cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
How light, a predator, and experience influence bluegill use of shade and schooling

Bluegills, Lepomis macrochirus, form schools and use shade to avoid predators. How light intensity, predators, and experience might affect antipredator behavior of bluegill are not well understood. Hence, we evaluated use of shade and schooling by naive (hatchery) and experienced (wild) bluegills (50–60 mm total length) at four light levels (1.5, 85, 169, 340 lux) in the presence and absence of a model predator in experimental pools. Naive bluegills used shade extensively at all light levels, even when the predator was in the shade. They rarely schooled, preferring to shoal in the shade. Experienced bluegill used shade when the predator was in the open and avoided shade when the predator was there. Schooling was more prevalent at low light levels when shade was less intense. Use of shade became an increasingly important behavior at higher light levels, unless the predator was in the shade. A shaded predator caused experienced bluegills to shoal tightly in the opposite, open area. These data suggest naive bluegills may not have considered the model predator a threat. Their behavior suggests avian predator avoidance, a possibility given that avian predators were present at the hatchery. Experienced bluegill employed behaviors that would be useful in avoiding piscine predators.
Criminal Organization Continuum of Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs

It is now possible to identify specific Outlaw Motorcycle Clubs that can be classified as criminal gangs based on member’s involvement in organized crime and leaders participation in the planning and execution of these criminal activities. This chapter identifies those specific clubs: the Big Five Motorcycle Gangs, their puppet/support gangs, and those gangs considered to be the major independent outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Colorblind Islam: The Racial Hinges of Immigrant Muslims in the United States

Islam is increasingly theorized as a “racialized” category in the United States, yet these accounts can too often emphasize a top-down approach of racial identification and obfuscate the importance of the African-American Muslim experience. Using Maghbouleh’s (2017) concept of “racial hinges”, the author synthesizes previous work and provides evidence from his own ethnographic research to describe how immigrant Muslims in the United States leverage different racial “strategies of action” (Swidler, 1986), including white acculturation and black appropriation. In the conclusion, the author suggests a third strategy: brown solidarity.
Pricing and User Fees

This article is concerned with the issue of user fees (or user charges) for public health services. The implications of user fees for cost-effectiveness, allocative efficiency, equity, progressivity of public healthcare spending, and quality of service are discussed. Each of these is a desirable end in itself, and so each is an important factor in the optimal pricing decision; however, they are not always compatible with each other. Furthermore, they all have to be financed from a single, and typically constrained, budget. Thus governments have to tradeoff over them. The theory and empirical evidence on the effects of user fees on each factor are reviewed.
Eight Steps to Method Validation in a Clinical Diagnostic Laboratory

Method validation is utilized to confirm that a test procedure for an analyte yields accurate and precise results. In this article, hemoglobin A1C is used as an example to demonstrate the process of a method validation; the performance of the Siemens Dimension Vista 1500 (new method) was compared to the Integra 800 Roche Modular System (old method). There are eight essential components for method validation: stating the primary objectives, listing the known variables, applying statistics, clarifying the analyte involved, selecting samples, explaining the methods used, performing data analysis, and explaining the results. These steps are critical for an analytical method validation procedure and are required in order to use a new assay for the clinical diagnosis of a patient.
Incidence of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors in the United States from 2001-2015: A United States Cancer Statistics Analysis of 50 States.

Introduction Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) was once a mislabeled cancer with inaccurate incidence data in the United States (US). Since the discovery of a gain of function mutation in kit, the proper identification of GIST has greatly improved. Given this inaccuracy in prior GIST incidence, our goal in this study was to evaluate the true incidence of GIST in at-risk populations in all 50 states. Methods The United States Cancer Statistics (USCS) was used to obtain data for GISTs from 2001 to 2015. Incidence analysis was done for sex, race, stage, primary location, and US regional location. Results The overall incidence of GISTs from 2001-2015 was 0.70 per 100,000 people per year. Overall incidence rates were greatest for each stratification of males, blacks, localized disease, primary location in the stomach, and the Northeast. The incidence in blacks increased with an annual percent change (APC) of 6.27 between 2001 and 2015. Between 2001 and 2015, the incidence of localized disease and GISTs with a primary location in the stomach increased with APCs of 8.90 and 6.25, respectively. In the Northeast, between 2001 and 2003, the incidence initially increased expeditiously (APC 13.35); however, after 2003, the incidence continued to rise but no longer at the same rapid rate (APC 3.05). Conclusion In our study, we investigated the incidence of GISTs using data from the USCS database for all 50 states in the US. We found an alarming rise in the incidence in blacks, localized disease, the stomach, and those in the Northeast. Ultimately, further studies are required to identify risk factors for the development of GISTs; however, our study will serve as a template to help guide those studies.
Combining immunotherapy and epidermal growth factor receptor kinase inhibitors: worth the risk?

