cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dosimetric coverage of the external anal sphincter by 3-dimensional conformal fields in rectal cancer patients receiving neoadjuvant chemoradiation: implications for the concept of sphincter-preserving radiation therapy.

Background. We evaluated the anatomic location of the external anal sphincter (EAS) to pelvic bony landmarks related to 3-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3DRT) and studied the dosimetric coverage of the EAS in patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiation for rectal cancer. Methods. Sixty-four consecutive rectal cancer patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation were included. All patients were treated in a prone position on a bellyboard by 3DRT. The inferior border of the RT fields was at least 3–5 cm inferior to the gross tumorous volume (GTV) or at the inferior border of the obturator foramen (IBOF), whichever was more inferior. The EAS was contoured and dose distributions were determined using dose-volume histograms. Results. In 53 out of 64 cases (82.8%), the EAS was completely inferior to the IBOF. In the remaining 11 cases, the EAS was either overlapping the IBOF (10 cases; 15.6%) or completely superior to the IBOF (1 case; 1.7%). The average mean dose delivered to the EAS was 2795 cGy. Lower mean doses were delivered to the EAS when the center of the EAS was located more distant from the GTV. Conclusions. Meticulous planning to define the inferior border of the RT field is recommended to avoid irradiating the EAS.
From Resistance to Excitement: Becoming Qualitative Researchers and Reflective Practitioners

(1996). From Resistance to Excitement: Becoming Qualitative Researchers and Reflective Practitioners. Teaching Education: Vol. 8, No. 1, pp. 109-122.
Learning implicit resource relationships from past plans in multi-agent systems

This paper discusses storing and analyzing the hierarchical planning results in the past in order to identify implicit costs and resource relationships between activities in multi-agent contexts.
Establishing a theoretical basis for research in musculoskeletal epidemiology: a proposal for the use of biopsychosocial theory in investigations of back pain and smoking

Objective This article discusses the need for theoretical foundations in epidemiological research of musculoskeletal conditions and suggests the use of biopsychosocial theory when designing epidemiological studies. The association between smoking and back pain is used as an example.
Subnasal alveolar morphology and the systematic position of Sivapithecus

Recent collecting in the Potwar Plateau of Pakistan has produced several new maxillae attributable to Sivapithecus. Since the subnasal region is preserved in most of these specimens, comparisons with early Miocene hominoid and Pliocene hominid maxillae become possible. On the basis of these comparisons, it has become clear that subnasal/premaxillary morphology distinguishes Asian and African hominoids. Ramapithecus and Sivapithecus share with Pongo an "Asian" subnasal pattern. The Proconsul species from the early Miocene of western Kenya and Australopithecus afarensis from the Hadar Formation of Ethiopia present two subsets of an "African" subnasal pattern. We think it likely that Ramapithecus and Sivapithecus represent a lineage that postdates the last common ancestor of African and Asian hominoids.
Uncountable transfinite graphs and electrical networks

Up to now the theory of infinite and transfinite graphs and electrical networks has been established only for the case where the branch sets are countable. This work extends that prior theory to graphs and networks with uncountable branch sets, a structure that arises quite naturally in the theory of transfinite graphs. Moreover, conditions on the local structure of the transfinite graph are given which insure the countability of the branch set. Finally, it is shown that only countably many of the branches in an uncountable electrical network can have non-zero voltages and currents, and therefore the restriction to countability in the prior theory is not essentially restrictive.
Antepartum improvement of abnormal umbilical artery velocimetry: does it occur?

Absence of end-diastolic velocity on umbilical artery velocimetry suggests extreme elevation of placental vascular resistance and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcome. This study was undertaken to assess whether antepartum improvement of abnormal umbilical artery waveforms occurs. Thirty-one fetuses identified with absence of end-diastolic velocity between July 1985 and December 1987 at Women's Hospital underwent sequential umbilical artery velocimetry at 1- to 3-day intervals. The presence of end-diastolic velocity on subsequent scans was considered an improvement in waveforms. The mean diagnosis-to-delivery interval (20.5 ± 4 days), gestational age at delivery (32.5 ± 1.2 weeks), and birth weight (1440 ± 210 gm) were significantly higher in five fetuses that showed improvement in waveforms, compared with the 26 fetuses that did not show improvement in waveforms (9.5 ± 3.5 days, 29.5 ± 0.9 weeks, and 940 ± 70 gm, respectively). Ten perinatal deaths occurred, for a perinatal mortality rate of 32.3%. There was significant perinatal morbidity in the overall group as judged by intrauterine growth retardation, meconium, 5-minute Apgar scores
WAIS-R verbal-performance IQ discrepancies in persons with lateralized lesions: utility of a seven subtest short form.

