cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reproductive Status of Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae) Females Influences Attraction to Fermentation-Based Baits and Ripe Fruits

Drosophila suzukii (Matsumura) is an invasive species that is a devastating pest of soft-skinned fruit crops. Although much effort has been directed toward developing traps and attractants to monitor for D. suzukii, current monitoring tools do not reliably predict fruit infestation. The objective of this study was to determine if D. suzukii females at different developmental stages are differentially attracted to monitoring traps with fermentation-based baits and ripe fruits. Females were collected on the surface of traps, within traps, and on ripe fruits during three experiments at field locations in North Carolina, USA, and were dissected to determine their reproductive status. In general, females collected on ripe fruits were more likely to have mature eggs present in their ovaries and had higher numbers of mature eggs than females collected on the surface of or within monitoring traps. The results of this study have implications for D. suzukii monitoring and the development of effective baits for use in integrated pest management programs.
Staging and Prognostic Models for Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma.

There are several important roles that staging systems and prognostic models play in the modern medical care of patients with cancer. First, accurate staging systems can assist clinicians by identifying optimal treatment selection based on the scope of disease at the time of diagnosis. Second, both physicians and patients may infer prognostic information from staging and models that may help decision makers identify appropriate therapies for individual patients. Third, in research, there is benefit to classifying patients with disease into subgroups ensuring greater parity between experimental and control arms. Staging systems in most solid organ malignancies rely heavily on an accurate pathologic assessment of the tumor (size, site, number of tumors, locoregional spread, and distant spread). Another consideration in primary liver cancer, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC), is the fact that the underlying liver function can significantly impact patient surviva...
Examining a psychological sense of brand community in elderly consumers

Abstract As the affluent baby-boomer segment rapidly approaches retirement, marketers are becoming more aware of elderly consumers. Carlson, Suter, and Brown (2008) recently introduced the psychological sense of brand community (PSBC) construct. This research extends their work by examining new antecedents and consequences of PSBC in the context of elderly consumers. Moreover, the study examines how older consumers' brand equity perceptions contribute to brand advocacy through a psychological sense of brand community (PSBC). Survey data is collected from 592 elderly customers (all over the age of 60) of a luxury motorcycle components and accessories manufacturer. Results suggest that three core facets of consumer-based brand equity contribute to older consumers' PSBC: perceived quality, perceived value for the cost, and brand uniqueness. Moreover, a PSBC motivates older consumers to participate in (and pay for) social brand communities as well as increases positive word of mouth and brand evangelism.
Effect of Starvation on Bacterial Resistance to Disinfectants

Public health measures aim at supplying potable water free from pathogenic agents. Such water supplies are treated with various disinfectants, most commonly chlorine, and now increasingly chlorine dioxide. For reasons of safety and economy, the minimal possible dose that is effective in inactivating certain indicator bacteria and pathogens is utilized. Bacteria are grown under laboratory conditions and are used to evaluate the performance of a disinfecting agent in the environment. The indicator organism most commonly employed in such testing is Escherichia coli.
APPARENT VIOLATION OF THE $delta$S=$delta$Q RULE BY LEPTONIC $Sigma$$sup +$ DECAY

The decay SIGMA /sup +/ yields n + mu /sup +/ + nu was detected in an emulsion stack exposed to K/sup -/ mesons. The SIGMA /sup +/ was formed in a proton interaction with a K/sup -/ meson. Data are presented in graphical and tabular forms. (L.N.N.)
The Notion of Truth and Our Evolving Understanding of Sexual Harassment

The notion of truth and its determination in legal proceedings is contingent on the cultural setting in which a claim is argued or disputed. Recent years have demonstrated a dramatic shift in the public dialogue concerning sexual harassment. This shift reflects changing cultural mores and standards in the workplace and society as a whole, particularly with respect to the validity of women's voices. The subjective reality experienced by victims of sexual harassment is inherently tied to the legal system's treatment of women throughout history. In determinations of truth, our understanding of which information and perspectives are relevant, and our expectations regarding the credibility of complainants and the accused, are undergoing a period of rapid change. The discourse surrounding the #MeToo movement suggests that the "reasonable-person" standard so often applied by courts is poorly suited to sexual-harassment litigation. As our understanding of what constitutes "severe," "pervasive," and "unwelcome" conduct continues to evolve, forensic psychiatrists must strive to uphold the values of respect for persons in the search for the truth.
Photons from thermalizing matter in heavy ion collisions

Abstract We investigate the production of direct photons in heavy ion collisions within the modified bottom–up thermalization scenario, which we show to be related to the thermalizing Glasma framework. The dynamics of the parton system up to thermalization/equilibration can be described by two momentum scales, by means of which we express the photon invariant yield excluding the prompt pQCD contribution. We derive an analytic formula, which provides an estimate of photon production from thermalizing matter for a wide range of collision systems and energies. We compare the yield with that measured in the PHENIX Au + Au run04 and the combined run07 + run10 data sets at s N N = 200 GeV . We also make theory-data comparisons for Pb + Pb at 2760 GeV and d + Au at 200 GeV collision energies. Finally, we make predictions for the direct photon invariant yield from collisions of U + U , Cu + Au , He 3 + Au at 200 GeV and Pb + Pb at 5020 GeV.
Abstract TMP27: Tgfalpha Protects Oligodendrocytes Against Ischemic Injury and Promotes White Matter Integrity After Stroke

