cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adaptive selling: The role of gender, age, sales experience, and education

Abstract There is increasing evidence that the degree to which salespeople practice adaptive selling positively affects their performance. Adaptive selling is the altering of sales presentations across and during customer interactions in response to the perceived nature of the sales situation. This study examines several antecedents to adaptive selling: gender, age, sales experience, and education. The results suggest that gender and education interact with age to affect the degree to which salespeople practice adaptive selling. Additionally, with increased age and tenure salespeople demonstrate plateauing and thus have an s-shaped relationship with the practice of adaptive selling. These results may explain the inconsistent results of past research that have examined demographic antecedents. Implications for managers are also discussed.
A method for achieving an order-of-magnitude increase in the temporal resolution of a standard CRT computer monitor.

As the frequency of a flickering light is increased, the perception of flicker is replaced by the perception of steady light at what is known as the critical flicker fusion threshold (CFFT). This threshold provides a useful measure of the brain's information processing speed, and has been used in medicine for over a century both for diagnostic and drug efficacy studies. However, the hardware for presenting the stimulus has not advanced to take advantage of computers, largely because the refresh rates of typical monitors are too slow to provide fine-grained changes in the alternation rate of a visual stimulus. For example, a cathode ray tube (CRT) computer monitor running at 100 Hz will render a new frame every 10 ms, thus restricting the period of a flickering stimulus to multiples of 20 ms. These multiples provide a temporal resolution far too low to make precise threshold measurements, since typical CFFT values are in the neighborhood of 35 ms. We describe here a simple and novel technique to enable alternating images at several closely-spaced periods on a standard monitor. The key to our technique is to programmatically control the video card to dynamically reset the refresh rate of the monitor. Different refresh rates allow slightly different frame durations; this can be leveraged to vastly increase the resolution of stimulus presentation times. This simple technique opens new inroads for experiments on computers that require more finely-spaced temporal resolution than a monitor at a single, fixed refresh rate can allow.
Nonatherosclerotic cardiovascular findings on MDCT coronary angiography: a selection of abnormalities.

OBJECTIVE. Improvements in MDCT coronary angiography allow imaging of the coronary arteries that rivals invasive coronary angiography. Recent studies have shown high sensitivity and specificity in detecting coronary artery disease. But in the course of interpretation, other significant abnormalities may be encountered in addition to atherosclerotic plaques.CONCLUSION. We present a selection of nonatherosclerotic cardiovascular findings that were detected with coronary CT angiography performed on a 64-MDCT scanner.
Microcapillary electrophoresis devices fabricated using polymeric substrates and X‐ray lithography

An integrated microdevice for the analysis of DNA restriction fragments or sequencing fragments is currently being constructed in our laboratory and consists of two principal components: a piezo-driven micropump and a microelectrophoresis device with integrated fluorescence detector. The syringe pump consisted of a piezoelectric actuator and a pivoted lever for amplification to deliver solvents free from pump pulsations at volumetric flow rates approaching 1 nL/min, even at high loading levels (high output pressures). The flow was programmed by controlling the voltage waveform to the piezo-actuator to produce a linear displacement of 80 μm and, by using the pivoted lever, a total linear displacement of 650 μm was achieved. The total volume delivered in a single pump stroke was 565 nL. The piezo-pump was found to adequately deliver stable flow of solutions with loading pressures as high as 3.79×105 Pa (actual loading pressure at the piezo is 3.41×106 Pa). The second component consisted of an electrophoresis device micromachined in polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) using X-ray lithography (LIGA). The device was fabricated using a transfer mask technique, in which the channel topography was transferred to a PMMA substrate coated with a positive photoresist and a thin Au/Cr plating base using an optical mask with subsequent X-ray exposure to produce the desired channel topography. The channels were found to be 20 μm in width (determined by optical mask) with channel depths of 50 μm (determined by X-ray exposure time) and aspect ratios of approximately 1:10,000, significantly better than those obtained using wet-chemical etching in glass. The detection apparatus used a fiber optic to deliver the laser light to the electrophoresis device with the emission collected via the same fiber and the wavelength sorting accomplished with a dichroic filter. Since the electroosmotic flow in the PMMA was found to be approximately 5 times smaller compared to glass at typical separation pH for DNA (8.6), the walls of the PMMA device would not require a polymer coating to reduce this flow when performing high-resolution DNA separations. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Micro Sep 10: 413–422, 1998
The transformation of US steel 1945‐1985: perspectives from the corporation and the union