Abstract WAIS-R Verbal-Performance IQ difference scores for Ward's (1990) seven subtest short form and the complete WAIS-R were examined in patients with lateralized and diffuse lesions. For both versions, the expected Performance > Verbal pattern was observed in the right hemisphere lesion group, while no summary score differences were seen in the left hemisphere group. Verbal-Performance IQ discrepancies for the short form fell within ± 5 points of the WAIS-R discrepancy scores in about 75%of the cases, regardless of lesion location. Statistically reliable IQ differences between the complete and abbreviated WAIS-R attained 66%, 91%, and 89% agreement for the left, right, and diffuse groups, respectively. The results support the clinical utility of the seven subtest short form.
Body Dysmorphic Disorder and Its Significance to Social Work

Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a relatively common and often severe psychiatric disorder in which an individual has an excessive preoccupation with an imagined or slight defect in his or her appearance (American Psychiatric Association in Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders. American Psychiatric Association, Washington, 2000). Despite its prevalence in the United States and worldwide, many health care and mental health professionals, including social workers, are unfamiliar with BDD. In fact, BDD is virtually absent from the social work literature and no authors or researchers have considered BDD from a social work perspective. The purpose of this article is to inform social workers about the seriousness, prevalence and treatment challenges of BDD, and to highlight its significance to social work practice and research. A clinical case presentation illustrates an example of how BDD may present in practice and the value of addressing it from a biopsychosocial perspective.
Inhibition of galactosamine cytotoxicity in an in vivo/in vitro hepatocellular toxicity model

Abstract A combined in vivo/in vitro model of galactosamine hepatotoxicity was employed to test whether previously reported cytoprotective actions of cystamine administration on galactosamine-induced hepatic injury in vivo could be attributed to a direct action of cystamine on toxicant-challenged hepatocytes. In this model, male Sprague-Dawley rats received a 400 mg/kg galactosamine challenge via intraperitoneal injection 1 hr prior to portal vein cannulation for hepatocyte isolation. Isolated cells are established in monolayer culture and galactosamine-induced cellular injury is then expressed over the ensuing 24–48 hr in culture. Consistent with the biochemical basis of galactosamine-induced hepatocellular injury in vivo , cytotoxicity could be prevented by in vitro uridine treatments within 3 hr of the in vivo galactosamine challenge, but not when added 12 hr later. Cystamine, in contrast, exhibited a cytoprotective effect even when added to cultures 12 hr after the in vivo toxicant challenge. Post-toxicant cytoprotection by cystamine in vitro was concentration dependent and did not produce an alteration of hepatocyte nonprotein sulfhydryl content. Post-toxicant cytoprotection by uridine and cystamine in this in vivo/in vitro model of toxicity were fully consistent with in vivo protection from galactosamine-induced necrosis by these agents. This model eliminates potential “extrahepatic” mechanisms for cystamine's hepatoprotective effect and demonstrates a direct cytoprotective action on galactosamine-challenged hepatocytes.
Some parametric studies in water desalination by reverse osmosis using porous cellulose acetate membranes

Abstract A Loeb-Sourirajan type porous cellulose acetate membrane can be specified for reverse osmosis desalination in terms of the pure water permeability constant A , and the solute transport parameter ( D AM / k δ) at a given operating pressure. A reverse osmosis system for water desalination can be specified in terms of three dimensionless quantities γ, θ, and λ defined in terms of the properties of the solution, specifications of the membrane and the operating conditions of the experiment. For a system so specified, the general equations for reverse osmosis process design are summarized. The application of the above equations for parametric studies in water desalination is illustrated with a set of numerical calculations. The results indicate that operating pressures of about 150 atm. or more, and high mass transfer coefficients on the high pressure side of the membrane (corresponding to λ θ values of about 5), and least membrane compaction during continuous operation are the most favorable conditions for the economic desalination of sea water with the presently available Loeb-Sourirajan type porous cellulose acetate membranes.
A Study of How Classroom Dialogue Facilitates the Development of Geometric Spatial Concepts Related to Understanding the Cause of Moon Phases

Research indicates that student understanding is either confirmed or reformed when given opportunities to share what they know. This study was conducted to answer the research question: Will classroom dialogue facilitate students' understanding of lunar concepts related to geometric spatial visualisation? Ninety‐two middle school students engaged in classroom discussion about the two‐dimensional models of the Sun–Earth–Moon system they created at the end of an inquiry Moon unit. Their responses to selected questions of the Lunar Phases Concept Inventory were also analysed. Findings indicate that classroom discourse provides the optimal setting for students to deeply ponder their long‐held misconceptions and reconstruct their understanding regarding the cause of lunar phases.
Inadvertent transarterial insertion of atrial and ventricular defibrillator leads

Inadvertent placement of pacemaker and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) leads in the left ventricle (LV) is a rare but well-recognized complication of device implantation [1]. We report a case of inadvertent transarterial implantation of dual-chamber ICD leads; the ventricular lead positioned in the LV and the atrial lead positioned in the aortic root. The tip of the atrial lead migrated across the aortic wall and captured the epicardial surface of the left atrium. The diagnosis was made 5 years after the implantation procedure with no apparent adverse events directly related to left heart lead placement.
Lower esophageal web.

