cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis and characterization of wurtzite ZnTe nanorods with controllable aspect ratios.

ZnTe nanorods with controllable aspect ratios were synthesized using polytellurides a tellurium precursor. The use of polytellurides which allow nucleation and growth at relatively low temperature is the key to formation of wurtzite phase and controlled anisotropic growth along c-axis. The aspect ratio of the resulting ZnTe nanorods was controlled by tuning the temperature that in turn controls the kinetics of the nanocrystal growth. A diameter dependent quantum confinement effect in ZnTe nanorods was observed by UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. Transient absorption measurements show ultrafast charge injection dynamics from ZnTe nanorods, suggesting their strong potential for applications in photocatalysis.
Components of the hemodynamic response to elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure.

Abstract The cardiovascular effects of elevated cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) pressure were studied in adrenalectomized dogs with and without ganglionic blockade. A significant increase in vascular pressures and cardiac output occurred in those without ganglionic blockade but was absent or markedly blunted in those with ganglionic blockade. This indicated that an intact sympathetic nervous system was required for the pressor response to elevated cerebrospinal fluid pressure but the adrenals were not required. A betaadrenergic effect was noted in dogs with ganglionic blockade and adrenalectomy. The effects of elevated CSF pressure were also studied using a perfused gracilis muscle preparation in 12 animals with beta-adrenergic blockade, with and without adrenalectomy. Animals with intact adrenals and denervated gracilis muscle showed an increase in aortic pressure and gracilis muscle resistance. Adrenalectomized animals with innervated gracilis muscle demonstrated an increase in aortic pressure and gracilis muscle resistance. Elevated CSF pressure with intact adrenals and alpha-adrenergic blockade demonstrated a decrease in aortic pressure but no change in gracilis muscle resistance. The presence of a nonadrenal circulating beta agonist that increases cardiac output and decrease peripheral vascular resistance is indicated by these studies. Also, the Cushing reflex involves an adrenal alpha-adrenergic component affecting skeletal muscle resistance and another alpha-adrenergic component dependent on an intact sympathetic nervous system.
Specificity of prolonged deactivation of zeolites in multicycle processes

Specificity of prolonged deactivation has been studied and its mathematical description is suggested. Dynamics of prolonged deactivation can be predicted on the basis of trivial deactivation by using a scaling factor.
Hyperbaric Oxygen-Induced Attenuation of Hemorrhagic Transformation After Experimental Focal Transient Cerebral Ischemia

Background and Purpose— An increased risk of hemorrhagic transformation is a major factor limiting the use of tissue plasminogen activator for stroke. Increased hemorrhagic transformation is also found in animals undergoing transient focal cerebral ischemia with hyperglycemia; this study examined whether hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) could reduce such hemorrhagic transformation in a rat model. Methods— Rats received an injection of 50% glucose (6 mL/kg intraperitoneally) and had a middle cerebral artery occlusion 10 minutes later. Rats were treated with HBO (3 ATA for 1 hour) 30 minutes after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Control rats received normobaric room air. Rats underwent reperfusion 2 hours after middle cerebral artery occlusion. Blood–brain barrier permeability (Evans blue), hemorrhagic transformation (hemoglobin content), brain edema, infarct volume, and mortality were measured. Results— HBO treatment reduced Evans blue leakage in the ipsilateral hemisphere (28.4±3.5 versus 71.8±13.1 μg/g in contr...
VINCRISTINE DISPOSITION IN CHILDREN WITH ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC-LEUKEMIA

Vincristine (VCR) has been widely used to treat childhood malignancies for over thirty years, but its plasma disposition has not yet been well-defined. Therefore, we conducted a pharmacokinetic study of VCR in 17 children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receiving the first dose of VCR. A new high-performance liquid chromato-graphic assay was used for the measurement of VCR in plasma. A two-compartment pharmacokinetic model was fit to the data by nonlinear least-squares regression. Estimated pharmacokinetic parameters were highly variable; mean (S.D.) volume of distribution at steady-state was 360 (176) L.m(-2); total body clearance was 431 (238) ml.min(-1).m(-2) and elimination half-life was 823 (390) min. These results were compared to data from eight adults with lung cancer. Mean volume of distribution in adults and children were similar, but VCR clearance was significantly larger in children (P = 0.01), resulting in a significantly longer elimination half-life in the adults (P <0.01). We conclude that administration of a standard dosage of VCR to children with ALL results in a highly variable systemic drug exposure, which may have implications for the oncolytic effect and/or toxicity in individual patients. Comparison of data from children and adults suggests that VCR elimination rate is a function of age; this could account for more severe neurotoxicity in older patients. However, it cannot be excluded that differences between the children and adults may be due to other variables than age. Future studies should focus on the possible influence of multidrug resistance modulating agents on VCR pharmacokinetics and on pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic relationships in individual patients. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Fatal pulmonary embolism after hemodialysis vascular access declotting.

