newly diagnosed patients approached for consent (68%) and their primary family caregiver (92%) were willing to participate in the registry; of these, 80% also agreed to be contacted in the future for additional studies. Face-to-face interview was the preferred method of data collection. Our preliminary experience suggests that continuation of the registry with the current modest level of resources would generate a sample of approximately 1000 patients in three years. The long-range goal is to establish a national psychosocial data registry that will enroll patients at diagnosis and follow them through the entire cancer experience, including end of life or survivorship. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Features of wild-type human SOD1 limit interactions with misfolded aggregates of mouse G86R Sod1

Mutations in the gene encoding superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) account for about 20% of the cases of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS). It is well established that mutations in SOD1, associated with fALS, heighten the propensity of the protein to misfold and aggregate. Although aggregation appears to be a factor in the toxicity of mutant SOD1s, the precise nature of this toxicity has not been elucidated. A number of other studies have now firmly established that raising the levels of wild-type (WT) human SOD1 (hSOD1) proteins can in some manner augment the toxicity of mutant hSOD1 proteins. However, a recent study demonstrated that raising the levels of WT-hSOD1 did not affect disease in mice that harbor a mouse Sod1 gene (mSod1) encoding a well characterized fALS mutation (G86R). In the present study, we sought a potential explanation for the differing effects with WT-hSOD1 on the toxicity of mutant hSOD1 versus mutant mSod1. In the cell culture models used here, we observe poor interactions between WT-hSOD1 and misfolded G86R-mSod1, possibly explaining why over-expression of WT-hSOD1 does not synergize with mutant mSod1 to accelerate the course of the disease in mice.
The next chip challenge: effective methods for viable mixed technology SoCs

The next generation of computer chips will continue the trend for more complexity than their predecessors. Many of them will contain different chip technologies and are termed SoCs (System on a Chip). They present to the process community, the system and circuit communities, as well as to the design and test communities major new challenges. On the other hand they also offer at the same time also new opportunities!. For one, the desire to bring more functionality onto a single chip tends to require additional processing, which in turn results in various degrees of device compromises. The chips will also tend to become larger due to the added device content, and this generally will impact the yieldability of the final chip. And such chips will require potentially new approaches to validate the intended design performances. Chip sector reuse must also be brought into the discussion and wherever possible into practice. The net effect implies higher chip costs. Much of the industry's efforts are therefore focused in addressing these challenges; however, so far, not yet very successfully. The alternative has been to continue in the placement of chips onto substrate modules. Yet, this solution creates practical limits on achievable wiring densities and bandwidth, due to the spacing requirements of the C4 interconnection. Furthermore, every C4 joint is associated with a signal delay of about 50 psec. All of these handicaps would potentially benefit greatly from new SoC methods, starting with the fabrication methodology and extending it into the chip design and test areas.Such a direction has been set in motion. The opportunity for a uniquely new chip fabrication method has emerged by combining a set of somewhat diverse processes. It is based on a judicious selection of process elements from the traditional chip area and combined with those of a somewhat more recent chip packaging process methodology. This approach results in overcoming simultaneously all of the key current process limitations as experienced with today's SoC chip designs, as well as eliminates certain chip packaging technology handicaps. Yet, it does not require the need for new process tooling. It relies on currently existing process tooling and process methodologies.New opportunities for yet another expansion of theThis new process direction has been found to be quite applicable to a number of desirable SoC device designs, and offers current semiconductor technology base over the next few years. However, effective SoC designs and fabrications require a much closer and earlier collaboration between the process, design and test communities.
VALIDITY AND TEST‐RETEST STABILITY OF THE NASH MANAGERIAL EFFECTIVENESS SCALE ON THE REVISED FORM OF THE STRONG VOCATIONAL INTEREST BLANK

Summary Managers’motives (preferences for different activities or outcomes) probably determine, in part, their relative job effectiveness. This hypothesis was tested and confirmed by Nash (1966) when he developed and cross-validated a Managerial Effectiveness Key for the 1937 edition of the Strong Vocational Interest Blank (SVIB). We revised the Nash SVIB key for those items retained in the recently-revised form of SVIB (Campbell, 1966). The new key has the same validity as Nash's key and high test-retest stability for lengthy periods of time (up to twenty-two years). Validity of the key is not extremely high (about .30), but its content does denote a pattern of stable and distinct manager motives which merit study along with cognitive, aptitude, and temperament factors as potential determiners of effective managing.
Acquiring spatial knowledge while traveling simple and complex paths with immersive and nonimmersive interfaces

Exploration of virtual environments may be accomplished with different interface metaphors. Previous research suggests that vestibular and proprioceptive information provided by immersive interfaces facilitates spatial orientation on simple path-integration tasks. We examine whether these interface variables impact performance across paths of variable complexity. Our immersive interface provided all users the ability to conduct the search component of our task more efficiently. Our results, however, show that the immersive interface was no more effective than our nonimmersive one for maintaining orientation. In fact, the immersive interface had a negative impact on performance (absolute error) for individuals who had extensive experience with playing video games. When measured in terms of consistency of response, our results suggest that having extensive game-play experience will negatively impact orientation performance with both interfaces. We speculate that this is due to the conflicting nature of the skills that avid game players acquire in game-play versus those required to perform in our task.
High School Outcomes for Students in a Public Montessori Program

