cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shear stress regulates expression of death-associated protein kinase in suppressing TNFα-induced endothelial apoptosis.

Death associated protein kinase (DAPK) is a positive regulator in tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)-induced apoptotic pathway, and DAPK expression is lost in cancer cells. In the vasculature, misdirected apoptosis in endothelial cells leads to pathological conditions such as inflammation and physiological shear stress is protective against apoptosis. Using bovine aortic endothelial cells, we found that DAPK expression increased, while the auto-inhibitory phosphorylation of serine 308 decreased with shear stress at 12 dynes/cm(2) for 6 h. Quantitative RT-PCR revealed a corresponding increase in DAPK mRNA [P < 0.01]. We found that after 18-h TNFα induction, shearing cells for another 6 h significantly reduced apoptosis based on TUNEL staining [P < 0.05], although cell necrosis was not affected. Under the same conditions, we observed significantly decreased overall DAPK, as well as phospho-serine 308 DAPK [P < 0.05] compared to TNFα treatment alone. Caspase-3 and -7 activities downstream of DAPK were also attenuated. Shearing cells alone resulted in enhanced apoptosis, likely due to increased DAPK activity. Our findings were further supported by DAPK siRNA, which yielded contrary results. We present conclusive evidence for the first time that shear stress of up to 6 h up-regulates DAPK expression and activation. However, in the presence of apoptotic stimuli such as TNFα, shear stress caused decrease in DAPK activity. In fact, long-term shear stress of 24 h significantly reduced overall DAPK expression. Our findings strongly support a novel role for DAPK in mediating effects of shear stress in suppressing cytokine-activated apoptosis.
Brillouin spectroscopy of incommensurate Ba 2 NaNb 5 O 15 at its 105-K phase transition

We have performed Brillouin studies of acoustic-phonon behavior in barium sodium niobate above and below its phase transition at ${T}_{0}$=105 K. Anomalies in sound velocity and attenuation are observed for the sound waves corresponding to the ${C}_{11}$ and ${C}_{22}$ elastic coefficients. Above ${T}_{0}$ the sound-velocity anomalies display lambda-shaped dips of algebraic form ${V}_{\mathrm{jj}}$(T) =${V}_{\mathrm{jj}}$(\ensuremath{\infty})-\ensuremath{\beta}/(T-${T}_{C}$), with ${T}_{C}$ several degrees lower than the actual transition temperature ${T}_{0}$; this is the form expected for free energies dominated by linear coupling between strain and the order parameter. Below ${T}_{0}$, ${V}_{\mathrm{jj}}$(T)=${V}_{\mathrm{jj}}$(\ensuremath{\infty})-\ensuremath{\beta}'/(${T}_{c}^{\mathcal{'}}$-T The attenuation displays an increase of approximately 100% as the transition temperature is approached from above or below. By combining sound-velocity and attenuation data through a Landau-Khalatnikov approach, we are able to extract a single relaxation time and find that this time \ensuremath{\tau} satisfies the expected mean-field dependence characteristic of critical slowing down: ${\ensuremath{\tau}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$(T)=${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{1}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$(T-${T}_{C}$)/${T}_{C}$+${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{2}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}1}$.For ${C}_{11}$ we determine ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{1}$=(2.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.14)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}13}$ s; ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{2}$=(2.0\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}11}$ s, and for ${C}_{22}$ we find ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{1}$=(1.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}13}$ s and ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{2}$=(8.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}12}$ s. These values may be compared with those at the upper transition (${T}_{I}$=573 K) of ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{1}$=1.7\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}13}$ s and ${\ensuremath{\tau}}_{2}$=5.2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}12}$ s from P. W. Young and J. F. Scott [Ferroelectrics 52, 35 (1983)]. The present data are compatible with Schneck's hypothesis that a second I-C phase exists in the range 12--105 K.
Fishery development — the Latin American model

Abstract Ten years ago, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Inter-American Development Bank undertook an analysis of the possibilities and significance of fishery development in Latin America, formulating guidelines for action to promote development and outlining strategies and means for implementation. This report describes the evolution of fishery development in the Latin American region over the past decade.
The inverse scattering solution for the full three dimensional three- wave resonant interaction

Abstract The direct and inverse scattering solution for the full three dimensional three-wave resonant interaction is solved, and an infinite set of conservation laws are found.
AUDIENCE SIZE AND VARIATIONS IN STUTTERING BEHAVIOR.

This study investigated the effects of variations in audience size on stuttering frequency and adaptation of stuttering. Twenty-five stutterers were divided into an Increasing and a Decreasing audi...
Mesenchymal stem cell surface antigen SB-10 corresponds to activated leukocyte cell adhesion molecule and is involved in osteogenic differentiation.

