cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Telomere fusions in early human breast carcinoma

Several lines of evidence suggest that defects in telomere maintenance play a significant role in the initiation of genomic instability during carcinogenesis. Although the general concept of defective telomere maintenance initiating genomic instability has been acknowledged, there remains a critical gap in the direct evidence of telomere dysfunction in human solid tumors. To address this topic, we devised a multiplex PCR-based assay, termed TAR (telomere-associated repeat) fusion PCR, to detect and analyze chromosome end-to-end associations (telomere fusions) within human breast tumor tissue. Using TAR fusion PCR, we found that human breast lesions, but not normal breast tissues from healthy volunteers, contained telomere fusions. Telomere fusions were detected at similar frequencies during early ductal carcinoma in situ and in the later invasive ductal carcinoma stage. Our results provide direct evidence that telomere fusions are present in human breast tumor tissue and suggest that telomere dysfunction may be an important component of the genomic instability observed in this cancer. Development of this robust method that allows identification of these genetic aberrations (telomere fusions) is anticipated to be a valuable tool for dissecting mechanisms of telomere dysfunction.
An inquiry into the relationship between ABO blood group and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

Background and Objectives ABO blood group accounts for up to 40% of the variability in plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF) levels, which vary in the rank order AB > B > A > O > Bombay. This may be due in part to the influence of ABOassociated oligosaccharides on the proteolysis of VWF by the metalloprotease ADAMTS13, which is markedly deficient in thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP). Using ABO blood group as a surrogate for baseline VWF levels as well as susceptibility to proteolysis by ADAMST13, we set out to determine whether ABO blood group influences the clinical course of TTP. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of the clinical course of 76 patients with primary, sporadic TTP treated at two institutions over the past 10 years. Results We found no significant differences between group O and non-O patients with respect to presenting platelet count and lactate dehydrogenase concentration, maximum serum creatinine concentration, and total number of therapeutic plasma exchanges per episode. Conclusions Substrate-related contributors to the highly variable phenotype and clinical course of TTP warrant further investigation.
Factors influencing Stability of Superlattices

IN metallic solid solutions atoms of the different elements are usually distributed at random throughout the lattice. In certain cases, however, an ordered distribution, or superlattice occurs. The transformation from order to disorder has received considerable attention because the simplicity of the process renders it susceptible to theoretical interpretation. The entropy change is practically equal to the entropy of mixing, which can be calculated from first principles. The ordered state, which has the lower entropy, will be stable only when its internal energy is lower than that of the disordered configuration.
Studies of bronchial secretion

I N THE literature almost no work has been found on the subject of the nervous control of secretion in the bronchial mucous membrane. The nearest approach is an investigation of the tracheal mucous membrane secretion which was undertaken both by Rossbachl and Calvert,’ who opened the trachea of animals, wiped the mucous membranes dry, and noted the time required for the secretions to reform on the surface. Their observations were made on secretion under normal conditions, after stimulation of the vagus, and after the administration of drugs, such as expectorants, general depressants, and stimulants. They concluded that both vagal and peripheral nerve stimulation caused a shortening of the time taken for the moisture to reform on the surface of the mucous membranes but that sympathetic stimulation on the other hand lengthened the interval. Henderson3 has also studied and recorded the effect of the same class of drugs on bronchial secretion. Bronchial secretion may be excessive in certain clinical conditions, notably after a paroxysm of bronchial asthma, tumors, massive collapse, and foreign bodies. The determination of the nervous control of the bronchial mucous membrane may pave the way for rational therapeutic measures to counteract excessive bronchial mucus. As far as we are aware, no one has attempted to measure or record the amount of fluid produced by the mucous membrane of the trachea or bronchi, an omission possibly due to mechanical difficulties, chief among which is the small amount normally secreted. In the following study we have tried to develop a method by which we would measure the amount of secretion per unit area of bronchial mucous membrane both normally and after stimulation of vagus and sympathetic nerves.
Preparing High School Instrumental Music Educators to Respond to the Social and Emotional Challenges of Students

The purpose of this multiple instrumental case study was to explore how four high school instrumental music educators assuming the role of facilitative teacher prepared to respond to challenges aff...
Trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 4 is an epigenetic mark at regions escaping mammalian X inactivation.

It is now estimated that 150-200 genes clustered in several discrete regions escape X inactivation in somatic cells of human females by unknown mechanisms. Here, we show that although the human female inactive X chromosome is largely devoid of histone 3 lysine 4 trimethylation (H3K4me3), regions that are known to escape X inactivation, including the pseudoautosomal regions, are enriched with this modification. Also, H3K4me3, unlike H3K4me2 and H4 and H3 acetylation, is restricted to discrete regions on metaphase chromosomes. In contrast to humans, there are only a few genes that are known to escape X inactivation in the mouse. Therefore, we examined mouse female somatic cells with H3K4me3 to identify candidate regions with genes that escape X inactivation. We found the mouse female inactive X in somatic cells and the male inactive X in meiosis to have seven discrete regions that are enriched with H3K4me3. Furthermore, RNA polymerase II is largely excluded from the XY body at male pachytene except for seve...
Os quilombos e seus direitos hoje: entre a construção das identidades e a história

