cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Established and potential impacts of eukaryotic mycelial decomposers in marine/terrestrial ecotones

Abstract Marine mycelial decomposers (eumycotes, members of Kingdom Fungi, and oomycotes, zoosporic members of the Kingdom Protoctista) are highly adapted for capture of solid substrate by pervasion and digestion from within. Thus they exert their influence in areas of large input of litter of vascular plants, especially at some types of terrestrial/marine ecosystemic interfaces (ecotones). Unavailability of methods easily used by general microbial ecologists has hampered progress in the study of marine mycelial decomposers, and there are still pockets of difficulty in this regard (especially for oomycotes). Recently published or refined methods for measuring fungal mass and productivity have begun to allow us to realize the impacts of fungi in marine ecotones. For example, it is now clear that the older paradigm reflecting negligible contribution of microbial mass to litter nitrogen content is false for the standing-decay system of saltmarsh grasses — in these decay systems, fungal mass can account for virtually all of the nitrogen present at some point(s) in the standing-decay period. Another generally held belief about marine fungi has also been reversed — ascomycetes (Fungi) of a saltmarsh grass (smooth cordgrass) clearly do digest lignocellulose under natural-decay circumstances. Much more work is needed to clarify the situation, but at present it appears that major types of marine ecotones (e.g., saltmarshes and mangroves) differ sharply in the balance among major groups of decomposers (eumycotes, oomycotes, and bacteria) with regard to their utilization of vascular-plant litter. In saltmarshes, microbial production in standing grass litter is strongly dominated by fungi, and oomycotes do not show evidence of a substantial role in decomposition. In mangroves, submerged fallen leaves appear to support minor fungal occupancy, but ubiquitous and rapid occupancy by oomycotes (especially Halophytophthora vesicula ). Many exciting areas of research are now more open than ever before to marine microbial ecologists interested in working with mycelial decomposers.
Ultrasonic features of spleen as left renal pseudotumor

Abstract Left renal pseudotumors caused by the spleen may be diagnosed with gray scale ultrasonography. The tip of a normal spleen may present as a tapering anechoic mass effacing the anterior superior renal margin. Focal splenic lesions or generalized splenic disease causing apparent renal masses on conventional radiologic studies can be accurately shown to be nonurologic by echographic examinations.
An Efficient Noise Immune Sync and AGC Circuit for Television Receivers

Impulse noise interference, such as may be caused by sparking electric motors or automobile ignition systems, can interfere with the performance of a television receiver in the following principal ways: First, the impulses appear directly in the picture; second, the synchronization separator input circuit may charge up to such an extent that the picture loses synchronization; third, the impulses may provide false information to the AGC system thereby causing a sharp reduction receiver gain. Of the three, the latter two effects are by far the more serious. Consequently, noise ``suicide'' or noise inverter circuits, for the protection of the sync separator and AGC circuits have been widely used.
The Influence of Perception on Maternal Sensitivity in Foster Care

This study examined the association between perceptions of children's care needs and maternal sensitivity with 76 dyads in foster care. Foster mothers were more sensitive to typically developing children perceived as requiring easier care and were less sensitive to children with developmental delays. Adopting foster mothers were sensitive with children requiring complex care. Older children were perceived to need more care and to be delayed in development. Nearly half of the sample were perceived to be developmentally delayed. Foster mothers were less sensitive to children with multiple placements. Perceptions of caregiving needs can influence the quality of interactions.
Diffusion models for the initial stages of thrombus formation on foreign surfaces.

THE role of platelets in the initial stages of thrombus formation on foreign surfaces is discussed with reference to recent research papers on this topic. A diffusion theory to account for the platelet movement to the surface is presented, and mathematical models, based on this theory, are developed. Comparison of the capillary flow model with published data is made. These results, though encouraging, suggest that more precise experimental evaluation of the proposed models is required before firm opinion on the diffusion theory can be made.
Extending Design for Disassembly Index to Consider End of Life-Cycle Use

The idea of “green” engineering has recently been recognized as having a profound impact in the manufacturing industry. The need for environmentally friendly products continues to increase, and that starts in the design phase. Design for Disassembly stems from the need to recycle. After a product has completed its useful life, it needs to be disassembled then recycled, remanufactured or scrapped. Since disassembly can have a major impact on a company’s bottom line, and a product’s shelf life, a tool for proper evaluation of a product for its disassembly efficiency is essential. Most of the existing Design for Disassembly tools usually focus only on disassembly operations and does not consider the end of life use of the components. In this paper we present a Design for Disassembly index that integrates Reuse, Remanufacture, and Recycle associated with disassembly. The modified disassemblability index combines relevant issues related to disassembly and recycling of products, such as fastening method, cleaning, hazards, ease of reuse, ease of reconditioning, ease of reassembly and ease of disassembly. Specific scales for each of these criteria and a simple spreadsheet based tool are also presented in the paper. The modified disassembly index and the tool are demonstrated by applying it on a printer.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Anin VivoCytokine and Endotoxin-Independent Pathway for Induction of Nitric Oxide Synthase II mRNA, Enzyme, and Nitrate/Nitrite in Alveolar Macrophages

