cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibitory effects of progesterone differ in dendritic cells from female and male rodents

Abstract Background: Steroid hormones, such as progesterone, are known to have immunomodulatory effects. Our research group previously reported direct effects of progesterone on dendritic cells (DCs) from female rodents. Primarily affecting mature DC function, progesterone effects included inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine secretion, downregulation of cell surface marker (major histocompatibility complex class II, CD80) expression, and decreased T-cell proliferative capacity, and were likely mediated through progesterone receptor (PR) because the PR antagonist RU486 reversed these effects. Objective: The goal of this study was to assess differences in response to progesterone by DCs from female and male rodents. Methods: Using real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction, transcriptional expression of steroid hormone receptors was measured in immature bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) from male and female rats. Expression of steroid hormone receptor protein was also assessed in these cells using flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. To evaluate functional differences between BMDCs from female and male rats in response to the steroid hormone progesterone, levels of secreted cytokines were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Higher numbers of immature BMDCs from males expressed glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and androgen receptor (AR) proteins compared with females (males vs females, mean [SD]: GR = 68.75 [7.27] vs 43.61 [13.97], P = NS; AR = 75.99 [15.38] vs 8.25 [1.88], P = 0.002), whereas higher numbers of immature BMDCs from females expressed PR protein compared with males (females vs males: PR = 74.19 [12.11] vs 14.14 [4.55], P = 0.043). These differences were not found at the level of transcription (females vs males: GR = 0.088 vs 0.073, P = NS; AR = 0.076 vs 0.069, P = NS; PR = 0.075 vs 0.065, P = NS). Compared with those from females, mature BMDCs from males produced higher quantities of cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], interleukin [IL]-1β, IL-10) (females vs males: TNF-α = 920.0 [79.25] vs 1100.61 [107.97], P = NS; IL-1β = 146.60 [38.04] vs 191.10 [10.47], P = NS; IL-10 = 167.25 [4.50] vs 206.15 [23.48], P = NS). Conversely, BMDCs from females were more sensitive to progesterone, as indicated by a more dramatic reduction in proinflammatory cytokine secretion (females vs males, highest concentration of progesterone: TNF-α = 268.94 [28.59] vs 589.91 [100.98], P = 0.04; IL-1β = 119.50 [10.32] vs 154.35 [6.22], P = NS). Conclusions: These findings suggest that progesterone effects on DCs in rodents may be more pronounced in females than in males, and this is likely due to differences in PR protein expression. Our observations may help elucidate disparities in the incidence and severity of autoimmune disorders between females and males, and the role specific steroid hormones play in regulating immune responses.
Video-assisted endoscopic esophagectomy with stapled intrathoracic esophagogastric anastomosis

Thoracic esophagus was usually removed through the transhiatal approach or via an open thoracotomy. The long incision and spreading of the ribs usually resulted in much pain and interference with chest wall mechanics. Today, with the development of a video-assisted endoscopic procedure, many intrathoracic lesions can be removed through small incision. Since March 1992 we have attempted 20 esophagectomies and reconstruction using a right thoracoscopic approach in 16 males and 4 females whose average age was 56 years. Indications for its use were esophageal cancer in 17 patients (squamous cell carcinoma in 12 patients, adenocarcinoma in 5) and caustic stenosis in 3. It is our impression that video-assisted endoscopic esophagectomy and reconstruction potentially causes less trauma, less postoperative discomfort, and a rapid functional recuperation. Our initial experiences showed that it is a feasible, effective procedure.
Synthesis and Film-Forming Properties of Ethynylporphyrins

Thermal treatment of ethynyl porphyrin monomers on a surface has been found to yield robust porphyrin films. The scope of this in situ polymerization has been surveyed by the synthesis and characterization of a collection of 20 zinc porphyrins bearing diverse patterns of 1−4 ethyne (or protected ethyne) groups and a variety of nonlinking substituents. Films have been prepared on Si(100), SiO2, Au(111), and glass. The films prepared on Si(100) have been examined by electrochemical methods, which indicate that surface coverages 50-fold greater than those of saturation-coverage monolayers are achievable, although the coverage varies appreciably (10-fold) among the survey group of molecules under a controlled set of film-forming conditions. Variation in these conditions affords control over the number of layers in the film (from a few to tens or more). The electrochemical characteristics of the multilayer films further indicate that the redox thermodynamics are of comparable homogeneity to those of monolayers...
Two Decades of Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair: Enormous Progress With Serious Lessons Learned

The modern open surgical management of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) has changed little since its inception in the 1950s. Endoaneurysmorrhaphy, first described by Rudolph Matas in 1888, involved ligating the branches of an aneurysm from within the aneurysm sac. Approximately 25 years later at the
Application of intracytoplasmic sperm injection in assisted reproductive technologies

