cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Diversity matters - the economic geography of industry location in India

How does economic geography influence industrial production and thereby affect industrial location decisions and the spatial distribution of development? For manufacturing industry, what are the externalities that matter, and to what extent? Are these externalities spatially localized? The authors answer these questions by analyzing the influence of economic geography on the cost structure of manufacturing firms by firm size for eight industry sectors in India. The economic geography factors include market access and local and urban externalities-which are concentrations of own-industry firms, concentrations of buyer-supplier links, and industrial diversity at the district (local) level. The authors find that industrial diversity is the only economic geography variable that has a significant, consistent, and substantial cost-reducing effect for firms, particularly small firms. This finding calls into question the fundamental assumptions regarding localization economies and raises further concerns on the industrial development prospects of lagging regions in developing countries.
Law, Higher Law and Human Making

This paper is a preliminary investigation of what Christian theology might teach us about the nature of human creative activity and its relationship to judging and lawmaking. Rather than attempt to survey and synthesize multiple theological accounts of human making, it focuses on just one - Dorothy Sayers' The Mind of the Maker. The foundational analogy that drives Sayers' account of human creativity is the relation between God's creative activity and that of human beings made in his image. Sayers argues that human creative activity has a trinitarian structure, which she identifies as Idea, Energy and Power. These three elements correspond roughly to (i) the whole Idea of the work in the mind of the artist, with reference to which the creative activity is carried out (Father), (ii) the creative Activity that makes the work incarnate (Son) and (iii) the work's Power to influence the human person and the community's public context (Spirit). Sayers' account suggests an alternative to simple affirmations that law is either found or made. There may well be in a society a normative institution that we might call The Law - an accretion of cultural artifacts that form the context of public action, reflecting a community's values and particular circumstances - or at least those of its ruling elites or groups, as well as its rules, its legal traditions, and, in an incomplete way, the general loves and commitments of the community. While one might presume, on the basis of the Christian revelation, that there will always be some connection at some points with moral truth, there is no reason to presume that such a connection necessarily exists all the way down, or even very much of the way down, the chain of legal particularities. Yet it would seem to be undeniable that a community's traditions - though they themselves are shifting and changing - exert a remarkable pull in particular and identifiable directions at any given time. This pull may be strong enough that it is possible for judges to declare The Law, with the attendant goods of stability, predictability, consonance with existing social norms, etc. without equating The Law with transcendent moral truth.
Health care B2C electronic commerce: what do patients/consumers want?

Electronic commerce has transformed the work processes and the way organizations disseminate information to their consumers and business partners. Evidence of new forms of information tools via the WWW increasingly indicate that business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce models require real-time data that enable consumers to make more informative decisions. Patients are demanding more of and from care providers, payers and physicians before, during and after service delivery. To this end, this paper examines consumers' and health maintenance organization (HMO) executives' views of a prototype that was developed to disseminate health information. The data gathered from multiple stakeholders in the health care delivery process provide relevant feedback on the design of an e-health site used to empower patients as the primary consumers of medical services. Finally, our findings suggest that B2C health care is largely fragmented, despite the real need for consumers of medical services to have real-time access to information from a myriad of sources.
Mars Surface Mission Workshop

A workshop was held at the Lunar and Planetary Institute on September 4-5, 1997, to address the surface elements of the Mars Reference Mission now being reviewed by NASA. The workshop considered the current reference mission and addressed the types of activities that would be expected for science and resource exploration and facilities operations. A set of activities was defined that can be used to construct "vignettes" of the surface mission. These vignettes can form the basis for describing the importance of the surface mission, for illustrating aspects of the surface mission, and for allowing others to extend and revise these initial ideas. The topic is rich with opportunities for additional conceptualization. It is recommended that NASA consider supporting university design teams to conduct further analysis of the possibilities.
Effect of creatine kinase-MM subtype composition on a CK-MB immunoinhibition assay.

Immunoinhibition (INH) by use of polyclonal anti-human CK-M antibody may be used to measure CK-MB in serum. Previous studies have shown that inhibiting antibodies prepared against purified muscle extracts may inhibit CK-MM by greater than 99%. Using patients' sera and muscle homogenates incubated with human serum, we studied the effect of CK-MM subtype composition on an INH assay. We found that with increasing time from the CK-releasing event, e.g., myocardial infarction, or with longer in vitro incubation, the proportion of CK-MM1 increased and the proportion of uninhibited CK-MM increased from 0.2% to 0.7-0.8%. As a consequence, CK-MB activity may be overestimated by as much as 1.6% of total CK when uncorrected INH results are used. Inhibition was maximal in samples containing 100% CK-MM3, the tissue subtype. Because of the time-dependent change in CK-MM subtypes, published results for INH from studies in which CK-MM purified from muscle was used may not be directly applicable to clinical specimens.
13C tracer recovery in human stools after digestion of a fat‐rich meal labelled with [1,1,1‐13C3]tripalmitin and [1,1,1‐13C3]triolein