Bone marrow contains a rare population of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) capable of giving rise to multiple mesodermal tissues including bone, cartilage, tendon, muscle, and fat. The cell surface antigen recognized by monoclonal antibody SB-10 is expressed on human MSCs but is lost during their developmental progression into differentiated phenotypes. Here we report on the immunopurification of the SB-10 antigen and its identification as activated leukocyte-cell adhesion molecule (ALCAM). Mass spectrometry establishes that the molecular mass of ALCAM is 80,303 ± 193 Da and that it possesses 17,763 ± 237 Da of N-linked oligosaccharide substituents. Molecular cloning of a full-length cDNA from a MSC expression library demonstrates nucleotide sequence identity with ALCAM. We also identified ALCAM homologs in rat, rabbit, and canine MSCs, each of which is over 90% identical to human ALCAM in their peptide sequence. The addition of antibody SB-10 Fab fragments to human MSCs undergoing osteogenic differentiation in vitro accelerated the process, thereby implicating a role for ALCAM during bone morphogenesis and adding ALCAM to the group of cell adhesion molecules involved in osteogenesis. Together, these results provide evidence that ALCAM plays a critical role in the differentiation of mesenchymal tissues in multiple species across the phylogenetic tree.
Theory of strained-layer epitaxial growth near step flow.

A reaction-diffusion theory of homoepitaxial growth on a stepped surface introduced by Myers-Beaghton and Vvedensky [Phys. Rev. A 44, 2457 (1991)] and Fuenzalida [Phys. Rev. B 44, 10 835 (1991)] is generalized to the case of heteroepitaxy by taking account of misfit strain relief in the growing epilayer. For deposition conditions where two-dimensional (2D) islands nucleate on the terraces before individual adatoms can migrate to vicinal step edges, analysis of the distribution of island sizes resolved in both space and time reveals a strain-driven transition from the familiar layer growth mode dominated by 2D island coalescence to a form of step flow where moving steps engulf very many very small 2D islands. The latter mode of growth is predicted to persist until three-dimensional island formation disrupts layer growth altogether. Both with and without strain, it is found that the island size distribution averaged over a terrace very rapidly approaches a steady-state form, even when kinematic theory predicts oscillations in the signal from diffraction measurements.
Asymmetric synthesis of 2,3-methanoleucine stereoisomers from common intermediates.

2,3-Methanoamino acids are useful probes for studying the bioactive conformation of peptides and for investigating the effect of local conformational constraints on the activity of peptidomimetics. We synthesized all four stereoisomers of Cbz-protected 2, 3-methanoleucine for incorporation into peptidomimetic inhibitors of calpain. While the synthesis of 2,3-methanoamino acids has been previously reported, our procedure offers a versatile route in which the pair of diastereomers of each geometric isomer was synthesized from a common intermediate.
Embedded molecular cluster modeling of Tl0(1), In0(1) and Ga0(1) centers in potassium chloride

Abstract Ab initio , embedded-cluster RHF-SCF-LCAO molecular-orbital calculations were performed on both ground and excited states of the Tl 0 (1) center in potassium chloride. Effective core potentials and valence orbitals were employed on the thallium atom and its nearest-neighbor chlorine ions. The remaining ions in the cluster were represented either by bare effective core potentials or by point ions. Spin-orbit effects were calculated perturbatively in the intermediate-coupling regime. External interactions of the molecular cluster were represented by pair potentials, and simultaneous relaxation of the cluster and surrounding lattice was accomplished with a modified lattice-statics program. Optical absorption energies for transitions to the first two excited states, the optical emission energy and a ground-state vibrational frequency were determined successfully. A simplified model based on a single-center expansion and fixed point-ion lattice, validated for the Tl 0 (1) center, was also employed to determine the optical absorption energies of the analogous In 0 (1) and Ga 0 (1) centers in potassium chloride and to explain the non-radiative de-excitation of these centers.
Topology-constrained surface reconstruction from cross-sections

In this work we detail the first algorithm that provides topological control during surface reconstruction from an input set of planar cross-sections. Our work has broad application in a number of fields including surface modeling and biomedical image analysis, where surfaces of known topology must be recovered. Given curves on arbitrarily oriented cross-sections, our method produces a manifold interpolating surface that exactly matches a user-specified genus. The key insight behind our approach is to formulate the topological search as a divide-and-conquer optimization process which scores local sets of topologies and combines them to satisfy the global topology constraint. We further extend our method to allow image data to guide the topological search, achieving even better results than relying on the curves alone. By simultaneously satisfying both geometric and topological constraints, we are able to produce accurate reconstructions with fewer input cross-sections, hence reducing the manual time needed to extract the desired shape.
Transient vaporization and burning in dense droplet arrays

Abstract Three-dimensional droplet-array combustion with an unsteady liquid-phase and a quasi-steady gas-phase is studied computationally by a generalized approach using a mass-flux potential function. Symmetric and asymmetric droplet arrays with non-uniform droplet size and non-uniform spacing are considered. Burning rates are computed and correlated with the number of droplets, an average droplet size, and an average spacing for the array through one similarity parameter for arrays as large as 1000 droplets. Total array vaporization rates are found to be maximized at a specific droplet number density that depends on liquid volume within the array. An unsteady liquid-phase model with either a uniform or a radially varying temperature distribution is coupled with the quasi-steady gas-phase solution for decane, heptane, and methanol fuels. Droplet interactions and liquid-phase heating have been shown to almost double the lifetime when compared to an isolated droplet. Depending on fuel type, initial temperature, and array geometry, droplets may initially burn with individual flames, transition to a single group flame, and transition back to individual flames as vaporization progresses. In most cases, group combustion occurs upon ignition and is the dominant mode of combustion.
Evaluation of Product and Process Design Robustness

