cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Motivational aspects of corporate productivity maximisation: a field study

Over the past 30 years, there have been many proposed approaches to maximising corporate productivity. Most of these require substantial investment in 'productivity improvement programmes' involving new technology, additional capital infrastructure, or process changes such as business process reengineering. A recent theoretical paper suggests that instead of investing in these purported improvements, corporations might be better off investing in revamping their employee goal-behaviour-metric-reward (GBMR) systems, which tie corporate goals to individual goals, articulate desired behaviours for each employee, describe the metrics used to measure performance and establish appropriate rewards to drive desired behaviour. This paper reports the results of a field study in which the productivity of 13 corporations was correlated with the quality of their GBMR systems. A positive correlation was observed, indicating that the GBMR system correlates fairly well with corporate productivity and that focusing on improving a company's GBMR system may be a cost-effective approach to maximising corporate productivity.
Correlates and risk markers for sleep disturbance in participants of the Autism Treatment Network.

We explored possible cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and physiological risk markers for sleep disturbance in children with autism spectrum disorders. Data from 1,583 children in the Autism Treatment Network were analyzed. Approximately 45 potential predictors were analyzed using hierarchical regression modeling. As medication could confound findings, it was included in the analyses as a covariate. Results revealed that anxiety, autism symptom severity, sensory sensitivities, and GI problems were associated with sleep disturbance. IQ positively predicted sleep disturbance, and children with Asperger’s Disorder were more vulnerable than others. The amount of variance in sleep outcomes explained by predictor variables was modest (i.e., R 2 from .104 to .201). Predictor variables were evaluated in the context of a bidirectional theoretical framework.
Linking soil process and microbial ecology in freshwater wetland ecosystems

Soil microorganisms mediate many processes such as nitrification, denitrification, and methanogenesis that regulate ecosystem functioning and also feed back to influence atmospheric chemistry. These processes are of particular interest in freshwater wetland ecosystems where nutrient cycling is highly responsive to fluctuating hydrology and nutrients and soil gas releases may be sensitive to climate warming. In this review we briefly summarize research from process and taxonomic approaches to the study of wetland biogeochemistry and microbial ecology, and highlight areas where further research is needed to increase our mechanistic understanding of wetland system functioning. Research in wetland biogeochemistry has most often been focused on processes (e.g., methanogenesis), and less often on microbial communities or on populations of specific microorganisms of interest. Research on process has focused on controls over, and rates of, denitrification, methanogenesis, and methanotrophy. There has been some work on sulfate and iron transformations and wetland enzyme activities. Work to date indicates an important process level role for hydrology and soil nutrient status. The impact of plant species composition on processes is potentially critical, but is as yet poorly understood. Research on microbial communities in wetland soils has primarily focused on bacteria responsible for methanogenesis, denitrification, and sulfate reduction. There has been less work on taxonomic groups such as those responsible for nitrogen fixation, or aerobic processes such as nitrification. Work on general community composition and on wetland mycorrhizal fungi is particularly sparse. The general goal of microbial research has been to understand how microbial groups respond to the environment. There has been relatively little work done on the interactions among environmental controls over process rates, environmental constraints on microbial activities and community composition, and changes in processes at the ecosystem level. Finding ways to link process-based and biochemical or gene-based assays is becoming increasingly important as we seek a mechanistic understanding of the response of wetland ecosystems to current and future anthropogenic perturbations. We discuss the potential of new approaches, and highlight areas for further research.
Narratives in the Old Neighborhood An Ethnographic Study of an Urban Neighborhood's Stories

Communities are created, sustained, and challenged through narratives. These narratives are many and may represent multiple forms. Furthermore, these multiple and varying narratives may act together as a narrative thread that ties the community together in a narrative package. Yet it is also possible that sequestered narratives challenge the narratives' seemingly coherent identity of the community. Whether and how the multiple stories dialogue to create a whole is explored in this ethnographic study of an urban neighborhood.
VEGF recruits lactosylceramide to induce endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression and angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo

Angiogenesis is largely driven by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). However, the role of lipid second messengers such as lactosylceramide (LacCer) and LacCer synthase in angiogenesis is not well understood. We have determined the distribution of various LacCer synthase mRNA transcripts using sequential analysis of gene expression (SAGE). Endothelial cells from colon cancer tissues had a 4.5-fold increase in a LacCer synthase transcript (β1,4GalT-V) as compared to normal colon tissue endothelial cells. Consequently, our focus turned to understanding the role of this enzyme in regulating VEGF-induced angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Herein, we show that in human endothelial cells, VEGF-induced angiogenesis is mitigated by dimethylsphingosine and suramin; inhibitors of sphingosine kinase 1(SphK-1) and sphingosine1-phosphate receptor 1(S1P (1)), respectively, and this were bypassed by LacCer but not by S1P. VEGF and basic fibroblast growth factor-induced angiogenesis was mitigated by PDMP; an inhibitor of glucosylceramide synthase and LacCer synthase in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) and human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC). Likewise, GalT-V gene ablation using corresponding siRNA also mitigated VEGF-induced angiogenesis. In Matrigel plug angiogenesis assay in nude mice, angiogenesis was markedly inhibited by D-PDMP with concordantly diminished LacCer synthase activity. Mechanistic studies revealed that the use of LY294002, a PI3 kinase inhibitor, mitigated VEGF-induced expression of platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM-1/CD31); the trans-endothelial migration of a monocyte cell line (U-937) and angiogenesis in HAEC cells. Since this enzyme is a target for VEGF action and LacCer serves as a lipid second messenger in inducing angiogenesis in vitro and in vivo, novel therapeutic approaches may be developed using our findings to mitigate colon cancer.
Comparison of mutagen accumulation in 3 estuarine species using the Salmonella/microsome activation system☆