Este artigo, ao enfocar o processo de reconhecimento de uma comunidade do sertao sergipano como remanescente de quilombo, tem como objetivo discutir como os novos conceitos de quilombo, gerados no processo de reconhecimento juridico, reconfiguram identidades sociais, num dialogo entre a historia, a lei e as praticas culturais. Para tal, o presente artigo questiona teorizacoes dicotomizadoras, que justapoem uma identidade racial, concebida de forma essencializada, a uma identificacao etnica instrumentalizadora, pretensamente construida pela comunidade, com a finalidade de obter terra e recursos.
Moving Up the Ranks: Chiefly Status, Prestige, and Schooling in Colonial Fiji

In a 1987 volume titled Class and Culture in the South Pacific, Samoan historian Malama Meleisea describes orthodox Marxism, modernization theory, and unilineal evolutionary thought as united in their “Eurocentric frame of reference,” their “notion of unilineal progress,… assumption that pre-capitalist social institutions are obsolete and that class formation is historically inevitable.” While Meleisea's pointed polemic against metanarratives that privilege a universality of Western laws of historical development and progress is partly informed by the undelivered promises of modernization theory, his critique is more than the mere stirrings of an incipient postmodernist discourse. It also derives from a practical engagement with socio-political developments in the South Pacific region that puts in relief the ways in which grand paradigms can mold and distort contemporary Pacific Island institutions into Western images. Here, he speaks to the tendency to explain the endurance of chieftaincies in modern Pacific states as homologous with, a local variant, or the actual equivalent of, a new type of “class relations.” In a more recent edited volume that focuses on chiefs in the contemporary Pacific, White and Lindstrom similarly note a popular regard for chiefs as “antique survivals from pre-state political formations” that ultimately fails to address contemporary chiefly authority on its own terms. As White and Lindstrom note further, based on the projections of development proposed in Weber-inspired modernization theory, chiefs should have become obsolete in the modern nation-state: “The forces of modernity were meant to usher him (or sometimes her) from the global stage, replacing tribal or feudal styles of leadership wkh thg universalistic, rational forms of the natioh-state and its attendant bureaucracies.”
Ecclesiastical Politics and the Founding of the Federal Council of Churches

In an influential book of thirty years ago, The Rise of the Social Gospel in American Protestantism, 1865–1915 , Charles Howard Hopkins interpreted the founding in 1908 of the Federal Council of the Churches of Christ in America, the forerunner of the present National Council, as a stage in the flowering of the social gospel in American Christianity. His interpretation was soon confirmed by John Alexander Hutchison. In We Are Not Divided , a study of the pronouncements of the Federal Council, Hutchison wrote that the Federal Council was born of the marriage between “the idea of social service and the idea of interdenominational cooperation”. By “the idea of interdenominational cooperation”, however, Hutchison meant little more than what Hopkins had already defined as the impulse for social Christianity, and there the matter has rested for subsequent historians, including two former secretaries of the Federal Council.
Infinite phased arrays of cavity-backed patches

An analysis of the radiation properties of infinite phased arrays of probe-fed circular microstrip patches backed by circular cavities using a rigorous Green's function/Galerkin's method is presented. The effect of substrate thickness on both scan volume and bandwidth performance is considered. Results are compared to those of infinite arrays of conventional probe-fed circular patch antennas. >
ANALYSIS OF MICROSECOND FLUORESCENCE YIELD AND DELAYED LIGHT EMISSION CHANGES AFTER A SINGLE FLASH IN PEA CHLOROPLASTS: EFFECTS OF MONO- AND DIVALENT CATIONS

New results are presented on the effects of mono- and divalent cations on concurrent changes in the microsecond yields and kinetics of chlorophyll a fluorescence and delayed light emission, and the light saturation curve for the latter at IOOps, following a 10 ns flash at 337 nm. (I) The fluorescence yield increases exponentially from 3 to 30p (lifetime, T, 6.4 0.6~~). and decays biphasically between 50 and 800~s. (2) The delayed light emission decays biphasically with two exponential phases: fast phase, T = 7-lops, and slow phase, 7 = 33-40~s. (3) The light saturation curve for 100ps delayed light emission is satisfactorily represented by a one-hit Poisson saturation curve. (4) Addition of 5 mM NaCl to salt-depleted chloroplasts decreases (by as much as 40%) the yields of p fluorescence and delayed light emission, and the subsequent addition of 5 mM MgCI2 increases the yields ( 2 2 x over samples with only NaCI). (5) The fluorescence yield rise and delayed light emission decay kinetics are independent of low concentrations of cations. The lifetime of the fast phase of fluorescence decay changes from -9Op to - 160~s. when Na+ or Na+ + Mg2+ are added. Based on a detailed analysis presented in this paper, the following conclusions regarding the effects of low concentrations (few mM) of mono- and divalent cations in sucrose-washed chloroplasts at room temperature are made: (a) Na+ decreases ( - 6%) and Mg2+ increases ( - 202, compared with the Na+ sample) the sensitization of photosystem II photochemistry: this effect is small, but significant. (b) Na' increases and Mg2' decreases the efficiency for radiationless transitions in singlet excited Chl a in the antenna and closed reaction center of PS 11; this includes non-radiative energy transfer to PS I. intramolecular intersystem crossing and internal conversion. The ratio of the sum of the rate constants for radiationless transitions to that for fluorescence increases by - 2-fold upon the addition of Na+. and is completely reversed by the addition of Mg2+. (c) The rate constant for the re-oxidation of Q- decreases (about 50%) in the presence of Na+ or Na' + Mg2+. These conclusions imply that cations produce multiple changes in the primary photoprocesses of PS I1 at physiological temperatures. It is proposed that these changes are mutually independent and can co-exist.
Implementation Success of Clinician Information Systems in Healthcare Contexts

