cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
RW Tauri as a weak W Serpentis star

Observations of the short-period eclipsing binary RW Tau made with the LWR and SWP cameras of the IUE satellite and with the ITS scanner at the 3-m Shane telescope of the Lick Observatory in August and October, 1982, are reported and analyzed. At total eclipse, weak excess continuous radiation in the LWR range and emission lines at Si IV (1), C IV (1), Al III (1), Fe III (34), and Mg II (1) in the SWP range were detected. These findings are similar to those for W Ser-type binaries such as U Cep. The parameters of the system are estimated using a bilinearly interpolated atmospheric model of the type developed by Kurucz (1979): primary-star T(eff) = 11,750 K, log g = 4.2, cool-component spectral type = K0 III, E(B-V) color excess = 0.14 mag, system distance = 270 pc. The implications of these findings for proposed models of the W Ser binaries are discussed, and the observation of a possible distant optical companion star 45 arcsec from RW Tau is reported.
Coal Creek serpentinite, Llano Uplift, Texas: A fragment of an incomplete Precambrian ophiolite

The Precambrian Coal Creek serpentinite, Llano Uplift, Texas, occurs within the upper part of the Packsaddle Schist, which appears to represent a thick sequence of shelf-edge volcaniclastic arc-flank metasediments. The serpentinite has a foliation defined by lizardite pseudomorphs after original foliated harzburgite tectonite, which deviates as much as 15° from the regional country-rock foliation. A few samples contain the relict assemblage olivine + orthopyroxene + anthophyllite reflecting re-equilibration to regional metamorphic conditions near 710 °C at ∼3.5 kb. Oxygen and deuterium isotopic data indicate the lizardite could have formed in equilibrium with magmatic water at about 300 to 400 °C during regional uplift. A likely petrogenetic model involves the olistostromal emplacement of a fragment of ophiolitic material, the Coal Creek ultramafic body, into the volcaniclastic arc-flank sediments. The island-arc model suggested for the Llano Uplift and the existence of ophiolitic material imply that brittle plate collisions were locally important 1,200 m.y. ago and that the orogenic event that affected the Llano terrane (that is, the Grenvillian orogeny) involved island-arc-continent interactions. The Llano Uplift contains the only exposed ophiolitic material along the entire “Grenvillian” orogenic belt.
End-of-Life Decision Making: A Preliminary Outline for Preparing Counselors to Work With Terminally Ill Individuals

End-of-life care is continuously becoming an issue of paramount importance given an increase in medical advances, the aging of the population, and the movement toward contributing toward a quality of life among terminally ill patients. However, there is a dearth in literature related to this topic specifically in terms of preparing counselors to become competent in working with such clients who are facing death and who may be seeking ways of hastening their death. The authors provide learning objectives related to this area as well as ways of infusing such objectives into the counselor education curriculum.
Abnormal arylsulphatase activities of fibroblasts cultured from patients with mucopolysaccharidosis and cystinosis.

The activity of arylsulphatases A and B was studied in cultured fibroblasts of 2 patients with Hurler's syndrome, 2 patients with Hunter's syndrome and 2 patients with cystinosis.
Disclosure and Consent to Medical Research Participation

Most regulations and guidelines require that potential research participants be told a great deal of information during the consent process. Many of these documents, and most of the scholars who consider the consent process, assume that all this information must be disclosed because it must all be understood. However, a wide range of studies surveying apparently competent participants in clinical trials around the world show that many do not understand key aspects of what they have been told. The standard view of the conditions for valid consent therefore implies that these people have failed to give valid consent to research participation. In this paper we argue that the standard view is false. The primary function of the requirement that researchers disclose information about a study is the avoidance of illegitimate control over someone’s consent decision, which is a form of fraud.We derive the content and manner of appropriate disclosure by analysing the ways in which the manipulation of information can invalidate consent. Our analysis shows that the informational requirements for valid consent are conceptually distinct and thus unlikely to have identical contents. This implies that consent can be valid when not everything that ought to be disclosed by the person asking for consent is understood by the person who proffers it.
Overview: The paradoxical relationship between sociology and rational choice

This edition of The American Sociologist brings together discussions of one of the most contentious issues in the discipline?the place of rational choice in sociology. The participants are six distinguished scholars, five of whom are former American Sociological Association presidents. The contribu tors reflect the diversity of views in the discipline and range from quite positive to harshly critical. In this overview, I critically examine the issues that arise in the discussions and provide additional support for the position of several contributors, who argue that even though sociologists have tradi tionally condemned rational choice, many have also implicitly relied upon it as the foundation for their work. This issue of The American Sociologist brings together a remarkable set of essays in which six distinguished scholars, five of whom are former American Sociological Association presidents, address one of the most contentious issues in the discipline, the relationship between sociology and rational choice. These essays derive from a thematic session on the topic, "Rational Choice and Soci ology," that occurred at the American Sociological Association's annual meeting in 1994. Since Talcott Parsons's condemnation of utilitarianism and his effort to erect a barrier separating sociology and economics, the attitude of sociologists toward rational choice has been overwhelmingly negative. These essays may signal a change in this position. Two-thirds of the essays (William Goode, Joan Huber, Matilda White Riley and James Short) discuss rational choice in positive terms. Half of them (Goode, Huber, and Short) go further, arguing that implicit rational
An empirical study of bonded heterogeneous WAN access links

