cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Structural characteristics and physicochemical properties of oxidized corn starches varying in amylose content

The effects of amylose content on the extent of oxidation and the distribution of carboxyl groups in hypochlorite-oxidized corn starches were investigated. Corn starches including waxy corn starch (WC), common corn starch (CC), and 50% and 70% high-amylose corn starches (AMC) were oxidized with NaOCl at three concentrations (0.8%, 2%, and 5%). Carboxyl and carbonyl content of oxidized starches increased with increasing NaOCl concentration. High-AMC (70%) had slightly higher carboxyl and carbonyl contents at 0.8% NaOCl, whereas WC had significantly higher carboxyl and carbonyl contents at 2% and 5% NaOCl levels. Carbohydrate profiles by high-performance size-exclusion chromatography indicate that amylose was more susceptible to depolymerization than amylopectin. Degradation of amylopectin long chains (DP >24) was more pronounced in WC and CC than in AMCs. The crystalline lamellae of WC started to degrade at 2% NaOCl, but those of the other corn starches remained intact even at 5% NaOCl level according to X-ray crystallinity. By using anion-exchange chromatography for separation and size-exclusion chromatography for characterization, carboxyl groups were found to be more concentrated on amylopectin than on amylose, particularly in AMCs. Oxidation decreased gelatinization temperature and enthalpy with WC showing the most decrease and 70% AMC showing the least. The gelatinization enthalpy of 50% AMC decreased significantly faster than those of CC and 70% AMC after 0.8% oxidation. Retrogradation of amylopectin slightly increased after oxidation with increasing oxidation level. The peak viscosities of oxidized WC and CC were higher than those of their native counterparts at 0.8% NaOCl, but this increase was not observed in AMCs. The setback viscosities of 2% NaOCl-oxidized 50% and 70% AMCs were much higher than those of the unmodified counterparts. The extent of oxidation and physicochemical properties of oxidized starches varied greatly with the amylase:amylopectin ratio of corn starches. Amylose was suggested to play an important role in controlling the oxidation efficiency.
NMR Characterization of a Peptide Model Provides Evidence for Significant Structure in the Unfolded State of the Villin Headpiece Helical Subdomain

The villin headpiece subdomain (HP36) is the smallest naturally occurring protein that folds cooperatively. The protein folds on a microsecond time scale. Its small size and very rapid folding have made it a popular target for biophysical studies of protein folding. Temperature-dependent one-dimensional (1D) NMR studies of the full-length protein together with CD and 1D NMR studies of the 21-residue peptide fragment (HP21) derived from HP36 have shown that there is significant structure in the unfolded state of HP36 and have demonstrated that HP21 is a good model of these interactions. Here, we characterized the model peptide HP21 in detail by two-dimensional NMR. Strongly upfield shifted Cα protons, the magnitude of the 3JNH,α coupling constants, and the pattern of backbone−backbone and backbone−side chain NOEs indicate that the ensemble of structures populated by HP21 contains α-helical structure and native as well as non-native hydrophobic contacts. The hydrogen-bonded secondary structure inferred from...
Conditioned media from solid tumor cell lines treated with retinoic acids both decreases and increases proliferation of capillary endothelial cells.

Abstract These studies investigated the effects of retinoic acids on endothelial cell proliferation. Three human neoplastic cell lines, U-373 MG glioblastoma, DU-145 prostate carcinoma, and TCCSUP bladder transitional cell carcinoma, were treated with all- trans , 9- cis , or 13- cis retinoic acids at 0.0001 to 10 μM. Hypoxia was used to ensure the expression of the angiogenic phenotype. Conditioned media (CM) were prepared by hypoxic culturing of the tumor cells with retinoic acids for 24 hours. Then CM were transferred to bovine capillary endothelial cells for 48 hours of normoxic culturing, counted and compared to controls. CM from U-373 MG and DU-145 cells, but not TCCSUP cells, treated with all- trans or 9- cis retinoic acids at several concentrations below 1 μM, caused significant (P cis retinoic acid decreased endothelial cell proliferation. These results show that the cytotoxicity of retinoic acids and the growth promoting/inhibiting ability of the conditioned media is retinoic acid isoform, time, concentration, and cell type dependent. Most importantly, the conditioned media from tumor cells treated with low concentrations of all- trans or 9- cis retinoic acids significantly increased endothelial cell proliferation.
Surgeons' Experiences With Patients' Concerns Regarding Trainees.