Lipid metabolism studies focus mainly on oxidation and storage but rarely on faecal elimination, which is needed to assess total lipid distribution during the postprandial period. The purpose of the present work was to set up and validate the analysis of lipid tracers in stools, with an aim of later using this methodology in studies of postprandial lipid tracer metabolism. Eight subjects received a mixture of [1,1,1-(13)C3]tripalmitin and [1,1,1-(13)C3]triolein with a fat-rich meal. The nature and amounts of (13)C lipids excreted in stools during 3 days post-dose were determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry (GC/C/IRMS) analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) from total fatty acid (TFA), free fatty acid (FFA) and triacylglycerol (TAG) fractions. The results were expressed as the Cumulative Tracer Recovery of the administered dose (CTR%). The quantities and labelling of FAMEs were higher in FFA than in TAG, indicating that label loss was not due to a lack of digestive lipase activity. The labelling was higher for C16:0 than for C18:1. The CTRs were 7.03 ± 0.77% and 6.87 ± 0.91%, respectively, in TFA and FFA for [1-(13)C] C16:0, while they were 0.60 ± 0.15% and 0.51 ± 0.11% for [1-(13)C] C18:1 (mean ± sem). By studying the kinetics of lipid excretion from subjects, two groups emerged. The first one showed rapid excretion in stool #1, whereas the second showed slower excretion in stools #2-#3. A significant difference was found in the FFA in stool #1 for C16:0 (p < 0.01) and C18:1 (p < 0.05). Individual excretion kinetics showed marked variability. Nevertheless, the CTR over the 3-day study period was substantial and homogenous for all subjects. These results confirm that the assessment of faecal elimination is of great importance when establishing total lipid distribution during the postprandial period and validate the analysis of cumulative tracer loss during 72 h post-tracer ingestion.
Item‐level Frame‐of‐reference Effects in Personality Testing: An investigation of incremental validity in an organizational setting

A recent line of research has investigated the frame-of-reference effect on personality scale scores, in which self-report personality items are contextualized to the specific performance setting (e.g., work, school) within which the performance criterion is gathered. Contextualization has been shown to increase both the reliability and the criterion-related validity of the personality scale scores by facilitating the self-presentation of respondents, and by more closely measuring the personality construct relevant to the performance domain. The current research extends this area of personality research in two ways. First, this study tests the generalizability of the effectiveness of item-level contextualization within an organizational setting. Second, this study also provides the necessary test of the incremental validity of this contextualized approach to personality measurement above and beyond the traditional, noncontextualized approach. The results confirm that a work-specific personality measure, contextualized at the item level, adds to the prediction of job performance above and beyond that obtained by a noncontextual measure of the same personality traits. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.
Group psychotherapy as an aid to out-patient treatment in a psychiatric clinic

Experience obtained during a period of a year with the use of group psychotherapy on out-patients has demonstrated that this form of treatment can be successfully used in an out-patient clinic. Our observations indicate that even in a clinic setting, it is possible for the therapeutically-important emotional relationships to be established: namely, the patient-to-therapist transference and the patient-to-patient identification which lead to a group formation similar to that in the family. Through these relationships, by means of a process that might be designated as “catharsis in family,” the working out of underlying emotional conflicts is facilitated.
From streets to homes: An innovative approach to supported housing for homeless adults with psychiatric disabilities

This article describes a supported housing program that provides immediate access to permanent independent housing to individuals who are homeless and have psychiatric disabilities. Following housing placement, Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) teams provide treatment, support, and other needed services. The residential stability of tenants in this supported housing program was compared to that of tenants in a linear residential treatment program that serves the same population, but uses a step-by-step sequence of placements moving to supervised independent living. The 139 tenants of the supported housing program achieved a housing-retention rate of 84.2% over a 3-year period while the rate for 2,864 residents of the comparison program was only 59.6% over a shorter 2-year period. Additional data from direct interviews with the supported housing tenants were used to identify factors that predicted client participation in, and satisfaction with, particular services received. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Cervical necrotizing fasciitis in children under two years of age

We present two cases of life-threatening, necrotizing infections of the head and neck region, a rare infectious process in young children, that progressed to bacteremia and sepsis in two toddlers. To date there have been no reports of cervical necrotizing fasciitis in toddlers under two years of age. Immunocompromised children may be at higher risk for developing fulminent infections. Optimal management requires a combination of medical and surgical interventions. An aggressive surgical approach may be required to adequately clear the infection.
The effect of chronic retrovirus infection and immune dysfunction on the P‐450‐mediated activation of acetaminophen in mouse liver microsomes