Immunotherapy has improved survival in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and offers the potential for meaningful, durable responses in a subset of patients. Ongoing efforts are focused on extending these benefits to more patients.
Simply saliva: stability of SARS-CoV-2 detection negates the need for expensive collection devices

Most currently approved strategies for the collection of saliva for COVID-19 diagnostics require specialized tubes containing buffers promoted for the stabilization of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and virus inactivation. Yet many of these are expensive, in limited supply, and not necessarily validated specifically for viral RNA. While saliva is a promising sample type as it can be reliably self-collected for the sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2, the expense and availability of these collection tubes are prohibitive to mass testing efforts. Therefore, we investigated the stability of SARS-CoV-2 RNA and infectious virus detection from saliva without supplementation. We tested RNA stability over extended periods of time (2-25 days) and at temperatures representing at-home storage and elevated temperatures which might be experienced when cold chain transport may be unavailable. We found SARS-CoV-2 RNA in saliva from infected individuals is stable at 4°C, room temperature (~19°C), and 30°C for prolonged periods and found limited evidence for viral replication in saliva. This work demonstrates that expensive saliva collection options involving RNA stabilization and virus inactivation buffers are not always needed, permitting the use of cheaper collection options. Affordable testing methods are urgently needed to meet current testing demands and for continued surveillance in reopening strategies.
The game of urban regeneration: Culture and community in London 2012 and Berlin’s Mediaspree, by Francesca Weber-Newth: New York City, Columbia University Press, 2019

In Europe and North America, megaprojects like the Eastern Docklands in Amsterdam and the Inner Harbor in Baltimore have become increasingly popular for spurring economic development. Because megap...
Heartbeat: time to address sexism and sexual harassment in cardiology.

The proportion of cardiologists who are women remains low despite many decades of equal numbers of men and women entering medical school and continues to lag behind other medical specialties with respect to workforce representation. To further define the barriers and challenges facing women who choose to specialise in cardiology, Jaijee and colleagues1 used a validated questionnaire sent to 890 UK consultant cardiologists to measure experiences of sexism and sexual harassment. In contrast to sexual harassment, sexism is defined as acts, words or behaviours that imply a person is inferior because of their sex. Of the 174 respondents, 24% were female. Overall, 62% of female cardiologists experienced some type of discrimination, most often related to gender and parenting, compared to 20% of male cardiologists. Sexual harassment affected professional confidence in 43% of women compared to 3% of men. In addition, sexism limited opportunities for professional advancement in 33% of female cardiologists compared to 2% of male cardiologists. In the accompanying editorial, Babu-Narayan and Ray2 discuss the perceived and actual barriers to improved representation of women in cardiology. ‘There is no doubt that cardiology requires drive, dedication and commitment, but these should not be conflated with a requirement for excessively long working hours, ‘presenteeism’ and the exclusion of outside interests and family life either for men or for women.’ Underrepresentation of women does matter. ‘Lack …
The state of internet marketing research

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to examine the internet marketing literature to determine how internet marketing research has evolved in terms of quantity, content, and publication outlets. In addition, the paper identifies important trends in the internet marketing literature and provides a view of the research gaps and expected topical areas of interest.Design/methodology/approach – A content analysis was performed on approximately 1,400 internet‐related marketing articles identified by searching the ABI/INFORM database. A total of 902 peer‐reviewed internet marketing articles appearing in nearly 80 different journals were identified. The study revealed that 60 percent of the internet research had been published in the last three years. The three most researched internet marketing areas were consumer behavior, internet strategy, and internet communications. The topics with the highest growth over the past two years were research issues and consumer search. Over the past 15 years, 14 articles appe...
Spallation Resulting from High-Velocity Impacts

A high-velocity projectile impact generally creates a crater in the target, driving a strong shock wave into the material. If the target is sufficiently thin, a puncture will result. If the target is relatively thick, the shock wave will rapidly decay into a spherical elastic stress wave. When such a pressure wave encounters a free surface, it is reflected as a tensile wave.
Estimation of wave glider dynamics for precise positioning

The wave glider is a new autonomous surface platform with unique capabilities for persistent observation in a variety of marine environments. The applications of this novel technology continue to expand; some of the potential oceano-graphic applications will require precise positioning and navigation beyond the platforms current capabilities. In this article we discuss the potential for precise localization of a wave glider based on a augmenting the onboard instrumentation (adding a high quality global positioning receiver and inertial measure unit) and implementing an estimation algorithm (an extended Kalman filter using a two-body dynamic model). To understand the capabilities and limitations of the wave glider's novel propulsion mechanism, consisting of a surface float and submerged glider to harvest wave energy for forward motion, we propose a simplified dynamic model appropriate for real-time implementation. The physical parameters of this model are identified using experimental measurements collected from a wave glider operating in a coastal environment. Finally, we present the results of a proof-of-concept field experiment where the wave glider at the surface was used to precisely position a instrument moored to the seafloor to evaluate the performance of the wave glider for the type of mission that requires precise navigation.
Depth-Integrating and Dip Samplers

Comparative tests of depth-integrating and dip samplers were made for fine-grained suspended sediment. Approximately 60% of the suspended load was 2- μ and smaller in size. Differences between suspended-sediment concentrations obtained with dip samplers and depth-integrated samplers were statistically significant. Concentrations of depth-integrated samples averaged 1.02% greater than concentrations of dip samples.
BUCKLING OF SLANTED COLUMNS