Objective Little is known about surgeons’ attitudes toward patients’ concerns about the role of trainees in their care. The nature of the discussion between surgeons and their patients about trainees and the effect on how patients are cared for is an important part of patient-centered care. We aim to elucidate surgeons’ attitude toward patients’ concerns regarding trainee involvement in their care. Design An electronic, web-based 15-question survey (SurveyMonkey) was used. Setting Surveys were sent to 528 e-mail accounts of the members of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Surgeons. Surgeon demographics, the frequency and nature of patients’ concerns about trainees, and the reactions to these concerns by surgeons were explored. Participants Of the 528 surgeons surveyed, 109 completed the online survey. Most specialties of surgery were represented. Results We analyzed 109 responses (21% response rate). Most surgeons from a variety of specialties were involved with teaching medical students and residents. Half the respondents trained fellows as well. Patients’ concerns are raised more often in the community setting where surgeons are more likely to alter their practice. Conclusions Although patients’ concerns about trainee involvement are infrequent, they arise enough to deserve specific attention in the current patient-centric environment. Surgeons successfully negotiate to have trainee involvement in the vast majority of cases. Specific guidelines should be developed and adopted to ensure that patients consent to trainee involvement and understand the role of trainees and their supervision.
Central bank secrecy in the foreign exchange market

Abstract This paper argues that with sticky goods prices and a forward-looking exchange rate, the central bank will only want a partial dissemination of its information about shocks to the economy. It is shown that, in such a model, the central bank may prefer to intervene secretly in the foreign exchange markets when responding in anticipation of future shocks, but openly when reacting to current shocks. The model thus provides a rationale for secrecy in central bank foreign exchange operations. The model also elucidates the relationship between the signaling and portfolio balance channels of sterilized intervention.
Identification of amino acid residues participating in intermolecular salt bridges between self-associating proteins.

Abstract Salt bridges between self-associating hen egg white (HEW) lysozyme and bovine insulin molecules were converted to covalent links by ethanedinitrile (cyanogen) and identified using mass spectrometry. Peptides resulting from cyanogen-mediated intermolecular cross-linking of HEW lysozyme were detected using in-gel digestion and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Sequence data from electrospray ionization-quadrupole-time of flight mass spectrometry (ESI-Q-TOF MS) revealed that one of the peptides has a covalent bond between Asp 66 and Arg 14. The self-assembly of bovine insulin was also investigated using cyanogen. Using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with ESI-Q-TOF MS, an intermolecular salt bridge association was identified by covalently linking the B chain C-terminal carboxyl group of Ala 30 and the charged imidazole of His 5 (B chain). A method was developed incorporating cyanogen, enzymatic digestion, one-dimensional gel electrophoresis, MALDI-TOF MS, and HPLC ESI-Q-TOF MS to identify amino acid residues participating in salt bridge formations at protein–protein interfaces. The novelty of this approach is the ease with which cyanogen can be administered to a protein sample and the apparent lack of nonspecific cross-linking side reactions interfering with the analysis.
Divergent ontogeny of sigma and phencyclidine binding sites in the rat brain.

Abstract The postnatal developmental patterns of sigma (σ) and phencyclidine (PCP) binding sites were compared in the rat brain. The results show diametrically different ontogenic patterns for the sites. While both the affinity and the density of σ sites remain constant throughout the developmental period tested (postnatal day 1 to 1 year), the density of PCP binding sites increases from the time of birth, reaching the adult level by postnatal day 14. The differences in developmental patterns provide evidence for distinctive properties of cerebral σ and PCP binding sites.
Optical Design Considerations of Polarization and Fluorescence Imaging Systems

This talk will use a medical device as an example to discuss optical design considerations of polarization and fluorescence imaging systems.
Radioimmunoassay for canine creatine kinase isoenzymes

Antibodies specific for the B and M subunits of creatine kinase (ATP: creatine N-phosphotransferase, EC 2.7.3.2) isoenzymes were obtained by immunization of rabbits with canine BB and MM creatine kinase. A radioimmunoassay capable of measuring picomolar amounts of creatine kinase isoenzymes has been developed which measures concentrations of intact isoenzymes rather than activity. It should aid in elucidating the metabolism and breakdown of creatine kinase isoenzymes.
An empirical exploration of factors related to adolescents’ political efficacy

Political scientists have found that one of the strongest predictors of political participation is political efficacy, the belief that individuals’ actions can influence political processes. Prior research indicates that political efficacy increases through various experiences, such as discussions of public issues, but it does not explain why or how these experiences support the development of political efficacy. To address this gap, this paper explores the broad set of factors that influence political efficacy amongst adolescents, who are at a crucial age for identity development. By analysing interview data from 32 high school students and questionnaire responses from 142 undergraduates, I found evidence to support a model that includes a wide variety of factors that contribute to political efficacy, such as persistence, political interest and political trust. Based on this empirical model, I provide practical recommendations to educators and researchers interested in preparing students for active polit...
The Contribution of Phenomenology to HRD Research

Phenomenology is an interpretive research methodology that has direct application to human resource development (HRD) because it helps explicate the essence of human experience. The authors argue t...
DESCRIPTION OF TWO NEW SPECIES OF TABANIDÆ