Critical design decisions are commonly made throughout the product development process assuming known material and process behavior. However, stochastic variation during manufacture can inadvertently result in inferior or unacceptable product performance and reduced production yields. Stochastic simulations have been developed to estimate the end-use performance distribution prior to the commitment of hard tooling. This article proposes a definition for integrated product and process robustness, and extends existing stochastic methods to model the important role of the manufacturing flexibility in elimination of defects and product optimization. The goal is to enable the designer to understand and account for not only the negative effects of manufacturing variation, but also the positive impact of manufacturing flexibility wherein instantaneous corrections in the manufacturing process can frequently improve the product quality and eliminate flaws in the product design. Then, a methodology is introduced and contrasted with conventional development methods in the evaluation of best practices for development of a molded plastic component.
Phototimers, User's Point Of View

Three different types of phototimer systems are compared, utilizing a simple method for performance evaluation. A phototimer system using an ionization chamber as a radiation sensor located between the grid and the film cassette is found to be the most reliable phototimer system and is therefore recommended for phototiming techniques. The minimum reaction time of the phototimer system and the backup timer are also discussed briefly.© (1976) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Accumulation of histone repeat transcripts in the sea urchin egg pronucleus

Abstract RNA transcripts complementary to a genomic histone repeat are found in high concentration in sea urchin egg pronuclei. In situ hybridizations with the recombinant plasmid pCO2 indicate that the nuclear concentration is at least 25 to 50 fold higher than that in the cytoplasm. If nuclear transcripts are predominantly histone mRNAs, they comprise about 12% of the histone mRNA in eggs, or about 0.36 pg. After fertilization these molecules persist through pronuclear fusion but disappear from nuclei by mid 2-cell stage. A similar high nuclear concentration is not observed for polyadenylated mRNAs or for two individual abundant maternal mRNAs. The high steady-state concentration of nuclear histone repeat transcripts suggests that they have an unusually long lifetime in pronuclei of unfertilized sea urchin eggs.
Persistence of the developmental block of in vitro fertilized domestic cat embryos to temporal variations in culture conditions

A series of studies examined the influence and temporal interaction of energy substrate, media complexity, and tissue co-culture on the development of in vitro fertilized cat embryos and the persistence of the morula-to-blastocyst developmental block. In Study I, oocytes were fertilized and cultured for 144 hr in a simple culture medium (modified Krebs Ringer bicarbonate; mKrb), containing either glucose or glutamine, or cultured in mKrb w/ glutamine for the initial 72 hr with transfer to mKrb w/ glucose for the final 72 hr. Fertilization rate, percent development to morulae, and cell number per embryo were similar (P > 0.05) between treatments and blastocyst formation was universally low ( 0.05) for all treatments. A higher percentage of blastocysts and morulae becoming blastocysts were observed after initial culture in mKrb w/ glutamine than after initial culture in mKrb w/ glucose. In Study III, oocytes were fertilized and cultured initially in mKrb (w/ glutamine), and then switched to either Ham's F10 or cat oviductal cell monolayers (in Ham's F10). Additional embryos were cultured exclusively in Ham's F10 or on cat oviductal cell monolayers. Fertilization rates were lower (P 0.05) in all treatments. Blastocyst formation was lower (P < 0.05) on oviductal cells than in mKrb-Ham's F10 treatment and was <20% in all treatments. In summary, while in vitro fertilization-derived cat embryos develop to morulae under a variety of culture conditions, the morula-to-blastocyst developmental block was minimally responsive to alterations in energy substrate and medium complexity or fluctuations in their temporal availability. In addition, oviductal cell culture, alone or in combination with other culture variations, was ineffective in overcoming the developmental block. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Conformationally restricted 2,5-diphenyloxazoles: failure of the electromer model for anomalous amplified spontaneous emission spikes

The amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) that develops on pulsed excitation of concentrated solutions of 2,5-diphenyloxazole (PPO) and related molecules is a nonlinear optical response that is considered anomalous. It consists of dual laser spikes whose relative intensity depends on laser excitation intensity: At the highest laser powers, the dominant spike corresponds to the less intense vibronic band in the normal fluorescence spectrum. This behaviour was attributed to electromers, a class of excited state conformers distinguished by having either the 2- or the 5-phenyl moiety coplanar with the oxazole ring and the other phenyl moiety twisted out-of-plane. Here, it is reported that under the same excitation conditions (266 nm laser excitation) the same ASE response is exhibited when nonplanarity at the 5 position is sterically favoured by 4-alkyl substitution (methyl or tert-butyl, MePPO and t-BuPPO, respectively). Although the X-ray structure of t-BuPPO shows the 5-phenyl group twisted 72° relative to ...
Multiple Regression with Missing Data