PATIENT Male, 59 FINAL DIAGNOSIS: Pulmonary embolism Symptoms: Cardiac arrest • chest pain • dyspnea MEDICATION - Clinical Procedure: Angioplasty Specialty: Nephrology. OBJECTIVE Rare disease. BACKGROUND Vascular access is the lifeline of hemodialysis patients and access problems are a major source of morbidity and mortality for these patients. Access stenosis and thrombosis are common problems in dialysis patients and require prompt intervention. Every year thousands of these procedures are performed in the United States by radiologists, surgeons, and interventional nephrologists. CASE REPORT A 59-year-old man on chronic hemodialysis with multiple medical problems, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, chronic obstructive lung disease, hepatitis C infection, and end-stage renal disease, who had clotted his access several times before ,presented with another episode of access clotting. He underwent declotting successfully but upon angioplasty of the access feeding artery, he developed massive pulmonary embolism and died. Postmortem examination showed multiple pulmonary emboli, including cholesterol crystals in his lungs. CONCLUSIONS Hemodialysis access declotting and angioplasty are usually benign and do not cause a major problem. However, occasionally they become complicated. In difficult cases and in people with multiple comorbidities, it is preferable to forego the existing dialysis access and either plan for creation of a new vascular access or place a central vein catheter.
Religiosity as a moderator of family conflict and depressive symptoms among African American and white young grandmothers

ABSTRACT This study examined the association between religiosity, conflict in the mother-daughter relationship, and depressive symptoms among 83 African American and white grandmothers. Interviews were conducted during the early stages of adaptation to grandparenthood due to the birth of a baby to a teenage daughter. The results of this study suggest that religiosity is associated with less depressive symptoms. In addition, religiosity moderates the relationship between conflict and depressive symptoms for African American grandmothers. Specifically, highly religious African American grandmothers experiencing low conflict with their daughters reported lower depressive symptoms than those who were less religious. These findings were not evident for white grandmothers. The implications of these findings for grandmothers in families with teenage mothers are discussed within the context of race, religiosity, family relationships, and psychological well-being.
Potential use of measurements of callus and male gametophyte NaCl tolerance in lucerne breeding

Relationships between whole-plant and germination NaCl tolerance and two in vitro measures of NaCl tolerance were evaluated in lucerne (Medicago sativa L.). No significant correlations were observed between relative NaCl tolerance of non-regenerating callus cultures, herbage regrowth, seed or pollen germination, and pollen tube growth. Simulated selection using indirect measures of NaCl tolerance produced small expected gains in relative NaCl tolerance during herbage regrowth and seed germination. These gains were less than 30% of those expected with direct selection for regrowth or germination tolerance. Selection based on the apparent NaCl tolerance of callus tissue or male gamephytes would appear unproductive. Direct selection for NaCl tolerance both at germination and during mature plant regrowth would appear to be necessary to rapidly develop lucerne populations with field-relevant levels of tolerance to NaCl stress.
Cardiac effects of prostaglandins during global ischemia in isolated perfused cat hearts

Prostaglandin E1,PGD2, and 16,16 dimethyl prostaglandin E2 were studied in an isolated perfused cat heart preparation during normal conditions and in myocardial ischemia. Under ischemic perfusion, prostaglandin E1 showed some protective action on the release of creatine kinase into perfusate during ischemia, but none of the prostaglandins studied prevented increases in perfusate creatine kinase after reperfusion. Prostaglandin E1 also showed significant membrane stabilizing activity reducing the rate of lysosomal hydrolase release from cat liver lysosomes. Prostaglandin E1 may be beneficial in myocardial ischemia due to its membrane stabilizing action and perhaps to other effects but it did not exert significant protective effects on reperfusion injury of the ischemic myocardium under conditions of these experiments.
Immunocytochemical localization of ACTH1–39 in the brainstem of the rat

The immunocytochemical distribution of ACTH1–39 (adrenocorticotropin hormone), a membrane of the opiocortin family of peptides, was examined in the brainstem of the rat. Immunoreactive ACTH fibers were localized in many serotonin-containing raphe nuclei and in the norepinephrine- and dopamine-containing regions throughout the brainstem. Brainstem areas involved in pain mediation contained immunoreactive ACTH fibers as well as several cranial nerve nuclei and nuclei associated with cardiovascular and respiratory functions.
Adjunctive yohimbine for treatment in refractory depression

Most antidepressant drugs, as well as electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), exert clinical efficacy over a time period corresponding to the drug's effect of decreasing the density of postsynaptic beta-adrenergic receptors in the brain (Sulser 1984). This finding has led to the hypothesis that "down-regulation" of postsynaptic beta receptors may be one of the mechanisms of action responsible for the therapeutic efficacy of antidepressant agents. Preclinical investigatkms have ~¢monstrated that the concurrent administration of an al,r, ha-2 adrenergic antagonist (e.g., yohimbine) with a t, icycli,." antidepressant yields a greater and more rapid decline in beta adrenergic receptor density (Crews et al 1981; Johnson et al 1980). We now report on a patient with chronic depression who experienced marked improvement with the addition of yohimbine to ongoing antidepressant therapy.
Labor (Im)mobility and the Politics of Trade Protection in Majoritarian Democracies