Acute viral infection has long been recognized to down-regulate cytochrome P-450 enzymes and subsequently to result in changes in the pharmacological and toxicological responses to xenobiotics. In our previous research, chronic retrovirus infection induced by inoculating a susceptible strain of mice with LP-BM5 murine leukaemia virus (MuLV) was found to suppress acetaminophen (APAP) induced liver injury. In the present study, we aimed to examine the influence of chronic retrovirus infection and its associated immune dysfunction on the activities of a number of cytochrome P-450 isozymes and the P-450-mediated activation of APAP in mouse liver microsomes. Liver microsomes prepared from female C57BL/6 mice at 8 and 16 weeks after LP-BM5 MuLV inoculation as well as from age-matched controls were used in the study. The catalytic activities of the cytochrome P-450 isozymes 1A family and 2E1, catalysts for the activation of APAP, were measured in different microsomal preparations using O-dealkylation of alkoxyresorufin homologues and oxidation of p-nitrophenol, respectively, as the metabolic markers. The formation of the reactive APAP metabolite trapped as glutathione conjugate in the microsomal preparations was also determined. We demonstrated that there were variable changes in total hepatic P-450 levels and in the activities of a number of P-450 isozymes in animals with chronic retrovirus infection and immune dysfunction. Such changes seemed to be dependent on the stage of the disease and to have resulted in increases or minimal changes in the rate of APAP activation in hepatic microsomes collected from this animal model. This suggests that the P-450-mediated activation of APAP was not down-regulated in animals with chronic retrovirus infection. Enhanced elimination of APAP by detoxification metabolic pathways is more likely to be responsible for the increased resistance to APAP-induced hepatotoxicity observed in our previous research in animals with chronic retrovirus infection.
Transneuronal labeling of CNS neuropeptide and monoamine neurons after pseudorabies virus injections into the stellate ganglion

Abstract The viral transneuronal labeling method was used in combination with immunohistochemical procedures to identify CNS neuropeptide and monoamine neurons that innervate the sympathetic preganglionic neuron (SPNs) which project to the stellate ganglion—the principal source of the sympathetic supply to the heart. Transneuronal labeling was found at three CNS levels: spinal cord, brainstem, and hypothalamus. In the thoracic spinal cord, apart from the pseudorabies virus (PRV)-labeled stellate SPNs, PRV-labeled neurons were localized in laminae I/II, IV, V, VII, and X as well as in the lateral spinal nucleus and lateral funiculus. In the C1–C4 spinal segments, labeled neurons were found in the lateral funiculus as well as laminae V and VII of the spinal gray matter. PRV-labeled cells were identified in lamina V and the dorsolateral funiculus of the lumbar spinal cord. Three medullary areas were consistently labeled: rostral ventromedial medulla (RVMM), rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM), and caudal raphe nuclei. The greatest concentration of labeling was found in the RVMM. This projection arose from adrenergic, serotonergic (5-HT), thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH), substance P, somatostatin, enkephalin, and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) immunoreactive neurons. The RVLM projection originated mainly from C1 adrenergic neurons, some of which contained immunoreactive neuropeptide Y (NPY). C3 adrenergic-NPY neurons lying near the floor of the 4th ventricle were also labeled. Enkephalin-, somatostatin- and VIP-immunoreactive RVLM neurons also contributed to this projection. 5-HT neurons of the caudal raphe nuclei (raphe pallidus, raphe obscurus, and raphe magnus) were labeled; some of these contained substance P or TRH-immunoreactivity with an occasional neuron staining for all three putative neurotransmitters. In the pons, catecholamine neurons in the A5 cell group, subcoeruleus and Kolliker-Fuse nuclei were labeled. The midbrain contained relatively few infected cells, but some were present in the Edinger-Westphal and precommissural nuclei. Forebrain labeling was concentrated in the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVN) with lesser amounts in the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) and the perifornical region. In the PVN, oxytocin-immunoreactive neurons accounted for the greatest chemically-defined projection while corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF), vasopressin-, and angiotensin II-immunoreactive neurons provided successively lesser inputs. In the LHA, angiotensin II-immunoreactive neurons were labeled. In summary, this study provides the first detailed map of the chemically-coded CNS neurons involved in the control of the cardiosympathetic outflow.
In vitro assay of the chlorophyll biosynthetic enzyme Mg-chelatase: resolution of the activity into soluble and membrane-bound fractions.

Abstract The first committed step in chlorophyll synthesis is the Mg-chelatase-catalyzed insertion of magnesium into protoporphyrin IX. Since iron insertion into protoporphyrin leads to heme formation, Mg-chelastase lies at the branch point of heme and chlorophyll synthesis in chloroplasts. Little is known about the enzymology or regulation of Mg-chelatase, as it has been assayed only in intact cucumber chloroplasts. In this report we describe an in vitro assay for Mg-chelatase. Mg-chelatase activity in intact pea chloroplasts was 3- to 4-fold higher than in cucumber chloroplasts. This activity survived chloroplast lysis and could be fractionated by centrifugation into supernatant and pellet components. Both of these fractions were required to reconstitute Mg-chelatase activity, and both were inactivated by boiling indicating that the enzyme is composed of soluble and membrane-bound protein(s). The product of the reaction was confirmed fluorometrically as the magnesium chelate of the porphyrin substrate. The specific activity of the reconstituted system was typically 1 nmol of Mg-deuteroporphyrin per h per mg of protein, and activity was linear for at least 60 min under our assay conditions. ATP and magnesium were required for Mg-chelatase activity and the enzyme was sensitive to the sulfhydryl reagent N-ethylmaleimide (I50, 20 microM). Broken and reconstituted cucumber chloroplasts were unable to maintain Mg-chelatase activity. However, the cucumber supernatant fraction was active when combined with the pellet fraction of peas; the converse was not true, which suggested that the cucumber pellet was the component that lost activity during lysis.
Localization of Cellular Structures

