cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Expression from the Clostridium perfringens cpe promoter in C. perfringens and Bacillus subtilis

Clostridium perfringens is a source of food poisoning in humans and animals because of production of a potent enterotoxin (CPE). To study the regulation of the cpe gene in C. perfringens, we cloned and sequenced the cpe promoter regions and N-terminal domains from three strains. The cpe promoter region from one strain contained a 45-bp insertion compared with previously published sequences. This insertion was also found in two (of five) other Cpe+ strains. cpe gene expression in C. perfringens was measured by using translational fusions of each promoter type to the Escherichia coli gusA gene, which codes for beta-glucuronidase. For either promoter type, cpe-gusA expression was undetectable throughout exponential growth but increased dramatically at the beginning of the stationary phase. To measure cpe expression in Bacillus subtilis, cpe-gusA fusions were integrated into the B. subtilis chromosome. Both types of promoter exhibited moderate expression during exponential growth; cpe expression increased threefold at the beginning of the stationary phase. Transcriptional start sites were determined by primer extension and in vitro transcription assays. For C. perfringens, both types of promoter gave the same 59 end, 197 bp upstream of the translation start (50 bp downstream of the 45-bp insertion). In B. subtilis, however, the 59 end was internal to the 45-bp insertion, suggesting the use of a different promoter than that utilized by C. perfringens.
Scattering of Λ0 hyperons by nucleons at intermediate energies

A calculation is made of the Λ0-nucleon scattering cross-section at 75 and 150 MeV laboratory energies, based on a phenomenological central potential with a hard core to describe the Λ0-nucleon interaction. The potential is chosen so as to give agreement with hyperfragment data and at the same time to have reasonable properties from a meson-theoretical viewpoint. With this potential the Λ0-nucleon cross-section is calculated numerically, assuming that scattering occurs only in states with orbital angular momentum ⩽ 2. The result is that the Λ0-nucleon cross-section is approximately constant in the energy range considered. The variation is from 26 mb at 75 MeV to 21 mb at 150 MeV without a spin-orbit force, and from 34 mb at 75 MeV to 32 mb at 150 MeV with a spin-orbit force. These results are consistent with the very preliminary measurement ofCrawfordet al.
The Use of Shear Thickening Nanocomposites in Impact Resistant Materials

The work presented here demonstrates using a novel, field-responsive nanocomposite based on shear thickening fluids (STFs) as responsive protective materials with superior damping and energy adsorption properties. Peak forces and accelerations measured using an instrumented Instron™ drop tower demonstrate that STF nanocomposite prototypes and impact foam taken from a commercial football helmet have similar performance for low kinetic energy impacts. However, tests with STF nanocomposite samples exhibit significantly reduced peak acceleration and peak force for impacts above 15 J. Thus, the STF containing nanocomposite material provides improved energy adsorption upon impact as compared to the commercial foam. These tests suggest that STF nanocomposite materials have promising potential as novel energy dissipating components in personal protective equipment.
Genetic and functional studies reveal a novel noncoding variant in GALT associated with a false positive newborn screening result for galactosemia

Background Classic galactosemia (CG) is a potentially lethal genetic disorder that results from profound loss of galactose-1-phosphate uridylyltransferase (GALT). CG is detected by newborn screening (NBS) in many countries; however, conclusive diagnosis can be complex due to broad and overlapping ranges of GALT activity. Molecular studies can also be complex due to allelic heterogeneity at the GALT locus.
Glucose Oxygen Uptakes Across Umbilical and Cerebral Circulations of the Fetus

Glucose has been considered the principal metabolic fuel of the mammalian fetus, but sound experimental evidence is lacking. In this study, the relative contribution of glucose to aerobic metabolism across the umbilical and cerebral circulations of fetal lambs was evaluated. The fetal vessels catheterized were : femoral artery and vein, umbilical vein, subclavian artery and periorbital vein. The arteriovenous differences in glucose and oxygen contents (Δ glucose and Δ oxygen) were determined from simultaneous samples across both circulations. The Δ glucose was expressed as the O2 stoichiometrically required to metabolize glucose to CO2 and H2O. In six chronic, unstressed, unanesthtized animals, the Δ glucose/Δ oxygen ratio across the umbilical circulation during control periods was 0.47 ± 0.04 (mean ± s.e.m.). Fetal infusions of porcine insulin increased the ratio by 90%. We have attempted to compare metabolism in a single organ of the fetus, the brain, with that of the whole fetus (i.e. umbilical circulation) in acute experimetns in seven fetuses. The ratio across the cerebral circulation was 1.5 ± 0.03 and across the umbilical circulation was 0.38 ± 0.03. These data indicate that (a) under normal conditions, glucose supplies a maximum of 50% of the metabolic fule of the fetal lamb, (b) exogenous insulin does affect fetal glucose uptake, and (c) in the acute preparation, the fetal brain utilizes more glucose than can be accounted for by aerobic metabolism.
Ridge planting for row crops on a poorly drained soil. 1. Rotation and drainage effects.