The two workhorse models of trade, Heckscher-Ohlin and Ricardo-Viner, provide leverage in explaining how societal groups divide over trade protection. Tension between the two trade models has significantly influenced the scholarship of trade politics, with explanations of trade politics adopting either the factor-based approach or the industry-based framework. No study has investigated how changes in factor mobility as a continuous variable influence the change in trade protection as a policy outcome. Building on recent scholarship on factor mobility, this article models explicitly how intersectoral labor (im)mobility and political competition between parties affect changes in trade protection in majoritarian democracies. The theoretical model predicts that when intersectoral labor mobility decreases governments in majoritarian democracies are more likely to raise trade barriers. We test this prediction in a time-series, cross-sectional sample of 32 OECD and non-OECD majoritarian democracies observed betw...
Multitask principal-agent problems: optimal contracts, fragility, and effort misallocation ∗

We analyze a tractable class of multitask principal–agent problems, such as the one faced by a firm with a manager overseeing several projects. We allow for tasks to be complements or substitutes. We avoid the problems associated with the first-order approach by directly characterizing the shape of the agent’s indirect utility function, which exhibits a convex then concave shape in effort. We identify a new source of allocational inefficiency across tasks: excessive concentration, and its consequence, insufficient risk taking. Optimal incentive schemes in our environment are generally “fragile”: small changes in fundamentals can cause the agent’s effort to collapse.
Intelligent Cultural Advisor System: an interactive On-line Culture Guidebook

International visitors in a foreign country often run into an unfamiliar situation and needs to know how to handle it appropriately in the context of a particular culture. This paper describes the development of an intelligent Cultural Advisor online System tested in the domain of Iraqi culture. With a knowledge base, a database, and a case base, this system assumes the role of a hypothetical cultural advisor simulating a local resident in a particular society. It can give advice, upon request, on the topics including but not limited to history, religion, social customs, ethnicity, geography and beliefs.
Locked-In Syndrome in Three Children With Guillain-Barré Syndrome

Locked-in syndrome is a rare disorder in childhood. It resembles brain death, but patients are fully conscious, and incapable of communicating because of the complete paralysis of voluntary muscles. Although it can be caused by Guillain-Barre syndrome, it is rarely reported in pediatrics. We describe three pediatric cases of locked-in syndrome in patients with Guillain-Barre syndrome presenting acute tetraplegia, areflexia, cranial nerve involvement, and albuminocytologic dissociation in the cerebrospinal fluid. Electrophysiologic studies indicated acute motor axonal polyradiculoneuropathy in one patient, and acute motor sensory axonal polyradiculoneuropathy in the other two. Most Guillain-Barre syndrome patients with locked-in syndrome demonstrate nerve inexcitability in neurophysiologic studies, poor clinical outcomes, and increased risk of sequelae.
Assessing Growth Patterns—Routine but Sometimes Overlooked

We performed a retrospective chart review for 149 randomly selected well-child encounters to evaluate the frequency with which clinicians plot growth measurements and document growth abnormalities during health maintenance visits. Providers failed to plot at least one measurement of height, weight, and/or head circumference in 31 of 149 encounters (21%, 95% CI = 14.5% to 27.5%). Growth abnormalities in size, velocity, and/or disproportion were not documented in 22 of 40 relevant encounters (55%, 95% CI = 40% to 70%). Overall, 52 of 149 encounters (35%) were associated with an unplotted measurement and/or an undocumented growth abnormality. We feel that both documentation and assessment of growth represent potential areas for quality improvement.
Posttranslational Modifications of Microfibril Associated Glycoprotein-1 (MAGP-1) †

Microfibril-associated glycoprotein-1 (MAGP-1) is a small molecular weight protein associated with extracellular matrix microfibrils. Biochemical studies have shown that MAGP-1 undergoes several posttranslational modifications that may influence its associations with other microfibrillar components. To identify the sites in the molecule where posttranslational modifications occur, we expressed MAGP-1 constructs containing various point mutations as well as front and back half truncations in CHO cells. Characterization of transiently expressed protein showed that MAGP-1 undergoes O-linked glycosylation and tyrosine sulfation at sites in its amino-terminal half. This region of the protein also served as a major amine acceptor site for transglutaminase and mediated self-assembly into high molecular weight multimers through a glutamine-rich sequence. Fine mapping of the modification sites through mutational analysis demonstrated that Gln20 is a major amine acceptor site for the transglutaminase reaction and confirmed that a canonical tyrosine sulfation consensus sequence is the site of MAGP-1 sulfation. Our results also show that O-glycosylation occurs at more than one site in the molecule.
Analysis of the Role of Heat Shock Protein (Hsp) Molecular Chaperones in Polyglutamine Disease