This paper is part of a study which attempts to take a different approach to understanding the events which occurred in the U. S. steel industry during the period 1945 to 1985. In undertaking to provide a different form of explanation, this project was principally concerned with searching for an understanding of how those in the industry chose to act in the manner they did. The findings presented demonstrate the extent to which organizational and industry history influence managers′ interpretations of the world in which they exist, and the possibilities for action within that interpretation. Attributions about ones′ self, and others, are slow to change. The narratives which reflect those attributions are important to the organization and to the development of strategic actions. The manner in which steel industry managers chose to understand their role, and the role of others in the industry, had a long‐term impact on the strategies they developed.
Estimated impact of Agung, El Chichon and Pinatubo volcanic eruptions on global and regional total ozone after adjustment for the QBO

Dobson total-ozone data are used to compare the impact on global and regional total ozone of Agung, El Chichon and Pinatubo volcanic eruptions taking into account the quasi-biennial oscillation (QBO). This is done by comparing the total-ozone variation following the 3 eruptions with the average quasi-biennial variation in total ozone obtained by applying the superposed epoch method to the 13 QBO cycles between 1958 and 1995 which do not include these 3 eruptions. Confidence estimates are based on the 2-standard-deviation value of the 13 comparisons. The largest volcanic impact on total ozone is in the European region, with significant (at the 5% level) total-ozone decreases of about 5% following Agung and El Chichon, and 8% following Pinatubo. The decreases in the north polar zone, Russia, North America and Asia are 5–6% following Pinatubo and 2–3 % following El Chichon. In the tropics the ozone decrease is less than 2% following all 3 eruptions, and there is little consistent impact on south temperate or south polar total ozone. Comparisons are made between these findings and those obtained by others using satellite data.
Does autoimmune pancreatitis increase the risk of pancreatic carcinoma?: a retrospective analysis of pancreatic resections.

ObjectivesTo estimate the risk of malignancy in autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP).MethodsWe examined resected pancreata to compare the prevalence of pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN) in 28 cases of AIP and 30 cases of chronic pancreatitis not otherwise specified (CP-NOS). We also reviewed a c
The Importance of Managing Hypertension and Dyslipidemia to Decrease Cardiovascular Disease

Background Clinical management of two key modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension and dyslipidemia, has evolved considerably over the past 40 years, in terms of the focus of therapy, available pharmacologic agents, and therapeutic targets.
A novel modular approach to triazole-functionalized phthalocyanines using click chemistry.

A novel, elegant, and significantly improved protocol for the synthesis of a protected octaacetylene phthalocyanine is described. Inexpensive, mild, and environmentally benign iodination of 1,2-dibromobenzene and subsequent optimized chemoselective palladium-catalyzed cyanation are employed to effectively build up the key intermediate 4,5-dibromophthalonitrile in two steps. Introduction of the tert-butyldimethylsilyl-protected acetylene moieties via a Sonogashira cross-coupling provides the desired phthalonitrile precursor that, after cyclization, yielded the protected octaacetylene phthalocyanine. Subsequently, in situ deprotection and “clicking” are employed as a highly efficient and quantitative route to a novel class of octatriazole-functionalized phthalocyanines. The ability of such triazole-derived phthalocyanines to form well-defined supramolecular structures upon doping with zinc(II) triflate is demonstrated.
Silica thin films applied to Ni-20Cr alloy via combustion chemical vapor deposition

Amorphous silica thin films (<0.5 μm) have been deposited onto Ni-20Cr via combustion chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using two different nozzle assemblies, an oscillating capillary nebulizer (OCN) and a simple nebulizing needle. The deposition conditions were similar for the two different nozzles, although slightly different coating morphologies were observed. The OCN-deposited material was deposited onto rotating samples (4 rpm), and showed a morphology striated in thickness, presumed to be a result of thermal gradients present across the rotating sample. The samples deposited with a nebulizing needle did not show these striations, but rather, showed a nodular morphology. Protection to Ni-20Cr from the flame during deposition is reported, in addition to isothermal oxidation kinetic measurements which quantify the degree of protection provided by silica. Silica reduces the oxidation rate of Ni-20Cr, with less transient oxidation of Ni reported for silica-coated samples, as well as the rate constants of Ni-20Cr being reduced at all test temperatures by more than an order of magnitude. These reductions are attributed to the deposited oxides serving as reactive elements in the chromia scale.
Power2: The power of yeast genetics applied to the powerhouse of the cell

The budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has served as a remarkable model organism for numerous seminal discoveries in biology. This paradigm extends to the mitochondria, a central hub for cellular metabolism, where studies in yeast have helped to reinvigorate the field and launch an exciting new era in mitochondrial biology. Here we discuss a few recent examples in which yeast research has laid a foundation for our understanding of evolutionarily conserved mitochondrial processes and functions, from key factors and pathways involved in the assembly of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complexes to metabolite transport, lipid metabolism, and interorganelle communication. We also highlight new areas of yeast mitochondrial biology that are likely to aid in our understanding of the mitochondrial etiology of disease in the future.
Composition and digestibility of beet pulp with and without molasses and dried using three methods.