Abstract A new entity causing lower esophageal obstruction, called “lower esophageal web,” has been described. Insufficient data regarding its true nature and pathology exist at this time. Similar x-ray findings may occur in (1) lower esophageal web, (2) short stricture or (3) “contractile esophageal ring” or “lower esophageal ring.” Endoscopy does not always confirm the differential diagnosis. Severely symptomatic cases deserve exploratory operation and surgical correction.
Basal cell adenocarcinoma of the salivary glands: Report of seven cases and review of the literature

BACKGROUND Basal cell adenocarcinoma (BCAC) is a rare, recently described salivary gland tumor. The authors report the clinicopathologic features of 7 new cases and compare the results with 65 additional cases in the English literature to comprehend its natural history. METHODS Seven cases were retrieved from the surgical pathology files at Presbyterian University Hospital and the Eye and Ear Institute Pavilion in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The cases were accumulated between the years 1985 and 1995. Of these, five were outside consultations. RESULTS The 6 women and 1 man ranged in age from 46 to 74 years and presented primarily with a slowly enlarging asymptomatic mass of either the parotid (6 cases) or submandibular gland (1 case). None had facial nerve paresis or cervical lymphadenopathy. Three tumors arose from preexisting basal cell adenomas. Two patients experienced local recurrences and one had distant metastasis. However, all the patients were alive and without known disease at last follow-up (average 30 months). CONCLUSIONS Combining the current series with 65 additional cases in the literature indicated that BCAC is a low grade malignant tumor that occurs primarily in the parotid gland (89% of all cases) of older individuals (median 60 years) without gender predilection. Most arise de novo (77%), but occasionally some arise from preexisting basal cell adenomas (23%). Although local recurrences are common (37%), regional lymph node and distant metastasis are rare (8% and 4%, respectively). Local excision with tumor free margins is the treatment of choice. Cancer 1996; 78:2471-7.
Teaching the teachers: a model course for psychodynamic psychotherapy supervisors.

Objective There are no standard training programs for teaching psychotherapy supervisors effective, ethical, and legal aspects of supervision. This article describes an eight session training course containing essential information for supervisors.
Magnetohydrodynamic pressurization of liquid metal bearings

Abstract The concept of the magnetohydrodynamic bearing is introduced and two types of bearings are analyzed. First a hydrostatic thrust bearing with an axial current induced pinch is considered. It is shown that the load capacity can be increased and with no flow or external pressurization a load can be sustained because of the “pinch” effect. However, the magnitude of this pressurization is very small for physically practical values of current. The second bearing considered is the infinite inclined slider with an applied magnetic field parallel to the bearing surface and perpendicular to the direction of motion of the slider. For this type of bearing the pressure distribution, load capacity, and electrical characteristics are calculated and it is shown that useful electromagnetic pressurization can be obtained with reasonable values of magnetic field strength and current.
1,2‐Bis(hydroxymethyl)benzene

[612-14-6] C8H10O2 (MW 138.17) InChI = 1S/C8H10O2/c9-5-7-3-1-2-4-8(7)6-10/h1-4,9-10H,5-6H2 InChIKey = XMUZQOKACOLCSS-UHFFFAOYSA-N (reagent for the protection of carbonyl groups as benzodioxepin acetals) Alternate Name: 1,2-benzenedimethanol. Physical Data: mp 64–65 °C. Solubility: sol most organic solvents. Preparative Methods: commercially available.
Techniques for computer science teachers

This paper lists the skills needed to teach computer science effectively in a university environment. Practical guidance on what constitutes good instruction and creative teaching is given. Included are ideas on stating the prerequisite and objective of the course; organizing your course; making your own transparencies; tackling preliminary arrangements; using the chalkboard and overhead projector; delivering the presentation; testing; and knowing and helping your students.
Against Grammatical Computation of Scalar Implicatures

Recently, several authors have argued that Gricean theories of scalar implicature computation are inadequate, and, as an alternative, one author has proposed a grammatical system for computing scalar implicatures. The present paper provides arguments, counter to the'claims of these authors, that Gricean reasoning can account for the implicatures of certain complex sentences and does not generate undesirable implicatures for others. Moreover, it is shown that a putative advantage of grammatical scalar implicature computation, that it informs a theory of intervention in negative polarity item licensing, is spurious. These arguments, plus general conceptual advantages of Gricean theory, lead to the conclusion that scalar implicature computation is not carried out in the grammar.
Data acquisition systems for control applications

The features of data acquisition systems are discussed. The advantages of modularity are stressed with particular reference to the interface concept. Basic system elements are described. Operations on data which can be carried out within the acquisition system are mentioned briefly.
Optical Computing At Dupont