Abstract 3 Estuarine organisms—oyster (Crassostea virginica), sea squirts (Mogulla sp.), and shrimp (Peneaus sp.)—were examined for Ames test detectable levels of mutagens. Whole-tissue extract of these organisms were made and tested using S. typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, TA1535, TA1537 and TA1538, with and without S9 activation. Positive results were obtained with sea squirts and shrimp extracts. Activation was not necessary to show activity. Toxicity was encountered with oyster extracts. Histidine, a possible source of false positives, was eliminated from shrimp extracts using XAD-2 resin and thick-layer chromatography.
Estrogen Restores Postischemic Sensitivity to the Thromboxane Mimetic U46619 in Rat Pial Artery

The objectives of the study were to (1) characterize the dose-response relationship to the TXA2 analog, U46619 (0.01, 0.1, and 1 micromol/L) after global cerebral ischemia, (2) determine whether chronic 17beta-estradiol (E2) replacement alters this relationship, and (3) determine if E2's mechanisms are transduced through cognate estrogen receptors. Rats were assigned to five groups (n=6): placebo-implanted ovariectomized (OVX) females, OVX plus chronic E2 (CE), OVX plus acute E2 (AE), OVX plus chronic E2 plus the estrogen receptor inhibitor ICI 182,780 (CEI), and OVX plus acute E2 plus ICI 182,780 (AEI). Rats were anesthetized, intubated, cannulated (femoral artery and vein), fitted with a closed cranial window, and subjected to 15-min reversible forebrain ischemia (4-vessel occlusion, 4-VO) and 60 mins of reperfusion. Arterial blood gases, intrawindow pressure, and temperature were controlled. Vessel diameter was measured before and 5 mins after superfusion of each concentration of U46619. Compared with preischemic responses, contractile response to U46619 was depressed at all concentrations after ischemia in the OVX group. In the chronic E2 and acute E2 groups, contractile response to 1 micromol/L of U46619 was normalized to near baseline values. However, in the CEI and the AEI groups, postischemic vasoconstriction was similar to that observed in the OVX rats. We conclude that E2 targets the cerebral microvasculature to preserve postischemic pial artery reactivity and that the effect is receptor mediated. Restoration of normal constriction to vascular agonists may be an important mechanism by which E2 protects the vasculature and diminishes tissue damage after ischemia.
Woman's body and her pleasure in the celluloid erotica of Walerian Borowczyk

ABSTRACTThis article explores the work of Walerian Borowczyk in the context of the art film—sexploitation binary within European cinema. In order to provide a critical reevaluation of Borowczyk's cinematic discourse on eroticism, the analysis focuses on the representation of female desire and the mapping of female gaze in his film La Bete/The Beast (1975). The impact of the director's unique expertise in visual arts and stop-motion animation is considered when assessing his sustained contemplation of sexuality as a realm of creative expression. The dynamic relationship between the subject and the object with regard to Borowczyk's treatment of the female body is investigated in order to question the label of ‘pornographer’ frequently attached to the director's name.
Protein S and C alterations in acutely III patients

Protein C, a potent vitamin K-dependent protein activated by an endothelial cell cofactor, thrombomodulin, has anticoagulant and profibrinolytic activity. Free protein S, a cofactor for protein C, potentiates protein C activity at the endothelial cell surface. Pulmonary thromboemboli are a consistent finding in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). To determine if protein S or protein C were affected by widespread endothelial cell damage in ARDS, we measured bound and free protein S levels and protein C antigenic and functional levels in 18 patients with acute lung injury, 6 critically ill patients without lung history, and 22 normal subjects. Free (PS:F) and bound (PS:Ag) protein S and protein C antigen (PC:Ag) levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunoassay and protein C function (PC:Fn) by measuring its anticoagulant activity. We found a significant decrease in bound and free protein S levels of both patient groups in comparison to normal and a shift toward the inactive, bound protein S form. In addition, a significant decrease in free protein S compared to bound protein S in both patient groups was observed. While both PC:Ag and PC:Fn were significantly reduced compared to normal, the PC:Fn was significantly and severely decreased out of proportion to the PC:Ag in both patient groups. There was no difference between those with and without lung injury for both protein S and protein C. Analyzed according to etiology of lung injury, there was no difference in the bound and free protein S, nor in PC:Ag and PC:Fn levels between patients with sepsis and trauma. However, there were significant decreases in both protein S and protein C levels compared with normal subjects. Levels of both PS and PC levels in patients who survived did not differ from those who died. In summary, our data show that both protein S and C are markedly deranged in acutely ill patients who suffered from either sepsis or trauma, and these changes are independent of lung injury. The marked reductions in functional activity of PS and PC may be contributing factors to the thromboembolic complications often observed in these patients.
Digital Business Portfolios: Categories, Content, and Production