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) entails the mechanical insertion of a chosen spermatozoon directly into the cytoplasm of an oocyte. Due to the consistent fertilization and pregnancy outcome, ICSI is routinely used to treat azoospermic patients where spermatozoa are retrieved by epididymal aspiration or testicular biopsy. Since male subfertility has been associated with a higher incidence of genomic defects, ranging from numerical chromosomal abnormalities to Yq microdeletions, concerns have been raised as to the risk of transmitting genetic defects to the offspring. Screening for such defects can provide invaluable information for appropriate counselling prior to ICSI treatment. In order to address these concerns, a follow-up of the children born after ICSI treatment was conducted.
Mechanically and/or thermally generated dynamic response of thick spherical and cylindrical shells with variable material properties

Abstract The complete solution for the dynamic response due to time-dependent mechanical and/or thermal loading of spherical and cylindrical shells with arbitrary time-dependent boundary conditions is obtained. The uncoupled thermomechanical problem is treated for these arbitrarily thick shells, which are assumed to exhibit respectively only radially symmetric and axially symmetric (pure radial) variances in material properties, loading, and motion. The solution is the popular series expansion of the product of modes of free vibration and a generalized co-ordinate; however, use of a generalized Fourier transform to determine a generalized co-ordinate which contains all physically admissible boundary conditions represents a fruitful departure from the usual methodology. The solution is direct and simple to achieve. The solutions for layered shells are given in full detail. All classical structural members can be solved under very general conditions using the technique presented.
Increased urinary excretion of aromatic amino acid catabolites by Microtus montanus chronically infected with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense

Abstract 1. 1. Microtus montanus infected with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense for 16 and 21 days excreted significantly greater quantities of several aromatic amino acid catabolites when compared to uninfected control animals. 2. 2. Very large quantities of three aromatic α-keto acids (α-oxocarboxylic acids), phenylpyruvic acid, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid and indole-3-pyruvic acid, were excreted by infected animals. Increased excretion of indole-3-lactic acid and indole-3-acetic acid was also detected. 3. 3. Gas chromatographic-mass spectral analysis of the trimethylsilyl derivatives of phenylpyruvic acid, 4-hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid and indole-3-pyruvic acid confirms the identity of the aromatic α-keto acids elevated during infection. 4. 4. The marked α-keto aciduria indicates that a large disturbance exists in aromatic amino acid metabolism in this chronic animal model of African trypanosomiasis. The disturbance may contribute to the pathogenesis of the disease. The increased catabolite concentrations may also prove to be useful diagnostically and prognostically.
Globalization and Organizational Change: Engineers' Experiences and Their Implications for Engineering Education.

The demand for flexible engineers presents significant challenges to engineering education. Among these is the need for engineers to be prepared to understand and deal with organizational change. Yet engineering education and research on engineers have overlooked the impact of organizational change on engineering work. After outlining the impact of globalization on organizational change, this paper contributes to our understanding of how engineers experienced organizational change immediately after a merger when two major aerospace companies came together, bringing two different corporate cultures together and different models for the organization of work. Based on the analysis of these experiences, this paper offers, first, a hypothesis connecting engineers’ educational experiences with their responses to organizational change and, second, a curriculum proposal to help students prepare for the complex experiences of engineering work in ever changing organizations.
A paradigm shift in the surgical reconstruction of extra-articular distal humeral fractures: Single-column plating

Abstract Objectives The study aimed (1) to examine if there are equivalent results in terms of union, alignment and elbow functionally comparing single- to dual-column plating of AO/OTA 13A2 and A3 distal humeral fractures and (2) if there are more implant-related complications in patients managed with bicolumnar plating compared to single-column plate fixation. Design This was a multi-centred retrospective comparative study. Setting The study was conducted at two academic level 1 trauma centres. Patients/participants A total of 105 patients were identified to have surgical management of extra-articular distal humeral fractures Arbeitsgemeinschaft fur Osteosynthesefragen/Orthopaedic Trauma Association (AO/OTA) 13A2 and AO/OTA 13A3). Intervention Patients were treated with traditional dual-column plating or a single-column posterolateral small-fragment pre-contoured locking plate used as a neutralisation device with at least five screws in the short distal segment. Main outcome measurements The patients’ elbow functionality was assessed in terms of range of motion, union and alignment. In addition, the rate of complications between the groups including radial nerve palsy, implant-related complications (painful prominence and/or ulnar nerve neuritis) and elbow stiffness were compared. Results Patients treated with single-column plating had similar union rates and alignment. However, single-column plating resulted in a significantly better range of motion with less complications. Conclusions The current study suggests that exposure/instrumentation of only the lateral column is a reliable and preferred technique. This technique allows for comparable union rates and alignment with increased elbow functionality and decreased number of complications.
Simplifying a polygonal subdivision while keeping it simple