Dibutyryl cyclic AMP (DB-cAMP, 0.1 and 1.0 mg/kg) and the purine-2-receptor agonist methyl-thio-ATP (MT-ATP mg/kg) given by intratracheal (i.t.) administration to rats two hr before bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) increased iNOS mRNA to be equal to or greater than that produced by i.t. LPS, without eliciting neutrophil infiltration into the alveolar space or the upregulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha). Translation of DB-cAMP and MT-ATP stimulated iNOS mRNA into protein and activation of iNOS to produce RNI was slower than that resulting from LPS-stimulated iNOS mRNA. Diethyldithiocarbamate (5 mg/kg, i.t.) a sequestrant of reactive oxygen intermediates and an inhibitor of NFkappaB attenuated LPS-induced upregulation of iNOS mRNA without affecting that produced by DB-cAMP or MT-ATP. We conclude that an LPS and cytokine-independent pathway of transcription of iNOS mRNA exists in vivo, which can be directly activated by DB-cAMP and purine-2 receptor stimulation. It is possible that the increase in iNOS found in asthmatic patients and those with other diseases that are treated with drugs which affect the cAMP and purine systems may be iatrogenic rather than pathogenetic in origin.
Urinary incontinence in 9-16 year olds with cystic fibrosis compared to other respiratory conditions and a normal group.

Abstract Background Individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) are deemed at risk of developing urinary incontinence (UI) due to repeated coughing and other factors causing increased pressure on the pelvic floor. Increased incidence of UI is recognised in women and increasingly in men and children. However, there is little comparison with normal controls and other respiratory conditions with chronic cough. Our aim was to report the incidence, degree and impact of UI in 9–16 year olds related to clinical status in CF, compared to these. Methods 9–16 year olds were invited to fill in a self-administered anonymous/confidential questionnaire at clinic. Data recorded were sex, age, height, weight, spirometry expressed as percentage predicted. Normal controls — age and sex only recorded. Results No significant differences were found between incidence of UI (21% CF; 22% respiratory; and 17% normal controls, P =0.43). No relationship found between respiratory or nutritional status and UI. Laughing, exercise and cough were the most common causes of UI. No difference between groups for age range, physiotherapy, breathlessness, antibiotics, urinary tract infections and menarche. Only 6% reported more than a few drops of UI. Conclusion Incidence of urinary incontinence is no different between 9–16 year old girls and boys with CF, and controls.
Stabilized conforming nodal integration in the natural-element method

A stabilized conforming nodal integration scheme is implemented in the natural neighbour method in conjunction with non-Sibsonian interpolation. In this approach, both the shape functions and the integration scheme are defined through use of first-order Voronoi diagrams. The method illustrates improved performance and significant advantages over previous natural neighbour formulations. The method also shows substantial promise for problems with large deformations and for the computation of higher-order gradients. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Mismatch repair and the accumulation of deleterious mutations influence the competitive advantage of MAT (mating type) heterozygosity in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Competitions between matched pairs of diploid strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, one capable of undergoing sexual recombination (MAT-heterozygous) and the other not (MAT-homozygous), have proved useful for measuring the effects of mitotic and meiotic recombination and DNA repair on competitive ability in this organism. Overall competitive differences between the strains can be enhanced by converting them to petites (aerobic respiration incompetent). Here we report the results of competitions between pairs of strains that also differ in their ability to undergo mismatch repair. In petite strains, the growth rates of mismatch-repair defective strains declined over time regardless of their MAT genotype. Mismatch-repair proficient MAT-heterozygous strains did not show a decline, while repair-deficient MAT-homozygous strains did. The decline appears to be due to the accumulation of deleterious mutations of small effect, which can be corrected by MAT-heterozygous strains having intact mismatch repair. The relative competitive abilities of MAT-heterozygous and MAT-homozygous strains diverged during the course of the competitions, and the variance of this divergence increased significantly when mismatch repair was defective. This large stochastic component indicates that a relatively small number of deleterious mutations may be involved. The accumulation of deleterious mutations and their subsequent repair may have a bearing on the origin of sex in this organism.
The Variation in the Calcium Level of the Blood of the Domestic Fowl

Abstract AS Bell (1908) knew of no method for determining the level of calcium in the blood, he developed a method which he called the calcium index. He precipitated the calcium from the blood as the oxalate and counted the crystals of calcium oxalate on a hemocytometer plate. In the case of a non-laying hen he found the calcium index to vary between 0.9 to 1.3 on successive days, whereas in the laying hen the variation was from 0.5 to 3.1. Pearl and Surface (1909) suggested that the causal factor for the deposition of calcium on the egg was a mechanical one. They sutured the large intestine to the oviduct anterior to the shell gland and found that the faeces were then covered with a calcareous deposit on their passage through the gland. Buckner, Martin, and Peter (1925) showed that there was not enough calcium in the shell gland to account . . .
Electrical charges and potentials in cells resulting from metabolism of electrolytes