A technique for the localization of cytoplasmic and nucleic material in Wrights and Wrights-Giemsa strained blood cells is described. The microscopic field of view is first scanned with three different wavelengths of light and then digitized with the aid of a microscopic/vidicon/computer. Each of the three pictures is then converted to a binary color picture by comparison with three calculated clipping levels. The three binary color pictures are then logically combined to generate ``masks'' or sets of points which correspond to 1)nucleic points in the picture, 2) cytoplasmic points in the picture, and 3)red-cell points in the picture. The algorithms involved are easy to implement either in hardware or software, and execute very rapidly in either environment.
173 VULNERABILITY OF THE PREIMPLANTATION MAMMALIAN EMBRYO

The most sensitive stage of mammalian embryonic development to the lethal effects of X-irradiation is during the preimplantation period. As little as 10 rads has increased the resorption rate in pregnant rats exposed to irradiation on the first day of gestation. In order to determine whether other known teratogenic agents also affect the embryo in the pre-implantation period, pregnant rats were exposed to acetylsalicylic acid (200; 400 mg/kg) on the first day of gestation: Acetylsalicylic acid is a known teratogen when administered to the pregnant rat during early organogenesis. The results indicated that the preimplantation embryo was also adversely affected by aspirin exposure. Since ethyl alcohol was used as the carrier, separate experiments were carried out in pregnant rats using three exposures of ethyl alcohol (2.5 g; 5.0 and 10 g/kg). Both aspirin and ethyl alcohol produced an increase in embryonic death when pregnant rats were exposed to these agents on the first day of gestation. It appears that some toxic agents known to be embryotoxic during organogenesis can cause embryonic death during the preimplantation period. (HD 630; HD 7075; HD 11038)
Genetic control of cytodifferentiation.

The cells of the anterior region of the larval fatbody of Drosophila melanogaster accumulate kynurenine at the end of the third larval instar, whereas the cells of the posterior region are involved in pteridine metabolism. Through a series of transplantation experiments it has been demonstrated that the anterior fat cells synthesize kynurenine. The mutant vermilion lacks kynurenine, and the anterior fat cells of this mutant strain lack the autofluorescence characteristic of kynurenine. When the non-allelic suppressor gene is combined with vermilion, the synthesis of kynurenine is restored in the anterior fat cells, and some of the cells of the posterior region contain kynurenine as well. A similar extension in the number of cells containing kynurenine can be induced in the normal Ore-R strain by feeding the precursor tryptophan. It has been concluded that the absence of a physiological process in a differentiated cell does not necessarily represent a loss of the genetic potential for that process. The normal allele at the suppressor locus inhibits the occurrence of kynurenine in the posterior fat cells, whereas the mutant allele su2-s allows the expression of this potential. An inducer such as tryptophan can overcome this inhibition in the normal strain, and as a result the cells which are normally differentiated as "isoxanthopterin cells" may produce kynurenine as well.
Persistence Length of Single Stranded DNA: Effect of Length, Sequence and Surface

The knowledge of the DNA persistence length indicates the chain's flexibility which is related to the possible final folded state of DNA and provides the means for understanding DNA's structure in solution and on surfaces. The persistence length of ssDNA depends on the rigidity of the backbone and an intra-chain repulsion due to negatively charged backbone. In order to determine the contributions of rigidity and electrostatics on persistence length of ssDNA we conducted series of molecular dynamics simulations with regular and neutralized DNA of various length and sequences. We found that persistence length is largely determined by the flexibility of the backbone. However the electrostatic contribution to the persistence length is sequence dependent due to differences in base stacking and hydrogen bonding network.To investigate the effect of surface on the structure and dynamics of single stranded DNA (ssDNA) we performed molecular dynamics simulations of surface constrained ssDNA. We observed that surface grafting of ssDNA significantly changes its folding pathway, pi-pi stacking interaction, persistence length, and end to end distance when compared to free ssDNA. Moreover, we found that the number of bases and sequence play an important role in structure and dynamics of ssDNA constrained on the surface. Our research provided atomistic understanding of dynamics and conformational changes of single stranded DNA under various conditions; the length and sequence dependence as well as the effect of surface immobilization.
President Carter's Selection Reforms and Judicial Policymaking: A Voting Analysis of the United States Courts of Appeals