Introduction: The loss of white matter integrity after ischemic stroke contributes to long-term sensorimotor and cognitive deficits. Elucidating the mechanisms for white matter protection or recove...
Concretizing intersectional research methods: Incorporating social justice and action into United States sex trafficking research

Theoretical frameworks have been developed for utilizing intersectionality theory in empirical social science research. This article 1) examines how one theoretical framework can be used to assess ...
A diplomacy woven with textiles: Medici-Ottoman relations during the late Renaissance

This article focuses on the relations of the Medici dukes with the Ottoman Empire in the second half of the sixteenth century, exploring the complex backdrop to the diplomatic negotiations that too...
Non-contrast and portal venous phase computed tomography in breast cancer hepatic metastases: comparison of tumor measurements and impact on response assessment:

BackgroundFor many common malignancies, including breast cancer, evaluation for metastatic disease using multiphase computed tomography (CT) has fallen out of favor and been replaced by studies per...
The prognostic role of histologic grade, worst pattern of invasion, and tumor budding in early oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma: a comparative study

Major pathology guidelines often mandate stating the histologic grade as a component of the pathology report for various types of cancer. However, the prognostic value of histologic grade in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is controversial at best, and there is a need for more reliable prognostic histologic factors to better stratify and manage patients with HNSCC. In this study, we compared three relevant histopathologic features (histologic grade, worst pattern of invasion (WPOI), and tumor budding) in a large single-center retrospective cohort of early oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC) with tumor greatest dimension ≤ 4 cm. Only histologic grade predicted distant metastasis free survival (DMFS) on univariate analysis. Tumor budding was associated with nodal metastasis, overall survival (OS), regional recurrence-free survival (RRFS), and DMFS and was a significant predictor for nodal metastasis on the multivariable logistic regression model. WPOI 5 was associated with high frequency of nodal metastasis and shortened OS and was an independent adverse prognostic factor for OS on multivariate analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model. WPOI and tumor budding were prognostically more relevant than histologic grade. Consideration should be given to include WPOI and tumor budding in the pathology reporting of OTSCC.
Racial Comparison of Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Partial Nephrectomy for Renal Masses at a Large Volume Tertiary Center.

Introduction and Objective: African American (AA) race has been identified to have a higher incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and worse renal cancer survival compared with Caucasian America...
Neurocognitive, psychiatric, and substance use characteristics in a diverse sample of persons with OUD who are starting methadone or buprenorphine/naloxone in opioid treatment programs.

Background Medications for opioid use disorder such as opioid agonist treatment (OAT, including methadone, buprenorphine) are the gold standard intervention for opioid use disorder (OUD). Persons with OUD have high rates of neurocognitive impairment and psychiatric and substance use disorders, but few studies have examined these characteristics in diverse patients initiating OAT in opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Additionally, in these individuals, poor neurocognitive functioning and psychiatric/other substance use disorders are associated with poor OUD treatment outcomes. Given rapid changes in the opioid epidemic, we sought to replicate findings from our pilot study by examining these characteristics in a large diverse sample of persons with OUD starting OTP-based OAT. Methods Ninety-seven adults with OUD (M age = 42.2 years [SD = 10.3]; M education = 11.4 years [SD = 2.3]; 27% female; 22% non-Hispanic white) were enrolled in a randomized longitudinal trial evaluating methadone versus buprenorphine/naloxone on neurocognitive functioning. All participants completed a comprehensive neurocognitive, psychiatric, and substance use evaluation within one week of initiating OAT. Results Most of the sample met criteria for learning (79%) or memory (69%) impairment. Half exhibited symptoms of current depression, and comorbid substance use was highly prevalent. Lifetime cannabis and cocaine use disorders were associated with better neurocognitive functioning, while depression was associated with worse neurocognitive functioning. Conclusions Learning and memory impairment are highly prevalent in persons with OUD starting treatment with either methadone or buprenorphine/naloxone in OTPs. Depression and comorbid substance use are prevalent among these individuals, but neither impact learning or memory. However, depression is associated with neurocognitive impairment in other domains. These findings might allow clinicians to help persons with OUD starting OAT to develop compensatory strategies for learning and memory, while providing adjunctive treatment for depression. Trial Registration NCT, NCT01733693. Registered November 4, 2012, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01733693 .
Anatomization: The History of a Uniquely Human Art

The opportunity to “anatomize” the human body. The introduction to a modern gross anatomy class inevitably reminds those newly initiated dissectors of a certain gravitas that comes with this opportunity. To introduce this atlas, created with such respect for its object, appreciation for the generosity of those who proffered their body after death for the betterment of our science is almost certainly implicit.
The Origins and Foundations of the New Rhetoric

