cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Laboratory animal research published in plastic surgery journals in 2014 has extensive waste: A systematic review

Summary Laboratory animal research must be designed in a manner that minimizes bias if it is to yield valid and reproducible results. In 2009, a survey that examined 271 animal studies found that 87% did not use randomization and 86% did not use blinding. This has been called "research waste" because it wasted time and resources. This systematic review measured the quantity of research waste in plastic surgery journals in 2014. Method The PRISMA-P protocol was used. SCOPUS and PubMed searches were done for all animal studies published in 2014 in Aesthetic Plast Surg, Aesthet Surg J, Ann Plast Surg, JPRAS, J Plast Surg Hand Surg and Plast Reconstr Surg . These were supplemented by manual searches of the 2014 issues not indexed. Articles were analyzed for descriptions of randomization, randomization methodology, allocation concealment, and blinding of the primary outcome assessment. Corresponding authors who mentioned randomization without elaborating were emailed for details. Results 112 of 154 articles met the inclusion criteria. Only 24/112 (21.4%) had blinding of the primary outcome measure, 28/110 (25.5%) of articles that required randomization mentioned it. While 12/28 articles clearly described randomizing the intervention, only 4/28 described the method of randomization, and 2/28 mentioned allocation concealment. Only two authors responded and described the randomization methodology. Conclusion The quality of plastic surgery laboratory animal research published in 2014 was poor. Use of the National Centre for the Replacement Refinement & Reduction of Animals in Research's "Animal Research: Reporting In Vivo Experiments" (ARRIVE) Guidelines by authors, and enforcement of them by editors and reviewers could improve research quality and reduce waste.
Physician documentation of fluoroscopy time in voiding cystourethrography reports correlates with lower fluoroscopy times: a surrogate marker of patient radiation exposure.

OBJECTIVE. Radiation awareness has been advocated as a method of decreasing radiation exposure. For fluoroscopy, one indicator of radiation use is fluoroscopy time. We retrospectively reviewed fluoroscopy times on voiding cystourethrography (VCUG) studies performed at a major pediatric center, comparing the average fluoroscopy time of examinations with the fluoroscopy time documented in the report to the average time of those without documentation. MATERIALS AND METHODS. A database search of records for the period between June 1, 2002, and March 31, 2009, identified all VCUG examinations and their recorded fluoroscopy time in the radiology information system. Those examinations in which the fluoroscopy time was documented in the radiologist's report were also identified. Average fluoroscopy times were calculated for three groups: all VCUG examinations, examinations without the fluoroscopy time documented in the dictated report, and examinations including the fluoroscopy time in the dictated report. RESULT...
The Naming of the Triple Crown

This paper reviews how the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes became known collectively as the Triple Crown.
Influence of light source, polarization, education, and training on shade matching quality

Abstract Statement of problem Many factors influence the quality of shade selection, and isolating how significantly each of these factors influences results is difficult. Purpose The purpose of this in vitro study was to compare results of shade matching using handheld lights with or without a polarizing filter with results obtained using a professional viewing booth and to analyze the influence of education and training on shade selection outcome. Material and methods A total of 96 third-year dental students (evaluators) were randomly separated into 4 groups. Each group was assigned 1 of 2 handheld shade-matching devices (lights) with or without a polarizing filter. Each group performed a shade matching exercise using the handheld light or a professional viewing booth. The exercise consisted of matching shade tabs placed in a typodont to a commercial shade guide. Each group repeated this procedure 4 times over a 9-week period. A lecture on shade matching was presented at the fifth week of the study, between "before" and "after" shade matching procedures. Results Shade matching scores with handheld lights (7.8) were higher than scores of shade matching with the viewing booth (7.2). The mean scores for before (7.2) and after (7.8) shade matching (with education and training in between) were significantly different. The combined effect of light and education and training improved the shade matching score by 1.2, from 6.8 in the before sessions using the viewing booth to 8.0 in the after sessions using handheld lights. A 21% increase in the number of evaluators who selected 1 of 4 best matches was recorded, 10% for handheld lights versus viewing booth after education and training versus before sessions and 11% between after sessions using handheld lights versus before sessions using viewing booth. Conclusions Within the limits of the study, the shade matching scores with handheld lights were significantly better than the results obtained using a viewing booth ( P P
Two sites of cardiovascular action of angiotensin II in the brain of the dog.