The success of information systems in healthcare contexts is becoming increasingly important as the healthcare profession continues to adopt information systems for its internal operations. Using the DeLone and McLean model of information systems success that has found traction in a variety of research contexts, we develop a model for examining the success of clinician information systems. Our research model, while grounded in prior literature on information systems success, also benefits from insights gained from preliminary interviews and surveys of healthcare professionals and clinicians. The pilot round of data collection is planned for next month and actual data collection for summer; we will present preliminary findings at the conference.
Immediate and long-term effect of mitral balloon valvotomy on left ventricular volume and systolic function in severe mitral stenosis

Abstract To determine the immediate and long-term effect of mitral balloon valvotomy (MBV) on left ventricular (LV) volume and function, we studied 17 patients (mean age 27 ± 9 years) with severe mitral stenosis undergoing MBV by cardiac catheterization and angiography before and immediately after MBV and at mean 12 months later. At baseline, LV end-diastolic volume index (EDVI) was reduced. Ten patients had EDVI ≤55 ml/m 2 , and four patients (23.5%) had LV ejection fraction 2 to 66 ± 17 ml/m 2 ( p 2 ( p 2 to 41 ± 12 ml/m 2 ( p 2 ( p p p p p p −5 to 1280 ± 231 dyne/sec/cm −5 ( p
Magnetostatic wave propagation in a multilayered magnetic structure with an arbitrary orientation between the static magnetizations

The authors study magnetostatic wave propagation (MSW) in multilayered magnetic structure (YIG/GGG/YIG/GGG), in which the static magnetizations in the two magnetic layers are not colinear. It is assumed that there exists an arbitrary angle alpha between the two magnetizations for a given applied DC field. Therefore, the effect of the relative orientation between the two magnetizations in two different YIG layers on the dispersion and time delay can be explored. The misalignment alpha is determined by the applied DC field, the static magnetizations, and the uniaxial anisotropy fields. The general dispersion relation is strongly affected by alpha . It is this misalignment that leads to surface mode propagation in one layer and forward volume mode propagation in the other layer. One may control the applied DC field to vary alpha to obtain the desired nondispersive time delay for microwave signal processing. >
Herpes Simplex Virus γ34.5 Interferes with Autophagosome Maturation and Antigen Presentation in Dendritic Cells

The cellular autophagy response induced by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is countered by the viral γ34.5 protein. γ34.5 modulates autophagy by binding to the host autophagy protein Beclin-1 and through this binding inhibits the formation of autophagosomes in fibroblasts and neurons. In contrast, in this study dendritic cells (DCs) infected with HSV-1 showed an accumulation of autophagosomes and of the long-lived protein p62. No such accumulations were observed in DCs infected with a γ34.5-null virus or a virus lacking the Beclin-binding domain (BBD) of γ34.5. To explore this further, we established stably transduced DC lines to show that γ34.5 expression alone induced autophagosome accumulation yet prevented p62 degradation. In contrast, DCs expressing a BBD-deleted mutant of γ34.5 were unable to modulate autophagy. DCs expressing γ34.5 were less capable of stimulating T-cell activation and proliferation in response to intracellular antigens, demonstrating an immunological consequence of inhibiting autophagy. Taken together, these data show that in DCs, γ34.5 antagonizes the maturation of autophagosomes and T cell activation in a BBD-dependent manner, illustrating a unique interface between HSV and autophagy in antigen-presenting cells. IMPORTANCE Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) is a highly prevalent pathogen causing widespread morbidity and some mortality. HSV infections are lifelong, and there are no vaccines or antivirals to cure HSV infections. The ability of HSV to modulate host immunity is critical for its virulence. HSV inhibits host autophagy, a pathway with importance in many areas of health and disease. Autophagy is triggered by many microbes, some of which harness autophagy for replication; others evade autophagy or prevent it from occurring. Autophagy is critical for host defense, either by directly degrading the invading pathogen ("xenophagy") or by facilitating antigen presentation to T cells. In this study, we show that HSV manipulates autophagy through an unsuspected mechanism with a functional consequence of reducing T cell stimulation. These data further our understanding of how HSV evades host immunity to persist for the lifetime of its host, facilitating its spread in the human population.
Mechanisms of T cell motility and arrest: Deciphering the relationship between intra- and extracellular determinants