Developing an innovative and original professional digital business portfolio and keeping it updated is one of the most effective tools that can be used either by the business professional or by the student emerging into the business world. It constitutes a lasting comprehensive experience for both groups. Continual reflection upon their work arms students and business people alike with more confidence in their own competence and worth as they embark on their professional careers or justify their desires for advancement. This article will confine itself to the types of portfolios used most frequently in the business world or in preparation for entering a career, showing that content in each can be cumulative or separate. It will describe ideas for the types of artifacts to compile along with how to format them effectively and digitize them creatively. It will give answers to why to create a portfolio, who should have one, what should be in it, and how portfolios are created.
Measurement of pain : patient preference does not confound pain measurement

Chronic pain patients reported pain intensity on each of 3 pain intensity scales, the visual analog, numerical and adjectival scales, and then ranked the scales in order of perceived best communication of pain intensity. All patients were able to complete an adjectival scale but 11% were unable to complete a visual analog scale and 2% failed at a numeric scale. The intensity of the pain ratings on the 3 scales were significantly correlated and there were no reliable differences in reported intensity as a function of preference. Pain intensity was reliably higher on each scale for depressed-anxious patients as compared to non-depressed/non-anxious patients. Patients completing all 3 scales indicated a significant preference for the adjectival scale but the basis for this preference did not appear related to sex, etiology of pain, affective variables nor selected psychological variables. These data indicate that pain scale preference does not influence pain intensity report. Nevertheless, there are some clinical situations in which a numeric scale is likely to yield a better measure of pain intensity.
Factors affecting vegetation dieback of an oligohaline marsh in coastal Louisiana: Field manipulation of salinity and submergence

Vegetation dieback is an important component of wetland loss in low salinity marshes of coastal Louisiana. A field experiment was conducted to determine the factors responsible for vegetation dieback within oligohaline marshes of Louisiana. Sections of marsh, dominated by Sagittaria lancifolia L., were transplanted into one of four locations depending on the treatment: (1) increased submergence-sods were lowered 15 cm below the donor marsh surface, (2) increased salinitysods were transplanted into a higher salinity marsh and adjacent dieback pond, (3) increased salinity and submergencesods were transplanted into a higher salinity marsh and adjacent dieback pond at 15 cm below the marsh surface, and (4) control-sods were exhumed and replaced at the ambient elevation of the donor marsh. Plant biomass and edaphic characteristics were measured after 5 mo. An increase in submergence caused decreased plant growth of the S. lancifoliadominated marsh community. An increase in salinities to 4-5 g/kg were not detrimental to plant growth. Although saltwater intrusion alone did not cause decreased growth of the S. lancifolia-dominated plant community, the combination of saltwater intrusion and increased plant submergence caused the greatest decrease in plant growth due to increased toxic sulfides and a likely reduction in the uptake of NH4-N by the wetland vegetation. This illustrates that the dieback of oligohaline marsh vegetation can be alleviated by decreasing plant submergence even at salinities as high as 4.6 g/kg.
EXTRACTION OF METAL NITRATES WITH OCTYL(PHENYL)-N,N-DIISOBUTYL- CARBAMOYLMETHYL PHOSPHINE OXIDES IN ALKANE DILUENTS AT HIGH SOLVENT LOADING∗

ABSTRACT Metal nitrates solvated by octyl(phenyl)–N,N–diisobutylcar-bamoylphosphine oxides exhibit a limited solubility in many alkane diluents even in the presence of a modifier such as tributyl phosphate. The solubility is a nonmonotonous function of the aqueous nitric acid concentration. The solubility of Nd(III) nitrate strongly increases with temperature, branching of the diluent molecule, and the concentration and the molecular weight of a trialkyl phosphate modifier. The solubility also increases when tributyl phosphate is replaced by dibutyl butylphosphonate. Increasing molecular size of n-alkane diluents and branching of the octyl group in the phosphine oxide molecule strongly suppress the solubility. With the n-octyl(phenyl) –N,N–diisobutylcarbamoyl-methylphosphine oxide extractant, the solubility of solvated Nd(III) nitrate is unlimited In the mixed isoparaffinic diluent Isopar–L, and the solvent can be loaded up to a metal to extractant ratio of 1/2. Empirical equations were derived which desc...
The essential function of yeast protein disulfide isomerase does not reside in its isomerase activity

Protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) is believed to function in vivo by catalyzing the isomerization of disulfide bonds in proteins and thereby facilitating their folding. In S. cerevisiae PDI is encoded by an essential gene. Deletion of nearly one-third of the C-terminal residues of PDI altered PDI's cellular localization but not cell viability. Further deletions resulted in lethality, but these truncated proteins still exhibited PDI activity in vitro. Cells carrying a variant PDI in which both-CGHC-active sites were disrupted were viable. However, these cells exhibited a delay in the disulfide bond formation and transport of carboxypeptidase Y. In vitro enzyme assays revealed that disruption of both sites abolished catalytic activity. These results indicate that PDI catalyzes disulfide bond formation both in vivo and in vitro and that the integrity of the active sites is required for catalysis. However, this catalytic activity is not essential for yeast viability.
Measuring rate of heat, smoke and toxic gas release