The limits of the subgenus Atylotus as restricted by Osten–Sacken are not easy to determine. The presence or absence of the ocelligerous tubercle is the character which gives most trouble, for in some species it seems to be absent in the female and present in the male, and one could convince himself without a great amount of imagination that in some species it is present in one specimen and absent in another of the same sex. the type of the subgenus is bicolor , and associated with it are other equally peculiar species whose characters place them at once in Atylotus. They are small forms in which the usual banding of the eyes is lacking, as are also the frontal callosity and subcallous. The wings are glassy, transparent, resembling those of some other Tabanids when teneral.
Asymptotics for the zeros of the generalized Bessel polynomials

We investigate the location of the zeros of the normalized generalized Bessel polynomials and the normalized reversed generalized Bessel polynomials. Also, the rate at which these zeros approach certain well-defined curves is investigated. On the basis of numerical computations and graphs, four new conjectures are proposed.
Discriminatory Decision Policy Aware Classification

Regulations worldwide ban discrimination on many factors, including gender, race, age, etc. This poses a problem for data mining, as learning from historical data containing discriminatory decisions may perpetuate discrimination, even if protected attributes are not used. We focus on discrimination prevention for classification. We introduce a new training set correction approach to handle discriminatory decision policies. Previous training set correction approaches are policy-neutral, our approach specifically targets decision policies evidencing discrimination. The goal is to target specific evidence of discrimination, and thus reduce discrimination with little impact on classification accuracy.
Intergovernmental Relations and the Crime Task Force: a Case Study of the East Texas Violent Crime Task Force and Its Implications

Using the East Texas Violent Crime Task Force as an exemplar, this article examines the taskforce conceptas an exercise in intergovernmental cooperation. After defining the task force concept and e...
Women and Men in Love: Who Really Feels It and Says It First?

A widely held belief exists that women are more romantic and tend to fall in love faster than men. Responses from 172 college students indicated that although both men and women believe that women will fall in love and say "I love you" first in a relationship, men reported falling in love earlier and expressing it earlier than women reported. Analyses also showed no sex differences in attitudinal responses to items about love and romance. These results indicate that women may not be the greater "fools for love" that society assumes and are consistent with the notion that a pragmatic and cautious view of love has adaptive significance for women.
Bystander chronic infection negatively impacts development of CD8(+) T cell memory

Epidemiological evidence suggests that chronic infections impair immune responses to unrelated pathogens and vaccines. The underlying mechanisms, however, are unclear and distinguishing effects on priming versus development of immunological memory has been challenging. We investigated whether bystander chronic infections impact differentiation of memory CD8(+) T cells, the hallmark of protective immunity against intracellular pathogens. Chronic bystander infections impaired development of memory CD8(+) T cells in several mouse models and humans. These effects were independent of initial priming and were associated with chronic inflammatory signatures. Chronic inflammation negatively impacted the number of bystander CD8(+) T cells and their memory development. Distinct underlying mechanisms of altered survival and differentiation were revealed with the latter regulated by the transcription factors T-bet and Blimp-1. Thus, exposure to prolonged bystander inflammation impairs the effector to memory transition. These data have relevance for immunity and vaccination during persisting infections and chronic inflammation.
The dependence of lithium transference numbers on temperature, salt concentration and anion type in poly (vinylidene fluoride)–hexafluoropropylene copolymer-based gel electrolytes

Abstract The electrophoretic NMR method was used to measure lithium transference numbers in gel electrolytes consisting of various salts in propylene carbonate-swollen poly (vinylidene fluoride)–hexafluoropropylene copolymer. We compare the concentration dependence of the lithium transference numbers obtained for a series of anions. The anions considered are CF 3 SO 3 − (Tf), N(CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 − (TFSI), N(C 2 F 5 SO 2 ) 2 − (BETI) and (C(CF 3 SO 2 ) 3 − (TFSM). Larger anions were generally found to result in higher lithium transference numbers. t Li in LiTf containing electrolytes decreases steadily with the salt concentration. However, in LiTFSI-containing gel electrolytes, t Li is almost invariant over a large concentration range. The results are discussed in the context of the effect of ion–ion interactions, the extent of which is dependent on the degree of anion charge delocalization.
Business culture and management in China, Thailand and the USA: cultural values and business practice

The role of cultural factors in East Asia's rapid development remains subject to dispute. This is particularly true of China, since today's Chinese managers come from a tradition that is different from that of the USA and Thailand. This paper compares the results of a survey study of young managers in China with comparable surveys of young managers in the USA and in Thailand. We consider the underlying theoretical constructs and we pose hypotheses on how they might relate to management behaviour. We describe the surveys and analytical methodology. There is strong evidence of the Chinese respondents' personal objectives of traditional group cohesion, desire for harmony, and relationship-based trust. US respondents are much more concerned with personal entitlements. In many respects, the cultural attributes and business practices of Thai managers lie between those of their Chinese and US counterparts. While it is difficult to link these cultural dimensions to management procedures, there is evidence that Chinese firms use less formal methods and rely more heavily on relationship-based practices.
Keeping sexual and reproductive health at the forefront of global efforts to reduce poverty.

The eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) agreed upon by the United Nations in 2000–01 are ambitious plans to halve poverty and improve the lives and health of people throughout the world by 2015. But are they attainable? Increasing political and social conservatism at the UN particularly concerning the roles and choices of women and young people has meant that the important and fully compatible core goal adopted by the 1994 Cairo International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD)—universal access to reproductive health information and services—was omitted during the formulation of the MDGs. The ICPD recommendations which were reinforced and expanded at the Beijing Fourth World Conference on Women a year later are essential to the successful fulfillment of more than one of the individual MDG targets and any global poverty-reduction efforts will be inadequate if sexual and reproductive health continues to be marginalized. (excerpt)
Reaction of Some Amides and Thioamides with Diazomethane Catalyzed by Silica Gel

Abstract Certain amides and thioamides can easily be methylated with diazomethane in the presence of silica gel.
Anthropogenic Aerosols and the Weakening of the South Asian Summer Monsoon

Observations show that South Asia underwent a widespread summertime drying during the second half of the 20th century, but it is unclear whether this trend was due to natural variations or human activities. We used a series of climate model experiments to investigate the South Asian monsoon response to natural and anthropogenic forcings. We find that the observed precipitation decrease can be attributed mainly to human-influenced aerosol emissions. The drying is a robust outcome of a slowdown of the tropical meridional overturning circulation, which compensates for the aerosol-induced energy imbalance between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. These results provide compelling evidence of the prominent role of aerosols in shaping regional climate change over South Asia.
Tracking climate forcing: The annual greenhouse gas index

Global monitoring of atmospheric greenhouse gases, in particular carbon dioxide (CO2),has been a goal of the U.S. government for over 30 years.The monitoring program evolved into high-precision measurements of global, long-lived greenhouse gases that are used to calculate changes in radiative climate forcing. The change in global radiative forcing caused by increases in atmospheric abundances of long-lived greenhouse gases has been used to define the Annual Greenhouse Gas Index Lsqb;Hofmann et al., 2006]. This article presents a brief history of global greenhouse gas measurements of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA),and how these data are being made accessible and user-friendly.
Instability Analysis of Torispherical Pressure Vessel Heads with Triangular Thin-Shell Finite Elements

The elastic instability of an internally-pressurized cylindrical tank with a torispherical head is investigated using a triangular, doubly curved, thin-shell finite element. The formulation of the finite element, which is based upon cubic displacement functions and a modified principle of potential energy, is first described. Then, the element is verified by comparing numerical results for the linear, stable analysis to alternative solutions for the same problem. The subsequent instability investigation includes the solution of the linearized problem of equilibrium bifurcation, that is, of the classical eigenvalue problem, and a general nonlinear analysis, based on tracing the nonlinear load-displacement path. The critical pressure, obtained with use of the general nonlinear analysis, agrees closely with an experimental result as well as with a numerical solution stemming from an axisymmetric formulation.
New ZrO2Yb2O3 plasma-sprayed coatings for thermal barrier applications

New thermal barrier coatings, whose compositions were chosen on the basis of a limited study of the ZrO2-Yb2O3 system, were evaluated by cyclic testing in a furnace at 1120 C. On Ni-16.2Cr-5.9Al-0.15Y bond coating, ZrO2-12.4Yb2O3, ZrO2-14.7Yb2O3 and ZrO2-17.4Yb2O3 coatings have respectively 60, 30, and 15 percent longer lives than the near-optimum ZrO2-6.1Y2O3 coating. On Ni-18.3Cr-6.4Al-0.22Yb coating, ZrO2-12.4Yb2O3 has about 40 percent longer life than the ZrO2-6.1Y2O3 coating. The optimum Yb2O3 concentration in ZrO2 at which the maximum life is obtained is believed to be between 12.4 and 14.7 wt pct. The ZrO2-Yb2O3 thermal barrier systems failed through the formation of a crack or cracks in the thermal barrier coating near the bond coating interface. As-received ZrO2-Yb2O3 plasma spray powders had a nonhomogeneous distribution of Yb2O3. Monoclinic, cubic, and tetragonal phases in addition to Zr3Yb4O12 and an unknown phase were present.
Sub-pixel target spectra estimation and detection using functions of multiple instances

The Functions of Multiple Instances (FUMI) method for learning target pattern and non-target patterns is introduced and extended. The FUMI method differs significantly from traditional supervised learning algorithms because only functions of target patterns are available. Moreover, these functions are likely to involve other non-target patterns. In this paper, data points which are convex combinations of a target prototype and several non-target prototypes are considered. The Convex-FUMI (C-FUMI) method learns the target and non-target patterns, the number of non-target patterns, and the weights (or proportions) of all the prototypes for each data point. For hyperspectral image analysis, the target and non-target prototypes estimated using C-FUMI are the end-members for the target material and non-target (background) materials. For this method, training data need only binary labels indicating whether a data point contains or does not contain some proportion of the target endmember; the specific target proportions for the training data are not needed. In this paper, the C-FUMI algorithm is extended to incorporate weights for training data such that target and non-target training data sets are balanced (resulting in the Weighted C-FUMI algorithm). After learning the target prototype using the binary-labeled training data, target detection is performed on test data. Results showing sub-pixel explosives detection and sub-pixel target detection on simulated data are presented.
'Revertant' DCIS in human axillary breast carcinoma metastases.