In order to shed light on the impact of reforms in selection procedures on the policy made by the federal courts, this article compares the voting patterns of United States courts of appeals judges appointed by President Jimmy Carter with those appointed by President Lyndon Johnson. The study shows that there are significant differences between the two groups of judges that are not attributable to affirmative action in the Carter selection system nor to changes in Johnson appointees' voting patterns over time. Although I acknowledge that there are other factors that may underlie the differences between the two groups of judges, I conclude that it is reasonable to assert that the differences are attributable to the Carter reforms in the selection process.
LOCUS OF CONTROL AND CAREER ASPIRATIONS OF FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS

Summary.-The career aspirations of 86 fourth grade students were compared with their scores on a locus of control measure. Of the 45 externally scoring students, 60% either had no career aspiration or a fantasy career aspiration. Of the 41 internally scoring students, 93% had realistic career aspirations. Strongly sex-stereotyped career aspirations were equally divided between the two groups. Until recently, the process of career development was thought to begin in adolescence. Ginzberg (1952) described childhood as a period of fantasy career aspirations, and his work influenced decades of research and theory (e.g., Looft, 1971). A recent theoretical contribution of Gottfredson (1981) has refocused attention on the period of childhood as one in which important career decisions are made, particularly the elimination of some career directions. This paper reports the first of a series of studies of elementary school children's career aspirations. Here, attention was focused on the relationship between locus of control and aspects of children's career choice. Fourth grade students, 40 boys and 46 girls, were administered the Nowicki and Strickland (1973) locus of control scale. The four classes included in this research were selected to represent a range of socioeconomic backgrounds. Low scores on this scale indicate internality or the belief that outcomes are contingent on one's ability and effort, while high scores indicate belief that outcomes are due to chance or the influence of powerful others. The mean score on the scale was 16.3 (SD = 6.07). As part of a class exercise, students identified their career aspirations and wrote a short essay on them. The students' occupational choices and essays were coded by three experienced career counselors on a 5-point scale from strongly male stereotyped to strongly female stereotyped, and as realistic or fantasy. Raters were blind to students' characteristics (sex or locus of control). On the 77 responses wherein children indicated a specific career aspiration, there was exact agreement among the raters on the strongly male (n = 15) and female sex-stereotyped (n = 17) categories in all cases, and considerable disagreement among the other three categories. The two weakly stereotyped and neutral categories were collapsed. There was exact agreement on the 21 cases of "fantasyM careers which included such occupations
Determination of aluminum in plant tissue digests using a catechol violet colorimetric method

Abstract A procedure is described for the colorimetric determination of Al in acid digests of plant tissue using catechol violet as the chromogenic reagent. Components of plant tissue digests were examined for interference in the determination of Al using the described procedure. For highest accuracy, Al standards should contain macroelements, microelements, and acid at concentrations generally typical of those present in acid digests of the plant tissue being analyzed. Using the described procedure, recovery of Al added prior to digestion was 99.1% and 97.1% for National Bureau of Standards SRM 1571 (orchard leaves) and SRM 1572 (citrus leaves), respectively.
Optimization of Positive Pressure Ventiliation Tactic for Wind Driven High Rise Fires

Positive Pressure Ventilation (PPV) is a firefighting tactic that can mitigate the spread of fire and the combustion products to improve the safety of firefighters and civilians in wind-driven high-rise fires than without PPV. The performance of a PPV tactic in wind-driven high-rise fires depends on various parameters that include wind speed, control of stairwell doors, number of fans, fan positions and placements, fire location etc. This paper describes the influence of these parameters on the efficacy of PPV operation that was studied by simulating wind-driven high-rise fire scenarios using computational fluid dynamics softwares Fluent 12.0 and NIST’s Fire dynamic simulator (FDS 5.0). The results obtained from Fluent and FDS found to be in close agreement with each other and have been used to optimize the PPV operation for better performance.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Statistical Mechanics of Non‐Spherical Molecules: Spherical Harmonic Expansions on Non‐Spherical Surfaces II Gay‐Berne Gaussian Overlap Potential

Pseudo-spherical harmonic expansions of two body functions such as pair potential and pair correlation functions are proposed for molecular systems interacting by the Gay-Berne Gaussian overlap potential (GOBG potential) and the site-site diatomic potential. It is shown that the choice of surfaces representing the repulsive cores of the potentials provides rapid convergence of the series, thereby allowing for the calculation of thermodynamic properties and for the study of the orientational structure of the fluids by series resummations. Significant differences in the structures of the GOBG and the site-site diatomic liquids are brought out using this technique.
A prenylated p67phox-Rac1 chimera elicits NADPH-dependent superoxide production by phagocyte membranes in the absence of an activator and of p47phox: conversion of a pagan NADPH oxidase to monotheism.