In the essay, “The New Rhetoric: A Theory of Practical Reasoning,” Perelman tells of his own intellectual evolution. In his first study on justice, published in 1945, we already find elements of doubt in the concept that an insurmountable barrier exists between the judgment of facts, and values.
Transcatheter embolotherapy for congenital renal arteriovenous malformations: Long-term follow-up

Transcatheter embolization was performed five times in 3 patients with congenital renal arteriovenous malformations (AVM). The patients were followed for one to seven and a half years. Two patients whose AVM were completely occluded with Gelfoam have been asymptomatic with no evidence of hematuria. A third patient, embolized with Gelfoam and Ivalon without complete occlusion of the AVM, bled ten months after the first procedure, was re-embolized, and later had the AVM removed surgically. Superselective transcatheter embolization should be the initial treatment modality for congenital AVM with the aim to control bleeding and occlude those malformations supplied by the terminal portion of interlobar arteries. Large malformations supplied by multiple feeders may require operative ligation and removal of the AVM when vessels cannot be occluded satisfactorily because of massive shunting.
The Aesthetics of Nouveau Roman and Innovative Fiction

In France there are New Novelists and New New Novelists. Alain Robbe-Grillet, Claude Simon, and Robert Pinget belong to both groups, whereas Michel Butor and Nathalie Sarraute are referred to only as New Novelists. The differences between the two do not concern us here, although it might be interesting to note that the New New Novel appeared approximately fifteen years after the New Novel, i.e., around 1965. In the United States the term "innovative novelists," as it applies to John Barth, Robert Coover, Thomas Pynchon, and others, is preferred to the term "experimental novelists." In my essay I use innovative novelists and New (New) Novelists interchangeably. In Italy, Italo Calvino's work has, for some time, placed him in the forefront of experimental writers.
Heart Valve Prostheses, In Vitro Flow Dynamics of

The following discussion will focus on the primary tools, techniques, and data that are of interest when evaluating mitral and aortic valves in vitro. Keywords: mitral; aortic; prosthesis; flow dynamics; hemodynamics; native valve structure
Security of statistical databases with an output perturbation technique

A statistical database aims at providing users with statistics about the population while not compromising the confidentiality of the individuals whose data are included in the database. Threats to...
Early Intracellular Events in the Replication of Bacteriophage T4 Deoxyribonucleic Acid VI. Newly Synthesized Proteins in the T4 Protein-Deoxyribonucleic Acid Complex

Abstract Shortly after infection of Escherichia coli B with T4 phage, the phage deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) can be isolated as a fast-sedimenting, proteinaceous complex. Formation of the complex is inhibited by the addition of chloramphenicol between 3 and 4 min after infection, suggesting that phage-coded proteins are necessary to form the complex and may contribute to its structure. To determine whether the phage DNA is associated with a random collection of proteins after infection or whether the complex contained a specific set of proteins, total protein from phage-infected cell lysates was compared to complex protein isolated from similar lysates by gel acrylamide electrophoresis. The proteins obtained from complexes exhibited a distinctly different pattern of separation, indicating that the complex contained a specific set of those proteins newly synthesized after infection. The proteins of the complex appear to be associated directly with the DNA rather than with some other component which could impart the characteristic of fast sedimentation to the complex. Fast-sedimenting complexes were isolated from a 3H-leucine-labeled cell lysate. Part of this material was treated with pancreatic deoxyribonuclease. Deoxyribonuclease-treated and untreated complexes were resedimented in sucrose gradients. Virtually all the untreated complex remained fast-sedimenting, whereas most of the 3H-leucine label of the deoxyribonuclease-treated material was located toward the top of the gradient. These data suggest a direct association of DNA and protein in the complex.
Regional Cost Variations of Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy Compared With Open Radical Prostatectomy.

Abstract Introduction The purpose of the study was to evaluate the cost differences between robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) and open radical prostatectomy (ORP) in various census regions of the United States because RARP has been reported to be more expensive than ORP with significant regional cost variations in radical prostatectomy (RP) cost across the United States. Patients and Methods International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes were used to identify patients with prostate cancer who underwent RARP or ORP from the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2009 to 2011. Hospital costs were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test and multivariable linear regression analysis adjusting for age, sex, race, comorbidities, and hospital characteristics. Results From the NIS database, 24,636 RARP and 13,590 ORP procedures were identified and evaluated. The lowest cost overall was in the South; the highest cost RARP was in the West and for ORP in the Northeast. In multivariable analysis, adjusted according to patient and hospital characteristics, RARP was 43.3% more costly in the Midwest, 37.2% more costly in the South, and 39.1% more costly in the West ( P P Conclusion Cost for RP significantly varies within the nation and in most regions it is significantly greater for RARP than for ORP. ORP in the Northeast is more costly than RARP. Further research is needed to delineate the reason for these differences and to optimize the cost of RP.
Immediate and Delayed Complications Following Endoscopic Skull Base Surgery.

