cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factors Related to Authoritarian versus Nonauthoritarian Attitudes toward Parenting among College Students

(1985). Factors Related to Authoritarian versus Nonauthoritarian Attitudes toward Parenting among College Students. Health Education: Vol. 16, No. 6, pp. 26-28.
Thermodynamic models of combinatorial gene regulation by distant enhancers

The dynamical properties of distal and proximal gene regulatory elements are crucial to their functionality in gene regulatory networks. However, the multiplicity of regulatory interactions at control elements makes their theoretical and experimental characterisation difficult. Here a thermodynamic framework to describe gene regulation by distant enhancers via a chromatin mechanism is developed. In this mechanism transcription factors (TFs) modulate gene expression via shifts in the equilibrium between chromatin states. The designs of AND, OR, XOR and NAND two-input transcriptional gates for the chromatin mechanism are proposed and compared to similar gates based on the direct physical interactions of TFs with the transcriptional machinery. An algorithm is developed to estimate the thermodynamic parameters of chromatin mechanism gates from gene expression reporter data and applied to characterise the response function for the Gata2-3 enhancer in hematopoietic stem cells. In addition waiting-time distributions for transcriptionally active states were analysed to expose the biophysical differences between the contact and chromatin mechanisms. These differences can be experimentally observed in single-cell experiments and therefore can serve as a signature of the gene regulation mechanism. Taken together these results indicate the diverse functionality and unique features of the chromatin mechanism of combinatorial gene regulation.
Glucocorticoids in laryngology: A review

Objectives/Hypothesis To provide the otolaryngologist an evidence-based sound review of glucocorticoid use for laryngeal pathology. Study Design Review of contemporary peer-reviewed literature as well as review articles. Methods A review of the literature regarding glucocorticoids as a therapeutic intervention for the treatment of benign laryngeal pathology and laryngeal manifestations of systemic disease was performed. Review included both systemic administration as well as local injection. Results Glucocorticoids, administered in the critical care setting for planned extubation, markedly reducing the risk of reintubation and remain a rudimentary pharmacologic adjunct in laryngeal manifestations of common autoimmune and inflammatory disorders. Intralesional injection has reduced the rate of surgical intervention for benign inflammatory primary laryngeal pathology. Conclusions Glucocorticoids are effective in the treatment of a number of laryngeal pathologies, through both systemic and intralesional administration. However, a clear consensus for utilization of glucocorticoids in the treatment of specific laryngeal disorders has yet to be published. Level of Evidence Laryngoscope, 124:1668–1673, 2014
Studies on colon irritation

The bowel movement of 45 normal and 58 individuals with abdominal complaints were studied. Stools were examined for the effect of bran on the bowel movements, and for signs of colon irritation.
Differential short- and long-term effects of insulin on ANG II action in human adrenal glomerulosa cells

Insulin is known to modulate several functions in bovine adrenal cells, including steroidogenesis and growth. However, the role of insulin in regulating aldosterone synthesis in human adrenal glomerulosa cells has not been studied. In the present studies, we have examined the acute and chronic effects of insulin on angiotensin II (ANG II)-induced aldosterone synthesis in cultured normal and adenomatous human adrenal glomerulosa cells. Short-term insulin treatment (1.5 h) resulted in inhibition of ANG II-induced aldosterone synthesis. In contrast, chronic treatment (30 h) resulted in potentiation of ANG II action. The 12-lipoxygenase pathway of arachidonate metabolism has been shown to play a key role in ANG II-induced aldosterone synthesis. The acute inhibitory effects of insulin were in part mediated by inhibition of the 12-lipoxygenase pathway. The chronic stimulatory effect of insulin seemed to be due at least in part to the upregulation of cytochrome P-450 side-chain cleavage enzyme levels. These findings suggest that insulin has a differential temporal effect on ANG II action and therefore may be an important regulator of ANG II-induced aldosterone synthesis in the adrenal.
Assessment of the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh Model’s Ability to Predict Mesoscale Convective Systems Using Object-Based Evaluation

AbstractAn object-based verification technique that keys off the radar-retrieved vertically integrated liquid (VIL) is used to evaluate how well the High-Resolution Rapid Refresh (HRRR) predicted mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) in 2012 and 2013. It is found that the modeled radar VIL values are roughly 50% lower than observed. This mean bias is accounted for by reducing the radar VIL threshold used to identify MCSs in the HRRR. This allows for a more fair evaluation of the model’s skill at predicting MCSs. Using an optimized VIL threshold for each summer, it is found that the HRRR reproduces the first (i.e., counts) and second moments (i.e., size distribution) of the observed MCS size distribution averaged over the eastern United States, as well as their aspect ratio, orientation, and diurnal variations. Despite threshold optimization, the HRRR tended to predict too many (few) MCSs at lead times less (greater) than 4 h because of lead time–dependent biases in the modeled radar VIL. The HRRR predicted ...
Nonreciprocal negative-impedance invertor