Bonding multiple low-cost physical communication links to form a single, higher capacity logical link is a common and inexpensive approach to increasing WAN access bandwidth. Though bonded links have traditionally been homogeneous, the emergence of multi-homed hosts and diverse access technologies (e.g., cable modem, DSL, connection sharing via 802.11x) compel us to study the performance of bonding increasingly heterogeneous links. We examine the end-to-end performance of a single TCP connection with packets transmitted over multiple links. We describe a testbed we constructed, and present throughput results for bonded links with heterogeneous component links
1-D array of perforated diode neutron detectors

Performance of a 4 cm long 64-pixel perforated diode neutron detector array is compared with an identical array of thin-film coated diodes. The perforated neutron detector design has been adapted to a 1-D pixel array capable of 120mm spatial resolution and counting efficiency greater than 12%. Deep vertical trenches filled with 6 LiF provide outstanding improvement in efficiency over thin-film coated diode designs limited to only 4.5%. This work marks the final step towards the construction of a much larger array consisting of 1024 pixels spanning 10 cm. The larger detector array will be constructed with a sub-array of 64-pixel sensors, and will be used for small-angle neutron scattering experiments at the Spallation Neutron Source of Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Published by Elsevier B.V.
A single amino acid substitution in a WW‐like domain of diverse members of the PDGF receptor subfamily of tyrosine kinases causes constitutive receptor activation

Platelet-derived growth factor beta receptor (PDGFbetaR) is a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase involved in a variety of cellular functions. We have generated a constitutively activated murine PDGFbetaR containing a valine to alanine substitution at residue 536, located in the cytoplasmic juxtamembrane domain. When this mutant receptor (PR-V536A) was expressed in Ba/F3 cells, it allowed the cells to survive and proliferate in the absence of IL-3 or PDGF, and tyrosine phosphorylation of PR-V536A was increased markedly compared with that of the wild-type PDGFbetaR in the absence of ligand and similar to that observed in ligand-activated PDGFbetaR. PR-V536A displayed increased tyrosine kinase activity in vitro toward an exogenous substrate, and the tyrosine kinase activity of the receptor was required for the constitutive activation of the mutant. This valine to alanine substitution also activated a PDGFbetaR mutant unable to bind PDGF. Alanine substitutions at positions homologous to V536 of the murine PDGFbetaR also activated other members of the PDGF receptor subfamily. The amino acid sequence of this region revealed a strong similarity to WW domains present in other signal transduction proteins. Furthermore, GST fusion proteins containing the juxtamembrane region of the PDGFR specifically associated with peptides containing the WW domain consensus recognition sequence PPXY. The results suggest that the cytoplasmic juxtamembrane domain plays a role in the regulation of receptor activity and function, perhaps by participating in protein-protein interactions.
Organization of Wolbachia pipientis in the Drosophila fertilized egg and embryo revealed by an anti-Wolbachia monoclonal antibody.

Abstract Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) in Drosophila is related to the presence of Wolbachia, an intracelluar microorganism found in many species of insects. In order to study the intracellular localization of Wolbachia in eggs and embryos, we have purified the bacteria from fly embryos and subsequently generated a monoclonal antibody (Mab Wol-1) specific for Wolbachia. Indirect immunofluorescence staining using Wol-1 reveals that during mitosis, Wolbachia are localized near spindle poles and centrosomes. Double label immunofluorescence experiments using anti-tubulin and anti-Wolbachia antibodies show that Wolbachia co-localize with centrosomal microtubules throughout the cell cycle. Direct interactions between the bacteria and centrosome-organized microtubules are implied from seven observations: (1) throughout the mitotic cycle, the position and movement of Wolbachia precisely mimic the behavior of the centrosome and apparently associates with centrosome-organized microtubules; (2) Wolbachia segregate equally to each spindle pole during mitosis; (3) Wolbachia do not associate with spindle microtubules during mitosis; (4) Wolbachia located in the egg cortex localize to the domains of cytoplasm organized by microtubules during blastoderm formation; (5) polar body nuclei that lack centrosomes but contain associated microtubules do not contain Wolbachia; (6) Wolbachia no longer associate with yolk nuclei, following differentiation and loss of centrosomes; (7) during pole cell formation, Wolbachia co-localize with the centrosome on the apical side of the nucleus as pole cells form. Quantitative data indicates that no Wolbachia growth occurs during the preblastoderm period even though rapid nuclear, and subsequent cellular, proliferation takes place during this same period. This indicates that Wolbachia are under strict growth regulation by the host suggesting that host factors play a role in regulating growth of Wolbachia in the egg. Further cellular and molecular studies of the extensive, global interactions between host and symbiont observed in this egg should provide important new insights into the evolution of host/symbiosis and the cell biology of cytoplasmic incompatibility.
X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometric Determination of Rare Earths in Plutonium

