cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Heat-shock response in germinating pine pollen.

The in vitro culture of pine pollen at various temperatures reveals only a moderate degree of thermotolerance, with considerably reduced levels of growth at and above 35° C. Unlike the pollen of many previously studied species, pine pollen shows some ability to recover from short periods of growth at temperatures as high as 40° C, especially when such exposures occur during the early stages of pollen germination. The pollen of Pinus taeda, unlike that of most other species, shows both quantitative and qualitative changes in the proteins synthesized during germination in vitro following a switch to elevated temperatures (37° C). This response, which can be elicited both during the very early stages of germination as well as during the later stages of pollen tube growth, is reversible following a shift back to the lower temperatures. As previously shown with vegetative tissue of other plant species, the heat-shock response not only involves the induction of high-molecular-weight proteins (most notably 82 kDa and 70 kDa proteins), but also a number of low-molecular-weight (10–20 kDa) species. Two-dimensional gel electrophoretic analysis reveals a small number of qualitative differences in the types of low-molecular-weight heat-shock proteins synthesized in pollen versus vegetative tissue.
Cysteine-rich module structure reveals a fulcrum for integrin rearrangement upon activation.

Cysteine-rich repeats in the integrin β subunit stalk region relay activation signals to the ligand-binding headpiece. The NMR solution structure and disulfide bond connectivity of Cys-rich module-3 of the integrin β2 subunit reveal a nosecone-shaped variant of the EGF fold, termed an integrin-EGF (I-EGF) domain. Interdomain contacts between I-EGF domains 2 and 3 observed by NMR support a model in which the modules are related by an approximate two-fold screw axis in an extended arrangement. Our findings complement a 3.1 A crystal structure of the extracellular portion of integrin αVβ3, which lacks an atomic model for I-EGF2 and a portion of I-EGF3. The disulfide connectivity of I-EGF3 chemically assigned here differs from the pairings suggested in the αVβ3 structure. Epitopes that become exposed upon integrin activation and residues that restrain activation are defined in β2 I-EGF domains 2 and 3. Superposition on the αVβ3 structure reveals that they are buried. This observation suggests that the highly bent αVβ3 structure represents the inactive conformation and that release of contacts with I-EGF modules 2 and 3 triggers a switchblade-like opening motion extending the integrin into its active conformation.
Staphylococcus Aureus Protein A Immunoadsorption: The Rationale for Systemic Protein A Immunotherapy

Summary: Staphylococcus aureus protein A (SPA) bound to affinity column matrixes has been used for extracorporeal immunoadsorption for the treatment of human autoimmune and neoplastic diseases. SPA is a bacterial immunoglobulin binding factor (IBF) that binds to the Fc region of antibody. The mechanism(s) of action of protein A immunoadsorption is not known. However, protein A immunoadsorption and systemic injection of SPA have demonstrated similar anti-neo6plastic and anti-retroviral responses in animals. Cellular Fc receptor (FcR) immunity and humoral IBF status are often abnormal in autoimmunity, cancer, and AIDS. The immunotherapeutic activity of protein A immunoadsorption may be produced by SPA leaching off columns and acting as a soluble FcR-like IBF, capable of influencing FcR dependent immunity. If this is the case then systemic SPA therapy may provide a simpler, safer, and more predicable mode of immunotherapy than immunoadsorption.
Information measures in nonlinear experimental design

Some different approaches to the problem of designing experiments which estimate the parameters of nonlinear models are discussed. The assumption in these approaches that the information in a set of data can be represented by a scalar is criticized, and the nonscalar discrimination information is proposed as the proper measure to use. The two-step decay example in Box and Lucas (1959) is used to illustrate the main points of the discussion.
The Retrospective Bias in Unemployment Reporting by Sex, Race and Age

Abstract This article examines differences in reported unemployment between a survey taken the week following the individuals' labor force experience and one conducted a year later on a retrospective basis. Using a limited number of annual observations, we find a relative understatement of unemployment in the retrospective survey for groups containing large proportions of women and youth. However, for certain other groups, namely central age males and older women, the retrospective method appears to overstate unemployment relative to the current reporting. To explain these findings we offer several hypotheses relating to the social roles of primary and secondary workers and the fact that the labor force member and the survey respondent are frequently not the same individual.
Automating the nexus of book selection, acquisitions and rapid copy cataloging☆

The authors describe their experience at the University of Washington Libraries automating monographic selection, acquisitions and rapid copy cataloging workflows through the use of a book vendor’s online selection and ordering database and OCLC’s PromptCat service. Benefits to selectors, acquisitions staff and copy cataloging staff are listed, and a checklist of issues to examine before beginning such a change is provided.
Improved Method for Determining the Stable-Hydrogen Isotopic Composition (δD) of Complex Organic Materials of Environmental Interest

Despite new and increasing applications in environmental studies, determinations of the stable-hydrogen isotope (δD) composition of complex organic substrates are hampered by laborious preparation ...
The orthodoxization of ritual practice in western Anatolia

In rural western Turkey, villagers have replaced male performances of davul (bass drum) and zurna (double-reed wind instrument) as well as men's dancing with mevluts, special prayer services, and they have replaced women's dances to taped or live electric harmonium music with sohbets, sermons. Villagers are motivated to transform “cultural practices” that appear “backward” from the perspective of state-based ideologies of cultural progress and that are considered sinful from the perspective of Islamists. I trace their quests for spiritual and secular salvation and how they relate to the construction of a modernist Islamic worldview.
Gingival inflammation assessed by histology, 3H-estrone metabolism and prostaglandin E2 levels.