We study the problem of simplifying a polygonal subdivision, subjectof a given error bound, $\epsilon$, and subject to maintaining the topology of the input, while not introducing new (Steiner) vertices. In particular, we require that the simplified chains may not cross themselves or cross other chains. In GIS applications, for example, we are interested in simplifying the banks of a river without the left and right banks getting “tangled” and without “islands” becoming part of the land mass. Maintaining topology during subdivision simplification is an important constraint in many real GIS applications.\noindent We give both theoretical and experimental results.(a). We prove that the general problem we are trying to solve is in fact difficult to solve, even approximately: we show that it is MIN PB-complete and that, in particular, assuming P $\neq$ NP, in the general case we cannot obtain in polynomial time an approximation within a factor $n^{1/5-\delta}$ of an optimal solution.(b). We propose some heuristic methods for solving the problem, which we have implemented. Our experimental results show that, in practice, we get quite good simplifications in a reasonable amount of time.
Weitz on literary evaluation

In Hamlet and the Philosophy o f Literary Criticism, ~ Morris Weitz offers a prescriptivist account of aesthetic evaluation based primarily on arguments to the conclusion that descriptivism is logically precluded. In this paper I argue that Weitz' arguments against descriptivism are inadequate, and that there is no reason to accept his version of prescriptivism. Weitz is a prescriptivist insofar as he claims that "Hamle t is dramatically great" is neither true nor false. But he also claims that descriptions "support" evaluations. Thus, he asserts that "some critical evaluations are or can be validated; that is, some evaluative utterances can be supported by good reasons: by criteria or principles the employment of which cannot sensibly be questioned." (pp. 277-8) Weitz elucidates his concept of "support" by considering the following critical dialogue form:
Monte Carlo simulations of H2 physisorption in finite-diameter carbon nanotube ropes

We report the results of classical, grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations of the physisorption of H2 in finite-diameter `ropes' of parallel single-walled carbon nanotubes. The strong dependence of the gravimetric adsorption on the diameter of the rope is correlated with computed values of the specific surface area. The grooves on the external surfaces of the ropes are shown to provide a high binding-energy adsorption site, comparable in strength to those in the endohedral pores. Our results suggest that delamination of nanotube ropes should increase the gravimetric storage capacity.
Quenching of triplet vinylidene radicals by helium

Abstract Triplet vinylidene radicals, produced in the vacuum-ultraviolet photolysis of acetylene, are observed in absorption at 137.4 nm. The lifetime in the presence of helium, for both the protonated and deuterated species, has been determined. Expressed as a bimolecular rate constant the values are k He H = (1.3 ± 0.3) × 10 −14 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 and k He D = (2.4 ± 0.4 × 10 −15 cm 3 molecule −1 s −1 . An upper limit for removal by acetylene has been deduced.
Strategic planning as a contributor to strategic change: a generative model

Abstract In this paper, I describe an alternative model of a strategic planning process that attempts to link planning processes both with new views of the sources of competitive advantage and with the multiple theoretical lenses used to understand strategic change. I hypothesize that this is possible in a redesigned planning process that engages a broad group of organizational members in a strategic dialogue in which hypothetical futures are generated and tested, in a cognitive loop; then implemented as new capabilities, in a behavioral loop. This paper takes as its focus the relationship of strategic planning to strategic change. It hypothesizes that a `generative' model of planning processes, which I contrast with a more traditional approach to planning, offers the possibility of linking the two concepts more effectively. The argument utilizes learning and cognitive theories to support its point, and locates this discussion within the mainstream of the literature on strategy-making processes. It then delineates the specific differentiating dimensions of the generative model, posits the model's impact on firm performance, and finally, draws out implications for testing.
Generalized phase behavior of small molecules and nanoparticles.

Prediction and understanding of the thermodynamic properties and kinetics of phase transitions in molecular systems depends on tuning intermolecular interactions such that the desired structures are assembled. These interactions can depend on the solvent temperature and composition and are difficult to determine in an a priori manner. This is especially true for large and complex molecules and nanoparticles with functionalized surfaces. Here, we demonstrate the use of the pair contribution of the long-time self-diffusivity determined by pulsed-field gradient spin−echo nuclear magnetic resonance as a probe of these interactions. Materials with high solubilities have scaled long-time self-diffusivity, D2, values that are close to hard sphere values and decrease as the solubility decreases. We find a remarkable correlation between solubility and D2 for a wide range of hydrogen-bonding solutes that crystallize upon quenching solutions from high temperature. This generalized phase behavior can be understood in...
Supervisory Communication and Performance in Urban Hospitals