1. Infusion of angiotensin into both vertebral arteries or into a lateral cerebral ventricle of dogs anaesthetized with morphine-chloralose elicited a centrally mediated rise in blood pressure. 2. Heat coagulation of the area postrema and immediately adjacent structures abolished the pressor response to infusion of angiotensin into the circulation of the vertebral arteries, but did not alter the pressor response when the peptide was delivered into a cerebral lateral ventricle; transection of the midbrain eliminated the latter response but not the former. 3. It is concluded that there are at least two areas in the dog9s brain that respond to angiotensin by inducing a raised blood pressure.
An Experimental Examination of Portfolio Choice

Investors do not hold optimal portfolios. We use an experimental method to isolate factors that compel individuals to hold optimal portfolios. Our design includes two risky assets with perfectly negatively correlated payoffs so that all risk can be eliminated. We find that participants’ holdings approach optimal portfolios only under very specific conditions: the variance cost of holding an imbalanced portfolio is substantial and feedback on period-by-period outcomes is suppressed (eliminating the impact of cognitive biases resulting from misperceptions of randomness).
The Genus Acinopterus (Homoptera, Cicadellidae)

The genus Acinopterus was described by Van Duzee in 1892 (Psyche, p. 307), with Acinopterus acuminatus Van D. as the haplotype. Up to the present time 29 species and varieties have been named. The present paper is a result of a study of the quite large collections of this genus in the Snow Entomological Collection of the University of Kansas, the United States National Museum, and the private collection of Dr. E. D. Ball. After a study of all this material and all the types of the various species concerned, 12 are here recognized as valid, 17 are placed in synonymy, and 9 are described as new.
Try Computer Administered Testing

Using microcomputers to administer marketing tests frees classroom time for other activities, gives students more performance measurements, permits immediate feedback on each question to enhance learning and raises some security issues. Benefits appear to outweigh the costs. The software described will be given to attendees without charge.
FT-IR SPECTRA OF XENON SOLUTIONS OF C-C3H5CFO AND CH2CHCFO

The infrared (3500−400 cm−1) spectra of cyclopropylcarbonyl fluoride, c-C3H5CFO, and propenoyl fluoride, CH2CHCFO, in xenon solutions have been recorded at various temperatures (from −60 to −100°C). The data show that there is an equilibrium between the cis (oxygen atom of the carbonyl bond cis with respect to the ring or carbon-carbon double bond) and trans conformers in the fluid phases. Analysis of the temperature-dependent spectra shows the cis conformer is the more stable rotamer for the cyclopropyl compound whereas the trans rotamer is the more stable conformer for propenoyl fluoride.
Trusting Your Gut: Diagnosis and Management of Clostridium septicum Infections

Abstract Clostridium septicum is a Gram-positive anaerobic bacillus that causes serious, life-threatening infections, including aggressive septicemia and myonecrosis. Clostridial myonecrosis can be broadly classified into two defined clinical presentations: traumatic and spontaneous. Clostridium perfringens is the most common cause of traumatic myonecrosis, while C. septicum is the most common etiological agent of spontaneous myonecrosis. Although rarely clinically encountered, C. septicum infections are often fatal. Disease is thought to be initiated by the transfer of C. septicum from the gut to the bloodstream through gastric epithelial lesions. C. septicum infections are strongly associated with colonic and hematological malignancy, which can cause or facilitate the formation of lesions. Subsequent bacteremia allows the establishment of C. septicum at distal anatomical sites, which can manifest as spontaneous myonecrosis, or necrotizing enterocolitis in neutropenic patients. Here, we present a summary of the current knowledge related to the pathogen, highlighting clinical manifestations, molecular pathogenesis, and the diagnostic significance of C. septicum in the clinical setting.
Deformation quantization with separation of variables on a super-Kähler manifold

Abstract We construct deformation quantizations with separation of variables on a split super-Kahler manifold and describe their canonical supertrace densities.
Quarkonium as a relativistic bound state on the light front

We study charmonium and bottomonium as relativistic bound states in a light-front quantized Hamiltonian formalism. The effective Hamiltonian is based on light-front holography. We use a recently proposed longitudinal confinement to complete the soft-wall holographic potential for the heavy flavors. The spin structure is generated from the one-gluon exchange interaction with a running coupling. The adoption of asymptotic freedom improves the spectroscopy compared with previous light-front results. Within this model, we compute the mass spectroscopy, decay constants and the r.m.s. radii. We also present a detailed study of the obtained light-front wave functions and use the wave functions to compute the light-cone distributions, specifically the distribution amplitudes and parton distribution functions. Overall, our model provides a reasonable description of the heavy quarkonia.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor and airway fibrosis in asthma

Airway remodeling in asthma driven by inflammation involves proliferation of epithelial cells and airway smooth muscle (ASM), as well as enhanced extracellular matrix (ECM) generation and deposition, i.e., fibrosis. Accordingly, understanding profibrotic mechanisms is important for developing novel therapeutic strategies in asthma. Recent studies, including our own, have suggested a role for locally produced growth factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in mediating and modulating inflammation effects. In this study, we explored the profibrotic influence of BDNF in the context of asthma by examining expression, activity, and deposition of ECM proteins in primary ASM cells isolated from asthmatic vs. nonasthmatic patients. Basal BDNF expression and secretion, and levels of the high-affinity BDNF receptor TrkB, were higher in asthmatic ASM. Exogenous BDNF significantly increased ECM production and deposition, especially of collagen-1 and collagen-3 (less so fibronectin) and the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, MMP-9). Exposure to the proinflammatory cytokine TNFα significantly increased BDNF secretion, particularly in asthmatic ASM, whereas no significant changes were observed with IL-13. Chelation of BDNF using TrkB-Fc reversed TNFα-induced increase in ECM deposition. Conditioned media from asthmatic ASM enhanced ECM generation in nonasthmatic ASM, which was blunted by BDNF chelation. Inflammation-induced changes in MMP-2, MMP-9, and tissue inhibitor metalloproteinases (TIMP-1, TIMP-2) were reversed in the presence of TrkB-Fc. These novel data suggest ASM as an inflammation-sensitive source of BDNF within human airways, with autocrine effects on fibrosis relevant to asthma.
Organizational culture, knowledge management, and patient safety in U.S. hospitals