Abstract The study compares two groups of students who graduated from high school in the Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) during 1997–2001. Students who had participated in MPS Montessori programs from preschool through 5th grade were matched to a comparison group on the basis of gender, SES, race/ethnicity, and high school attended. Data from the ACT and WKCE, as well as overall and subject-specific high school grade point averages, were used in exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. Once a model was established, the factors were regressed on the students' demographic characteristics and type of elementary education in a structural equation modeling framework. The Montessori group had significantly higher scores on tests associated with the math/science factor. There were no significant group differences for the factors associated with English/social studies and grade point average.
Mitigation of radio frequency sheaths through magnetic field-aligned ICRF antenna design

Abstract One of the primary challenges of auxiliary heating of tokamaks in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) is the reduction of impurities associated with ICRF operation. On Alcator C-Mod, a new magnetic field-aligned antenna was optimized for magnetic flux coupling, power handling, and minimized integrated parallel electric field (E∥). Initial simulations performed using both slab and cylindrical geometry suggested nearly complete cancellation of E∥ in front of the antenna structure for certain toroidal phasings. Using toroidal models, the cancellation of E∥ is more modest, suggesting 3-D geometrical effects are important. Using finite element method simulations with a 3-D toroidal cold plasma model, multiple antenna phases were analyzed: [0, π, 0, π], [0, 0, π, π], [0, π, π, 0], [0, 0, 0, 0], [0, π/6, 0, π/6], and [0, π/2, π, 3π/2]. In each case, the field-aligned antenna had reduced integrated E∥ relative to the existing non-aligned antenna geometry, with the greatest reduction for monopole [0, 0, 0, 0] phasing.
Current Scaling in Aligned Carbon Nanotube Array Transistors With Local Bottom Gating

A local-bottom-gate (LBG) configuration is introduced for carbon nanotube array field-effect transistors (FETs) (CNTFETs). CNTFETs from highly aligned nanotubes are demonstrated and exhibit the best performance to date, with current density > 40 μA/μm (with no metallic nanotubes), inverse subthreshold slope of 70 mV/decade, and on/off -current ratio > 105. Additionally, on-current from LBG-CNTFETs is shown to scale linearly with the number of nanotube channels. These advancements in device geometry and performance provide a new platform for further progress to be made toward high-performance FETs from aligned nanotubes.
Field evaluation of pheromone-baited trap trees to control elm bark beetles, vectors of Dutch elm disease.

Over 250 diseased or unwanted elm trees ( Ulmus americana ) were killed with the herbicides cacodylic acid (Silvisar 510®) or MSMA (Silvisar 550®), applied either to axe-frills or by pressure injection. Elms thus poisoned and baited with the pheromone “multilure,” were mass-attacked by elm bark beetles but more than 87% of the potential brood was effectively eliminated. A decline in the Dutch elm disease rate accompanied brood elimination. We suggest that this trap tree technique will make a positive contribution to Dutch elm disease control programs by enhancing existing sanitation procedures and allowing tree removal to proceed in an orderly manner, rather than on the urgent schedule now necessary to prevent new infections vectored by emerging beetles.
Fairness and scheduling in single server queues

Abstract Traditionally, the study of scheduling policies has focused on performance metrics such as response time, queue length, and throughput. However, the more vague notion of ‘fairness’ is often equally or more important than these traditional performance metrics. But, the concept of fairness is difficult to define and so it has been studied only sporadically. This has changed over the past decade and a growing literature providing an analytic framework for studying fairness has emerged. This article surveys recent developments, which include a rich variety of fairness metrics as well as a growing understanding of the fairness of common scheduling policies.
Strengthening the link between project planning and environmental impact assessment : the assembled chemical weapons assessment dialogue process.

An approach to stakeholder involvement known as the Dialogue process has been an integral part of the US Department of Defense Assembled Chemical Weapons Assessment (ACWA) Program from its inception. It has provided a means of soliciting stakeholder input before key decisions are made. The projects developed under the ACWA Program are characterized as major federal actions and therefore also must meet the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). One of these is the requirement for public participation in the environmental impact assessment process. This case study describes the ACWA Dialogue and NEPA processes, and examines their relationship in the implementation of the ACWA Program. The examination suggests that involving the public at the beginning of a program through a Dialogue-like process can introduce environmental considerations early in the project development process and contribute to the development of a more informed public. These factors improve the overall efficacy of public participation, strengthening the link between project development and environmental assessment in a manner consistent with the original intent of NEPA.
Autonomous Object Manipulation Using a Soft Planar Grasping Manipulator

Abstract This article presents the development of an autonomous motion planning algorithm for a soft planar grasping manipulator capable of grasp-and-place operations by encapsulation with uncertainty in the position and shape of the object. The end effector of the soft manipulator is fabricated in one piece without weakening seams using lost-wax casting instead of the commonly used multilayer lamination process. The soft manipulation system can grasp randomly positioned objects within its reachable envelope and move them to a desired location without human intervention. The autonomous planning system leverages the compliance and continuum bending of the soft grasping manipulator to achieve repeatable grasps in the presence of uncertainty. A suite of experiments is presented that demonstrates the system's capabilities.