Recent experimental evidence obtained in Scid mice has suggested that the metastatic process is in large part epigenetically regulated and undergoes partial reversion once the metastatic process is completed: the metastatic colonies become more engaged in the process of growing in situ than actively metastasizing. Based on this experimental evidence, examples were sought of metastatic human cancers where similar reversion to an in situ growth state was occurring. Review of 200 cases of metastatic human breast cancer revealed a 21 per cent incidence of reversion to a ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) growth pattern within axillary nodal metastases. The revertant DCIS areas were characterized by an intact and circumferential basement membrane, as demonstrated by extracellular laminin and type IV collagen immunoreactivity. These revertant DCIS areas could be distinguished from primary DCIS, however, by the absence of surrounding myoepithelial cells in the former, identified in the latter by their positive maspin, S-100, and smooth muscle actin immunoreactivity. The pattern of revertant DCIS, poorly differentiated (comedo) (13 per cent), intermediate (non-comedo) (6 per cent), or well-differentiated (non-comedo) (2%), exhibited complete 100 per cent concordance with the primary DCIS pattern. The concordance of histological patterns held true for even the subtypes of DCIS determined by architectural pattern, such as the micropapillary or cribriform subtypes. Nuclear size by digital image analysis and Her-2/neu, p53, and Ki-67 status in the revertant DCIS also exhibited complete concordance with the primary DCIS counterparts. Cases exhibiting a revertant DCIS pattern tended to be ER-negative/EGFR-positive and exhibited significant nodal involvement (mean number, 9; mean area, 90 per cent) compared with cases lacking a revertant pattern (mean number, 4; mean area, 15 per cent) (P < 0.01) These findings suggest that reversion of the metastatic phenotype may also be occurring within autochthonous human metastasis.
On the convergence of Gummel's numerical algorithm

Abstract The algorithm described by Gummel for computing carrier distributions in semiconductors is analyzed by a simple perturbation method. It is concluded that in one-dimensional problems, convergence failures may be expected under forward bias conditions when the ratio of the carrier diffusion lengths to the device dimension is sufficiently small.
The exchange of 45Ca and 32P with hydroxyapatite as interpreted by adsorption from solution

Abstract A theory has been developed based on Langmuir kinetics for the adsorption of a component from solution by a reversible and an irreversible process, simultaneously. The theory has been applied to the removal of traces of 45 Ca and of 32 P from saturated solutions of their nonradioactive counterparts as calcium and phosphate ions by isotopic exchange at the surface of hydroxyapatite. In testing the theory, a computer-programmed nonlinear least-square fit was used to evaluate the physically significant characteristic parameters. This has been accomplished for a number of similar experiments, each of which had a different pH, slurry density, and tagged ion concentration. The results of this study confirm that the approach is feasible and that the assumed model is reasonable. Not only does the theory fit the data, but the magnitude of the derived quantities is internally consistent. No change in calcium to phosphate ratio of the respective surface sites was evident from one experiment to another.
The Role of Aesthetic Preferences Similarity in Attraction

Similarity is a well-known contributor to attraction, but aesthetic preferences similarity in particular has not received much research attention. Study 1 was a correlational study with 54 couples from South Carolina and North Carolina. In these existing relationships, higher perceived relationship quality was found to be positively correlated with some measures of partner aesthetic preferences similarity. Study 2 was a “phantom other” experimental investigation of the effect of aesthetic preferences similarity on attraction to strangers involving 129 undergraduates at Indiana University East. It was found that manipulating music and movie rating similarity caused both platonic and romantic attraction to vary. Compared to a control condition, aesthetic preferences similarity enhanced attraction and dissimilarity decreased attraction, but the impact of dissimilarity was stronger. The results are discussed in terms of hypotheses about the relative importance of similarity and dissimilarity, and how aestheti...
Crystallization and preliminary crystallographic analysis of the ezrin FERM domain

Ezrin is a member of the ERM (ezrin/radixin/moesin) family of proteins that cross-link the actin cytoskeleton to the plasma membrane and that also function, both upstream and downstream of the small G-protein Rho, in signaling cascades that regulate the assembly of actin stress fibers. In this study, crystals were obtained of the amino-terminal 297 residues (referred to as FERM) of ezrin. The crystals of the FERM domain of ezrin belong to the monoclinic space group P21, with unit-cell parameters a = 48.5, b = 112.8, c = 66.3 A, β = 102.3°, and contain two molecules in the asymmetric unit. A 2.3 A data set was collected using synchrotron radiation at CHESS A1.
Germline PTEN Mutation Cowden Syndrome: An Underappreciated Form of Hereditary Kidney Cancer