The relationships among organizational culture, knowledge management, and patient safety performance in the healthcare industry are investigated. A test model for patient safety performance is developed using data from existing literature and a survey o..
Multidimensional Resilience: Predictive and Construct Validity of the Individual, Family, and Community Resilience Profile

Few measures parallel the robust depth offered in the existing multidimensional and ecologically informed theories of resilience. This study sought to evaluate the test–retest reliability, construc...
High Performance Colorimetric Carbon Monoxide Sensor for Continuous Personal Exposure Monitoring

Carbon monoxide (CO) is a highly poisonous gas, which can cause serious health risk. CO monitoring helps protect us from excessive exposure at home and in the workplace, and reduce occupation-related health risks for workers. Conventional electrochemical and metal oxide semiconductors (MOS) based CO sensors have been widely used, but the drawbacks such as poor selectivity and calibration burden also limit their applications, e.g., as wearable exposure monitors. Aiming at the reliable, miniaturized, and easy-to-use personal exposure device development, we report a colorimetric CO sensing platform, which achieves a detection limit of 1 ppm, dynamic range of 0–500 ppm, and high selectivity to CO over common interferents in air, such as CO2, NO2, SO2, and O3. This optical sensing platform can be expanded to other air pollutants by adding other chemical sensing probes. We believe the new sensing platform we introduced can provide a potential high performance sensing unit for wearable personal exposure assessme...
Inhibition of BDNF signaling in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus lowers acute stress-induced pressor responses.

We have shown that inhibition of the high-affinity brain-derived neurotrophic factor receptor TrkB in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus significantly reduces blood pressure elevations...
Delbrück, Berthold (1842–1922)

Berthold Delbruck, born in 1842, was a prominent Neogrammarian. He first and foremost distinguished himself by his work on syntax. He broke ground by establishing for historical and comparative syntax of the IE languages a level of accomplishment that so far had been achieved only in the field of phonology and, to a lesser degree, also in morphology. As a historiographer he succeeded like nobody else of his generation in placing the major points of the Neogrammarian theories and practices in the historical framework within which they originated. From 1873 until his death he occupied the chair for Sanskrit and comparative philology at the University of Jena.
From the Chacra to the Tienda: Dietary delocalization in the Peruvian Andes

The Peruvian Andes are home to incredible biodiversity, which has sustained human life for thousands of years. However, consumption patterns are shifting as a result of neoliberal policies that inf...
Liver Transplantation: Patient Selection, Perioperative Surgical Issues, and Expected Outcomes

Liver transplant rates are at an all-time high, with nearly 8000 liver transplants in 2015. Despite the increasing number of liver transplants performed per year, there is a widening gap of supply and demand on limited donor resources. Patient selection is a complex but necessary process to evaluate patients who will benefit from liver transplant while minimizing futile transplants. Efforts should also continue to focus on minimizing perioperative complications resulting in retransplantations and more targeted immunosuppression to minimize side effects and prolong patient survival.
THE STEREOCHEMISTRY OF ENZYMIC REDUCTION OF 21-DEHYDROCORTISOL TO CORTISOL

A 21-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase of sheep liver that causes reduction of 21-dehydrocortisol to cortisol does so with transfer of hydrogen from the 4-pro-S-position of NADH to the 21-pro-S-position of cortisol.
Dietary lignan intakes and risk of breast cancer by tumor estrogen receptor status

Proc Amer Assoc Cancer Res, Volume 47, 2006 4015 A number of epidemiologic studies, including our own, have shown reduced risks of breast cancer associated with higher urinary lignan excretion and higher dietary intakes, the latter especially among premenopausal women. However, only two studies have investigated the relationship between lignans and estrogen receptor (ER) status in breast cancer. We examined the association of dietary lignan intake with ER negative and ER positive breast cancer risk in the Western New York exposures and Breast Cancer Study (WEB Study), a case-control study of 1122 women with primary, incident, histologically confirmed breast cancer and 2036 controls frequency matched to cases on age, race, and county of residence. Diet was assessed with a self-administered 104-item food frequency questionnaire and other relevant data were collected by detailed in-person interviews. Lignans were expressed as the sum of the dietary precursors secoisolariciresinol and matairesinol. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression, adjusting for age, total energy, and other breast cancer risk factors. Lignan intake was unrelated to ER positive breast cancer in either pre- or postmenopausal women. Among premenopausal women only, those in the highest versus lowest quartile of lignan intake had an approximately 50% reduction in risk of ER negative breast cancer (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.25-0.95). These results suggest that the observed negative association of lignans with breast cancer may be limited to ER negative tumors.
Synthesis of heterostructures based on two-dimensional materials