A slanted column may represent an inclined member of a truss, a frame, or a meridional element of an axisymmetrically deformable conical shell with rigid edges. Such a structure has a unique constraint condition. A set of nonlinear equations for buckling of elastic slanted columns is derived by the variational method in cooperation with the Lagrange multiplier to deal with the constraint condition. The bifurcation of such columns with simply supported ends is considered along with results obtained from conventional methods. No bifurcation will occur for columns with other end conditions. A set of formulas derived from the linearized eigenvalue method is also presented. The results obtained from the latter are slightly higher than those obtained from the nonlinear theory. The buckling loads may lower further if the change of the inclined angle at the loaded end is taken into consideration during the deformations.
Synergistic modalities for human/machine communication

Natural communication with machines is a crucial factor in bringing the benefits of networked computers to mass markets. In particular, the sensory dimensions of sight, sound and touch are comfortable and convenient modalities for the human user. New technologies are now emerging in these domains that can support human/machine communication with features that emulate face-to-face interaction. A current challenge is how to integrate the, as yet, imperfect technologies to achieve synergies that transcend the benefit of a single modality. Because speech is a preferred means for human information exchange, conversational interaction with machines will play a central role in collaborative knowledge work mediated by networked computers. Utilizing speech in combination with simultaneous visual gestures and haptic signalling requires software agents that are able to fuse the error-susceptible sensory information into reliable interpretations that are responsive to (and anticipatory of) human user intentions. This report draws a perspective on research in human/machine communication technologies aimed at supporting computer conferencing and collaborative problem solving.
Comparison of Four Satellite RNA Isolates of Cucumber Mosaic Virus

Four satellite RNA isolates of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), S19-, T43-, T62- and T73-sat-RNAs were obtained from CMV-infected plants collected in Tochigi Prefecture of Japan. Their physical and biological properties were investigated. T43- and T62-satRNAs induced necrosis on tomato like Y-satRNA, whereas S19- and T73-satRNAs did not. T43-satRNA was found to be identical to T62-satRNA by nucleotide sequence determination. The sequences were compared with each other and with other satellite RNAs, revealing high degree of nucleotide sequence homology between S19-satRNA and Y-satRNA (91%) and between T43-satRNA and OY2-satRNA (94%). Further analyses of the three sequences indicate that no common open reading frame is present and thus, they do not seem to encode any protein products essential for their biological activity. Competition of the satellite RNAs with Y-satRNA was examined by mixed inoculations under the condition using tobacco as a host and CMV-O as a helper virus. The relative replication ability of T43-satRNA is superior to that of Y-satRNA while T73-satRNA is apparently similar to or a little better than Y-satRNA.
Neurosecretion during diapause and diapause development in brains of mature embryos of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar.

Brains of embryonated larvae of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L., were monitored for changes in neurosecretory activity by means of the paraldehyde fuchsin (PAF) staining method. Brains of larvae taken from newly laid, unchilled (24°C) eggs contained little PAF-positive material. However, after 1 to 6 days cooling at 4°C, PAF-positive material was seen in all neurosecretory areas of the brain, beginning with the medial neurosecretory cells. By 90 days of chilling neurosecretory cells appeared packed with neurosecretion; PAF-positive granules were seen in linear arrays within the brain and in the stumps of the circumesophageal connectives, indicating transport of neurosecretory material at this time also. Return of chilled eggs to 24°C after 120 days at 4°C induced increased transport and consequent loss of PAF-positive substances, so just prior to hatching little PAF-positive material remained in the brains. Neurosecretory activity in mobile larvae killed on the day of hatching was limited to 2 newly visible giant cells in each larval brain hemisphere.
Site-Specific Orthogonal Labeling of the Carboxy Terminus of α-Tubulin

A fluorescent probe has been attached to the carboxy terminus of the α-subunit of α,β-tubulin by an enzymatic reaction followed by a chemical reaction. The unnatural amino acid 3-formyltyrosine is attached to the carboxy terminus of α-tubulin through the use of the enzyme tubulin tyrosine ligase. The aromatic aldehyde of the unnatural amino acid serves as an orthogonal electrophile that specifically reacts with a fluorophore containing an aromatic hydrazine functional group, which in this case is 7-hydrazino-4-methyl coumarin. Conditions for covalent bond formation between the unnatural amino acid and the fluorophore are mild, allowing fluorescently labeled tubulin to retain its ability to assemble into microtubules. A key feature of the labeling reaction is that it produces a red shift in the fluorophore’s absorption and emission maxima, accompanied by an increase in its quantum yield; thus, fluorescently labeled protein can be observed in the presence of unreacted fluorophore. Both the enzymatic and cou...
Intramolecular transannular cyclization of macrocyclic diallenes with iron carbonyls to form tetramethyleneethane derivatives