Gingival samples were histologically evaluated and placed in two groups, 7 samples each. Group 1 was normal gingiva with no or very few inflammatory cells and group 2 was inflamed gingiva with moderately dense accumulation of inflammatory cells in isolated areas, and sparse distribution in other areas. One hundred to three hundred mg gingival tissue samples were separately homogenized in 7 ml of 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) and incubated with 1.51 X 10−4μM of 3H-estrone in the presence of NADPH at 37° for three hours. Organic solvent extracts of the homogenates were separated by silica gel thin layer chromatograpy and the radioactivity incorporated in estrone (E1) and estradiol-17 β (E2) zones was extracted with methanol and measured by liquid scintillation spectrometry. The rate of conversion of (E1) to (E2) in normal and inflamed gingiva was 4.4 and 8.3 X 10−7μM/g/min respectively. Prostaglandin E2 levels in 3 normal and 2 inflamed gingival samples were 37.8 and 448.7 pmole/g respectively. The significant increase in the biosynthesis of (E2) and PGE2 in inflamed as compared with normal gingiva could be a systemic factor in aggravating gingival inflammation due to the hyperemic effects of these hormones.
ARF Is Not Required for Apoptosis in Rb Mutant Mouse Embryos

The retinoblastoma (RB) tumor suppressor gene occupies central roles in cell cycle control and tumor suppression. Homozygous mutant (Rb(-/-)) embryos die at E13.5-E15.5, exhibiting extensive apoptosis and inappropriate S phase entry in the central and peripheral nervous systems, liver, and ocular lens. Mice simultaneously mutant for Rb and other genes can be generated to assess the requirement for these genes in cell cycle control and apoptosis. Using such analysis, E2f-1, E2f-3, p53, and Id2 have been identified as important regulators of cell cycle control and apoptosis in Rb(-/-) embryos. Because unrestrained E2F activity in the absence of Rb function contributes to p53-dependent apoptosis in many systems, we wished to identify genes linking deregulated E2F activity to p53 activation and subsequent apoptosis. As a transcriptional target of E2F-1, a regulator of p53, and an important mediator of apoptosis, ARF was a strong candidate for such a role, especially since it can be upregulated in the absence of Rb. From the analysis of Rb/ARF compound mutants we demonstrate that ARF is not an obligatory link between Rb inactivation and p53-dependent apoptosis.
Absorbing-boundary limit for Brownian motion: Demonstration for a model.

We consider one-dimensional diffusion with an absorbing boundary in the context of a model that retains the essential ``missing'' boundary condition feature that complicates the solution of the Fokker-Planck equation for this problem. The model solution is obtained and some of its features are briefly discussed but our primary purpose is to demonstrate a limiting process that transforms the solution of a related diffusion problem to that for the absorbing-boundary problem. This approach, which we refer to as the absorbing-boundary limit, consists of obtaining the solution for the infinite-space case with the physical space -\ensuremath{\infty}lxl\ensuremath{\infty} characterized by separate friction coefficients for x\ensuremath{\lessgtr}0. The solution obtained will be a function of these two quantities, ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{1}$ for xg0 and ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{2}$ for xl0, and in the limit ${\ensuremath{\beta}}_{2}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0 describes a process for which the Brownian particle diffuses to x=-\ensuremath{\infty} when it crosses the origin and does not return to xg0. The solution for xg0 is thus identical to that for the case where the origin is an absorbing ``boundary.'' This limiting process provides a new method for obtaining a solution to the Fokker-Planck equation with an absorbing-boundary condition and may lead to a result that is in closed form and more transparent than the eigenfunction expansions recently obtained by other means.
Electrooptic prepulse suppression for fusion laser systems

We report on an effective electrooptic prepulse suppression technique with particular applicability to fusion laser systems. Three optically timed Pockels cells in series have a contrast of 109. They are driven by a laser activated Si high voltage switch of 5 ps jitter and < 100 ps rise time. The resulting overall rise time of the three Pockels cells is 600 ps over the first 6 decades and 1.5 to 2 ns over 9 decades.
Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy Studies of the Interaction of Functionalized Siloxane Polymers with Porous Silica.