The relationship between the communicative effectiveness of hospital supervisory personnel and their performance as perceived by subordinate workers was examined through use of questionnaire interview. Communicative effectiveness measures included (1) perceived communication behavior, (2) frequency and amount of communication between supervisors and subordinates, (3) employee knowledge of hospital policies and procedures, (4) perceived employee communication satisfaction and (5) perceived use of formal channels of communication by non-supervisory workers. Performance ratings included scales on human relations, administrative and technical skills. Hypotheses predicted positive correlations (1) between communication effectiveness and performance, (2) between amount (and frequency) of communication and performance, (3) between employees’ communication satisfaction and supervisor performance, (4) between employee knowledge of hospital policies (and procedures) and supervisor performance ratings, and (5) between amount of use (by employees) of formal channels of communication and supervisor performance ratings. With noted exceptions, the first three hypotheses were supported. Results are discussed in the context of related studies of supervisory communication and performance in hospitals and in industry.
Adsorption of HCl on Single-Crystal α-Al2O3 (0001) Surface: A DFT Study

First principles calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) and the pseudopotential method have been used to study the adsorption of HCl on the basal plane of an α-Al2O3 crystal. The calculations accurately reproduce the energetic and structural properties of bulk alumina and of the α-Al2O3 (0001) surface. A 2 × 2 supercell slab model was used to study both the molecular and dissociative adsorption of HCl on the α-Al2O3 (0001) surface. Our calculations indicate that the dissociative configurations have adsorption energies that are at least 28 kcal/mol greater than the molecular configurations on the surface. Several ionic adsorption configurations have been investigated in which the proton is adsorbed on a nearest neighbor surface O-ion site (1−2 adsorption), or a next nearest neighbor surface O-site (1−4 adsorption). We have found that the highest binding energy corresponds to 1−2 adsorption. Analysis of the surface coverage effects shows that by increasing the coverage of 1−2 adsorbed HCl mol...
Taking risks with the precautionary principle: food (and the environment) for thought at the European Commission

Various parties relate to the precautionary principle with various understandings, claims and hopes. One of the ways to comprehend this multiplicity of meanings is to examine the composition of this problematic norm in the societal and institutional settings where it occurs. In this paper, I address its elaboration on the European Union institutional terrain with the European Commission's Communication on the Precautionary Principle. This effectuation of the precautionary principle embraces a number of issues of transnational or multilevel governance, expertise, legitimacy and sovereignty. The crucial matter that this paper engages in initially is that of risk analysis, the procedural framework that the precautionary principle confronts with its innovative articulations of science and policy-making, but to which I argue that it succumbs in part. Also explored, in turn, are further framings of the precautionary principle: science versus policy, a given policy domain—environment—in relation to others, as we...
The Periodic Acid‐Schiff Reaction in Neutrophil Leukocytes in Chronic Myeloproliferative Diseases A microspectrophotometric study

Microspectrophotometric quantification of the PAS reaction has been carried out in about 4500 individual mature neutrophil leukocytes from 20 normal persons, and from 15 patients with chronic myelocytic leukaemia (CML), 18 patients with myeloid metaplasia, and 17 patients with polycythaemia vera (PV). The reaction is considered to be a quantitative measure of the amount of PAS reactive material (PASMa) in neutrophils, most of it probably glycogen. Neutro-phils from CML had a mean amount of PASMa that was 39 per cent below normal, the frequency distribution of PASMa per cell being approximately normal in individual cases. Neutrophils from myeloid metaplasia usually had elevated mean amounts of PASMa and considerably elevated variance between cells within subjects. Neutrophils from PV had a mean amount of PASMa that was 33 per cent above normal, with a highly augmented variance between cells within subjects. There was no correlation between the number of nuclear lobes and the amount of PASMa per cell in any diagnostic group. The quantified PAS reaction is considered to be of diagnostic importance for the differentiation of CML and myeloid metaplasia.
Effects of low harmonics on tone identification in natural and vocoded speech

This study investigated the contribution of low-frequency harmonics to identifying Mandarin tones in natural and vocoded speech in quiet and noisy conditions. Results showed that low-frequency harmonics of natural speech led to highly accurate tone identification; however, for vocoded speech, low-frequency harmonics yielded lower tone identification than stimuli with full harmonics, except for tone 4. Analysis of the correlation between tone accuracy and the amplitude-F0 correlation index suggested that “more” speech contents (i.e., more harmonics) did not necessarily yield better tone recognition for vocoded speech, especially when the amplitude contour of the signals did not co-vary with the F0 contour.
A study of stationary crack-tip deformation fields in thin sheets by computer vision

