cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Resistance of domain-wall states in half-metallic Cr O 2

The half-metallic $\mathrm{Cr}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ with nearly 100% spin polarization is an ideal system to study magnetic domain-wall resistance, which differs from the resistance (or resistivity) inside a single domain. To experimentally measure the domain-wall resistance, we design and prepare a special $\mathrm{Cr}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ epitaxial nanostructure with an asymmetrical weak link to localize a domain wall, by using the techniques of chemical vapor deposition and selective-area growth. This structure provides a capability to generate and annihilate a domain wall near the weak link. By contrasting the resistance between a single-domain state and a domain-wall state, we observe a repeatable and reversible resistance jump, namely domain-wall resistance, in half-metallic $\mathrm{Cr}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$. Using the Levy-Zhang model, we further obtain the spin asymmetry ratio ${\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}^{\ensuremath{\uparrow}}/{\ensuremath{\rho}}_{0}^{\ensuremath{\downarrow}}$ between resistivities in the two spin channels. The ratio, 4256 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 388 at 5.0 K, is much larger than that of conventional ferromagnetic metals, attesting to the half metallicity of $\mathrm{Cr}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$.
A thermo-photo hybrid process for steam reforming of methane: highly efficient visible light photocatalysis

Steam reforming of methane (SRM) is one of the most important industrial processes, which produces 95% of hydrogen used in the USA. However, SRM is an endothermic reaction, which requires a high energy input and a high reaction temperature (>800 °C) for the current process. Furthermore, its products must be subjected to a water–gas shift (WGS) process. A photocatalytic process is expected to solve the energy issue and to eliminate the necessity of WGS for SRM. However, the hydrogen yield from the current photocatalytic steam reforming of methane (PSRM) is very low (μmol h−1 g−1 level), which is far below industrial interest. This work demonstrates that a Pt/blackTiO2 catalyst dispersed on a light-diffuse-reflection-surface is excellent for efficient visible-light PSRM. Under visible light illumination on the catalyst by filtering UV light from AM 1.5G sunlight, CH4 and H2O were directly converted into H2 and CO2 without WGS, leading to a high H2 yield of 185 mmol h−1 g−1 with a quantum efficiency of 60% at 500 °C. The yield is 3 orders of magnitude larger than the reported values, which can be attributed to the synergistic effect between potential and kinetic energies. This opens up a new opportunity for hydrogen production from water and natural gas using solar energy.
Pediatric ADHD symptom burden relates to distinct neural activity across executive function domains.

Abstract Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a prevalent childhood disorder marked by inattention and/or hyperactivity symptoms. ADHD may also relate to impaired executive function (EF), but is often studied in a single EF task per sample. The current study addresses the question of unique vs. overlapping relations in brain activity across multiple EF tasks and ADHD symptom burden. Three in-scanner tasks drawn from distinct EF domains (cognitive flexibility, working memory, and inhibition) were collected from children with and without an ADHD diagnosis (N = 63). Whole-brain activity and 11 regions of interest were correlated with parent reports of inattention and hyperactivity symptoms. Across the three EF domains, brain activity related to ADHD symptom burden, but the direction and location of these associations differed across tasks. Overall, activity in sensory and default mode network regions related to ADHD, and these relations did not consistently overlap across EF domains. We observed both distinct and overlapping patterns for inattention and hyperactivity symptoms. By studying multiple EF tasks in the same sample, we identified a heterogenous neural profile related to attention symptom burden in children. Our results inform ADHD characterization and treatment and explain some of the variable brain results related to EF and ADHD reported in the literature.
Shadow Elite of Teacher Education Reforms: Intermediary Organizations’ Construction of Accountability Regimes:

In the 2010s, teacher education witnessed the rise of accountability regimes. Studies examining efforts to introduce teacher preparation accountability focused predominantly on federal or state act...
Luteolin Induces Cytotoxicity in Mix Cellularity Classical Hodgkin's Lymphoma via Caspase Activated-cell Death.

Background/aim We investigated the effects of luteolin (LUT) on classical Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL), since such studies in malignant lymphomas are lacking. Materials and methods Effect of LUT on cell growth was assessed with water-soluble tetrazolium 1 (WST-1) cell proliferation assay and automated hemocytometry on trypan blue-exclusion assay. Cell death was investigated with acridine orange/ethidium bromide live-dead assay, propidium iodide (PI) flow cytometry, and Annexin-V-PI microscopy. Caspase activation was studied using CellEvent Caspase-3/7 Green detection reagent. High resolution immunofluorescence microscopy was used to detect cleaved-PARP-1. Results LUT induced a dose-dependent decrease in the growth of KMH2 and L428 cells, cellular models of mix-cellularity (MC) and nodular sclerosis (NS) cHL, respectively. However, LUT induced cell death only in KMH2, at a higher concentration, and this was associated with caspase activation and cleaved PARP-1. Conclusion LUT induces cytotoxicity in the MC-cHL cellular model KMH2 via caspase activation.
Ergodic Exploration Using Binary Sensing for Nonparametric Shape Estimation