Abstract Adsorption behavior of the siloxane polymer, cyanopropylmethyl-phenyl-methyl-siloxane, in contact with a mesoporous silica has been investigated by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) using a series of physically modified materials with different coating levels up to 20 w/w%. The nitrile stretch bands, which are observed in the 2150–2350 cm 1 range, exhibited complex profiles due to a variety of interactions of the cyano groups within the polymer and with the surface silanols. These complex bands have been resolved into multiple components using a curve-fitting procedure. Three major spectral components have been found and assigned to the nitrile stretch in the bulk polymer, interfacial polymer, and polymer attached to surface silanols via hydrogen bonding. The latter spectral component is dominating for the samples with low coating levels. Its relative contribution decreased with the increasing amount of the polymer on the silica surface due to increasing contribution of the pure-polymer spectral component.
A signed directed graph-based systematic framework for steady-state malfunction diagnosis inside control loops

Although signed directed graphs (SDG) have been widely used for modeling control loops, due to lack of adequate understanding of SDG-based steady-state process modeling, special and cumbersome methods are used to analyze control loops. In this paper, we discuss a unified SDG model for control loops, in which both disturbances (sensor bias, etc.) as well as structural faults (sensor failure, controller failure, etc.) can be easily modeled under steady-state conditions. Various fault scenarios such as external disturbances, sensor bias, controller failure, etc. have been thoroughly analyzed. A new algorithm for steady-state fault diagnosis using the SDG model for the steady-state system, that uses a combination of forward- and backward-reasoning, is proposed. Three case studies are presented to show the utility of the steady-state SDG model for fault diagnosis. A tank-level control system is used as the first case study. The second case study deals with fault diagnosis of a multi-stream-controlled CSTR. The third case study deals with fault/failure diagnosis in a process flowsheet containing a CSTR with one control loop and a flash vaporizer with three control loops.
Autorepression of Epstein-Barr Virus Nuclear Antigen 1 Expression by Inhibition of Pre-mRNA Processing

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent infection, and its associated oncogenic potential, is dependent on genome maintenance functions of EBV nuclear antigen 1 (EBNA-1), one of six EBNAs expressed from a common promoter (Wp and then Cp) upon infection of naive B cells. Subsequent host-mediated silencing, however, necessitates the expression of EBNA-1 from the EBNA-1-specific promoter Qp to ensure against genome loss during cell division, including EBV-associated malignancy. Here we addressed the mechanism by which EBNA-1 represses Qp through binding downstream of the transcription start site and the role of this autoregulatory function in EBV latency. Our results revealed that EBNA-1 does not inhibit transcription from Qp, as previously predicted, but acts post- or cotranscriptionally to block the processing of primary transcripts. This does not, however, require the RGG motifs responsible for strong but nonspecific RNA binding by EBNA-1. Within isogenic B-cell lines using either Cp/Wp or Qp, EBNA-1 occupancy of Qp is equivalent, suggesting that autoregulation occurs, albeit to different degrees, during full and restricted EBV latency programs. Finally, in cell lines using Cp or Wp for EBNA expression, unprocessed transcripts from Qp are detectable in the absence of corresponding mRNAs, providing further evidence that this novel mechanism of EBNA-1 action functions during latency. This posttranscriptional mechanism of regulation would provide an efficient means to monitor and regulate EBNA-1 expression from Qp, ensuring levels adequate for genome maintenance but, perhaps more importantly, below an immunogenic threshold above which latently infected cells may be at risk for elimination by EBNA-1-specific cytotoxic T cells.
C–H activation and C–C coupling of 4-methylpyridine using palladium supported on nanoparticle alumina

Abstract The C–H activation and C–C coupling of 4-methyl pyridine to 4,4′-dimethyl-2,2′-bipyridine was studied over palladium catalysts supported on nanoparticle alumina [nano-Al 2 O 3 (+)]. Even though Pd/Al 2 O 3 catalysts are traditionally poor catalysts in this reaction, the Pd/nano-Al 2 O 3 (+) catalysts prepared via the precipitation method give the highest yield observed to date for this reaction system. The catalytic activity is very dependent on the catalyst preparation as Pd/nano-Al 2 O 3 (+) catalysts prepared via the wet impregnation method exhibit poor activities in the reaction. Additionally, a catalyst prepared using another nanoparticle alumina with larger particle sizes [nano-Al 2 O 3 (−)] does not have a significant activity. It was shown that using a commercial bimodal γ-Al 2 O 3 support can result in an active catalyst if prepared via the precipitation method, but compared to the best performing catalyst, Pd/nano-Al 2 O 3 (+), the yields obtained from Pd/bimodal-γ-Al 2 O 3 are lower and less reproducible. Pd surface area measurements indicate that the reaction is structure sensitive as there is no correlation between the Pd surface area and the catalytic activity. The reaction is also very sensitive to reactant quality and the 4-methyl pyridine must be distilled over KOH to ensure reproducible yields. Additional experiments indicate that this reaction requires a solid phase for catalysis.
Biliary events and an increased risk of new onset irritable bowel syndrome: a population-based cohort study.