Two methods were evaluated for determining rare earths in plutonium: (1) For the lighter rare earths (Z≦66), or low concentrations of the heavier rare earths, an adjacent rare earth was added as a carrier and also as an internal standard, the rare earths were separated from plutonium by fluoride precipitation, and the measured intensity ratios for the sample and for solutions having known concentrations were compared. The Lβ1 x-rays were measured for the lighter rare earths and the Lα1 x rays for the remaining lanthanides. (2) For the heavier rare earths (Z>66), the Lα1 x-ray intensities were measured from a nitric acid solution of the sample and compared to intensities obtained for solutions having known concentrations. The minimum concentrations that could be measured with a relative standard deviation no greater than 4% by the separation internal standard method varied from approximately 0.5% for lanthanum to 0.01% for lutetium. The direct measurement of x-ray intensity was much less sensitive. Applicability of the methods was shown by successful analyses of plutonium alloys containing dysprosium, thulium, or lutetium.
CRYSTALS AND DE RHAM–WITT CONNECTIONS

For a smooth variety $X$ over a perfect field $k$ in characteristic $p$ , an equivalence of category is established between the category of crystals on $X/W(k)$ and the category of $p$ -adically nilpotent, integrable de Rham–Witt connections. AMS 2000 Mathematics subject classification: Primary 14F30; 14F40
Spherical Harmonics Applied to Differential and Integro-Differential Equations Arising in Mathematical Finance

This paper is devoted to extend the spherical harmonics technique to the solution of parabolic differential equations and to integro-differential equations. The heat equation and the Black–Scholes equation are solved by using the method of spherical harmonics. We also discuss the Black–Scholes equation in annular domains, and generalized Black–Scholes equations. Finally we solve some integro-differential equation arising in financial models with jumps by using the method of spherical harmonics.
Basal ganglia calcification on CT scanning in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia

Calcification occurring in the basal ganglia in children with acute lymphocyte leukemia following therapy is uncommon and to the best of our knowledge has not been reported prior to therapy. Eleven cases of bilateral symmetrical calcification in the basal ganglia were noted in 2350 CT scans, two being in children with acute lymphocytic leukemia. In one of the two cases, calcification was present prior to therapy.
Neuroleptic-induced catalepsy: A D2 blockade phenomenon?

Typical neuroleptics, such as haloperidol, are cataleptogenic. But since such drugs block both D1 and D2 receptors, it is not clear if there is a differential receptor role in catalepsy. To test this issue in a mouse model of catalepsy, these experiments tested molindone, a D2-blocking neuroleptic with almost no ability to block D1 receptors. If D1 receptor blockade is necessary for catalepsy, molindone should not cause catalepsy. But molindone was cataleptogenic, albeit less potent than haloperidol. There was also a “training effect” with haloperidol, but not saline or molindone, in that the catalepsy produced by 5 mg/kg of haloperidol was much greater when tests were performed repeatedly at short intervals after injection. Concurrent administration of apomorphine (4 or 8 mg/kg) markedly potentiated haloperidol catalepsy, but had no effect on molindone catalepsy. Such results are not readily interpretable solely in terms of current concepts of D1 and D2 receptors.
Identification of optical lines in a molecular band by rf labelling; application to hfs in ScO, X 2 Σ + , v=1

It is shown how individual rotational lines in a dense molecular band may be rapidly and positively identified by an rf-labelling method. The molecular-beam, laser-rf, double-resonance scheme allows precise measurement of lower-state hfs and spin-rotation splittings. Since correct assignment of all quantum numbers to such observations is a prerequisite for a satisfactory self-consistent least-squares fit of the Hamiltonian to the data, positive line identifications result. As knowledge of the interaction strengths is progressively refined, it rapidly becomes possible to predict all lower-state splittings, and this knowledge in turn leads to identification of the remaining rotational lines. The method is applied to identification of rotational lines in theA↔X (v′=1↔v″=1) transition in ScO. Although a major perturbation of theA2∏ state energies (resulting in breaking the monotonic distribution of rotational lines in the band) was unexpectedly found, the labelling method led to quick and positive identification of the lines. Spin-rotation and hfs results are given for theX2Σ+ (v=1) manifold of ScO.
Stimulatory effect of organic solvents on initiating development in diapausing pupae of the flesh fly, Sarcophaga crassipalpis, and the tobacco hornworm, Manduca sexta.

. Alkanes, diethyl ether, and various other organic solvents proved to be potent stimulants of development in diapausing pupae of Sarcophaga crassipalpis Macquart and of Manduca sexta (Johansson). Topical application of 2μl or vapour exposure for 1–2h was sufficient stimulation for the flies, but the solvent had to be injected to elicit the response in the hornworms. In flies, oxygen consumption increased nearly 100-fold within 15 min of hexane application, and thereafter persisted at non-diapause levels. Sensitivity of fly pupae to hexane remained high throughout diapause but acetone sensitivity dropped sharply after the second day in diapause. Acetone applied the day before the onset of diapause averted diapause in flies, and topical application to hornworm larvae 3 days before pupation likewise prevented pupal diapause. Debrained pupae failed to respond to solvent treatment, and we conclude that it is the brain, rather than the prothoracic gland, that responds directly to stimulation.
Adverse Exposures and Use of Universal Precautions Among Perinatal Nurses

