cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Assessment of the contamination of surface water and fish from Côte d'Ivoire

Water and fish samples were collected from selected rivers and lagoons from Cote d'Ivoire. Water samples were analyzed for their chemical characteristics and for the levels of heavy metals and organochlorine pesticides. Fish samples were analyzed for the presence of organochlorine pesticides. The values for pH and total hardness found indicate that these waters are suitable for drinking. The COD is higher in the south and urban areas indicating an enrichment in organic matter due to agricultural and industrial activities. Only two metals, zinc and copper were detected at very low levels (ranges of values). The levels of organochlorine pesticides detected in water and fish samples were below the extraneous residue limits (ERL) and the acceptable daily intake (ADI) set by the FAO/WHO codex alimentarius commission. The levels found are higher in the south and around urban areas. These findings [correction of finding] indicate that agriculture and industrial activities are the most important source of surface water contamination by xenobiotics.
Welfare: Views from the Bottom

Using data from a random sample of 149 Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) recipients in Chicago, this paper explores what recipients think about their experiences with welfare programs and how these beliefs are affected by their sense of efficacy, length of time on public assistance, social status, and personal characteristics. Respondents who have been on AFDC for shorter periods have more optimistic views of their circumstances and are more confident about their ability to become self-supporting. A substantial proportion of recipients have serious concerns about the negative consequences of receiving AFDC for their personal lives, but believe they have no other viable alternative sources of support. These findings have important implications for policy makers concerned about problems of long-term dependence on public assistance.
Perioperative differences between endovascular repair of thoracic and abdominal aortic diseases

Background With the US Food and Drug Administration approval of the TAG thoracic device, more thoracic pathologies are being treated using endovascular techniques. Although endovascular abdominal and thoracic aortic repairs have some apparent similarities, there are substantive anatomic, pathologic, and technical differences that could impact perioperative outcomes. The purpose of this study is to identify these differences. Methods During a 5-year period, 121 endovascular thoracic aortic repairs (TEVAR) and 450 abdominal aortic repairs (EVAR) were performed at a single institution. Preoperative, intraoperative, and early postoperative data were prospectively collected and retrospectively reviewed. Aggregate outcome measures were compared between the two cohorts, with statistical significance achieved at P Results The mean age of patients undergoing EVAR was 72.8 ± 8.3 compared with 68.3 ± 13.9 for TEVAR ( P = .02). More women underwent TEVAR (30.6% vs 11.1%, P P = .01). Intraoperatively, EVAR required 26.2 minutes of fluoroscopy compared with 22.1 minutes for TEVAR ( P P P P = .007). The 30-day or in-hospital mortality was 2.0% for EVAR and 5.0% for TEVAR ( P = NS). The median length of stay was longer for TEVAR (3 days vs 2 days, P = .034). There were 54 postoperative complications in 36 TEVAR patients (29.8%), including 13 neurologic (10.7%), 8 renal (6.6%), 7 pulmonary (5.8%), 6 ischemic (5.0), and 5 (4.1%) hemorrhagic events. Among the EVAR group, 136 (30.2%) patients had postoperative complications, which included 45 ischemic (10.0%), 34 wound (7.6%), 22 renal (4.9%), 12 cardiac (2.7%), 8 pulmonary (1.8%), 5 gastrointestinal (1.1%), and 4 neurologic (0.9%) events. Conclusions A relatively higher proportion of women underwent TEVAR than EVAR, and this was reflected in the greater need for iliac conduits to accommodate the larger delivery catheters of the thoracic devices. Intraoperative imaging techniques were also different, and TEVAR required higher contrast volumes despite shorter overall procedure times. The incidence of strokes and spinal cord ischemia was also higher during TEVAR. Despite apparent similarities of devices and techniques, EVAR and TEVAR are fundamentally different procedures with different perioperative outcomes.
Oberflächenmodifikation von porösem Silicium durch elektrochemische Reduktion organischer Halogenide

Die Funktionalisierung hydridterminierter Oberflachen von porosem und von einkristallinem Silicium mit organischen Verbindungen gelang durch elektrochemische Reduktion von organischen Iodiden und Bromiden (siehe Schema). Diese neue Methode ist schnell und effizient, und es wird eine hohe Oberflachenbedeckung mit funktionalisierten und nichtfunktionalisierten Alkyl- und Benzylgruppen in wenigen Minuten erreicht.
Identification of non-proliferating cells in melanoma B16 tumour