Aliment Pharmacol Ther 28, 334–343 Summary Background Prospective data are lacking to determine if irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a risk factor for cholecystectomy, or if biliary disease and cholecystectomy predisposes to the development of IBS. Aim To test the hypothesis that IBS and biliary tract disease are associated. Methods Validated symptom surveys sent to cohorts of Olmsted County, MN, (1988–1994) with follow-up in 2003. Medical histories were reviewed to determine any ‘biliary events’ (defined by gallstones or cholecystectomy). Analyses examined were: (i) time to a biliary event post-initial survey and separately and (ii) risk of IBS (Rome II) in those with vs. without a prior biliary event. Results A total of 1908 eligible subjects were mailed a follow-up survey. For analysis (i) of the 726 without IBS at initial survey, 44 (6.1%) had biliary events during follow up, in contrast to 5 of 93 (5.4%) with IBS at initial survey (HR 0.8, 95% CI 0.3–2.1). For analysis (ii) of the 59 subjects with a biliary event at initial survey, 10 (17%) reported new IBS on the follow-up survey, while in 682 without a biliary event up to 1.5 years prior to the second survey, 58 (8.5%) reported IBS on follow-up (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.1–4.6, P = 0.03). Conclusion There is an increased risk of new IBS in community subjects who have been diagnosed as having a biliary event.
Is an observation period necessary after intravenous antibiotics are changed to oral administration

After a change is made from intravenous to oral antibiotics, patients are frequently observed in the hospital for 24 hours before discharge (1). This practice arises from concerns about intolerance to the oral antibiotic therapy, side effects, or worsening of the infection upon oral therapy. We believed that adverse events were infrequent during the 24 hours after the route of administration of an antibiotic is changed from intravenous to oral in hospitalized patients. We also postulated that the likelihood of identifying a therapeutic failure in such a short time would be low, even if there is inadequate absorption of the oral form of the antibiotic drug. Other studies have addressed the utility of inpatient observation of patients after cessation or change of antibiotics (2,3). A retrospective study by Caceres et al (4) found limited utility of observation after a change from intravenous to oral antibiotic therapy in 138 patients admitted with acute pyelonephritis. Another retrospective study (5) analyzed the validity of a 24-hour observation period after changing from intravenous to oral antibiotics in 144 low-risk patients with community-acquired pneumonia. They also concluded that this practice is of limited benefit. We conducted a prospective observational study at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center to determine the frequency of adverse events during the 24-hour period after antibiotic therapy is changed from intravenous to oral. Additionally, we attempted to identify risk factors that might predispose patients to adverse events and to estimate the annual cost of this practice at our institution.
A new approach for curing light activated oral biomaterials

Objectives To test the hypothesis that a blue light emitting diode (LED) light curing unit (LCU) can produce an equal dental composite depth of cure to a halogen LCU adjusted to give an irradiance of 300 mWcm–2 and to characterise the LCU's light outputs. Materials and methods Depth of cure for three popular composites was determined using a penetrometer. The Student's t test was used to analyse the depth of cure results. A power meter and a spectrometer measured the light output. Results The spectral distribution of the LCUs differed strongly. The irradiance for the LED and halogen LCUs were 290 mWcm–2 and 455 mWcm–2, when calculated from the scientific power meter measurements. The LED LCU cured all three dental composites to a significantly greater (P < 0.05) depth than the halogen LCU. Conclusions An LED LCU with an irradiance 64% of a halogen LCU achieved a significantly greater depth of cure. The LCU's spectral distribution of emitted light should be considered in addition to irradiance as a performance indicator. LED LCUs may have a potential for use in dental practice because their performance does not significantly reduce with time as do conventional halogen LCUs.
P01-298 Online victimization, depression and anxiety among adolescents in the us

In the mid-1990s, the Internet was lauded for its potential to usher in an electronic global village free of race, gender and other physical indicators of difference. Recent research has shown, however, that many of the social ills that exist offline are recreated online. Adolescents experience these social ills as cyberbullying, online harassment, exposure to unwanted sexual solicitation/material and online racial prejudice. Scholars have tried to measure these experiences with questionnaires, but a standardized measure is needed in the field. In this presentation, we discuss the development of a comprehensive measure of online victimization developed to assess the nature, frequency and stress associated with these experiences. The Online Victimization Scale was administered online to 280 high school students in the US. A principal axis factor analysis was performed. The analysis yielded five factors: general victimization, sexual victimization, vicarious and group discrimination, stress, and individual discrimination. The factors accounted for 61% of the variance. Using the five factors, we examined the associations between online victimization and psychological adjustment. Online victimization was related to depression and anxiety over and above related offline victimization and stress measures.
Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptom Structure in Injured Children: Functional Impairment and Depression Symptoms in a Confirmatory Factor Analysis