Abstract Activation of the superoxide-generating NADPH oxidase of phagocytes is the result of the assembly of a membrane-localized flavocytochrome (cytochromeb 559) with the cytosolic components p47phox, p67phox , and the small GTPase Rac. Activation can be reproduced in an in vitro system in which cytochrome b 559-containing membranes are mixed with cytosolic components in the presence of an anionic amphiphile. We proposed that the essential event in activation is the interaction between p67phox and cytochrome b 559 and that Rac and p47phox serve as carriers for p67phox to the membrane. When prenylated, Rac can fulfill the carrier function by itself, supporting oxidase activation by p67phox in the absence of p47phox and amphiphile. We now show that a single chimeric protein, consisting of residues 1–212 of p67phox and full-length Rac1 (residues 1–192), prenylated in vitro and exchanged to GTP, becomes a potent oxidase activator in the absence of any other component or stimulus. Oxidase activation by prenylated chimera p67phox (1–212)-Rac1 (1–192) is accompanied by its spontaneous association with membranes. Prenylated chimeras p67phox (1–212)-Rac1 (178–192) and p67phox(1–212)-Rac1 (189–192), containing specific C-terminal regions of Rac1, are inactive; the activity of the first but not of the second chimera can be rescued by supplementation with exogenous nonprenylated Rac1-GTP. An analysis of prenylated p67phox-Rac1 chimeras suggests that the basic requirements for oxidase activation are: (i) a “two signals” membrane-localizing motif present in Rac, comprising the prenyl group and a C-terminal polybasic sequence and (ii) an intrachimeric or extrachimeric protein-protein interaction between p67phox and Rac1, causing a conformational change in the “activation domain” in p67phox.
Rigorous analysis of light scattering from multilayered gratings with biaxial anisotropy

The rigorous coupled-wave approach (RCWA) is applied to analyze light scattering from one-dimensional lamellar multilayered gratings with biaxial anisotropy. Numerical results are presented for photoresist traces on a silicon substrate, showing the effect of anisotropy on the Stokes parameters.
Targeting Protein–Protein Interactions: Suppression of Stat3 Dimerization with Rationally Designed Small‐Molecule, Nonpeptidic SH2 Domain Binders

Protein-protein interactions remain a daunting target for disruption by small molecules due to their large interfacial areas and their often noncontiguous contact points. The prospect for inhibition increases when small interaction modules (such as SH2 domains) participate in the binding. SH2 domains are found in the family of signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT) proteins,[1] which mediate the relay of extracellular signals from various cell-surface protein receptors to the nucleus, where they help to initiate and regulate specific gene expression.[2] In particular, the Stat3 protein is known to directly upregulate Bcl-xL, c-Myc, Mcl-1, VEGF, and cyclin D1/D2, and contributes directly to compromised cellular regulation by stimulating cell proliferation and preventing apoptosis in numerous human cancers.[2,3]
Resistance to flow in smooth Channels

The distinction is drawn between smooth and rough channel flow, and formulas developed giving Chezy's constant for smooth channels in terms of the Reynolds number, for non-turbulent and ultra-rapid flow.
Telechelic Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide): Polymerization and Chain Aggregation in Solution

The synthesis of telechelic poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) with carboxylic acid termini was accomplished using the primary radical termination mechanism. Polymers with molecular weight (Mn) ranging from 32 to 5 kDa could be prepared by changing the monomer-to-initiator ratio and the time of polymerization. Modeling of the polymerization by a simple kinetic model based on radical initiation, propagation, and primary radical termination by initiator was performed. Prediction of the molecular weights by this model showed good agreement with the experimentally observed values. Characterization of the polymer revealed a complex aggregation phenomena in DMF solutions at temperatures of 60−70 °C. For samples with Mn between 8.3 and 12.2 kDa the presence of nanometer size aggregates was evident in the elution chromatogram, and the laser light scattered at right angles. It was found that the aggregation appeared at a polymer concentration that was far below the overlap concentration of the polymer chains, an...
Thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy for arterial disease.

The practice of vascular surgery in today’s world continues to change at a rapid pace, driven largely by technologic advances in endoluminal instrumentation. Until relatively recently, endarterectomy or bypass were the only treatment options available for chronic arterial occlusive disease, a condition now more often treated endoluminally with angioplasty and stenting. In the acute situation, where a significant component of the obstruction is likely to be relatively fresh thrombus, angioplasty is less advisable due to risk of embolization and the long lengths of vessel typically involved. Previously only able to be treated with open balloon catheter thrombectomy, vascular surgeons (VSs) today have both thrombolytic drugs and percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy devices at their disposal to treat both chronic and acute arterial occlusions. Although thrombolytic agents such as urokinase (UK) and tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) have a long history of efficacious use, the exact indications and expectations of their use remains controversial [1]. More recently, percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy devices capable of treating a variety of vessel sizes and types have been developed, further expanding the spectrum of options to treat intravascular thrombosis. Although the available devices differ in their manner of clot dissolution and ability to extract the lysed thrombus, all allow for percutaneous recanalization of thrombosed vessels, and provide an additional therapeutic option, either used in stand-alone fashion or as an adjunct to pharmacologic thrombolysis [2]. Although each method has its merits as a stand-alone therapy, it is becoming clear that a combination of both thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy has many practical advantages. This article will summarize the reported experience with both thrombolysis and mechanical
Proton affinity of FNO