In conducting research, data are frequently missing for some subjects. This article discusses the assumptions and disadvantages of two methods frequently used with missing data, listwise and pairwise deletion, and it proposes the use of a little known alternative method referred to as "coding missing data." These three methods are illustrated using the analysis of a hypothetical data set, and special emphasis is placed on the interpretation of results using the method of coding missing data, and on the appropriate use of this method.
Immigrant Parents’ Involvement in American Schools: Perspectives from Korean Mothers

The purpose of this study is to investigate Korean immigrant mothers’ perspectives on their involvement in American schools. In-depth interviews were conducted with six mothers. The findings indicated that the Korean mothers confronted difficulties while contacting teachers and participating in school activities. These difficulties included linguistic and cultural barriers, feelings of discrimination, and limited school support. Suggestions for both teachers and parents are discussed. In order to build effective and trusting partnerships, teachers need to be sensitive to Korean parents’ needs and perspectives while Korean mothers need to participate in American schools more actively by voicing their concerns and helping teachers understand their unique cultural values.
Visualizing attack graphs, reachability, and trust relationships with NAVIGATOR

A new tool named NAVIGATOR (Network Asset VIsualization: Graphs, ATtacks, Operational Recommendations) adds significant capabilities to earlier work in attack graph visualization. Using NAVIGATOR, users can visualize the effect of server-side, client-side, credential-based, and trust-based attacks. By varying the attacker model, NAVIGATOR can show the current state of the network as well as hypothetical future situations, allowing for advance planning. Furthermore, NAVIGATOR explicitly shows network topology, infrastructure devices, and host-level data while still conveying situational awareness of the network as a whole. This tool is implemented in Java and uses an existing C++ engine for reachability and attack graph calculations.
Using the Biopsychosocial Approach to Resolve Student Dilemmas in Field Placements

Abstract The field practicum is viewed by many social work educators and students as a cornerstone of social work education. Therefore, the accurate assessment of student readiness for, and performance in, field placement is critical. This article presents a comprehensive, biopsychosocial approach for effective gatekeeping and assessment of students in their field experiences. Case examples are used to illustrate the complexity of student evaluation and the variety of field consultant questions and intervention options. The accompanying discussion focuses on the resolution of field placement problems. Recommendations for effective field consultant assessment and intervention are included.
Multiple mechanisms deregulate EZH2 and histone H3 lysine 27 epigenetic changes in myeloid malignancies

Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is involved in trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27), chromatin condensation and transcriptional repression. The silencing function of PRC2 complex is mostly attributed to its intrinsic activity for methylating H3K27. Unlike in B-cell lymphomas, enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) mutations in myeloid malignancies are inactivating/hypomorphic. When we assessed the mutational status in myeloid malignancies (N=469 cases examined), we found EZH2 and EED/SUZ12 mutations in 8% and 3.3% of cases, respectively. In addition to mutant cases, reduced EZH2 expression was also found in 78% cases with hemizygous deletion (-7/del7q cases involving EZH2 locus) and 41% of cases with diploid chromosome 7, most interestingly cases with spliceosomal mutations (U2AF1/SRSF2 mutations; 63% of cases). EZH2 mutations were characterized by decreased H3K27 trimethylation and increased chromatin relaxation at specific gene loci accompanied by higher transcriptional activity. One of the major downstream target is HOX gene family, involved in the regulation of stem cell self-renewal. HOXA9 was found to be overexpressed in cases with decreased EZH2 expression either by EZH2/spliceosomal mutations or because of -7/del7q. In summary, our results suggest that loss of gene repression through a variety of mutations resulting in reduced H3K27 trimethylation may contribute to leukemogenesis.
Dynamics of Sheared Convective Boundary Layer Entrainment. Part II: Evaluation of Bulk Model Predictions of Entrainment Flux

Several bulk model–based entrainment parameterizations for the atmospheric convective boundary layer (CBL) with wind shear are reviewed and tested against large-eddy simulation (LES) data to evaluate their ability to model one of the basic integral parameters of convective entrainment—the entrainment flux ratio. Test results indicate that many of these parameterizations fail to correctly reproduce entrainment flux in the presence of strong shear because they underestimate the dissipation of turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) produced by shear in the entrainment zone. It is also found that surface shear generation of TKE may be neglected in the entrainment parameterization because it is largely balanced by dissipation. However, the surface friction has an indirect effect on the entrainment through the modification of momentum distribution in the mixed layer and regulation of shear across the entrainment zone. Because of this effect, parameterizations that take into account the surface friction velocity but exclude entrainment zone shear may sufficiently describe entrainment when wind shear in the free atmosphere above the CBL is small. In this case, the surface shear acts as a proxy for the entrainment zone shear. Such parameterizations can be most useful if applied in situations where atmospheric data are insufficient for calculating entrainment zone shear. The importance of modeling a Richardson-number-limited, finite-depth entrainment zone is evidenced by the relatively accurate entrainment flux predictions by models that explicitly account for effects of entrainment zone shear, but predictions by these models are often adversely affected by the underestimation of TKE dissipation in the entrainment zone.
Detection of the Dinozoans Pfiesteria piscicida and P. shumwayae: A Review of Detection Methods and Geographic Distribution