Is the present concept of fuel loading a good measure of fire hazard? The author thinks not. Combustibility, smoke release, and toxic gas release should be examined over a wide range of exposure conditions before the fire hazard of materials can be properly evaluated.
Transcription and replication result in distinct epigenetic marks following repression of early gene expression

Simian Virus 40 (SV40) early transcription is repressed when the product of early transcription, T-antigen, binds to its cognate regulatory sequence, Site I, in the promoter of the SV40 minichromosome. Because SV40 minichromosomes undergo replication and transcription potentially repression could occur during active transcription or during DNA replication. Since repression is frequently epigenetically marked by the introduction of specific forms of methylated histone H3, we characterized the methylation of H3 tails during transcription and replication in wild-type SV40 minichromosomes and mutant minichromosomes which did not repress T-antigen expression. While repressed minichromosomes following replication were clearly marked with H3K9me1 and H3K4me1, minichromosomes repressed during early transcription were not similarly marked. Instead repression of early transcription was marked by a significant reduction in the level of H3K9me2. The replication dependent introduction of H3K9me1 and H3K4me1 into wild-type SV40 minichromosomes was also observed when replication was inhibited with aphidicolin. The results indicate that the histone modifications associated with repression can differ significantly depending upon whether the chromatin being repressed is undergoing transcription or replication.
Oxidation of gold clusters by thiols.

The formation of gold–thiolate nanoparticles via oxidation of gold clusters by thiols is examined in this work. Using the BP86 density functional with a triple ζ basis set, the adsorption of methylthiol onto various gold clusters AunZ (n = 1–8, 12, 13, 20; Z = 0, −1, +1) and Au384+ is investigated. The rate-limiting step for the reaction of one thiol with the gold cluster is the dissociation of the thiol proton; the resulting hydrogen atom can move around the gold cluster relatively freely. The addition of a second thiol can lead to H2 formation and the generation of a gold–thiolate staple motif.
Adeno-associated virus site-specific integration and AAVS1 disruption.

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a single-stranded DNA virus with a unique biphasic lifestyle consisting of both a productive and a latent phase. Typically, the productive phase requires coinfection with a helper virus, for instance adenovirus, while the latent phase dominates in healthy cells. In the latent state, AAV is found integrated site specifically into the host genome at chromosome 19q13.4 qtr (AAVS1), the only animal virus known to integrate in a defined location. In this study we investigated the latent phase of serotype 2 AAV, focusing on three areas: AAV infection, rescue, and integration efficiency as a function of viral multiplicity of infection (MOI); efficiency of site-specific integration; and disruption of the AAVS1 locus. As expected, increasing the AAV MOI resulted in an increase in the percentage of cells infected, with 80% of cells infected at an MOI of 10. Additional MOI only marginally effected a further increase in percentage of infected cells. In contrast to infection, we found very low levels of integration at MOIs of less than 10. At an MOI of 10, at which 80% of cells are infected, less than 5% of clonal cell lines contained integrated AAV DNA. At an MOI of 100 or greater, however, 35 to 40% of clonal cell lines contained integrated AAV DNA. Integration and the ability to rescue viral genomes were highly correlated. Analysis of integrated AAV indicated that essentially all integrants were AAVS1 site specific. Although maximal integration efficiency approached 40% of clonal cell lines (essentially 50% of infected cells), over 80% of cell lines contained a genomic disruption at the AAVS1 integration locus on chromosome 19 (≈100% of infected cells). Rep expression by itself and in the presence of a plasmid integration substrate was able to mediate this disruption of the AAVS1 site. We further characterized the disruption event and demonstrated that it resulted in amplification of the AAVS1 locus. The data are consistent with a revised model of AAV integration that includes preliminary expansion of a defined region in AAVS1.
Ring structure of the crystalline and amorphous forms of silicon dioxide

Abstract The concept of a ring in a covalent substance is defined, and a prescription for counting rings is given and exemplified by various forms of SiO2.
The effect of carbon‐arc intensity on asphalt oxidation

Films of two air-blown asphalts were exposed to the carbon arc at different intensities to determine the effect of radiant-energy intensity on the rate of asphalt oxidation. The oxidation rates were established by measuring the changes in infra-red absorption in the carbonyl band as a function of exposure time. It was found that: (a) the asphalt oxidation rate increased with the intensity of the carbon arc, (b) the radiant energy output of the accelerated weathering machine tends to level off at the higher voltage settings, and (c) at the maximum voltage adjustment switch setting of the accelerated weathering machine used, the incident-radiant flux does not equal or exceed that which can be absorbed by asphalt.
Pore size distributions of cation-exchange adsorbents determined by inverse size-exclusion chromatography

The pore dimensions, pore size distributions, and phase ratios were determined for a set of cation-exchange adsorbents using inverse size-exclusion chromatography (ISEC). The adsorbents examined represent a diverse set of materials from Pharmacia, TosoHaas, BioSepra, and EM Industries, which are widely used for protein purification. The ISEC was carried out using dextran standards with relative molecular masses of 180-6,105,000. This technique provided a comparative characterization of the accessible internal pore surface area, as a function of solute size, for the adsorbents tested. Adsorbent preparation strategies in which polymers are generated in situ or grafted onto base materials were found to have significant effects on pore dimensions and phase ratios.
The role of carbon and oxygen in cosmic gases: some applications to the chemistry and mineralogy of enstatite chondrites