Objectives To characterize the temporal distribution and resolution rate of postoperative complications from endoscopic skull base surgery. Design Retrospective review of patients undergoing endoscopic resection of paranasal sinus or skull base neoplasm from 2007 to 2013. Setting Massachusetts General Hospital/Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Cranial Base Center. Participants Fifty-eight consecutive patients. Main Outcome Measures Postoperative complications were categorized as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak, pituitary, orbital, intracranial, or sinonasal. Complications were temporally categorized as “perioperative” (within 1 week), “early” (after 1 week and within 6 months), or “delayed” (after 6 months). Results The most common perioperative complications were diabetes insipidus (19.0%), CSF leak (5.2%), and meningitis (5.2%), with resolution rates of 75%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. Overall, CSF leak occurred in 13.8% of patients and resolved in all cases. A total of 53.8% of all complications were evident within 1 week of surgery. Chronic rhinosinusitis was the most common delayed complication (3.4%). Hypopituitarism and delayed complications were less likely to resolve ( p = 0.014 and p = 0.080, respectively). Conclusions Monitoring of complications after endoscopic skull base surgery should focus on neurologic complications and CSF leak in the early postoperative period and development of chronic rhinosinusitis in the long term. Late-onset complications and hypopituitarism are less likely to resolve.
A q-boson realization of the quantum group SUq(2) and the theory of q-tensor operators

A new realization of the quantum group SU q (2) is constructed by means of a q-analogue to the Jordan-Schwinger mapping. Using this realization as a model, we construct a theory of tensor operators for quantum groups. Our emphasis throughout will be on explicit constructive methods and we shall develop in detail the spin-1/2 analog of the Wigner-Clebsch-Gordan (“q-WCG”) coefficients and the spin-1/2 analog of the Racah (“q-(6j)”) coefficients. The final section develops a q-analog to the pattern calculus of U(n). This calculus explicates in a remarkably simple way the structure of all elementary q-tensor operators in all U q (n).
“Gone are the days of mass-media marketing plans and short term customer relationships”: tobacco industry direct mail and database marketing strategies

Background As limitations on traditional marketing tactics and scrutiny by tobacco control have increased, the tobacco industry has benefited from direct mail marketing which transmits marketing messages directly to carefully targeted consumers utilising extensive custom consumer databases. However, research in these areas has been limited. This is the first study to examine the development, purposes and extent of direct mail and customer databases. Methods We examined direct mail and database marketing by RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris utilising internal tobacco industry documents from the Legacy Tobacco Document Library employing standard document research techniques. Results Direct mail marketing utilising industry databases began in the 1970s and grew from the need for a promotional strategy to deal with declining smoking rates, growing numbers of products and a cluttered media landscape. Both RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris started with existing commercial consumer mailing lists, but subsequently decided to build their own databases of smokers’ names, addresses, brand preferences, purchase patterns, interests and activities. By the mid-1990s both RJ Reynolds and Philip Morris databases contained at least 30 million smokers’ names each. These companies valued direct mail/database marketing9s flexibility, efficiency and unique ability to deliver specific messages to particular groups as well as direct mail9s limited visibility to tobacco control, public health and regulators. Conclusions Database marketing is an important and increasingly sophisticated tobacco marketing strategy. Additional research is needed on the prevalence of receipt and exposure to direct mail items and their influence on receivers’ perceptions and smoking behaviours.
Pharmacist-directed heparin therapy using a standard dosing and monitoring protocol

Use of a protocol for pharmacist determination of heparin sodium dosages administered by continuous i.v. infusion was evaluated by retrospective chart review in a California hospital. Charts of adult medical-surgical patients who received heparin infusions between June 1982 and December 1983 were reviewed for the following information: patient sex, age, and reason for receiving heparin; times, dates, numbers, and values of coagulation tests before and during heparin therapy; times, dates, and values of prothrombin time determinations during conversion to warfarin therapy; and times, number, and costs of heparin infusions. Charts were divided into two groups: those of patients for whom physicians prescribed heparin doses empirically and those of patients for whom physicians requested heparin dosing by the pharmacy department. Data were evaluated for 62 patients in the physician-dosed group and 26 patients in the pharmacy protocol group. Pulmonary embolism was the reason for heparin therapy in 34% of the physician-dosed patients and only 15% of the pharmacist-dosed patients. Pharmacists using the protocol ordered fewer anticoagulation tests and fewer heparin infusions per patient. Time from the start of heparin therapy to therapeutic anticoagulation was shorter in patients whose heparin dose was determined by the protocol, and values in the therapeutic range were achieved in a greater percentage of these patients than in the empirically dosed patients. Pharmacists using a standard dosing protocol effectively initiated and maintained heparin therapy that compared favorably with physician-dosed empiric therapy.
Reduction of Medial Compartment Loads with Valgus Bracing of the Osteoarthritic Knee