Abstract T lymphocytes are capable of rapid motility in vitro and in vivo. Upon antigen recognition, they may stop crawling and form a stable cell–cell contact called the ‘immunological synapse’ (IS). However, it is becoming clear that this outcome may not occur with the reliability that was once presumed. T cells, particularly naive cells, are apparently triggered partly ‘on the fly’ during short contacts with peptide–MHC (pMHC) bearing antigen-presenting cells (APCs) and are also influenced in both activity and synapse duration by a multitude of external cues. Underlying the emerging issues is a paucity of data concerning the cell biology of T lymphocytes. Here, we review the molecular mechanisms of crawling and adhesion versus the various potential modes of ‘stopping’ in T lymphocytes. Both motility and arrest involve similar processes: adhesion, actin elongation and internal tension control, but with different coordination. We will attempt to integrate this with the known and potential external cues that signal for T cell motility versus stopping to form a synapse in vivo. Finally, we discuss how this interplay may give rise to unexpectedly complex motile and morphological behavior.
Heptadecafluorooctyl[bis(trifluoroacetoxy)]iodine

[77758-73-7] C12F23IO4 (MW 771.99) InChI = 1S/C12F23IO4/c13-3(14,15)1(37)39-36(40-2(38)4(16,17)18)12(34,35)10(29,30)8(25,26)6(21,22)5(19,20)7(23,24)9(27,28)11(31,32)33 InChIKey = BGOPEDHZDINAJF-UHFFFAOYSA-N (preparation of (perfluoroalkyl)aryliodonium salts,2 preparation of [hydroxy(sulfonyloxy)iodo]perfluoroalkanes,3 fluorous reagent for oxidation of 1,4-hydroquinones,4 fluorous reagent for oxidation of secondary alcohols5) Alternative Names: [bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo]heptadecafluorooctane, [bis(trifluoroacetoxy)iodo]perfluorooctane. Physical Data: mp 112–113.5 °C (dec).5 Solubility: highly soluble in DMSO, acetone, methanol, ether, and octafluorotoluene; moderately soluble in dichloromethane and chloroform.5 Form Supplied in: not available from commercial sources; prepared as white microcrystalline solid. Analysis of Reagent Purity: elemental analysis, 13C and 19F NMR.5 Preparative Methods: oxidation of the commercial perfluorooctyl iodide by using 80% hydrogen peroxide and trifluoroacetic anhydride followed by removal of volatile products in vacuum (yield 97–98%);3-5 a similar procedure using 30% hydrogen peroxide;2 oxidation of the commercial perfluoroalkyl iodide by using urea–hydrogen peroxide complex in a mixture of trifluoroacetic anhydride and trifluoroacetic acid at −5 to 0 °C (yield 94%).6 Purification: used without additional purification. Handling, Storage, and Precautions: can be stored for several weeks in a refrigerator in the absence of moisture.
Direct gray scale ridge reconstruction in fingerprint images

An original technique, based on ridge point detection directly from gray scale fingerprint images, is proposed. Our method avoids serious problems that algorithms which perform binarization of fingerprint images have. Each step can be easily hardware implemented, allowing a relevant speed up of the whole process.
Active ethics: philosophy, cases, and writing

The Engineering Division at Lafayette College, a small, undergraduate institution, requires all engineering students to take a course called "Engineering Professionalism and Ethics". The course has been taught by engineering faculty members for the last fifteen years. It has been taught in more or less its present form since 1995. The course uses a case study approach, incorporating significant amounts of class and small-group analysis and discussion. The first portion of the course, which was developed with significant interaction with the Philosophy Department, focuses on moral philosophy. Moral theories are then used as a basis for understanding and examining the engineering codes, professional issues, and case studies. The course also satisfies a college writing-across-the-curriculum requirement. Students are required to complete (draft and revise) two significant papers and several shorter writing assignments. This paper describes the course content and learning activities, the motivation for their inclusion, and course assessment.
Periictal cerebral tissue hypoxemia: A potential marker of SUDEP risk