Abstract A new condensation sequence appears if the C O ratio in a gas of otherwise solar composition is increased by less than a factor of two. As the ratio increases from the solar value of 0.6 to ⩾ 1 the gas becomes extremely reduced, the condensation temperatures of silicates and oxides are depressed markedly ∼ 400 K and a new suite of refractory minerals appears: AIN, CaS, MgS, SiC, TiN, graphite, Si2N2O and probably metastable (Fe,Ni)3C. Many of these minerals are unique to enstatite chondrites and may be analogues of the refractory silicates and oxides found in more oxidized meteorites such as Allende. The change in chemistry is related to the stability of CO, the most stable C or O compound at high T. Since the elements occur in a 1:1 ratio in CO, only the element which is in excess is free to form other compounds. But as T decreases CO reacts with H2 to form graphite, CH4 or other hydrocarbons thereby freeing O to form H2O. If equilibrium is maintained oxides and silicates form at about 1000 K ( C O > 1 , Pτ = 10−4atm) as products of reactions among the carbides, nitrides, sulfides and the gas. The possibility that equilibrium was not maintained among the C-bearing species was also investigated. If either graphite or CH4 does not form as predicted the stability fields of the reduced minerals expands to lower temperatures. If neither graphite nor CH4 form as predicted, CO remains stable and the nebular gas is highly reduced at all temperatures. Enstatite chondrites appear to have originated in a region of the nebula where the C O ratio was somewhat higher than the solar value. Various fractionation mechanisms are considered. An interesting possibility is that graphite, which is quite refractory under a wide range of conditions, survived the collapse of the solar nebula.
From Dog to Ant: The Evolution of Lee Breuer's Animations

ZL a Divina Caricatura, subtitled A Fiction by Lee Breuer, is narrated by and based on the life of a dog, mainly. You might know the dog if you have followed Lee Breuer and Mabou Mines' works for the past thirty years. Her name is Rose, a mutt whose tales wag on about her love life and the fate of her friends, lovers, and incarnations. Rose is not Breuer's only animal attraction. He has been walking and talking with animals for his entire career and features an imaginary menagerie in the very titles of his plays: The Red Horse Animation, The B. Beaver,
Collisions of HCl, DCl, and HBr with Liquid Glycerol: Gas Uptake, D → H Exchange, and Solution Thermodynamics

Gas−liquid scattering, D → H exchange, and time-dependent uptake measurements are used to follow HCl, DCl, and HBr as they strike the surface of the neutral, hydrogen-bonding liquid glycerol. In this and the following paper, we report studies of gas−liquid energy transfer and trapping, the nature of HCl and HBr interfacial and bulk phase dissociation and recombination, and the thermodynamics of HCl solvation. We find that most HCl and HBr molecules readily dissipate their excess kinetic energy and thermalize at the surface of glycerol, even at impact energies up to 100 kJ mol-1 and glancing angles of incidence up to 60°. Nearly all thermally accommodated HBr molecules dissolve in glycerol for longer than 10 s. HCl is less acidic and dissolves reversibly for times of 0.1 to 1 s at incident HCl fluxes of (2 to 0.2) × 1015 cm-2 s-1, respectively. Experiments utilizing DCl show that this reversible solvation is accompanied by dissociation into D+ and Cl-, D+ → H+ exchange, and HCl desorption. The residence ti...
A Means to an End: The Biological Basis of Aging and Death.

The questions of how and why we age have great intrinsic intellectual appeal and major societal implications. William Clark, an Emeritus Professor of Immunology at UCLA, has written a popular book in an attempt to introduce the subject to nonspecialists. That he himself is a nonspecialist is probably a good thing, since there is the potential to bring a fresh new perspective. He has succeeded in producing a very readable review that does indeed outline the major ideas. Unfortunately, although he quite properly emphasizes the evolutionary theory of why we age, his language in many sections of the book indicates a belief that a genetic program has evolved to produce senescence.
ROENTGENOGRAPHY OF PATENT DUCTUS ARTERIOSUS.