Objective To examine the factor structure of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in children and adolescents who have experienced an acute single-incident trauma, associations between PTSD symptom clusters and functional impairment, and the specificity of PTSD symptoms in relation to depression and general distress. Method Examined PTSD symptom structure in two samples of children (8 to 17 years of age) assessed an average of 6 months after unintentional injury: (1) a combined dataset of 479 children assessed with a PTSD symptom checklist, and (2) a sample of 204 children assessed via a standardized clinical interview. We evaluated the fit of six alternative models for the factor structure of PTSD symptoms, and the association of PTS symptom clusters with indicators of functional impairment. We then evaluated three models for the structure of PTSD and depression symptoms jointly, to examine specificity of PTSD versus general distress or mood symptoms. Results In both samples, the DSM-IV 3-factor model fit the data reasonably well. Two alternative four-factor models fit the data very well: one that separates effortful avoidance from emotional numbing, and one that separates PTSD-specific symptoms from general emotional distress. Effortful avoidance and dysphoria symptoms were most consistently associated with impairment. The best-fitting model for PTSD and depression symptom clusters had three factors: PTSD-specific, depression-specific, and general dysphoria symptoms. Conclusions The DSM-IV model for PTSD symptom categories was a reasonable fit for these child data, but several alternative models fit equally well or better, and suggest potential improvements to the current diagnostic criteria for PTSD in children.
Sensing Through The Wall Imaging Using the Army Research Lab Ultra-Wideband Synchronous Impulse Reconstruction (UWB SIRE) Radar

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL), as part of a mission and customer funded exploratory program, has developed a new low-frequency, ultra-wideband (UWB) synthetic aperture radar (SAR). The radar is capable of penetrating enclosed areas (buildings) and generating SAR imagery. This supports the U.S. Army's need for intelligence on the configuration, content, and human presence inside these enclosed areas. The radar system is mounted on a ground based vehicle traveling along the road and is configured with an array of antennas pointing toward the enclosed areas of interest. This paper will describe an experiment conducted recently at Aberdeen Proving Ground (APG), Maryland. In this paper we briefly describe the UWB SIRE radar and the test setup in the experiment. We will also describe the signal processing and the image techniques used to produce the SAR imagery. Finally, we will present SAR imagery of the building and its internal structure from different viewing directions.
A modified technique for collection of brush cytology from the pancreatic duct

Purpose: Pancreatic duct brush cytology (PDBC) performed at ERCP has been reported to have an accuracy from 35–80%, and has been limited by false negative diagnoses and non-diagnostic cytological results (i.e. atypical or indeterminate). Such limitations may reflect a technical inability to approach or traverse pancreatic duct strictures with currently available devices and obtain adequate tissue samples. To improve apposition with the target lesion, the filiform tip of the 0.021 inch CytoMax® brush (Wilson-Cook, Winston-Salem NC) was removed. Our experience with this modified brush is reported.
Identification of kinesin in sea urchin eggs, and evidence for its localization in the mitotic spindle.

To understand the molecular basis of microtubule-associated motility during mitosis1,2, the mechanochemical factors that generate the relevant motile force must be identified. Myosin, the ATPase that interacts with actin to produce the force for muscle contraction and other forms of cell motility3, is believed to be involved in cytokinesis but not in mitosis4–7. Dynein, the mechanochemical enzyme that drives microtubule sliding in eukaryotic cilia and flagella8,9, has been identified in the cytoplasm of sea urchin eggs10–19, but the evidence that it is involved in cytoplasmic microtubule-based motility (rather than serving as a precursor for embryonic cilia) is equivocal. Microtubule-associated ATPases have been prepared from other tissues (reviewed in ref. 12), but their role in cytoplasmic motility is also unknown. Recent work on axoplasmic transport, however, has led to the identification of a novel mechanochemical protein called kinesin20, which is thought to generate the force for moving vesicles along axonal microtubules20–27. These results suggest that kinesin may also be a mechanochemical factor for non-axoplasmic forms of microtubule-based motility, such as mitosis. We describe here the identification and isolation of a kinesin-like protein from the cytoplasm of sea urchin eggs. We present evidence that this protein is localized in the mitotic spindle, and propose that it may be a mechanochemical factor for some form of motility associated with the mitotic spindle.
Operation and test of hybridized silicon p-i-n arrays using open-source array control hardware and software

A system for controlling and testing high-resolution non-destructive astronomical imagers was constructed using open-source components, both hardware and software. The open-source electronics design, originated by Carnegie Observatories (OCIW) for CCD cameras, was modified, assembled, and augmented with new circuitry which facilitates monitoring of voltages and currents. The electronics was run from Python user interface software based on a design from the University of Rochester. This new software utilized the Numarray and pyFITS modules developed at the Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI). Interfacing to the "dv" FITS image analysis package from the NASA IRTF was also implemented. Python (the STScI language of choice) was used as the primary language for systems integration, scripts for data acquisition, and scripts for data analysis. The DSP clocking software was a mixture of C and Motorola 56303 assembly. An interrupt-driven kernel-mode PCI device driver for Red Hat Linux was written in C, and used the PC processor and memory for image processing and acquisition. Two 1Κ × 1Κ Raytheon SB226-based hybridized silicon p-i-n arrays were operated and tested with the new system at temperatures as low as 10K. Signal path gain, node capacitance, well depth, dark current, and MTF measurements were made and are presented here.
Rapid microwave synthesis of indium filled skutterudites: An energy efficient route to high performance thermoelectric materials