Abstract Cerebral oximetry has not been explored in patients experiencing seizures in the epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU). The purpose of our study was to evaluate the feasibility of periictal measurement of cerebral oxygenation using noninvasive cerebral tissue oximetry and to determine whether there was evidence of cerebral hypoxemia during generalized seizures. Cerebral oxygen saturation findings were subsequently correlated with sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) risk factors. We prospectively evaluated six patients admitted to our EMU with histories of generalized tonic-clonic seizures (GTCS) with prolonged scalp electroencephalography (EEG) and two regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSO(2)) sensors. Minimum rSO(2) values were recorded in the 5 min preceding seizure onset, during the seizure, and in the 5 min following seizure offset. SUDEP risk was assessed using the SUDEP-7 Inventory. Cerebral oximetry was well tolerated, with a mean duration of rSO(2) monitoring of 81.1 h. Cerebral oxygen saturation data were available from at least one sensor in 9 (90%) of 10 seizures; only 6 (60%) of 10 seizures had useable periictal digital pulse oximetry data. GTCS were associated with significantly lower minimum ictal (p = 0.003) and postictal (p = 0.004) %rSO(2) values than the minimum preictal value. Patients with at least one seizure with a %rSO(2) decrease of ≥20% tended to have higher SUDEP-7 Inventory scores (mean SUDEP-7 Inventory score 7 ± 2.8) versus patients without recorded desaturations (4.3 ± 0.5, p = 0.08). Larger studies are needed to determine the value of cerebral oximetry in the identification of patients at risk of SUDEP.
Nonmedical prescription drug users in private vs. public substance abuse treatment: a cross sectional comparison of demographic and HIV risk behavior profiles.

Background: Little is known regarding the demographic and behavioral characteristics of nonmedical prescription drug users (NMPDUs) entering substance abuse treatment settings, and information on the HIV-related risk profiles of NMPDUs is especially lacking. Participation in substance abuse treatment provides a critical opportunity for HIV prevention and intervention, but successful initiatives will require services appropriately tailored for the needs of NMPDUs. Methods: This paper compares the HIV risk profiles of NMPDUs in public (n = 246) and private (n = 249) treatment facilities. Participants included in the analysis reported five or more recent episodes of nonmedical prescription drug use, a prior HIV negative test result, and current enrollment in a substance abuse treatment facility. A standardized questionnaire was administered by trained interviewers with questions about demographics, HIV risk, and substance use. Results: Private treatment clients were more likely to be non-Hispanic White, younger, and opioid and heroin users. Injection drug use was higher among private treatment clients, whereas public clients reported higher likelihood of trading or selling sex. Public treatment clients reported higher rates of HIV testing and availability at their treatment facilities compared to private clients. Conclusions: Findings suggest differing demographics, substance use patterns, profiles of HIV risk and access to HIV testing between the two treatment samples. Population tailored HIV interventions, and increased access to HIV testing in both public and private substance treatment centers, appear to be warranted.
Bank Regulations are Changing: For Better or Worse?

This paper presents new and official survey information on bank regulations in 142 countries and makes comparisons with two earlier surveys. The data do not suggest that countries have primarily reformed their bank regulations for the better over the last decade. Following Basel guidelines many countries strengthened capital regulations and official supervisory agencies, but existing evidence suggests that these reforms will not improve bank stability or efficiency. While some countries have empowered private monitoring of banks, consistent with the third pillar of Basel II, there are many exceptions and reversals along this dimension.
How effective is the effective refractive index

Photonic crystals are often assigned an effective refractive index defined by their dispersion relation. This index can predict their refractive properties consistent with Snell's law, but might not predict their dynamic properties in accordance with the Fresnel formulae.
Building Object and Terrain Representation for an Autonomous Vehicle

This paper presents progress in building environment models for the CMU Navlab, an autonomous vehicle for on-road and cross-country navigation. We present robust object tracking from sequence of range images and building and updating 3-D object representations. Tracking uses object prediction from one image to the next to accurately compute object locations. Object representations are built by merging sets of points from individual images into a single set in an object-centered coordinate frame. The sparse set of points is then segmented into shapes yielding compact and general object representations. The object representation may be used for landmark recognition during a map-based navigation mission.
Effects of Rhythmic and Melodic Alterations on Rhythmic Perception

The purpose of this study was to examine effects of rhythmic and melodic alterations on rhythmic perception. A 30-item Rhythmic Dissimilarities Evaluation was administered to undergraduate and graduate music students. For each item, a standard rhythmic pattern was paired with itself and with nine rhythmic alterations. Each rhythmic pattern was treated with three melodic alterations including monotony, M-shaped melody, and V-shaped melody. Results of the study demonstrated that various rhythmic alterations affect perception of rhythmic dissimilarity; that melody alters perception of rhythmic dissimilarity; that the simultaneous presentation of melody and rhythm may result in reduced attention to absolute rhythmic structures in music; and that a possible relationship exists between rhythmic alterations and the degree of perceived dissimilarity.
Diffuse reflectance and diffuse transmission measurements of aerosol absorption at the First International Workshop on light absorption by aerosol particles.