Abstract A three-year study was conducted to assess effects of ridge planting and moldboard plowing on yield of maize ( Zea mays L.) and soybean ( Glycine max L. Merr.), produced in continuous or rotational cropping sequences, with or without tile drainage on a Hoytville silty clay soil (Mollic Ochraqualfs). Ridge planting involved planting without preplant tillage on ridges formed by cultivation of the previous year's crop. Ridge planting permitted earlier maize planting than moldboard plowing in two years and earlier soybean planting in one year. Ridge planting produced average maize yield greater than or equal to that produced by moldboard plowing for continuous maize production, but did not consistently influence yield of maize following soybean, or soybean planted in 76-cm rows following either crop. Soybean planted in 18-cm rows following moldboard plowing produced average yields greater than or equal to that planted in the 76-cm rows characteristic of ridge planting. Overall, ridge planting benefits situations where timely planting is a major objective.
Phylogenetic Utility of the Nuclear Gene Malate Synthase in the Palm Family (Arecaceae)

There is currently a shortage of DNA regions known to be useful for phylogenetic research in palms (Arecaceae). We report the development and use of primers for amplifying and sequencing regions of the nuclear gene malate synthase. In palms the gene appears to be single-copy, with exon regions that are phylogenetically informative within the family. We constructed a phylogeny of 45 palms and five outgroup taxa using 428 bp of malate synthase exon regions. We found that some major clades within the family were recovered, but there was a lack of resolution among the genera in subfamilies Arecoideae, Ceroxyloideae, Coryphoideae, and Phytelephantoideae. In a second analysis, malate synthase exon regions totaling 1002 bp were sequenced for 16 palms and two outgroup taxa. There was increased bootstrap support for some groups and for the placement of the monotypic genus Nypa as sister to the rest of the family. A comparison with data sets from noncoding regions of the chloroplast genome indicates that malate synthase sequences are more variable and potentially contain more phylogenetic information. We found no evidence of multiple copies of the malate synthase gene in palm genomes.
Parallel synthesis of bis-oxazole peptidomimetics

Abstract The parallel synthesis of bis-oxazole peptidomimetics starting from Boc-aminoacids and Serine-methyl ester is described. This work presents the synthesis of oxazole aminoacid building blocks in solution phase and their utilization for the solid phase peptide synthesis of a library of diverse bis-oxazole peptidomimetics in good overall yields.
Vaginal birth after cesarean: To induce or not to induce

Abstract Objective: Our purpose was to determine the impact of labor induction on both the success and safety of a trial of labor in women who are candidates for vaginal birth after cesarean. Study Design: We performed a prospective observational analysis of 505 women consecutively presenting for delivery with a prior cesarean (September 1997–December 1999), of whom 236 (46.7%) underwent trial of labor. The following three cohorts were established: (1) repeat cesarean without trial of labor (n = 269), (2) spontaneous trial of labor (n = 179), and (3) induced trial of labor (n = 57). Results: The vaginal delivery rate was significantly higher (77.1% vs 57.9%) in the spontaneous labor group compared with the induced labor group (odds ratio, 2.45; 95% confidence interval, 1.24-4.82; P =.008). Uterine scar separation occurred more frequently in the induced labor group (7%) than in the elective repeat cesarean group (1.5%) (odds ratio, 0.20; 95% confidence interval, 0.04-0.99; P =.034). Conclusion: Induction of labor in women attempting vaginal birth after cesarean is associated with a significantly reduced rate of successful vaginal delivery and an increased risk of serious maternal morbidity. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2001;184:1122-4.)
Grinding of nanostructured ceramic coatings: surface observations and material removal mechanisms

Abstract Surface grinding of thermally sprayed nanostructured WC/12Co and Al2O3/13TiO2 (n-WC/12Co and n-Al2O3/13TiO2) coatings has been undertaken with diamond wheels and under various grinding conditions. This paper investigates the effects of the grinding parameters such as depth of cut, feedrate, wheel grit size and bond materials on grinding forces, surface finish and surface topography. Different from their consolidated counterparts, the coatings have large quantities of defects inherited from thermal spray process, which greatly influence the grinding process and ground coatings. The competing phenomenon between the effects on surface finish from both the thermal spray process and the grinding process is studied. Different surface topographies are observed and their relationship with grinding conditions and material properties is investigated. Furthermore, the material removal mechanisms in grinding are explored. The effects of grinding parameters, material properties and the defects from thermal spray process on material removal mechanisms are discussed.
Why Colours Do Look Like Dispositions

In recent years philosophers such as Paul Boghossian, David Velleman and Colin McGinn have argued against the view that colours are dispositional properties, on the grounds that they do not look like dispositional properties, and in particular that they are not represented in visual experience as dispositions to present certain kinds of appearances. Rather colours are represented as being these appearances, i.e., simple, non-dispositional properties. I argue that a proper understanding of how visual experiences represent physical objects as being coloured shows that colours do look like dispositions. In particular, I argue that if visual experiences are to represent properties as properties of physical objects, they must distinguish between these properties and their appearances, and thus cannot represent such properties as colours as being identical with their corresponding appearances.
Two dimensional electron gas in GaN heterojunction field effect transistors structures with AlN spacer