Two nullator-norator equivalent representations of the non-reciprocal negative-impedance invertor (z11 = z22 = 0, z12 ≠ z21, and z12/z21>0) are described, with several transistorised-circuit realisations of these devices.
Distressed firms and the secular deterioration in usefulness of accounting information

Abstract We investigate the relative and incremental usefulness of earning, cash flows, accruals and book values of financially distressed firms to extend our understanding of the price–earnings relationships of distressed firms. As expected, we find that earnings usefulness deteriorates with the onset of distress. We document that the decline in usefulness of earnings is initially gradual and then steep. We also document a surprisingly comparable decline in the usefulness of operating cash flows. Further, we find that accruals continue to provide incrementally useful information beyond cash flows up to 1 year prior to the bankruptcy or liquidation election. Our results hold even when the effects of book values and solvency measures are controlled.
The flux of sulfur-containing gases to vegetation

Abstract The flux of five sulfur gases to vegetation exposed to each gas individually at an ambient concentration of 0.12 μl ι−1 (5 μmoles m−3) was assessed using a whole-plant, gaseous exchange system. Total leaf flux of each gas was partitioned into leaf surface (adsorption) and internal (absorption) fractions. Internal flux varied four to sevenfold among gases, and the magnitude of flux was in the following order: sulfur dioxide > hydrogen sulfide > carbonyl sulfide > methyl mercaptan > carbon disulfide. The regression of internal flux on water solubility and molecular size accounted for 73 and 87 % of the variation in Glycine max and Phaseolus vulgaris, respectively. Leaf conductance, which was adjusted for each gas based on their respective diffusivities in air, did not improve the regression significantly. Estimates of internal flux based on the product of leaf conductance and ambient concentration may not be an accurate technique to assess the rate of absorption for all pollutant gases into the leaf interior under daylight conditions. For highly soluble and chemically reactive gases such as SO2, the latter technique tends to underestimate flux by 50%, which may result from a mean SO2 diffusive path length that is less than that for water vapor. The relationship between flux and the physicochemical properties of a gas may provide a technique for screening atmospheric emissions for their potential toxicity to vegetation.
An eclectic view of metabolic regulation: control of citrate synthase activity.

Summary The control characteristics between a single enzyme, citrate synthase, and its proposed effectors have been studied and shown to be extremely complex. It has been demonstrated, for instance, that manipulation of the coupled malate dehydrogenase-citrate synthase system can change the control characteristics from an “energy charge” control to a redox control. Control of a metabolic pathway is suggested to occur at multiple points in that sequence and such complexity is postulated to be an important characteristic of the control mechanism in living cells.
The influence of p-fluoro-phenylalanine, puromycin, and actinomycin on the development of simian papovavirus (SV40).

Abstract The influence of the protein inhibitors puromycin, p -fluoro-phenylalanine, and actinomycin D on the growth of the simian papovavirus SV40 in green monkey kidney cells has been studied. When puromycin is added to the virus-free cell system early in the developmental cycle of the virus (5 hours postinoculation), the maturation of the virus is inhibited. Intranuclear DNA inclusions are formed, but unlike the DNA in the whole virion these are susceptible to DNAase without prior treatment with proteolytic enzymes. This inhibition of viral maturation can be correlated with inhibition of the production of viral antigens (as detected by fluorescent antibody techniques) and inhibition of viral capsid formation (as indicated by electron microscopy). Addition of the inhibitor 24 hours postinoculation has no detectable effect on the growth cycle of the virus as monitored by fluorescence or electron microscopy. Addition of FPA to the infected cell cultures up to 12 hours postinoculation markedly inhibits the development of viral antigens, viral DNA inclusions, and complete infectious virus particles. If the drug is added 24 hours postinfection, intranuclear inclusions are found, but many of the virus particles appear empty. In addition, migration of virus components into the cytoplasm is inhibited and the specific vacuolization pattern typical of SV40 is not developed. Actinomycin D added to the virus-cell system 5 hours postinoculation suppressed all evidence of viral multiplication.
Testing the polyploid past of soybean using a low-copy nuclear gene--is Glycine (Fabaceae: Papilionoideae) an auto- or allopolyploid?

exists, the nature of that polyploidy eventis still not clear (Doyle et al., 2003; Hymowitz, 2004).Kumar and Hymowitz (1989) discussed the possibility thatthe genus may be of allotetraploid origin, especially givenevidence for other allopolyploids within the Glycininae.Singh et al. (2001) found duplicated rDNA loci in the C-genome species (
Long-Term Results of Open Radical Mitral Commissurotomy: Ten Year Follow-Up Study of 202 Patients