Aerosol absorption measurements using diffuse reflectance and transmission techniques were made as part of the First International Workshop on light absorption by aerosol particles during July and August 1980. Our diffuse reflectance measurements were used to determine the imaginary component of the refractive index and the mass absorption coefficient for the aerosols and for the bulk material from which the aerosols were generated. Mass absorption coefficients measured by these techniques appear to be lower than those determined by diffuse transmission techniques. Our diffuse transmission measurements of σA, the volume absorption coefficient, show that the measured response for this technique will be dependent on filter orientation and on the type of filter. Our data suggest that there may also be a dependence on the physical properties of the aerosol. Average ω˜ values calculated on the basis of these diffuse transmission measurements range from 0.18 for soots to 0.98 for ammonium sulfate.
Proteolytic Processing of Human Zona Pellucida Proteins

Abstract Formation of the egg's extracellular matrix, the zona pellucida, is critical for fertilization and development of growing embryos. Zona pellucida glycoproteins, ZP1, ZP2, and ZP3, are secreted to form an insoluble extracellular matrix surrounding mammalian eggs. All cloned mammalian zona pellucida sequences contain a furin consensus cleavage site, RXK/RR, upstream of a putative transmembrane domain, which suggests processing by an endoprotease of the furin-proprotein-convertase family. Recombinant expression of human (h) ZP1, ZP2, and ZP3 produces glycoproteins that are secreted and have migration patterns in SDS-PAGE identical to those of native human zona pellucida proteins. Because a C-terminal epitope tag that is present in the cell-associated zona proteins is, however, absent from the secreted zona proteins, secreted recombinant zona pellucida proteins lack their C-terminal regions. Three different strategies were used to explore processing events in the C-terminal region: site-directed muta...
Determinants of Long-Term Orientation in Buyer-Seller Relationships:

Marketing managers must know the time orientation of a customer to select and use marketing tools that correspond to the time horizons of the customer. Insufficient understanding of a customer's ti...
A finite element formulation based on the theory of a Cosserat point — Extension to Ogden material

The theory of Cosserat points is the basis of a finite element formulation for a solid three-dimensional continuum, which was presented by [1]. Previous investigations [2] have revealed, that this formulation is free of showing undesired locking or hourglassing-phenomena. It additionally shows excellent behaviour for large deformations in any type of incompressible material and for sensitive structures such as plates or shells.Within the theory of Cosserat points, the position vectorsXand x of an 8-node-brick element are described through director vectors Di and di. Open image in new window $$ \begin{gathered} X = \sum\limits_{i = 0}^7 {N^i \left( {\theta ^1 ,\theta ^2 ,\theta ^3 } \right)D_i } ,x = \sum\limits_{i = 0}^7 {N^i \left( {\theta ^1 ,\theta ^2 ,\theta ^3 } \right)d_i } \hfill \\ N^0 = 1,N^1 = \theta ^1 ,N^2 = \theta ^2 ,N^3 = \theta ^3 ,N^4 = \theta ^1 \theta ^2 , \hfill \\ N^5 = \theta ^1 \theta ^3 ,N^6 = \theta ^2 \theta ^3 ,N^7 = \theta ^1 \theta ^2 \theta ^3 \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$
Comparison of Construction Manager at Risk and Integrated Project Delivery Performance on Healthcare Projects: A Comparative Case Study

This study provides information and a basic overview on Construction Manager at Risk (CMR) and Integrated Project Delivery (IPD) as project delivery methods while contrasting their performance in the design and construction of two healthcare facilities. The study identifies benefits as well as challenges from applying IPD and CMR as project delivery methods on healthcare facilities. The research is based on a comparative case study of two completed healthcare projects. Quantitative data was collected to compare: square foot cost, schedule changes, number of requests for information (RFIs), and change cost percentage. Qualitative data was also collected through interviews with members of the project management teams. This study contributes to the body of knowledge in construction by comparing the quantitative data collected. It then goes a step further providing the perceptions of project team members using both CMR and IPD to gain a deeper understanding of why the differences occur. By comparing CMR and I...
Replication of DNA in eukaryotic chromosomes.

Studies of DNA replication in chromosomes first clearly revealed the compartments of the cell cycle and provided a means for measuring the parameters of the S-phase in the cell cycle. Radioisotopic labeling, especially with [3H]-thymidine, provided a specific label easily detected by autoradiography, as well as by liquid scintillation counting for biochemical studies. The research utilizing these tools soon centered on what seemed to be two separate areas. One that occupied our attention for many years deals with the structural properties of chromosomes and the exchanges and aberrations that could be revealed. Most of these problems are now understood, at least in broad outline. The discovery of fluorescence and staining procedures to distinguish bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeled segments from those with thymidine in chromosomal DNA stimulated the structural studies, particularly in the last 10–12 years. In this review I will spend little time discussing this area; for an extensive review of some aspects see Tice and Hollaender (1984).
Between Two Worlds Liminality and Late-Stage Cancer-Directed Therapy

Disease-directed therapy near death is a growing trend among persons living with late-stage cancer. As a sociocultural phenomenon, cancer-directed therapy (e.g., chemotherapy) when given for very advanced disease is a process that offers questionable benefits and portends further suffering, but also suggests potential for growth and transcendence. Theories and concepts drawn from cultural anthropology, sociology, and existentialism illustrate how contextual factors contribute to the creation of a "liminal space"; the latter part of the cancer trajectory where living and dying can overlap. When applied to clinical practice, this theoretical framework gives the patient, family, and health care provider a way of "unmasking" a period of transition during terminal illness when aggressive disease-directed care continues to be provided. The liminal space may function as an existential plane; a gateway or threshold with inherent potential for psychospiritual development during the final stage of life.
Planning the Planting, Harvest, and Distribution of Fresh Horticultural Products