Near lattice matched Al 0.81 In 0.19 N/GaN heterojunction structures are compared with conventional Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 N/GaN heterojunctions in terms of the sheet density and mobility and their dependence on barrier and spacer layer parameters. With the insertion of an AlN spacer, the mobility of both structures is improved dramatically. Self-consistent solution of Poisson-Schrodinger equations was developed in order to determine the band structure and carrier distribution in these GaN based heterostructures in an effort to gain insight into the experimental observations. Surface donor states were included to account for the origin of electrons in 2DEG, which is treated as charge neutralization conditions in the simulation. Also the change in the piezoelectric polarization due to the electromechanical coupling effect, and shift of band gap caused by uniaxial strain were both included in the calculations. The calculated sheet density is close to the measured values, especially for the AlGaN samples investigated, but a notable difference was noted in the AlInN cases. The discrepancy is confirmed to be caused by the existence of a Ga-rich layer on the top of AlN spacer during the growth interruption, which can split the 2DEG into two channels with different mobilities and lower the overall sheet density. When the modifications made necessary by this GaN layer are taken into account in our model for the AlInN barrier case, the calculations match with the experimental data. When the spacer thickness increase from 0.3 to 3 nm, the total sheet density was found to slightly increase experimentally, which agreed with the theoretical prediction.
Introduction to the recognition of patterns in compressed data: 1. image template operations over block-, transform-, runlength-encoded, and vector-quantized data

The processing of compressed or encrypted imagery is a vital new area of research that can achieve computational efficiency and data security by processing fewer data, which may be obscurely encoded. In particular, we have derived numerous image processing algorithms that achieve computational speedups which approach the compression ratio (CR). In this paper, we extend our previous work in computation and pattern recognition over one-dimensional compressed data to include operations over multidimensional imagery. We discuss the processing of transform, block, and runlength encoded imagery, as well as the special case of vector-quantized (VQ) imagery. We note that certain cases of template matching over the range space of the block-encoding or VQ transform can yield a computational speedup that approaches the domain compression ratio (CRd). Defined as the ratio of the number of source data to the number of compressed data, CRd generally exceeds the customary compression ratio. Analyses emphasize computational complexity, information loss, and implementational feasibility.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Resolving polyhydramnios: clinical significance and subsequent neonatal outcome

The objective of this study was to determine the clinical significance and neonatal outcome of patients with polyhydramnios that subsequently resolved prior to delivery. A retrospective review of 275 cases of polyhydramnios, defined as an amniotic fluid index of > or = 25.0 cm, identified 41 cases in which the amniotic fluid volume returned to normal prior to delivery. A total of 40 out of 41 patients with resolving polyhydramnios had a mild to moderate excess of amniotic fluid. There was a significant difference in the distribution of neonatal delivery weights between the study group and a matched control group. Twelve of 41 (29.3%) neonates from the study vs. none of the neonates in the control group were large for gestational age (p < 0.001). A total of 21 of 41 patients (51.2%) in the study group vs. three of 41 (7.3%) patients in the control group had at least minimal glucose intolerance (p < 0.01). We conclude that patients with resolving polyhydramnios have a significantly higher prevalence of glucose intolerance and fetal macrosomia than patients with normal pregnancies.
Transmembrane Topology of the Secretory Na+-K+-2Cl− Cotransporter NKCC1 Studied by in Vitro Translation *

The secretory Na+-K+-2Cl− cotransporter NKCC1 is a member of a small gene family of electroneutral salt transporters. Hydropathy analyses indicate that all of these transporters have a similar general structure consisting of large hydrophilic N and C termini on either side of a central, relatively well conserved, hydrophobic domain. Programs that predict the transmembrane topology of polytopic membrane proteins identify 10–12 putative membrane-spanning segments (MSSs) in this hydrophobic domain; but to date, there is little experimental data on the structure of this region for any of these transporters. In this report, we have studied the transmembrane topology of NKCC1 using an in vitrotranslation system designed to test the membrane insertion properties of putative MSSs (Bamberg, K., and Sachs, G. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269, 16909–16919). Fusion proteins consisting of putative NKCC1 MSSs inserted either (i) between an N-terminal cytosolic anchor sequence and a C-terminal reporter sequence containing multipleN-linked glycosidation sites or (ii) between an N-terminal signal anchor sequence and the same glycosidation flag were expressed in the presence of canine pancreatic microsomes. The glycosidation status of the reporter sequence, which indicated its luminal or extraluminal location in the microsomes, was then used to characterize the signal anchor or stop transfer activity of the inserted MSSs. The results of this experimental analysis yielded a topology scheme consisting of 12 membrane-spanning segments, two pairs of which apparently form rather tight hairpin-like structures within the membrane.
A comparison of silicon and gallium arsenide large signal IMPATT diode behaviour between 10 and 100 GHz