Abstract Conventional roentgenography of the chest in many instances may confirm the diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus. Right heart catheterization often establishes the diagnosis but cannot exclude with certainty an aorticopulmonary window, transposition of the great vessels and truncus arteriosus. Entry of the catheter into the patent ductus and aorta during right heart catheterization is revealing and particularly valuable if a permanent record, either with film or cineangiocardiography, is made. Intravenous or selective angiocardiography provides indirect evidence of a patent ductus arteriosus, i.e., blanching of the pulmonary artery at the time of right heart filling, followed by reopacification of the pulmonary arteries when the left heart structures are filled. If there is pulmonary hypertension and reversal of blood flow through the patent ductus, intravenous angiocardiography furnishes direct evidence of this by visualizing the ductus filling from the pulmonary artery and opacifying the descending aorta. Also, when there is a left-sided patent ductus, a right-sided aorta and atresia of the pulmonary artery, direct opacification of the ductus can be achieved by intravenous angiocardiography. Countercurrent aortography by injection of a small quantity of dilute contrast material into the left brachial artery of infants and small children usually via arteriotomy or needle puncture is often sufficient for diagnosis of patency of the ductus arteriosus. Such a study may also reveal coarctation of the aorta. An aorticopulmonary window, a coronary arterio-venous fistula and ruptured aortic sinuses may also be excluded if the ascending aorta and aortic sinuses are visualized. Failure to visualize the entire aorta may make necessary a right brachial arterial injection of dilute contrast media in order to study the structures at the aortic root. Percutaneous retrograde femoral or brachial catheterization with the selective visualization of a patent ductus followed by exploration of the rest of the aorta by the injection of a small quantity of dilute contrast material is the most reliable method for demonstrating patent ductus arteriosus and excluding other disease of the aortic root such as an aorticopulmonary window, ruptured aortic sinus, coronary arteriovenous fistula, aortic insufficiency and truncus arteriosus. Advances in roentgen technics [image amplification roentgenoscopy, multiple serial roentgen studies (in biplane) and cineangiocardiography], low reactive contrast agents, improved percutaneous retrograde catheter technics, and radiopaque (easily shaped) catheters allow selective exploration and visualization of the infundibulum and ascending portions of the aorta and have resulted in a very high degree of success in diagnosis and differential diagnosis of patent ductus arteriosus.
A Novel Role for Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase β in Signaling from G Protein-coupled Receptors to Akt

The protein kinase Akt plays a central role in a number of key biological functions including protein synthesis, glucose homeostasis, and the regulation of cell survival or death. The mechanism by which tyrosine kinase growth factor receptors stimulate Akt has been recently defined. In contrast, the mechanism of activation of Akt by other cell surface receptors is much less understood. For G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), conflicting data suggest that these receptors stimulate Akt in a cell type-specific manner by a yet to be fully elucidated mechanism. Here, we took advantage of the availability of cells, where Akt activity could not be enhanced by agonists acting on this large family of cell surface receptors, such as NIH 3T3 cells, to investigate the pathway linking GPCRs to Akt. We present evidence that expression of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) beta is necessary and sufficient to transmit signals from G proteins to Akt in these murine fibroblasts and that the activation of PI3Kbeta may represent the most likely mechanism whereby GPCRs stimulate Akt, as the vast majority of cells do not express PI3Kgamma, a known G protein-sensitive PI3K isoform. Furthermore, available evidence indicates that GPCRs activate Akt by a pathway distinct from that utilized by growth factor receptors, as it involves the tyrosine phosphorylation-independent activation of PI3Kbeta by G protein betagamma dimers.
Stochastic relaxation of the contact line of a water drop on a solid substrate subjected to white noise vibration: roles of hysteresis.

Relaxation of the three phase contact line of a sessile drop of water on a low energy surface is studied by subjecting it to a white noise vibration. While a spring force acts on the contact line w...
On the exchange flow in tidal rivers and shallow estuaries

An analytic model is developed to investigate the barotropic tidally driven residual exchange flow in shallow estuaries. Ebb dominated flow in deep channel and flood dominated flow on the shoals produced by the model are consistent with some observations in tidal rivers and shallow estuaries. Analysis shows that this type of exchange flow is caused by the combined effect of nonlinearity and the lateral variation of the depth. The inward flux is mainly due to the surface elevation of the wave. A seaward residual pressure gradient has to be maintained to drive the water outward for mass balance. Since the surface elevation in an estuary has only small lateral variation, the depth integrated pressure force is mainly dependent on the depth whose value in the channel is larger than that on the shoals. As a result, the return flow in the channel is larger than that on the shoals. An ebb-flood flow system is thus generated.
The Receptor Binding Site for the Methyltransferase of Bacterial Chemotaxis Is Distinct from the Sites of Methylation

The principal locus for binding interactions between the aspartate and serine receptors of escherichia coli and the methyltransferase was found to be in the last five amino acids of the receptor. The thermodynamic parameters of transferase-receptor interactions were determined by isothermal titration calorimetry. the serine receptor and three C-terminal fragments (C-fragments) of the aspartate receptor consisting of ether the last 297, 88, or 38 amino acids gave comparable values for binding (n=1, deltaH approximately 13 kcal/mol, and Ka approximately 4 x 10(5)M-1). Truncating either 16 or 36 amino acids form the C-terminus eliminated observable interactions. Finally the pentapeptide Asn-Trp-Glu-Thr-Phe, which corresponds to the last five amino acids of the receptor and is strictly conserved among E. coli serine amd aspartate receptors and the Salmonella typhimurium aspartate receptor, was found to have all the binding activity of the full-length receptor and the C-fragments. An in vitro methylation assay was used to obtain evidence for the physiological significance of this interaction in which excess peptide was able to completely block receptor methylation. The location of the binding site far from the methylation sites in the primary structure of the receptor suggests that the principle role of this interaction may be to hold the transferase in close proximity to all the methylation sites. Intersubunit methylation implication is proposed as plausible consequence of this "controlled proximity" mechanism since the ribose-galactose and dipeptide receptors lack the transferase binding sequence, and appear unable to bind transferase. Intersubunit methylation implies that transferase bound to eother the serine or aspartate receptor subunit may catalyze methylation of receptor subunits in a neighboring dimer, including those that have ligand specificity.
Chelating and monodentate coordination modes of the tetraphenyldiphosphoxane (Ph2POPPh2) ligand