Abstract The macrocyclic diallenes 1,2,6,7-cyclodecatetraene and 1,2,9,10-cyclohexadecatetraene undergo intramolecular transannular cyclizations upon reaction with Fe 3 (CO) 12 in boiling hexane to give the red-orange bicyclic tetramethyleneethane—diiron hexacarbonyl derivatives C 10 H 12 Fe 2 (CO) 6 and C 16 H 24 Fe 2 (CO) 6 , respectively. Cerium(IV) degradation of C 10 H 12 Fe 2 (CO) 6 gives 1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene in accordance with the proposed structure of C 10 H 12 Fe 2 (CO) 6 with two fused six-membered rings.
Evaluating the use of IKONOS satellite imagery in lowland Maya settlement archaeology

This article presents an extensive evaluation, in several contiguous or near-contiguous areas, of the viability of IKONOS satellite imagery in detecting sub-canopy Maya settlement in Peten, Guatemala. Initial research in and around San Bartolo, Guatemala, led to the conclusion that IKONOS imagery could be highly effective in detecting and predicting Maya settlement of the Preclassic and Classic periods, in zones of dense occupation near swampy lowlands known as bajos. The pioneering methods at San Bartolo are applied here to other regions in the Maya lowlands, but with mixed or unpromising results. Preliminary evaluation indicates that local climate, geology, hydrology, topography, pedology, and vegetation differ dramatically in these other regions, with consequences for wider application of the settlement signature discerned at San Bartolo. Possible reasons for these difficulties are offered in this paper, along with ways to strengthen the use of multispectral imagery in archaeological survey of tropical forests.
Real-time monitoring of carbocationic polymerization of isobutylene using in situ FTIR-ATR spectroscopy with conduit and diamond-composite sensor technology

Isobutylene (IB) polymerization kinetics were monitored in real time using mid-infrared FTIR-ATR spectroscopy, with a diamond-composite insertion probe and light conduit technology. Polymerization was initiated using the 5-tert-butyl-1,3-bis(2-chloro-2-propyl)benzene (t-Bu-m-DCC)/2,4-dimethylpyridine (DMP)/TiCl4 (1:2:20) system in hexane/methyl chloride (60:40 v/v) cosolvents at −80 °C, with [t-Bu-m-DCC] = 1.90 × 10-3 M and [IB]0 = 1.0 M. Monomer concentration as a function of time was obtained by monitoring the absorbance at 887 cm-1 associated with the CH2 wag of IB. The calculated apparent first-order rate constant of 8.4 × 10-4 s-1 was within 3% of the value determined from traditional gravimetric methods (8.6 × 10-4 s-1) withing the same range of conversion. Inspection of the first-order plot generated from the FTIR data revealed a number of deviations from linearity, which were attributed primarily to a transient rise and subsequent fall in reactor temperature caused by the initial large exotherm of...
Historical patterns of oak population expansion in the Chautauqua Hills, Kansas

Aim Rates of tree population expansion have increased in many North American landscapes that were mosaics of grasslands, savannas and woodlands historically. Consequences of woodland expansion include reduced economic return from grazing and changes in native biodiversity, but causes of woodland expansion are poorly understood. We address historical timing of blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica) and post oak (Quercus stellata) population expansion in tree–grass ecosystems, roles of climate and land use in driving this expansion, and future stability of these woodlands. Location The Cross Timbers ecosystem in Kansas, USA. Methods Using increment cores, we quantified blackjack oak and post oak age structures in four woodlands on sites that were not wooded in the 1860s. We compared timing of oak regeneration with climate fluctuations (using the Palmer drought severity index) and land-use history. We quantified tree species composition within 5-m radii of sampled oaks. Results Recruitment of both oak species increased between 1925 and 1945. Modal age classes recruited from 1935 to 1960. Recruitment was associated with dry intervals at the two sites with north- or east-facing aspects. This association was driven by blackjack oak recruitment in dry intervals. Woodlands on the sites with south- and west-facing aspects contained only oaks, whereas those on the sites with north- and east-facing aspects contained saplings of fire-intolerant, shade-tolerant tree species. Main conclusions Our results contribute to growing evidence for woodland expansion in the region during dry climate intervals. The association between drought and recruitment was influenced by slope aspect and was more pronounced in the less fire-tolerant oak species. Although woodland expansion coincided with regional increases in fire frequency, drought and greater use of prescribed burning are likely to have reduced fire intensities by reducing fuel loads. These oak woodlands, which have developed during the 20th century, appear to form stable communities on xeric slopes but to be undergoing succession towards a mesophytic tree community on mesic slopes.
Influence of Irrigated Agriculture on Soil Carbon and Microbial Community Structure