Abstract This study compared the effects of drying on beet pulp with and without added molasses by measuring the in sacco digestibility and composition including fiber polysaccharides and minerals. Beet pulp was sampled before and after the addition of molasses from four different sugar processing plants within California. These samples were sub-sampled and then sun-, freeze-, or air-dried. The percentage molasses in the beet pulp with added molasses averaged about 27%. After glucose, arabinose was the second most prevalent sugar in the neutral non-starch polysaccharides. Molasses addition did not result in a significant change in the crude protein, ether extract, TDN, ribose, or Mg content. Fiber components, other minerals, and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) residues were significantly different in beet pulp with versus without molasses. However, the NDF residues remaining at 24 h in sacco fermentation time differed by less than three percentage units. Method of drying affected NDF, acid detergent fiber (ADF), crude protein in NDF and ADF, ribose, mannose, and pectin content of beet pulp but the differences were small and probably not biologically important. Although the NDF residues remaining in beet pulp were lowest for freeze-dried and highest for sun-dried at all fermentation times, they were only significantly different at 6 h. Sun-dried beet pulp NDF residues remaining at 6 and 12 h of fermentation were significantly higher than freeze-dried beet pulp. Drying had little affect on other components measured. Results from this experiment suggest the nutritional characteristics of sun-dried beet pulp are generally similar to wet beet pulp.
The triplet state as a probe of dynamics and structure in biological macromolecules.

Because of their long lifetimes, triplet excited states offer important advantages over singlet excited state probes. In this review, we discuss the characteristics of triplet excited states, with special reference to tryptophan in proteins, and aromatic molecules which have been employed as probes in studying the dynamics and other properties of proteins and DNA
Expression of fibronectin, laminin, and factor VIII-related antigen during development of the human cutaneous microvasculature.

The regulation of angiogenesis during human skin development is poorly understood. Since fibronectin is involved in cell movement and organization during embryogenesis and morphogenesis in a variety of species, we investigated the expression of fibronectin and factor VIII-related antigen, a marker for endothelial cells, at various stages in the development of the human cutaneous microvasculature. Skin specimens were obtained from 4 human fetuses during the second trimester (14–18 weeks), from newborn foreskins, and from consenting normal adults. Cryostat sections were stained with both fluorescein-conjugated rabbit antihuman fibronectin and rhodamine-conjugated goat antihuman factor VIII-related antigen. Expression of fibronectin in the microvasculature was striking in fetal skin but became progressively less prominent with maturation. Fibronectin appeared in fetal blood vessels as a bright continuous linear array, in neonatal blood vessels as a bright interrupted linear and speckled array, and in adult blood vessels as a sparse interrupted linear and speckled array. In contrast, expression of factor VIII-related antigen by the endothelium became more prominent with the degree of maturation of the microvasculature. Granular factor VIII-related antigen staining was scant in the newly forming blood vessels of fetal skin, bright but focal in the microvasculature of newborn skin, and intense and almost confluent in the blood vessels of adult skin. Although expression of fibronectin and factor VIII-related antigen changed, expression of laminin was consistent throughout development. Staining of the same skin specimens with fluorescein-conjugated sheep antihuman laminin produced a bright continuous linear pattern in all blood vessels. The reciprocal relationship manifested by intense fibronection staining during human blood vessel development and prominent factor VIII-related antigen staining in mature blood vessels supports the hypothesis that fibronectin plays a role in human blood vessel modulation and morphogenesis, and that factor VIII-related antigen is a marker for endothelial cell differentiation.
T2: Theory in acquisitions revisited

Cet article tente d'elucider quelques principes concernant la fonction d'acquisition dans les bibliotheques. Ces principes ont pour but de donner quelques conseils pour permettre aux bibliotheques d'evoluer dans l'ere du numerique. Apres une presentation d'anciens principes deja enonces lors d'une conference en 1993, les nouveaux principes qui se sont mis en place avec le developpement des nouvelles technologies de l'information sont presentes
Expected hemoglobin decrease following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Abstract In conclusion, this study defines the expected changes in hemoglobin at several time points following balloon PTCA, together with group confidence intervals and prediction intervals for an individual patient. Group data can be used as a standard for past and future studies, and data for an individual can be used to permit identification of a patient with an unexpectedly large reduction in hemoglobin.
The CDMS II Data Acquisition System

The Data Acquisition System for the CDMS II dark matter experiment was designed and built when the experiment moved to its new underground installation at the Soudan Lab. The combination of remote operation and increased data load necessitated a completely new design. Elements of the original LabView system remained as stand-alone diagnostic programs, but the main data processing moved to a VME-based system with custom electronics for signal conditioning, trigger formation and buffering. The data rate was increased 100-fold and the automated cryogenic system was linked to the data acquisition. A modular server framework with associated user interfaces was implemented in Java to allow control and monitoring of the entire experiment remotely.
Circuits and local computation