Polyglutamine (polygln) diseases are a group of inherited neurodegenerative disorders characterized by protein misfolding and aggregation. Here, we investigate the role in polygln disease of heat shock proteins (Hsps), the major class of molecular chaperones responsible for modulating protein folding in the cell. In transfected COS7 and PC12 neural cells, we show that Hsp40 and Hsp70 chaperones localize to intranuclear aggregates formed by either mutant ataxin-3, the disease protein in spinocerebellar ataxia type 3/Machado-Joseph disease (SCA3/MJD), or an unrelated green fluorescent protein fusion protein containing expanded polygln. We further demonstrate that expression of expanded polygln protein elicits a stress response in cells as manifested by marked induction of Hsp70. Studies of SCA3/MJD disease brain confirm these findings, showing localization of Hsp40 and, less commonly, Hsp70 chaperones to intranuclear ataxin-3 aggregates. In transfected cells, overexpression of either of two Hsp40 chaperones, the DNAJ protein homologs HDJ-1 and HDJ-2, suppresses aggregation of truncated or full-length mutant ataxin-3. Finally, we extend these studies to a PC12 neural model of polygln toxicity in which we demonstrate that overexpression of HDJ-1 suppresses polygln aggregation with a parallel decrease in toxicity. These results suggest that expanded polygln protein induces a stress response and that specific molecular chaperones may aid the handling of misfolded or aggregated polygln protein in neurons. This study has therapeutic implications because it suggests that efforts to increase chaperone activity may prove beneficial in this class of diseases.
Influence of Inelastic Tower Links on Cable-Supported Bridge Response

A new concept for bridge tower designs in seismic zones incorporates sacrificial link schemes that enable the tower shafts to remain elastic under large seismic excitation. In order to study the influence of inelastic tower links on the seismic response of cable-supported bridges, global seismic time history analyses were performed on models of the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge East Span self-anchored suspension bridge (SASB) and a cable-stayed bridge (CSB) alternative. The addition of inelastic links to the signature tower improved the behavior of both structures. The tower and overall bridge demands were reduced, including the tower drift and moments as well as the suspension cable, cable stay, and superstructure drifts and axial loads. The inelastic tower links protected the SASB and CSB tower shafts from nonlinear behavior under the 1,500-year Safety Evaluation Earthquake (SEE) event as well as a 2,500-year event. When the inelastic tower links were removed, the SASB tower shafts yielded under the SEE. It was shown that the inelastic tower links could be used to tune the dynamic response of bridge towers in regions of high seismicity.
One-dimensional transport with dynamic disorder.

We study the mean quenching time distribution and its moments in a one-dimensional N-site donor-bridge-acceptor system where all sites are coupled to a two-state jump bath for arbitrary disorder and an arbitrary ratio kappa identical with /R of the bath jump rate R and the average hopping rate . When kappaN approximately 1, the quenching time distribution has long power-law tails even when the waiting times are exponentially distributed. These disappear for kappaN<<1 where the hopping rate self-averages on the bath relaxation time scale. In the absence of disorder or for small kappa, the mean quenching time scales linearly with N. Otherwise, we observe a power law, approximately N1+gamma, with a crossover to linear scaling (gamma=0) for large N. Distributions of particle position, its second moment, velocity and diffusion coefficient are computed in the infinite N limit. For times longer than R-1, the dynamic disorder self-averages and the average position, velocity, and diffusion coefficient scale linearly in time.
Notes on reproduction of Cryptoblepharus poecilopleurus (Squamata: Scincidae) from the Northern Mariana Islands, Western Pacific

Abstract: The reproductive cycle of the skink, Cryptoblepharus poecilopleurus from the Northern Mariana Islands, western Pacific was studied by a histological analysis of museum specimens. Spermiogenesis occurred in all months examined and is likely continuous in C. poecilopleurus. Males and females mature at 37 mm SVL. Mean clutch size for 11 C. poecilopleurus females was 1.1±0.30 SD, range=1–2. The presence of reproductively active females in all months sampled except for August (n=1) suggests C. poecilopleurus females reproduce year round.
Chemical control of the redbay ambrosia beetle, Xyleborus glabratus, and other Scolytinae (Coleoptera: Curculionidae).

ABSTRACT The redbay ambrosia beetle (RAB), Xyleborus glabratus Eichhoff (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae), is an adventive pest of Lauraceae in the southeastern U.S. This wood-boring insect vectors a lethal fungus, Raffaelea lauricola T. C. Harr., Fraedrich & Aghayeva, the causal agent of laurel wilt (LW) disease. The vector-pathogen complex is responsible for extensive mortality of native Persea trees in South Carolina, Georgia, and northern Florida, and now poses an imminent threat to the avocado (Persea americana Mill.) industry in south Florida. While chemical control of the vector is not viewed as the primary solution, control tactics should be made available to Florida avocado growers. Field and laboratory tests were conducted using avocado bolts, potted avocado trees, and field grown swampbay trees (Persea palustris (Raf.) Sarg.) treated with contact and systemic insecticides. Zeta-cypermethrin + bifenthrin and lambda-cyhalothrin + thiamethoxam provided the most consistent control of Scolytin...
First experimental demonstration of 100 nm inversion-mode InGaAs FinFET through damage-free sidewall etching

The first well-behaved inversion-mode InGaAs FinFET with gate length down to 100 nm with ALD Al 2 O 3 as gate dielectric has been demonstrated. Using a damage-free sidewall etching method, FinFETs with L ch down to 100 nm and W Fin down to 40 nm are fabricated and characterized. In contrast to the severe short-channel effect (SCE) of the planar InGaAs MOSFETs at similar gate lengths, FinFETs have much better electro-static control and show improved S.S., DIBL and VT roll-off and less degradation at elevated temperatures. The SCE of III-V MOSFETs is greatly improved by the 3D structure design. The more accurate D it estimation from the S.S. is also presented.
Ethanol Disrupts Vascular Endothelial Barrier: Implication in Cancer Metastasis