ABSTRACT Optical computing is one of several emerging technologies in which DuPont is risking investment in the effort to establish a leadership position inthe electronic imaging business. The decision to pursue optical computingresulted from an earlier decision to establish a parallel computing expertise asthe chief building block of this new business. This paper describes the initial plans for the optics related aspects of DuPont's parallel processing venture. 1. INTRODUCTION The performance capability of parallel computers is directly related to thedegree of communications between the processing elements, much as the success of a team of people working on a common problem is dependent on how well they share information with one another. The system ofinterconnections by which the processing elements can share information among themselves is one of the most important characteristics of any parallel computer, and unless the interconnections can handle data rates promised by photonics technology, these parallel machines will be severely handicapped bytheir inability to pass enough information amongst the processing elements.Just as photonics is becoming the technology of the future fortelecommunications, it will also impact communications within computers,especially for these parallel systems. Not only do light waves have a muchhigher information capacity than electrical wires, but optical beams can pass
Finding Fault in Motorcycle Crashes in Hawaii: Environmental, Temporal, Spatial, and Human Factors

Patterns of fault among drivers and motorcycle riders involved in collisions in Hawaii are examined. Personal and behavioral characteristics of drivers and riders involved in crashes are described, then temporal, roadway, and environmental factors associated with crashes between motorcycles and other motor vehicles are discussed. An argument is made that focusing on fault provides a strategic starting point for educational and traffic enforcement programs for drivers and motorcycle riders alike. A fault model is built by using logistic regression to predict the odds of fault for motorcyclists and vehicles involved in crashes. The spatial distribution of at-fault motorcyclists and drivers is mapped to determine if there are distinct spatial patterns for enforcement and educational efforts. The implications for motorcycle safety, driver education, law enforcement, and traffic safety research are discussed.
Energy and Pattern in Teaching-Learning:

The following column explores the use of literature and the visual arts in the teaching-learning process. The use of narrative and art can be an energizing, imaginative, and productive way of coming to know new truths.
Effects of atmospheric ammonia on albumen height and pH of fresh broiler breeder eggs

Two experiments were conducted to study the stimulatory effect of atmospheric ammonia on albumen liquefaction. Albumen height and pH were measured in fresh eggs after 1 h of exposure to 0, 142, 294, 592, 2,747, or 6,052 mg/kg ammonia vapor. In Experiment 1, eggs exposed to ammonia concentrations of 2,747 and 6,052 mg/kg exhibited a significantly reduced albumen height compared with all other treatments. The 2,747 and 6,052 mg/kg treatments produced a significantly higher albumen pH compared with the 0, 142, and 294 mg/kg ammonia treatments. In Experiment 2, eggs exposed to ammonia concentrations of 2,747 and 6,052 mg/kg had a significantly reduced albumen height compared with eggs exposed to ammonia concentrations of 0, 142, and 592 mg/kg. Albumen pH was significantly higher at the 2,747 and 6,052 mg/kg concentrations of ammonia compared with the control. The linear regression for the effects of ammonia on albumen height and pH were highly significant in both experiments. The effect on yolk pH was inconsistent. The results suggest that the presence of atmospheric ammonia contributes to albumen liquefaction.
IL-17 Production Is Dominated by γδ T Cells rather than CD4 T Cells during Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection

IL-17 is a cytokine produced by T cells in response to IL-23. Recent data support a new subset of CD4 Th cells distinct from Th1 or Th2 cells that produce IL-17 and may contribute to inflammation. In this study, we demonstrate that, in naive mice, as well as during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, IL-17 production is primarily from γδ T cells and other non-CD4 + CD8 + cells, rather than CD4 T cells. The production of IL-17 by these cells is stimulated by IL-23 alone, and strongly induced by the cytokines, including IL-23, produced by M. tuberculosis -infected dendritic cells. IL-23 is present in the lungs early in infection and the IL-17-producing cells, such as γδ T cells, may represent a central innate protective response to pulmonary infection.
Cognitive Foundations of Arithmetic: Evolution and Ontogenisis

Dehaene (this volume) articulates a naturalistic approach to the cognitive foundations of mathematics. Further, he argues that the 'number line' (analog magnitude) system of representation is the evolutionary and ontogenetic foundation of numerical concepts. Here I endorse Dehaene's naturalistic stance and also his charac- terization of analog magnitude number representations. Although analog magnitude representations are part of the evolutionary foundations of numerical concepts, I argue that they are unlikely to be part of the ontogenetic foundations of the capacity to represent natural number. Rather, the developmental source of explicit integer list representations of number are more likely to be systems such as the object-file representations that articulate mid-level object based attention, systems that build parallel representations of small sets of individuals.
Structural Determinants of Potassium Channel Blockade and Drug-Induced Arrhythmias

Cardiac K+ channels play an important role in the regulation of the shape and duration of the action potential. They have been recognized as targets for the actions of neurotransmitters, hormones, and anti-arrhythmic drugs that prolong the action potential duration (APD) and increase refractoriness. However, pharmacological therapy, often for the purpose of treating syndromes unrelated to cardiac disease, can also increase the vulnerability of some patients to life-threatening rhythm disturbances. This may be due to an underlying propensity stemming from inherited mutations or polymorphisms, or structural abnormalities that provide a substrate allowing for the initiation of arrhythmic triggers. A number of pharmacological agents that have proved useful in the treatment of allergic reactions, gastrointestinal disorders, and psychotic disorders, among others, have been shown to reduce repolarizing K+ currents and prolong the Q-T interval on the electrocardiogram. Understanding the structural determinants of K+ channel blockade might provide new insights into the mechanism and rate-dependent effects of drugs on cellular physiology. Drug-induced disruption of cellular repolarization underlies electrocardiographic abnormalities that are diagnostic indicators of arrhythmia susceptibility.
Connecting plant–microbial interactions above and belowground: a fungal endophyte affects decomposition