Abstract The crystal and molecular structures of the Cr and Mo complexes cis-(CO)4 M(PPh 2 OP Ph2) have been determined. Mo complex: C28H20O5P2Mo, triclinic, P 1 , a 10.016(2), b 11.419(3), c 13.237(3) A, α 106.18(2), β 95.78(2), γ 112.78(2)°, Z = 2, Dcalc = 1.515 Mg m−3. The final residual is RF = 0.027 for 3718 observed reflections at 23°C. Cr complex: C28H20O5P2Cr, triclinic, P 1 , a 9.887(1), b 11.438(2), c 13.020(2) A, α 106.43(1), β 95.05(1), γ 112.59(1)°, Z = 2, Dcalc 1.438 Mg m−3. The final residual is RF = 0.043 for 2817 observed reflections at 23°C. The two structures are isomorphous with approximate octahedral coordination geometry around each metal and feature the tetraphenyldiphosphoxane Ph2POPPh2 ligand in a chelating mode. Hydrolysis of the Cr, Mo, and W chelate complexes under basic conditions yielded the cis-(CO)4M(PPh2O)2H− species which can be reconverted to the parent cis-(CO)4 M(PPh 2 OP Ph2) by acidification and dehydration using trifluoroacetic acid in trifluoroacetic anhydride. A monodentate coordination mode of the Ph2POPPh2 ligand was identified in the complex (CO)5MoPPh2OPPh2 prepared from the reaction of CIPPh2 with (CO)5MoPPh2O−. This monodentate ligand becomes chelating upon warming of the complex in solution.
Understanding and managing expressed emotion in the couples treatment of alcoholism

Alcohol dependence not only affects the client but can have a devastating impact on the drinker's family as well. The reactions and attitudes of family members toward the drinker, especially those of spouses of alcoholics who may have endured their partner's problem drinking for many years, are often understandably negative and may hamper recovery efforts. This article describes some of the relationship dynamics common to couples struggling with one partner's alcoholism, and seeks to provide a better understanding of spousal manifestations of expressed emotion. Treatment strategies aimed at reducing high levels of expressed emotion in hopes of preventing drinker relapse are also discussed in the context of couples therapy. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A NOVEL APPROACH TO DNA COPY NUMBER DATA SEGMENTATION

DNA copy number (DCN) is the number of copies of DNA at a region of a genome. The alterations of DCN are highly associated with the development of different tumors. Recently, microarray technologies are being employed to detect DCN changes at many loci at the same time in tumor samples. The resulting DCN data are often very noisy, and the tumor sample is often contaminated by normal cells. The goal of computational analysis of array-based DCN data is to infer the underlying DCNs from raw DCN data. Previous methods for this task do not model the tumor/normal cell mixture ratio explicitly and they cannot output segments with DCN annotations. We developed a novel model-based method using the minimum description length (MDL) principle for DCN data segmentation. Our new method can output underlying DCN for each chromosomal segment, and at the same time, infer the underlying tumor proportion in the test samples. Empirical results show that our method achieves better accuracies on average as compared to three previous methods, namely Circular Binary Segmentation, Hidden Markov Model and Ultrasome.
Three new species of the genus Megapomponia (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) from Indochina, with a key to the species of Megapomponia

Abstract Three new cicadas are described from Thailand and Cambodia: Megapomponia atrotunicata Lee and Sanborn, sp. nov., Megapomponia sitesi Sanborn and Lee, sp. nov., and Megapomponia castanea Lee and Sanborn, sp. nov. Megapomponia decem and Megapomponia rajah are transferred to the genus Pomponia : Pomponia decem (Walker) and Pomponia rajah Moulton. A key to the species of the genus Megapomponia is provided.
Enhanced dielectric and piezoelectric response in PZT superlattice-like films by leveraging spontaneous Zr/Ti gradient formation

Abstract Spontaneous Zr/Ti gradient formation during crystallization in sol–gel-processed Pb(ZrxTi1−x)O3 films is used to prepare superlattice-like (SL), highly (1 0 0)-oriented thin films on Pt/Ti/SiO2/Si substrates. SLs with stacking periodicity ranging from 13 up to 60 nm are synthesized with compositional gradient normal to the film surface and composition centered at x ≈ 0.53. X-ray diffraction (XRD) shows high order satellite peaks and no secondary phases. XRD structural refinement, along with XPS depth profile chemical analysis, reveals that the crystal structure alternates between rhombohedral and in-plane polarized tetragonal phases, effectively corresponding to “artificially created” phase boundaries. SL films have ∼45% and ∼20% higher d33,f piezoelectric coefficient and dielectric permittivity, respectively, with respect to compositional-gradient-free films of similar thickness, possibly due to enhanced reorientation of electrical dipoles and higher extrinsic contributions due to the motion of the “artificially created” phase boundaries in SL films. Dielectric nonlinear studies indicate a higher amount of extrinsic contributions to the dielectric response in SL and gradient-enhanced films than in conventional films of similar average composition. This processing method provides a simple chemical route to create thin ferroelectric films with enhanced dielectric and piezoelectric properties suitable for a range of miniaturized applications.
Some robust estimates of principal components