Two hundred two patients undergoing open radical mitral commissurotomy for mitral stenosis between 1967 and 1978 were evaluated. Follow-up data were obtained in 98 percent of patients (follow-up range 1 to 122 months, mean 42). One hundred forty-four patients (71 percent) underwent only commissurotomy; 58 patients required associated cardiac procedures. One hundred twenty-eight patients (63 percent) had a history of rheumatic fever and 15 (7 percent) had undergone prior closed mitral commissurotomy. Preoperative emboli were recorded in 25 percent. Cardiopulmonary bypass and left atriotomy were utilized to perform a radical valvulotomy, not only eliminating the mitral valve gradient, but also opening the valve as much as possible without producing insufficiency. The left atrial appendage was routinely checked for thrombus and usually closed with sutures. Induced aortic regurgitation by retrograde insertion of a perforated catheter was utilized to detect mitral insufficiency after commissurotomy. Mitral anulopiasty was performed when necessary. The operative mortality rate was 1.7 percent and the long-term mortality rate 2.5 percent. Preoperatively, 155 patients (77 percent) were in New York Heart Association functional class III or IV. At follow-up examination, 90 percent (178) were in functional class I or II. Postoperative emboli were rare (3 percent), but occurred more often after preoperative embolism or failure to obliterate the left atrial appendage. Multifactorial analysis showed that the presence of a residual mitral gradient or regurgitation indicated a poor prognosis. The 5 year complication-free survival rate in this group was significantly less than that in patients without residual valve dysfunction (75 versus 87 percent, p < 0.05). Open radical mitral commissurotomy appears to be a safe method for relieving valve obstruction. It allows removal of thrombus and oversewing of the left atrial appendage, which may reduce the possibility of significant postoperative embolic events. Reduction in turbulent blood flow by creating a widely patent and competent mitral valve diminishes progressive valve fibrosis and generally obviates the need for future valve replacement.
Projective Ordinal Sums of Lattices and Isotone Sections

This note gives a complete characterization of when the ordinal sum of two lattices (the lattice obtained by placing the second lattice on top of the first) is projective. This characterization applies not only to the class of all lattices, but to any variety of lattices, and in particular, to the class of distributive lattices. Lattices L with the property that every epimorphism onto L has an isotone section are also characterized.
Violence in Nigeria: The Crisis of Religious Politics and Secular Ideologies

Violence in Nigeria: The Crisis of Religious Politics and Secular Ideologies. Toyin Falola. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press, 1998. ix. 386 pp., tables, maps, appendix, notes, bibliography, index.
Computational biochemistry: old enzymes, new tricks.

Although enzymes are superb catalysts, their range of reactions is limited to those that support life. Their repertoire could be expanded by a method that allows artificial enzymes to be made from scratch.
Poly(ethyleneiminoacetic acid)

A high molecular weight chelating polymer has been prepared by the reaction of poly(ethyleneimine) of molecular weight 50–100 × 103 with a basic solution of sodium chloroacetate. The polymer which results from this reaction is hydrophilic and possesses rather generalized coordinating abilities. It forms complexes with Hg2+, Ca2+, Al3+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Pb2+, La3+, Nd3+ and Cd2+. Some of the metal complexes show a much lower solubility than the parent chelating polymer. Both the poly(ethyleneiminoacetic acid) and its calcium complex possess thermal and chemical stabilities comparable to that found for EDTA and its calcium complex.
Plant effects on nitrogen retention in shortgrass steppe 2 years after 15N addition

Ecosystems where plant-available nitrogen (N) is limited by constraints on decomposition may be quite capable of retaining additional N. However, there are many factors that will control the quantity of N retained, with potential implications for system carbon and nitrogen storage. We examined the retention and allocation of 15N 2 years after labeling a semiarid, shortgrass steppe ecosystem in northeastern Colorado. The plant community of the study area is a patchy mixture of C3 (cool-season) and C4 (warm-season) graminoids; we hypothesized that differences in allocation patterns between the two plant types would lead to differing rates of N retention in this grazed system. We found that after three growing seasons (just over 2 years), an average of 28.3% of the original 15N was retained in our plots, with nearly all of this N in soils (24.9%) rather than plants. Plots dominated by C3 plants had significantly less 15N retained after 2 years than mixed C3-C4 plots. A high initial rate of retention by C3 plants, combined with a propensity for allocation to shoots rather than roots, likely led to this result in a system that typically has much of its aboveground tissue removed by grazers. In comparing our retention patterns to those of other studies in the shortgrass steppe, we found that the distribution of added 15N to various ecosystem compartments (plants, mineral soil, soil organic matter) was similar across studies regardless of the experimental conditions, duration of study, and amount of 15Nretained. We additionally observed the beginning of the formation of "resource islands," with 15N being physically and biologically redistributed under plants from between plants.
Academic Achievement and Resultant and Academic Achievement Motivation.

Academic achievement measured by a standard test over 4 subject matter areas, and a GPA score, were studied as a function of resultant achievement motivation (RAM) and academic achievement motivation (AAM) in 76 students. The contribution of RAM to achievement was negligible and nonsignificant, though AAM correlated significantly in a negative direction with achievement in natural science; the importance of the latter finding was discounted. It was concluded that achievement, as measured, was not a significant function of achievement motivation, as measured. Directions for future research were outlined.
Synthesis and characterization of monolayers and Langmuir-Blodgett films of an amphiphilic oligo(ethylene glycol)-C60-hexadecaaniline conjugate.