Objective: To identify the level of protective barrier use by perinatal nurses, the numbers of exposures experienced, and the factors influencing barrier use. Design: Descriptive correlational study. Participants: A random sample of 560 perinatal nurses practicing in Arizona were sent questionnaires; 306 nurses responded. Main Outcome Measures: The nurses indicated frequency of barrier use, on a Likert-type scale, for 15 common obstetric procedures involving risk for blood or body fluid exposure. The nurses also reported number of exposures and barrier failures experienced in the preceding year. Two other scales were used to identify factors influencing barrier use and nonuse. Results: A low frequency of barrier use and a high frequency of exposures were reported. A relationship was found between barrier use and exposures (r =−.29, p <.0001): As barrier use increased, exposures to body fluids decreased somewhat. Suspicion that a patient was a member of a high-risk group (e.g., an intravenous drug user) was a strong motivator for barrier use. Poorly fitting gloves and the need for quick action were strong influences for barrier nonuse. Conclusions: Perinatal nurses were inadequately protected from bloodborne disease.
Abstract 3056: miR-125b suppresses p14ARF and modulates p53-dependent and p53-independent apoptosis in prostate cancer cells.

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Increasing evidence has revealed that miR-125b functions as a potential oncogene in different types of human cancer. Our previous studies demonstrated that miR-125b directly targets p53, Puma and Bak1 in human prostate cancer (CaP). To further elucidate the role of miR-125b in modulating the p53 network, we utilized a bioinformatics approach to identify miR-125b-regulated, CaP-relevant tumor suppressor gene, and identified p14ARF gene as a miR-125b target. We first evaluated the effect of miR-125b on the regulation of p14ARF expression, and found that miR-125b treatment induced reduction of p14ARF by 80% in LNCaP CaP cells and 60% in 22Rv1 CaP cells. Conversely, anti-miR-125b increased the p14ARF level by 40% in LNCaP and 30% in 22Rv1. We then performed luciferase assay to validate that the miR-125b binding site in the 3’UTR of p14ARF mRNA is responsible for the regulation of p14ARF by miR-125b. Since p14ARF accelerates Mdm2 degradation, resulting in p53 up-regulation, we thus assessed the effect of miR-125b on the expression of Mdm2 and p53. Compared with miRNA control, miR-125b treatment induced a dramatic increase in Mdm2 and a significant reduction of p53 in CaP cell lines, as well as in miR-125b-overexpressed xenograft tumor. Additionally, miR-125b treatment resulted in a reduction of interaction between p14ARF and Mdm2. Next, we examined the effect of miR-125b on CaP cell proliferation. Both LNCaP and 22Rv1 cells were transfected with miR-125b and cell proliferation was determined by clone formation assay. When compared with the control, miR-125b treatment increased clonogenic survival of CaP cells, while anti-miR-125b caused a dramatic reduction in the number of colonies. We evaluated the effect of downregulation of miR-125b on apoptosis in p53-positive 22Rv1 CaP cells. Data from TUNEL assay demonstrated that anti-miR-125 caused 63% of cells to undergo apoptosis. Similarly, in p53-negative PC3 CaP cells, miR-125b treatment induced a 2-fold increase in survival, while anti-miR-125b caused 50% of cells to undergo apoptosis. In summary, we observed that overexpression of miR-125b negatively regulates the expression of p14ARF, resulting in promotion of cell proliferation and inhibition of apoptosis. Inactivation of miR-125b using anti-miR-125b affects apoptosis involving both p53-dependent and p53-independent pathways. Therefore, our data suggest that miR-125b has a great potential to be used as a therapeutic target for CaP treatment. Citation Format: Xu-Bao Shi, Sumaira Amir, Ai-Hong Ma, Lingru Xue, Ralph W. deVere White. miR-125b suppresses p14ARF and modulates p53-dependent and p53-independent apoptosis in prostate cancer cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3056. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-3056
Empathy and Silence in Pastoral Care for Traumatic Grief and Loss

This paper evaluates silence as a therapeutic practice in pastoral care for traumatic grief and loss. Informed by the history of attachment and mourning theory, its research considers the basic effect that empathy has upon the therapeutic relationship around psychic difference. The study appraises the potential resources and detriments that empathic language may have for the grief process. Offering clinical examples in hospice chaplaincy, it refutes the idea that silence is formulaic tool to be used. It instead offers silence as the acceptance of the limits of empathic language and the affirmation of psychological difference and theological wholeness.
A simple technique for determining internal mammary chain depth by sonography.

A simple quick technique is described to determine the depth of the internal mammary lymph nodes. This technique obtains 3 direct (not estimated) measurements of the internal mammary chain (IMC) field from a single transverse sonographic scan. The importance of obtaining this measurement in the therapy treatment position is stressed. In breast carcinoma patients who are to be treated by radiation therapy alone, spurious measurements may be obtained if they are taken in other positions.
FILAMENTOUS ORGANELLES IN RECEPTOR-BIPOLAR SYNAPSES OF THE RETINA.