Abstract Protonation of the nitrogen of nitrosyl fluoride (FNO) is favored over protonation at the oxygen site. The proton affinity of FNO at the nitrogen site is determined to be 124.0±3 kcal mol −1 . The energy separation between structures protonated at the nitrogen and oxygen sites is 5.5±3 kcal mol −1 . Protonation at the fluorine site results in a HF–NO + complex which is lower in energy than the other two structures. The single and double coupled-cluster method that includes a perturbational estimate of the effects of connected triple excitations, denoted CCSD(T), was used in conjunction with split valence triple-zeta and the correlation consistent basis sets to arrive at these values.
The electron velocity-field characteristic for n-In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As at 300 K

Electron drift velocities in n-type In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As have been measured at 300 K using a microwave time-of-flight technique at electric field strengths from about 10 kV/cm to 104 kV/cm. The electron velocity-field characteristic for n-type In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As exhibits a larger negative differential mobility and a lower high field velocity than is obtained with GaAs.
Tyrosinase and inhibition of proliferation of melanoma cells and fibroblasts

Summary Actively melanizing melanoma cells release an agent into their culture medium that inhibits proliferation not only of like cells but also of fibroblasts. This growth inhibition is detectable as a decrease in the rate of DNA synthesis and cell number and is a function of tyrosinase activity. Exogenous (mushroom) tyrosinase can mimic the effect of endogenous tyrosinase activity. The inhibition is reversible after a lag of about 8 h. The inhibitory agent is probably a diffusible intermediate of melanin synthesis.
Friendships in late life: A rural-urban comparison

This study examines the friendship patterns of older adults living in rural and urban areas. The sample consisted of 132 urban adults and 126 rural adults, 65 years of age and older. Respondents were randomly selected and interviewed in their own homes. While both groups were involved in joint social activities and helping behaviors with their friends, there was a distinction in the type of involvement according to geographical location.
Improving volcanic ash cloud detection by a robust satellite technique

Abstract Automated and reliable satellite-based techniques are strongly required for volcanic ash cloud detection and tracking. In fact, volcanic ash clouds pose a serious hazard for air traffic and the synoptic (and possibly frequent) coverage offered by satellites can provide exciting opportunities for monitoring activities as well as for risk mitigation purposes. A new, AVHRR-based technique for improved automatic detection of volcanic clouds by means of multi-temporal analysis of historical, long-term satellite records has been recently proposed. The technique basically rests on the Robust AVHRR Techniques (RAT) approach, which is an innovative strategy of satellite data analysis, devoted to a former characterisation of the measured signal, in terms of expected value and natural variability and a further recognition of signal anomalies by an automatic, unsupervised change detection step. In this work, an extension of this method to nighttime observations is presented, by using thermal infrared information coming from AVHRR bands centred approximately at 3.5, 11.0 and 12.0 μm. Results achieved for two recent eruptive events of Mount Etna (occurred in May 2000 and in July 2001) seem to be encouraging, showing clear improvements in terms of ash detection sensitivity as well as in terms of false alarms reduction. The technique performance is also evaluated by comparison with the traditional “split-window” brightness temperature difference method; this exercise revealed a general improvement obtained by the proposed approach, even though some common problems still remain unsolved. The main merits of such an approach are its intrinsic self-adaptability to different environmental/natural/observational conditions and its natural exportability also to different satellite sensors. The results here presented show the benefits of such a technique especially when different observational conditions (time of pass, seasonal period, atmospheric moisture, solar illumination, volcanic cloud composition, satellite angles of view, etc.) are considered. The future prospects, also in terms of possible operational scenarios, coming from the implementation of such an approach on the new generation of satellite sensors (like, for example, SEVIRI aboard Meteosat Second Generation platform) are also discussed.
Do budget deficits matter? Some pre-world war II evidence

Abstract We estimate five-variable vector autoregressions comprising deficits, money, prices, industrial production, and interest rates. The impact of budget deficits is evaluated by variance decompositions. In estimating vector autoregressions for the July 1922–June 938 period we first use a technique in which lag lengths differ for each equation and for the same variable across equations. We next estimate vector autoregressions using a common lag length for the same time period and for two subperiods. While the impact of the deficit varies, there is n o evidence substantial debt monetization or of important effects on the other variables.
Nonoperative Closure of Persistent Gastrocutaneous Fistulas in Children with 2-Octylcyanoacrylate