Mutualisms can strongly affect the structure of communities, but their influence on ecosystem processes is not well resolved. Here we show that a plant-microbial mutualism affects the rate of leaf litter decomposition using the widespread interaction between tall fescue grass (Lolium arundinaceum) and the fungal endophyte Neotyphodium coenophialum. In grasses, fungal endophytes live symbiotically in the aboveground tissues, where the fungi gain protection and nutrients from their host and often protect host plants from biotic and abiotic stress. In a field experiment, decomposition rate depended on a complex interaction between the litter source (collected from endophyte-infected or endophyte-free plots), the decomposition microenvironment (endophyte-infected or endophyte-free plots), and the presence of mesoinvertebrates (manipulated by the mesh size of litter bags). Over all treatments, decomposition was slower for endophyte-infected fescue litter than for endophyte-free litter. When mesoinvertebrates were excluded using fine mesh and litter was placed in a microenvironment with the endophyte, the difference between endophyte-infected and endophyte-free litter was strongest. In the presence of mesoinvertebrates, endophyte-infected litter decomposed faster in microenvironments with the endophyte than in microenvironments lacking the endophyte, suggesting that plots differ in the detritivore assemblage. Indeed, the presence of the endophyte in plots shifted the composition of Collembola, with more Hypogastruridae in the presence of the endophyte and more Isotomidae in endophyte-free plots. In a separate outdoor pot experiment, we did not find strong effects of the litter source or the soil microbial/microinvertebrate community on decomposition, which may reflect differences between pot and field conditions or other differences in methodology. Our work is among the first to demonstrate an effect of plant-endophyte mutualisms on ecosystem processes under field conditions.
Substance abuse at the time of left ventricular assist device implantation is associated with increased mortality

Background Advanced heart failure teams are often faced with the decision of whether or not to offer a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to patients who have end-stage heart failure and recent or ongoing substance abuse. The outcomes of these patients after LVAD implantation are unknown. Methods Baseline predictors and outcomes were collected and analyzed from patients with active substance abuse and a cohort of patients without active substance abuse matched for age, INTERMACS profile and year of implantation. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Secondary outcomes included rates of listing for cardiac transplantation, transplantation and chronic drive-line infection. Results The cohort consisted of 20 consecutive LVAD recipients with active substance abuse and 40 recipients without active substance abuse. During a median follow-up period of 2.3 years (IQR 1.4 to 3.6), the substance abuse group had 3.2 times the rate (hazard) of death compared with a matched cohort (HR 3.2, 95% CI 1.2 to 8.0, p p p p Conclusions Active substance abuse in patients who received an LVAD was associated with increased mortality and overall poor outcomes. Larger scale data will be needed to confirm these findings and to inform decision-making in this population.
The Prolactin Response to Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone Does not Distinguish Teenaged Males with Hypogonadotropic Hypogonadism from Those with Constitutional Delay of Growth and Development*

We attempted to confirm the results of a previous study in which patients with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) could be readily distinguished from normal adolescents with constitutional delay of growth and development (CDGD) by their lower serum PRL responses to TRH. We compared the PRL responses to TRH of 13 teenaged males with HH to those of 14 teenaged males with CDGD. Although the mean maximum serum PRL concentration after TRH in HH patients (29.5 ng/ml) was significantly less (P < 0.05) than that in the CDGD subjects (41.1 ng/ml), there was considerable overlap between the 2 groups. Seven of the 13 HH patients had peak serum PRL concentrations in response to TRH that were greater than 25 ng/ml, the lowest value in the CDGD subjects. These results suggest that a normal PRL response to TRH in a male who has delayed puberty does not exclude the diagnosis of HH, but that a subnormal response probably does support that diagnosis.
The motion of test particles and cosmological interpretations: the role of MOND1

Throughout history, observations of the motions of objects in the Universe have provided the foundation for various cosmological models. In many cases, the invoked causes of the observed motion app...
E-space preservation.