An approximate solution for the relation of the charges and potentials in a spherical cell to the production of electrolytes in the cell and their diffusion resistances is derived. The potential obtained by introducing reasonable values of the constants is of the proper order of magnitude. The equations are applied to a respiratory chain and the relation between oxygen consumption, glycolytic coefficient, and potentials is determined. Available experimental data is compared with the theory.
Simplifying concurrent algorithms by exploiting hardware transactional memory

We explore the potential of hardware transactional memory (HTM) to improve concurrent algorithms. We illustrate a number of use cases in which HTM enables significantly simpler code to achieve similar or better performance than existing algorithms for conventional architectures. We use Sun's prototype multicore chip, code-named Rock, to experiment with these algorithms, and discuss ways in which its limitations prevent better results, or would prevent production use of algorithms even if they are successful. Our use cases include concurrent data structures such as double ended queues, work stealing queues and scalable non-zero indicators, as well as a scalable malloc implementation and a simulated annealing application. We believe that our paper makes a compelling case that HTM has substantial potential to make effective concurrent programming easier, and that we have made valuable contributions in guiding designers of future HTM features to exploit this potential.
Laban Movement Analysis Approach to Classical Ballet Pedagogy

Summary As a Certified Laban Movement Analyst and a classically trained ballet dancer, I consistently weave the Laban Movement Analysis/Bartenieff Fundamentals (LMA/BF) theories and philosophies into the ballet class. This integration assists in: 1. Identifying the qualitative movement elements both in the art of ballet and in the students' dancing styles; 2. Facilitating both the technical and expressive training of ballet dancers; and 3. Assisting the dancers in connecting their art form to their lives beyond the ballet classroom. This article approaches classical ballet pedagogy through one LMA/BF philosophy, Function/Expression, and two LMA/BF theories, Shape Flow Support and Shape Qualities.
SubDoppler polarization spectroscopy of OH ejected by vibrational state-selected trans HONO(Ã 1A″): OH vector correlations, energy correlation between coincident OH,NO pairs, and energy transfer pathways

Abstract Specific vibrational states (0 0 , 2 n , n =1–4) of trans HONO(A) are excited with a polarized tunable laser and selected rotational states of the ejected OH fragment are probed by subDoppler polarization spectroscopy. The fragment recoil velocity and vector correlations obtained from the analysis of the Doppler profiles are used to deduce the internal energy content of the coincident NO cofragment, and to elucidate energy transfer pathways. These findings, together with our earlier results, are interpreted in terms of an A state potential energy surface in which: (1) the NO coordinate is coupled to the recoil O–N coordinate; (2) there is a bottleneck in the exit channel and an insignificant exit-channel energy barrier; (3) there is significant angular dependence of the minimum energy path between the recoiling fragments; and (4) there is a coupling of the NO stretch ( ν 2 ) with the HON angle bending ( ν 3 ) vibration.
Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors Stimulate Dedifferentiation of Human Breast Cancer Cells Through WNT/β‐Catenin Signaling

Recent studies have shown that differentiated cancer cells can dedifferentiate into cancer stem cells (CSCs) although to date no studies have reported whether this transition is influenced by systemic anti-cancer agents. Valproic acid (VA) is a histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that promotes self-renewal and expansion of hematopoietic stem cells and facilitates the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from somatic cells and is currently being investigated in breast cancer clinical trials. We hypothesized that HDAC inhibitors reprogram differentiated cancer cells toward the more resistant stem cell-like state. Two highly aggressive breast cancer cell lines, SUM159 and MDA-231, were sorted based on aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) activity and subsequently ALDH-negative and ALDH-positive cells were treated with one of two known HDAC inhibitors, VA or suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid. In addition, primary tumor cells from patients with metastatic breast cancer were evaluated for ALDH activity following treatment with HDAC inhibitors. We demonstrate that single-cell-sorted ALDH-negative cells spontaneously generated ALDH-positive cells in vitro. Treatment of ALDH-negative cells with HDAC inhibitors promoted the expansion of ALDH-positive cells and increased mammosphere-forming efficiency. Most importantly, it significantly increased the tumor-initiating capacity of ALDH-negative cells in limiting dilution outgrowth assays. Moreover, while HDAC inhibitors upregulated β-catenin expression and significantly increased WNT reporter activity, a TCF4 dominant negative construct abolished HDAC-inhibitor-induced expansion of CSCs. These results demonstrate that HDAC inhibitors promote the expansion of breast CSCs through dedifferentiation and have important clinical implications for the use of HDAC inhibitors in the treatment of cancer.
Theoretical limits of spatial resolution in elliptical-centric contrast-enhanced 3D-MRA.