THE detection of growth fraction and the characterisation of non-proliferating cells are extremely important in human tumour therapy1,2. Cytological criteria for individual objective discrimination in vivo between non-proliferating and proliferating cells with the same DNA content have not been previously available3. It has been shown recently, in vitro, that the transition from the non-proliferating to proliferating state (G0—G1) of WI-38 cells—human diploid fibroblasts—can be objectively characterised in the intact cell by flow microfluiorimetry4 and geometric–densitometric texture analysis5. Similar differences in nuclear morphometry and chromatin conformation between proliferating G1 and non-proliferating ‘G0 + Q’ cells are reported here for the first time for tumour cells in vivo, by parallel utilisation of objective image analysis and multiparameter laser flow microfluorimetry, both correlated with autoradiography.
Schwann cell myelination of the myelin deficient rat spinal cord following X-irradiation

The myelin-deficient (md) rat is an X-linked myelin mutant that has an abnormality of oligodendrocytes and a severe paucity of myelin throughout the CNS. This lack of myelin makes it an ideal model in which to study the cellular interactions that occur when "foreign" myelinating cells are induced in the milieu of this nonmyelinated CNS. In this study, Schwann cells were induced in the lumbosacral spinal cord by exposing it to radiation, a technique demonstrated repeatedly in other nonmutant strains of rats. Md rats and their age-matched littermates were irradiated (3,000 to 4,000 R) at 3 days of age and perfused 16-22 days later after pulse labeling with tritiated thymidine. In the md rat, Schwann cell invasion progressed from the area of the spinal cord-nerve root junction and extended into the dorsal columns and adjacent gray matter. Autoradiographic evidence revealed that many of these cells incorporated 3H-thymidine, indicating that they were undergoing proliferation. Ultrastructural observations showed that there was an integration of these intraspinal Schwann cells with the cells normally occurring in this environment, i.e., oligodendrocytes and astrocytes. The extent of migration and division of Schwann cells, as well as their interactions with glial cells, were similar to those seen in the nonmutant irradiated littermates. These studies provide conclusive evidence that md rat axons are normal with respect to their ability to provide trophic and mitogenic signals to myelinating cells.
Determining the oxidation states of manganese in PC12 and nerve growth factor-induced PC12 cells.

Abstract Excessive brain Mn can produce toxicity with symptoms resembling parkinsonism. This syndrome, called “manganism,” correlates with loss of dopamine in the striatum and cell death in the striatum and globus pallidus. A common hypothesis is that cell damage in Mn toxicity is caused by oxidation of important cell components by Mn3+. Determination of the amount of Mn3+ present, under a range of conditions, in neuronal cells and brain mitochondria represents an important step in evaluating the “damage through oxidation by Mn3+ hypothesis.” In an earlier paper we used X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy to determine the amount of Mn2+ and Mn3+ in brain mitochondria under a range of conditions. Here we extend the study to investigate the evidence for formation of Mn3+ through oxidation of Mn2+ by ROS in PC12 cells and in PC12 cells induced with nerve growth factor (NGF) to display a phenotype more like that of neurons. Although the results suggest that very small amounts of Mn3+ might be present at low Mn levels, probably in Mn superoxide dismutase, Mn3+ is not stabilized by complex formation in these cells and therefore does not accumulate to detectable amounts.
The genetic consequences of a demographic bottleneck in an introduced biological control insect

Population bottlenecks may result in the loss of genetic diversity, with potentially negative consequences for species of interest in conservation biology, including rare species, invasive species and biological control agents. We examined mtDNA sequence data and four variable microsatellite loci (SSRs) in the melaleuca psyllid Boreioglycaspis melaleucae, which was introduced from Australia to Florida as a biological control agent of the invasive plant Melaleuca quinquenervia. We sampled psyllids in the native and introduced ranges as well as individuals stored from the original founding population. There was a clear loss of mtDNA haplotype diversity, as well as a loss of rare microsatellite alleles, in the introduced range. However, there was little genetic differentiation between the home and introduced ranges, and no evidence for a genetic bottleneck based on an analysis of heterozygosity with the microsatellite markers. Overall, the data showed that the demographic bottleneck had a limited effect on the genetics of populations in the new range.
Pointer swizzling at page fault time: efficiently supporting huge address spaces on standard hardware

We describe a scheme for supporting huge address spaces without the need for long addresses implemented in hardware. Pointers are translated ("swizzled") from a long format to a shorter format (directly supported by normal hardware) at page fault time. No extra hardware is required beyond that normally used by virtual memory systems, and no continual software cost is incurred by presence checks or indirection of pointers.This scheme could be used to fault pages into a normal memory from a persistent store, or simply to avoid extra hardware requirements when supporting large address spaces. It exploits temporal and spatial locality in much the same way as a normal virtual memory, so its performance should be quite good.
The Angular Distribution of Positron Annihilation Radiation