Purpose: Cowden syndrome is a hereditary cancer syndrome associated with a germline mutation in PTEN. Patients are predisposed to multiple malignancies including renal cell carcinoma.Materials and Methods: Patients with Cowden syndrome were evaluated as part of a clinical protocol. Those with a history of renal cell carcinoma underwent review of clinical features, tumor characteristics and family history. Renal tumors were evaluated for loss of heterozygosity.Results: Among 24 patients with Cowden syndrome 4 were identified with renal cell carcinoma (16.7%). Three patients had solitary tumors, 2 with papillary type I histology and 1 with clear cell histology. The fourth patient had bilateral, synchronous chromophobe tumors. No patients had a prior family history of renal cell carcinoma. All patients with renal cell carcinoma had dermatologic manifestations of Cowden syndrome and had macrocephaly. Loss of heterozygosity at the PTEN mutation was identified in 4 tumors (80%). No genotype-phenotype associatio...
Cholinesterase inhibitor effects on extracellular acetylcholine in rat cortex

The effects of inhibition of cholinesterase on levels of extracellular acetylcholine in the striatum of freely moving rats, were investigated with a microdialysis technique. Acetylcholine could not be detected under basal conditions. However, local administration of the cholinesterase inhibitors neostigmine, physostigmine or heptyl-physostigmine through the dialysis probe elevated acetylcholine above the detection limit. Complex interactions between the effects of local and systemic cholinesterase inhibitors were observed. Whereas systemic administration of physostigmine or heptylphysostigmine alone increased the extracellular concentration of acetylcholine, they also caused acetylcholine to fall below baseline levels, which had been established by perfusing physostigmine through the microdialysis probe. These studies demonstrate the ability of local inhibition of cholinesterase to affect the observation of effects of systemically-administered drugs.
Effect of via profile on copper seed layer deposition for electroplating

This paper deals with through-silicon vias (TSVs) for 3-D IC stacking, and discusses the effect of an etched via profile on copper seed layer deposition in terms of providing conformal coverage along the via sidewall. A detailed study of the uniformity of the copper seed layer deposited by a Varian XM8 magnetron sputtering system is reported. The effect of process parameters such as pressure and power on copper seed coverage is also discussed. Each parameter plays a critical role in obtaining a conformal lining of the copper seed inside the via. The copper electroplating process used to fill the vias will also be discussed. The profiles of vias under study are straight and sloped (tapered) sidewall vias with diameters of 20-25 mum.
The Centromere: Hub of Chromosomal Activities

Centromeres are the structures that direct eukaryotic chromosome segregation in mitosis and meiosis. There are two major classes of centromeres. Point centromeres, found in the budding yeasts, are compact loci whose constituent proteins are now beginning to yield to biochemical analysis. Regional centromeres, best described in the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, encompass many kilobases of DNA and are packaged into heterochromatin. Their associated proteins are as yet poorly understood. In addition to providing the site for microtubule attachment, centromeres also have an important role in checkpoint regulation during mitosis.
Effects of pH, Calcium Chloride, and Chymosin Concentration on Coagulation Properties of Abnormal and Normal Milk =

Individual Holstein cow milk samples were selected for good and poor chymosin-coagulation characteristics. The effect of pH adjustment, addition of .02% calcium chloride, and variation in chymosin concentration on coagulation properties of good and poor coagulating samples was evaluated. Pooling 50% good and 50% poor coagulating samples did not improve the average coagulation properties of the poor samples. Reducing milk pH to 6.3 caused a significant decrease in coagulation time but a less marked increase in curd firmness. The greatest increase in curd firmness was obtained by a combination of reducing milk pH, addition of .02% calcium chloride, and reducing chymosin concentration. High-chymosin concentration at reduced pH decreased coagulation time without substantially increasing curd firmness. Curd disintegration was more apparent at high-chymosin concentration in the poor coagulating samples.
Speaking with hands: creating animated conversational characters from recordings of human performance

We describe a method for using a database of recorded speech and captured motion to create an animated conversational character. People's utterances are composed of short, clearly-delimited phrases; in each phrase, gesture and speech go together meaningfully and synchronize at a common point of maximum emphasis. We develop tools for collecting and managing performance data that exploit this structure. The tools help create scripts for performers, help annotate and segment performance data, and structure specific messages for characters to use within application contexts. Our animations then reproduce this structure. They recombine motion samples with new speech samples to recreate coherent phrases, and blend segments of speech and motion together phrase-by-phrase into extended utterances. By framing problems for utterance generation and synthesis so that they can draw closely on a talented performance, our techniques support the rapid construction of animated characters with rich and appropriate expression.
Sol-gel synthesis of ordered mesoporous alumina

Well-ordered mesoporous alumina materials with high surface area and a narrow pore size distribution were synthesized using a sol-gel based self assembly technique.
A Novel Mutation in FGFR3 Causes Camptodactyly, Tall Stature, and Hearing Loss (CATSHL) Syndrome

Activating mutations of FGFR3, a negative regulator of bone growth, are well known to cause a variety of short-limbed bone dysplasias and craniosynostosis syndromes. We mapped the locus causing a novel disorder characterized by camptodactyly, tall stature, scoliosis, and hearing loss (CATSHL syndrome) to chromosome 4p. Because this syndrome recapitulated the phenotype of the Fgfr3 knockout mouse, we screened FGFR3 and subsequently identified a heterozygous missense mutation that is predicted to cause a p.R621H substitution in the tyrosine kinase domain and partial loss of FGFR3 function. These findings indicate that abnormal FGFR3 signaling can cause human anomalies by promoting as well as inhibiting endochondral bone growth.
Thrombolysis, flow, and vessel wall interactions.