Retinas of male albino guinea pigs were studied in serial sections. A consistent feature of the synapse was a filamentous cross-striated organelle, which varied in form from one type of synapse to another. In the β-Type synapse this organelle is a bare spindle extending across the cell in the region of the dendritic invaginations with its axis perpendicular to the long axis of the receptor. α-Type receptors have an attenuated, but basically similar, structure running parallel to the cell axis from the neck region between the cell body proper and the synaptic spherule to the vitreal side of the cluster of dendritic invaginations. Paranuclear synapses have a similar structure in intimate contact with the nuclear envelope. These latter two organelles are accompanied by membranes that were not seen completely to sheath the structures but rather to form accompanying elongate sacs.
Is there a need for multiple APs in home networks

Wireless Home Networks (WHNs) suffer from the rate anomaly problem which leads to network performance deterioration. We observe that transmitting bandwidth intensive traffic, such as a video stream, over low data rate links can affect the end-to-end delays of co-existing high data rate traffic. Based on this observation, we propose modifications to the WHN setup. This paper suggests the use of an additional AP to ensure that all nodes transmitting bandwidth intensive traffic to the gateway AP do so at a high data rate or through an intermediate AP. Simulation based evaluation of the proposed network setup shows that in the presence of the rate anomaly problem adding an additional AP improves network wide performance.
Effect of recombination time on efficiency and frequency of operation in GaAs TRAPATT devices

The effect of carrier-recombination lifetimes on the performance of GaAs TRAPATT devices has been determined by a numerical simulation, and the results are presented.
The Relationship of Gin Date to Aflatoxin Contamination of Cottonseed in Arizona

Bock, C. H., and Cotty, P. J. 1999. The relationship of gin date to aflatoxin contamination of cottonseed in Arizona. Plant Dis. 83:279-285. During 1995 and 1996, a commercial gin in western Arizona ginned seed cotton on a field-byfield basis. Seed from each field was kept separate until sampled and analyzed for aflatoxin content according to Arizona Commercial Feed Law. This gave a comprehensive view of fieldto-field variability in aflatoxin content as the season progressed. Regression analysis indicated significant relationships between gin date and aflatoxin content in both years: aflatoxin increased with later ginnning. Overa ll, 89 and 79% of seed lots exceeded 20 ppb in 1995 and 1996, respectively. No field ginned after Julian Day (JD) 273 in 1995 or after JD 267 in 1996 had an aflatoxin content <20 ppb. Means separation confirmed later ginned crops had significantly greater aflatoxin content ( P = 0.05). In 1996, transgenic Bt and non-Bt cottonseed were similarly contaminated. Mean aflatoxin content of Bt cottonseed in 1996 was 413 ppb and that of non-Bt cottonseed was 598 ppb. These observations suggest that, in Arizona, losses from aflatoxin contamination of cottonseed can be reduced by early harvest.
Design and use of variable flip angle schedules in transient balanced SSFP subtractive imaging.

In subtractive imaging modalities, the differential longitudinal magnetization decays with time, necessitating signal-efficient scanning methods. Balanced steady-state free precession pulse sequences offer greater signal strength than conventional spoiled gradient echo sequences, even during the transient approach to steady state. Although traditional balanced steady-state free precession requires that each excitation pulse use the same flip angle, operating in the transient regimen permits the application of variable flip angle schedules that can be tailored to optimize certain signal characteristics. A computationally efficient technique is presented to generate variable flip angle schedules efficiently for any optimization metric. The validity of the technique is shown using two phantoms, and its potential is demonstrated in vivo with a variable angle schedule to increase the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in myocardial tissue. Using variable flip angles, the mean SNR improvement in subtractive imaging of myocardial tissue was 18.2% compared to conventional, constant flip angle, balanced steady-state free precession (P 5 0.0078). Magn Reson Med 63:537–542, 2010. V C 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A novel apoptotic pathway induced by nerve growth factor-mediated TrkA activation in medulloblastoma.

Nerve growth factor (NGF) induces apoptosis in a human medulloblastoma cell line (MED283) engineered to express TrkA (MED283-TrkA) (Muragaki, Y., Chou, T. T., Kaplan, D. R., Trojanowski, J. Q., and Lee, V. M. (1997) J. Neurosci. 17, 530–542). To dissect the molecular signaling pathway that mediates this novel effect, specific receptor mutations in Trk have been employed. We showed that phosphorylation of tyrosine 490 is required for activation of phosphoinositide 3-OH kinase, whereas phosphorylation of tyrosine 785 is required for activation of phospholipase C-γ. TrkA-mediated apoptosis was abolished when either the ATP-binding site or both tyrosines 490 and 785 were mutated. Because tyrosines 490 and 785 mediate redundant signaling through the Ras-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Ras-ERK) pathway, we examined the role of Ras-ERK signaling in NGF-induced apoptosis. We found that MED283-TrkA cells expressing a dominant negative Ras inhibitor (N17Ras) failed to undergo ERK activation and apoptosis following NGF treatment, whereas the ERK kinase (mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase) inhibitors PD98059 and U0126 eliminated ERK activation but had no effect on apoptosis. We infer from these data that NGF-induced apoptosis is mediated by a novel Ras and/or Raf signaling pathway.
Magnetic microbeads for sampling and mixing in a microchannel