The point spread function (PSF) for contrast-enhanced threedimensional (3D) MR angiography using the elliptical centric view order is derived. This view order has been shown previously to provide high venous suppression thereby enabling long acquisition times capable of high spatial resolution. The dependence of the PSF on TR, field of view (FOV), scan time, and trigger time are shown explicitly. Theoretical predictions are corroborated with experimental results in phantoms and in vivo. The PSF width decreases as the square root of the product of TR and the two phase encoding FOV’s for fixed nominal voxel size. The PSF peak amplitude increases as the reciprocal of this product. Theory and experiment demonstrate that acquisition times over 40 sec provide superior resolution compared to shorter acquisitions, despite falling levels of contrast agent concentration. The analysis predicts that an isotropic spatial resolution of 1 mm before zero filling is possible in a FOV large enough to encompass the carotid and vertebral arteries bilaterally. Magn Reson Med 42:1106‐1116, 1999. r 1999 Wiley
Farnesyl transferase inhibitor resistance probed by target mutagenesis

Mutation in the target oncoprotein is a common mechanism of resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitors, as exemplified by the many BCR/ABL mutations that thwart imatinib activity in patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia. It remains unclear whether normal cellular protein targets of chemotherapeutics will evolve drug resistance via mutation to a similar extent. We conducted an in vitro screen for resistance to lonafarnib, a farnesyl protein transferase inhibitor that blocks prenylation of a number of proteins important in cell proliferation, and identified 9 mutations clustering around the lonafarnib binding site. In patients treated with a combination of imatinib and lonafarnib, we identified farnesyl protein transferase mutations in residues identified in our screen. Substitutions at Y361 were found in patients prior to treatment initiation, suggesting that these mutants might confer a proliferative advantage to leukemia cells, which we were able to confirm in cell culture. In vitro mutagenesis of normal cellular enzymes can be exploited to identify mutations that confer chemotherapy resistance to novel agents.
International Bridge Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—2008

I have had the privilege of attending the International Bridge Conference for the last several years. Hosted annually by the Engineer’s Society of Western Pennsylvania, the 25th International Bridge Conference IBC will be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania June 2–4, 2008. Most readers will have received the call for papers by now and hopefully will be planning their attendance. In honor of its 25th year, the IBC is focusing on the bridge engineers of the future. A series of “student day” activities is planned aimed at both high school students and university undergraduates. Because of this focus, the IBC is hoping to enhance the
Ultrafast spectroscopy and interferometry of laser-shocked thin films: practical considerations

Shaped femtosecond laser driven shock waves fulfill the requisite time resolution required for following shock induced chemical kinetics, and enable very small scale shock physics experimentation. However, comparison to large scale experiments requires detailed characterization of the generated pressure profile. Spectroscopic studies at pressure and temperature are hindered by fluctuations in shock strength as functions of space and time. Representative time resolved broadband infrared absorption data on shocked polyvinylnitrate thin films are presented, followed by current efforts to alleviate spatial shock strength variations with spatial pulse shaping, and calculations of the interferometric phase shifts expected at long times, during the rarefaction.
The solar wind cycle, the sunspot cycle, and the corona

Recent theories of the solar cycle and of coronal heating strongly suggest that solar cycle variations of different quantities (i.e. sunspots, coronal green line, etc.) ought not to be expected to be in phase with one another. In agreement with this notion we note that the shape of the corona typical of a ‘maximum’ eclipse occurs 1.5yr before sunspot maximum, compared with 2 yr as might be expected from Leighton's ‘standard’ model. Further, we argue that the phase of the solar wind cycle can be determined from geomagnetic observations. Using this phase, a solar cycle variation of 100 km s−1 in the solar wind velocity and 1 γ in the magnetic field intensity becomes apparent. In general, the solar wind cycle lags the coronal-eclipse-form cycle by 3 yr, compared with the 2 yr that might be expected from model calculations.
Resolution in 3D in multifocal plane microscopy

Using single molecule microscopy, biological interactions can be imaged and studied at the level of individual biomolecules. When characterizing an imaged biological interaction, the distance separating the two participating biomolecules can provide valuable information. Therefore, the resolvability of an imaging setup is of practical significance in the analysis of the acquired image data. Importantly, the resolvability of the imaging setup needs evaluation in the 3D context, since in general biomolecules reside in 3D space within the cellular environment. We recently introduced an information-theoretic 2D resolution measure which shows that the resolution limit due to Rayleigh's criterion can be overcome. This new result predicts that the resolution of optical microscopes is not limited, but rather can be improved with increased photon counts detected from the single molecules. The 2D result was subsequently extended to the 3D context, and the proposed information-theoretic 3D resolution measure can readily be used to determine the resolvability of a conventional single focal plane imaging setup. Here, we consider the 3D resolution measure for a multifocal plane microscope setup, an imaging system which allows the concurrent imaging of multiple focal planes within a specimen. The technique is useful in applications such as the tracking of subcellular objects in 3D. By comparing their 3D resolution measures, we find a two-plane setup to outperform a comparable conventional single-plane setup in resolvability over a range of axial locations for the single molecule pair. Moreover, we investigate and compare the impact of noise on the resolvability of the two setups.
Administration, OTA differ on test verification