Molecular methods, including conventional PCR, real-time PCR, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, fluorescent fragment detection PCR, and fluorescent in situ hybridization, have all been developed for use in identifying and studying the distribution of the toxic dinoflagellates Pfiesteria piscicida and P. shumwayae. Application of the methods has demonstrated a worldwide distribution of both species and provided insight into their environmental tolerance range and temporal changes in distribution. Genetic variability among geographic locations generally appears low in rDNA genes, and detection of the organisms in ballast water is consistent with rapid dispersal or high gene flow among populations, but additional sequence data are needed to verify this hypothesis. The rapid development and application of these tools serves as a model for study of other microbial taxa and provides a basis for future development of tools that can simultaneously detect multiple targets.
On Harnack-type inequalities and the extremality of the Poisson Kernel

(1988). On harnack-type inequalities and the extremality of the poisson kernel. Complex Variables, Theory and Application: An International Journal: Vol. 9, No. 4, pp. 327-342.
Calculation of subsolidus phase relations in carbonates and pyroxenes

This formulation of the free energy of mixing in a binary system takes as parameters a Bragg-Williams type cooperative disordering energy and the difference in free energy between different structures for the end-members. Subsolidus phase relations in carbonate systems such as CaCO3—MgCO3 and CdCO3—MgCO3 are calculated. Similar equations also reproduce the topologies of subsolidus phase relations in pyroxenes, including orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene phase boundaries in the enstatitediopside and ferrosilite-hedenbergite systems, the pigeonite-augite solvus, and the stability field of iron-free pigeonite.
Activation of Gsalpha by the epidermal growth factor receptor involves phosphorylation

Abstract Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that epidermal growth factor (EGF) stimulates cAMP accumulation in the heart via a process involving G and the EGF receptor (EGFR) protein tyrosine kinase activity (Nair, B. G., Parikh, B., Milligan, G., and Patel, T. B.(1990) J. Biol. Chem. 265, 21317-21322; Nair, B. G., and Patel, T. B.(1993) Biochem. Pharmacol. 46, 1239-1245). Therefore, studies were performed to investigate the hypothesis that the EGFR protein tyrosine kinase phosphorylates G and activates this protein. Employing purified EGFR and G, we have demonstrated that the EGFR kinase phosphorylates G in a time-dependent manner with a stoichiometry of 2 mol of phosphate incorporated/mol of G. As determined by phosphoamino acid analysis, the phosphorylation of G by the EGFR kinase was exclusively on tyrosine residues. Interestingly, GDP and guanosine 5′-3-O-(thio)triphosphate (GTPS) inhibited the phosphorylation of G without altering EGFR autophosphorylation. However, G protein β subunits protected against GDP- and GTPS-mediated inhibition of phosphorylation of G. In functional studies, phospho-G demonstrated a greater GTPase activity and also a greater capacity to bind GTPS as compared to the nonphosphorylated G. Moreover, the phospho-G augmented adenylyl cyclase activity in S49 cyc cell membranes to a greater extent than its nonphosphorylated counterpart. Therefore, we conclude that phosphorylation of G on tyrosine residues by the EGFR kinase activates this G protein and increases its ability to stimulate adenylyl cyclase.
HERBACEOUS SUCCESSION AFTER BURNING OF CUT WESTERN JUNIPER TREES

ABSTRACT. The expansion of western juniper (Juniperus occidentals spp. occidentalis Hook.) in the northern Great Basin has resulted in the wide-scale conversion of sagebrush-steppe communities to juniper woodlands. Prescribed fire and mechanical cutting are the 2 main methods used to remove juniper and restore sagebrush steppe. Mechanical treatments commonly leave cut juniper on site. Disadvantages of leaving cut juniper are the increased fuel hazard and the potential for increased establishment and growth of invasive species. This study evaluated the response of herbaceous plants to winter burning of cut western juniper. Vegetation response was compared among 2 burning treatments (burning trees the first winter after cutting and burning the second winter after cutting), a control (cut-unburned juniper), and the interspace between cut trees. To minimize fire impacts to herbaceous perennials, cut trees were burned in the winter when soils and ground litter were frozen and/or soils were at field capacity. O...
Institutional structure, finance, and race in higher education: Public-private sectoral differences