Abstract A persistent gastrocutaneous fistula (pGCF) is an all-too-common complication following removal of a gastrostomy tube (GT) in a child and is associated with significant morbidity. The most common initial methods to manage pGCF include local would care and occlusion techniques. Failure of this approach is followed by surgical excision of the fistula tract and closure of the gastrostomy under general anesthesia. We report the first use of a tissue adhesive, 2-octylcyanoacrylate (2OC) (Dermabond; Ethicon, Sommerville, NJ) as a non-surgical method to close pGCF in children. Methods: The families of children presenting to the pediatric surgical division for management of a pGCF were offered the option of 2OC closure. Children not receiving or who failed to achieve closure with 2OC therapy underwent surgery for excision of the pGCF with primary closure of the stomach and soft tissues. Results: Seven children underwent 2OC therapy. 57% (4 of 7) of the children had complete closure of the pGCF with 2OC t...
Phycoerythrins of the Red Alga Callithamnion VARIATION IN PHYCOERYTHROBILIN AND PHYCOUROBILIN CONTENT

Phycoerythrins of several species of the higher red alga Callithamnion show virtually identical spectra, typical of R-phycoerythrins, with absorption maxima at 565, 539, and 497 nanometers. One species, Callithamnion roseum, produces a phycoerythrin lacking the peak at 539 nanometers. Comparison of a "typical" R-phycoerythrin from Callithamnion byssoides with the "atypical" phycoerythrin of C. roseum shows that both proteins carry 35 bilins per native molecule of 240,000 daltons; however, C. byssoides phycoerythrin carries 27.6 phycoerythrobilin and 7.3 phycourobilin groups, whereas C. roseum phycoerythrin carries 24.1 phycoerythrobilin and 10.9 phycourobilin groups. These differences in the relative amounts of the bilin prosthetic groups account in large measure for the differences between the absorption spectra of the native proteins. The ratio of phycoerythrobilin to phycourobilin in C. roseum phycoerythrin can be modulated by varying the light intensity during growth.Data on the physical, immunological and spectroscopic properties of Callithamnion phycoerythrins indicate that the variation in the relative number of the two bilin prosthetic groups does not affect significantly the conformation of the biliprotein.
Emergency medicine in Antarctica

Antarctica provides immense and varied challenges, not least of which is the provision of adequate health care for expedition personnel. Although expeditioners must be healthy and not reliant upon medication for the maintenance of health, unexpected illness and accidents are always a possibility. An Antarctic health facility must be well organised, able to accommodate almost every contingency and be provided with adequate equipment, medication and medical expertise. This paper describes the provision of emergency health care at Australian Antarctic stations and discusses the climate and environment, medical practitioner selection and training, equipment and facilities, medical conditions expected, evacuation and aspects of Antarctic telemedicine. Some illustrative cases are presented.
A Systematic Study of the Plaque Removal Efficiency of Worn Toothbrushes

This study described a new in vivo methodology for measuring and comparing plaque removal efficiencies of different toothbrush designs and used it to quantify the loss of plaque removal efficiency of worn toothbrushes, as well as to elucidate the causes. Worn toothbrushes produce statistically significant and large decreases in plaque removal ability depending upon their state of wear. While both bristle matting and bristle tapering contribute to this loss, the former appears to be the more potent. Thus brush designs that are resistant to bristle matting should show markedly superior durability. An indirect conclusion from the bristle tapering results is that the softer a brush, the less plaque it will remove. As a practical conclusion, it is recommended that a standard toothbrush be discarded when it shows signs of matting, regardless of age.
On canonical antichains

An antichain A of a well-founded quasi-order Q is canonical if for every ideal F of Q, F has an infinite antichain if and only if F@?A is infinite. In this paper we characterize the obstructions to having a canonical antichain. As an application we show that, under the induced subgraph relation, the class of finite graphs does not have a canonical antichain. In contrast, this class does have a canonical antichain with respect to the subgraph relation.
When authorship fails: A proposal to make contributors accountable

A published article is the primary means whereby new work is communicated, priority is established, and academic promotion is determined. Publication depends on trust and requires that authors be held to standards of honesty, completeness, and fairness in their reporting, and to accountability for their statements. The system of authorship, while appropriate for articles with only 1 author, has become inappropriate as the average number of authors of an article has increased; as the work of coauthors has become more specialized and relationships between them have become more complex; and as both credit and, even more, responsibility have become obscured and diluted. Credit and accountability cannot be assessed unless the contributions of those named as authors are disclosed to readers, so the system is flawed. We argue for a radical conceptual and systematic change, to reflect the realities of multiple authorship and to buttress accountability. We propose dropping the outmoded notion of author in favor of the more useful and realistic one of contributor. This requires disclosure to readers of the contributions made to the research and to the manuscript by the contributors, so that they can accept both credit and responsibility. In addition, certain named contributors take on the role of guarantor for the integrity of the entire work. The requirement that all participants be named as contributors will eliminate the artificial distinction between authors and acknowledgees and will enhance the integrity of publication.
Hendricks and Mims, Keith's Radio Station: Broadcast, Internet, and Satellite

The original Keith's Radio Station was published in 1986 and written by Dr. Michael C. Keith, who entered teaching at a small New England college after ten years in professional broadcasting. He wa...