BackgroundPatients with medial compartment osteoarthritis of the knee may be treated nonoperatively with adjustable valgus bracing.HypothesisValgus bracing reduces load on the medial compartment through the application of an external valgus moment about the knee, resulting in pain relief.Study DesignProspective cohort study.MethodsEleven patients were tested using an instrumented brace and three-dimensional gait analysis. We measured the valgus moment applied by the adjustable valgus brace and determined the compressive load in the medial compartment. We also documented the effects of increased valgus alignment of the brace and increased strap tension on load sharing. Pain and activity levels were also recorded.ResultsPain and activity level improved in all subjects with valgus bracing. During gait, valgus bracing reduced the net varus moment about the knee by an average of 13% (7.1 N•m) and the medial compartment load at the knee by an average of 11% (114 N) in the calibrated 4° valgus brace setting. Inc...
American capital in the contest for Soviet oil, 1920–23

(1973). American capital in the contest for Soviet oil, 1920–23. Soviet Studies: Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 477-490.
High-frequency ultrasound in the measurement of pediatric craniofacial integrity.

Objective This study evaluates the use of high-frequency ultrasound in the measurement of the material nature of the pediatric craniofacial skeleton. Study design and setting Three desiccated human skulls, aged 1 year, 5 years, and adult, underwent ultrasonic evaluation at 6 sites on each hemicranium. Results The overall mean signal reflection coefficients for the infant, child, and adult skulls are 98.8 mV (13.75 mV SD), 172mV (24.5 mV SD), and 230 mV (23.5 mV SD), respectively. The mean signal reflection coefficient is positively correlated with increasing chronological age. Comparison of intrasubject signal patterns suggests bone density fields, which vary as a function of growth. Conclusion High-frequency ultrasound provides accurate measurements of the osseous impedance of the craniofacial skeleton. Pattern analysis suggests increases in skull density with greater growth and age. Significance Although further testing must be performed in vivo, high-frequency ultrasound may accurately measure the osseous impedance of the pediatric craniofacial skeleton. EBM rating: C.
Extreme return correlation and volatility: a two‐threshold approach

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the relation between extreme return correlation and return volatility, in the context of US stock indexes, by detecting clusters of extreme returns using return and volatility thresholds based on an algorithm suggested in Laurini.Design/methodology/approach – The daily returns and conditional volatilities estimated using GARCH (1, 1) serve as inputs to the two threshold algorithm that detects extreme return clusters. The analysis of the relation between correlation and volatility is then based on the extent of overlapping extreme return clusters across DJIA, S&P 500 and NASDAQ composite.Findings – It is found that the correlation positive extreme returns within overlapping clusters significantly increases with volatility between DJIA and S&P 500. The authors did not find any significant change in the pair‐wise correlation between the positive extreme returns within overlapping clusters in each of these indexes with those of NASDAQ composite.Originality/val...
Collagen I matrix turnover is regulated by fibronectin polymerization

Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling occurs during normal homeostasis and also plays an important role during development, tissue repair, and in various disease processes. ECM remodeling involves ...
Feasibility of analyte prediction in phantoms using a theoretical model of near-infrared spectra

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopic measurement of blood and tissue chemistry often requires a large set of subject data for training a prediction model. We have previously developed the principal component analysis loading correction (PCALC) method to correct for subject related spectral variations. In this study we tested the concept of developing PCALC factors from simulated spectra. Thirty, two-layer solid phantoms were made with 5 ink concentrations (0.004%- 0.02%), 2 μs' levels, and 3 fat thicknesses. Spectra were collected in reflectance mode and converted to absorbance by referencing to a 99% reflectance standard. Spectra (5733) were simulated using Kienle's two-layer turbid media model encompassing the range of parameters used in the phantoms. PCALC factors were generated from the simulated spectra at one ink concentration. Simulated spectra were corrected with the PCALC factors and a PLS model was developed to predict ink concentration from spectra. The best-matched simulated spectrum was identified for each measured phantom spectrum. These best-matched simulated spectra were corrected with the PCALC factors derived from the simulated spectra set, and they were used in the PLS model to predict ink concentrations. The ink concentrations were predicted with an R2=0.897, and an estimated error (RMSEP) of 0.0037%. This study demonstrated the feasibility of using simulated spectra to correct for inter-subject spectral differences and accurately determine analyte concentrations in turbid media.
Experimental investigation of the input-impedance characteristics of an antenna in a rectangular waveguide

The input impedance of a monopole antenna in a rectangular waveguide is investigated experimentally. It is found that theoretical results based on the assumption of a sinusoidal current distribution are in good agreement for monopole lengths up to about 0.6 of the guide height and about 1/4 λ0. For longer monopoles, a more accurate theory should be sought.
Further Studies on O2-Resistant Photosynthesis and Photorespiration in a Tobacco Mutant with Enhanced Catalase Activity