The angular distribution of the two quanta which are emitted in the annihilation of a positron and an electron was observed with coincidence counters of high resolving powers both in time and angle. The direct observations are consistent with the hypothesis that the two quanta are emitted in exactly opposite directions to within at least one degree. A comparison of the counter efficiency obtained from this angular distribution curve with a direct and independent measurement of the counter efficiency for annihilation radiation shows that the half-width of a possible distribution of deviations from strict collinearity is zero to within 15 minutes of angle. It may be concluded that the momentum balance is accurately maintained by the quanta alone, and that, in general, a positron stops before it is annihilated in accord with the theoretical estimates.
Evaluation of an Ultra-Low-Flow Water Delivery System for Small Experimental Tanks

Abstract An ultra-low-flow water delivery system was developed and tested for use in research studies requiring low flow in small water volumes. Small test systems save on the amount of fish, chemicals, and biologics needed in disease challenge and treatment experiments. The ultra-low-flow system, consisting of a semi-enclosed header tank with a variable-height standpipe and dulled, guarded syringe needle nozzles, can produce flows that result in 1–20 water exchanges/d for a 10-L volume. Water was prefiltered through two inline, 70-μm filters to limit flow loss due to particulates blocking the small-orifice nozzles. Accurate and precise flows are produced by the system, and needle nozzles should last at least 7 d before fouling requires them to be changed; nozzle changes can be made in about 5 s. Flows in the range of 5–135 mL/min were produced by using 3.8-cm-long needles (16, 18, 20, and 21 gauge) with standpipe heights of 15.2, 30.5, and 45.7 cm. Water flows through selected needle nozzles and standpip...
The Court rules Supreme.

The Supreme Court decision to uphold the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will have predictable political consequences and undoubtedly waste a lot of time and money that should be spent making the ACA work as Republicans seek to attack it and the Administration defends it. The first Terminator film comes to mind where, just as the heroine appears to have killed the machine from the future, it rises from the dead and keeps on pursuing her. Republicans, obviously quite chagrined about the George W Bush appointed chief justice being the deciding vote on the question of constitutionality, now threatens to storm the ramparts of Congress a 31st time and ‘repeal the law’. They lost the first 30 attempts. Repeal it with what; the Romney-initiated Massachusetts plan that was more radical than the early Obama plan and was more aggressive about universal coverage including a mandate for everyone to be in the system or face a penalty? That Massachusetts is now nearing universal coverage and is aggressively controlling costs in a state full of medical centres that don’t usually demonstrate technological restraint should make it hard for the Republicans to pick out anything that really makes sense NOT to do in the ACA. Finally, the fact that financing for expansion of health care nationally will come in a large part through higher taxes on the wealthy — which would include a lot of doctors — is particularly galling to Republicans, since the wealthy are the major funders of their efforts to unseat the president. But polls are turning …
Variation in Egg Content Density Makes Egg Specific Gravity a Poor Indicator of Shell Weight

Abstract Sloan, D.R., Harms, R.H., Abdullah, A.G. and Kuchinski, K.K. 2000. Variation in egg content density makes egg specific gravity a poor indicator of shell weight. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 18: 121–128. A study was conducted to measure the variability in egg content specific gravity (ECSG) among breeds and strains, and ages of laying hens. Also information is presented concerning how the specific gravity of egg content (EC) affects the specific gravity of egg (ESG). The observed ECSG ranged from a low of 1.0298 to a high of 1.0352. Based on the formula of Harms et al. (1990) a change of ECSG from 1.029 to 1.035 would change the ESG from 1.0823 to 1.0883 and the eggshell weight from 5.64 to 6.18 g. ECSG on a commercial farm ranged from 1.0323 to 1.0352. This resulted in calculated ESG from 1.0856 to 1.0885 and calculated SW from 5.84 to 6.21g. Researchers and industrymen must be very careful in using ESG data in making decisions relating to eggshell quality.
White Research in Black Communities: When Solutions Become a Part of the Problem

A distinction is made between the intellectual caliber of white researchers who have studied black people in the past, and those who study us today. Today's white researchers are perhaps counterproductive in black communities not because they are white, but because they are poorly trained. While race or skin color may be highly correlated with the amount of community legitimation a researcher acquires, it is not a determinant. Equally if not more important are the values which the researcher acquires as a result of his professional training. The problems associated with the influence of these values on black communities can be solved if action is taken with regard to several concrete issues. Conceivably white researchers may have the willingness and capacity to deal effectively with these.
Surface Expression of the Pre-β Subunit of Fertilin Is Regulated at a Post-translational Level in Guinea Pig Spermatids