When the explosion went off, a large area of barren brown ground above the test hole rose into the air, pitched and rippled like a stormy sea, and settled again in a cloud of dust. The scene was recorded by television cameras in helicopters above the desert at the Nevada Test Site, and, for the first time, by Soviet scientists. The outcome of this test and a similar experiment in the Soviet Union next month could set the tone for future test ban negotiations. Meanwhile, a new study from the Office of Technology Assessment claims that seismic networks, traditionally favored by the Soviet Union, can be used to verify reliably compliance with current treaties and be the basis for a new 10-kt testing limit. Seismic Verification of Nuclear Testing Treaties, released in late May, also concludes that the on-site hydrodynamic CORRTEX technique favored by the Reagan administration is intrusive, no more accurate than remote seismic methods, and useless against clandestine testing. Defense department officials have harshly criticized the report, while many seismologists have defended its general conclusions.
Effects of oxamyl and chlordane on the activities of nontarget soil organisms

The effect of two pesticides, oxamyl and chlordane, on nontarget soil biota were examined in microcosms. Neither oxamyl nor chlordane had an effect on rates of litter decomposition or soil and litter respiration. There were differences in numbers of nematodes and protozoans and in biomass of bacteria and fungi in microcosms with and without chlordane on some sampling dates. One of the nematodes, Pelodera sp., died out in all of the microcosms within 30 days. Although the pesticide chlordane had no measurable effect on the activities of the soil biota as measured by respiration and mass loss, it did affect the population sizes and biomass of some grazers of soil biota.
Stored energy in natural zirconolite and its synthetic counterpart after alpha recoil self-irradiation damage

Zirconolite (nominally CaZrTi2O7) was fully substituted with 238Pu, resulting in the composition CaPuTi2O7. The effects of self-irradiation due to alpha decay were monitored at room temperature for times as long as 1198 days and doses as high as 1.6 × 1026α/m3, using differential thermal analysis. As storage time increased, the temperature of recovery from the damaged to the crystalline state increased and the recovery step became more abrupt. Stored energy reached a maximum of 100 J/g at 2.1 × 1025α/m3 and then decreased to half this value with further damage. Results for synthetic samples were compared with those for naturally-occurring zirconolites that had attained a damage dose of ≈ 4.8 × 1026α/m3 as a result of their high Th and U contents. At high alpha decay doses the synthetic and natural materials behaved similarly, indicating the absence of major damage recovery or alteration effects for the natural mineral at ambient temperature. It is concluded that actinide-doped zirconolite and natural mineral analogues can both be used to study alpha decay damage under nuclear waste storage conditions after the initial cooling-off period.
7-Hydroxymethotrexate formation in a human lymphoblastic cell line.

Abstract 7-Hydroxymethotrexate is a major metabolite of methotrexate in patients undergoing chemotherapy with this drug. It has now been demonstrated that when cultures of CCRF-CEM, a human lymphoblastic cell line, are incubated in the presence of 100 μM methotrexate, significant quantities of 7-hydroxymethotrexate are formed. This finding is relevant to clinical use of the drug since it is now clear that during the treatment of acute lymphocytic leukemia conversion of methotrexate to the relatively inactive 7-hydroxy derivative probably occurs not only in the liver but also in the target cells.
Symmetric solution in M3D

Abstract The coefficient matrices in M3D are reformed here to have symmetric structures. They are further categorized into 3 types: weak diagonally-dominant matrix, moderate diagonally-dominant matrix, and strong diagonally-dominant matrix. The weak diagonally-dominant matrix corresponds to the solution of auxiliary quantity F of the perturbed toroidal flux Ĩ with Neumann boundary conditions. The moderate diagonally-dominant matrix corresponds to the solution of the toroidal current C and the scalar potential Φ with Dirichlet boundary conditions. The strong diagonally-dominant matrix corresponds to the solution of the perturbed toroidal flux Ĩ , the poloidal flux ψ , the pressure p , and the 3 components of velocity: χ , U , and v ϕ with Dirichlet boundary conditions, respectively. We compare LU, GMRES, and ICCG algorithms for linear equation with these 3 types of matrices. It is observed that ICCG greatly accelerates the solution process as compared to GMRES, especially for the weak diagonally-dominant matrix. In this case we achieved 4 to 44 times speedup when the matrix order ranges from ∼10 1 to ∼10 4 . For the moderate diagonally-dominant case, there is a 4 to 24 times speedup. For the strong diagonally-dominant case, an average 2 times speedup is observed. It is also shown that the GMRES algorithm is much slower for the weak diagonally-dominant type than for the other 2 types: 4.4 times slower than the moderate diagonally-dominant case, 333 times slower than the strong diagonally-dominant case. The LU algorithm is faster than GMRES for the weak diagonally-dominant matrix since the matrix is strong ill-conditioned, but GMRES outperforms LU for the strong diagonally-dominant matrix since the matrix is well-conditioned. However, the ICCG algorithm outperforms both ILU and GMRES for all matrix types.
Employee development and organizational performance: a review of literature and directions for future research