Abstract Filled skutterudites are promising thermoelectric materials due to reduced thermal conductivity upon inserting a guest atom or ‘rattler’ into the CoSb 3 structure. By using an indium rattler dimensionless Figure of Merit (ZT) values >1 at 650 K have been reported. The conventional synthesis of these compounds typically takes several days (∼3 days) to obtain the final well-sintered material for property measurements. We report here a microwave-assisted synthesis method that reduces the initial calcination time from 2 days to 2 min. This route significantly reduces the time needed to produce materials suitable for property and device testing.
Stepping between Membrane Microdomains

Lateral membrane microdomains are postulated to be involved in a number of important functions in mammalian cells, such as membrane trafficking, exocytosis, endocytosis, signal transduction, and protein activity (1,2). These putative cell microdomains have been the subject of extensive research using a variety of biophysical and biochemical techniques, including detergent extraction (2), fluorescence microscopy (3), electron microscopy (4), fluorescence resonance energy transfer microscopy (5), fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (6), fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (7), and single-molecule tracking (8).
Spatial neighborhood based anomaly detection in sensor datasets

Success of anomaly detection, similar to other spatial data mining techniques, relies on neighborhood definition. In this paper, we argue that the anomalous behavior of spatial objects in a neighborhood can be truly captured when both (a) spatial autocorrelation (similar behavior of nearby objects due to proximity) and (b) spatial heterogeneity (distinct behavior of nearby objects due to difference in the underlying processes in the region) are taken into consideration for the neighborhood definition. Our approach begins by generating micro neighborhoods around spatial objects encompassing all the information about a spatial object. We selectively merge these based on spatial relationships accounting for autocorrelation and inferential relationships accounting for heterogeneity, forming macro neighborhoods. In such neighborhoods, we then identify (i) spatio-temporal outliers, where individual sensor readings are anomalous, (ii) spatial outliers, where the entire sensor is an anomaly, and (iii) spatio-temporally coalesced outliers, where a group of spatio-temporal outliers in the macro neighborhood are separated by a small time lag indicating the traversal of the anomaly. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our approach in neighborhood formation and anomaly detection with experimental results in (i) water monitoring and (ii) highway traffic monitoring sensor datasets. We also compare the results of our approach with an existing approach for spatial anomaly detection.
An Economic Alternative to the c Chart

An economic alternative to the c chart is described as a statistical model of upward shift from c0 to c1, and costs of the two charts are compared in theory. For a range of c chart costs the savings associated with economic design increase linearly.
Clustering header categories extracted from web tables

Revealing related content among heterogeneous web tables is part of our long term objective of formulating queries over multiple sources of information. Two hundred HTML tables from institutional web sites are segmented and each table cell is classified according to the fundamental indexing property of row and column headers. The categories that correspond to the multi-dimensional data cube view of a table are extracted by factoring the (often multi-row/column) headers. To reveal commonalities between tables from diverse sources, the Jaccard distances between pairs of category headers (and also table titles) are computed. We show how about one third of our heterogeneous collection can be clustered into a dozen groups that exhibit table-title and header similarities that can be exploited for queries.
The Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments: implications and protections provided for higher education's faculty, staff and students

In 1999, the US Supreme Court made several court decisions that impacted the legal, business and academic world by ruling that a physical or mental impairment is not a disability under the law when mitigated or corrected by medication or other remedial measures. The results of these decisions served to exclude impaired employees from Congress' intended protection under the original ADA law. In passing the ADA amendment, Congress hoped to construct an amendment which would result in court decisions that would better reflect Congress's original intentions. This paper reviews the court cases that Congress hoped to overturn with the ADAAA, and then specifically discuss new provisions included in the ADAAA. Finally, this paper discuss specific probable impacts on educational institutions of higher learning along with several suggestions that are offered to administrators on how to deal with employment situations in light of the new provisions in the act.
A receptor domain controls the intracellular sorting of the ferrichrome transporter, ARN1

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae transporter Arn1p takes up the ferric-siderophore ferrichrome, and extracellular ferrichrome dramatically influences the intracellular trafficking of Arn1p. In the absence of ferrichrome, Arn1p sorts directly to the endosomal compartment. At low concentrations of ferrichrome, Arn1p stably relocalizes to the plasma membrane, yet little to no uptake of ferrichrome occurs at these low concentrations. At higher concentrations of ferrichrome, Arn1p cycles between the plasma membrane and endosome. Arn1p contains two binding sites for ferrichrome: one site has an affinity similar to the KT for transport, but the second site has a much higher affinity. Here we report that this high-affinity binding site lies within a unique extracytosolic, carboxyl-terminal domain. Mutations within this domain lead to loss of ferrichrome binding and uptake activities and missorting of Arn1p, including a failure to relocalize to the plasma membrane in the presence of ferrichrome. Mutation of phenylalanine residues in the cytosolic tail of Arn1p also lead to missorting, but without defects in ferrichrome binding. We propose that the carboxyl terminus of Arn1p contains a receptor domain that controls the intracellular trafficking of the transporter.
Investigation of a one-step spectral CT reconstruction algorithm for direct inversion into basis material images