The in-plane deformation fields near a stationary crack tip for thin, single edge-notched (SEN) specimens, made from Plexiglas, 3003 aluminum alloy and 304 stainless steel, have been successfully obtained by using computer vision. Results from the study indicate that (a) in-plane deformations ranging from elastic to fully plastic can be obtained accurately by the method, (b) for U, $$\varepsilon _{xx} $$ and $$\varepsilon _{xy} $$ , the size of the HRR dominant zone is much smaller than forV and $$\varepsilon _{yy} $$ , respectively. Since these results are in agreement with recent analytical work, suggesting that higher order terms will be needed to accurately predict trends in the data, it is clear that the region where the first term in the asymptotic solution is dominant is dependent on the component of the deformation field being studied, (c) the HRR solution can be used to quantity $$\varepsilon _{yy} $$ only in regions where theplastic strains strongly dominate the elastic strain components (i.e., when $$\left| {\varepsilon _{yy}^{el} /\left. {\varepsilon _{yy}^{pl} } \right|} \right.< .03 - .05$$ ); forV, the HRR zone appears to extend somewhat beyond this region, (d) the displacement componentU does not have the HRR singularity anywhere within the measurement region for either 3003 aluminum or 304 SS. However, the displacement componentV agrees with the HRR slope up to the plastic-zone boundary in 3003 aluminum ( $$5{\text{ }}J/\sigma _0< r< 2{\text{5 }}J/\sigma _0 $$ ) and over most of the region where measurements were obtained ( $$J/\sigma _0< r< 8{\text{ }}J/\sigma _0 $$ ) in 304 SS and (e) the effects of end conditions must be included in any finite-element model of typical SEN specimen geometries to accurately calculate theJ integral and the crack-tip fields.
One or two different sets of laws of learning—Is this an empirical question?

Theoretical arguments were developed to show that the answer to the question posed in the title is in the negative. First, it has been shown that one cannot answer the question by making empirical observations. Second, the answer, a unified theory of learning, is directly derived from the self-evident propositions of science.
CONVEX BODIES AND GAUSSIAN PROCESSES

For several decades, the topics of the title have had a fruitful interaction. This survey will describe some of these connections, including the GB/GC classification of convex bodies, Ito-Nisio singularities from a geometric viewpoint, Gaussian representation of intrinsic volumes, theWills functional in a Gaussian context, and inequalities.
A broad-spectrum antifungal from the marine sponge Hyrtios erecta.

Abstract Spongistatin 1, a macrocyclic lactone polyether from the marine sponge Hyrtios erecta , was fungicidal for a variety of opportunistic yeasts and filamentous fungi, including strains resistant to amphotericin B, ketoconazole and flucytosine. In broth macrodilution assays, MICs ranged from 0.195 to 12.5 μ g/ml, and minimum fungicidal concentrations ranged from 3.12 to 25 μ g/ml. Initial disk diffusion screens with six related macrocyclic lactone polyethers from H . erecta and Spirastrella spinispirulifera , revealed that these polyethers were also antifungal. The fungicidal activity of spongistatin 1 was confirmed in killing kinetics studies, where killing of Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans occurred within 6 and 12 h, respectively. During the killing kinetics experiments, non-treated C . albicans maintained the yeast morphology. However, elongated forms resembling germ tubes were the predominant morphologic form in spongistatin 1-treated C . albicans cultures. The spongistatins show promise as potential antifungal agents and as probes to study fungal morphogenesis and nuclear division.
Composite-fermion description of correlated electrons in quantum dots: Low-Zeeman-energy limit.

We study the applicability of composite-fermion theory to electrons in two-dimensional parabolically confined quantum dots in a strong perpendicular magnetic field in the limit of low Zeeman energy. The noninteracting composite fermion spectrum correctly specifies the primary features of this system. Additional features are relatively small, indicating that the residual interaction between the composite fermions is weak.
Nucleophilic Substitution Reactions Using Phosphine Nucleophiles: An Introduction to Phosphorus-31 NMR

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is commonly used in modern synthetic chemistry to monitor the conversion of reactants to products. Since instruction in the use of NMR spectroscopy typically does not occur until after the introduction of nucleophilic substitution reactions, organic chemistry students are not able to take advantage of this technique to measure and quantify important concepts such as relative electrophile and nucleophile reactivity. A phosphorus-31 (31P) NMR spectroscopy experiment is reported that allows undergraduate students to monitor product formation for a number of different alkyl halide electrophiles and phosphorus nucleophiles. In this experiment, students are able to use reactant-to-product ratios obtained by simple 31P NMR spectroscopy to explore the relative reactivities of these compounds. This exercise serves as an introduction to both NMR spectroscopy and the specific advantages of heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy.
Total cost of ownership, payback, and consumer preference modeling of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles

Motor vehicles represent one of the widely owned assets in the US. A vehicle’s ownership cost includes fixed expenses to purchase and own the vehicle and variable costs to use and operate the vehicle. Policymakers, analysts and consumers are interested in understanding the total ownership costs of various vehicle types and technologies so as to understand their relative consumer preference and valuation. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are an advanced technology vehicle that is presently in limited production, but whose relative cost of ownership is not well-defined. A few studies have attempted to calculate the costs and benefits of PHEVs but none consider the cost and benefits of PHEVs at a level of detail comparable to what has been performed for other vehicle technologies. In order to understand the costs and benefits of PHEVs purchase and use, this study constructs a comprehensive ownership cost model. The model is then used to analyze different PHEV designs within four vehicle classes. This study then performs a sensitivity analysis to understand the sensitivity of total ownership cost and payback period to model parameters and the modeled components of ownership costs. Results show that a more comprehensive PHEV ownership cost model has a lower net cost of ownership than studies to date, resulting in a shorter payback period and higher consumer preference.
Recombinant channel catfish virus (Ictalurid herpesvirus 1) can express foreign genes and induce antibody production against the gene product.