This review of literature examines the relationship between employee development and organizational performance. The research supports the commonly held belief that employee development programs make positive contributions to organizational performance. However, there continues to be limited information beyond this basic relationship. From an HRD perspective, research on employee development seems an area of high importance. Employee development means more than helping employees become continuous learners, regardless of the requirements of the organization. To be beneficial for both individual employees and organizations, research on employee development should seek greater understanding about the wide range of conditions within which employee development programs exist in organizations. Undertaking the three proposed research directions would do much for improving organizational performance in the long term.
Proton transfers in hydrogen‐bonded systems V. Analysis of electronic redistributions in (N2H7)+

The transfer of the central proton between the two NH3 units of (H3NHNH3)+ is studied using the 4–31 G basis set within the ab-initio Hartree-Fock formalism. Electron density difference maps are constructed which clearly indicate electronic redistributions which accompany the half-transfer of the proton from its equilibrium position (NHN) to the midpoint of the hydrogen bond (NHN). The overall loss of electronic charge from the proton-accepting molecule originates in three distinct regions of space, while a density buildup of smaller magnitude is observed in a characteristic region centered about the N nucleus. Similar regions are noted for the proton-donating molecule, although the changes are reversed in sign. A partitioning of the total density changes into contributions from the various molecular orbitals demonstrates that the a1 orbitals are associated with density shifts along the H-bond axis. Changes in the N lone pairs are attributed chiefly to the (5a1,6a1) pair and are somewhat attenuated by opposite shifts involving the (3a1. 4a1) pair. Orbitals of e symmetry lead to polarizations of the NH bonds and density shifts perpendicular to the H-bond axis.
Relating literature to medicine: Blending humanism and science in medical education

There is a need to add a humanistic component to scientific aspects of medical education. It must be adequately organized and evaluated to compete successfully in an already overcrowded curriculum. This study reports an educational experiment involving three consecutive freshmen classes in a new community-based medical school. A specialist in literature and a psychiatrist teach a two-week course to first-year students in which themes and topics relevant to medical practice are explored through selected readings and patient interviews that are integrated into daily experiential groups. The outcome of the course and similarities and differences between years are explored in relation to group sessions, class composition, reading assignments, and patient interviews.
The first cleavage furrow demarcates the dorsal-ventral axis in Xenopus embryos.

To determine the relationship between the first cleavage furrow and the dorsal-ventral axis of the Xenopus embryo, a heritable intracellular marker was injected into one blastomere at the two-cell stage. Embryos were selected in which the cleavage furrow bisected the crescent-shaped region of pale pigmentation or in which it formed 45–90° from this region. This region, which is located in the animal hemisphere of the Xenopus embryo, meets the criteria of the grey crescent as defined in other amphibian species. At tailbud stages the interface between the labeled and unlabeled halves was always coincident with the midsagittal plane. This correlation shows that the first cleavage furrow demarcates the dorsal-ventral axis. The labeling pattern was the same whether the first cleavage furrow bisected the region of pale pigmentation or whether it formed 90° from it. However, when this region was bisected (70% of embryos) it always was located on the dorsal side of the embryo. Thus the region of pale pigmentation indicates the dorsal side of the embryo only when it is bisected by the first cleavage furrow.
A Potential Role for Vitamin D on Hiv Infection

Despite advances in the knowledge of vitamin D's potent immunomodulatory activity, its role on HIV disease progression is unknown. Decreased concentrations of 1α,25-hydroxyvitamin D3, or 1,25(OH)2D, the active form of vitamin D, have been reported among HIV-infected people and attributed to defects in renal hydroxylation and increased utilization. A few studies also described low levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D3, 25(OH)D, the vitamin obtained from solar synthesis and diet. An inverse association between 1,25(OH)2D concentrations and mortality has been reported from a small cohort of HIV-infected adults, and some cross-sectional studies have indicated positive correlations between 1,25(OH)2D and CD4+ cell counts. Additional observational studies are needed to confirm the associations between vitamin D status and HIV disease progression. These investigations would provide useful insights on the potential role of vitamin D supplementation to HIV-infected persons and the planning of intervention trials.
Use of high-resolution endoscopic ultrasonography to examine the effect of tension on the esophagus during primary repair of long-gap esophageal atresia.

We have shown that tension applied to the esophageal pouches in long-gap esophageal atresia allows primary repair without necessity for intestinal or gastric transposition. To determine whether the mural structure of the upper esophageal pouch is altered by tension. We examined the esophagus with high-resolution endoscopic ultrasonography. The upper pouch was examined before traction and the upper and lower esophagus were examined after primary repair. Of 11 patients examined, 7 were male. At initial surgery the age, weight and length of the patients (mean ± SD) were 118 ± 88 days, 4.7 ± 1.2 kg and 54 ± 4 cm, respectively. The gap length was 4.7 ± 1.1 cm. The pretraction measurement of the muscularis propria of the upper pouch was similar to the postanastomotic measurement of the upper esophagus, and there was no statistically significant difference from the lower esophageal segments after anastomosis: 0.83 ± 0.19, 0.80 ± 0.15 and 0.81 ± 0.22 mm, respectively (P = 0.90). The thickness of combined mucosa and submucosa was also very similar in all three measurements, respectively: 0.93 (0.21) mm vs. 1.06 (0.08) mm vs. 1.0 (0.11) mm (P = 0.14). The layers of the upper esophageal pouch are preserved in infants with esophageal atresia in whom esophageal length is increased with tension.
Variations in interfacial properties during cell conditioning and influence of heat-treatment of ionomer on the characteristics of direct methanol fuel cells