Both epidemiological and experimental studies indicate that ethanol exposure enhances tumor progression. Ethanol exposure promotes cancer cell invasion and is implicated in tumor metastasis. Metastasis consists of multiple processes involving intravasation and extravasation of cancer cells across the blood vessel walls. The integrity of the vascular endothelial barrier that lines the inner surface of blood vessels plays a critical role in cancer cell intravasation/extravasation. We examined the effects of ethanol on the endothelial integrity in vitro. Ethanol at physiologically relevant concentrations did not alter cell viability but disrupted the endothelial monolayer integrity, which was evident by a decrease in the electric resistance and the appearance of intercellular gaps in the endothelial monolayer. The effect of ethanol was reversible once ethanol was removed. The disruption of the endothelial monolayer integrity was associated with an increased invasion of cancer cells through the endothelial monolayer. Ethanol induced the formation of stress fibers; stabilization of actin filaments by jasplakinolide prevented ethanol-induced disruption of endothelial integrity and cancer cell invasion. VE-cadherin is a critical component of the adherens junctions, which regulates vascular endothelial integrity. Ethanol induced the endocytosis of VE-cadherin and the effect was blocked by jasplakinolide. Our results indicate that ethanol may facilitate cancer metastasis by disrupting the vascular endothelial barrier.
Constructing Reading Material to Match a Child's Oral Language Patterns:

Individualized instruction is essentially the extreme of adjusting the task to be taught to the child's particular skills and deficiencies. In research terms, individualized instruction is validated by demonstrating that children possessing a certain characteristic are taught more effectively by one procedure than another. In a review of children's modality preference in relation to their reading acquisition (see Tarver & Dawson, January issue), research was unable to demonstrate subject by treatment interactions. This paper, also concerned with reading acquisition, suggests that the relevant distinctive variables may be the child's linguistic skills. The authors describe how information regarding linguistic skills is obtained from a child's language sample and how instructional reading materials can be chosen in the context of the child's linguistic skills and reading capability. While no validation data are included, the approach appears interesting and sensible and the reader's comment is solicited. — ...
ON BOUNDARY HOMEOMORPHISMS OF TRANS-QUASICONFORMAL MAPS OF THE DISK

This paper studies boundary homeomorphisms of trans-quasiconformal maps of the unit disk. Motivated by Beurling-Ahlfors's well-known quasisymme- try condition, we introduce the \scalewise" and \pointwise" distortions of a circle homeomorphism and formulate conditions in terms of each that guarantee the exis- tence of a David extension to the disk. These constructions are also used to obtain extension results for maps with subexponentially integrable dilatation as well as BMO-quasiconformal maps of the disk.
Variability of quadriceps femoris motor neuron discharge and muscle force in human aging.

The purpose was to determine the contribution of visual feedback and the effect of aging on the variability of knee extensor (KE) muscle force and motor unit (MU) discharge. Single MUs were recorded during two types of isometric trials, (1) visual feedback provided (VIS) and then removed (NOVIS) during the trial (34 MUs from young, 32 from elderly), and (2) only NOVIS (66 MUs from young, 77 from elderly) during the trial. Recruitment threshold (RT) ranged from 0–37% MVC. Standard deviation (SD) and coefficient of variation (CV) of muscle force and MU interspike interval (ISI) was measured during steady contractions at target forces ranging from 0.3 to 54% MVC. Force drift ( 10% MVC (1.44 ± 0.6 vs. 1.01 ± 0.3%). The CV of ISI was similar between age groups for MUs in 0–3, 3–10, and >10% bins of RT. Thus, the contribution of visuomotor correction to the variability of motor unit discharge and force is greater for elderly adults. The presence of visual feedback appears to be necessary to find greater discharge variability in motor units from the knee extensors of elderly adults.
Asymptotic analysis of an assignment problem arising in a distributed communications protocol

Matchings for a random bipartite graph are considered. Each of the alpha M nodes on one side of the graph is directly connected to Q nodes chosen randomly and uniformly from among the M nodes on the other side of the graph. The size matchings found by two simple approximation algorithms, as well as the size of the maximum matching when Q=2, are asymptotically determined in the limit as Q tends to infinity with alpha fixed. The work is motivated by a distributed communications protocol for accessing a silent receiver. The theory of approximating slow Markov random walks by ordinary differential equations is used for the analysis. >
Mutation near the polyoma DNA replication origin permits productive infection of F9 embryonal carcinoma cells