Increasing the amount of carbon (C) in soils is one method to reduce the concentration of carbon dixoide (CO2) in the atmosphere. We measured organic C stored in southern Idaho soils having long-term cropping histories that supported native sagebrush vegetation (NSB), irrigated moldboard plowed crops (IMP), irrigated conservation-chisel-tilled crops (ICT), and irrigated pasture systems (IP). The CO2 emitted as a result of fertilizer production, farm operations, and CO2 lost via dissolved carbonate in irrigation water, over a 30-year period, was estimated and used to calculate net C fixation. Organic C in ecosystems decreased in the order IP>ICT>IMP> NSB. In February 2001, active fungal, bacterial, and microbial biomass was greater in IP soils than all other soils. Active fungal, bacterial, and microbial biomass was least in ICT soils at the 15–30-cm depth than all other soils. In August 2001, active bacterial biomass was greater in IMP soils than IP, ICT, and NSB soils. Active fungal biomass was greater in IP soils than all other soils. Whole-soil fatty acid profiles differed among management regimes and sampling dates and, to a lesser extent, with soil depth. FAME profiles from the NSB soils were distinct from the agricultural treatments and contained greater amounts of total fatty acids than the other treatments. The IMP and ICT soils yielded fatty acid profiles that were similar to each other, although those at the 15–30-cm depth were distinct from all other treatment-depth combinations. The IP FAME profiles suggest that arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are more common in these soils than soils from the other treatments. Differences in carbon substrate utilization patterns (BIOLOG) among treatments were more variable and less pronounced that FAME results. In general, irrigated arid soils can both increase C storage while increasing microbial biomass and changing microbial diversity.
IS THE FLORIDA SAND SKINK (PLESTIODON REYNOLDSI )A DIETARY SPECIALIST

Abstract We examined the question of whether an apparently restricted diet qualifies the Florida sand skink (Plestiodon reynoldsi) as a dietary specialist. We gathered diet data from the three existing sources, added new data from individuals that we collected, and used these data to calculate measures of dietary diversity. We compared the diet of P. reynoldsi with those of 25 species of skinks, nine species of fossorial squamates, and six species of lizards and snakes found in habitats similar to those occupied by P. reynoldsi. We estimated diet choice indirectly and applied standards of specialization drawn from the literature. In every regard, the Florida sand skink did not seem to have a restricted diet. Dietary diversity values for the species are near the center of the distribution of values for skinks and for the species found in similar habitats. The species has a higher than expected H′ value, based on the identity of its main prey, and the highest or nearly highest dietary diversity values among...
The role of pressure solution seam and joint assemblages in the formation of strike-slip and thrust faults in a compressive tectonic setting; The Variscan of south-western Ireland

Abstract The Ross Sandstone in County Clare, Ireland, was deformed by an approximately north-south compression during the end-Carboniferous Variscan orogeny. The initial assemblage consists of mutually abutting orthogonal arrays of 170° oriented set 1 joints/veins (JVs) and approximately 75° oriented set 1 pressure solution seams (PSSs) formed under the same stress conditions. Orientations of splay JVs and PSSs (set 2) suggest a clockwise remote stress rotation of about 35° responsible for the contemporaneous shearing of the set 1 arrays. Among these nearly orthogonal strike-slip faults, the prominent set is sub-parallel to set 1 JVs. These faults are formed by the linkage of en-echelon segments with broad damage zones responsible for right-lateral offsets of hundreds of meters. Thrust faults with up to 30 m of offset initiate within shale horizons and follow either the PSSs in the sandstones or high-angle shales within tilted sequences. Within the large thrust fault zones, compartmentalised blocks of rocks are bounded by thrust faults segments with various dip angles. Strike-slip and thrust faults are contemporaneous and owe their existence to initial weaknesses in the form of JVs and PSSs rather than by switching relative stress magnitudes and orientations associated with Andersonian models of faults and related stress orientations.
Generally Astigmatic Gaussian Beam Representation and Optimization Using Skew Rays

A method is presented of using skew rays to optimize a generally astigmatic optical system to obtain the desired Gaussian beam focus and minimize aberrations, and to calculate the propagating generally astigmatic Gaussian beam parameters at any point.
Level of Symptom Relief and the Need for Palliative Care in the Hemodialysis Population

The primary purpose of this investigation was to document the level of relief that patients with end-stage renal disease treated with hemodialysis obtain from their symptoms. Anecdotal clinical observations suggest that these patients' symptoms are not effectively relieved and that they would benefi
Effects of Phenylalanine Substitutions in Gramicidin A on the Kinetics of Channel Formation in Vesicles and Channel Structure in SDS Micelles

The common occurrence of Trp residues at the aqueous-lipid interface region of transmembrane channels is thought to be indicative of its importance for insertion and stabilization of the channel in membranes. To further investigate the effects of Trp→Phe substitution on the structure and function of the gramicidin channel, four analogs of gramicidin A have been synthesized in which the tryptophan residues at positions 9, 11, 13, and 15 are sequentially replaced with phenylalanine. The three-dimensional structure of each viable analog has been determined using a combination of two-dimensional NMR techniques and distance geometry-simulated annealing structure calculations. These phenylalanine analogs adopt a homodimer motif, consisting of two β6.3 helices joined by six hydrogen bonds at their NH2-termini. The replacement of the tryptophan residues does not have a significant effect on the backbone structure of the channels when compared to native gramicidin A, and only small effects are seen on side-chain conformations. Single-channel conductance measurements have shown that the conductance and lifetime of the channels are significantly affected by the replacement of the tryptophan residues (Wallace, 2000; Becker et al., 1991). The variation in conductance appears to be caused by the sequential removal of a tryptophan dipole, thereby removing the ion-dipole interaction at the channel entrance and at the ion binding site. Channel lifetime variations appear to be related to changing side chain-lipid interactions. This is supported by data relating to transport and incorporation kinetics.
Fatigue and cancer: causes, prevalence and treatment approaches