Abstract During spermiogenesis in the guinea pig, the spermatid plasma membrane becomes sequentially segregated into three domains of distinct composition. We have previously shown that plasma membrane proteins appear on the cell surface in a temporally regulated manner such that proteins localized to the same domain reach the surface membrane at the same time in sperm development. Fertilin is a cell surface protein restricted to the whole head of testicular sperm; like other proteins restricted to this membrane domain, it does not appear on the cell surface until late (steps 11-13) in spermiogenesis. Using confocal microscopy of immunofluorescently labeled testicular sections, we demonstrate that the pre-β subunit of fertilin is present in pachytene spermatocytes. It is initially observed in long, strand-like structures that likely represent the endoplasmic reticulum; it later appears in a punctate distribution in the cytoplasm of early spermatids prior to its appearance on the surface membrane in late elongating spermatids. Immunoblotting experiments confirm the presence of the fertilin pre-β subunit in spermatocytes and early spermatids at the same apparent molecular weight as in later stages. These results suggest that the appearance of fertilin pre-β subunit on the spermatid surface is regulated by a post-translational mechanism.
Stochastic Detection of Enantiomers

The rapid quantification of the enantiomers of small chiral molecules is very important, notably in pharmacology. Here, we show that the enantiomers of drug molecules can be distinguished by stochastic sensing, a single-molecule detection technique. The sensing element is an engineered α-hemolysin protein pore, fitted with a β-cyclodextrin adapter. By using the approach, the enantiomeric composition of samples of ibuprofen and thalidomide can be determined in less than 1 s.
Detection of herpes simplex virus in clinical specimens by DNA hybridization

Abstract An assay to detect herpes simplex virus (HSV) DNA in clinical specimens has been developed. It utilizes nucleic acid hybridization with a 32 P-labeled DNA probe prepared from a fragment of HSV DNA cloned in a plasmid vector. This assay can detect 5 × 10 4 plaque-forming units of cell-free HSV and as few as four virus-infected cells. The assay has a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 100% compared to virus culture for the detection of HSV in swab specimens from genital lesions. No hybridization is observed with uninfected, varicella-zoster virus infected, or cytomegalovirus infected cells, and specimens from herpes zoster lesions are uniformly negative. While hybridization with a 32 P-labeled probe is not optimally suited for routine diagnostic use, this report establishes the feasibility of using nucleic acid hybridization to detect HSV in clinical specimens.
New Constituents from Noni (Morinda citrifolia) Fruit Juice

Morinda citrifolia L. (Rubiaceae), known as noni, has a long history of traditional use in the Hawaiian and Tahitian islands. More recently, an array of commercial noni fruit juice products are gaining popularity as dietary supplements, with claims of anticancer and immunostimulant activities. The biologically active principles of noni are not fully known. In continuation of work on the isolation of markers from dietary supplements, this paper reports the isolation of three new markers, namely, 1-O-(3'-methylbut-3'-enyl)-beta-D-glucopyranose (1), 1-n-butyl-4-(5'-formyl-2'-furanyl)methyl succinate (2), and 4-epi-borreriagenin (3), together with the known iridoid glycosides asperulosidic acid (4) and deacetylasperulosidic acid (5) and a mixture of 1-n-butyl-4-methyl-2-hydroxysuccinate (6a) and 1-n-butyl-4-methyl-3-hydroxysuccinate (6b), as well as a mixture of alpha- and beta-glucopyranose from noni fruit juice obtained from Puerto Rico. The structures of compounds were based on 1H and 13C NMR, mainly 2D NMR COSY, HMQC, HMBC, and NOESY experiments, and HRMS. Furthermore, samples from fresh-squeezed noni fruit juice from Japan revealed the presence of scopoletin (7), in addition to compounds 1-6, indicating no significant differences in the marker constituents of noni collected from Atlantic and Pacific regions.
Incipient octupole deformation and parity doublets in the odd mass light actinides

Abstract A non-perturbative method is used to investigate the existence of octupole deformations in the light, odd mass, actinides. Calculated level schemes and B (E3) values are presented for several nuclides. Several, almost degenerate, parity doublets are found in the calculations.
AMELOGENIN EXPRESSION IN CANINE ORAL TISSUES AND LESIONS

Amelogenins are major enamel proteins within the enamel extracellular matrix. The expression of amelogenin was confirmed in neonatal tissues of the canine jaw. The sequence of a portion of canine amelogenin cDNA, within exons 5 and 6, was determined and found to be closely homologous to sequences reported in the cow, pig, mouse and human being. Two acanthomatous epulides collected from clinically affected dogs showed amelogenin expression, whereas 22 other canine oral lesions, including six additional acanthomatous epulides, did not show amelogenin expression. Examination of structural proteins may allow precise identification of the histogenesis of the odontogenic neoplasms, which are often difficult to distinguish by means of morphological criteria alone.
Unified decision combination framework