Microfluidics provides exciting possibilities for miniaturized biosensors systems allowing for highly parallel automated high throughput tests to be performed. Detection of low concentrations of bacteria, viral particles and parasites in food samples is a challenging process. The capture of the target can be more effectively carried out with efficient mixing. We present a simple microfluidic system capable of controlled transport of rotating magnetic beads among soft magnetic patterns. Low aspect ratio NiFe discs (200 nm tall, diameter 3 μm) are patterned onto a silicon wafer. A PDMS channel is bonded onto the wafer to create the microfluidic channel. An external permanent magnet attached to a motor provides a magnetic field, which can be rotated at different speeds while magnetizing the NiFe disks in the channel. Microbeads (Dynabeads M-280, Invitrogen) introduced into the channel with a syringe pump are trapped at the poles of the now magnetized soft magnetic discs. Rotation of the external permanent magnet induced magnetic poles in the soft magnetic discs which will in turn rotate the trapped microbeads. We have already demonstrated the capacity to capture particles from flow with rotating M-280 beads in this device.
Public choice theory and Australian agricultural policy reform

Recent discussion of the process of policy reform has tended to focus on public and private interest theories of public choice as alternative models. The analysis of Australian agricultural policy presented in this paper draws on several extensions of the private interest model including the contractarian framework, extra-rational considerations such as moral attitudes and the desire to participate. Recent agricultural policy reforms in Australia are examined in the light of those theories. This examination highlights the importance of ideas and changes in the rules for policy formulation in influencing policy outcomes. In some cases the private interest theory appears to offer an adequate explanation while, in others, it provides only a partial explanation of policy change, and requires extension if policy choice is to be influenced, or even understood. An important independent role for economists and policy makers is seen both in the formulation of policies and in the design of rules for policy choice. Two models of policy determination are now in widespread use in economic policy analysis: the public interest theory and the private interest theory. In principle, there should be no conflict between these two theories. The public-interest theory is explicitly normative, dealing only with what policy ought to be. By contrast, the private-interest theory is purely positive, concerned only with what policy will actually be chosen. Despite the apparently different objectives of the two theories, considerable overlap and conflict is evident in policy discussions. As Sieper (1 982) has noted, the public-interest model has sometimes been treated as a de facto positive theory, reflecting an apparent assumption that governments generally act to maximize the public-interest. At the other extreme, strong versions of the private interest theory make normative policy analysis redundant. If policy is determined solely by interest group pressures then policy advocacy on public interest grounds is a waste of time and resources. Despite some efforts at reconciling the two theories (e.g. Keeler 1984), they remain very different in their implications for policy choice. One approach to policy analysis (e.g. Harper 1986) is to analyse policies independently from the perspective of each of these theories. Under this approach, policies which satisfy private interest criteria will be feasible, while policies which satisfy public interest criteria will be *This paper was prepared while the author was a Senior Research Fellow of the National Centre for Development Studies in the Australian National University.
Provenance Control of Fluvial Sandstone Diagenesis, Frontier Formation (Upper Cretaceous), Wyoming-Idaho-Utah Thrust Belt: ABSTRACT

Meandering stream channel sandstones and associated conglomerates of the Frontier Formation (Upper Cretaceous) in the Wyoming-Idaho-Utah thrust belt provide an excellent example of provenance (compositional) influence on diagenetic history. Fluvial sandstones in the southern thrust belt (northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming) are litharenites and sublitharenites dominated by chert, carbonate rock fragments, and monocrystalline quartz derived from erosion of Paleozoic strata exposed in thrust plates to the west. Early diagenetic phenomena include compaction, as evidenced by deformed mudstone clasts and micas, and quartz overgrowth development. Subsequent diagenesis is variable and may include precipitation of sparry calcite, clay minerals (chlorite or kaolinite), or a combination of calcite and clay. Porosity values typically range from 3 to 15%. Porosity is dominantly secondary in origin and formed by dissolution of carbonate rock fragments and cement. Frontier fluvial sandstones in the northern thrust belt (northwestern Wyoming and adjacent southeastern Idaho) are feldspathic litharenites, lithic arkoses, and arkoses derived from erosion of both sedimentary and volcanic terranes. Sedimentary detritus includes chert and carbonate rock fragments; volcanic detritus includes tuffaceous volcanic rock fragments and plagioclase. Diagenesis is characterized by extensive albite, chert, and kaolinite cementation and almost total concomitant porosity occlusion. Rarely, sandstones may possess several percent porosity due to secondary dissolution of detrital plagioclase. Albite cement occurs as pore-filling aggregates of twinned euhedral crystals rather than as overgrowths, and it is interpreted to have been derived through dehydration reactions involving zeolite precursors such as heulandite or analcime. End_of_Article - Last_Page 948------------
Transport properties of magnetic field/liquid assisted textured YBa2Cu3O7−x thick films

Textured YBa2Cu3O7−x thick films (thickness ≊1 mm) were fabricated by vacuum filtration in an applied magnetic field (H=7 T). Platinum (1 wt %) was incorporated to induce liquid phase‐assisted densification in films fired between 960 and 1030 °C in oxygen. The transport critical current densities (Jct) of films fired to 1030 °C exhibited nearly field insensitive behavior between H=0–3 T (H∥c‐axis) at 77 K, with Jct≊2500 A/cm2 and corresponding critical currents (Ic) of nearly 100 A at H=1 T.
The Effect of Payer Status on Utilization of Hospital Resources in Trauma Care