The potential use of channel catfish virus (CCV) (Ictalurid herpesvirus 1) as a vaccine vector for the channel catfish industry was investigated by inserting the Escherichia coli lacZ gene into the CCV genome and evaluating the immune response to the foreign gene product in catfish exposed to the recombinant. The recombinant virus was produced by inserting the lacZ in reading frame with the ATG start codon of the CCV thymidine kinase (TK) gene in the recombinant transfer plasmid pBSCV457 described previously. The plasmid was then cotransfected with CCV DNA in a TK gene-mediated selectable homologous recombination. The recombinant progeny were selected by resistance to 0.1 mM acycloguanosine (acyclovir) and the production of blue plaques in the presence of 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-galactopyranoside (X-gal). The resultant construct (CCVlacZ) was TK−, and contained the lacZ gene at both TK loci in the genome. β-Galactosidase expression in infected CCO ceils reached 0.53 μg per 106 CCO cells at 12 h post-infection. When channel catfish fingerlings were immersion exposed to CCVlacZ, these developed an antibody response to the inserted foreign gene product which peaked at approximately 15–20 days post-infection. Additionally, the anti-β-galactosidase response was significantly enhanced when the fingerlings were re-exposed to the virus 20 days after the initial exposure. These results demonstrate that foreign genes can be inserted into and expressed by CCV and that such constructs could be used as vaccine vectors.
Stimulatory factor for tRNA aminoacylation. Possible product of modifier genes in Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract A factor which stimulates the aminoacylation of heterologous and homologous tRNAs for lysine and leucine, as well as a mixture of amino acids, has been isolated from cytoplasmic extracts in Drosophila. The stimulatory factor is separated from inorganic pyrophosphatase activity by DEAE-cellulose chromatography and from aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase activity by trichloroacetic acid precipitation. It contains no nucleotidyl transferase activity. It is trypsinsensitive and heat-stable, indicating that it may be a small protein. Attempts to measure the molecular weight, however, indicate heterogeneity in size, ranging from 20 000 to 65 000. The A 53g mutant has four times as much factor as Ore-R adults at 0–2 days; by 6–8 days the level has declined to less than one and a half times that of Ore-R. The heightened aminoacylation activity in the mutant extract is accompanied by increased soluble protein levels. It is known that the stimulation of tRNA aminoacylation in A 53g is controlled by modifier genes which enhance the expression of the A 53g mutant. The possibility that the stimulation factor is a product of the modifier genes is examined.
Agglutination of Erythrocytes Freshly Washed with Saline Solution

Four cases are reported in which the patients' sera agglutinated all erythrocytes tested, including their own, provided the cells first had been freshly washed with saline solution. The reactions of these sera are described and compared with other reports of panagglutination and autoagglutination specifically related to the use of common laboratory solutions (albumin, saline, citrate, or oxalate).
Energy Dissipation by Breaking Waves

Abstract Recent field measurements by Agrawal et al. have provided evidence of a shallow surface mixed layer in which the rate of dissipation due to turbulence is one to two orders of magnitude greater than that in a comparable turbulent boundary layer over a rigid wall. It is shown that predictions by Phillips of the energy lost by breaking surface waves in an equilibrium regime and laboratory measurements by Rapp and Melville of the mixing and turbulence due to breaking together lead to estimates of the enhanced dissipation rate and the thickness of the surface layer consistent with the field measurements. Wave-age-dependent scaling of the dissipation layer is proposed. Laboratory measurements of dissipation rates in both unsteady and quasi-steady breaking waves are examined. It is shown that an appropriately defined dimensionless rate of dissipation in unsteady breaking waves is not constant, but increases with a measure of the wave slope. Differences between dissipation rates in quasi-steady and unste...
Pyramid computer algorithms for determining geometric properties of images

This paper gives several pyramid computer algorithms for determining geometric properties of black/white digitized pictures stored in the base of the pyramid. These algorithms determine properties such as convexity and nearest neighbors of black figures. We show that the pyramid is faster than either a tree of mesh machine, but, like the tree, the time needed by algorithms is quite sensitive to the amount of data movement required. We also consider modified pyramids in which each base processor stores many pixels, and machine models which are related to the pyramid.
Chapter 13: Current findings from prophylactic HPV vaccine trials.