This paper has examined and extended the range of economic implications implied by existing differences in the underlying institutional structure of higher education. Along the lines of Lindsay (1976), Sisk (1981), and Weisbrod (1977) it was hypothesized that public-private intersectoral and intrasectoral differences in the dependence on various sources of finance give rise to systematic differences in the input-output mix of institutions and lead to corresponding differences in blacks' relative access to and success in higher education. Empirical evidence was offered in support of the contention that blacks relative to whites are more likely to gain access to higher education through the public sector, but once entered, they (relative to whites) face a greater likelihood of success in the private compared to the public sector.
Importance of calcium to the regulation of polymorphism in Wangiella (Exophiala) dermatitidis

Critical steps implicated in the polymorphism of Wangiella dermatitidis were found to be sensitive to calcium ion availability. When grown in a defined, synthetic medium under various pH and temperature conditions, two thresholds of calcium ion concentrations were identified: a lower concentration favouring non-polarized growth leading to multicellular form development and a higher concentration promoting polarized growth characterized by yeast budding or pseudo/true hyphal growth. The phenotypic transition of yeasts to multicellular forms or to hyphae was induced at both 25 and 37 °C in the wild-type strain by the addition of calcium to the synthetic medium adjusted to pH 2·5, which was otherwise not conducive to the production of either growth form. However, the calcium additions did not allow maintenance of polarized growth of yeasts or hyphae in a temperature-sensitive, cell-division-cycle mutant (wdcdc2) derived from the same strain and grown at 37 °C in the same medium adjusted to either pH 2·5 or 6...
Geometric Design of Cylindric PRS Serial Chains

This paper considers the design of the cylindric PRS serial chain. This five degree-of-freedom robot can be designed to reach an arbitrary set of eight spatial positions. However, it is often convenient to choose some of the design parameters and specify a task with fewer positions. For this reason, we study the three through eight position synthesis problems and consider various choices of design parameters for each. A linear product decomposition is used to obtain bounds on the number of solutions to these design problems. For all cases of six or fewer positions, the bound is exact and we give a reduction of the problem to the solution of an eigenvalue problem. For seven and eight position tasks, the linear product decomposition is useful for generating a start system for solving the problems by continuation. The large number of solutions so obtained contraindicates an elimination approach for seven or eight position tasks, hence continuation is the preferred approach.Copyright © 2003 by ASME
Effect of Oxidizer on Chemical Vapor Deposited Hafnium Oxide-Based Nanostructures and the Engineering of their Interfaces with Si(100)

Thin films of hafnium oxide were deposited on silicon substrates using tetrakis-diethylamino hafnium as precursor. Two different oxidizers: (a) ozone/oxygen mixture, and (b) dry oxygen were used for comparative study of the effect of different oxidizers on the deposited films. The deposition using dry oxygen was carried out in a cold-wall rapid thermal processing metalorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) reactor, whereas ozone/oxygen mixture was used in a cold-wall atomic layer deposition (ALD) reactor. Annealing studies were carried out at 600 and 800°C in high-purity argon at atmospheric pressure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses of as-deposited and annealed films were performed to study the HfO2/Si interface. The films deposited using these two different oxidizers appeared to be of comparable quality. Silicon oxide formation at the interface occurred after annealing at 600°C and it increased upon further annealing at 800 °C.
INTERPERSONAL PERCEPTION OF PSYCHOPATHY: A SOCIAL RELATIONS ANALYSIS

Abstract This study used Kenny's (1994) social relations model to examine the interpersonal perception of psychopathic traits among well–acquainted sex offenders. Members of 10 outpatient therapy groups (N = 63) who were court–ordered to attend treatment completed a self–report measure of psychopathy and rated one another on psychopathy–related traits. These interpersonal ratings were partly in the eye of the beholder (perceiver variance). Participants who saw themselves as higher in psychopathy were likely to see others as psychopathic (assumed similarity). There were smaller but significant levels of consensus (target variance) for some judgments of psychopathy. Participants who scored higher on the self–report measure of psychopathy were more likely to be seen as psychopathic by their fellow group members and as at higher risk for re–offending.
The efficiency to convert electrical to mechanical energy of a piezoelectric on silicon bimorph micromotor

It is shown that the effectiveness of a heterogeneous bimorph in converting electrical energy into mechanical work is a function of the piezoelectric coupling factor, the thickness ratio and the elastic compliance ratio between the nonpiezoelectric and piezoelectric material comprising the bimorph. It is found that the heterogeneous bimorph has the largest effectiveness in performing work against a constant load applied as a moment. Effectiveness of the bimorph in performing work against a constant load applied as a force at the free end is larger than that of an applied pressure. >
Disruption of the mouse MRF4 gene identifies multiple waves of myogenesis in the myotome