Abstract Two-dimensional (2D) materials, such as graphene, hexagonal boron nitride, transition metal dichalcogenides, and MXenes, have become the leading topics in recent years due to their excellent physiochemical properties. Further innovations based on these 2D materials have been geared toward synthesizing heterostructures for the purpose of obtaining optimal material properties that satisfy the needs for applications that are heavily dependent on electrical, photoelectric, biosensing field, etc. via a combination of advantages offered by multiple 2D materials. A number of researches focus on improving the traditional strategies, including mechanical exfoliation, molecular-beam epitaxy, chemical vapor deposition, etc. to obtain the heterostructures with high quality and yield. Herein, we primarily review the synthesis procedures, including the mechanisms and comparison of advantages and disadvantages of distinct methods, and present the succinct, extended applications recently for various heterostructures.
Mobility-as-a-Service: Simulation of Multi-Modal Operations in Low-Density Cities:

In the case of the low-density city, empirical evidence continuously demonstrates that transit investment is not a magic bullet. Desirable outcomes are not guaranteed and are often dependent on dev...
Lower bounds for dimensions of representation varieties

The set of n-dimensional complex representations of a finitely generated group r form a complex affine variety Rn(r). Suppose that p is such a representation and consider the associated representation Ad o p on n x n complex matrices obtained by following p with conjugation of matrices. Then it is shown that the dimension of Rn (F) at p is at least the difference of the complex dimensions of Z1(F, Ad o p) and H2 (, Ad o p). It is further shown that in the latter cohomology r may be r eplaced by various proalgebraic groups associated to r and p.
Characterization and immunochemical localization of a basic protein from pig brain. II. Peptide maps and tissue-specific nuclear localization.

Abstract The procedure for the purification of a basic protein has been reported. Its homogeneity has been established by ultracentrifugation, starch gel electrophoresis, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, and end group analysis. Peptide maps of complete tryptic hydrolysates indicate that the molecular weight of this basic protein is 27,000. By immunohistological techniques, it was shown that fluorescent antibody, prepared against the basic protein, reacted specifically with the nuclei of neurons and spermatogonia and did not react with the cell populations in kidney, liver, ovary, and spleen of the same animal. An identical tissue specificity was observed in a variety of animals from tadpole to monkey.
Stakeholder Orientation, Managerial Discretion and Nexus Rents

Building on prior research (Phillips et al. 2010), we make explicit the implied assumptions – both managerialist and determinist – in stakeholder research. We argue that three elements – managerial discretion, stakeholder orientation and nexus rent – interact in important and under-examined ways. A firm’s orientation toward its stakeholders determines how it will use the discretion accorded to it by external and internal circumstances. The interaction between these two factors affects a firm’s ability to create value in the short term and influences the level of discretion available to the firm in the long term. We argue that the interplay of discretion and orientation create a vicious (or virtuous) cycle, in which the firm either creates or destroys goodwill with stakeholders, thereby making it more or less likely that stakeholders will grant discretion in the future.
Improvement of Si doping of In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As fin by heated implant

III-V materials are candidates for high mobility channel and low contact resistance SD at 5nm technology node and beyond [1]. Traditional Si+ ion implant of In 0.53 Ga 0.47 As at room temperature causes amorphization of fin and formation of stacking fault defects upon activation anneal. We have demonstrated heated implant can eliminate amorphization induced crystalline damages and improve fin conductance.
Abstract 15740: Effects of an Integrated Self-Care Intervention on Frailty Risk in Persons With Heart Failure and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Introduction: Frailty is a common condition in the elderly and a powerful predictor of mortality in CVD. In heart failure (HF), frailty has been shown to predict falls, disability, hospitalization and to substantially lower health related quality of life. Persons with HF are 6-7 times more likely to be frail than their age matched counterparts; the risk of frailty increases with multiple chronic conditions. Although 30-47% of persons with HF have concomitant type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), frailty in persons with HF and DM has not been reported. The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of an integrated intervention on risk of frailty in persons with HF and DM. Methods: A secondary analysis of a randomized, controlled, repeated measures 6-month intervention trial was performed. Persons with HF and DM (n=102), mean age 58.14 ± 10.3 years, 69% male, 66% African American, and mean LVEF 34.72 ± 17.5 were randomized into usual care (UC) or an integrated HF-DM self-care education/counseling (HF-DM-SC) group which provided HF-DM self-care education and skills, psychosocial counseling to increase HF and DM self-efficacy, enhanced physical activity through walking, and facilitated decision making. Baseline and 6-month data were examined. Frailty was defined as total distance Results: At baseline, 60% of participants were classified as frail. Mean age (59.82) was higher (t=-2.001, p=.05) in the frail group compared with those considered not frail (55.58). No group differences in frailty were found at baseline (p=.55); frailty was not associated with BMI, LVEF, NYHA class, or comorbidities. After the 6-month HF-DM-SC intervention, the percent considered frail in the intervention group decreased from 56% to 29% while frailty in the UC group increased from 63.5% to 65% (p=0.021). No differences in age between frail and non-frail remained at 6 months. Discussion: Frailty increases the risk of adverse outcome in persons with HF and is not limited to the elderly in persons with HF and HF-DM. An integrated self-care intervention which emphasizes increased walking and physical activity can improve frailty risk and outcomes in persons with HF-DM.
A Relationship of Trust: Are State School Trust Lands Being PrudentlyManaged for the Beneficiary?