Fatigue is the most prevalent cancer-related symptom and has a significant adverse impact on patients' functional ability and quality of life. Hypotheses regarding the aetiology of cancer-related fatigue are discussed, and clinical practice guidelines for the evaluation and management of oncology patients with fatigue are reviewed. Both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic strategies for the management of fatigue are summarised.
Greek Folk Dress: Application of the Ethnohistorical Method

Ethnohistory, an interdisciplinary approach employing research methods from both anthropology and history, is applied to the study of women's folk costumes in Greece. Methodological considerations are discussed Observations are based on four research projects using documentary and ethnographic sources. A synopsis of the most recent project, entitled Costumes of Euboea, is presented to demonstrate the usefulness of the ethnohistorical method to the study of traditional dress.
A Simplified Procedure for Purification of Human Prothrombin, Factor IX and Factor X

A simplified procedure is described for the purification of prothrombin, Factor X and Factor IX in overall yields of 35-40% from pooled human plasma. The initial steps, which are common to prior purification techniques, include adsorption onto and elution from barium citrate, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and DEAE-Sephadex chromatography. The procedure differs from previous techniques in that the nest step, heparin-agarose chromatography, is carried out in a (sodium) citrate buffer, pH 7.5. These chromatographic conditions permit the separation of prothrombin, Factor X and Factor IX from each other, yielding fractions with apparent homogeneity in several electrophoretic systems. The additional chromatographic steps of earlier purification procedures are therefore unnecessary. The heaprin-agrarose column chromatographic conditions consistently resulted in the separation of human prothrombin in into two fractions in a ratio of approximately 4:1. Both fractions possess similar specific activity in a one stage prothrombin assay, and also activate at the same rate in a Factor Xa, Ca2+ and phospholipid system. Both fractions of prothrombin also comigrate in sodium dodecyl sulfate gel electrophoresis with an apparent Mr integral of 70,000.
Laboratory Furnace for Studies in Controlled Atmospheres; Melting Points of MgO in a N2 Atmosphere and of Cr2O3 in N2 and in Air Atmospheres

An induction furnace design which readily permits the determination of melting points and basic phase studies is described. The melting point of MgO was redetermined to be 2825°C., and the melting point of Cr2O3 is reported as 2330° and 2315°C. in air and in nitrogen atmospheres, respectively.
Small-Scale HCCI Engine Operation

Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) combustion in a small-scale engine (25 cc) was experimentally examined. Historically, HCCI combustion has been studied in engines sized for passenger vehicles and trucks (approximately 500 cc and larger). HCCI combustion in large-scale engines is characterized by higher efficiency than SI and CI combustion. High rates of heat flux, due to large surface area to volume ratio and engine body material, initially prevented the small-scale engine from operating in HCCI mode. The high level of heat transfer was overcome and sustained small-scale HCCI operation was achieved with n-heptane fuel. Large-scale HCCI engines utilize ultralow equivalence ratios to achieve high efficiencies. The small-scale HCCI engine could not operate with equivalence ratios lower than 0.73. Performance characteristics including power, efficiency, and NOx emissions of the small-scale HCCI engine were poorer than when operated in SI mode. Recommendations to overcome high rates of heat flux ...
Poly-N-acetyl-β-(1-6)-glucosamine is a target for protective immunity against Acinetobacter baumannii infections.

Acinetobacter baumannii has emerged as a highly troublesome, global pathogen. Treatment is complicated by high levels of antibiotic resistance, necessitating alternative means to prevent or treat A. baumannii infections. We evaluated an immunotherapeutic approach against A. baumannii, focusing on the surface polysaccharide poly-N-acetyl-β-(1-6)-glucosamine (PNAG). We used a synthetic oligosaccharide of 9 monosaccharide units (9Glc-NH2) conjugated to tetanus toxoid (TT) to induce antibodies in rabbits. In the presence of complement and polymorphonuclear cells, antisera to 9Glc-NH2-TT mediated the killing of A. baumannii S1, a high-PNAG-producing strain, but not its isogenic PNAG-negative, in-frame deletion mutant strain, S1 Δpga. Complementing the pgaABCD locus in trans in the shuttle vector pBAD18kan-ori, plasmid Δpga-c, restored the high levels of killing mediated by antibody to PNAG observed with the wild-type S1 strain. No killing was observed when normal rabbit serum (NRS) or heat-inactivated complement was used. Antiserum to 9Glc-NH2-TT was highly opsonic against an additional four unrelated multidrug-resistant clinical isolates of A. baumannii that synthesize various levels of surface PNAG. Using two clinically relevant models of A. baumannii infection in mice, pneumonia and bacteremia, antisera to 9Glc-NH2-TT significantly reduced levels of A. baumannii in the lungs or blood 2 and 24 h postinfection, respectively, compared to levels of control groups receiving NRS. This was true for all four A. baumannii strains tested. Overall, these results highlight the potential of PNAG as a vaccine component for active immunization or as a target for passive antibody immunotherapy.
The Line Sequence Diagram