The increase in net photosynthesis in M(4) progeny of an O(2)-resistant tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) mutant relative to wild-type plants at 21 and 42% O(2) has been confirmed and further investigated. Self-pollination of an M(3) mutant produced M(4) progeny segregating high catalase phenotypes (average 40% greater than wild type) at a frequency of about 60%. The high catalase phenotype cosegregated precisely with O(2)-resistant photosynthesis. About 25% of the F(1) progeny of reciprocal crosses between the same M(3) mutant and wild type had high catalase activity, whether the mutant was used as the maternal or paternal parent, indicating nuclear inheritance. In high-catalase mutants the activity of NADH-hydroxypyruvate reductase, another peroxisomal enzyme, was the same as wild type. The mutants released 15% less photorespiratory CO(2) as a percent of net photosynthesis in CO(2)-free 21% O(2) and 36% less in CO(2)-free 42% O(2) compared with wild type. The mutant leaf tissue also released less (14)CO(2) per [1-(14)C]glycolate metabolized than wild type in normal air, consistent with less photorespiration in the mutant. The O(2)-resistant photosynthesis appears to be caused by a decrease in photorespiration especially under conditions of high O(2) where the stoichiometry of CO(2) release per glycolate metabolized is expected to be enhanced. The higher catalase activity in the mutant may decrease the nonenzymatic peroxidation of keto-acids such as hydroxypyruvate and glyoxylate by photorespiratory H(2)O(2).
Erythroid proliferations in myeloid neoplasms

Prominent erythroid proliferations (in which erythroid elements comprise ≥50% of total bone marrow cells) can be seen in various hematopoietic stem cell neoplasms. The myeloproliferative neoplasm polycythemia vera exhibits effective, overexuberant erythropoiesis resulting in an increased red blood cell mass; in contrast, most other diseases characterized by erythroid predominance exhibit ineffective hemopoiesis. The latter include acute erythroid leukemia (erythroid-myeloid and pure erythroid leukemia subtypes) as well as some cases of myelodysplastic syndromes, acute myeloid leukemia with myelodysplasia-related changes, and therapy-related myeloid neoplasms. Some nonneoplastic reactive conditions may also manifest a striking bone marrow erythroid predominance. In this article, we review the literature relevant to this group of diseases for a better understanding of their clinicopathologic features and surrounding controversies. We also examine the position of neoplastic erythroid proliferations in the current 2008 World Health Organization Classification of Myeloid Neoplasms and provide recommendations as to how to approach the differential diagnosis of this group of diseases.
Kinetics of desensitization and recovery from desensitization for human α4β2-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors stably expressed in SH-EP1 cells

Kinetics of desensitization and recovery from desensitization for human α4β2-nicotinic acetylcholine receptors stably expressed in SH-EP1 cells
Properties of atomic-layer-deposited Al2O3/ZnO dielectric films grown at low temperature for RF MEMS

Al 2 O 3 /ZnO alloy films were grown at 100°C using atomic layer deposition (ALD) techniques. It has been previously established that the resistivity of these films can be tuned over a wide range by varying the amount of Zn in the film. Al 2 O 3 /ZnO ALD alloy films can therefore be designed with a dielectric constant high enough to provide a large down-state capacitance and a resistivity low enough to promote the dissipation of trapped charges. The material and electrical properties of the Al 2 O 3 /ZnO ALD films were investigated using Auger electron spectroscopy (AES), nanoindentation, and mercury probe measurements. Chemical analysis using AES confirmed the presence of both Al and Zn in the alloys. The nanoindentation measurements were used to calculate the Young's modulus and hardness of the films. Pure Al 2 O 3 ALD was determined to have a modulus between 150 and 155 GPa and a hardness of ~8 GPa, while the results for pure ZnO ALD indicated a modulus between 120 and 140 GPa and a hardness of ~5 GPa. An Al 2 O 3 /ZnO ALD alloy displayed a modulus of 140-145 GPa, which falls between the two pure films, and a hardness of ~8 GPa, which is similar to the pure Al 2 O 3 film. The dielectric constants of the ALD films were calculated from the mercury probe measurements and were determined to be around 6.8. These properties indicate that the Al 2 O 3 /ZnO ALD films can be engineered as a property specific dielectric layer for RF MEMS devices.
Acoustic impact-echo investigation of concrete delaminations using liquid droplet excitation

Abstract Impact-echo testing is an effective technique to map delaminations on concrete bridge decks. Non-contact acoustic measurement techniques are used to measure responses excited by a transient point load. Non-contact excitation using falling liquid droplets is demonstrated to excite the resonant modes associated with delamination defects. Slow and fast liquid flows produce large and small droplets with varying impact parameters. Spectrograms of acquired acoustic data demonstrate the effectiveness of the technique to detect concrete delaminations. Photography reveals the size differences of the droplets. Non-contact excitation and measurement can be deployed in situations where mechanical coupling to the material is undesirable.
THz Generation in Multiple Air Plasmas

Because the efficiency of THz generation in air plasma is quite low, the residual power of input beam after THz radiation is generated in air plasma remains almost the same. A new method, multiple air plasmas, is proposed. The residual power can be used to induce other air plasmas and generate THz radiation again. The multiple air plasmas method provides a potential way for the development of the intense THz source. The preliminary experimental results confirm the theoretical prediction. The multiple air plasmas generated THz can be very useful for remote THz generation and standoff detection.
Applications of orientation imaging analysis to microstructural control of intergranular stress corrosion cracking