Current methods to estimate object shape-using either vision or touch-generally depend on high-resolution sensing. Here, we exploit ergodic exploration to demonstrate successful shape estimation when using a low-resolution binary contact sensor. The measurement model is posed as a collision-based tactile measurement, and classification methods are used to discriminate between shape boundary regions in the search space. Posterior likelihood estimates of the measurement model help the system actively seek out regions where the binary sensor is most likely to return informative measurements. Results show successful shape estimation of various objects as well as the ability to identify multiple objects in an environment. Interestingly, it is shown that ergodic exploration utilizes non-contact motion to gather significant information about shape. The algorithm is extended in three dimensions in simulation and we present two dimensional experimental results using the Rethink Baxter robot.
Systemic lichenoid inflammation from immune checkpoint inhibition

Abstract Immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy is highly effective in managing several malignancies, however ICI can induce unique toxicities known as immune related adverse events (irAEs). A wide range of dermatologic irAEs including localized lichenoid dermatitis have been reported, however extensive lichenoid inflammation involving both skin as well as the mucous membranes has not been reported. We report the case of a 39-year-old female with metastatic melanoma who developed progressive skin, esophageal and vulvar inflammation during immunotherapy with nivolumab. The treatment was well tolerated until the 9th cycle of treatment when diffuse lichenoid manifestations progressed rapidly over a period of weeks. Initially, skin changes were noted on extremities, soon followed by severe epigastric pain thereafter vulvar irritation that presented with mucosal changes. This diffuse lichenoid inflammation prompted discontinuation of nivolumab. Her symptoms were successfully managed by prednisone. This report of extensive lichenoid changes adds to the expanding manifestations of systemic irAEs.
Employer Sponsored Health Savings Accounts in Bankruptcy

This article studies the unintended consequences of employers electing to not classify their employee Health Savings Account offering as an ERISA covered health plan using a legal research methodology. The article studies interpretative regulatory guidance from the Department of Labor that purports to exclude employer-sponsored Health Savings Accounts from qualification as ERISA plans, if this guidance is consistent with the congressional intent of ERISA, and the consequences of how bankruptcy courts are managing the impacts of these non-ERISA employer sponsored health/retirement plans.
Pakistan: Effects of Decentralization on Women

Research shows that female status in Pakistan is far behind that in most other nations. The vast gender inequality is gaining more attention from international actors but no success has been reported. I analyze interviews conducted with directors of local Women’s Policy Machinery groups in Pakistan in 2007. In analyzing the surveys I test three hypotheses in regards to the question: will decentralization lead the government to be more responsive to women? In completing my research I have come to the conclusion that the instability of the country as well as its strong traditions will continue to hold women back. The future of the country as of right now is uncertain, but if a democratic government is able to survive, the Pakistani women may have a brighter future ahead of them. This article is available in Res Publica Journal of Undergraduate Research: http://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/respublica/vol13/iss1/ 10
Understanding Consumer Response to Sponsorship Information: A Resource‐Matching Approach

Sponsorship of sporting teams and events has become an increasingly popular form of corporate and brand communication. Despite the continued growth of sponsorship spending, the corresponding literature base is highly fragmented and little agreement exists related to the psychological mechanisms underlying response. This paper integrates several prominent sponsorship research streams in promoting a “resource-matching” perspective of cognitive elaboration and attitude change. This research holds that in the absence of clear functional fit between sponsor and event, identifying a basis for sponsor–event fit is likely to require some degree of cognitive effort. The results indicate stronger social identification with the sponsored event influences the favorability they attribute to sponsor motives and promotes stronger perceptions of fit between the sponsor and the sponsored activity. Further, the results indicate fit perceptions mediate the relationship between attribution and sponsorship response. Consistent with ELM theory, when cognitive resources are insufficient for the complexity of the fit-matching task, social identification may still act as a peripheral cue in driving a positive affective response to sponsorship information.
Suggested Scenarios of Software Maintenance Education

To improve the quality of software maintenance work and to reduce the time taken to perform maintenance tasks, programmers need to be educated on how to maintain programs. Despite the complexity of software maintenance and the need for informed maintainers, there are few training programs or academic courses aimed at developing the skills that are required of maintenance programmers. In this paper we will look at four different scenarios for teaching software maintenance. These scenarios will be suitable for industrial training as well as university or college courses and are based on courses on software maintenance that the authors have given in industry and academia.
Who Watches the Watcher

I Am a Strange Loop . By Douglas Hofstadter . Basic Books, New York, 2007. 436 pp. $26.95, C$32.50. ISBN 9780465030781. Hofstadter blends philosophy, cognition, neural networks, mathematical logic, music, architecture, and physics in a discussion of consciousness and the meaning of life.
Wage-profit curves in US manufacturing