MRF4 (herculin/Myf-6) is one of the four member MyoD family of transcription factors identified by their ability to enforce skeletal muscle differentiation upon a wide variety of nonmuscle cell types. In this study the mouse germline MRF4 gene was disrupted by targeted recombination. Animals homozygous for the MRF4bh1 allele, a deletion of the functionally essential bHLH domain, displayed defective axial myogenesis and rib pattern formation, and they died at birth. Differences in somitogenesis between homozygous MRF4bh1 embryos and their wild-type littermates provided evidence for three distinct myogenic regulatory programs (My1-My3) in the somite, which correlate temporally and spatially with three waves of cellular recruitment to the expanding myotome. The first program (My1), marked initially by Myf-5 expression and followed by myogenin, began on schedule in the MRF4bh1/bh1 embryos at day 8 post coitum (E8). A second program (My2) was highly deficient in homozygous mutant MRF4 embryos, and normal expansion of the myotome failed. Moreover, expression of downstream muscle-specific genes, including FGF-6, which is a candidate regulator of inductive interactions, did not occur normally. The onset of MyoD expression around E10.5 in wild-type embryos marks a third myotomal program (My3), the execution of which was somewhat delayed in MRF4 mutant embryos but ultimately led to extensive myogenesis in the trunk. By E15 it appeared to have largely compensated for the defective My2 program in MRF4 mutants. Homozygous MRF4bh1 animals also showed improper rib pattern formation perhaps due to the absence of signals from cells expressing the My2 program. Finally, a later and relatively mild phenotype was detected in intercostal muscles of newborn animals.
The role of local food availability in explaining obesity risk among young school-aged children.

In recent years, research and public policy attention has increasingly focused on understanding whether modifiable aspects of the local food environment – the types and composition of food outlets families have proximate access to – are drivers of and potential solutions to the problem of childhood obesity in the United States. Given that much of the earlier published research has documented greater concentrations of fast-food outlets alongside limited access to large grocery stores in neighborhoods with higher shares of racial/ethnic minority groups and residents living in poverty, differences in retail food contexts may indeed exacerbate notable child obesity disparities along socioeconomic and racial/ethnic lines. This paper examines whether the lack of access to more healthy food retailers and/or the greater availability of “unhealthy” food purveyors in residential neighborhoods explains children’s risk of excessive weight gain, and whether differential food availability explains obesity disparities. I do so by analyzing a national survey of U.S. children followed over elementary school (Early Childhood Longitudinal Study – Kindergarten Cohort) who are linked to detailed, longitudinal food availability measures from a comprehensive business establishment database (the National Establishment Time Series). I find that children who live in residentially poor and minority neighborhoods are indeed more likely to have greater access to fast-food outlets and convenience stores. However, these neighborhoods also have greater access to other food establishments that have not been linked to increased obesity risk, including large-scale grocery stores. When examined in a multi-level modeling framework, differential exposure to food outlets does not independently explain weight gain over time in this sample of elementary school-aged children. Variation in residential food outlet availability also does not explain socioeconomic and racial/ethnic differences. It may thus be important to reconsider whether food access is, in all settings, a salient factor in understanding obesity risk among young children.
Measured admittances of electrically thick monopoles

Extensive measurements of admittances are reported for electrically thick cylindrical monopoles driven from coaxial lines over a large ground plane. The monopoles have circular cross sections with radii in the range from a/\lambda = 0.039 to 0.140 or circumferences from approximately 0.25\lambda to 0.88\lambda where \lambda is the wavelength. Results are given for tubes with open ends, flat metal ends, and ends with hemispherical caps. Graphical representations of the measured values are given over a range of lengths of the monopoles extending from h/\lambda = 0.05 to h/\lambda = 1.0 . The ratios of the radii of the outer to the inner conductor of the coaxial lines used are near 1.2. Comparisons with available theory are considered briefly together with the related problem of end correction for the coaxial line.
An Automated Technique to Quality Control Radar Reflectivity Data

Abstract Echoes in radar reflectivity data do not always correspond to precipitating particles. Echoes on radar may result from biological targets such as insects, birds, or wind-borne particles; from anomalous propagation or ground clutter; or from test and interference patterns that inadvertently seep into the final products. Although weather forecasters can usually identify and account for the presence of such contamination, automated weather-radar algorithms are drastically affected. Several horizontal and vertical features have been proposed to discriminate between precipitation echoes and echoes that do not correspond to precipitation. None of these features by themselves can discriminate between precipitating and nonprecipitating areas. In this paper, a neural network is used to combine the individual features, some of which have already been proposed in the literature and some of which are introduced in this paper, into a single discriminator that can distinguish between “good” and “bad” echoes (i...
MicroRNA-7 Regulates the Function of Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore by Targeting VDAC1 Expression

Mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the major contributors to neurodegenerative disorders including Parkinson disease. The mitochondrial permeability transition pore is a protein complex located on the mitochondrial membrane. Under cellular stress, the pore opens, increasing the release of pro-apoptotic proteins, and ultimately resulting in cell death. MicroRNA-7 (miR-7) is a small non-coding RNA that has been found to exhibit a protective role in the cellular models of Parkinson disease. In the present study, miR-7 was predicted to regulate the function of mitochondria, according to gene ontology analysis of proteins that are down-regulated by miR-7. Indeed, miR-7 overexpression inhibited mitochondrial fragmentation, mitochondrial depolarization, cytochrome c release, reactive oxygen species generation, and release of mitochondrial calcium in response to 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP(+)) in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. In addition, several of these findings were confirmed in mouse primary neurons. Among the mitochondrial proteins identified by gene ontology analysis, the expression of voltage-dependent anion channel 1 (VDAC1), a constituent of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore, was down-regulated by miR-7 through targeting 3'-untranslated region of VDAC1 mRNA. Similar to miR-7 overexpression, knockdown of VDAC1 also led to a decrease in intracellular reactive oxygen species generation and subsequent cellular protection against MPP(+). Notably, overexpression of VDAC1 without the 3'-UTR significantly abolished the protective effects of miR-7 against MPP(+)-induced cytotoxicity and mitochondrial dysfunction, suggesting that the protective effect of miR-7 is partly exerted through promoting mitochondrial function by targeting VDAC1 expression. These findings point to a novel mechanism by which miR-7 accomplishes neuroprotection by improving mitochondrial health.
Multidimensionality of locus of control and self-esteem.

Fish and Kacabenick ( 1971) and Ryckman and Sherman ( 1973) investigated the relationship between Rotter's (1966) unidimensional, locus of control construct and selfesteem in college students. In both studies, students with higher self-esteem tended to be more internally oriented. Since recent research (Reid & Ware, 1973) has indicated that the locus of control construct is multidimensional rather than unidimensional, a newly devised measure by Levenson (1974) was used to examine the relationship between the various dimensions of locus of control tapped by her measure and self-esteem. Levenson's scale has three separate components: ( a ) a Personal Scale which assesses an individual's perceived personal control over events; ( b ) a Powerful-others Scale which measures the degree to which others control the person's reinforcers; and ( c ) a Chance Scale which measures the extent to which an individual believes his reinforcers occur randomly. It was expected that people with higher self-esteem would tend to be internally or~ented across all three dimensions. Levenson's scale and Janis and Field's (1959) Feelrngs of Inadequacy Scale were administered to 141 women in introductory psychology to check the correlations. The Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale (Crowne & Marlowe, 1960) was also given. The data yielded small but significant correlations for all three locus of control dimensions and self-esteem, as expected. The partial rs with the minor effects of social desirability held consrant were as follows: Personal Control ( r = -.20, p < ,025). Powerful-others ( s = -.26. p < ,005 ) , and Chance ( r = -.16, p < .05 ) . The partial r for I-E scores summed across the three dimensions and self-esteem was -.30 ( p < ,005). For Personal Control, the mean was 36.01 ( S D = 5.76); for Powerful-others, the mean was 34.52 ( S D = 5.76); and for Chance, the mean was 32.80 ( S D = 5.34). The selfesteem mean was 63.83 ( S D = 14.04). Thus, female students with higher self-esteem tended to see themselves as exercising more personal control over events, as being more free from control by powerful others, and as living in environments where their reinforcers occur in a more highly predictable fashion than did students with lower self-esteem. These results support earlier findings about the relacionship between I-E and self-esteem and show, further, that locus of control as a tripartite (Levenson) construct is significantly associated with self-esteem.
NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF ACOUSTIC- FLUID DYNAMIC INTERACTIONS IN AN SRM CHAMBER/NOZZLE MODEL

Multidimensional, rotational transient flow dynamics in a planar model of a solid rocket motor chamber/nozzle geometry are predicted from the solution to the parabolized unsteady, compressible Navier-Stokes equations. The Two-Four explicit scheme, combined with the Navier-Stokes Characteristics Boundary Condition (NSCBC), is used to obtain solutions in a chamber/nozzle model. After convergence to the steady state, driven by constant side-wall injection, the flow field is disturbed by transient side-wall mass addition of similar amplitude. This mimics unsteady propellant gasification. The solution is carried out for small subsonic Mach numbers ( M<1), and a weakly viscous internal shear flow (Re » 1) in a chamber where the aspect ratio is A»l. The computational analysis shows that intensive vorticity is generated at the Copyright © 1998 by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Inc. All rights reserved. chamber side-wall. Then, the vorticity is converted into the chamber by the unsteady injected flow field. Eventually, the wall generated rotational flow fills the entire chamber. Unsteady vorticity is also generated in the nozzle within the viscous boundary layer. Finally, the effect of the nozzle on the generation and evolution of the chamber-generated unsteady vorticity is studied by comparing results with those in a chamber without a nozzle. Physical and Mathematical Model The flow occurs in a planar chamber/nozzle geometry of a length L and chamber-half height H, with a pressure node at the exit and an impermeable wall at the head end. Inert gas, injected through the porous side walls with a characteristic velocity V' , induces Jo an axial flow characterized by U. =AVV ^ o Jo to mimic the evolution of combustion products from solid propellant burning. The mathematical model is based on the following non-dimensional conservation form of the unsteady, compressible, 2-D, 1 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics Copyright© 1997, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Inc. Navier-Stokes equations describing both fluid dynamics and acoustics in a perfect gas within a rectangular chamber; dQ dE dF —— + — + — = 0 dt GX dy (1) where Q, E, and F are column vectors given by;