Abstract Arguably, there is no more serious materials engineering problem than intergranular stress corrosion cracking (ISCC). Considerable evidence now exists to support the view that various aspects of grain boundary (GB) geometry, its distribution and spatial placement can be altered by processing to achieve beneficial reductions in ISCC susceptibility in some alloy systems. Orientation imaging microscopy (OIM) provides an important new tool to rapidly and quantitatively reveal those aspects of grain boundary geometry in polycrystalline materials that may be relevant to ISCC. Applications of the method of orientation imaging are briefly reviewed, with an emphasis on measuring the distribution of interface geometry. A new probabilistic model for crack propagation through a GB network is proposed. The process of crack advance across GB segments is modeled by a Markov chain. By assigning strengths to the GBs, the transition probability of a crack proceeding from one segment to another is calculated. From this information, both time-dependent crack growth and the complete path of a crack in a failed material may be described. The dependence of the crack path upon the distribution of GB geometry can be estimated. This model can be used to examine ISCC in nickel—chromium—iron alloys, where the GB information will be experimentally determined using OIM.
Relative Color Contrast Drives Competition in Early Exogenous Orienting

Young infants typically orient to a moving object, but the strength of this tendency depends on what else is in the visual field, with some objects competing for attention more effectively than others. This competition was studied in 3.5-month-old infants by manipulating the colors and spatial distributions of static elements that appeared with a small moving probe. The hypothesis was that the competition from these static bars would depend on their color contrasts. Three different color pairings were used: red with green, pink with green, and red with pink. The results were generally consistent with the hypothesis that the competition from static elements in the visual field depends on their color contrasts. Orienting at 3.5 months is determined by competition mechanisms that weight motion and color and most probably other stimulus characteristics to produce a directional response.
Transfer and Metabolism of Retinol by the Perfused Human Placenta

ABSTRACT: The transfer and metabolism of retinol by human placenta was investigated using an in vitro perfusion system with independent maternal and fetal circulations. 3H-retinol bound to albumin added to the maternal perfusate was rapidly taken up and concentrated by the placenta to levels 16.5 ± 5.28 times the maternal perfusate. Approximately 8% of the retinol retained in the placenta was esterified. No metabolites were detected in the perfusates. Perfusion of placenta with retinol bound to retinol-binding protein (RBP) reduced the placental concentration to 4.4 ± 1.72 times the maternal concentration and eliminated evidence of metabolism. The transfer rate of RBP:3H-retinol was less than that of albumin:14C-retinol when measured concurrently in three experiments (clearances 0.11 versus 0.75 mL/min, 0.21 versus 1.7 mL/min, and 0.29 versus 0.48 mL/min, respectively). Transfer of the radioactive retinol was more rapid than 125I-RBP or albumin, indicating that retinol was transferred independently of the proteins. The transfer index of retinol (clearance reti-nolxlearance L-glucose) was 0.73 ± 0.085 compared to 2.1 ± 0.36 for thiamin and 3.4 ± 0.95 for riboflavin, both water-soluble vitamins with active transport systems. The retinol transferred to the fetal perfusate is not bound to RBP, as demonstrated by gel filtration chromatography and chromatography on a transthyretin affinity column, despite the availability of RBP in the cord serum added to the perfusate. The endogenous retinol in the cord serum is bound to RBP. The conclusions derived are that RBP binding reduces the accumulation of retinol in the placenta and the transfer to the fetus, that retinol is transferred intact to the fetal circulation where immediate binding is not to RBP, and that redistribution to RBP occurs subsequently, possibly in fetal liver.
Substrate specificity and inhibitor sensitivity of monoamine oxidase in rat kidney mitochondria

Abstract The deamination of the substrates 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), tyramine, dopamine, β-phenylethylamine and benzylamine by rat kidney mitochondrial monoamine oxidase (MAO) was studied, and kinetic constants are reported for each substrate. By the use of the selective MAO inhibitors, clorgyline and deprenyl, 5-HT and benzylamine were found to be substrates for types A and B MAO, respectively, in this tissue, whereas the other substrates were metabolized by both forms of MAO. No evidence for any significant metabolism of 5-HT or benzylamine by other amine oxidases was obtained. However, some conditions under which the carbonyl reagents semicarbazide, isoniazid and aminoguanidine may interfere with assays for MAO, without actually affecting enzyme activity directly, are described. Preincubation of kidney mitochondria with histamine resulted in a time- and oxygen-dependent irreversible inhibition of both type A and type B MAO activity; the exact nature of the inhibitory agent and its mode of action remain to be determined.
Optimization of large-scale chromatography for biotechnological applications

An economic evaluation of a chromatographic separation is discussed. The effects of particle size, cycle time, solvent, and column costs are analyzed. With small particles ( 60 µm), resin costs are less than half of the total. A strong optimum is found between 20–40 µm for maximum productivity, using both Gaussian models and the mass transfer model of Lapidus and Amundson to generate peaks. A new compilation of resin costs, column costs, and pump costs is given.
The ward atmosphere of a child psychosomatic unit: a ten-year follow-up.