Many significant advances have been made in agriculture over the past century; we now have the ability, in theory, to feed the entire world population. Nonetheless, “there still remain great hunger, health and environmental concerns remaining to be addressed” (Hazell and Wood 2008). These are not problems that can be solved simply by increasing agricultural production (Alexandratos and Bruinsma 2006), especially considering the environmental issues that if left unchecked could adversely affect food supply in the future (M.E.A. 2005). Even though increasing agricultural yields and developing better varieties have great importance, a significant breakthrough can be made through better management of agricultural supply chains. The potential for better resource efficiency should not be overlooked, especially in view that one-third of the food produced for human consumption is estimated to be lost or wasted globally; some of the loss can be attributed to a lack of coordination of the different actors of the supply chain (Gustavsson et al. 2011). Thus, the issue of how to efficiently meet the demand with the production available is of utmost importance when high levels of perishability are present in the underlying product, as it is the case in fresh produce. For this reason the planning of supply chain will play an increasingly key role in the definition of those products that are successfully marketed.
Thriving Among Giants: Self-Publishing in the Digital Age.

An introduction is presented that discusses the role of the organization American Public Health Association as the self-publisher of the journal, noting the viability of the organization's other periodicals, including "Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report" ("MMWR"), "MMWR" in Brief, and "Frontiers in PHSSR" (Public Health Services and Systems Research.
Does Reputation Mitigate Analysts’ Conflicts of Interest? Evidence from Recommendations

We examine the impact of firm- and personal-level reputation on the incentives of analysts to curry favor with issuing firms. We find that unaffiliated non-star analysts from high reputation investment banks issue more strong-buy recommendations during high IPO underpricing periods than in low IPO underpricing periods and that the market discounts these recommendations, consistent with greater analyst conflicts during hot markets. This suggests that IPO underpricing provides sufficient indirect benefits such that reputable banks are willing to sacrifice their reputation to curry favor to win mandates. Unaffiliated all-star analysts from high reputation investment banks do not follow the same pattern, indicating that personal reputation mitigates the incentive to curry favor. We also examine whether unaffiliated analysts maintain coverage following an SEO if they are not selected as a part of the managing syndicate. Unaffiliated all-star analysts maintain coverage while unaffiliated non-star analysts reduce coverage, consistent with currying favor being the main reason non-star analysts provide coverage for issuing firms.
P5-17-03: The Association between Breast Cancer Related Lymphedema's Risk Factors and Likelihood of Edema Progression.

Purpose/Objective(s): Breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL) is one of the most feared long term side effects of treatment. Although emergence of the sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) has decreased the rate of BCRL, it continues to be an issue for this population. The goal of this study is to evaluate the prognostic risk factors for BCRL development and progression based on longitudinal prospective limb volume (LV) measurements and associated surgical, radiation and medical oncology factors. Materials/Methods: Since 2005 newly diagnosed breast cancer (BC) patients were prospectively screen via perometery (Pero-System). For this analysis patients were required to have undergone at least four measurements and have at least 24 months of follow up to allow for adequate time for LE development. Bilateral pre-operative volume measurements of the upper extremity were compared to postoperative measurements and at 4 to 6 month intervals to assess for limb volume changes. At each time point (tx), relative volume change (RVC) of the treated arm was calculated using volume ratios of treated (T) to non-treated (N) side compared to the pre-operative baseline (t1) (RVC=(Ttx/Ntx)/(Tt1/Nt1)-1) as described in Ancukiewicz et al 2010. Our institution utilizes >5% RVC as an indicator of lymphedema. For this analysis, mild lymphedema was classified as a RVC of 5–9.9% and moderate lymphedema was classified as a RVC ≥ 10%. A univariate analysis was performed to identify risk factors and likelihood to LE progression. Results: In a cohort of 415 women, 14.4 %(60) and 6.7% (28) developed mild and moderate BCRL, respectively. Twenty percent (14) and 75 %(21) of patients in the mild and moderate cohorts, respectively, had a persistent edema that was documented at a least 2 consecutive data points. Eighty percent (56) and 25% (7) of patients that had a documented incidence of an elevated RVC had returned below an RVC Conclusion: Breast cancer related lymphedema is a feared long term side effects and negatively impacts the physical and psychological aspects of an individual9s life. A condition that is considered manageable but not curable, it is essential providers identify high risk individuals. Establishing a a lymphedema screening program may identify early lymphedema which could be potentially be treated successfully. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2011;71(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P5-17-03.
Cation Solute Segregation to Surfaces of MgO and α-Al2O3