This paper presents estimates of the wage share-profit rate curves using time series data in manufacturing and based on a fixed capital, labor, raw materials, intermediate good production model. The estimates suggest that cost pressures from wages in the 1960s and raw materials in the 1970s reduced the rate of profit, and that it remained low in the 1980s because of an increase, over the entire postwar period, in the capital-output ratio. This increase is consistent with the Marxian theory of capital-using technical change. Copyright 1991 by Oxford University Press.
General Mechanisms of Cytokine Receptor Signaling

Publisher Summary Cytokines and their receptors constitute a powerful control network, by which various cellular systems in the body signal and coordinate with each other. This chapter focuses primarily on the large cytokine family that activates the shared signal transducer gpl30 to illustrate each point, and then discusses examples from other cytokine families for comparison. Formation of the fully functional cytokine receptor complex involves the interaction of the cytokine with multiple receptor components. Subsequent experiments have shown that all cytokine receptor β components bind to members of the Janus kinase (Jak) family of protein tyrosine kinases. The structure of the four Jak family members is discussed. Finally, the role of phosphatases in regulating cytokine signaling is discussed, as well as the functions of several new signaling molecules are described. Many of the insights into the mechanism of cytokine signaling have created new prospects for creating novel therapeutics. The identification of multiple sites within a single cytokine that interact with different receptor components has allowed the engineering of cytokine muteins that bind tightly to one or two receptor components, but cannot complete receptor complex formation and thus act as antagonists.
Improved Parallel Feedback Active noise control using linear prediction for adaptive noise decomposition

This paper presents an improved Parallel Feedback Active noise control (PFANC) method with adaptive noise signal decomposition using NLMS based linear prediction. The proposed method is tested for several stationary periodic signals, quasi-periodic signals and non-stationary signals buried in Additive White Gaussian noise (AWGN) under different Signal to Noise Ratios (SNR). Performance improvement in terms of Noise Attenuation Levels (NAL) exceeding 40dB have been obtained and compared with previous methods. Proposed method has lower implementation cost, lower computational delay, better noise tracking capability and better NAL performance as compared to previous methods.
Creating a Sustainable Manned Orbital Spaceflight Industry

Since the launch of the Sputnik satellite and the start of the modern space age, nations have sought to capitalize on the scientific, political, and economic returns that stem from that frontier. In the United States, national policy guides the development of the space industry as an economic force and is itself guided by recommendations from periodic committees and other bodies. Although these policies have produced clear scientific and political rewards, the economic results are more mixed. In particular, manned orbital spaceflight has long struggled with issues of sustainability. This article uses a macroeconomic approach to identify the subtle but critical differences between manned orbital spaceflight and the rest of the space industry that increase the cost structure of the industry and work against its sustainability. In recognizing these differences, the authors propose a fundamental shift toward the industry model applied to manned orbital spaceflight that incorporates a federal capability addres...
Cell cycle-dependent abundance, stability and localization of FtsA and FtsQ in Caulobacter crescentus.

Summary Coordination between cell division and DNA replica- tion is ensured by checkpoints that act through pro- teins required for cell division. Following a block in DNA replication, transcription of the cell division progression genes ftsA and ftsQ is prevented in Caulobacter crescentus . One requirement for this checkpoint is that FtsA and/or FtsQ should be limiting for division in the next cell cycle. We show that the number of FtsA and FtsQ molecules fluctuates such that their concentration is low in swarmer and stalked cells, peaks in pre-divisional cells, and then dramati- cally decreases after cell division. Despite constitu- tive expression from an inducible promoter, FtsA and FtsQ levels still vary during the cell cycle, and the half-life of FtsA increases from 13 min in swarmer cells to 55 min in stalked cell types, confirming cell type-specific degradation. The post-division degrada- tion of FtsA and FtsQ in swarmer cells reduces their concentration to 7% and 10% of their maximal level, respectively, strongly suggesting that de novo syn- thesis of both proteins is required for each division cycle. The localization of FtsA and FtsQ is also cell type-specific. FtsA and FtsQ are recruited to the mid- cell during a short period in late pre-divisional cells, consistent with the demonstrated requirement of FtsA for late stages of cell division. As previously reported for FtsZ, constitutive expression of FtsA causes cell division defects. These results indicate that the tight control of FtsA, and probably FtsQ, by cell cycle transcription, proteolysis, and localization are critical for optimal cell division and the coordina- tion of cell division with the DNA replication cycle.
The Development of Industrial Structure in Southern New England