Using the Ward Atmosphere Scale, we reassessed the ward atmosphere of a psychosomatic unit for children and adolescents that has been operating successfully for 10 years. There was remarkable stability in essential treatment program characteristics despite the complete turnover in patients and a 60% turnover in staff. There was substantial correlation between patient and staff perceptions in 1988 and across time (Spearman's rho: 0.951-0.660, all p values <0.05). Patients and staff subgroups differed somewhat in their relative emphases on certain program dimensions but, overall, the program still correlated highly with the therapeutic community cluster described by Moos (Spearman's rho: 0.660–0.809, all p values <0.05). This stability was achieved despite multiple health care changes, most notably shortened length of stay. Stability was probably due to high staff/patient ratio, continuity of the medical direction, and focus on milieu maintenance in staff meetings.
The effect of 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) on cardiac muscle differentiation.

Abstract Cultured cardiac muscle cells undergo cell division and form beating progeny. Incorporation of BrdU into the nuclei of daughter cells does not suppress their ability to beat and form cross-striated myofibrils. Fluorescence microscopy of clones derived from single beating cells fed with BrdU-treated medium for over 2 weeks reveal cytoplasmic fibrils stainable with fluorescein-labeled antimyosin. The effect of BrdU on the emergence of cardiac muscle phenotype was also investigated by utilizing cardiac myogenic precursor cells from precardiac mesoderm in early embryos (stage 4–stage 9). These studies show that the cardiac myogenic cells fall into the following categories with respect to their ability to express the differentiated phenotype in the presence of BrdU: (1) precardiac mesodermal cells that are inhibited; (2) precardiac mesodermal cells that are not inhibited; and (3) beating cardiac muscle cells that are not inhibited. The entry of precardiac cells from the first category to the second and to the third appears to be unsynchronized.
Inhibition of in vitro RNA binding and replicase activity by phosphorylation of the p33 replication protein of Cucumber necrosis tombusvirus

Tombusviruses, which are small plus-strand RNA viruses of plants, require the viral-coded p33 replication co-factor for template selection and recruitment into replication in infected cells. As presented in the accompanying paper [Shapka, N., Stork, J., Nagy, P.D., 2005. Phosphorylation of the p33 replication protein of Cucumber necrosis tombusvirus adjacent to the RNA binding site affects viral RNA replication. J. Virol. 343, 65-78.], p33 can be phosphorylated in vitro at serine and threonine residues adjacent to its arginine-proline-rich RNA binding site. To test the effect of phosphorylation on p33 function, in this paper, we used phosphorylation-mimicking aspartic acid mutants of Cucumber necrosis virus (CNV) p33 and in-vitro-phosphorylated p33 in gel mobility shift experiments. We found that phosphorylation inhibited the ability of p33 to bind to the viral RNA. In contrast, the nonphosphorylation-mimicking alanine mutants of p33 bound to viral RNA as efficiently as the nonphosphorylated wild type p33 did. In vitro assays with purified CNV replicase preparations revealed that phosphorylation-mimicking mutants of p33 did not support the assembly of functional CNV replicase complexes in yeast, a model host. Based on these results, we propose that the primary function of reversible phosphorylation of p33 is to regulate the RNA binding capacity of p33, which could affect the assembly of new viral replicase complexes, recruitment of the viral RNA template into replication and/or release of viral RNA from replication. Thus, phosphorylation of p33 might help in switching the role of the viral RNA from replication to other processes, such as viral RNA encapsidation and cell-to-cell movement in infected hosts.
Ages of regional metamorphism and ductile deformation in the central and southern Appalachians

Abstract A summary of available geochronology of deformational fabrics formed at greenschist and higher grades in the central and southern Appalachians is presented as a map showing the ages of regional metamorphism and ductile deformation. The ca. 480-435 Ma Taconic event affected most of the Piedmont and Blue Ridge provinces. The ca. 380-340 Ma Acadian event was milder and was centered in the west central Piedmont and eastern Blue Ridge. The 330-230 Ma Alleghanian event exhibits an abrupt ductile deformation front in the eastern Piedmont and extends an unknown distance eastward below the Atlantic Coastal Plain.
Imaging of recurrent thyroid cancer.

Recent improvements in serum Tg assays, the availability of recombinant thyrotropin, widespread use of neck ultrasonography, and positron emission tomography (PET)/CT have caused a shift of paradigm in the detection of recurrent disease in well differentiated thyroid cancer. High-resolution neck ultrasonography has taken on a central role, whereas 131 I whole body scanning has become less important. PET/CT has emerged as a powerful tool in the assessment of patients who have recurrent tumor not demonstrable with other imaging modalities. The author reviews the tools available for the detection and localization of recurrent thyroid cancer with respect to their advantages and limitations in various clinical scenarios.