Low energy ion scattering spectroscopy (LEIS) and Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) were used to measure the extent of impurity cation solute segregation to MgO (100) and various surfaces of single and polycrystalline Al2O3, following equilibration anneals at temperatures above 1000°C in ultra-high vacuum. Systems studied include Ca/MgO, Ni/MgO, Ca/Al2O3 and Y/Al2O3. Calcium segregation to MgO (100) is reversible and exhibits monolayer adsorption behavior with an enthalpy of segregation of approximately −55 kJ/mole with maximum occupation of surface cation sites approaching 40%. Nickel segregation to MgO(100) is masked by a preferential segregation of calcium. Calcium segregation to Al2O3 surfaces has been found to be transient with a maximum surface cation site occupation of less than 10% as determined by LEIS and estimated enthalpy of segregation in the range −90 to −190 kJ/mole. Yttrium segregation to surfaces of a polycrystalline Al2O3 compact was limited by competing calcium segregation at temperatures be ow 1600°C. An estimated enthalpy of segregation for yttrium to Al2O3 surfaces was in the range −23 to −43 kJ/mole, with maximum cation surface site occupation of about 15%. Practical limitations to free surface measurements of solute segregation in these materials are discussed.
Normative culture, cultural competence and mental health in Sweden

Positive effects of benevolence and prosocial behavior on mental and physical health have been well documented in psychological literature. Within this empirical framework, the present study explores the relationship between cultural norms and emotional health based on cognitive data collected in Sweden (2008–2009, n=128). Ethnographic data suggest that socialization of appropriate cultural conduct (i.e., achieving competence in normative culture and acquiring corresponding cultural models) generally precludes successful recruitment of social support and does not stimulate growth of social networks in Sweden. The results of the present study indicate that individual endorsement of several normative dimensions was associated with measures of negative psychological attitudes (e.g., distrust, indifference, perfectionism and insecurity) in the Swedish sample. Neither individual cultural competence nor informants endorsement of Swedish normative dimensions were found to affect subjective wellbeing in the data,...
The Structure of a-Si:H,F/a-Si,Ge:H,F Interfaces

We study the interface between un-alloyed a-Si:H,F and an a-Si 0.4 ,Ge 0.6 :H,F alloy using superlattice structures. From infrared spectroscopy we estimate a width of 8 A for the excess hydrogen layer, and X-ray diffraction data give us a width of 2A contributing to the width of the diffraction peak. Vibrational Raman scattering data show that the ratios of the number of Si-Si, Ge-Ge and Si-Ge bonds is not altered by changing the number of interfaces. This fact allows us to establish an upper limit for the interface width of 3 atomic layers, i.e. one layer in each partner plus an intermediate layer.
A statistical study of mate choice: sexual selection in a plethodontid salamander (Desmognathus ochrophaeus)

Summary. -Our experiment revealed the existence of significant variation in mating success in a salamander species in which males do not provide courtship feeding, nest sites, or parental care. Differences in mating success were based on natural variation among adult males and females, rather than on traits of an artificially selected set of potential mates. Courtship encounters deliberately involved only one male and one female, thus eliminating the potentially confounding effects of male-male competition and variations in mate encounter rate. Even after eliminating these effects and random error, some females were more likely than others to elicit spermatophore deposition by a male, and some males were more likely than others to inseminate a female. Such variation among individuals represents an opportunity for sexual selection to act on phenotypic characters that affect mating success. We advocate the use of a factorial experimental design to analyze sexual selection. This approach permits the statistical evaluation of separate male and female effects, interaction between these effects, and random effects. Designs which combine the evaluations of mating success and courtship behaviors could estimate the force of sexual selection on behavior.
Dealing with Multiple Solutions in Structural Vector Autoregressive Models

Structural vector autoregressive models (VARs) hold great potential for psychological science, particularly for time series data analysis. They capture the magnitude, direction of influence, and temporal (lagged and contemporaneous) nature of relations among variables. Unified structural equation modeling (uSEM) is an optimal structural VAR instantiation, according to large-scale simulation studies, and it is implemented within an SEM framework. However, little is known about the uniqueness of uSEM results. Thus, the goal of this study was to investigate whether multiple solutions result from uSEM analysis and, if so, to demonstrate ways to select an optimal solution. This was accomplished with two simulated data sets, an empirical data set concerning children's dyadic play, and modifications to the group iterative multiple model estimation (GIMME) program, which implements uSEMs with group- and individual-level relations in a data-driven manner. Results revealed multiple solutions when there were large contemporaneous relations among variables. Results also verified several ways to select the correct solution when the complete solution set was generated, such as the use of cross-validation, maximum standardized residuals, and information criteria. This work has immediate and direct implications for the analysis of time series data and for the inferences drawn from those data concerning human behavior.
Diagnosis and Improvement for Truck Unit with Low Cooling Capacity

In order to find out the root cause of poor pull-down performance of one transport refrigeration unit,analysis and diagnosis were conducted for the units.The root cause was finally found out through the several factors comparison and analysis,and the feasible improvement solutions were proposed and successful applied in the production.The project experience will provide technical supports to the future product development and quality management,also will provide the useful reference for the field application for the customers