Variations in interfacial properties in the anode catalyst layer during cell conditioning were characterized, and influence of the heat-treatment of ionomer on the characteristics of direct methanol fuel cells was investigated in this work. The anode catalyst layer was made by mixing a solvent-substituted Nafion solution with unsupported Pt/Ru black and curing the mixture in an oven with an inert environment. Materials characterization (SEM and optical microscopy) and electrochemical characterization (cell polarization, anode polarization, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and CO-stripping cyclic voltammetry) were performed. During cell conditioning, the enhanced kinetics of MeOH electrochemical oxidation and severe limiting current phenomenon are due to the combination of variations in interfacial properties and swelling of ionomer in the anode catalyst layer over time. Ru oxides at the catalyst surface are reduced continuously during cell conditioning. The nearly constant integrated areas under the CO-stripping CV peaks and broadened peak shapes indicate a stable number of Pt/Ru bimetallic alloy surface sites, yet the surface composition distribution is broadened. Heat-treatment influences ionomer crystallinity, altering its swelling behavior and hence affecting the characteristics of the direct methanol fuel cell (DMFC) anode.
High-current field emission electron source using a reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) cathode

A high current density field emission source with high brightness could have many applications in science, medicine and engineering. High field emission current densities have been demonstrated from a large-area, Ar-ion irradiated, reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) cathode, in a triode configuration. The RVC cathode contains many small nanowires, <50nm in diameter, that serve as excellent field emission tips. The field modification generated by a voltage applied to a grid electrode placed around the cathode increases emission at a given cathode potential. This triode configuration is robust and inexpensive.
A new high-capacity cosmid vector and its use.

The construction of a cosmid, MUA-3, designed for the convenient cloning of eukaryotic DNA segments up to 48 kb in length is described. The cosmid contains all of the plasmid pBR322 with approx. 400 bases of λ DNA, including the cohesive end site, inserted at the pBR322 PstI endonuclease recognition site. Methods for using this vector to construct several types of Drosophila melanogaster genomic DNA libraries are given, and libraries made by these methods are characterized. A sheared Drosophila DNA-EcoRI linker library is shown to stably maintain average Drosophila DNA inserts of over 40 kb and up to 48 kb, and the efficiency of producing clones by a partial restriction and ligation method is shown to be over 3 × 10^5 clones/μg of Drosophila DNA.
Contributions of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway and apoptosis to human skeletal muscle wasting with age.

The primary mechanism that contributes to decreasing skeletal muscle strength and size with healthy aging is not presently known. This study examined the contribution of the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway and apoptosis to skeletal muscle wasting in older adults (n = 21; mean age = 72.76 ± 8.31 years) and young controls (n = 21; mean age = 21.48 ± 2.93 years). Subjects underwent a percutaneous muscle biopsy of the vastus lateralis to determine: (1) ubiquitin ligase gene expression (MAFbx and MuRF1); (2) frequency of apoptosis; and (3) individual fiber type and cross-sectional area. In addition, a whole muscle strength test was also performed. A one-way ANOVA revealed significant increases in the number of positive TUNEL cells in older adults (87%; p < 0.05), although no significant increase in caspase-3/7 activity was detected. Additionally, ubiquitin ligase gene expression, individual muscle fiber type and CSA were not different between old and young subjects. Muscle strength was also significantly lower in old compared to young subjects (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study indicates a preferential role for apoptosis contributing to decreases in muscle function with age.
A large scale test of computational protein design: folding and stability of nine completely redesigned globular proteins.

A previously developed computer program for protein design, RosettaDesign, was used to predict low free energy sequences for nine naturally occurring protein backbones. RosettaDesign had no knowledge of the naturally occurring sequences and on average 65% of the residues in the designed sequences differ from wild-type. Synthetic genes for ten completely redesigned proteins were generated, and the proteins were expressed, purified, and then characterized using circular dichroism, chemical and temperature denaturation and NMR experiments. Although high-resolution structures have not yet been determined, eight of these proteins appear to be folded and their circular dichroism spectra are similar to those of their wild-type counterparts. Six of the proteins have stabilities equal to or up to 7 kcal/mol greater than their wild-type counterparts, and four of the proteins have NMR spectra consistent with a well-packed, rigid structure. These encouraging results indicate that the computational protein design methods can, with significant reliability, identify amino acid sequences compatible with a target protein backbone.
Optimal-mass-transfer-based estimation of glymphatic transport in living brain.