This paper contains two parts. In Part I, we show that polynomial-size monotone threshold circuits of depth k form a proper hierarchy in parameter k. This implies in particular that monotone TC0 is properly contained in NC1. In Part II, we introduce a new concept, called local function, which tries to characterize when a function can be efficiently computed using only localized processing elements. It serves as a unifying framework for viewing related and sometimes apparently unrelated results. In particular, it will be demonstrated that the recent results on lower bounds for monotone circuits by Razborov [Ra1] and Karchmer and Wigderson [KW], as well as a main theorem in Part I of this paper, can be regarded as proving certain functions to be nonlocal. We will also suggest an approach based on locality for attacking the conjecture that (nonmonotone) TC0 is properly contained in NC1.
A further inquiry into the Pollution Haven Hypothesis and the Environmental Kuznets Curve

Abstract Empirical research on the relationship between economic growth and its impact on the environment often tests the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC), a hypothesis that rising national output leads to increases in pollution emissions until an economy reaches a certain size, and decreases thereafter. This paper addresses a branch of EKC literature focused on the role international trade plays in shaping this relationship. In particular, we test the Pollution Haven Hypothesis, which posits that emission reductions observed in developed nations are partly the result of shifting “dirty” production to developing nations with lax environmental standards. We estimate EKCs for seven oft-studied pollutants and find little evidence that pollution havens play a significant role in shaping the EKC. We also find that confidence intervals around EKC turning points are very wide, often including values well above the range of the data. This leads us to be skeptical of the optimistic view that economic growth naturally leads to improvements in environmental quality.
Paternal provisioning versus mate seeking in human populations

Abstract Paternal investment theory suggests that, in cold climates males were selected for provisioning, rather than for mating success. In warm climates, where female gathering made male provisioning unessential, selection was for mating success. Male hunted meat was essential for female winter survival. Genes that encouraged mating success were selected for in cold climates. Negroids (blacks) evolved in cold climates, while Caucasians (whites) and Mongoloids (Asians) evolved in colder climates. Mating is assisted by a strong sex drive, aggression, dominance, sociability, extraversion, impulsiveness, sensation seeking, and high testosterone. Provisioning is assisted by anxiety, altruism, empathy, behavioral restraint, gratification delay, and a long life span. Explanations are offered for racial differences in many personality characteristics, hormone levels, monamine oxidase levels, testosterone levels, lactase dehydrogenase metabolic paths, life spans, prostate cancer rates, hypertension, genital (penis and testes) size, vocal frequencies, liver size, muscle structure, mesomorphy, bone density, sports performance, crime rates, rape, child abuse, earnings, age at first sexual activity. AIDs, illegitimacy, divorce, marriage, and polygyny rates. Eye color correlations are discussed. Negro family structure in the Caribbean and the U.S. may reflect selection in Africa during hunter-gather times. Comparison is made with differential K theory and father absence theories.
The complex role of iNOS in acutely rejecting cardiac transplants

This review summarizes the evidence for a detrimental role of nitric oxide (NO) derived from inducible NO synthase (iNOS) and/or reactive nitrogen species such as peroxynitrite in acutely rejecting cardiac transplants. In chronic cardiac transplant rejection, iNOS may have an opposing beneficial component. The purpose of this review is primarily to address issues related to acute rejection, which is a recognized risk factor for chronic rejection. The evidence for a detrimental role is based upon strategies involving nonselective NOS inhibitors, NO neutralizers, selective iNOS inhibitors, and iNOS gene deletion in rodent models of cardiac rejection. The review is presented in the context of the impact on various components, including graft survival, histological rejection, and cardiac function, which may contribute to the process of graft rejection in toto. Possible limitations of each strategy are discussed in order to understand better the variance in published findings, including issues related to the potential importance of cell localization of iNOS expression. Finally, the concept of a dual role for NO and its downstream product, peroxynitrite, in rejection vs immune regulation is discussed.
Science linking environmental contaminant exposures with fertility and reproductive health impacts in the adult male (respondent)