Abstract Objective: To determine the relationship of E-space preservation with lingual holding arches to mandibular permanent second molar impaction. Methods: Two hundred consecutively treated patients undergoing nonextraction treatment for incisor crowding were entered into the study. Lower incisor crowding was assessed by the Little Irregularity Index. Treatment involved E-space preservation via a passive lingual arch placed prior to exfoliation of the second primary molar. Panoramic and cephalometric radiographs were analyzed for any significant relationship of mandibular permanent second molar impaction relative to molar angulation, spacing, growth pattern, and skeletal relationships. Results: Twenty-nine patients had at least one impacted second molar (14.5%). Of a possible 400 mandibular second molars, 34 were determined to be impacted (8.5%). Only the mandibular first molar–second molar angulation was found to be significant (P < .001). Pretreatment intermolar angulation of 24 degrees had a positiv...
Effect of Activating and Inactivating Mutations on the Phosphorylation and Trafficking of the Human Lutropin/Choriogonadotropin Receptor

The effects of several mutations of the human LH receptor (hLHR) on the phosphorylation, internalization, and turnover of the cell surface receptor were examined. Three gain-of-function mutations associated with Leydig cell hyperplasia (L457R and D578Y) and one associated with Leydig cell adenomas (D578H), one signaling-impaired mutation associated with Leydig cell hypoplasia (I625K), and two laboratory designed signaling-impaired mutations (D405N and Y546F) were used. The signaling-impaired mutations showed a reduction in human CG (hCG)-induced receptor phosphorylation and internalization. Mutation of the phosphorylation sites of these loss-of-function mutants had little or no additional effect on internalization. Cotransfection with G protein-coupled receptor kinase-2 (GRK2) rescued the hCG-induced phosphorylation and internalization of the signaling-impaired mutations but only if the phosphorylation sites were intact. Overexpression of arrestin-3 rescued the rate of internalization regardless of whether or not the phosphorylation sites were intact. Only two of the three constitutively active mutants displayed an increase in basal phosphorylation. Although they all failed to respond to hCG with increased receptor phosphorylation, they all internalized hCG faster than wild-type hLHR (hLHR-wt). Mutation of the phosphorylation sites of these constitutively active mutants lengthened the half-time of internalization of hCG toward that of hLHR-wt. Overexpression of arrestin-3 had little or no effect on the already short half-time of internalization of hCG mediated by these mutants. The data obtained with the signaling-impaired and phosphorylation-deficient mutants of the hLHR support a model whereby receptor phosphorylation and activation play a redundant role in the internalization of hCG. The results obtained with the constitutively active mutants suggest that, when occupied by hCG, these mutants assume a conformation that bypasses many of the steps (i.e. activation, phosphorylation, and/or arrestin binding) involved in internalization.
The Volcanic-Plutonic Connection

One way to frame the debate about the relationships between volcanic and plutonic rocks is this: are plutons samples of magma that passed through the crust, or residues left behind by extraction of erupted liquids? In the former case plutons are compositionally equivalent to cogenetic volcanic rocks, barring biases introduced by passing through the crustal filter; in the latter they are cumulates, having lost liquid to eruption. These hypotheses make specific predictions about trace-element variations, which we test using global geochemical databases for circum-Pacific convergent margins and western North America. Volcanic rocks are far more abundant in these datasets than plutonic rocks and are biased to more mafic compositions. After subsampling the volcanic dataset to match the plutonic dataset, we find little evidence for significant loss of liquid from plutons. Rather, plutonic and volcanic trace-element patterns are generally indistinguishable. Where distinctions do occur, they are backwards; for example, a higher proportion of plutonic rocks has low Eu, Zr, and Ba, features of fractionated liquids, than volcanic rocks. These observations support the hypothesis that liquids fractionated from crystal-rich magmas are of small volume and are relatively immobile (e.g., aplites). These conclusions, derived from bulk-rock geochemistry, are supported by U-Pb zircon geochronology and field and textural observation. These data support the view that plutonic rocks are texturally modified samples of the same magmas that erupt. Partial melting provides an alternative to crystal fractionation for the origin of high-silica volcanic rocks.
Experimental Demonstration of a 1.5 ps Switching Window for High Speed Optical Networks Using an Active Mach-Zehnder Optical Switch

We evaluate the temporal switching characteristics of an all-optical switch based upon a forward-pumped symmetric Mach-Zehnder interferometer using SOAs. We demonstrate a 1.5 ps switching window using 350 fs control and data pulses at 1.55 ?m. The control pulse energy required at the input of the switch is only 200 fj. This device can be used as an all-optical demultiplexer for lightwave networks or as an ultrafast optical sampling gate.
Three-dimensional spectroscopy of vibrational energy in liquids: Nitromethane and acetonitrile

We introduce a novel type of three-dimensional (3D) spectroscopy to study vibrational energy transfer, where an IR pulse tunable through the CH-stretching and CD-stretching regions was used to create parent vibrational excitations in liquids and a visible probe pulse was used to generate both Stokes and anti-Stokes Raman spectra as a function of delay time. The Raman spectra determine how much vibrational excitation was present in each probed state. The three dimensions are the wavenumber of the pumped state, the wavenumber of the probed state, and the time interval. The technique was used to study nitromethane (NM) and acetonitrile (ACN) and their deuterated analogues at ambient temperature. The 3D spectra were quite complicated. Three types of artifacts due to nonlinear light scattering were observed. Along the diagonal were two fundamental CH-stretch (or CD-stretch) transitions and several weaker combination bands or overtone transitions. Because Raman spectroscopy allows us to simultaneously probe a w...
An NDVI analysis of vegetation trends in an Andean watershed