A novel amphiphilic oligo(ethylene glycol)-C60-hexadecaaniline (A16) tricomponent conjugate, C60>(A16-EG43), possessing a well-defined number of repeating aniline donor units and a hydrophilic ethylene glycol oligomer chain was synthesized. The compound is composed of a covalently bound donor−acceptor chromophore structure. Molecular self-assembly of C60>(A16-EG43) at the air−water interface formed a densely packed Langmuir monolayer with all highly hydrophobic fullerene cages located above the liquid interface. The monolayer can then be transferred onto a glass substrate via Langmuir−Blodgett (LB) deposition. LB multilayered thin films formed by multiple deposition of the monolayer yielded broadened optical absorption peaks extending beyond 600 nm into the 950 nm region, suggesting strong intermolecular interactions among the C60 cages and the A16 moieties. An X-ray reflectometry study clearly reveals that the Langmuir film at the air−water interface consists of a C60 top layer and a bottom layer contain...
God's Share or the King's? Jesuit opposition to the payment of tithes in colonial Brazil

(1992). God's Share or the King's? Jesuit opposition to the payment of tithes in colonial Brazil. Colonial Latin American Review: Vol. 1, No. 1-2, pp. 185-200.
Regulatory reform and rural bus service: Evidence from South Dakota

Abstract The 1982 Bus Regulatory Reform Act has failed to halt the decline of South Dakota intercity bus services. By 1984 there were fewer departures, fewer carriers, and fewer served communities than at any time in the preceding 10 yr. Proponents hoped the act would promote financial viability in an industry subject to a downward spiral of increased costs and decreased revenues. This claim was investigated by including variables that reflected different aspects of decision-making in a binary logit model to predict the abandonment probability of a community. Before deregulation the model suggested that abandonment decisions were based on aggressive criteria that aimed to free carriers from the downward spiral of costs and revenues. Following deregulation carriers apparently reverted to behavior that perpetuates this decline. The continued operation of existing processes of change will produce a reduced network of bus travel opportunities with little or no service to rural communities. The ineffectiveness of the present, general reforms strengthens the imperative to design specific mobility policies for rural America.
Postintubation phonatory insufficiency: an elusive diagnosis.

Abstract Objective: To describe postintubation phonatory insufficiency, a routinely overlooked complication of prolonged intubation. This entity results from an erosive injury with permanent divots of the medial surfaces of the arytenoid cartilages and/or scarring of the anterior cricoarytenoid joint capsule so that during phonation there is incomplete adduction and a glottic gap remains. Setting: Tertiary care center. Study design/results: We present a retrospective review of the findings of 138 patients evaluated for chronic intubation injuries in our voice laboratory using a diagnostic model composed of pertinent history, elicited vocal capabilities and limitations, and an intense fiberoptic laryngeal examination directed at revealing the suspected injuries. Conclusion/significance: In many patients, the diagnosis of postintubation phonatory insufficiency was made years after the intubation injury occurred and after numerous nondiagnostic examinations elsewhere. Mechanisms of intubation injury are reviewed, and prevention and treatment of the condition are discussed. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2001;124:625-33.)
Structure of shock implosion in a plasma

One-dimensional motion of an initially cold, uniform-density plasma is considered when the electron are locally heated by an external source of energy. The energy in the electrons is coupled to the ions by an ion-electron energy exchange term. Electron thermal conduction is taken to be the dominant transport mechanism. The fluid plasma equations that describe this process in one-dimensional Lagrange co-ordinates admit a self-similar reduction to ordinary differential equations for arbitrary geometrical symmetry. The plasma implosion structure is determined by study of the critical points and singular points of these (six) ordinary differential equations. Self-similar profiles show a sharp shock that is isothermal in electron temperature; proceeded by a supersonic thermal wave, and followed by a nearly isothermal plasma flow.
Hydrodynamics of semifluidization in gas—solid systems

Abstract Semifluidized bed hydrodynamics, including minimum semifluidization velocity, packed bed formation and pressure drop across the bed, were studied in gas-solid fluidized beds. Experiments were carried out in beds of 0.203, 0.139 and 0.105 m I.D. Experimental parameters examined included gas velocity, semifluidized particles, static bed height and expansion ratio. Empirical and semi-empirical models were derived. The results were compared with those available in the literature.
Treatment plan modification using voxel-based weighting factors/dose prescription.