Abstract A large-signal computer simulation of an IMPATT diode has been used to investigate the differences between gallium arsenide and silicon IMPATT diodes. The variations of efficiency with frequency, current density, series resistance, amount of punch-through and reverse saturation currents are all investigated. With no ‘parasitic’ effects the silicon diode efficiency remains almost constant between 10 and 100 GHz, whereas the efficiency of gallium arsenide diodes is higher than that of silicon diodes at 10 GHz but decreases to the silicon diode efficiency at 100 GHz. A lower residual avalanche particle current in gallium arsenide diodes results in a higher susceptibility to reverse saturation currents. In silicon diodes the higher material resistivity affects the efficiency more than in gallium arsenide diodes, the removal of series resistance by having a punched-through diode does not necessarily increase the efficiency. The difference between experimental results quoted in the literature and the theoretical calculations are considered in terms of these effects. By considering the differences in ionization coefficients and velocities between the materials the lower efficiency of silicon diodes compared to gallium arsenide diodes is explained, also the lower breakdown voltage of gallium arsenide diodes compared to silicon diodes of the same frequency, and the ‘forward-bias’ effect found at high frequencies in gallium arsenide diodes.
Tu1301 8-Hour CE Versus 12-Hour CE in a Cohort of Hospitalized Patients Undergoing CE for Suspected Small Bowel Disorders

found in 27 patients by EGD. The overall diagnostic yield of CE for PHG was 67% (18/27). There was no difference in diagnostic yield between cases of severe and mild PHG (78% vs 61%). The diagnostic yield for PHG in the whole stomach was significantly higher than that limited to the upper stomach (100% vs 47%, P 0.009). There was no association between CE transit time and diagnostic yield for EVs, GVs, or PHG. Conclusion: CE is reliable for diagnosis of EVs with Ls/Lm and/or F2/3, and PHG in the whole stomach.
Reliability and Stability of WAIS IQs for Institutionalized Adult Retardates

Summary.-The WAIS was administered twice to 204 institutionalized adult retardates, with a mean retest interval of 32 mo. Full Scale IQs on retest were within 8 points of initial Full Scale IQs for over 90% of the retardates and a test-retest reliability coefficient of .90 was obtained. These results demonstrate the high reliability and stability of WAIS Full Scale IQs for adult retardates. Research on the reliability and stability of WAIS IQs in populations of institutionalized retardates has been meager despite the importance of the IQ in screening, classifying, and planning for the mentally retarded. The few available studies (1, 5) suggest that the test-retest reliability of the WAIS for retardates is comparable to that obtained in normal populations (2, 3,4) and that the IQs change relatively little over time (5). The purpose of the present study was to obtain an estimate of the test-retest reliability of the WAIS for institutionalized retardates and to examine the effects of age and length of retest interval on change in IQ. Subjects were 204 residents (118 males, 86 females) of Ellisville State School, Ellisville, Mississippi. The subjects were tested initially at a mean age of 408.9 mo. (SD = 183.3, range 192-889) and obtained a mean Full Scale IQ of 59.7 (SD = 10.5). They were retested following a mean retest interval of 32.0 mo. (SD = 24.6, range 1-128). A test-retest estimate of the reliability of WAIS Full Scale IQs was calculated by correlating the Full Scale IQs for the two administrations. In addition, a directional change score was calculated for each subject by subtracting his first Full Scale IQ from his second Full Scale IQ. Change scores were then correlated with age at the first administration of the WAIS and length of retest interval. The obtained test-retest reliability coefficient of .90 was comparable to reliability estimates obtained by other investigators using test-retest methodology with retardates (5) and normals ( 3). Although the obtained coefficient indicates that WAIS Full Scale IQs are highly reliable for retardates, it provides no information concerning the stability of the Full Scale IQs. Analysis of change in Full Scale IQ indicated that this is a stable measure for adult retardates. The change in mean Full Scale IQ was only 1.7 points (SD = 4.6), and 93% of the subjects obtained change scores between 8 and -8. However, change scores were related significantly to age at first admin'Address reprint requests to W. David Dinning, Central Louisiana State'Hospital, Unit 27-B, P. 0. Box 31, Pineville, Louisiana 71360,
Generalists vs specialists: time to decide.

In this issue, Thrall and Wittenberg [1 ] summarize the Radiology Summit discussions on subspecialization in diagnostic radiology. Changes in radiology in the past two decades have overwhelmed many radiologists and practices. Styles of radiologic practice, systems for accrediting programs, and training and certification of radiologists are still changing rapidly, and we will need to adapt further in the near future. Forums such as the Radiology Summit are an excellent way to identify the needs of our speciality, because all national radiology organizations must be involved in this process. It is particularly appropriate for the Association of University Radiologists and the American Board of Radiology (ABR) to help guide this evolution. Two related problems are addressed in the report by Thrall and Wittenberg; these are already upon us and need to be addressed now.
Estimation of the Probability That an Observation Will Fall into a Specified Class