Early data from randomized controlled trials consistently show that prophylactic human papillomavirus virus-like particle (HPV VLP) vaccines are effective in preventing infection and lesions caused by the targeted HPV type(s). Two vaccines, a bivalent HPV-16/18 VLP vaccine and a quadrivalent HPV-6/11/16/18 VLP vaccine, are currently undergoing evaluation in phase III trials with anticipation of receiving regulatory approval for use in immunization programs worldwide. Both vaccines have the potential to substantially reduce HPV-related morbidity and mortality. This review focuses on published data from clinical trials of these two vaccines. © 2006 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Small animal and infant liquid scintillation counter

Abstract Performance and calibration of a small animal or infant liquid scintillation counter is described. With this instrument it is possible to measure the total amount of potassium in an animal or an infant which contains 10–12 g of potassium with an accuracy of 4% at 1 standard deviation or at 8% for 2 standard deviations for a counting time of 15 min.
Effect of Altered Plasma pCO2 on Intracellular pH during Potassium Deficiency

SummaryThe plasma pCO2 of control and dietary K-deficient rats was mechanically altered between 20 and 90 mm Hg. The object was to compare the intracellular pH and HCO3 content of control and low-K skeletal muscle at identical pressures of plasma pCO2. This made it possible to study the intracellular pH and HCO3 changes associated with dietary K depletion without complications due to plasma pCO2 changes. The data indicate that the intracellular acidity of low-K skeletal muscle from dietary depleted rats results mainly from the conditions imposed by the low-K regimen. The results also show that the in vivo buffer capacity of low-K skeletal muscle is significantly less (P<.01) than the buffer capacity of control skeletal muscle.
The Changing Character of Industrial Selling

Highlights two major directions in the character of the personal selling function — the first is the increasing professional nature of industrial selling, the second is growing managerial orientation within selling. Notes the selling process is evolving and broadening in ways which can make the salesperson valued to the buyer beyond product or service value offered. Says that salespeople receive much broader scopes of authority. Examines cause and effect of changes in selling characteristics, reviewing evidence specific to these new directions. Propagates some of the feelings that are negatively hung on salespeople such as being selfish, deceitful, lazy and often downright dishonest. Goes on to explain why these are wrong and gives positive connotations to try and put things right. Key is understanding the process of buying‐selling because there must be a solid conceptual foundation to support the diagnostic process. Summarizes that hiring, training, compensation and other sales management practices must ...
Trend in Design and Capacity of Large Hydroelectric Generators

This paper describes the recent trend in design of large water-wheel driven generators. New features of mechanical construction made possible by fabricated designs are particularly emphasized, and illustrations of some recent machines are given. The 77,500-kv-a. generators for the Dnieprostroy project in Russia, which will be the world's largest hydroelectric generators, are described. In conclusion, some of the future possibilities, such as outdoor machines and multi-speed designs, are discussed.
PreDisorder: ab initio sequence-based prediction of protein disordered regions

Background Disordered regions are segments of the protein chain which do not adopt stable structures. Such segments are often of interest because they have a close relationship with protein expression and functionality. As such, protein disorder prediction is important for protein structure prediction, structure determination and function annotation.
Immunofluorescence Detection For Fiber Optics Chemical And Biological Sensors

This paper presents the development and applidation of immunofluorescence spectroscopy in fiberoptics-based chemical and biological sensors. Focus is on a fluoroimmuno-sensor (FIS), which combines the excellent specificity of the antigen-antibody reaction and the high sensitivity of laser excitation and the versatility of fiberoptics technology. The FIS can detect 40 attomoles (10-18 mole) of benzo(a)pyrene tetrol, a DNA-adduct product of the carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene.
Modulating Membrane Composition Alters Free Fatty Acid Tolerance in Escherichia coli

Microbial synthesis of free fatty acids (FFA) is a promising strategy for converting renewable sugars to advanced biofuels and oleochemicals. Unfortunately, FFA production negatively impacts membrane integrity and cell viability in Escherichia coli, the dominant host in which FFA production has been studied. These negative effects provide a selective pressure against FFA production that could lead to genetic instability at industrial scale. In prior work, an engineered E. coli strain harboring an expression plasmid for the Umbellularia californica acyl-acyl carrier protein (ACP) thioesterase was shown to have highly elevated levels of unsaturated fatty acids in the cell membrane. The change in membrane content was hypothesized to be one underlying cause of the negative physiological effects associated with FFA production. In this work, a connection between the regulator of unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis in E. coli, FabR, thioesterase expression, and unsaturated membrane content was established. A strategy for restoring normal membrane saturation levels and increasing tolerance towards endogenous production of FFAs was implemented by modulating acyl-ACP pools with a second thioesterase (from Geobacillus sp. Y412MC10) that primarily targets medium chain length, unsaturated acyl-ACPs. The strategy succeeded in restoring membrane content and improving viability in FFA producing E. coli while maintaining FFA titers. However, the restored fitness did not increase FFA productivity, indicating the existence of additional metabolic or regulatory barriers.
Escape learning in infant mice as a function of drive level and drive shifts during acquisition