Under various clinical situations, it is desirable to modify the original treatment plan to better suit the clinical goals. In this work, a method to help physicians modify treatment plans based on their clinical preferences is proposed. The method uses a weighted quadratic dose objective function. The commonly used organ-/ROI-based weighting factors are expanded to a set of voxel-based weighting factors in order to obtain greater flexibility in treatment plan modification. Two different but equivalent modification schemes based on Rustem's quadratic programming algorithms—modification of a weighting matrix and modification of prescribed doses—are presented. Case studies demonstrated the effectiveness of the two methods with regard to their capability to fine-tune treatment plans.
Effect of polyurea coatings on the response of curved E-Glass/Vinyl ester composite panels to underwater explosive loading

Abstract The effects of polyurea coatings on the response of E-Glass/Vinyl ester curved composite panels subjected to underwater explosive loading has been studied. The thickness and location of the polyurea coating has been varied to determine how these parameters affect the transient response. The composite material is a 0°/90° biaxial layup and the coatings are applied to either the loaded or non-loaded faces. The current work utilizes a conical shock tube facility which produces shock loading conditions equivalent to the underwater detonation of an explosive charge. The transient response of the plates is recorded using a three-dimensional (3D) Digital Image Correlation system, consisting of high-speed photography and specialized post processing software. The results show that for a given polyurea thickness, better performance is obtained when the back face of the panel is coated. Similarly the performance is improved as the coating thickness is increased; however this comes at a cost in terms of increased areal weight. The results show that there is likely an optimal coating thickness, that when located on the back face, provides a balanced tradeoff between panel performance and weight increase.
Association of parenteral nutrition catheter sepsis with urinary tract infections.

The infection rate (IR) of central venous catheters (CVCs) used for parenteral nutrition (PN) was prospectively evaluated over a 12-month period, with emphasis on the relationship between CVC sepsis and preexisting sites of infection. Sepsis was presumed if the CVC tip or blood culture was positive, or if defervescence followed CVC removal. Four hundred seventy-three CVCs were placed for PN for a total of 5,422 patient days, with a mean length of stay of 11.5 days. Twenty two CVCs led to sepsis for an IR of 4.65% or 4.06 infections per 1000 patient days. Twenty of the 22 septic CVCs were in patients with other sites of infection. The IR was 12.0% (20/166) when other sites of infection were present and 0.65% (2/307) in the absence of a second site. The mean length of stay was 13.2 days for CVCs with other sites of infection and 10.3 days for CVCs with no other site of infection. Fifty nine percent of septic CVCs had secondary sites of infection that included urinary tract infections (UTI). Of all septic CV...
Predator-induced changes in the diel feeding cycle of a planktonic copepod

Abstract An in situ manipulation experiment examined the effect of a diurnally foraging, zooplanktivorous fish, the three-spine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus Linnaeus, on the diel feeding cycle of the planktonic marine copepod Acartia hudsonica Pinhey. Copepods in the presence of fish had a significantly lower level of daytime gut fullness, and consequently a sharpened diel cycle of grazing, than did copepods in the absence of fish. The reduced level of copepod feeding could not be attributed to reduced availability of phytoplankton, such as has been previously suggested for vertically migrating animals residing at depth during the day. Rather, these changes in the feeding behavior of the copepods stemmed directly from the presence of predators. Due to reductions in motion and gut pigmentation, reduced daytime feeding may have adaptive value in reducing the copepods' risk of predation by making them less conspicuous to visual predators. Our results, combined with those of earlier studies, indicate that diel cycles of feeding and vertical migration can be separate, independent behaviors, although both likely have the same adaptive significance-predator evasion.
Low-lying resonances in 14F and 14B

Abstract In a simple potential model, we have computed energies and widths of low-lying resonances of 14 F and have compared them with recent experimental results. Consequences for 14 B are summarized.
Lytic switch protein (ORF50) response element in the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus K8 promoter is located within but does not require a palindromic structure

Abstract Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated virus (KSHV) ORF50 protein induces lytic replication and activates the K8 promoter. We show that ORF50-induced and tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) induced K8 transcripts initiated from the same start site. A newly identified palindrome (PAL2), containing a 12-bp response region required for ORF50-induced activation in lymphoid cells, was identified in the K8 promoter. Specific DNA binding of bacterially expressed ORF50 was not seen with the K8 promoter despite specific binding to the PAN promoter. The new palindrome shared homology with a previously described ORF50 response element (50RE K8 and 50RE 57 ). We demonstrate that the new 50RE K8 (50RE K8-PAL2 ) is not the palindrome per se. Instead, the response element is buried within the right arm of the palindrome. We propose that the complexity of the K8 response elements reflects the complexity of mechanisms used by ORF50 during viral reactivation.
Modification of K channel inactivation by papain and N-bromoacetamide

The whole-cell variation of the patch clamp technique was used to study macroscopic K current in voltage clamped GH3 cells. An inactivating, voltage-dependent K current was studied in isolation by inhibiting Ca-activated K currents with internal Ca chelators and external tetraethylammonium ions. Under control conditions, the K current inactivated in two phases with time constants of 25 and 79 ms. After treatment with either a proteolytic enzyme such as papain or the amino acid reagent N-bromoacetamide, the K current no longer inactivated rapidly, but decayed very slowly with a time constant of 500 to 750 ms. The action of papain or N-bromoacetamide on K channels is comparable to their action on Na channels, suggesting that inactivation in Na and K channels occurs by a similar mechanism.
Crystallographic Identification of a Noncompetitive Inhibitor Binding Site on the Hepatitis C Virus NS5B RNA Polymerase Enzyme