Abstract Pattern recognition researchers are discovering that a judicious combination of classifiers, generally outperforms a single one. In this paper, we present a unified framework for decision combination. By looking at the combination problem from this new perspective, we gain an intuitive, perhaps better understanding of some of the known algorithms. A new parameterized combination method (pooled ranking figure of merit) is presented which is shown to be equivalent to three of the standard combination methods. Furthermore, our new decision combination method provides newer combination methods that provide interesting tradeoffs. These ideas are supported by simulation experiments.
Real-time transport in open quantum systems from PT -symmetric quantum mechanics

Nanoscale electronic transport is of intense technological interest, with applications ranging from semiconducting devices and molecular junctions to charge migration in biological systems. Most explicit theoretical approaches treat transport using a combination of density functional theory (DFT) and nonequilibrium Green’s functions. This is a static formalism, with dynamic response properties accommodated only through complicated extensions. To circumvent this limitation, the carrier density may be propagated using real-time time-dependent DFT (RT-TDDFT), with boundary conditions corresponding to an open quantum system. Complex absorbing potentials can emulate outgoing particles at the simulation boundary, although these do not account for
Concerns of South Korean patients and family members affected with genetic conditions: A content analysis of internet website messages

The genetic counseling profession is expanding globally, and many countries, such as South Korea, are in the early stages of developing programs to prepare healthcare professionals specifically trained as genetic counselors. However, little research has investigated the concerns of South Korean patients and family members that have genetic conditions. The present study assessed their concerns by accessing and analyzing messages posted to websites devoted to genetic conditions. Eighteen websites were accessed—1 website concerns general genetic conditions, and 17 concern specific conditions. A sample of 700 messages was translated into English and analyzed using grounded theory analysis. Three major themes and 30 categories were extracted. The themes are: 1) Medical Concerns (e.g., clinical symptoms, diagnosis, prognosis, recurrence risk, prevention, inheritance); 2) Psychosocial Concerns (e.g., emotions, social stigma, social support); and 3) Management Concerns (e.g., therapy and alternative treatments, education, financial support, nutrition, medical facilities, folk remedies). The findings provide insight into the types of information and genetic counseling services that might benefit South Korean individuals and family members.
Medical data mining

A medical data mining algorithm is proposed based on data mining techniques and relevant intelligent methods such as granular computing, neural computing and soft computing. It could lead to increased understanding of the causes of various diseases leading to better diagnosis.
CLOCK and NPAS2 have overlapping roles in the circadian oscillation of arylalkylamine N‐acetyltransferase mRNA in chicken cone photoreceptors

J. Neurochem. (2010) 113, 1296–1306. Abstract Circadian clocks in vertebrates are thought to be composed of transcriptional-translational feedback loops involving a highly conversed set of ‘clock genes’ namely, period (Per1-3) and cryptochrome (Cry1-2), which encode negative transcriptional regulators; and Bmal1, Clock, and Npas2, which encode positive regulators. Aanat, which encodes arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT), the key regulatory enzyme that drives the circadian rhythm of melatonin synthesis, contains a circadian E-box element (CACGTG) in its proximal promoter that is potentially capable of binding CLOCK : BMAL1 and NPAS2 : BMAL1 heterodimers. The present study was conducted to investigate whether CLOCK and/or NPAS2 regulates Aanat expression in photoreceptor cells. Npas2 and Clock are both expressed in photoreceptor cells in vivo and in vitro. To assess the roles of CLOCK and NPAS2 in Aanat expression, gene-specific micro RNA vectors were used to knock down expression of these clock genes in photoreceptor-enriched cell cultures. The knockdown of CLOCK protein significantly reduced the circadian expression of Npas2, Per2, and Aanat transcripts but had no effect on the circadian rhythm of Bmal1 transcript level. The knockdown of NPAS2 significantly damped the circadian rhythm of Aanat mRNAs but had no effect on circadian expression of any of clock genes examined, except Npas2 itself. Chromatin immunoprecipitation studies indicated that both CLOCK and NPAS2 bound to the Aanat promoter in situ. Thus, CLOCK and NPAS2 have overlapping roles in the clock output pathway that regulates the rhythmic expression of Aanat in photoreceptors. However, CLOCK plays the predominant role in the chicken photoreceptor circadian clockwork mechanism, including the regulation of NPAS2 expression.
Surface enhanced Raman scattering at Ag electrodes in non-aqueous pyridine solutions

Abstract The surface enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) of interfacial pyridine and Br − species at Ag electrodes from neat pyridine solutions containing tetra- n -butylammonium bromide is presented. The potential dependence of the SERS peak frequencies, bandwidths, and relative intensities is reported and interpreted in terms of pyridine reorientation in the double layer. A band at 221 cm −1 is observed at certain potentials and is assigned to the AgN stretch for Ag surface pyridine species.
Phosphorus Source Effects on Corn Utilization and Changes in Soil Test