Separate groups of 9-day-old Swiss-Webster mice began straight-alley escape training at .1 or .4 mA. After 12 trials, half of the mice in each group were shifted to .4 or .1 mA, respectively, whereas the remaining half continued at their original level for an additional 12 trials. Twenty-four hours later, half of each of the 4 shock-level groups were retested at .1 mA, half at .4 mA. The results indicated that those groups which made a large number of competing responses during early trials and showed a gradual reduction over training trials (.1-.1 and .1-.4) emitted the fewest number during retest at either shock level. In contrast, those groups with either limited (.4-.1) or no (.4-.4) opportunity to decrease competing responses during training showed evidence of poor (.4-.1) and no (.4-.4) retention of learned inhibition of that response. Running speed was clearly a performance measure, as it only reflected existing shock levels during both training and retention trials.
Payment For Risk: Constant Beta Vs. Dual‐Beta Models

Fama and French’s (1992) assertion that investors receive premium payments for risk associated with the book value to market price (BE/ME) and size and not for holding beta risk has sparked a lively debate concerning risk factors that are priced in the market. Howton and Peterson (1998) use a dual-beta model to test the Fama and French conclusions. They conclude that the significant relationship between beta and returns depends on the use of the dual-beta model. This work, however, ignores the results reported by Pettengill, Sundaram, and Mathur (PSM, 1995). PSM find a significant relation between a constant risk beta and returns when data are segmented between up and down markets, but do not consider the impact of size and BE/ME. In this paper we show that the PSM (1995) market segmentation procedure alone provides a sufficient condition to identify a significant relation between beta and returns in the presence of size and BE/ME. Dual market betas may be relevant in explaining risk and return. However, the market segmentation procedure of PSM (1995) is the critical condition for finding a significant relationship between returns and betas.
Psychological characteristics of self-injurious behavior

Abstract This investigation explored the psychological characteristics of self-injury, as well as the frequency of self-injury in a college sample. Two hundred and twenty individuals who self-injure were recruited from a self-help website. These were compared to college students who were not specifically seeking help for self-injury. It was found that 20% of the college students reported having self-injured at some point in their lives. The participants were given the following measures: Dissociative Experiences Scale (DES), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS), the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), and the Trauma Symptoms Checklist (TSC). A discriminant function analysis was conducted to differentiate the groups. Depression from the TSC and emotional neglect from the CTQ most strongly differentiated the internet group from the college non-self-injuring group. Additionally, the TAS was strongly related to the function differentiating these groups. The college self-injury group could not be differentiated from either of the two groups. This study suggests that individuals who self-injure may not have received adequate emotional nurturance, and currently have high levels of negative affect which they wish to avoid.
Radical underspecification in language production

Phonological underspecification plays an important role in phonological theory. Some features are left blank in underlying representations. If they are relevant to the pronunciation of a segment, they are filled in at some point in the derivation; otherwise, they are left blank permanently. When underspecification was reintroduced to phonological theory in the 1980s, researchers originally assumed that all information that could be considered predictable had to be underspecified in underlying representations (Kiparsky 1982; Archangeli 1984). Information can be considered predictable in one of two ways. First, information is predictable if it is redundant or allophonic; the voicing and nasality of the vowel in the word grin [grin] in English are predictable (because vowels are always voiced, and are always nasalised before a nasal) and omitted from underlying representations. Second, given that a feature is binary, it is possible to leave one value of the feature blank in underlying representations; if the segment is not specified as e.g. [+ F], then it must be [− F], by default. The approach that defines predictability in this fashion is known as RADICAL UNDERSPECIFICATION
Dynamic modeling of the interaction of gas and solid phases in multistep reactive micropyretic synthesis

A mathematical model of micropyretic synthesis, including the consideration of pressure rise (due to gas evolution) in a porous compact, is developed for a multistep reaction. D’Arcy’s law of gas flow, continuity equation, and gas law are combined to obtain a relationship between the pressure and temperature of gas. This equation for the gas pressure is solved along with the energy equations of gas and solid phase. The numerical analysis shows that the magnitude of pressure increase depends on the initial gas pressure, temperature, and permeability. When gas evolution is considered, the pressure increase depends on the variables that determine the kinetics of the gas evolution reaction, such as the activation energy and the pre-exponential factor. The pressure increase is maximum when the gas evolution takes place in the combustion reaction zone. The gas evolution is noted not to influence the combustion wave propagation.
Losing It Online: Characterizing Participation in an Online Weight Loss Community

Many people struggle with their weight and are turning to online communities for social and informational support. The aim of this study is to understand the issues commonly discussed in online weight loss communities. Through observation and content analysis of threads in one specific weight loss community, we identified 17 distinct categories discussed by the participants. We detail four categories specifically: Personal Experience, Consumption Choices, Dieting Strategy, and Exercise. Our analysis describes some key user roles and states that often relate to different phases of a person's weight loss journey. We identify a set of transient states, which are not proper roles but are significant in an online community where individuals are attempting to change their own behaviors. We close with design suggestions for encouraging and maintaining participant engagement in an online health community