Abstract When observations in a random sample of n are classified into k categories with n i falling into a given class, the usual estimate of the corresponding probability is ni/n. When a priori information about the distribution of the probabilities is available, more precise estimates can be derived from data in any one sample of n. When the a priori distribution is not specified completely, but its general form can be inferred, the parameters of that distribution can be estimated from the average of the ni/n and their estimated sampling variances. The computations are analogous to those that arise in regression theory with the bivariate normal frequency distribution when Y = X + e and the expected value of X for a given Y is estimated from the regression of X on Y. The parameters of the distribution of X have to be estimated from the observed distribution of Y and the sampling errors in the individual values of those observations.
Integrated needling protocol: combining traditional Chinese technique with tubes and needles

Abstract Chinese acupuncture needling technique is traditionally free hand. Most Western practitioners, especially after the introduction of clean needle technique, needle using tubes. This article proposes a new needling protocol that combines the best of Chinese needling technique with tubed needles, efficient use of both hands to locate and prepare points, and strictly follows clean needle technique. (c) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.
Industrial Innovation Policy: Lessons from American History

The historical interrelations of government support of R & D and technical change in seven major American industries point to three types of policy that have been successful in the past: (i) government R & D support for technologies in which the government has a strong and direct procurement interest; (ii) decentralized systems of government-supported research in the "generic" area between the basic and the applied; and (iii) a decentralized system of clientele-oriented support for applied R & D. A fourth type of policy, under which the government attempts to "pick winners" in commercial applied R & D, has been a clear-cut failure.
Salivarectomy: Effect on drinking produced by isoproterenol, diazoxide and NaCl loads

Abstract Male rats were given sham, partial or complete salivarectomies and their drinking responses to various stimuli were evaluated. There was an attenuated response to subcutaneously administered isoproterenol and diazoxide in desalivate animals. The drinking response to intraperitoneally administered hypertonic NaCl was the same across all groups, although the response to intragastrically administered hypertonic NaCl was decreased in complete desalivate animals. These results, together with those from other studies, indicate that the desalivate animals has a drinking response deficit to various dipsogenic stimuli. The physiological basis of this deficit cannot yet be characterized.
Systemic induction of a potato pin2 promoter by wounding, methyl jasmonate, and abscisic acid in transgenic rice plants

To address the question whether common signal(s) and transduction pathways are used to mediate a systemic wound response in monocot and dicot plants, a fusion of the potato proteinase inhibitor II gene (pin2) promoter and the bacterial beta-glucuronidase gene (Gus)-coding region was introduced into rice. In transgenic rice plants, the expression of the pin2-Gus fusion gene displays a systemic wound response, although the expression level is relatively low. Incorporation of the first intron from the rice actin 1 gene (Act1) into the 5'-untranslated region of the pin2-Gus construct results in high-level, systemically wound-inducible expression of the modified construct in transgenic rice plants. Histochemical analysis shows that this high-level, wound-inducible expression is associated with the vascular tissue in both leaves and roots. Furthermore, the expression of the pin2-Act1 intron-Gus fusion gene in transgenic rice plants can be systemically induced by both methyl jasmonate (MJ) and the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA). These results suggest that the signal(s) mediating the observed systemic wound response and certain steps of the transduction pathways are conserved between dicot and monocot plants. Transient expression assays show that the pin2-Act1 intron-Gus construct is also actively expressed in transformed cells and tissues of several other monocot plants. Thus, the wound-inducible pin2 promoter in combination with the rice Act1 intron 1 might be used as an efficient regulator for foreign gene expression in transgenic monocot plants.
PHYSICS AND CHEMISTRY OF INTRINSIC TIME-DEPENDENT DIELECTRIC BREAKDOWN IN SiO2 DIELECTRICS

A molecular physics-based complementary model, which includes both field-induced and current-induced degradation mechanisms, is used to help resolve the E versus 1/E time-dependent dielectric breakdown (TDDB) model controversy that has existed for many years. The Complementary Model indicates either the E or 1/E–TDDB model can be valid for certain specified field, temperature, and molecular bonding-energy ranges. For bond strengths <3 eV, the bond breakage rate is generally dominated by field-enhanced thermal processes at lower fields and elevated temperatures where the E-model is valid. At higher fields, lower temperatures and higher bond strengths the bond breakage mechanism must be hole-catalyzed and the TDDB physics is described well by the 1/E-model. Neither the E-model nor 1/E-model works well for oxide thickness below tox < 4 nm where direct tunneling effects dominate in these hyper-thin films. The increase in DT leakage leads to more hole injection and trapping in the SiO2. This enhanced dielectric degradation rate with tox reduction can be easily incorporated into the Complementary Model where hole capture serves to catalyze Si–O bond breakage.
Infantile and childhood retinal blindness: A molecular perspective (The Franceschetti Lecture)