During the sessions we have heard about very appropriate issues, including that windows of susceptibility may vary, that interactions of contaminants may cause effects that far exceed the sum of individual effects, that dose–response relationships may not be standard, that genetic polymorphisms that influence individual response exist, and their nutritional supplements may eliminate contaminant effects. We have also heard about endpoint measurements such as hormone levels and gamete. What we did not hear very much about however is the desired outcomes that health care providers and patients would ask about, namely pregnancy outcomes, such as live births, the rates of congenital malformations, and the occurrence of miscarriages. The explanation for this paradox in large part relates to issues related to the complexity of, and confounding factors related to, conducting human clinical trials. For example, the chronologic age of female partner may vary, which is inversely related to pregnancy outcome, and positively correlated with the risk for miscarriages and the rate of congenital malformations. Another factor is the biologic age of the female partner (e.g., FSH level), whereas other issues to consider are the status of the female reproductive tract (the uterus, tubes, and existence of adhesions/endometriosis), as well as the husband’s semen characteristics. Social issues are also important. The frequency of intercourse may be altered by the effects of stress on relationship with her partner, as well as biologic functions such as the menstrual cycle. Additionally, the effects of infertility can have effects on marriage, and is associated with elevated rates of divorce. A further confounding factor is that women/couples may no longer wish to wait to observe outcome, but may initiate using infertility therapy, including drugs and assisted reproductive technology, and occurrence of multiples, which make outcome difficult to interpret. Regarding malformations it is important to note that there are differences in requirements of reporting by state, definition (e.g., still birth), qualifications of who does examinations, thoroughness of evaluation, and timing of presentation after birth. The evaluation of clinical outcomes of miscarriages is further confounded by trying to differentiate early miscarriages from menstrual irregularities. Finally, there are difficulties in data interpretation. For example, in our recent studies phthalates levels varied whether results were based on actual concentration, corrected on controlling for urine creatinine, or specific gravity. These have resulted in differing relationships (both crude and adjusted odd ratios) with regard to impact on sperm count, motility, and morphology.
Spectral and radiometric calibration of the Airborne Visible/Infrared Imaging Spectrometer

The laboratory spectral and radiometric calibration of the AVIRIS science data collected since 1987 is described. The instrumentation and procedures used in the calibration are discussed and the accuracy achieved in the laboratory as determined by measurement and calculation is compared with the requirements. Instrument performance factors affecting radiometry are described. The paper concludes with a discussion of future plans.
The interaction of a submerged axisymmetric shell and three-dimensional internal systems

This paper introduces a novel method to solve such three dimensional systems while keeping the circumferential harmonics of the axisymmetric shell uncoupled. This is accomplished by relating the admittance matrix of the three dimensional substructure, expressed in terms of its connection degrees of freedom, and the response of the empty system to solve for the interaction forces between the axisymmetric shell and the internal system. Using these interaction forces, the response of the full system can be obtained. Thus, the efficiency of the two dimensional solution is maintained while solving an arbitrary three dimensional problem
A balloon designed for endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy.

Endoscopic injection of esophageal varices with sclerosing agents is a relatively old technique first reported by Craaford and Frenchner in 1939 and used throughout the 1940s. During its early stages, endoscopic variceal sclerotherapy (EVS) fell into disuse because rigid esophagoscopes required general anesthesia and because of the impression that portacaval shunting was a superior form of therapy. Portal shunting prevents recurrent variceal hemorrhage; however, it is associated with high operative mortality and morbidity from hepatic failure. 4 A resurgence of interest in EVS over the last decade has primarily been due to both the introduction of flexible fiberoptic endoscopy and the unsatisfactory results of surgical intervention. The techniques of EVS vary widely. Currently used balloons range from condoms to modified endotracheal cuffs. Many endoscopists use pneumatic balloons secured to the distal tip of the endoscope in an attempt to improve sclerosant injection and retention time and to enable direct tamponade of varices in the event of bleeding. The use of a balloon in this manner has not been systematically evaluated and has been controversial. One reason for controversy is that no data exist to document the relationship between the measured internal balloon pressure and actual transmission of pressure to the esophageal wall. Variability in pressure transmission may account for variable results. We have measured the actual pressure transmitted to the esophageal wall by balloons and have developed a balloon which transmits pressure on a one-to-one basis.
Excess Volumes and Viscosities of Binary Mixtures of Aliphatic Alcohols (C1−C4) with Nitromethane

Densities and viscosities were measured for the binary mixtures of methanol, ethanol, propan-1-ol, propan-2-ol, butan-2-ol, and 2-methyl-propan-2-ol with nitromethane at temperatures from 293.15 K ...
Expressions of Spirituality among African-American College Males

In this qualitative study, spirituality among 13 African-American college males enrolled at a predominantly White institution (PWI) was investigated. Three major themes emerged: spirituality bolste...
Electromyographic specificity during covert information processing.