Abstract F9 mouse embryonal carcinoma cells are resistant to productive infection by wild-type polyoma virus. Continued passage of F9 cells initially infected with wild-type polyoma virus eventually leads to the selection of polyoma virus mutants that are capable of productive infection of undifferentiated F9 cells. Three mutants, PyF101, PyF111 and PyF441, have been plaque-purified and examined. All three PyF mutant DNAs are altered from the wild-type sequence in the Pvu II-4 fragment that spans 67.6 to 70.2 map units on the polyoma genome. PyF441 has a single base change of A to G at 69.6 map units. PyF101 and PyF111 DNAs also contain this point mutation at 69.6 map units. In addition, PyF101 and PyF111 DNAs have exact tandem duplications of 54 and 31 bp, respectively, of sequences encompassing the point mutation, and both copies of the tandem duplication have the point mutation. Other than these changes, no difference exists in the nucleotide sequences of wildtype and PyF mutant DNAs from the Bcl I site at 65.6 map units clockwise through the origin of viral DNA replication to the BgI I site at 72.2 map units. DNA infections of F9 cells with wild-type-mutant hybrid DNAs formed by ligation of heterologous combinations of the small and large DNA fragments generated by double digestion with the restriction enzymes BcI I and BgI I show that the DNA sequence changes described above are responsible for the ability of the PyF mutants to infect F9 cells.
A subdivision-based deformable model for surface reconstruction of unknown topology

This paper presents a surface reconstruction algorithm that can recover correct shape geometry as well as its unknown topology from both volumetric images and unorganized point clouds. The algorithm starts from a simple seed model (of genus zero) that can be arbitrarily initiated within any datasets. The deformable behavior of the model is governed by a locally defined objective function associated with each vertex of the model. Through the numerical computation of function optimization, the algorithm can adaptively subdivide the model geometry, automatically detect self-collision of the model, properly modify its topology (because of the occurrence of self-collision), continuously evolve the model towards the object boundary, and reduce fitting error and improve fitting quality via global refinement. Commonly used mesh optimization techniques are employed throughout the geometric deformation and topological variation to ensure the model both locally smooth and globally well defined. Our experiments have demonstrated that the new modeling algorithm is valuable for iso-surface extraction in visualization, shape recovery and segmentation in medical imaging, and surface reconstruction in reverse engineering.
Commodification and Co-Modification Explicating Black Female Sexuality in Organizations

Recent organizational research suggests an emerging trend in which some women of color choose to quit their jobs, head smaller firms, or start their own organizations. Other emergent trends reveal a decline of women of color in executive positions. As reasons for this trend, women managers of color often cite pervasive sex- and race-based stereotypes and the inability of organizations to deal with subtle racism. In this study, the author examines Black women's experience of such sexual politics in organizations. Drawing on interviews and written narratives from nine Black women, the author argues that organizational discourse sexualizes Black women through commodification, experiences of invisibility, and tensions of ownership and consumption of their bodies, which consequently elicits a paradoxical dialectic of accommodation and resistance: co-modification. The analysis both explicates current trends of Black women's declining participation and exit from organizations and suggests how organizations might...
Multiple regression method for pulmonary apparent diffusion coefficient measurement by hyperpolarized 3He MRI.

Purpose To develop and validate a new multiple regression technique for the separation of flip angle effect in pulmonary apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) measurement. Materials and Methods Hyperpolarized 3He MRI (HP 3He MRI) ADC measurements were performed on phantom, pig, and human models. The diffusion-sensitization sequence is modified from a standard gradient echo (GRE) sequence with a nonlinear progression in the bipolar gradient amplitude with each image. In the self-diffusion phantom experiment, four images were acquired with base gradient factor b0 = 0.15 second/cm2; in the pig and human experiment, six images were acquired with base gradient factor b0 = 1.4 second/cm2. Results The self-diffusion coefficient measured in the phantom experiment was 1.98 ± 0.16 cm2/second. The measured uncertainty curve was consistent with the theoretically predicted curve. The measured in vivo ADC values (three coronal slices in the supine direction) were 0.20/0.16/0.13 cm2/second and 0.20/0.18/0.16 cm2/second for pig and human experiments, respectively. Conclusion With the introduction of a nonlinear progression in the diffusion-sensitization gradients, the multiple regression technique is capable of separating the flip angle effect in ADC measurement. In addition, this technique can perform a rigorous measurement uncertainty analysis and provide the optimal scan parameters that yield best noise performance. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2007;25:982–991. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
BLUE-THROATED HUMMINGBIRD SONG: A PINNACLE OF NONOSCINE VOCALIZATIONS

Abstract Little is known about the structure and function of hummingbird vocalizations. We studied the vocalizations of Blue-throated Hummingbirds (Lampornis clemenciae) at two sites in southeastern Arizona. Songs were produced by males and females. Male songs consisted of arrays of notes organized in clusters of “song units.” Within sites, all males shared the same song units. Individual differences occurred in some temporal aspects of song, and slight but consistent differences in note structure occurred between the two sites. The organization of units within songs was marked by rigid syntax, and long songs were produced by agglutination of units. Male songs may function in territorial advertisement and mate attraction. Female songs were very different acoustically from those of males and typically were given when females were within a few centimeters of a male. In these situations, the female's song often overlapped temporally with the male's song. Of the hummingbird species studied so far, the Blue-th...
DRAM Residential Location and Land Use Model: 40 Years of Development and Application

The DRAM residential model was one of the earliest to be developed and applied, with work beginning in 1971 and with applications in planning agencies continuing to this day. It was developed with the expectation that it would be applied together with an employment model (EMPAL), and with both being linked to a suite of transportation models. This chapter describes the development path of DRAM as well as those of related issues of model calibration and links to other models. The author concludes with the argument that while continued theory development is essential for models such as these, their use as forecasting and policy analysis tools depends as much upon ease of implementation for agency users as it does on any improvement in model formulation.
Hunting the Heffalump