In a recent study, I prepared gross state product estimates for each of the New England states for the postwar years, 1948-1965.1 The estimates were provided for the one digit major industry groupings and the two digit manufacturing categories. One conclusion, developed from a comparison of postwar growth performance, was that New England performed at a much lower level than the rest of the nation in the advance of aggregate real product. A review of industry movements revealed that New England's relative lag behind the nation was greatest in the manufacturing sector. Examination of the manufacturing growth record indicated that most of the postwar difference in the advance of aggregate real output between New England and the nation arose as the result of structural differences within manufacturing. New England manufacturing was characterized by a very heavy dependence on industries which suffered relative declines in the twentieth century, particularly in the postwar period. Most important of the declining industries were textiles and leather. The relatively high concentration of these industries in New England underscored most of the postwar regional growth difference. A review of statewide postwar growth trends in aggregate real product indicated that of the New England states only Connecticut was able to surpass national economic performance. Connecticuts relatively superior performance was largely due to her advance of real product in the manufacturing sector.2 The two industries on the decline, textiles and leather, were extremely important in the slow-growing New England states, particularly Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and relatively unimportant to the Connecticut economy. On the other hand, Connecticut did show a
Residual stresses and ion implantation effects in Cr thin films

Abstract The evolution of intrinsic residual stresses in sputtered Cr thin films with substrate bias and post-deposition ion irradiation is investigated. The relaxation of tensile stresses and build up of compressive stresses with increasing ion irradiation dose is studied using ions of different masses and energies such as 110 keV Ar, 33 keV C and 330 keV Xe. The stress evolution is related to the corresponding microstructural changes in the films. The changes in the residual stress during ion irradiation are explained by considering the manner in which the interatomic distances and forces change during irradiation, and the generation of defects during irradiation.
A reliable and scalable striping protocol

Link striping algorithms are often used to overcome transmission bottlenecks in computer networks. Traditional striping algorithms suffer from two major disadvantages. They provide inadequate load sharing in the presence of variable length packets, and may result in non-FIFO delivery of data. We describe a new family of link striping algorithms that solves both problems. Our scheme applies to any layer that can provide multiple FIFO channels.We deal with variable sized packets by showing how fair queuing algorithms can be transformed into load sharing algorithms. Our transformation results in practical load sharing protocols, and shows a theoretical connection between two seemingly different problems. The same transformation can be applied to obtain load sharing protocols for links with different capacities. We deal with the FIFO requirement for two separate cases. If a sequence number can be added to each packet, we show how to speed up packet processing by letting the receiver simulate the sender algorithm. If no header can be added, we show how to provide quasi-FIFO delivery. Quasi-FIFO is FIFO except during occasional periods of loss of synchronization. We argue that quasi-FIFO is adequate for most applications. We also describe a simple technique for speedy restoration of synchronization in the event of loss.We develop an architectural framework for transparently embedding our protocol at the network level by striping IP packets across multiple physical interfaces. The resulting strIPe protocol has been implemented within the NetBSD kernel. Our measurements and simulations show that the protocol offers scalable throughput even when striping is done over dissimilar links, and that the protocol synchronizes quickly after packet loss. Measurements show performance improvements over conventional round robin striping schemes and striping schemes that do not resequence packets.
The Relevance of Europe's New Towns for United States Urban Policy.

Since new towns are one of the most striking developments of the last two decades in Europe, increasing numbers of American planners, architects, and urbanologists have been visiting its new towns in search of ideas which may be applicable in the United States, especially since passage of the 1970 Housing Act whereby new towns became an official part of our federal goverment's urban growth policy.In this paper, five new towns are described—Cumbernauld, Scotland; Crawley, England; Bijlmermeer, Holland; Farsta, Sweden; and Tapiola, Finland. All of these were studied during the summer of 1970, and major principles, objectives, and methods of European urban land use policy are discussed. It is contended that besides being humane, new towns offer unusual opportunities for experimentations in (1) public-private agency cooperation; (2) municipal reorganization; (3) the elimination of such obsolete practices as standard zoning; and (4) democratic living. Nevertheless, it is emphasized that the glamour of the new ...
Flexible Solid State Lighting

Steel foil tolerance to high temperature processing, dimensional stability, chemical resistance, low moisture and oxygen permeability are characteristics that in combination with top emission organic LEDs are needed for flexible solid state lighting sources.
Trajectory Control of Robot with Model Reference Zero Vibration Shaper

In this work, the Model Reference Zero Vibration (MRZV) control design is introduced to improve performance of robotic manipulators. MRZV consists of a ZV (Zero Vibration) shaper as the feedforward control while utilizing model reference feedback to improve robustness and performance under plant parameter variations. Performance analysis of the MRZV control is given in terms of residual vibration and it is shown that MRZV can tolerate significantly larger plant variations while maintaining the performance characteristics compared to standard shaper designs, such as ZV and ZVD (Zero Vibration and Derivative). Experimental verifications are carried out on an Adept Technology Cartesian robot and the results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Computing moments of objects enclosed by piecewise polynomial surfaces