We performed a Landsat 5-TM derived normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) analysis in a semi-arid watershed (2700 km2) in the Andes of southern Peru from 1985 to 2010. There, pastoralists rely on wetlands (bofedales) particularly during dry season months and in drought. We calculated annual dry season NDVI for 20 of the 26 years from 1985 to 2010 and used the mean to delineate wetlands in the watershed. To investigate the trends in NDVI, a multiple regression model with the covariates precipitation, temperature, Julian day, and year of image acquisition was performed on each cell (three million individual regressions). Results indicate there is a modest increase in NDVI for the majority of cells (81 %) in the watershed. Approximately 30 % of wetland areas display a decrease in NDVI. Dry season NDVI is moderately correlated with wet season precipitation (R 2 = 0.56, p < 0.05) but absent a trend in precipitation, NDVI trends are not explained by this variable. Changes in land management may result in more intensive use of wetlands, causing the decreasing vegetation trends in some locations.
Active Learning Strategies and Instructor Presence in An Online Research Methods Course: Can we Decrease Anxiety and Enhance Knowledge?

Research methods courses elicit more anxiety than usual for graduate social work students, and the online environment may pose an even greater challenge as the personal interaction between instructor and student is reduced or absent. It is therefore incumbent on research instructors to creatively engage students, reduce anxiety, and foster learning. There is a dearth of evidence, particularly regarding online education, explicating specific teaching strategies. This exploratory study sought to provide some answers. First-semester MSW students were invited to participate in a voluntary, anonymous, online survey at the end of a research methods course to determine which online teaching strategies were most effective in decreasing anxiety and increasing perception of knowledge. Strategies used in the class include asynchronous activities such as discussion questions, PowerPoint lectures, and email and telephone contact with instructors in addition to synchronous class sessions. Three tactics were rated by the 43 respondents as being most helpful for both decreasing anxiety and enhancing the perception of knowledge: personal contact with the instructor either via email, phone, and/or online meetings; the instructor’s synchronous class sessions; and active learning strategies employed during the synchronous class sessions. Implications for teaching and future research are discussed.
The correlation of chemical, electrical, and mechanical changes in Cavalite®T during thermal aging in an oil filled transformer environment

The chemical changes in Cavalite®T during thermal aging in an oil filled environment have recently been determined. Cavalite®T is a new water based acrylic wire enamel designed for use in transformers. The chemical reactions proposed and the resultant changes in electrical and mechanical behavior can be expected for other acrylonitrile based acrylic polymers although the degree will vary.
AVP-induced activation of MAP kinase in vascular smooth muscle cells is mediated through protein kinase C

Arginine vasopressin (AVP) has been shown to stimulate tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of p42 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase (p42MAPK) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). In VSMC, AVP increases free intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and activates protein kinase C (PKC) through activation of phospholipase C. The contribution of PKC and [Ca2+]i in p42MAPK regulation was therefore determined. Activation of PKC by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) stimulated tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of p42MAPK to the same extent as AVP. Inhibition of PKC by staurosporine or downregulation of PKC by PMA pretreatment abolished AVP-induced stimulation of p42MAPK. When [Ca2+]i was elevated to the same level as with AVP, using either ionomycin (0.1 microM) or thapsigargin (0.1 microM), MAP kinase was only partially activated. Elevation of [Ca2+]i to supraphysiological levels by 1 microM ionomycin stimulated MAP kinase activity to the same extent as AVP. This effect was blocked by downregulation of PKC. The intracellular Ca2+ chelator BAPTA [1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid] blocked AVP-induced [Ca2+]i increase but did not affect AVP stimulation of p42MAPK. Thus AVP-induced activation of p42MAPK requires only the activation of PKC but not an increase in [Ca2+]i.
Bacterial Chemoreceptor Dynamics: Helical Stability in the Cytoplasmic Domain Varies with Functional Segment and Adaptational Modification

Dynamics are thought to be important features of structure and signaling in the cytoplasmic domain of bacterial chemoreceptors. However, little is known about which structural features are dynamic. For this largely helical domain, comprising a four-helix bundle and an extended four-helix coiled coil, functionally important structural dynamics likely involves helical mobility and stability. To investigate, we used continuous wave EPR spectroscopy and site-specific spin labels that directly probed, in essentially physiological conditions, the mobility of helical backbones in the cytoplasmic domain of intact chemoreceptor Tar homodimers inserted into lipid bilayers of Nanodiscs. We observed differences among functional regions, between companion helices in helical hairpins of the coiled coil and between receptor conformational states generated by adaptational modification. Increased adaptational modification decreased helical dynamics while preserving dynamics differences among functional regions and between companion helices. In contrast, receptor ligand occupancy did not have a discernable effect on dynamics to which our approach was sensitive, implying that the two sensory inputs alter different chemoreceptor features. Spectral fitting indicated that differences in helical dynamics we observed for ensemble spin-label mobility reflected differences in proportions of a minority receptor population in which the otherwise helical backbone was essentially disordered. We suggest that our measurements provided site-specific snapshots of equilibria between a majority state of well-ordered helix and a minority state of locally disordered polypeptide backbone. Thus, the proportion of polypeptide chain that is locally and presumably transiently disordered is a structural feature of cytoplasmic domain dynamics that varies with functional region and modification-induced signaling state.
Induction of Malignant Transformation in Hamster Fetal Cells (HFC) by Diverse Environmental Carcinogens