Reviews the major theoretical constructs devised for explaining the source of dynamic entrepreneurial performance in developing countries. Discusses the roles in terms of theories of entrepreneurial supply, which are constructed from either psychological or sociological elements. Provides a comparative evaluation of theoretical formulations in terms of the variables employed and the methodological approaches used. Evaluated are four psychological theories (of Joseph Schumpeter, David McClelland, Everett Hagen, and John Kunkel) and three sociological theories (of Max Weber, Thomas Cochran, and Frank Young). Sets out what each author regards as the defining qualities of the entrepreneur and the non-economic variables that control his appearance (supply), as well as the role played by social groups and the means by which individuals are directed into business pursuits. Theories may explain entrepreneurial supply in terms of need for achievement, of deviant or supernormal individuals, as representing society's modal personality, of society's incorporation of reactive subgroups, or as result of surrounding social structures. Critically evaluates the theories and discusses the entrepreneurial bottlenecks in developing countries. The mechanism by which persons with high need for achievement are directed into entrepreneurial careers is explained. Concludes that none of the psychological or sociological entrepreneurship theories achieves an acceptable level of empirical verification or can be rejected as demonstrably false. Almost all face a problem in explaining change in entrepreneurial performance: is it due to change in supply of entrepreneurial effort or improvement in economic environment (demand)? Concludes with a new model of entrepreneurial performance drawing on evidence contained in existing empirical studies of business performance in developing countries. In this model one exogenous fact is assumed: the psychological drive to maximize income. This reduces the entrepreneurial role to decision-making under uncertainty. Rejecting a binary conception that there is a presence or absence of the entrepreneur, proposes considering the 13 tasks and activities (rather than personal attributes), grouped as exchange relationships, political administration, management control, and technology. The social structure that supports and is enmeshed with traditional technology is explored. Evidence shows managerial and technological shortcomings are continuing impediments to entrepreneurial development rooted in the sociological variables on the supply side. Factors can be related to the status system, social structure, problems of role discontinuity and role incongruency. Concludes that various activities required of the industrial entrepreneur are hindered or reinforced by prior technological traditions and social structure factors. In modernizing economies, the crucial inputs are achieving and maintaining efficient production. (TNM)
FFR-guided PCI - FAME may not be so fleeting after all

Treatment strategies for patients with stable coronary artery disease are driven by the principles of reducing symptoms of coronary insufficiency, preventing myocardial infarction, and prolonging survival. Although percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) plays a primary role in treating acute coronary syndromes, current guidelines relegate it largely to a secondary role in treating stable coronary disease.1,2 These recommendations are derived from studies, most notably the Clinical Outcomes Utilizing Revascularization and Aggressive Drug Evaluation (COURAGE) trial, which showed that angiography-guided PCI plus medical therapy, though effective at reducing symptoms, was no better at preventing death or myocardial infarction than medical therapy alone. . . .
Structural Dynamics of Free Proteins in Diffraction

Among the macromolecular patterns of biological significance, right-handed α-helices are perhaps the most abundant structural motifs. Here, guided by experimental findings, we discuss both ultrafast initial steps and longer-time-scale structural dynamics of helix-coil transitions induced by a range of temperature jumps in large, isolated macromolecular ensembles of an α-helical protein segment thymosin β_9 (Tβ_9), and elucidate the comprehensive picture of (un)folding. In continuation of an earlier theoretical work from this laboratory that utilized a simplistic structure-scrambling algorithm combined with a variety of self-avoidance thresholds to approximately model helix-coil transitions in Tβ_9, in the present contribution we focus on the actual dynamics of unfolding as obtained from massively distributed ensemble-convergent MD simulations which provide an unprecedented scope of information on the nature of transient macromolecular structures, and with atomic-scale spatiotemporal resolution. In addition to the use of radial distribution functions of ultrafast electron diffraction (UED) simulations in gaining an insight into the elementary steps of conformational interconversions, we also investigate the structural dynamics of the protein via the native (α-helical) hydrogen bonding contact metric which is an intuitive coarse graining approach. Importantly, the decay of α-helical motifs and the (globular) conformational annealing in Tβ_9 occur consecutively or competitively, depending on the magnitude of temperature jump.
Semi-automatic recovery model of paper scraps by machine

In order to solve the recovery of paper scraps by machine, the paper establishes the discrete optimizing model by ordering and clustering the edge of paper segments. Paper segments can be matched both vertically and horizontally to get a complete picture. Another discrete optimizing model is needed for analyzing huge amount of scraps or English contents which has different line-heights. The choices of the optimal models and a small amount of manual intervention can be selected by specifying line-height and other factors in order to solve the recovery of paper scraps. The models prove to be accurate and valid for simple situations and complex segments separately. It is worth that clustering model can be applied further to deal with more complex paper-cut problems by machine.
Di‐μ‐nitrosyl‐bis[(η5‐pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)ruthenium(0)](Ru—Ru)