Every state entering the Union in the United States since 1803 received land grants from the federal government for the support of their public schools. Inherent in this federal grant is the fiduciary duty to prudently and effectively manage trust assets for the beneficiary, their school systems. This paper addresses the question of whether managers of trust lands are meeting their fiduciary responsibilities of maximum economic benefit for their beneficiaries. Realized market value-based economic returns from grazing lease revenues and capital appreciation for all twenty-three counties in Wyoming are compared with returns that may have been generated from alternative investment policy alternatives. Market values and capital appreciation for school trust lands in Wyoming are estimated from hedonic models formulated from ranch sales data and grazing revenue data.
The Zen of fuzzy logic and neural networks

The modern technologies of fuzzy logic and neural networks are based on operations on truth values or degrees of class membership. They operate more closely to the manner that we currently believe humans use to think and control. Once you understand the underlying functionality you can find ways to apply the technologies to otherwise difficult to solve problems. If we take human thought and action as one baseline for intelligence, then neural nets, fuzzy logic and their hybrids can be seen as more intelligent platforms. These more intelligent tools allow users to re-frame the problem space to a larger systems view. An implementor no longer has to be concerned with the underlying physics of a system, or with control theory details. The problem space is expanded to a higher level while the lower level part is passed off to the core computational method. This paper proposes the effects of a whole new approach to problem solving enabled by neural/fuzzy technologies.
Geometric multi-resolution analysis for dictionary learning

We present an efficient algorithm and theory for Geometric Multi-Resolution Analysis (GMRA), a procedure for dictionary learning. Sparse dictionary learning provides the necessary complexity reduction for the critical applications of compression, regression, and classification in high-dimensional data analysis. As such, it is a critical technique in data science and it is important to have techniques that admit both efficient implementation and strong theory for large classes of theoretical models. By construction, GMRA is computationally efficient and in this paper we describe how the GMRA correctly approximates a large class of plausible models (namely, the noisy manifolds).
The well-being of parental caregivers of children with activity limitations.

This paper describes well-being (health status/quality of life, healthcare utilization, employment, and financial status) of parental caregivers of children with activity limitations and compares their well-being to parental caregivers with children without activity limitations. Using Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data from 1996 to 2001, we examined the well-being of parents of children with and without an activity limitation. Children were considered as having an activity limitation if they reported a limitation in school, play or social activities. Analyses include weighted descriptive statistics and multivariable regressions. Seventy-five percentage of parents of children with activity limitations experienced at least one adverse outcome compared to 66% of parents of children without activity limitations. Parents of children with activity limitations exhibited poorer reported quality of life as indicated by lower SF-12 physical health scores (coefficient = −2.24 CI −3.38 to −1.11) and lower EuroQol scores (coefficient = −.07 CI −.10 to −.03). Parents of children with activity limitations have slightly higher utilization of sick visits. One measure of preventive care use was not significant and one showed a slight increase in use among parents of children with activity limitations. Employment and financial outcomes were less favorable for parents of children with activity limitations. Across a variety of domains, parental caregivers of children with activity limitations are at a disadvantage compared to other parents suggesting that public and private parental supports might be helpful.
Matlist: Mature linguistic steganography methodology

The generated text by Natural Language Generation (NLG) and template systems is meaningful and looks legitimate. Therefore, the Mature Linguistic Steganography Methodology (Matlist) employs NLG and template techniques along with Random Series values (RS), e.g. binary, decimal, hexadecimal, octal, alphabetic, alphanumeric, etc., of Domain-Specific Subject (DSS) to generate noiseless text-cover. This type of DSS, e.g. financial, medical, mathematical, scientific, economical, etc., has plenty of room to conceal data and allows communicating parties to establish a covert channel such as a relationship based on the profession of the communication parties to transmit a text-cover. Matlist embeds data in a form of RS values, function of RS, related semantics of RS, a combination of these, etc. Unlike synonym-based approach, Matlist does not preserve the meaning of text-cover every time it is used. Instead, Matlist Cover retains different legitimate meaning for each message while it remains semantically coherent and rhetorically sound. The presented implementation, validation, and experimental results demonstrate that Matlist is capable of accomplishing the steganographical goal with higher bitrate than all other linguistic steganography approaches. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ethanol-induced translocation of cAMP-dependent protein kinase to the nucleus. Mechanism and functional consequences.