This paper describes the symbols and techniques used to construct and apply a line sequence diagram. A line sequence diagram, as the name implies, describes the sequence of operations for an electrical control circuit.
Regulation of benzoate-CoA ligase in Rhodopseudomonas palustris

The first step in the anaerobic pathway of benzoate degradation by Rhodopseudomonas palustris is catalyzed by benzoate-coenzyme A ligase. To study factors influencing the synthesis of this enzyme, a polyclonal antiserum was prepared and in immunoblot assays. Benzoate-CoA ligase was synthesized when cells were grown with benzoate, as well as with hydroxyl- and methyl-substituted benzoates. Partially reduced alicyclic compounds proposed to be intermediates in the benzoate pathway also induced benzoate-CoA ligase. Ligase synthesis was repressed by oxygen. The diversity of inducers is consistent with the observation that benzoate is a central intermediate in the degradation of a variety of aromatic acids with more complex structures.
The Need for Responsibly Pursuing Work in Juvenile Psychopathy

ABSTRACT The debate surrounding the application of the psychopathy construct to juveniles polarizes mental health professionals and must be considered within the context of (1) larger societal problems of reification and general misuse of mental health diagnoses and (2) more specific problems caused by the “forensic culture.” In supporting the responsible application of the psychopathy construct to juveniles, I review how (1) psychopathy is fast becoming a reliable and empirically validated assessment for juveniles, already equaling or surpassing more subjective evaluation processes and even other diagnostic categories; (2) the state of the science in culturally competent juvenile psychopathy assessment is positive so far, and in need of immediate empirical attention; (3) concerns about the malleability of psychopathy in juveniles are rooted in problematic assumptions; and (4) the empirical evidence regarding the cost/benefit of stigma versus clinical gain currently supports careful responsible use. I clo...
Projection pattern of sensory neurons in the central nervous system of a homeotic mutation of the moth Manduca sexta.

Octopod (Octo) is a mutation of the moth Manduca sexta, which transforms the first abdominal segment (A1) in the anterior direction. Mutant animals are characterized by the appearance of homeotic thoracic-like legs on A1. We exploited this mutation to determine what rules might be used in specifying the fates of sensory neurons located on the body surface of larval Manduca. Mechanical stimulation of homeotic leg sensilla did not cause reflexive movements of the homeotic legs, but elicited responses similar to those observed following stimulation of ventral A1 body wall hairs. Intracellular recordings demonstrated that several of the motoneurons in the A1 ganglion received inputs from the homeotic sensory hairs. The responses of these motoneurons to stimulation of homeotic sensilla resembled their responses to stimulation of ventral body wall sensilla. Cobalt fills revealed that the mutation transformed the segmental projection pattern of only the sensory neurons located on the ventral surface of A1, resulting in a greater number with intersegmental projection patterns typical of sensory neurons found on the thoracic body wall. Many of the sensory neurons on the homeotic legs had intersegmental projection patterns typical of abdominal sensory neurons: an anteriorly directed projection terminating in the third thoracic ganglion (T3). Once this projection reached T3, however, it mimicked the projections of the thoracic leg sensory neurons. These results demonstrate that the same rules are not used in the establishment of the intersegmental and leg-specific projection patterns. Segmental identity influences the intersegmental projection pattern of the sensory neurons of Manduca, whereas the leg-specific projections are consistent with a role for positional information in determining their pattern. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A Psorosis-Like Agent Prevalent in Florida's Grapefruit Groves and Budwood Sources

Rio Grande Gummosis (RGG) is one of the most serious diseases of grapefruit in the Indian River region of Florida. Experiments were conducted to determine if a graft-transmissible agent was associated with this disease in commercial grapefruit, and if any such agent was present in scion sources used for grapefruit propagation. Indexing data from indicators revealed that 79% and 31% of the commercial grapefruit and scion trees, respectively, contained a psorosis-like agent (PLA). The PLA was present in both RGG-affected and symptomless trees. We conclude that Florida's grapefruit propagation sources are contaminated with a PLA that is now widespread in commercial plantings.
Z couplings to pseudo-Goldstone bosons within extended technicolor

Abstract The couplings of the Z to pseudo-Goldstone particles occuring within technicolor theories are examined using the chiral lagrangian technique. Particular attention is paid to the effects of the four-technifermion interactions of extended technicolor. Interactions of this type can give the pseudo-Goldstone bosons their masses and also can induce couplings of the form Z μ Z μ P 0 , Z μ ( P 0 ∂μ P 0 ′− P 0 ′ ∂μ P 0 ) and Z μ W μ P . We show however that none of the four-Fermi interactions which induce the neutral pseudo-Goldstone Z μ Z μ P 0 couplings contribute to the average mass squared of the pseudo-Goldstone bosons to first order, so that these couplings can be appreciable even for light pseudo-Goldstone bosons. The Z μ Z μ P 0 couplings are Higgs-like but for symmetry reasons cannot occur in pure technicolor models without four-technifermion interactions. The Z μ ( P 0 ∂μ P 0 ′− P 0 ′ ∂μ P 0 ) couplings are also Higgs-like, and unless unusual hypercharge assignments are given to the technifermions, they too are forbidden in the absence of four-technifermion interactions. When these four-Fermi couplings are taken into account, the above vertices can occur, and there exists the possibility that they can approach strengths comparable to their standard Higgs counterparts in models where the number of technifermion flavors is reasonably large. This can make the experimental differentiation of pseudo-Goldstone particles from Higgs particles more difficult. The vertex Z μ W μ P is notably not Higgs-like and therefore we have found it relevant also to study this coupling.
RNA Polymerase III of Blastocladiella emersonii is Mitochondrial