Combining a polynomial free-form surface representation with Gauss' divergence theorem allows efficient and exact calculation of the moments of the enclosed objects. For example, for an cubic representation, volume, center of mass, and the inertia tensor can be computed in seconds even for complex objects with serval thousand patches while change due to local modification of the surface geometry can be computed in real-time as feedback for animation or design. Speed and simplicity of the approach allow solving the inverse problem of modeling to match prescribed moments.
Studies on insulin-like growth factor-I and insulin in chick limb morphogenesis

The apical ectodermal ridge (AER) promotes the proliferation and directed outgrowth of the subridge mesodermal cells of the developing limb bud, while suppressing their differentiation. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and its receptor are expressed by the subridge mesodermal cells of the chick limb bud growing out in response to the AER, and specific insulin receptors are present in the limb bud during its outgrowth. To study the possible roles of IGF-I and insulin in limb outgrowth, we have examined their effects on the morphogenesis of posterior and anterior portions of the distal tip of stage 25 embryonic chick wing buds subjected to organ culture in serum-free medium in the presence or absence of the AER and limb ectoderm. The distal mesoderm of control posterior explants lacking an AER or all limb ectoderm ceases expressing IGF-I mRNA, exhibits little or no proliferation, fails to undergo outgrowth, and rapidly differentiates. Exogenous IGF-I and insulin promote the outgrowth and proliferation and suppress the differentiation of distal mesodermal cells in posterior explants lacking an AER or limb ectoderm, thus mimicking at least to some extent the outgrowth promoting and anti-differentiative effects normally elicited on the subridge mesoderm by the AER. Furthermore, IGF-I and insulin-treated posterior explants exhibit high IGF-I mRNA expression, indicating that IGF-I and insulin maintain the expression of endogenous IGF-I by the subridge mesoderm. We have also found IGF-I and insulin can affect the morphology and activity of the AER. When the posterior portion of the wing bud tip is cultured with the AER intact in control medium, on day 4-5 the AER flattens, ceases expressing high amounts of the AER-characteristic homeobox-containing gene Msx2, and concomitantly an elongated cartilaginous element differentiates in the subridge mesoderm. In contrast, in the presence of exogenous IGF-I or insulin the AER of such explants does not flatten, continues expressing high amounts of Msx2, and the subridge mesoderm remains undifferentiated and proliferative. Thus, exogenous IGF-I and insulin maintain the thickness of the AER and sustain its expression of Msx2, while sustaining the anti-differentiative effect normally elicited on the subridge mesoderm by a thickened functional AER. Notably, we have also found that exogenous IGF-I and insulin induce the formation of a thickened ridge-like structure that expresses high amounts of Msx2 from the normally thin distal anterior ectoderm of the limb bud, while promoting dramatic outgrowth and proliferation of the anterior mesoderm, which normally undergoes little outgrowth or proliferation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
Longitudinal course of normal aging and progressive dementia of the Alzheimer's type: a prospective study of 106 subjects over a 3.6 year mean interval.

Elderly, community residing subjects (N = 106; mean age = 70.6 +/- 6.02 years) with cognitive functioning consistent with normal aging or dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT), were followed over a 3.6 year mean interval (range = 2.78 to 5.12 years). All subjects were assessed at baseline on the Global Deterioration Scale (GDS), a global clinical instrument reflecting the continuum of cognitive dysfunction from normal aging to severe DAT. At follow-up subjects were reassessed with respect to mortality, institutionalization and clinical change, defined as at least a two-point change on the 7-point GDS. Our results suggest that patients at deterioration levels GDS greater than or equal to 4, are more likely to show negative outcomes, specifically, institutionalization (Ps less than .001), death (Ps less than .01), or, for the community residing remainder, clinical deterioration (Ps less than .05), than subjects from less impaired (GDS = 2 or GDS = 3) subject groups. Seventy-six per cent of subjects at deterioration levels four or greater (N = 34) had negative outcomes at follow-up, whereas ninety percent of subjects with deterioration levels less than four (N = 72) did not.
Azathioprine: a forgotten alternative for treatment of severe psoriasis.

A 60-year-old man with a 30-year history of severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis has been followed at Gainesville Veterans Administration Medical Center. An extensive work-up, including many skin biopsies, confirmed the diagnosis of psoriasis. Rheumatologic evaluation for joint pain was compatible with psoriatic arthritis. The patient failed conventional psoriatic therapies because of side effects or inadequate response. Specifically, in 1960, he received systemic corticosteroids, but they resulted in severe mental status changes. He had to discontinue methotrexate after 6 years of treatment because of an abnormal liver biopsy
PCR-BASED SYNTHESIS OF REPETITIVE SINGLE-STRANDED DNA FOR APPLICATIONS TO NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY

Recent data show that assembly of repetitive-sequence, single-stranded DNA molecules (ssDNA) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) depend on the specific sequence repeat. Therefore, it is of practical interest to assess various methods for generating single-stranded DNA molecules that contain repetitive sequences. Existing automated synthesis procedures for generating long (> 100 nt) ssDNA molecules generate ssDNA products of variable purity and yield. An alternative to automated synthesis is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which provides a powerful tool for the amplification of minute amounts of specific DNA sequences. Here we show that a modified asymmetric PCR method allows synthesis of long ssDNAs comprised of tandem repeats of the repetitive vertebrate telomeric sequence (TTAGGG)n, and is also applicable to arbitrary (repetitive or nonrepetitive) DNA. Long, repetitive deoxynucleotides produced by automated synthesis are surprisingly heterogeneous with respect to both length and sequence. Benefits of the method described here are that long, repetitive ssDNA sequences are generated with high sequence fidelity and yield.
Androgen receptor in rat liver: characterization and separation from a male-specific estrogen-binding protein.

Abstract Many liver processes are sexually dimorphic. In particular, the microsomal content of specific enzymes and the synthesis of specific proteins are under sex steroid hormone control. Because the liver of male rats is strikingly androgen responsive, we sought evidence for an androgen receptor in this tissue. We detected and characterized both cytosolic and nuclear androgen-binding proteins. Both forms bind [3H]R1881 (methyltrienolone, 17β-hydroxy-17α-methyl-4,9,11-estratriene-3-one) with the high affinity, low capacity, and specificity for androgens and antiandrogens characteristic of androgen receptors. No high-affinity binding of [3H]DHT could be detected in unfractionated cytosol because of the rapid metabolism of this ligand; however, binding of a DHT metabolite to the high-capacity male-specific estrogen binder (MEB) of cytosol was observed. Both gel filtration and heparin-Sepharose affinity chromatography separate the cytosolic androgen receptor from MEB. Incubation of cytosol in the absence of sodium molybdate resulted in androgen-binding activity which was retained by DNA-cellulose. Castration of male rats results in a time-dependent loss of both cytosolic and nuclear androgen binding, as well as a loss in MEB activity. Androgen-binding activity is low in livers from female rats, but can be induced by testosterone treatment. An intact pituitary is necessary for maintenance of androgen-binding activity, as hypophysectomy results in complete loss of activity.
Effects of an immunofluorescent transport solution on the ultrastructure of human biopsies.

Abstract Although immunofluorescent tests have been demonstrated to be of value in the diagnosis of many oral and skin lesions, the use of this technique has until recently been cumbersome because of the requirement for frozen tissue specimens. This has been circumvented by the development of a solution in which tissue can be transported to the testing laboratory at ambient temperatures. To verify that the immunofluorescent findings in gingiva and skin kept in this solution are not artifactual, ultrastructural studies were performed on such tissue. These revealed that over-all tissue architecture, individual cells, and the epidermal-connective tissue interface remain intact. Since the majority of oral lesions submitted for immunofluorescent testing are suspected of being pemphigus or pemphigoid, the finding that these tissue features remain intact indicates that the distribution of immunofluorescence is related to definite morphologic structures and provides additional evidence for the validity of using the transport solution.
Hospitalizations for severe complications of pregnancy, 1987–1992

Objective: To compute ratios of severe pregnancy complications (the number of hospitalizations for pregnancy complications per 100 deliveries) and to examine factors associated with their prevalence. Methods: Using population-based California hospital discharge data to estimate hospitalization ratios of pregnancy complications during 1987–1992, we defined cases by preselected pregnancy complication codes from the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification , excluding induced abortions and delivery-associated complications. All hospital deliveries of liveborn or stillborn infants were included in our denominator. We examined ratios by age, race-ethnicity, payment source, total hospitalization charges, and length of hospital stay. Results: There were 833,264 hospitalizations for pregnancy complications in California (25 complications per 100 deliveries), which included admissions for preterm labor (33%), genitourinary infection (16%), and pregnancy-induced hypertension (15%). Age-specific ratios were highest for women 14 years old and younger (38 per 100 deliveries) and lowest for women 25–29 years old (23 per 100 deliveries). Ratios of complications varied by race-ethnicity; black women had the highest (42 per 100 deliveries), and Asian-Pacific Islander women had the lowest (21 per 100 deliveries). Ratios were unaffected by payment source. In 1987, Medicaid charges were $118 million for 33% of the number of total hospitalizations for complications. In 1992, such Medicaid hospitalizations accounted for $356 million (49%) of the $734 million in total charges and for 183,295 (45%) of the 409,000 total hospital days. Conclusion: Our results showed disparities in ratios of severe complications of pregnancy by age and race-ethnicity as well as a shift of financial burden to Medicaid. These findings suggest that such complications may be reduced by identifying risk factors and targeting high-risk groups.
Modulation of cell surface components of human breast cancer cells by retinoic acid: enhanced HLA-DR expression.