Much progress has been made in the past five years in the understanding of Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) and allied early-onset retinal dystrophies, various forms of stationary sensory retinal blindness, and genes that are involved in the development of the retina. Uncomplicated Leber congenital amaurosis has been associated with mutations of six genes: GUCY2D (encoding RetGC-1) at 17p13.1, RPE65 at 1q31, CRX at 19q13.3, AIPLI at 17p13.1, CRB1 at 1q31-3, and RPGRIP at 14q11. A similar early-onset severe retinal degeneration phenotype has been associated with mutation of TULP1 at 6p21.3. Leber appreciated that the condition he described merged with the phenotypes of early childhood-onset severe retinal degenerations. This insight has been confirmed at the molecular level for mutations of GUCY2D , RPE65 , CRX , AIPL1 , and CRB1 , which cause not only LCA, but also early-childhood and even adult-onset retinal degenerations. This paper reviews the new finding of LCA from mutations of CRB1 and discusses the...
Does Allah Matter at Your Alma Mater? Religiously-Affiliated Colleges, Social Transformation and Violent Inter-Cultural Conflict

Insofar as the terrorists in the attacks of September 11, 2001 used global communication and transportation networks to carry out their plots, they illuminated the perilous side of a world now living more closely together. However, the violence with which they ripped through the hearts and minds of Americans and others around the world is a stark reminder that there are at least significant fissures in a global cultural fabric, if in fact such a fabric does exist.
Competitive Marketing Behavior in Industrial Markets

The authors outline a conceptual framework for analyzing differences in competitive marketing behavior of businesses in established industrial markets. They explicitly distinguish between retaliato...
Crossing Boundaries, Claiming a Homeland: The Mexican Chinese Transpacific Journey to Becoming Mexican, 1930s––1960s

This article follows Mexican Chinese families from Mexico, across the Mexican-U.S. border, to China, and back to Mexico. Settling in northern Mexico in the nineteenth century, Chinese formed multiple ties with Mexicans. An anti-Chinese movement emerged during the Mexican Revolution and peaked during the Great Depression. The Mexican government deported several thousand Chinese men and their Mexican-origin families from Sonora and neighboring Sinaloa, some directly to China and others to the United States, whose immigration agents also deported the families to China. They arrived in Guangdong (Canton) Province but eventually congregated in Macau where they forged a coherent Mexican Chinese enclave. Developing a strategic Mexican nationalism, they appealed for repatriation. The Mexican Chinese "became Mexican" only after authorities compelled them to struggle for years from abroad for the inclusion of their mixed-race families in the nation. They became diasporic citizens and fashioned hybrid identities to survive in Mexico and China.
Transient evolution of shear-banding wormlike micellar solutions

A series of experiments were performed to further investigate the phenomenon of shear-banding in surfactant solutions. Many surfactant solutions, through their unique amphiphilic chemistry, form long wormlike micelle structures which behave like living polymers. These wormlike micelles have interesting viscoelastic properties and have been the subject of a number of recent studies. These water-based surfactant systems are widely used in many commercial and industrial applications; however, many aspects of their complex flow behavior are still not fully understood. In this study, a Couette cell was designed to allow for high-resolution optical access in a simple shear flow of a surfactant system comprised of cetylpyridinium chloride and sodium salicylate in aqueous sodium chloride. Beyond a critical stress, this system is found to enter a non-linear regime in which there is a plateau in the shear stress with increasing shear rate. Within this plateau, the fluid forms distinct bands of varying shear rate. The goal of this study was to obtain high spatial and temporal resolution particle-image velocimetry and flow-induced birefringence results in both steady and transient-startup flows. As a consequence of the high resolution, steady PIV results suggest the existence of multiple-shear bands. In the transient PIV experiments, we observe a propagating damped elastic wave, as well as fluctuations in the shear-band evolution on timescales of less than one relaxation time. Pointwise FIB gap profiles show a diffuse birefringent region prior to the onset of shear-banding in the velocity profiles. These results provide insight on the flow behavior, as well as a full set of experimental data which will drive development of constitutive models capable of predicting shear-banding.
Structure in the UV nightglow observed from low Earth orbit

Limb images of the low latitude UV O2 Herzberg I emission were obtained from a low Earth orbit spacecraft in early 1988. The layer displays patchy, sometimes horizontally periodic, spatial variability on scales of tens of km with amplitude up to 20%. We interpret periodic wavelike features in terms of perturbations associated with gravity wave propagation through the layer. The putative waves are shown to have horizontal wavelength about 15 km, similar vertical wavelength, and temperature oscillation roughly equal to or exceeding the observed emission perturbation.
Expectancies of being influenced and hypnotic performance

Abstract From the theoretical viewpoint that complex interactions serve to attenuate potent dependencies between expectancies of being influenced and later actual hypnotic performance, normative data are presented on 164 previously unhypnotized undergraduates. Ss filled out 2 questionnaires on their expectancies prior to the administration of the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A. The Personal Predictions questionnaire asked for self-ratings of expected hypnotic performance; the General Estimates questionnaire asked for ratings of the expected performance of a general college population. The 2 questionnaires were derived from the hypnosis scale in such a way that expectancies were precisely related to actual hypnotic performance, item by item, using a common scale of measurement. As had been predicted, correlations were generally small but mean differences were sizable. The findings are interpreted in terms of the theoretical viewpoint, and research applications of the 2 questionnaire...
Adsorption of the quinolone antibiotic nalidixic acid onto anion-exchange and neutral polymers