Toxicity of environmental agents, more specifically cancer risk, is important for estimating the human health risk associated with exposure to substances present in foods, drugs, consumer products and industrial environments. Epidemiologic studies as summarized by the IACR incriminate 23 chemicals as human carcinogens (1). These studies correlate with long term animal carcinogenesis studies. For several chemicals, aflatoxin B1, 4-aminobiphenyl, bis(chloromethyl) ether, diethylstilbesterol, mustard gas, and vinyl chloride, animal studies predated epidemiologic evidence. Concentration and duration of exposure are important for estimating the effect of chemicals on humans. Results of animal studies indicate that protracted exposure to a weak carcinogen may be just as deleterious as a pulse exposure to a potent carcinogen, factors that must be evaluated in making regulatory decision based on predictive tests.
Proportional Reasoning and Percent

Schoenfeld (1992) notes that constructivism rooted in Piaget is grounded in the belief that “…learning proceeds through construction not absorption” (p. 340). He surmises that teacher beliefs directly influence their pedagogy, he notes a teacher who believed that, “…mathematics is fixed and predetermined, as dictated by the physical world” (p. 349) would not tend to focus on the process of learning and construction of knowledge but rather regard math as, “…a finished product to be assimilated.”
Affinity Purification of Proteins in Tag-Free Form: Split Intein-Mediated Ultrarapid Purification (SIRP)

Proteins purified using affinity-based chromatography often exploit a recombinant affinity tag. Existing methods for the removal of the extraneous tag, needed for many applications, suffer from poor efficiency and/or high cost. Here we describe a simple, efficient, and potentially low-cost approach-split intein-mediated ultrarapid purification (SIRP)-for both the purification of the desired tagged protein from Escherichia coli lysate and removal of the tag in less than 1 h. The N- and C-fragment of a self-cleaving variant of a naturally split DnaE intein from Nostoc punctiforme are genetically fused to the N-terminus of an affinity tag and a protein of interest (POI), respectively. The N-intein/affinity tag is used to functionalize an affinity resin. The high affinity between the N- and C-fragment of DnaE intein enables the POI to be purified from the lysate via affinity to the resin, and the intein-mediated C-terminal cleavage reaction causes tagless POI to be released into the flow-through. The intein cleavage reaction is strongly inhibited by divalent ions (e.g., Zn2+) under non-reducing conditions and is significantly enhanced by reducing conditions. The POI is cleaved efficiently regardless of the identity of the N-terminal amino acid except in the cases of threonine and proline, and the N-intein-functionalized affinity resin can be regenerated for multiple cycles of use.
A Bayesian network for outbreak detection and prediction

Health care officials are increasingly concerned with knowing early whether an outbreak of a particular disease is unfolding. We often have daily counts of some variable that are indicative of the number of individuals in a given community becoming sick each day with a particular disease. By monitoring these daily counts we can possibly detect an outbreak in an early stage. A number of classical time-series methods have been applied to outbreak detection based on monitoring daily counts of some variables. These classical methods only give us an alert as to whether there may be an outbreak. They do not predict properties of the outbreak such as its size, duration, and how far we are into the outbreak. Knowing the probable values of these variables can help guide us to a cost-effective decision that maximizes expected utility. Bayesian networks have become one of the most prominent architectures for reasoning under uncertainty in artificial intelligence. We present an intelligent system, implemented using a Bayesian network, which not only detects an outbreak, but predicts its size and duration, and estimates how far we are into the outbreak. We show results of investigating the performance of the system using simulated outbreaks based on real outbreak data. These results indicate that the system shows promise of being able to predict properties of an outbreak.
UHF class-4 active two-way RFID tag for a hybrid RFID-based system

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) is a promising technology that has experienced tremendous growth by revolutionizing a variety of industry sectors and applications. Despite its wide use, the ability to track an object when the tag goes out of tracking/read range has been a major drawback. This paper proposes a novel class-4 active two-way (C4-ATW) RFID tag to maximize/increase the tracking range by using a tag hopping technique. The tag hopping technique enables C4-ATW RFID tags to power their own communication with other C4-ATW or passive RFID tags to maximize the read range while the reader's functionality remains unchanged. Simulation results using 90 nm 1P9M CMOS process parameters indicate that a C4-ATW RFID tag can operate at a minimum input power of −20 dBm at a 120 kbps data rate; the achieved read range between reader to tag is 36.7 m at 4 W reader power, and tag-to-tag is 2.2 m at 25 mW of tag power. Combined, the analog front end and baseband controller consume 50.3 mW of power and the area of the chip, including pads, is 854 µm × 542 µm.