Photon-counting detectors with pulse-height analysis have shown promise for improved spectral CT imaging. This study investigated a novel spectral CT reconstruction method that directly estimates basis-material images from the measured energy-bin data (i.e., ‘one-step’ reconstruction). The proposed algorithm can incorporate constraints to stabilize the reconstruction and potentially reduce noise. The algorithm minimizes the error between the measured energy-bin data and the data estimated from the reconstructed basis images. A total variation (TV) constraint was also investigated for additional noise reduction. The proposed one-step algorithm was applied to simulated data of an anthropomorphic phantom with heterogeneous tissue composition. Reconstructed water, bone, and gadolinium basis images were compared for the proposed one-step algorithm and the conventional ‘two-step’ method of decomposition followed by reconstruction. The unconstrained algorithm provided a 30% to 60% reduction in noise standard deviation compared to the two-step algorithm. The fTV =0.8 constraint provided a small reduction in noise (∼ 1%) compared to the unconstrained reconstruction. Images reconstructed with the fTV =0.5 constraint demonstrated 77% to 94% standard deviation reduction compared to the two-step reconstruction, however with increased blurring. There were no significant differences in the mean values reconstructed by the investigated algorithms. Overall, the proposed one-step spectral CT reconstruction algorithm provided three-material-decomposition basis images with reduced noise compared to the conventional two-step approach. When using a moderate TV constraint factor (fTV = 0.8), a 30%-60% reduction in noise standard deviation was achieved while preserving the edge profile for this simulated phantom.
Composite Uniaxial Bianisotropic Chiral Materials Characterization: Comparison of Predicted and Measured Scattering

A methodology to extract the effective constitutive parameters of uniaxial bianisotropic chiral (UBC) materials was presented in [1]. While the results of numerical verification studies within that...
Initiatives and government expenditures

This paper demonstrates that provisions for initiatives have important effects on government spending. Provisions for initiatives encourage legislatures to approve any proposal which might attract substantial popular support. If these proposals are more likely to advocate increases than reductions in expenditures, the presence of initiative provisions will increase total expenditures. Direct government expenditures per capita are significantly higher in both states and municipalities which permit initiatives.
Worker Participation in Diverse Settings: Does the Form Affect the Outcome, and If So, Who Benefits?

Les AA. etudient l'impact des programmes visant a ameliorer la participation des salaries. Ils distinguent parmi ces programmes ceux qui prevoient la mise en place d'equipes autogerees et ceux qui s'elaborent autour d'une organisation plus traditionnelle du travail. Ils presentent les resultats d'une enquete menee aux Etats-Unis aupres d'ouvriers professionnels, d'employes de bureau semi-qualifies et d'operateurs sur machine semi-qualifies
Bovine coronavirus antigen in the host cell plasmalemma

Abstract Expression of bovine coronavirus (BCV) antigen in the plasmalemma of epithelioid human rectal tumor (HRT-18) and fibroblastic bovine fetal spleen (BFS) cell lines was traced by immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy facilitated by colloidal gold. Cytoplasmic fluorescence was first observed at 12 hr postinfection (h.p.i) in infected HRT-18 cultures. This fluorescence coincided with the appearance of cell surface antigen reacting with colloidal gold-labeled antibodies to BCV antigens. At 24 h.p.i the amount of viral antigens at the surface of HRT-18 had increased, although cytoplasmic fluorescence remained constant. Infected BFS cells but not HRT-18 cells formed polykaryons when incubated in the presence of trypsin. One viral antigen in the plasma membrane of BFS cells was thus identified as the S glycoprotein with a fusion domain. In contrast to HRT-18 cells, the overall amount of BCV antigens at the surface of BFS cells remained constant after the onset of fusion. Analysis of the labeling characteristics established that the goldmarked-sites represented de novo expression of BCV antigen in the plasma membrane of infected cells.
A mouse model of yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) expression in hematopoietic cells to assess leukocyte–endothelial interactions in the microcirculation