The virus-encoded nonstructural protein 5B (NS5B) of hepatitis C virus (HCV) is an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and is absolutely required for replication of the virus. NS5B exhibits significant differences from cellular polymerases and therefore has become an attractive target for anti-HCV therapy. Using a high-throughput screen, we discovered a novel NS5B inhibitor that binds to the enzyme noncompetitively with respect to nucleotide substrates. Here we report the crystal structure of NS5B complexed with this small molecule inhibitor. Unexpectedly, the inhibitor is bound within a narrow cleft on the protein's surface in the "thumb" domain, about 30 A from the enzyme's catalytic center. The interaction between this inhibitor and NS5B occurs without dramatic changes to the structure of the protein, and sequence analysis suggests that the binding site is conserved across known HCV genotypes. Possible mechanisms of inhibition include perturbation of protein dynamics, interference with RNA binding, and disruption of enzyme oligomerization.
Competent Reasoning With Rational Numbers

This study, in which I analyzed students' reasoning with rational numbers expressed as fractions, challenges the view that competent numerical reasoning depends on learning a few general methods from instruction and applying them consistently to solve problems. The results indicate that competent reasoning depends on a much richer and more diverse knowledge base that includes many numerically specific and invented strategies, as well as the general strategies learned from instruction. These strategies are richly connected and flexibly applied to solve problems. Elementary school, middle school, and high school students solved four tasks that assessed their knowledge of fraction order and equivalence. The detailed analysis of their solutions revealed four basic perspectives on rational numbers: part-whole relations within divided quantities, relations between numerical components (numerators and denominators), locations relative to well-known reference numbers, and transformations to equivalent numerical f...
Considerations in prewarning clients of the limitations of confidentiality.

Many clinicians have advocated that therapists should pre-warn clients of the limitations of confidentiality prior to the initiation of therapy. Surprisingly, little attention has been given to arguments against prewarning clients. The present work notes that the act of prewarning may subvert the intent and effectiveness of numerous laws and legal rulings designed for the protection of innocent victims. Discussion is provided regarding how certain laws may have placed psychologists in the role of an agent of society.
Convergence of the natural approximations of piecewise monotone interval maps.

We consider piecewise monotone interval mappings which are topologically mixing and satisfy the Markov property. It has previously been shown that the invariant densities of the natural approximations converge exponentially fast in uniform pointwise topology to the invariant density of the given map provided its derivative is piecewise Lipshitz continuous. We provide an example of a map which is Lipshitz continuous and for which the densities converge in the bounded variation norm at a logarithmic rate. This shows that in general one cannot expect exponential convergence in the bounded variation norm. Here we prove that if the derivative of the interval map is Holder continuous and its variation is well approximable (γ-uniform variation for γ>0), then the densities converge exponentially fast in the norm.
Spatial and temporal variations in long-term normal percent possible solar radiation levels in the United States

Abstract The purpose of this study was to analyze the time and space variations in long-term monthly-averaged daily percent possible solar radiation levels in the United States. Both principal components analysis and harmonic analysis were used to identify the influences of various synoptic-scale climatological phenomena on solar radiation receipt. Generally, an annual cycle was found with maximum percent possible radiation levels occurring in July. In many regions the temporal variance structure deviated from this general annual cycle. The results, which are useful in both theoretical and practical studies, lead to a better understanding of the climatology of solar radiation in the United States.
Dynamic stability and compensatory stepping responses during anterior gait–slip perturbations in people with chronic hemiparetic stroke

To examine the control of dynamic stability and characteristics of the compensatory stepping responses to an unexpected anterior gait slip induced under the non-involved limb in people with hemi-paretic stroke (PwHS) and to examine any resulting adaptive changes in these on the second slip due to experience from prior slip exposure. Ten PwHS experienced overground slip (S1) during walking on the laboratory walkway after 5-8 regular walking (RW) trials followed by a second consecutive slip trial (S2). The slip outcome (backward loss of balance, BLOB and no loss of balance, NLOB) and COM state (i.e. its COM position and velocity) stability were examined between the RW and S1 and S1 and S2 at touchdown (TD) of non-involved limb and at liftoff (LO) of the contralateral limb. At TD there was no difference in stability between RW and S1, however at LO, subjects demonstrated a lower stability on S1 than RW resulting in a 100% backward loss of balance (BLOB) with compensatory stepping response (recovery step, RS, 4/10 or aborted step, AS, 6/10). On S2, although there was no change in stability at TD, there was a significant improvement in stability at LO with a 40% decrease in BLOB. There was also a change in step strategy with a decrease in AS response (60% to 35%, p<0.05) which was replaced by an increase in the ability to step (increased compensatory step length, p<0.05) either via a recovery step or a walkover step. PwHS have the ability to reactively control COM state stability to decrease fall-risk upon a novel slip; prior exposure to a slip did not significantly alter feedforward control but improved the ability to use such feedback control for improved slip outcomes.
Spectroscopic Study of Low-Lying 16N Levels