Subjects performed tasks of rhyme, volume-discrimination, association, evaluation, and self-reference for verbal stimuli. The stimuli and overt response (pressing one of two microswitches) were constant across tasks and subjects. Oral and nonoral electromyographic (EMG) and cardiac activity were monitored continuously. We found that the depth of processing was associated with enhanced EMG activity of the speech muscles, but was unrelated to cardiac and nonoral EMG activity. Moreover, this association was observed only when subjects were covertly analyzing the stimuli. It was concluded that the pattern of perioral EMG activity can reflect the extent to which encoding operations are directed toward meaning.
Photodestruction of CCl4 on MgO Films with/without Water

Ultrahigh-vacuum (UHV) studies show that UV irradiation (193 nm) of carbon tetrachloride adsorbed on a MgO surface produces phosgene both with/without coadsorbed water. Isotope studies show the oxygen required for the phosgene formation comes from the MgO lattice in the absence of water and from the water when coadsorbed. The reaction kinetics differ strongly between the wet and dry conditions. The observations suggest that UHV studies can reproduce important features seen in bulk studies of oxides for destruction of environmental hydrocarbons and that surface reactions may play a more important role in air or aqueous photocatalytic destruction of hydrocarbons than typically assumed.
Regulators of chromatin state and transcription in CD4 T-cell polarization.

Mature naive CD4 T-cells possess the potential for an array of highly specialized functions, from inflammatory to potently suppressive. This potential is encoded in regulatory DNA elements and is fulfilled through modification of chromatin and selective activation by the collaborative function of diverse transcription factors in response to environmental cues. The mechanisms and strategies employed by transcription factors for the programming of CD4 T-cell subsets will be discussed. In particular, the focus will be on co-operative activity of environmental response factors in the initial activation of regulatory DNA elements and chromatin alteration, and the subsequent role of ‘master regulator’ transcription factors in defining the fidelity and environmental responsiveness of different CD4 T-cell subsets.
Human papilloma virus 16 E6 oncoprotein inhibits retinoic X receptor-mediated transactivation by targeting human ADA3 coactivator

The expression of human papillomavirus (HPV) E6 oncoprotein is causally linked to high-risk HPV-associated human cancers. We have recently isolated hADA3, the human homologue of yeast transcriptional co-activator yADA3, as a novel E6 target. Human ADA3 binds to the high-risk (cancer-associated) but not the low-risk HPV E6 proteins and to immortalization-competent but not to immortalization-defective HPV16 E6 mutants, suggesting a role for the perturbation of hADA3 function in E6-mediated oncogenesis. We demonstrate here that hADA3 directly binds to the retinoic X receptor (RXR)α in vitro and in vivo. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we show that hADA3 is part of activator complexes bound to the native RXR response elements within the promoter of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor gene p21. We show that hADA3 enhances the RXRα-mediated sequence-specific transactivation of retinoid target genes, cellular retinoic acid-binding protein II and p21. Significantly, we demonstrate that E6 inhibits the RXRα-mediated transactivation of target genes, implying that perturbation of RXR-mediated transactivation by E6 could contribute to HPV oncogenesis.
The polynomial Fourier transform with minimum mean square error for noisy data

In 2006, Naoki Saito proposed a Polyharmonic Local Fourier Transform (PHLFT) to decompose a signal f@?L^2(@W) into the sum of a polyharmonic componentu and a residualv, where @W is a bounded and open domain in R^d. The solution presented in PHLFT in general does not have an error with minimal energy. In resolving this issue, we propose the least squares approximant to a given signal in L^2([-1,1]) using the combination of a set of algebraic polynomials and a set of trigonometric polynomials. The maximum degree of the algebraic polynomials is chosen to be small and fixed. We show in this paper that the least squares approximant converges uniformly for a Holder continuous function. Therefore Gibbs phenomenon will not occur around the boundary for such a function. We also show that the PHLFT converges uniformly and is a near least squares approximation in the sense that it is arbitrarily close to the least squares approximant in L^2 norm as the dimension of the approximation space increases. Our experiments show that the proposed method is robust in approximating a highly oscillating signal. Even when the signal is corrupted by noise, the method is still robust. The experiments also reveal that an optimum degree of the trigonometric polynomial is needed in order to attain the minimal l^2 error of the approximation when there is noise present in the data set. This optimum degree is shown to be determined by the intrinsic frequency of the signal. We also discuss the energy compaction of the solution vector and give an explanation to it.
Lexical representation of fact and opinion

This research investigated the lexical properties underlying comprehension that a word represents fact or opinion. In Experiment 1 subjects reliably identified words as either fact or opinion. Bivariate correlations and multiple regression showed that fact/opinion judgments were predicted primarily by ratings of the ease of verifiability of a word's referent and secondarily by the word's literalness, but not by several other lexical attributes: abstractness-concreteness, vagueness-preciseness, and evaluation. Experiment 2 extended the results of the first experiment to an implicit fact/opinion judgment, i.e., the identification of headlines as originating from a newspaper's front page (presumably based primarily upon fact) or from the editorial page (presumably based upon opinion). The headline judgments, also made reliably by subjects, were predicted by the same variables found significant in the first experiment, i.e., by verifiability and literalness, but not by the other lexical properties. Thus, the results of both experiments indicate that the identification of a word as representing fact or opinion is rooted in a word's verifiability and literalness.
Methodology for Conducting Scaled Sonic-Boom Flight Tests Using Unmanned Aircraft Systems