It was recently shown that the brain-wide cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and interstitial fluid exchange system designated the ‘glymphatic pathway’ plays a key role in removing waste products from the brain, similarly to the lymphatic system in other body organs . It is therefore important to study the flow patterns of glymphatic transport through the live brain in order to better understand its functionality in normal and pathological states. Unlike blood, the CSF does not flow rapidly through a network of dedicated vessels, but rather through para-vascular channels and brain parenchyma in a slower time-domain, and thus conventional fMRI or other blood-flow sensitive MRI sequences do not provide much useful information about the desired flow patterns. We have accordingly analyzed a series of MRI images, taken at different times, of the brain of a live rat, which was injected with a paramagnetic tracer into the CSF via the lumbar intrathecal space of the spine. Our goal is twofold: (a) find glymphatic (tracer) flow directions in the live rodent brain; and (b) provide a model of a (healthy) brain that will allow the prediction of tracer concentrations given initial conditions. We model the liquid flow through the brain by the diffusion equation. We then use the Optimal Mass Transfer (OMT) approach to derive the glymphatic flow vector field, and estimate the diffusion tensors by analyzing the (changes in the) flow. Simulations show that the resulting model successfully reproduces the dominant features of the experimental data. Keywords: inverse problem, optimal mass transport, diffusion equation, cerebrospinal fluid flow in brain, optical flow, liquid flow modeling, Monge Kantorovich problem, diffusion tensor estimation
Inside Out, Outside In: Power and Culture in a Learning Community

In this article the authors report on a university learning community that they designed and team taught on learning, culture, and power. The authors use it as a case to investigate the question: Can the unequal power dynamic of the university classroom be productively transformed to create a democratic learning experience that fosters learning and agency? The authors analyze student engagement, stimulated by Sleeter's interactive e-book, Culture Difference & Power and participatory action research projects that led to power shifts and agency. Within a theoretical context, they examine the tensions that underlie power, democracy, and agency in the classroom and highlight approaches for reconstituting roles, discourse, and action.
Accounting for scattering directivity and fish behaviour in multibeam-echosounder surveys

Cutter, G. R. Jr and Demer, D. A. 2007. Accounting for scattering directivity and fish behaviour in multibeam-echosounder surveys. - ICES Journal of Marine Science, 64.Multibeam echosounders can improve the efficiency and the precision of acoustic-survey estimates by providing greater sampling volumes than single-beam echosounders. For a multibeam echosounder, the target strength of fish can vary with its pitch, roll, and yaw. Here, normalized, acoustic backscatter patterns from fish schools are modelled by beam-incidence angle,0-180°, considering the scattering-directivity patterns of each fish. Variation of pitch angle causes a decrease in the mean and an increase in the variance of the backscatter in the vertical beam, but has no effect on the backscatter in the outer beams. Conversely, variation of the yaw causes a decrease in the mean and an increase in the variance of the backscatter in only the outer beams. Because the fish-scattering model predicts different backscatter at dorsal- vs. lateral-incidence angles, backscatter did vary with roll angle. In the hypothetical case of fish avoiding a vessel, the backscatter decreases strongly the outer beams. The results of the model were compared with multibeam measurements of fish schools. In general, the measured mean backscatter vs. beam-incidence angle was nearly uniform. The methods described here provide an approach to accounting for scattering directivity and fish behaviour in multibeam-echosounder surveys.
Gene expression profiling of cancer progression reveals intrinsic regulation of transforming growth factor-β signaling in ErbB2/Neu-induced tumors from transgenic mice

Upregulation of HER2/ErbB2/Neu occurs in 15–30% of human breast cancers and correlates with poor prognosis. Identification of ErbB2/Neu transcriptional targets should facilitate development of novel therapeutic approaches. Development of breast cancer is a multistep process; thus, to identify the transcriptomes associated with different stages of progression of tumorigenesis, we compared expression profiles of mammary tumors and preneoplastic mammary tissue from MMTV-Neu transgenic mice to expression profiles of wild-type mammary glands using Affymetrix microarrays. We identified 324 candidate genes that were unique to ErbB2/Neu-induced tumors relative to normal mammary gland tissue from wild-type controls. Expression of a subset of these genes (82) was also changed in the preneoplastic mammary glands compared to wild-type controls, indicating that they may play a pivotal role during early events of ErbB2/Neu-initiated mammary tumorigenesis. Further analysis of the microarray data revealed that expression of several known transforming growth factor (TGF)-β target genes was altered, suggesting that the TGF-β signaling cascade is downregulated in ErbB2/Neu-induced tumors. Western blot analysis for TGF-β-Receptor-I/ALK5 and immunohistochemistry for TGF-β-Receptor-I/ALK5 and phosphorylated/activated Smad2 confirmed that the Smad-dependent TGF-β signaling cascade was inactive in these tumors. Although absent in most of the tumor, phosphorylated Smad2 was present in the periphery of tumors. Interestingly, presence of phosphorylated/activated Smad2 correlated with expression of Activin-Receptor-IB/ALK4, suggesting that although Smad-dependent TGF-β signaling is absent in ErbB2/Neu-induced tumors, Activin signaling may be active at the leading edge of these tumors. Cumulatively, these data indicate that the TGF-β pathway is intrinsically suppressed in ErbB2/Neu tumors via a mechanism involving loss of TGF-β-Receptor-I/ALK5.