Abstract Robust estimates of principal components are developed using appropriate definitions of multivariate signs and ranks. Simulations and a data example are used to compare these methods to the regular method and one based on the minimum-volume-ellipsoid estimate of the covariance matrix. The sign and rank procedures are quite robust unless there is severe contamination, in which case the minimum-volume-ellipsoid estimate is preferable.
The Politics of Environmental Concern: The Impacts of Party Identification and Political Ideology on Environmental Attitudes

The literature on the political context of the environmental movement entertains the competing hypotheses that environmentalism either transcends or embodies the traditional left-right cleavages in American society. Findings from a statewide survey in Wisconsin indicate substantial relationships between sociopolitical ideologies and support for environmental reform. These relationships were most pronounced among the college-educated stratum. Liberalism vis-h-vis laissez-faire politics was the political ideology variable most closely related to environmental concern. This reflects the obvious empirical reality that the environmental movement has been primarily concerned with controlling private natural resource decision-making. Nevertheless, there is a substantial correlation between welfare-state liberalism and environmental concern which seems important due to the tendency of environmental reforms to have inegalitarian consequences. In spite of major associations between political ideology and environmen...
Studies on coenzyme binding to glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Cofactor depleted lobster glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase was prepared by gel filtration at pH 5·0. Slow crystallization produced orthorhombic crystals of this “meso” form (with about one NAD molecule per tetramer) which were isomorphous with the holo-enzyme. A three-dimensional electron density difference map at 2·9 A resolution between the meso and holo crystals showed no significant conformational change of the enzyme. Fast crystallization produced triclinic crystals of essentially apo-enzyme. When nicotinamide 8-bromo-adenine dinucleotide was added in excess to the meso-enzyme preparation, crystals grew that were isomorphous with the native holo-enzyme crystals. It was found that the brominated coenzyme is in the anti conformation in all four subunits. However, from the studies of crystalline 8-bromoadenosine ( Tavale & Sobell, 1970) , the syn conformation is preferred due to steric hindrance. The anti conformation was also observed ( Abdallah et al. , 1975 ) on binding 8-bromoadenosine diphosphoribose to liver alcohol dehydrogenase.
Games with Zero-knowledge Signaling

We observe that in certain two-player repeated games of incomplete information, where information may be incomplete on both sides, it is possible for an informed player to signal his status as an informed player to the other without revealing any information about the choice of chance. The key to obtaining such a class of games is to relax the assumption that the players’ moves are observable. We show that in such cases players can achieve a kind of signaling that is “zero-knowledge”, in the sense that the other player becomes convinced that her opponent is informed without ever learning the choice of chance. Moreover, such “zero-knowledge signaling” has all of the statistical properties associated with zero-knowledge proofs in intereactive protocols. In particular, under the general assumption that moves are unobservable, such signaling leads to a class of equilibria in repeated games that are separatingin regard to the status of player 1–informed or uninformed–but only for player 2; any other player in a network, being unable to observe the moves of player 2, remains uncertain as to the status of player 1.
Observation of Fermi and Gamow-Teller strength in the 800 MeV(p, n) reaction

Abstract Angular distributions have been measured for the (p, n) reaction on targets of Li, C, C, and N at 800 MeV with an energy resolution of 2.7 MeV allowing observation of discrete nuclear levels. As is the case at lower energies, this reaction is very selective, emphasizing Gamow-Teller (GT) and Fermi transitions. Absolute cross sections of pure GT transitions are reproduced by impulse approximation calculations. The ratio |Jστ|2/|Jτ|2 was extracted from C and N measurements at 800 MeV and from a C measurement at 31
Ectopic scalp replantation: A case report

Temporary ectopic implantation with secondary replantation at the anatomic site is useful in salvage of extremities or organs [Godina M, Bajec J, Baraga A. Salvage of the mutilated upper extremity with temporary ectopic implantation of the undamaged part. Plast Reconstr Surg 1986;78: 295-99; Chernofsky MA, Sauer PF. Temporary ectopic implantation. J Hand Surg [Am] 1990;15:910-14; Matloub HS, Yousif NJ, Sanger JR. Temporary ectopic implantation of an amputated penis. Plast Reconstr Surg 1994;93:408-12; Hallock GG. Transient single-digit ectopic implantation. J Reconstr Microsurg 1992;8:309-11; Graf P, Groner R, Horrl W. Temporary ectopic implantation for salvage of amputated digits. Br J Plast Surg 1996;47:174-77; Yousif NJ, Dzwierzynski WW, Anderson RC, et al. Complications and salvage of an ectopically replanted thumb. Plast Reconstr Surg 1996;97:637-40; Wang J-N, Tong Z-H, Zhang T-H, et al. Salvage of amputated upper extremities with temporary ectopic implantation followed by replantation at a second stage. J Reconstr Microsurg 2006;22:15-20]. Temporary ectopic implantation is usually considered due to poor conditions for replantation at the anatomic site. We report a case of near-total scalp avulsion treated by temporary implantation to the lower abdomen with secondary replantation.