Abstract Ethanol induces translocation of the catalytic subunit (Cα) of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) from the Golgi area to the nucleus in NG108–15 cells. Ethanol also induces translocation of the RIIβ regulatory subunit of PKA to the nucleus; RI and Cβ are not translocated. Nuclear PKA activity in ethanol-treated cells is no longer regulated by cAMP. Gel filtration and immunoprecipitation analysis confirm that ethanol blocks the reassociation of Cα with RII but does not induce dissociation of these subunits. Ethanol also reduces inhibition of Cα by the PKA inhibitor PKI. Pre-incubation of Cα with ethanol decreases phosphorylation of Leu-Arg-Arg-Ala-Ser-Leu-Gly (Kemptide) and casein but has no effect on the phosphorylation of highly charged molecules such as histone H1 or protamine. cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation by Cα is also increased in ethanol-treated cells. This increase in CREB phosphorylation is inhibited by the PKA antagonist (R p)-cAMPS and by an adenosine receptor antagonist. These results suggest that ethanol affects a cascade of events allowing for sustained nuclear localization of Cα and prolonged CREB phosphorylation. These events may account for ethanol-induced changes in cAMP-dependent gene expression.
Stabilization mechanisms of polar surfaces: ZnO surfaces

First-principles calculations reveal two mechanisms that compete to determine the structure of ZnO polar surfaces. One is the electron-counting rule, which favors semiconducting surfaces. The other is the large ZnO cohesive energy, which favors unreconstructed metallic surfaces with $1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}1$ periodicity. Their close competition results in crossovers in the preferred surface structure as the oxygen chemical potential is varied, consistent with a variety of surface morphologies observed under different experimental conditions.
RAPID METHODS FOR THE DETECTION OF YEAST AND LACTOBACILLUS BY ATP BIOLUMINESCENCE

Present plating methods for the detection of potential spoilage organisms in packaged beers require 2–3 days for yeast, and 5–7 days for lactic acid bacteria. Simple and inexpensive sterility tests based on bioluminescence have been developed for the detection in broth media of small numbers of yeasts in 1 day, and lactic acid bacteria, in both normal and heat-stressed conditions, in 3 days.
Nucleic Acid Determination in Storage Tissues of Higher Plants

in the evaluation of catabolic pathways for glucose in corn roots. Plant Physiol. 34: 580-582. 20. ROMBERGER, J. A. & G. NORTON. 1961. Changing respiratory pathways in potato tuber slices. Plant Physiol. 36: 20-29. 21. SAMBORSKI, D. J. & M. SHAW. 1956. The physiology of host-parasite relations. II. The effect of Puccinia graminis tritici. Erikss & Henn. on the respiration of the first leaf of resistant & susceptible species of wheat. Can. J. Botany 34: 601-609. 22. SHAW, M. & D. J. SAMBORSKI. 1957. The physiology of host-parasite relations. III. The pattern of respiration in rusted & mildewed cereal leaves. Can. J. Botany 35: 389-407. 23. SHAW, M., D. J. SAMBORSKI, & A. OAKS. 1958. Some effects of indoleacetic acid & maleic hydrazide on the respiration & flowering of wheat. Can. J. Botany 36: 233-237. 24. URITANI, I. & T. AKAZAWA. 1959. Alteration of the respiratory pattern in infected plants. ln: Plant Pathology. J. G. Horsfall, A. E. Diamond, eds. Vol. I. Pp. 349-390. Academic Press, New York. 25. URITANT, I., T. AKAZAWA, & M. URITANI. 1954. Increase of respiratory rate in sweet potato tissue infected with black rot. Nature 174: 1060. 26. URITANI, I. & M. A. STAHMANN. 1961. Change in nitrogen metabolism of sweet potato with black rot. Plant Physiol. 36: 770-782. 27. WEINMANN, E. 0., E. H. STRISOWER, & L. L. CHAIKOFF. 1957. Conversion of fatty acids to carbohydrates,: Application of isotopes to this problem & role of the Krebs cycle as a synthetic pathway. Physiol. Rev. 37: 252-272.
The growth of intermetallic compounds at Sn-Ag-Cu solder/Cu and Sn-Ag-Cu solder/Ni interfaces and the associated evolution of the solder microstructure

The evolution of intermetallics at and near SnAgCu/Cu and SnAgCu/Ni interfaces was examined, and compared to the behavior, near PbSn/metal and Sn/metal interfaces. Two different solder compositions were considered, Sn93.6Ag4.7Cu1.7 and Sn95.5Ag3.5Cu1.0 (Sn91.8Ag5.1 Cu3.1 and Sn94.35Ag3.8Cu1.85 in atomic percent). In both cases, phase formation and growth at interfaces with Cu were very similar to those commonly observed for eutectic SnPb solder. However, the evolution of intermetallics at SnAgCu/Ni interfaces proved much more complex. The presence of the Cu in the solder dramatically altered the phase selectivity at the solder/Ni interface and affected the growth kinetics of intermetallics. As long as sufficient Cu was available, it would combine with Ni and Sn to form (Cu,Ni)6)Sn5 which grew instead of the Ni3Sn4 usually observed in PbSn/Ni and Sn/Ni diffusion couples. This growing phase would, however, eventually consume essentially all of the available Cu in the solder. Because the mechanical properties of Sn-Ag-Cu alloys, depend upon the Cu content, this consumption can be expected to alter the mechanical properties of these Pb-free solderjoints. After depletion of the Cu from the solder, further annealing then gradually transformed the (Cu,Ni)6Sn5 phase into a (Ni,Cu)3Sn4 phase.
MOVEMENTS OF RADIOSODIUM (Na24) WITHIN AN ICE-COVERED LAKE1