MULTIPLE RNA polymerases have been shown to exist in a wide variety of eukaryotic organisms1–5. Two nuclear polymerases have been found in all the cells studied, each with a specific location and a specific function: the DEAE fraction I enzyme is located in the nucleolus and may be involved in the synthesis of ribosomal RNA1,2,5,6; the DEAE fraction II enzyme is located in the non-nucleolar nucleoplasm and functions in the synthesis of DNA-like RNA2–5,7. The DEAE fraction III enzyme was reported to exist in sea urchin1, the aquatic fungus B. emersonii5 and to be present sometimes in rat liver preparations1,8. Although there have been some reports that polymerase III is nuclear, Horgen and Griffin5 showed that the enzyme was sensitive to the prokaryotic RNA polymerase inhibitor rifampicin. They suggested that the fraction III enzyme may be mitochondrial, formed as the result of organelle contamination in their crude nuclear preparations. The results of this study show that the DEAE fraction III enzyme in B. emersonii is a mitochondrial enzyme, most likely functioning in the synthesis of mitochondrial RNA. The rifampicin sensitivity of the enzyme is further evidence of a prokaryotic origin of mitochondria9,10.
Comparative mutagenic efficiencies of the DNA adducts from the cooked-food-related mutagens Trp-P-2 and IQ in CHO cells.

Abstract The relationship between DNA-adduct formation and mutagenicity of two heterocyclic aromatic amines associated with cooked foods was determined in a CHO cell strain lacking nucleotide excision repair. Cells were exposed to tritiated IQ (2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-F]quinoline) or Trp-P-2 (3-amino-1-methyl-5 H -pyrido[4,3- b ]indole) supplemented with hamster S9 microsomal fraction for metabolic activation. DNA from nuclei was isolated by DNAase-mediated elution from polycarbonate filters after RNAase and proteinase treatment. The presumed metabolites of both compounds bound to DNA in a dose-dependent fashion. Although the dose required to produce 50% cell killing was 15 times higher for IQ than Trp-P-2, the amount of radioactive material bound to DNA at that dose was about 10-fold lower with IQ. When mutations at the hprt and aprt loci were compared with the estimated levels of adducts, the calculated mutagenic efficiency of the adducts was bout 4 mutations per 1000 adducts for both compounds, assuming a target sequence of 1000 base pairs for either locus. We conclude that IQ is acting as a weak mutagen in this system because its extracellular metabolites either do not reach or do not react efficiently with the DNA of the CHO cells.
Contributions to the theory of organismic sets: Why are there only two sexes

Ever since 1927 when the author began his work in mathematical biology, one of the most intriguing problems in biology appeared to him to be: Why are there only two sexes? The question may seem to be utterly absurd, possibly because we are empirically so used to the existence of two opposite sexes that we take this fact for granted. Genetics shows us the usefulness of sexual reproduction compared with asexual reproduction. The former provides for the possibility of producing a number of new combinations of genes and thus a number of different varieties of individuals of a species. But why only two sexes? It is logically conceivable that biological structures may exist such that their multiplication may require the fusion not of two but of three, four or any other numberk of cells. Such situations are quite easily imagined for unicellulars, such as bacteria or paramecia. But with some greater effort of our imagination we may well imagine such a situation to occur also in higher organisms and men. Why does this not occur? This paper discusses some possible answers to this question.
Regional left atrial voltage in patients with atrial fibrillation.

Background Regional differences in fibrosis, particularly related to the posterior wall and septum, may be important in atrial fibrillation (AF). Using electroanatomic mapping, voltage can be used as a measure of fibrosis. Objectives The purpose of this study was to determine if patients with AF have disproportionately lower voltage in the septal and posterior walls of the left atrium. Methods Sinus rhythm left atrial electroanatomic maps were used in serial patients presenting for left atrial ablation of AF (8-mm tip). Patients undergoing left atrial mapping for focal atrial tachycardia (AT) were used as a comparison group (4-mm tip). Animal experiments were performed to assess the influence of ablation catheter tip size on voltage amplitude. Results The posterior and septal walls exhibited the lowest voltages in both groups. Compared with the anterior wall, there was a 3.78-fold greater odds of finding a low-voltage point ( P P P = .05). Conclusion Regional differences in voltage are present in patients with atrial arrhythmias, with AF patients exhibiting significantly more low-voltage areas in the septum and posterior walls.