The magnitude of the {sup 15}N(n,{gamma}){sup 16}N reaction rate in asymptotic giant branch stars depends directly on the neutron spectroscopic factors of low-lying {sup 16}N levels. A new study of the {sup 15}N(d,p){sup 16}N reaction is reported populating the ground and first three excited states in {sup 16}N. The measured spectroscopic factors are near unity as expected from shell model calculations, resolving a long-standing discrepancy with earlier measurements that had never been confirmed or understood. Updated {sup 15}N(n,{gamma}){sup 16}N reaction rates are presented.
Surface detection of chemical warfare agent simulants and degradation products

Abstract Chemical warfare agent (CWA) simulants as well as their degradation and hydrolysis products were detected from surfaces using thermal desorption ion mobility spectrometry (TD-IMS). CWA simulant materials that closely mimic the chemical structures of real CWA G/V-type nerve and S-type vesicant simulants were used in this study. Reduced mobility constants (K0) in air were reported for 20 compounds studied. Spectra for sample materials as low as 1 ng deposited on a paper filter were produced for most of the compounds. Detection limits as low as 15 pg of sample material with a sensitivity of 3.2 × 102 ampere per gram (A g−1) were reported. TD-IMS, which is normally used for the detection of explosives and drugs of abuse, demonstrated the capability of separating and detecting mixtures of CWA simulants, degradation and hydrolysis products from surface samples. TD-IMS demonstrated clear advantages of speed, high throughput and versatility over chromatographic methods of analysis for detecting CWA simulants, degradation and hydrolysis products. Successful development of the technique may lead to a practical and simple sensor for CWA and related compounds that could be installed and used at sensitive locations around the USA and throughout the world.
Teratoid Wilms’ tumor, an important variant of nephroblastoma

Abstract Purpose The teratoid histologic variant of Wilms’ tumor is rare, with only 15 prior reported cases. We review these and report an additional case in which a cytogenetic abnormality was identified that has not previously been reported in a teratoid Wilms’ tumor. Materials and methods A medline search revealed 15 previously reported cases of the teratoid variant of Wilms’ tumor. We summarized the characteristics of these cases with attention to radiologic appearance, stage, laterality, histology, response to chemotherapy and outcomes. Results Characteristic radiologic features suggesting teratoid Wilms’ tumor were calcific densities and stippling, or areas of attenuation indicating adipose tissue. The majority of teratoid Wilms’ tumor patients had a high tumor stage at presentation (50% stage III or greater). The incidence of bilateral tumors was 38%. Chemotherapy was administered in nine cases and in only one (11%) was there a cytoreductive response. Four deaths (25%) occurred amongst these patients. Conclusions Teratoid Wilms’ tumors appear to present with a high stage, increased incidence of bilaterality and have a high mortality rate. Treatment strategies should focus on total surgical extirpation, including metastatic sites when feasible, due to this entity's limited response to chemotherapy.
Heliospheric Response to Different Possible Interstellar Environments

At present, the heliosphere is embedded in a warm, low-density interstellar cloud that belongs to a cloud system flowing through the local standard of rest with a velocity near ~18 km s-1. The velocity structure of the nearest interstellar material (ISM), combined with theoretical models of the local interstellar cloud (LIC), suggest that the Sun passes through cloudlets on timescales of ≤103-104 yr, so the heliosphere has been, and will be, exposed to different interstellar environments over time. By means of a multifluid model that treats plasma and neutral hydrogen self-consistently, the interaction of the solar wind with a variety of partially ionized ISM is investigated, with the focus on low-density cloudlets such as are currently near the Sun. Under the assumption that the basic solar wind parameters remain/were as they are today, a range of ISM parameters (from cold neutral to hot ionized, with various densities and velocities) is considered. In response to different interstellar boundary conditions, the heliospheric size and structure change, as does the abundance of interstellar and secondary neutrals in the inner heliosphere, and the cosmic-ray level in the vicinity of Earth. Some empirical relations between interstellar parameters and heliospheric boundary locations, as well as neutral densities, are extracted from the models.
Total-Dose Hardness Assurance for Low Earth Orbit

The Low Earth Orbit radiation environment has two significant characteristics that make laboratory simulation exposures difficult: (1) a low dose rate and (2) many cycles of low dose accumulation followed by dose-free annealing. Hardness assurance considerations for this environment are discussed and related to data from the testing of Advanced Low Power Schottky and High-speed CMOS devices.
Human pancreas-specific protein disulfide-isomerase (PDIp) can function as a chaperone independently of its enzymatic activity by forming stable complexes with denatured substrate proteins