Sodium-24 was transported horizontally a maximum distance of 15 to 20 m during the first 24 hr of replicated experiments conducted during January of 1960 and 1961 in a small ice-covered lake in northwestern Wisconsin. Subsequent horizontal displacement was somewhat slower but reached a maximum distance of almost 30 m from the release point in 3 days. The dispersal pattern was asymmetrical and different in each of the two experiments. Results indicated that some vertical movement occurred during the experimental periods but was of very low velocity. A crushing device was described for releasing the radioactive solution in deep water. In addition a portable scintillation counting system was developed for measuring radioactivity within the lake. (auth)
The direct and indirect effects of insulin on hepatic glucose production in vivo

IntroductionGlucose production by the liver is controlled on aminute to minute basis by the plasma insulin and glu-cagon concentrations. Glucagon increases glycogenbreakdown and stimulates the gluconeogenic path-way and insulin inhibits both glycogenolysis and glu-coneogenesis [1]. Until ten years ago it was generallyaccepted that the insulin level within the hepatic sinu-soids was responsible for the hormone’s inhibitory ef-fect on the liver. Recently, however, that concept hasbeen challenged.In 1987 this concept was first called into question[2]. It was noted that in obese non-diabetic humanssuppression of glucose production could occur in re-sponse to insulin infusion even when the estimatedportal insulin concentrations did not rise. Insulin wasinfused into a peripheral vein and euglycaemia wasmaintained with a glucose infusion. Endogenous in-sulin secretion, estimated from C-peptide concentra-tions, decreased by about 50% over the course ofthe experiment. Based on the fall in endogenous insu-lin release and the prevailing peripheral insulin con-centration, the authors estimated that the portal veininsulin concentration probably remained unchanged.Nevertheless glucose production was suppressed byabout 80% at the end of their study. It should be re-membered, however, that about 20% of liver bloodflow is derived from the hepatic artery, so a rise in ar-terial insulin would have increased the liver sinusoi-dal insulin concentration somewhat, even though theportal insulin level did not change. Likewise, al-though the authors assumed that their tracer datayielded an estimate of hepatic glucose production, itis now clear that it reflects both hepatic and renal glu-cose output [3]. After an overnight fast renal glucoseproduction is not great (5–25% of total glucose pro-duction) but it is insulin sensitive [4]. It is likely there-fore that a small portion of the insulin induced fall inglucose production which they observed was due toa decrease in renal glucose production. Despite theabove caveats, the study [2] was of importance be-cause it was the first to focus attention on the indirecteffect of insulin to inhibit glucose production by theliver.To further investigate the effect of peripherally de-livered insulin on glucose production, experimentswere carried out [5] in which conscious dogs were giv-en insulin intraportally (at 0.3 to 10 pmol × kg
Evidence of Life Processes in a Sediment Two and a Half Billion Years Old

Evidence of life processes in sediment over two billion years old as related to biological or abiological origin of hydrocarbons from meteorites
Design approaches for shaping polyvinylidene fluoride sensors in active structural acoustic control (ASAC)

A design methodology is presented for shaping structural polyvinylidene fluoride sensors for active structural acoustic control applications. A structural PVDF sensor yielding a con trolled response equivalent to that obtained when implementing a microphone error sensor perpen dicular to the surface of a simply supported beam was designed and tested. In addition, the equiva lent PVDF sensor design approach for the simply supported plate is presented; however, practical limitations in achieving the desired three-dimensional polarization profile prevent physical imple mentation. Results from tests conducted on the simply supported beam demonstrate that PVDF structural sensors can be designed to achieve directional acoustic control of structure-borne sound. While this design approach is currently limited to structures whose response can be described as a function of one dimension, the potential for applications in more complex structures is readily achieved upon determining a practical method of varying the ...
Symplectic Calabi–Yau 6-manifolds

Abstract In this article, we construct simply connected symplectic Calabi–Yau 6-manifolds by applying Gompf's symplectic fiber sum operation along T 4 . Using our method, we also construct symplectic non-Kahler Calabi–Yau 6-manifolds with fundamental group Z . This paper also produces the first examples of simply connected and non-simply connected symplectic Calabi–Yau 6-manifolds with fundamental groups Z p × Z q , and Z × Z q for any p ≥ 1 and q ≥ 2 via co-isotropic Luttinger surgery.
Interferon-α therapy in patients with Kaposi's Sarcoma and the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome

Abstract High dose IFN-α is an effective treatment for a subset of patients with Kaposi's Sarcoma, that is, those who lack systemic symptoms (e.g. fever, weight loss), and co-existing HIV-associated conditions (e.g. opportunistic infections), and whose cell-mediated immunity system is only mildly or moderately impaired. There is little evidence that the addition of chemotherapeutic agents to IFN-α improves treatment outcome. Response rates in excess of 40% have been reported with the addition of AZT to IFN-α, and may prove active in patients with more severely impaired T-cell immunity. There is evidence that in responding patients, IFN-α also suppresses HIV replication, and in vitro studies indicate synergistic suppression of HIV by the IFN-α-AZT combination; evidence for in vitro synergy is being sought.
Isolation of Trichophyton soudanense in the United States

A case of tinea corporis, localized to the left side of the chin in a 68 year old Negro woman consistently yielded on culture the African dermatophyte Trichophyton soudanense. The patient is a native born U.S. citizen who has never been outside the country. This is the first recorded isolation of this organism in the United States.
Acquired essential fatty acid depletion in the remnant kidney: amelioration with U-63557A.