Objective: To determine the effect of payer status on outcome and resource utilization in motor vehicle—related trauma patients. Design: Retrospective cohort analysis that assessed the effect of payer status on outcome and resource utilization. Setting: The single level I trauma center in a regionalized statewide system. Patients: Consecutive patients (N=3141) who were hospitalized after a motor vehicle crash during a 3-year period. Main Outcome Measures: The mortality rate, disposition, total hospital length of stay (LOS), total intensive care unit LOS, and total hospital charges were examined for 2 categories of payers: "commercial insurance" (commercial, labor and industry, and contract pay) and "noncommercial insurance" (Medicaid and self-pay). Results: After controlling for age, sex, race, and the Injury Severity Score, the payer status had no overall effect on the mortality rate, disposition, total hospital charges, total hospital LOS, or total intensive care unit LOS. However, there was a significantly (11.4%; P Conclusions: The utilization of hospital trauma care resources in a level I facility in a regionalized system was not associated with insurance status. Patients with noncommercial insurance who required transfer to elective long-term care facilities had a longer LOS due to delays in obtaining subsequent access. Health care policy should provide appropriate reimbursement for all aspects of regionalized trauma care systems to ensure maintenance of an egalitarian approach to care. Arch Surg. 1997;132:399-404
Guaranteed-cost stabilization of non-linear stochastic systems

The control of uncertain non-linear discrete-time systems having stochastic cone-bounded non-linearities is considered. First, a quadratic performance bound and a guaranteed-cost optimal state feedback controller are derived. Then, an auxiliary system is introduced. It is shown that the quadratic optimal control for this auxiliary system is the same as the guaranteed-cost control for the original system, and, therefore, the existence of the infinite-horizon guaranteed-cost controller can be based on the stabilizability and observability properties of the auxiliary system. Finally, the stochastic boundedness of the controlled uncertain system is proved based on the properties of the auxiliary system. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Expanded Trail Making Test ☆: Rationale, Development, and Psychometric Properties

Many procedures have been employed to determine the specific cognitive components necessary for successful Trail Making Test (TMT) performance. Yet, there is still considerable disagreement in the literature as to what these components might be. The present study explores an alternative methodology to address this problem. By systematically varying the stimuli within the TMT format, it may eventually be possible to isolate the cognitive demands of this test. As the first step toward this goal, two experimental forms of the TMT, forms X and Y, were developed and subjected to empirical validation. The results indicate that this Expanded Trail Making Test possesses adequate concurrent and criterion validity to support the proposed methodology. The results also suggest that the psychometric properties of the TMT format are robust to alterations in test stimuli. Secondary benefits of this methodology, in terms of explaining between-group variance and in terms of cross-cultural assessment, are discussed.
AVAILABILITY AND MICROBIAL STABILITY OF RETAIL BEEF-SOY BLENDS

The availability and microbial quality of retail beef-soy blends in the Detroit area were investigated. Samples were stored at 4°C and microbial populations, pH, hydration and organoleptic qualities were studied from purchase day to spoilage. Retail hamburger meat, dry and re-hydrated texturized soy protein, and blends (10-70%) were also studied. The rate of microbial growth in the soy-beef blends (25% soy) was faster than in beef, and spoilage was detected after 5-6 days at 4°C. The spoilage microflora was similar to that of fresh beef, consisting predominantly of gram negative psychrophiles. Spoilage was accompanied by an increase in pH, slime formation and off-odors. It is concluded that at levels acceptable to the consumer (approx 25% soy) beef-soy blends spoil in a manner similar to that of ground beef and should be stored and treated as such.
Preliminary experience with airway pressure release ventilation in a trauma/surgical intensive care unit.

Background:Airway pressure-release ventilation (APRV) is a pressure-limited, time-cycled mode of mechanical ventilation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate our initial experience with the use of APRV in acutely injured, ventilated patients.Methods:Since March 2003, APRV has been used selectiv
Keratinocytes regain momentum as instigators of cutaneous inflammation

The primary role of skin is to serve as a protective coat and epidermal keratinocytes are responsible for this barrier function. Besides providing structural support, keratinocytes can initiate inflammatory reactions, thereby enhancing healing of skin that follows barrier perturbation. In complex diseases such as psoriasis, in which both barrier function and cutaneous inflammation are dysregulated, it is unclear whether the primary pathogenic disturbance resides in keratinocytes or in immunocytes, which are commingled in psoriatic plaques. Researchers have turned to animal models of cutaneous inflammation to gain insights into the pathogenesis of psoriasis. A recent report in which the inducible epidermal deletion of Jun proteins in adult mice triggered inflammatory skin lesions and destructive arthritis has shifted momentum towards the keratinocyte as a key instigator of cutaneous inflammation. However, because this transgenic mouse model mimics only some features of psoriasis, further studies are required before the prevailing view of psoriasis as a fundamentally immunocyte-driven disease can be replaced by the notion that keratinocytes are the primary pathogenic cells in psoriasis.
Susceptibility of medium-strength steels to hydrogen-induced cracking