This paper explores how a scaled aircraft can be used tomodel a full-scale aircraft sonic boom. All scales from 5 to 100% are investigated. To create a scaled pressure profile that represents the full-size aircraft, the Mach number, static margin, angle of attack, and canard incidence angle are set equal to the full-size aircraft’s parameters. By setting these parameters, the scaled unmanned aircraft creates an F-function proportional to the square of the scaling ratio. To scale the acoustic advance, the propagation distance must be reduced. One way to accomplish this scaling is to fly at a lower altitude; however, to generate the proper wing loading, a pull-up maneuver must be performed. Alternatively, the subscale vehicle can be flown at the full-scale aircraft cruise altitude, and data are recorded at an intermediate altitude by a chase aircraft with a pressure probe. Using this method, the test aircraft properly models the shape of the full-scale aircraft sonic boom. The duration and overpressure of its sonic boom are respectively linearly and quadratically proportional to its scale. The lower bound in size is explored by considering manufacturing, data acquisition, and molecular relaxation.
Demographic Characteristics and Shared Values

This study investigated the extent to which person-organization values alignment is affected by demographic variables (e.g., gender, age, educational level, marital status, family status, hierarchical level, years of managerial experience, and organizational size) across a wide variety of organizations. Values alignment, using two separate measures, was directly related to positive work attitudes and this relationship was moderated by several respondent characteristics. The potential impact of organizational acculturation is proposed as minimizing the impact of demographic factors within organizations.
The evolution of embryonic patterning mechanisms in animals

Animals exhibit an enormous diversity of life cycles and larval morphologies. The developmental basis for this diversity is not well understood. It is clear, however, that mechanisms of pattern formation in early embryos differ significantly among and within groups of animals. These differences show surprisingly little correlation with phylogenetic relationships; instead, many are correlated with ecological factors, such as changes in life histories.
IBM POWER6 accelerators: VMX and DFU

The IBM POWER6™ microprocessor core includes two accelerators for increasing performance of specific workloads. The vector multimedia extension (VMX) provides a vector acceleration of graphic and scientific workloads. It provides single instructions that work on multiple data elements. The instructions separate a 128-bit vector into different components that are operated on concurrently. The decimal floating-point unit (DFU) provides acceleration of commercial workloads, more specifically, financial transactions. It provides a new number system that performs implicit rounding to decimal radix points, a feature essential to monetary transactions. The IBM POWER™ processor instruction set is substantially expanded with the addition of these two accelerators. The VMX architecture contains 176 instructions, while the DFU architecture adds 54 instructions to the base architecture. The IEEE 754R Binary Floating-Point Arithmetic Standard defines decimal floating-point formats, and the POWER6 processor--on which a substantial amount of area has been devoted to increasing performance of both scientific and commercial workloads--is the first commercial hardware implementation of this format.
Glutamate dehydrogenase of Tetrahymena.

Abstract Glutamate dehydrogenase [ l -glutamate: NAD(P) oxidoreductase (deaminating), EC 1.4.1.3] located in the mitochondria and able to utilize NAD, NADP, NADH or NADPH as substrate, has been purified 67-fold from Tetrahymena pyriformis . The activity with the four pyridine nucleotide substrates was catalyzed by a single enzyme as indicated by the constant association of the activities during purification and the coincidence of migration in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Activity with NAD or NADH was stimulated by ADP and inhibited by GTP, Zn 2+ , α-ketoglutarate, NADPH and NADH. NADH oxidation was inhibited by NH 4 Cl or NaCl. Stimulation with ADP was strongly pH-dependent. Activity with NADPH was unaffected by ADP, GTP or Zn 2+ but was inhibited by NADPH and high concentrations of NH 4 Cl or Nacl. The NADH- or NADPH-utilizing activity per mg protein was unaffected by a treatment of cells with chloramphenicol which caused a decrease in the specific activity of succinate dehydrogenase. The specific activity of NADH- and NADPH-utilizing activities increased coordinately by a factor of 2.7 during culture growth.
Highly convergent approach to the synthesis of the epoxy-amide fragment of the azinomycins

Abstract An efficient synthesis of the α-acyl amide fragment of the azinomycin antibiotics has been accomplished using the P asserini three-component condensation. Good diastereoselectivity was observed for a variety of isocyanide precursors.
Sustaining democracy: folk epistemology and social conflict