The effect of the differentiating agent all-trans-retinoic acid on the expression of components of the milk fat globule membrane and HLA-DR by breast cancer cell lines has been examined. Effects on proliferation were also considered, to determine whether any cell surface changes were related to or independent of proliferation effects. No significant differences were observed in the expression of components detected by the milk fat globule membrane antibodies HMFG1 and HMFG2 over 8 days culture with 10(-7)-10(-9)M retinoic acid for the cell lines MCF-7, T-47 D, ZR-75, MDA-MB-231, and BT-20. In contrast , there was enhanced expression of HLA-DR by two oestrogen receptor-positive cell lines T-47 D and ZR-75 and the oestrogen receptor-negative line MDA-MB-231, with differing sensitivities. These effects were independent of inhibition of proliferation, which was only observed for oestrogen receptor-positive cell lines and for different durations of exposure. The finding of enhanced HLA-DR expression after retinoic acid treatment has not previously been reported and is of interest regarding clinical potential for the induction of tumour immunity.
ON THE POSSIBILITY OF FINDING LIGHT UNCOLORED SUPERSYMMETRIC PARTNERS AT PRESENT AND FUTURE MACHINES

Supersymmetric models allow the possibility of finding new light spin-12 fermions (m <mw, and perhaps m < 10–15 GeV, charged or neutral) that are (apart from mixing effects) the supersymmetric partners of W, Z0, and Higgs bosons. We provide a detailed analysis of their expected properties, production mechanisms, and signatures, with emphasis on detection at e+e- colliders. Although the charged, spin-12 particles resemble sequential leptons, it turns out that their properties differ enough that they might have been missed in the standard searches with normal cuts, and they still might be found with m < 18 GeV. A neutral, spin-12 particle with m below about 30 GeV could exist with a clear decay signature and be singly produced at detectable rates at present machines (picobarn cross sections).
Integrative Multi-Resolution Modeling of Pleiomorphic Systems

Biomolecular processes such as transcription, protein folding or cellular motility, often involve organized interactions between multiple biomolecules. Solving the structure of those dynamic assemblies is challenging due to their flexibility, size and complexity. Yet, data collected from various biophysical sources can be integrated to assemble atomic models of such complexes. In particular, high-resolution atomic data, usually available only for component fragments, can be brought into registration with the low-resolution data of the entire system. Multi-resolution modeling techniques are nowadays routinely employed to interpret volumetric data from cryo-electron microscopy or tomography. If the experimental techniques capture dynamic systems in different conformations, flexible registration methods can be applied to refine the atomic models.We have recently developed a flexible hybrid modeling technique based on feature-extraction methods from signal processing. The deviation of feature vectors is used to guide the molecular structure into the new conformation, whereby efficient spatial interpolation techniques are employed to derive the structure of the entire model.The feature-point strategy delivers the robustness of the method under the influence of noise and artifacts, but also its efficiency and ease of use. Fast execution and results comparable to simulation techniques enable us now to utilize the spatial interpolation method also in iterative refinement procedures. This makes it feasible to adapt the method also to low-resolution data from tomography or even small angle x-ray scattering, and to integrate those data sources into the hybrid modeling process.AcknowledgmentsThis work was supported by startup funds of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, by NIH grant R01GM62968, by a grant from the Gillson Longenbaugh Foundation and by a training fellowship from the W.M. Keck Foundation to the Gulf Coast Consortia through the Keck Center for Interdisciplinary Bioscience Training.
Altered collagen concentration in mitral valve leaflets: biochemical and finite element analysis

Background. Ischemic mitral regurgitation or ventricular wall motion abnormalities will alter the stress distribution in the mitral valve. We hypothesize that in response, the regional collagen concentration will be altered and will significantly impact the stress distribution in the mitral valve. Methods. Two sheep served as normal (sham) controls. Two other sheep had coronary ligation resulting in abnormal ventricular wall motion. Four sheep underwent ligation to infarct the posteromedial papillary muscle, resulting in ischemic regurgitation. After 4 or 8 weeks, the mitral valves were excised, and the anterior leaflet sections were subjected to an assay for collagen concentration. Next, in a finite element model, to simulate changes in collagen concentration, the tissue stiffness was increased by 20%, and then decreased by 20%. In another model, the thickness of the tissue was increased by 20%, and then combined with decreased tissue stiffness. Physiologic loading pressures were applied, and leaflet stress, chordal stress, and coaptation results were analyzed. Results. The average collagen concentration in the normal sheep leaflets was 59.2% (dry weight), 50.6% in the ischemic controls, and 45.8% in the papillary muscle infarct group. Collagen concentration was greatest at the midline and decreased toward the commissures. Increased tissue stiffness resulted in increased leaflet and chordal stresses, as well as reduced coaptation. Decreased stiffness resulted in the opposite. Increased tissue thickness reduced leaflet and chordal stresses, but also reduced coaptation. The combination of increased tissue thickness and decreased stiffness demonstrated the greatest reduction in leaflet and chordal stress, while maintaining normal leaflet coaptation. Conclusions. The observed changes may demonstrate an early effort to compensate for increased leaflet stress. Microstructural alterations may demonstrate an early effort to compensate for altered physiologic loading to reduce stress and maintain coaptation. It is crucial in repairing or partially replacing thickened tissue that normal geometry and physiology be restored.
Effect of hydrocortisone on myelin basic protein in developing primary brain cultures.