Pharmaceutical products are being found in surface and ground waters around the world. While the consequences to human health are unknown, it is suspected that these contaminants adversely alter aquatic ecosystems. This study presents adsorption results for one pharmaceutical product, nalidixic acid (NA), on neutral and anion-exchange polymers at three pH values. The adsorption of NA below and above its pKa of ∼6 on polymers with different matrices, forms, and degrees of polarity were evaluated. By comparing the Freundlich constants KF and n, the results show that the neutral form of NA adsorbs to a greater extent on neutral polymers, and that the anionic form of NA adsorbs more to anion-exchange polymers. Also, results of the adsorption experiments suggest that aromatic ring interactions between NA and the surface of both neutral and anion-exchange polymers are important in the adsorption process. These results have important implications for the treatment of pharmaceutical-contaminated water, as many pharmaceutical contaminants are ionizable and have aromatic rings in their structure. This study illustrates the importance of pH and sorbate and sorbent structure in considering polymer sorption for treatment of pharmaceutical-contaminated aqueous systems.
Smart Spring Impedance Control Algorithm for Helicopter Blade Harmonic Vibration Suppression

In this paper, an adaptive impedance control algorithm is developed for the Smart Spring to suppress helicopter rotor vibration through individual blade control. The harmonic frequencies of the bla...
Debt covenant violation and manipulation of accruals

Abstract This paper examines the abnormal accruals of a sample of 94 firms that reported debt covenant violations in annual reports. We expect debt covenant restrictions to influence accounting choices in the year preceding and the year of violation. Time-series and cross-sectional models are used to estimate ‘normal’ accruals. In the year prior to violation, both models indicate that ‘abnormal’ total and working capital accruals are significantly positive. In the year of violation, there is evidence of positive abnormal working capital accruals after controlling for management changes and auditor going concern qualifications.
Adaptive estimation of doubly stochastic Poisson processes with application to adaptive optics

The optimal adaptive estimator structure for a class of doubly stochastic Poisson processes (DSPP) is presented. Moment assumptions are used to obtain a quasi-optimal structure. Examples are given including applications to adaptive optics.
The effects of effort on stroop interference.

Abstract Stroop interference was defined as the difference in time needed to name the ink colors of printed color and color-related words versus control plus signs. The effect of effort on Stroop interference was studied using an inter-subject competition procedure designed to manipulate effort. In experiment 1, subjects in the competition group were successful at inhibiting Stroop interference when compared to the performance of subjects in the no-competition group. This result is consistent with theories that postulate attentional effects on Stroop interference. In experiment 2, the significant decrease in Stroop interference was accompanied by a significant reduction in recognition memory for Stroop list items. Therefore, Stroop interference was reduced at a stage during the processing of word meaning. This result is consistent with theories that locate Stroop interference before response output.
Inhibitors of Insulin Receptor Tyrosine Kinase in Fibroblasts from Diverse Patients with Impaired Insulin Action: Evidence for a Novel Mechanism of Postreceptor Insulin Resistance*

Insulin resistance is a major feature of noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. This resistance appears to involve molecules, apart from the insulin receptor, that are capable of altering its function. Previously, we reported that dermal fibroblasts from a female patient with insulin resistance and noninsulin-dependent diabetes produced an inhibitor of insulin receptor tyrosine kinase activity. We have now studied inhibitors in fibroblasts from four additional patients (one male and three females) with severe insulin resistance. Although clinical features were diverse, these patients had in common normal fasting glucose values, with fasting and postprandial hyperinsulinemia. The fibroblast insulin receptor content was within the normal range, but both basal and insulin-stimulated tyrosine kinase activity in fibroblast extracts were markedly decreased compared to those in extracts of fibroblasts from nondiabetic subjects. Studies revealed that these fibroblasts contained a glycoprotein inhibitor of insuli...
Transplantation of preconditioned schwann cells in peripheral nerve grafts after contusion in the adult spinal cord. Improvement of recovery in a rat model.