Members of the PDI (protein disulfide-isomerase) family are critical for the correct folding of secretory proteins by catalysing disulfide bond formation as well as by serving as molecular chaperones to prevent protein aggregation. In the present paper, we report that the chaperone activity of the human pancreas-specific PDI homologue (PDIp) is independent of its enzymatic activity on the basis of the following lines of evidence. First, alkylation of PDIp by iodoacetamide fully abolishes its enzymatic activity, whereas it still retains most of its chaperone activity in preventing the aggregation of reduced insulin B chain and denatured GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase). Secondly, mutation of the cysteine residues in PDIp's active sites completely abolishes its enzymatic activity, but does not affect its chaperone activity. Thirdly, the b-b' fragment of PDIp, which does not contain the active sites and is devoid of enzymatic activity, still has chaperone activity. Mechanistically, we found that both the recombinant PDIp expressed in Escherichia coli and the natural PDIp present in human or monkey pancreas can form stable complexes with thermal-denatured substrate proteins independently of their enzymatic activity. The high-molecular-mass soluble complexes between PDIp and GAPDH are formed in a stoichiometric manner (subunit ratio of 1:3.5-4.5), and can dissociate after storage for a certain time. As a proof-of-concept for the biological significance of PDIp in intact cells, we demonstrated that its selective expression in E. coli confers strong protection of these cells against heat shock and oxidative-stress-induced death independently of its enzymatic activity.
Achievement of autonomy by nonhandicapped and mildly learning handicapped adolescents

This study examines the achievement of autonomy by a sample of 30 midly learning handicapped and 30 nonhandicapped adolescents. From participant observation over the course of a school year, a detailed account was obtained about the life of each subject, both in the home and among friends outside the home. Findings suggest that autonomy is achieved through a gradual process of negotiation during the high school years. The mildly handicapped adolescents generally lag behind their regular education counterparts in breaking away from the family. While almost three-fourths of the nonhandicapped sample had made significant gains toward increased freedom, less than half of the mildly handicapped sample had shed close supervision by parents. However, most of the handicapped adolescents were satisfied with the limited freedom they had. The data suggest that autonomy should be understood as relative to the needs and abilities of each individual. Not all adolescents develop at the same pace; not all feel the same desire to assert their independence from their parents when they reach a particular age.
In2O3/Al2O3 Catalysts for NOx Reduction in Lean Condition

Abstract The lean NO x performance and catalytic properties of In 2 O 3 /Al 2 O 3 catalysts were investigated. High lean NO x activity was observed when propene was used as a reductant in the presence of 9% O 2 and 7% H 2 O at a space velocity of 30,000 h −1 . The optimum lean NO x activity of In 2 O 3 /Al 2 O 3 catalysts was observed at a loading of 2.5 wt% indium on γ-Al 2 O 3 which was prepared by a sol–gel technique (230 m 2 /g). When propane was used as a reductant, the In 2 O 3 /Al 2 O 3 catalyst did not promote NO x reduction compared to the alumina substrate. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) have been used to characterize a series of In 2 O 3 /Al 2 O 3 catalysts to increase understanding of the surface structure of indium oxide species on the alumina support. The XRD data indicated that crystalline In 2 O 3 was present at In 2 O 3 loadings >5 wt% and the quantity of the crystalline phase increased as a function of indium loading. XPS results suggested that indium oxide existed as a well-dispersed phase up to 10 wt% indium. The well-dispersed or reducible indium oxide species below 400°C in TPR experiments were assigned as the sites which activate propene to oxygenated hydrocarbons such as acetaldehyde and acrolein. Alumina sites readily utilize the oxygenated hydrocarbons to reduce NO x . A bifunction mechanism was proposed to explain high NO x reduction over In 2 O 3 /Al 2 O 3 catalysts.
Effects of novel intramammary device models on incidence of mastitis after experimental challenge.

Abstract First-calf heifers were fitted with five different intramammary device models prior to, or within 2 mo after parturition. Each model represented an increase in the weight of the device to be supported by the epithelial cells of the gland cistern. Each model was tested in four animals by placing devices in two quarters while remaining quarters served as controls. Foremilk and stripping quarter secretion samples were collected prior to device placement and weekly thereafter and analyzed for total and differential cell counts, bacteriologic status, and NAGase activity. During the prebacterial challenge treatment period, foremilk and stripping SCC as well as percentage of neutrophils and NAGase activity in most device-fitted quarters remained significantly elevated over controls. Frequency of naturally occurring intramammary infection during the prechallenge period was lowest in quarters fitted with Models 2, 4, and 5. Frequency of infection with coagulase-negative staphylococci also tended to be lower in quarters fitted with Models 2, 4, and 5. Approximately 4 mo after device placement, all quarters were challenged by intracisternal inoculation with about 565 cfu Streptococcus uberis . Results across all models combined showed that although mean foremilk and stripping SCC and percentage of neutrophils were significantly elevated in device-fitted quarters immediately prior to bacterial challenge, only Model 4 showed a protective effect. Several models were superior to others in elevating SCC and percentage of neutrophils, but no differences in susceptibility to Strep. uberis infection were observed among models based on these cytological characteristics.