Abstract The hormones hydrocortisone (HC) and triiodothyronine (T 3 ) are known to regulate myelinogenic parameters in cultures of brain cells. However, the effect of glucocorticoids on the myelin-specific metabolite, myelin basic protein, has not been previously studied. In the present studies we show that the concentrations of myelin basic protein (MBP) in developing primary cultures from mouse cerebra are significantly higher in HC (0.3 μM)-treated as compared to untreated cultures after 15 days in vitro. Further, this effect of HC on MBP appears to be T 3 -dependent. Since HC stimulates oligodendroglia to produce MBP, the effect of HC on the activities of the enzymes, glutamine synthetase which is primarily associated with astrocytes, and acetylcholinesterase, which is primarily associated with neurons was determined. HC stimulated both enzymes, suggesting that all 3 cell types may be regulated by HC.
Product distribution of a photochemical reaction as a function of light intensity

Abstract Disproportionation and substitution occur as parallel reactions when (MeCp) 2 Mo 2 (CO) 6 (MeCp  η 5 -CH 3 C 5 H 4 ) is irradiated in the presence of P(OCH 3 ) 3 . The products of the disproportionation reaction are (MeCp)Mo-(CO) 3 − and (MeCp)Mo(CO) 2 (P(OCH 3 ) 3 ) 2 + while the product of the substitution reaction is (MeCp) 2 Mo 2 (CO) 4 (P(OCH 3 ) 3 ) 2 . The ratio of the quantum yield for disproportionation to that of substitution is dependent on the intensity of the exciting light. This result is in agreement with mechanisms proposed for the disproportionation and substitution reactions.
Evolution of Optical and Mechanical Properties of Semiconductors over 40 Years

We discuss the evolution, over a 40-year period, of the optical and mechanical properties of selected monoatomic, binary, and ternary semiconductors. From this systematic monitoring it can be shown that diffusion and stress relaxation processes over time lead to the host atoms migrating to their proper equilibrium positions, and a more uniform redistribution of impurities or structural defects is formed. We demonstrate that the highly ordered nature that develops over time, 40 years in this case, facilitates enhanced stimulated emission and increases the radiative recombination efficiency and spectral range of luminescence. This suggests new ways to realize semiconductor devices with greater temporal stability.
The Mind of the Strategist

The article introduces a series of papers on strategic leadership. A natural outgrowth of psychologist Robert Sternberg's triarchic theory of intelligence is an interest in leadership development, ...
Electronic properties of nanoentities revealed by electrically driven rotation

Direct electric measurement via small contacting pads on individual quasi-one-dimensional nanoentities, such as nanowires and carbon nanotubes, are usually required to access its electronic properties. We show in this work that 1D nanoentities in suspension can be driven to rotation by AC electric fields. The chirality of the resultantrotation unambiguously reveals whether the nanoentities are metal, semiconductor, or insulator due to the dependence of the Clausius–Mossotti factor on the material conductivity and frequency. This contactless method provides rapid and parallel identification of the electrical characteristics of 1D nanoentities.
A versatile synthesis of peptidyl fluoromethyl ketones

Abstract A versatile synthesis of peptidyl fluoromethyl ketones with potential as serine protease inhibitors is described.
Use of vascular access ports with intrathoracic drains for treatment of pleural effusion in three dogs

Case Description—3 dogs (9 to 12 years old) were evaluated because of recurrent pleural effusion that was refractory to treatment of the underlying cause. Clinical Findings—Dogs were evaluated because of cough, dyspnea, tachypnea, or lethargy or a combination of these clinical signs. Radiography, ultrasonography, or thoracocentesis were used to confirm the presence of pleural fluid in each dog. A neoplastic cause of pleural effusion was confirmed in 2 dogs. In 1 dog, fasciitis of the mediastinum and the left parietal pleura was diagnosed, with no evidence of neoplasia. Treatment and Outcome—Each dog was anesthestized, and thoracotomy was performed with manual perforation of the mediastinum. Permanent, subcutaneously placed vascular access ports were attached to intrathoracic, Jackson-Pratt drain tubing for repeated drainage of pleural fluid. Drains were used successfully in the 3 dogs for periods of 6 weeks, 11 weeks, and > 3 years. Clinical Relevance—Findings suggest that subcutaneous vascular access por...