Background: Recovery after injury to the peripheral nervous system is based on the pro-regenerative relationship between axons and the extracellular matrix, a relationship established by Schwann cells. As mechanical conditioning of Schwann cells has been shown to stimulate their regenerative behavior, we sought to determine whether transplantation of these cells to the central nervous system (i.e., the spinal cord), with its limited regenerative capacity after injury, would improve axonal regeneration and functional recovery. Methods: A moderate contusion injury of the spinal cord was created with a force-directed impactor in forty-eight adult Sprague-Dawley rats, and, at one week postinjury, the spinal cords were reexposed in all animals. In twenty-four of these animals, peripheral nerve grafts with Schwann cells that had been obtained from the sciatic nerves of donor animals, and had been either untreated or subjected to mechanical conditioning, were transplanted to the contused area of the cords following resection of the glial scar. Another group of animals was treated with glial scar excision only, and a fourth group had the contusion injury but neither glial excision nor transplantation. Scores according to the Basso, Beattie, Bresnahan (BBB) Locomotor Rating Scale were assigned preoperatively and weekly thereafter. Tract tracing of descending and ascending spinal cord tracts was performed at six weeks postoperatively for quantitative histological evaluation of axonal regeneration. Results: While the recovery following glial scar excision without peripheral nerve transplantation was significantly worse than the recovery in the other groups, both transplantation groups had significantly higher BBB scores than the controls (no transplantation) in the early postoperative period (p < 0.05). Moreover, histological analysis showed markedly increased axonal regeneration at the lesional sites in the animals treated with the mechanically conditioned grafts than in the other groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Functional recovery after spinal cord contusion improved following glial scar excision with transplantation of Schwann cells in peripheral nerve grafts to the contusion areas. Although recovery did not differ significantly between the transplantation groups, only the preconditioned grafts led to axonal regeneration at and past the lesional site. These grafts may further enhance functional recovery as the descending tracts eventually reach their target end-organs. Clinical Relevance: Transplantation of Schwann cells in peripheral nerve grafts significantly improved functional and axonal recovery following a contusion spinal cord injury in rats and warrants further investigation for potential clinical applications.
Wound complications associated with the use of bovine serum albumin-glutaraldehyde surgical adhesive in pediatric patients.

OBJECTIVE: The use of dural sealants has become common in neurosurgery. Ten patients in whom a bovine albumin-glutaraldehyde combination (BioGlue; Cryolife, Inc., Kennesaw, GA) was implanted have had wound complications. The clinical experience of these patients is presented along with recommendations regarding the use of BioGlue. METHODS: All clinical information was reviewed for the patients who had wound complications after implantation of BioGlue. Data collected included diagnosis, type of original surgery, clinical presentation of the wound complication, culture results, and management. RESULTS: BioGlue was implanted in 75 patients during 77 procedures. Ten patients (13%) had wound complications. There were six boys and four girls with an average age of 5.2 years (range, 11 mo-1 6 yr). Three had undergone spinal procedures for detethering of the spinal cord and seven underwent craniotomies (five infratentorial, two supratentorial). Six patients presented with purulent drainage, two had periorbital cellulites, and two had swelling and fluctuance without drainage. All patients were managed operatively by washout, debridement, and removal of the BioGlue followed by a course of intravenous antibiotics. The average interval between the implantation and the debridement was 12.5 weeks (range, 2.5-28 wk). All patients had purulence around the BioGlue. Positive cultures were obtained in seven patients (Staphylococcus species in six and Streptococcus pneumoniae in one), including five who presented with wound drainage. CONCLUSION: We have found a strong association between the use of BioGlue and postoperative wound complications in our pediatric neurosurgical practice and, thus, discourage its future use. BioGlue triggers an intense acute pyogenic and chronic granulomatous inflammatory response, which is an ideal environment for bacterial growth. The bacteria may arise from the BioGlue or other foreign bodies or, more likely, from the skin if the inflammation breaches the skin surface.
CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT AND DENTAL PRACTICE: A MARRIAGE OF NECESSITY

No business, regardless of its size, is ever problem-free. Continuous quality improvement is one way to keep businesses, including dental practices, functioning as near perfection as possible. The author discusses the value of CQI in the dental practice and outlines the principles of a CQI program.
Carcinoma of the buccal mucosa.

OBJECTIVE: The goal was to analyze the outcome of surgical therapy for buccal carcinoma.STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review was done.SETTING: The study took place in a major tertiary-care hospital.RESULTS: Twenty-seven patients received first-time surgical therapy for buccal carcinoma. Treatment was surgery alone in 15 and surgery followed by radiation therapy in 6 patients. Six additional patients received surgical salvage for radiation therapy failure. Composite resection of the tumor was performed in 16 patients (59%). Five-year observed actuarial survival rates were 100%, 45%, 67%, and 78%, and locoregional recurrence rates were 0%, 27%, 44%, and 0% for stages I to IV, respectively. The 5-year actuarial survival rates were 80% after surgery and 82% after surgery and postoperative radiation therapy. Patients who underwent surgical salvage after radiation therapy failure had a 1-year survival rate of 0%.CONCLUSION: Aggressive surgical treatment of buccal carcinoma may result in better survival ra...
Decision procedures and expressiveness in the temporal logic of branching time

Abstract We consider the computation tree logic (CTL) proposed in (Sci. Comput. Programming 2 (1982), 241–260) which extends the unified branching time logic (UB) of (“Proc. Ann. ACM Sympos. Principles of Programming Languages, 1981,” pp. 164–176) by adding an until operator. It is established that CTL has the small model property by showing that any satisfiable CTL formulae is satisfiable in a small finite model obtained from the small “pseudomodel” resulting from the Fischer-Ladner quotient construction. Then an exponential time algorithm is given for deciding satisfiability in CTL, and the axiomatization of UB given in ibid. is extended to a complete axiomatization for CTL. Finally, the relative expressive power of a family of temporal logics obtained by extending or restricting the syntax of UB and CTL is studied.