When political philosophers ask whether there is a philosophical justification for democracy, they are most frequently concerned with one of two queries. The first has to do with the relative merits of democracy as compared with other regimes. The second query has to do with the moral bindingness of democratic outcomes. But there is a third query we may be engaging when we are looking for a philosophical justification of democracy: what reason can be given to democratic citizens to pursue democratic means of social change when they are confronted with a democratic result that seems to them seriously objectionable or morally intolerable? In this paper I develop an epistemological response to the third query. The thesis is that we have sufficient epistemological reasons to be democrats. The epistemological norms that we take ourselves to be governed by can be satisfied only under certain social conditions, and these social conditions are best secured under democracy.
Bovine spongiform encephalopathy and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

It is sometimes forgotten that in the story of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease there is but one incontestable fact, that bovine spongiform encephalopathy is the cause of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease. First suggested by their temporospatial association and the distinctive features of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, the link has since been proved by their equally distinctive and shared biological and molecular features.1–3 All the rest is speculation, more or less plausible according to the arguments advanced and the absence of any satisfactory alternative explanations. From an epidemiological point of view bovine spongiform encephalopathy has been a classic epidemic and will undoubtedly become a textbook example for students (fig 1). From economic, political, and medical points of view it has been an unmitigated disaster. Why did it begin when it did, and how did it happen? #### Summary points The infectious agent that causes scrapie in sheep crossed the species barrier to bovines to cause bovine spongiform encephalopathy Changes in the rendering of livestock carcases allowed infectivity to survive and contaminate meat and bone meal in livestock feed, amplifying infection to epidemic proportions Export of contaminated meat and bone meal and live cattle incubating the disease caused the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy to other countries Bovine spongiform encephalopathy caused variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, most probably through adulteration of cooked meat products with mechanically recovered meat contaminated by compressed spinal cord and paraspinal ganglia International regulatory measures are limiting the further spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, its entry into the human food chain, and potential secondary human to human spread of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, so that both diseases should gradually disappear FIG 1 Chronology of epidemic of bovine spongiform encephalopathy in United Kingdom, 1986-2000 The first case of a cow with bovine spongiform encephalopathy was diagnosed in 1986, and because of the long …
Role of 2-Deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro-d-glucose-PET/Computed Tomography in Lymphoma

The role of PET and PET/computed tomography (CT) has evolved significantly in the last few decades. 2-Deoxy-2-[18F]-fluoro-d-glucose (FDG)-PET/CT is now an integral part of the management of patients with lymphoma. FDG-PET/CT at the time of initial staging can help in appropriate staging of the patients. Both interim and end-of-therapy PETs have significant prognostic value in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma and more accurately assess for the presence of residual malignancy than anatomic imaging. The impact of interim FDG-PET/CT on risk-adapted strategies is an area of active investigation and the results of ongoing clinical trials will be informative.
Comparative molecular analysis of loss of heterozygosity in adenocarcinoma in bile duct brushings and corresponding surgical pathology specimens

BACKGROUND Bile duct brushing is the procedure of choice for the assessment of neoplasia of the biliary and pancreatic ducts. Conventional cytopathologic evaluation has been reported to have high specificity but relatively low sensitivity. Although a number of molecular studies regarding biliary tract tissue specimens have been performed, to the authors' knowledge their precise applicability to cytopathology specimens has not been critically analyzed. METHODS Bile duct brushing specimens with the cytopathologic diagnosis of “suspicious” or “positive for malignant cells” along with corresponding surgical pathology specimens demonstrating adenocarcinoma were searched for in the files of UPMC-Presbyterian Hospital for the years 1990–1996. Tumor cells from representative cytopathology and histology slides were microdissected and analyzed for loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in a panel of microsatellite markers. The results obtained from cytopathologic and surgical pathology specimens were compared. RESULTS Eight paired surgical and cytopathology cases of adenocarcinoma involving the biliary tract were identified. The fractional allelic loss (FAL) for the surgical specimens (FAL-S) ranged from 12.5–71.4% and the FAL for the cytopathology specimens (FAL-C) ranged from 25–71.4%. However, when evaluating the actual loci of LOH, the concordance rate of the surgical and cytopathology specimens ranged from 71.4–100% (mean, 88.6%). Only 3 of the 8 cases (37.5%) were found to have identical matching of the LOH loci. CONCLUSIONS Although the overall concordance rate of LOH in biliary cytology and surgical specimens by molecular analysis is relatively high, the issue of molecular tumoral heterogeneity must be considered if clinical decisions are to be based exclusively on cytopathologic analysis. Cancer (Cancer Cytopathol) 2003;99:379–84. © 2003 American Cancer Society.
Local Triviality of Proper Ga Actions

Abstract Regular actions of the additive group of complex numbers on complex surfaces and on complex affine space are considered. A proper action on an affine surface admits a geometric quotient which is an affine curve. A proper action on a normal quasiaffine surface is equivariantly trivial. New criteria for local and “global” triviality of proper actions on a complex affine space of arbitrary dimension are presented.