Vascular endothelium remains a dynamic interface between blood, blood platelets, and the vessel wall. New developments make clear that many antithrombotic and prothrombotic responses of the endothelium depend on flow conditions in an adaptive manner: duration of a certain level of shear stress matters as well as level of shear. In general, over the course of several hours, endothelium appears to be more actively antithrombotic under moderate shear conditions (eg, 15 dyne/cm 2 ) and more fibrinolytic under high shear conditions (eg, 30 dyne/cm 2 ). Pulsatile flow and cyclic wall stress further modify these responses. Special consideration, moreover, must be given to branch points and regions of irregular geometry (ie, stenoses, aneurysms) in the circulation. In such locations—predilection sites for thrombosis, lipid uptake, and atherosclerosis—low levels of shear stress (eg, 0.5 dyne/cm 2 ), large gradients in shear stress, and vessel wall bending stresses all become important. Preliminary work suggests that endothelial cells in such regions can become prothrombotic, leading to localized platelet adhesion/aggregation and fibrin formation on subendothelium and perhaps deeper structures following vessel injury. Flow effects on thrombolysis remain largely unstudied.
Characterization of Undermethylated Sites in Vibrio cholerae

The activities of DNA methyltransferases are important for a variety of cellular functions in bacteria. In this study, we developed a modified high-throughput technique called methyl homopolymer tail mediated sequencing (methyl HTM-seq) to identify the undermethylated sites in the Vibrio cholerae genome for the two DNA methyltransferases, Dam, an adenine methyltransferase, and VchM, a cytosine methyltransferase, during growth in rich medium in vitro. Many of the undermethylated sites occurred in intergenic regions, and for most of these sites, we identified the transcription factors responsible for undermethylation. This confirmed the presence of previously hypothesized DNA-protein interactions for these transcription factors and provided insight into the biological state of these cells during growth in vitro. DNA adenine methylation has previously been shown to mediate heritable epigenetic switches in gene regulation. However, none of the undermethylated Dam sites tested showed evidence of regulation by this mechanism. This study is the first to identify undermethylated adenines and cytosines genomewide in a bacterium using second-generation sequencing technology.
Incremental data integration for federated databases

The paper demonstrates how the experimental database language Proto derives and manipulates partial information representations and how these derivations may be used to merge information from a federation of databases. Partial information representations allow queries to be answered even in the event that ambiguity about relationships between the data from clients in a database federation cannot be resolved using available information. The language Proto is an implemented deductive extension to Common Lisp that allows the independent derivation of true and possible answers to queries, together with null values, including non-monotone introspective options that allow the inference system to use heuristics or defaults. >
Growth Factor Expression in Normal Peritoneum of Patients with Gynecologic Carcinoma

Both epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and HER-2/neu (neu) have been found to be of prognostic importance in epithelial ovarian and endometrial carcinoma, but alterations in proto-oncogene expression of normal tissues of patients with gynecologic malignancies are unknown. Patients (118) undergoing laparotomy for gynecologic indications (78 ovarian cancer, 11 endometrial cancer, 19 benign gynecologic disease, 10 other cancers) had biopsies of normal peritoneum for quantitative assessment of neu and EGFR concentrations. Patients undergoing exploration for gynecologic malignancy were found to have significantly higher median neu expression in the peritoneal biopsies than patients with benign gynecologic disease (P = 0.002). Most patients in this study were found to have ovarian cancer, and median peritoneal neu expression was found to be significantly higher in patients with ovarian cancer versus benign ovarian masses (P = 0.0008) or any benign gynecologic disease (P = 0.004). No significant alteration of unbound EGFR was found in peritoneal biopsies of any of the groups of patients. No associations were found for a history of breast cancer, presence of ascites, or menopausal status with alteration of neu or EGFR expression in normal peritoneum. These findings of altered expression of neu in normal tissues of patients with ovarian cancer are suggestive of the presence of proto-oncogene alterations in loco-regional tissues of the peritoneum, such as might be seen if a paracrine influence existed between tumor and peritoneal cells. Alternatively, the alterations may represent subtle alterations of proto-oncogene expression of germ-line tissues.
A 900 MHz CMOS LC-oscillator with quadrature outputs