Estimating crop availability of manure P and changes in soil test P (STP) with manure application are essential components of nutrient management planning. The objectives of this field study were to (i) evaluate manure P availability to crop growth through crop P uptake and yield; (ii) determine if second-year residual P availability from manure application is different than fertilizer; and (iii) evaluate the effect of P source on changes in STP levels. Research plots were established at Arlington and Marshfield, WI, in 2005 on fields with low STP. All P sources (dairy slurry, dairy solid, swine slurry, pelletized poultry litter, and fertilizer) were applied at three target rates of 39, 79, 118 kg total P ha ―1 in spring 2005 before planting corn (Zea mays L.). No additional P was applied in 2006. Phosphorus application increased early season biomass, silage and grain yield, and P uptake. In 2005, all manures had silage and grain yields and P uptakes, along with silage P recoveries, that were not significantly different than fertilizer. In 2006, the residual effect of 2005 P applications rates were observed; however, there was no significant difference in any measure of crop response between any manure and fertilizer. These data suggest that manure total P is as available to corn as fertilizer P in the year of application and in the following year. Manure application changed STP levels as much as fertilizer in terms of total P applied.
Faculty of color in academe: What 20 years of literature tells us.

To better prepare students for an increasingly diverse society, campuses across the country remain engaged in efforts to diversify the racial and ethnic makeup of their faculties. However, faculty of color remain seriously underrepresented, making up 17% of total full-time faculty. In the past 20 years, more than 300 authors have addressed the status and experience of faculty of color in academe. From 1988 to 2007, there was a continued rise in publications addressing the issue of the low representation of faculty of color. This article presents a literature review and synthesis of 252 publications, with the goal of informing scholars and practitioners of the current state of the field. Themes emerging from these publications and an interpretive model through which findings can be viewed are presented. The analysis, with a focus on the departmental, institutional, and national contexts, documents supports, challenges, and recommendations to address barriers and build on successes within these 3 contexts. The authors hope that this article informs researchers and practitioners as they continue their work to understand and promote the increased representation of faculty of color.
Fetal liver cell transplantation as a potential alternative to whole liver transplantation

Because organ shortage is the fundamental limitation of whole liver transplantation, novel therapeutic options, especially the possibility of restoring liver function through cell transplantation, are urgently needed to treat end-stage liver diseases. Groundbreaking in vivo studies have shown that transplanted hepatocytes are capable of repopulating the rodent liver. The two best studied models are the urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) transgenic mouse and the fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH)-deficient mouse, in which genetic modifications of the recipient liver provide a tissue environment in which there is extensive liver injury and selection pressure favoring the proliferation and survival of transplanted hepatocytes. Because transplanted hepatocytes do not significantly repopulate the (near-)normal liver, attention has been focused on finding alternative cell types, such as stem or progenitor cells, that have a higher proliferative potential than hepatocytes. Several sources of stem cells or stem-like cells have been identified and their potential to repopulate the recipient liver has been evaluated in certain liver injury models. However, rat fetal liver stem/progenitor cells (FLSPCs) are the only cells identified to date that can effectively repopulate the (near-)normal liver, are morphologically and functionally fully integrated into the recipient liver, and remain viable long-term. Even though primary human fetal liver cells are not likely to be routinely used for clinical liver cell repopulation in the future, using or engineering candidate cells exhibiting the characteristics of FLSPCs suggests a new direction in developing cell transplantation strategies for therapeutic liver replacement. This review will give a brief overview concerning the existing animal models and cell sources that have been used to restore normal liver structure and function, and will focus specifically on the potential of FLSPCs to repopulate the liver.
A Long Shot

A burst of unwelcome blood, a painless, alarming apparition. You figure the options, a calculus you’ve practiced hundreds of times with the lives of others; now every door you open and the darkness beyond, is your own.
Structural basis for autoregulation of the zinc transporter YiiP

Zinc transporters have crucial roles in cellular zinc homeostatic control. The 2.9-A resolution structure of the zinc transporter YiiP from Escherichia coli reveals a richly charged dimer interface stabilized by zinc binding. Site-directed fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) measurements and mutation-activity analysis suggest that zinc binding triggers hinge movements of two electrically repulsive cytoplasmic domains pivoting around four salt bridges situated at the juncture of the cytoplasmic and transmembrane domains. These highly conserved salt bridges interlock transmembrane helices at the dimer interface, where they are well positioned to transmit zinc-induced interdomain movements to reorient transmembrane helices, thereby modulating coordination geometry of the active site for zinc transport. The cytoplasmic domain of YiiP is a structural mimic of metal-trafficking proteins and the metal-binding domains of metal-transporting P-type ATPases. The use of this common structural module to regulate metal coordination chemistry may enable a tunable transport activity in response to cytoplasmic metal fluctuations.
Natural history of 46 patients with multifocal motor neuropathy with conduction block