Acquired essential fatty acid depletion in the remnant kidney: Amelioration with U-63557A. Previous studies have demonstrated an association between renal cortical fatty acid composition and experimental models of renal injury. The present study was designed to extend these observations to the remnant kidney and to investigate the hypothesis that increased endogenous turnover of arachidonic acid metabolites results in the depletion of progenitor fatty acids. Remnant kidney cortex demonstrated a relative reduction of the essential fatty acids, linoleate and arachidonate (20 ± 7.2% and 11 ± 0.3%, respectively), nine weeks after subtotal nephrectomy. In addition, the monounsaturated fatty acid, oleate, was increased (48 ± 10.6%) while its saturated progenitor, stearate, was decreased (13 ± 4.3%). Serial evaluation of dienoic prostanoids revealed a significant increase in the renal excretion of TXB 2 in rats with remnant kidneys (27 ± 3.0, 29 ± 1.1, and 34 ± 3.3 ng/day vs. 21 ± 0.8, 20 ± 1.5, and 22 ± 3.3 ng/day in control rats, at 3,6, and 9 weeks, respectively). Moreover, TXB 2 excretion inversely correlated with dienoic progenitor fatty acids [18:2(n-6), r 2 = 0.76; 20:4(n-6), r 2 = 0.79], suggesting that these events are biochemically coupled. Endogenous turnover of precursor fatty acids, confirmed by an increase in renal TXB 2 excretion, preceded overt depletion of essential fatty acids by several weeks. Importantly, blockade of endogenous synthesis of TXA 2 with the specific TXA 2 synthase antagonist, U-63557A, restored the essential fatty acid composition to normal and ameliorated progressive glomerular destruction. Moreover, the ancillary fatty acid disturbances were attenuated by administration of U-63557A. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that uncontrolled endogenous synthesis of renal TXA 2 deplete progenitor fatty acids and induce compensatory alterations in other fatty acids.
Non-parallel vortex instability of natural convection flow over a non-isothermal horizontal flat plate

Abstract An analysis is performed to study the vortex instability of laminar boundary-layer flow in natural convection over a horizontal flat plate with variable surface temperature, T w ( x ) − T ∞ = Ax n . The analysis is based on the linear non-parallel flow model in which the steady main flow is treated as two-dimensional and account is taken of the streamwise dependence of the disturbance amplitude functions. Neutral stability curves as well as critical Grashof numbers and critical wave numbers are presented for Prandtl numbers of 0.7 ⩽ Pr ⩽ 100, over a range of the exponent values n from- sol1 3 to 1.0. For a given Prandtl number, the flow is found to become more stable to the vortex mode of instability as the value of the exponent n increases. However, fluids with a larger Prandtl number are found to be more susceptible to the instability than fluids with a lower Prandtl number. Results from the present non-parallel flow analysis are compared with available results from the parallel flow analyses and experiments. The streamwise variation of the disturbances is found to stabilize the flow.
Social network analysis via multi-state reliability and conditional influence models

Abstract This paper incorporates multi-state reliability measures into the assessment of a social network in which influence is treated as a multi-state commodity that flows through the network. The reliability of the network is defined as the probability that at least a certain level of influence reaches an intended target. We consider an individual's influence level as a function of the influence levels received from preceding actors in the network. We define several communication functions which describe the level of influence a particular actor will pass along to other actors within the network. Illustrative examples are presented, and the network reliability under the various communication influence levels is computed using exhaustive enumeration for a small example and Monte Carlo simulation for larger, more realistic sized examples.
Electrostrictive behavior of lead magnesium niobate based ceramic dielectrics

Abstract The electrostrictive strains induced by high electric fields have been measured for compositions in the solid solution system Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3: PbTiO3 (PMN:PT) containing up to 20 mole% PT. Large anhysteretic quadratic strains (up to 1,000 × 10−6) can be induced at room temperature with no evidence of remanence. In pure Pb (Mg1/3Nb2/3) O3 the electrostriction constants Q 11 and Q 12 are significantly smaller than in normal perovskites and the large induced strains may be traced to the high polarizability of the relaxor. With the addition of PT, the Q constants increase and the relaxation range shortens, with compositions close to 10 mole% PT providing maximum quadratic sensitivity. Over the relaxation range of temperatures, the thermal expansion is extremely small and comparable to the best thermally stable glasses and ceramics.