The local oscillator (LO) in a wireless transceiver satisfies many exacting requirements. A variable frequency enables a phase-locked loop (PLL) to servo the LO to a stable lower frequency reference, or to correct frequency errors from measurements on the received signal. A low phase noise ensures little interference with nearby channels. A large LO voltage-swing means that it can drive a mixer with greater linearity. Finally, in single-sideband applications, the LO must supply precise quadrature phases. Low phase noise mandates use of a high-Q resonator to tune the LO, although most RF resonators are usually not integrable on ICs. Quadrature outputs are usually derived from RC phase-shift of a single-phase LO output, but this is susceptible to component inaccuracy and loss in LO amplitude. The authors present a 900 MHz oscillator circuit implemented in 1 /spl mu/m CMOS that affords modestly low-phase noise, has variable frequency with large output swing, and provides quadrature-phase outputs from two identical coupled oscillators, connected in such a way that they exert a mutual squelch when their relative phase is not in quadrature. The coupled oscillators synchronize to exactly the same frequency, in spite of mismatches in their resonant circuits.
Low-density parity-check space-time codes: performance analysis and code construction

In this paper, we show that the direct transmission scheme of low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes can achieve the upper bound of rate-diversity tradeoff with probability one for multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems with BPSK modulation. We then present an algorithm to construct the LDPC space-time codes through a 2-dimensional array whose doubly-periodic correlation is bounded by 1.
Some Considerations of Nonideal Transformation-Zone Profile

The nonideal transformation-zone profile, in which the volume fraction of transformed particles decreases with the increase in the lateral distance from crack surfaces, is considered for the stress-induced phase transformation in ceramics containing zirconia. It is shown that one source of this nonideal transformation-zone profile can be the size distribution of the transforming particledgrains. Then, an equation for toughening due to the existence of such a nonideal transformationzone profile is derived. In calculating the toughness, it is shown that the uncertainty in determining the transformation-zone size, which can occur by attempts to fit it to an ideal zone profile, can be avoided by using the present approach. T monoclinic phase is widely accepted as an important mechanism for increasing the fracture toughness of ceramics. I-' Many studies have been conducted to understand this toughening mechanism. Theoretical models show that the toughness increases with the increase in the transformation zone surrounding a crack and thus the zone size becomes an important parameter.5-' In these cases, it is often assumed that the volume fraction of the transformed material is constant within the zone. Experimental measurements were also conducted to evaluate this transformationzone size. However, it was found that the transformation zone does not always have the ideal profile, i.e., a constant degree of transformation within the zone and no transformation outside the zone. Instead, the concentration of the transformed particles decreases with the increase in the lateral distance from the crack surfaces (i.e., the nonideal transformation-zone profile). 'O-" Recent studies showed that the toughnessI3 and the nucleation of the martensitic transf~rmation"" ~~~~ depend on the particle size of Zr02 and that the critical stress required to induce the transformation varies with the particle size.x,16 Recognition of the existences of particle size distributions in ceramics and also of stress gradients in the crack tip region have prompted the present study. In this paper, we show that one source of such nonideal transformationzone profiles is the intrinsic particle size distribution. Sample calculations are performed here by assuming Gaussian distribution for the particle sizes. However, the nonideal transformation-zone profile can result from any particle size distribution and is not limited to the Gaussian distribution for particle sizes. The effects of the particle size distribution on the toughness for transformation-toughened ceramics have been derived,l6.I7 in which the measurement of the particle size distribution and the exact criterion for transformation are required to evaluate the toughness. Because this requires considerable information, there is some potential difficulty in its application. In the present study, we utilize the actual transformation-zone profile which can be measured readily, '"-" and modify the equation of the toughness based on the transformation zone to include the nonideal zone profile case.
EFFECTS OF AN INTERNET-BASED VOUCHER REINFORCEMENT PROGRAM FOR SMOKING ABSTINENCE: A FEASIBILITY STUDY

The present study tested the feasibility of an Internet-based method to obtain objective evidence of smoking abstinence and to deliver vouchers for evidence of abstinence. Four heavy smokers participated in this 4-week study. Twice daily, participants made video recordings of themselves providing a breath carbon monoxide (CO) sample with a Web camera. The video was sent electronically to the smoking clinic. Participants could earn vouchers for gradual reductions in breath CO during an initial shaping condition, and then for achieving abstinence (CO ≤ 4 ppm). Vouchers could be exchanged for merchandise at select Internet vendors. Relative to baseline conditions, participants substantially reduced their smoke intake, and 3 achieved sustained periods of abstinence. The study suggests that an Internet-based voucher reinforcement program is a feasible method to promote abstinence from cigarette smoking.
DIRECT AND ITERATIVE ONE-DIMENSIONAL FRONT TRACKING METHODS FOR THE TWO-DIMENSIONAL STEFAN PROBLEM

An application of the method of fractional steps and of the method of lines to general two-dimensional Stefan-type problems is described. The numerical aspects are discussed and the performance of both methods for a model problem is compared.