Abstract Anodic current transients obtained by using the potentiostatic double pulse (PDP) technique for BHS-1, 4037, 1022 QT and 1022 CN steels were analysed with a diffusion-trapping model to determine the hydrogen trapping constant and hydrogen entry fluxes. The BHS-1,4037 and 1022 QT steels exhibited similar high values of trapping constants. Hydrogen entry fluxes were found to be similar for BHS- 1 and 4037 steels; these fluxes are higher than those for 1022 QT and 1022 CN steels. Slow-strain-rate tests showed that the steels with higher values of hydrogen trapping constants and ingress fluxes were more susceptible to hydrogen-induced cracking.
Detector discrimination in sims II. Ion-to-electron converter yield factors for negative ions

Abstract Ion-to-electron converter relative electron yield factors have been determined and tabulated for 68 atomic, 23 dimer and 27 monoxide positive ions striking the detector at 46.5 keV using a CAMECA IMS-300 ion microanalyzer and a Faraday cup as an ion current reference. Periodic oscillations in the relative yields are similar to those reported for atomic ions at lower impact energies on electron multipliers. A correlation between monoxide ion yields and atomic ion yields has been shown; the monoxide ion of an element has an electron yield which exceeds that of the corresponding atomic ion yield by a constant factor. A similar correlation has been shown for the dimer ions, with a different offset. The effect of using uncorrected signals in some quantitative analysis methods using SIMS is illustrated, showing that as much as 100% error may arise from this source alone. The use of uncorrected monoxide ion signals in these schemes is similarly shown to induce errors caused by the higher monoxide ion yields compared to atomic ions.
Phase II trial of GM-CSF in women with asymptomatic recurrent müllerian tumors

Abstract Objective. GM-CSF is a recombinant human cytokine, which promotes the proliferation and differentiation of granulocytes and monocytes, and is associated with anti-tumor activity. The primary objective was to define the median time to treatment termination (TTT) with women with relapsed ovarian cancer treated with single agent GM-CSF delivered subcutaneously (SC). Patients and methods. Open label phase II study in asymptomatic patients with recurrent mullerian malignancy without an indication for immediate systemic chemotherapy. In the first cohort of 35 women, GM-CSF 250 μg/m 2 was administered SC on days 1–14 of a 28-day cycle, the second cohort received continuous GM-CSF 150 μg/m 2 given with dose escalation. Results. Seventy-two women were enrolled. Best overall response included one complete response, and 20 patients with stable disease (23%), 4 of whom had stable disease for >6 months. Median TTT was 78 days. Toxicity in both cohorts was generally mild; however, four patients experienced excessive toxicity and withdrew consent. In the first cohort, CA-125 dropped in 70% of women from their baseline on study value (median change −23%, range −48 to +116%) after 14 days of GM-CSF. The magnitude of CA-125 drop during the first 2 weeks of therapy also showed a positive inverse correlation with day 15 white cell count for the whole group ( p =0.038). Conclusion. GM-CSF is well tolerated and frequently associated with a decline in CA-125 that is correlated with leukocytosis. Although median TTT is modest, a subset of women had prolonged stable disease.
Feedback-controlled resource sharing for predictable eScience

The emerging class of adaptive, real-time, data-driven applications are a significant problem for today's HPC systems. In general, it is extremely difficult for queuing-system-controlled HPC resources to make and guarantee a tightly-bounded prediction regarding the time at which a newly-submitted application will execute. While a reservation-based approach partially addresses the problem, it can create severe resource under-utilization (unused reservations, necessary scheduled idle slots, underutilized reservations, etc.) that resource providers are eager to avoid. In contrast, this paper presents a fundamentally different approach to guarantee predictable execution. By creating a virtualized application layer called the performance container, and opportunistically multiplexing concurrent performance containers through the application of formal feedback control theory, we regulate the job's progress such that the job meets its deadline without requiring exclusive access to resources even in the presence of a wide class of unexpected disturbances. Our evaluation using two widely-used applications, WRF and BLAST, on an 8-core server show our approach is predictable and meets deadlines with 3.4 % of errors on average while achieving high overall utilization.
Platelet-Derived Growth Factor (PDGF) Gene Delivery for Application in Periodontal Tissue Engineering

Background: A challenge in the reconstruction of periodontal structures is the targeted delivery of growth-promoting molecules to the tooth root surface. Polypeptide growth factors such as platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) stimulate both cementogenesis and osteogenesis. Recent advances in gene therapy offer the advantage of delivering recombinant proteins to tissues for extended periods of time in vivo. Methods: Recombinant adenoviral vectors encoding for the PDGF-A gene were constructed to allow delivery of PDGF transgenes to cells. The recombinant adenoviruses were assembled using the viral backbone of Ad2/CMV/EGFP and replacing GFP (reporter gene encoding green fluorescent protein driven by the cytomegalovirus promoter [CMV] within adenovirus type 2) with the PDGF-A gene. Root lining cells (cloned cementoblasts) were transduced with Ad2/PDGF-A and evaluated for gene expression, DNA synthesis, and cell proliferation. PDGF-inducible genes, c-myc and osteopontin, were also evaluated following gene del...