We studied 46 consecutive patients with multifocal motor neuropathy with conduction block (MMN-CB). Typically, asymmetric weakness and atrophy of the hands or arms developed insidiously, but spontaneous improvement (without treatment) or death from this disease did not occur and 94% remained employed. For 18 patients examined on multiple occasions using the weakness subscore of the neuropathy impairment score [NIS(W)] for a median time of 2.3 years, worsening of 1.3 points per year was observed; many patients, however, had received intensive immunomodulating therapy. Median worsening to our first evaluation (generally without treatment) was estimated at 4.2 points per year, perhaps suggesting that treatment had influenced course. Three criteria for conduction block (CB) were compared, but the least stringent was sensitive for the diagnosis. Conduction block accompanied by weakness and atrophy typically affected only motor fibers, especially of midforearm nerves, and these sites of dysfunction persisted for months or years. Neurological signs and electrodiagnostic features were consistent with CB, axonal degeneration, a variable degree of reinnervation, and segmental demyelination. Although this study did not focus on therapy, intravenous gammaglobulin and cyclophosphamide appeared to be associated with neurological improvement, which was seldom complete or sustained. Axonal degeneration and faulty regeneration may in part explain this muted response. Possibly, treatment must be earlier, more intense, or different.
Phosphorylation of vascular smooth muscle caldesmon by endogenous kinase

Caldesmon was phosphorylated up to 1.2 molPi/mol using a partially purified endogenous kinase fraction. The phosphorylation site was within the C-terminal 99 amino acids. We were also able to phosphorylate caldesmon incorporated into native and synthetic smooth muscle thin filaments. Phosphorylation did not alter caldesmon binding to actin or inhibition or actomyosin ATPase. It also did not change Ca2+ sensitivity in native thin filaments. Phosphorylated caldesmon bound to myosin less than unphosphorylated caldesmon, especially when the myosin was also not phosphorylated. This work did not support the hypothesis that caldesmon function is modulated by phosphorylation.
Current management of colon trauma

This article offers a comprehensive review of colon trauma from World War I to the present. The process of evidence-based medicine was used to analyze the data from the past 25 years and define standards of care in the field. Where data are less compelling, recommendations and suggestions are provided for future research. Topics highlighted include destructive and nondestructive colon injuries, rectal injuries, on-table colonic lavage, colonic bypass tubes, risk factors, perioperative antibiotics, and colostomy closure.
Interaction of cleavage ridges with grain boundaries in polysilicon films

The morphology of cleavage surfaces across grain boundaries in free-standing silicon thin films was investigated. Three ridge–boundary interaction modes were identified. If the cleavage ridge was relatively deep, it could directly bypass a grain boundary. If it was relatively shallow, it would act as a stress concentrator promoting cleavage front transmission. It was also observed that due to the smoothening effect, the surface could become effectively less rough across a grain boundary.
Angiostatin selectively inhibits signaling by hepatocyte growth factor in endothelial and smooth muscle cells.

Angiostatin, an inhibitor of angiogenesis, contains 3 to 4 kringle domains that are derived from proteolytic cleavage of plasminogen. The antiangiogenic effects of angiostatin occur, in part, from its inhibition of endothelial cell surface adenosine triphosphate synthase, integrin functions, and pericellular proteolysis. Angiostatin has structural similarities to hepatocyte growth factor (HGF; “scatter factor”), a promoter of angiogenesis, that induces proliferation and migration of both endothelial and smooth muscle cells via its cell surface receptor, c-met. We hypothesized that angiostatin might block HGF-induced signaling in endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Angiostatin inhibited HGF-induced phosphorylation of c-met, Akt, and ERK1/2. Angiostatin also significantly inhibited proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by HGF. In contrast, angiostatin did not inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)–or basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)–induced signaling events or HUVEC proliferation. Angiostatin bound to immobilized truncated c-met produced by A431 cells and could be immunoprecipitated as a complex with soluble c-met. HGF inhibited the binding of 125I-angiostatin to HUVECs. Soluble c-met, produced by several tumor cell lines, could inhibit the antiangiogenic effect of angiostatin. The disruption of HGF/c-met signaling is a novel mechanism for the antiangiogenic effect of angiostatin.
Evaluation of antiviral treatments for recurrent herpes simplex labialis in the dorsal cutaneous guinea pig model