In this study, we describe the use of intravital microscopy in a transgenic mouse model expressing yellow fluorescent protein (YFP) under the control of a monocyte specific promoter c-fms (CD115) to track and quantify specific leukocyte subsets. Flow cytometry on peripheral and bone marrow leukocytes revealed that YFP was predominantly expressed by CD11a(+), CD11b(+), and CD14(+) monocytes. In the bone marrow, 67+/-4% of Ly6C(high) F4/80(+) cells were YFP(high) while 55+/-1% of Ly6C(low) F4/80(+) cells were YFP(low) supporting the use of c-fms(YFP) expression as a marker of monocyte lineage. 70+/-7% of CD11b(+) F4/80(+) Ly6C(+) ("triple positive") cells expressed YFP. To assess leukocyte-endothelial interactions in YFP(+) cells in c-fms(YFP+) mice, we evaluated leukocyte adhesion, rolling and local shear stress responses in the cremasteric endothelium 4 h following administration of TNFalpha. TNFalpha resulted in a five-fold increase in adhesion of YFP(+) cells to the endothelium and provided superior discriminative ability in assessing rolling and adhesion events when compared with bright field microscopy. Additionally, when compared with Rhodamine-6G labeled leukocytes or GFP(+) cells in mice transplanted with green fluorescent protein (GFP) positive bone marrow, the level of detail observed in the c-fms(YFP+) was greater, with both GFP(+) and YFP(+) cells demonstrating superior signal to noise compared to bright field microscopy. A weak positive linear correlation between wall shear stress and YFP(+) cell adhesion (r(2)=0.20, p<0.05) was seen in the cremasteric microcirculation. Taken together, these data demonstrate the use of c-fms(YFP+) mice in identifying distinct monocyte subsets and highlight the potential of this model for real-time monocyte-endothelial interactions using intravital microscopy.
Flow visualization model of the leeside flows over conically cambered delta wings at supersonic speeds

Surface pressure, flow visualization, and force-and-moment data have been obtained for four, variously conically-cambered delta wing models in a range of flow conditions, with a view to leeside flow mechanisms. The influences exerted by Mach number, angle-of-attack, and camber are determined. An analysis of photographic data leads to the analysis of 12 distinctive leeside flow types, which are further categorizable into two groups respectively possessing either one or two dominant features in the leeside flow field: in the former, either the leading edge or hinge line are the originators of the dominant feature; in the latter, both the leading edge and hinge line are generators.
Tribological performance of PTFE-based coatings for air-conditioning compressors

Abstract Research on coatings in environments simulating compressor conditions, especially in a carbon dioxide (CO2) environment, has been limited. In this study, polymeric, PTFE-based coatings were investigated for use in air-conditioning compressors. Tribological experiments were performed to simulate piston-type compressors as well as swash plate compressors. Specifically, the tribological contact at the connecting “rod-wrist” pin interface of a piston-type compressor and the “shoe-disk” interface of a swash plate compressor were simulated. Machined 52100 steel wrist pins from a piston-type compressor and 52100 rounded steel pins, referred to as shoes, from a swash plate compressor were used. In both cases the counterparts were gray cast iron disks coated with three commercially available PTFE-based coatings, namely, DuPont® 958-303, DuPont® 958-414 and Whitford Xylan® 1052. These coatings were tested in CO2 environment, while testing was also performed in ambient air, and R410a, a common hydrofluorocarbon refrigerant, and the results were compared with a diamond-like-carbon (DLC) coating. The PTFE-based coatings showed low friction characteristics and high load carrying capacity and it was found that unlike the DLC coating they were not greatly affected by the testing environment. There was a significant increase in wear of the coatings under high contact pressures, however, it was shown that the wear debris generated acted as a third-body lubricant with a beneficial role in the overall wear performance. Due to their excellent tribological behavior under a range of experimental conditions, the coatings tested in this work could find use in compressor systems and other engineering applications.
Effects of chronic growth hormone treatment on energy intake and resting energy metabolism in patients with human immunodeficiency virus-associated wasting--a clinical research center study.

In previous studies, treatment with recombinant human GH (rhGH) produced sustained increases in weight and lean body mass (LBM) and decreases in fat mass in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-associated wasting. To evaluate the effects of chronic rhGH treatment on components of energy balance, we recruited separate subgroups of HIV-positive patients with an involuntary weight loss of 10% or more to undergo paired measurements of resting energy metabolism (n = 6) or food intake (n = 11) before and during the final week of a 3-month rhGH (0.1 mg/kg·day) treatment period. In the energy metabolism subset, resting energy expenditure (REE) and substrate oxidation rates were measured by indirect calorimetry during brief admissions to a metabolic ward. Patients in the energy intake subset prepared written 4-day food intake diaries. Body composition was measured in both groups by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Changes in weight (+2.2 ± 0.9 and +2.2 ± 0.6 kg), LBM (+3.2 ± 0.6 and +3.8 ± 0.5 kg), an...
Snorkelers' In-Water Observations Can Alter Salmonid Behavior

Abstract Direct underwater observation techniques (e.g., snorkel surveys) are widely used in fisheries science. Data collected from these surveys are used to estimate species abundance, detect presence and absence, and construct statistical models that predict microhabitat use and nonuse. To produce an unbiased estimate or model, fish should ideally behave as if there were no observer present. We conducted a study using underwater video to test whether snorkeling can elicit a change in fish behavior. Four behavioral metrics were measured: upstream movement, downstream movement, total movement, and number of fish in the field-of-view. Significant differences were detected in upstream, downstream, and total movements as a function of the in-water observer. These results suggest that an in-water observer can disturb fish, resulting in altered behavior, which in turn may bias study results. We suggest researchers use caution in making inferences to an entire population when data-collection methods have potent...