The title structure, [Ru2(C10H15)2(NO)2], consists of the two Ru atoms doubly bridged via the N atoms of the two NO groups, with two penta­methyl­cyclo­penta­dienyl (Cp*) rings protruding away from the bridged system on opposite sides. The asymmetric unit contains two independent dimer mol­ecules with an average Ru—Ru distance of 2.538 (7) A and an average Ru—N—Ru angle of 97.2 (3)°. The compound was obtained as the product of a facile reaction between Cp*Ru(NO)(OSO2CF3)2 and excess neat 2-propanol. The crystals were grown from CH2Cl2 solution at ambient temperature under a nitro­gen atmosphere.
AN ACID CORRISION INHIBITOR USED IN HIGH TEMPERATURE AND ITS PERFORMANCE

A Mannich product has been synthesized by selecting reaction conditions, and HZF-2 compound acid corrosion inhibitor has been prepared on the basis of the Mannich product. Inhibition efficiency of HZF-2 under elevated temperature, high pressure and existence of hydrogen sulfide has been evaluated. In addition, damage of the corrosion inhibitor on formation has also been investigated. Results have showed that HZF-2 has good protection for N80 steel contacting with strong acid at normal pressure, high temperature and pressure. It can resist harmful hydrogen sulfide and has little damage to the tested formation core .As a result, HZF-2 can meet the needs of acid treatment.
TU-H-CAMPUS-JeP3-03: Clinical Implementation of An Online Replanning Process

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to report the clinical implementation of an online replanning process with CT-on-Rails to address daily interfractional variations. Methods: A treatment planning package (MONACO/ADMIRE/MOSAIQ, Elekta) is used to perform online adaptive replanning, using segment aperture morphing (SAM) algorithm implemented in MONACO, based on daily CTs acquired from a CT-on-Rails (ARTISTE, Siemens). The online replanning is implemented in prostate RT in the following workflow:(1) Generating a target contour based on the image of the day, using ADMIRE deformable image registration software with manual editing if necessary; (2) Automatically modifying segment apertures from the original plan using the SAM algorithm to account for the changes in the target from planning to daily CTs including deformation; (3) Calculating the dose distribution for the new apertures with the same MUs as in the original plan;(4) Transferring the new plan into MOSAIQ Record & Verify system;(5) Performing a pre-delivery QA using both our home-grown and RADCALC software (LifeLine);(6) Delivering the adaptive plan for the fraction.The entire workflow takes <10 min. using a 16-CPU hardware. Results: The online adaptive replanning process was successfully applied during RT for prostate cancers. The adaptive plan significantly improved the plan quality in both target coverage and organs-at-risk (OAR) sparing when compared to the current standard of practice; IGRT repositioning plan. For the average of 10 prostate cases, PTV-V100, Rectum-V70, and Bladder-V45 (%) coverages were (92.84 ± 1.61/97.61 ± 1.45/98.85 ± 1.13), (6.76 ± 2.37/5.40 ± 2.61/3.52 ± 0.94) and (8.20 ± 3.55/5.72 ± 2.61/6.68 ± 3.21) for the IGRT, online SAM, and reoptimization plans, respectively. Conclusion: The online adaptive replanning workflow is clinically practical for prostate RT and can quickly generate adaptive plans with superior plan qualities when compared to the repositioning plans, improving the management of interfractional variations. This study was partially supported by Elekta Inc.
Process Kinetics of Oxygen Steelmaking

The basic principles of chemical equilibrium and kinetics as they apply specifically to oxygen steelmaking are reviewed, the processes are analyzed, and some suggestions are made as to how oxygen steelmaking may be controlled more exactly.
Cellular retinoid binding-proteins, CRBP, CRABP, FABP5: effects on retinoid metabolism, function and related diseases

Cellular binding-proteins (BP), including CRBP1, CRBP2, CRABP1, CRABP2, and FABP5, shepherd the poorly aqueous soluble retinoids during uptake, metabolism and function. Holo-BP promote efficient use of retinol, a scarce but essential nutrient throughout evolution, by sheltering it and its major metabolite all-trans-retinoic acid from adventitious interactions with the cellular milieu, and by imposing specificity of delivery to enzymes, nuclear receptors and other partners. Apo-BP reflect cellular retinoid status and modify activities of retinoid metabolon enzymes, or exert non-canonical actions. High ligand binding affinities and the nature of ligand sequestration necessitate external factors to prompt retinoid release from holo-BP. One or more of cross-linking, kinetics, and colocalization have identified these factors as RDH, RALDH, CYP26, LRAT, RAR and PPARβ/δ. Michaelis-Menten and other kinetic approaches verify that BP channel retinoids to select enzymes and receptors by protein-protein interactions. Function of the BP and enzymes that constitute the retinoid metabolon depends in part on retinoid exchanges unique to specific pairings. The complexity of these exchanges configure retinol metabolism to meet the diverse functions of all-trans-retinoic acid and its ability to foster contrary outcomes in different cell types, such as inducing apoptosis, differentiation or proliferation. Altered BP expression affects retinoid function, for example, by impairing pancreas development resulting in abnormal glucose and energy metabolism, promoting predisposition to breast cancer, and fostering more severe outcomes in prostate cancer, ovarian adenocarcinoma, and glioblastoma. Yet, the extent of BP interactions with retinoid metabolon enzymes and their impact on retinoid physiology remains incompletely understood.