Recurrent herpes simplex labialis has proved to be a difficult disease to treat. Despite 25 years of clinical research with established antiviral substances, only small benefits from experimental therapies have been demonstrated. Progress has been slow, in part, because of the time-consuming nature of large, patient-initiated clinical trials. The dorsal cutaneous guinea pig model is a rapid and efficient means to identify topical antiviral formulations with clinical promise. The cumulative results of our studies with 19 different test treatments show that 8 were equal in efficacy to 5% acyclovir ointment, one was worse and ten were better. Two of the treatments found to be better than 5% acyclovir ointment have been studied clinically, with limited but encouraging results. Differences between the guinea pig model and the human illness mandate caution in predicting the degree of clinical efficacy from experimental outcomes. An effective and conservative use of the model is to optimize the topical formulation of a single antiviral substance.
Mining the World Wide Web: An Information Search Approach

List of Figures. List of Tables. Preface. Acknowledgments. Part I: Information Retrieval on the Web. 1. Keyword-Based Search Engines. 2. Query-Based Search Systems. 3. Mediators and Wrappers. 4. Multimedia Search Engines. Part II: Data Mining on the Web. 5. Data Mining. 6. Text Mining. 7. Web Mining. 8. Web Crawling Agents. Part III: A Case Study in Environmental Engineering. 9. Envirodaemon. References. Index.
Comparison of transcervical and transabdominal chorionic villus sampling loss rates in nine thousand cases from a single center

Abstract OBJECTIVES: Our purposes were (1) to compare the safety of transabdominal and transcervical chorionic villus sampling with the use of a consistent technique at one center and (2) to determine whether the training of fellows can be accomplished without an increase in the loss rate. STUDY DESIGN: We performed a retrospective comparison of transabdominal and transcervical chorionic villus sampling loss rates from procedures performed by three principal operators between 1984 and 1992. The type of procedure was chosen by the operator at the time of the procedure on the basis of placental location. RESULTS: Procedures 1 through 2573 were performed solely by transcervical chorionic villus sampling and had an overall fetal loss rate 5.12%. With the addition of transabdominal chorionic villus sampling the overall fetal loss rate dropped to 3.07% p p = 0.035), and the difference widened steadily after that. During the same time period seven fellows performed 716 procedures for a fetal loss rate among fellows of 2.72%. CONCLUSIONS: (1) Under optimal circumstances (one center, large numbers, few operators, consistent technique, operator choice of best approach), transabdominal chorionic villus sampling may be inherently safer than transcervical chorionic villus sampling. (2) The addition of transabdominal chorionic villus sampling decreases overall chorionic villus sampling loss rates. (3) Although the number of procedures performed by fellows is small, it appears that with close supervision by experienced operators successfull training of fellows can be accomplished without adverse effects on loss rates.
THEORY OF NEUTRON DIFFRACTION FROM THE VORTEX LATTICE IN UPT3

Neutron scattering experiments have recently been performed in the superconducting state of UPt{sub 3} to determine the structure of the vortex lattice. The data show anomalous field dependence of the aspect ratio of the unit cell in the {ital B} phase. There is apparently also a change in the effective coherence length on the transition from the {ital B} to the {ital C} phases. Such observations are not consistent with conventional superconductivity. A theory of these results is constructed based on a picture of two-component superconductivity for UPt{sub 3}. In this way, these unusual observations can be understood. There is a possible discrepancy between theory and experiment in the detailed field dependence of the aspect ratio. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}
The Isolation and Measurement of Nationalism

(1942). The Isolation and Measurement of Nationalism. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 16, No. 2, pp. 215-228.
Partial and complete chemical modification of poly (1,1-dimethyl-1-sila-cis-pent-3-ene) by addition of dichloroketene

Abstract Dichloroketene, generated by the ultrasound-promoted dechlorination of trichloroacetyl chloride with zinc, has been added to the carbon-carbon double bonds of poly(1,1-dimethyl-1-sila- cis -pent-3-ene) (poly-I). The molecular-weight distribution of the adduct polymer in which all of the carbon-carbon double bonds have reacted with dichloroketene, poly[2,2-dichloro- cis -3,4-bis(methylene)cyclobutanone dimethylsilylene], 100% poly(I-Cl 2 CCO), has been characterized by gel permeation chromatography. The microstructure of 100% poly(I-Cl 2 CCO) has been elucidated by 1 H, 13 C and 29 Si nuclear magnetic resonance as well as by infra-red spectroscopy. Similarly, a series of random copolymers have been prepared in which only some of the carbon-carbon double bonds of poly-I have reacted with dichloroketene. These have been characterized as above. The glass transition temperatures ( T g ) of these copolymers, as well as that of 100% poly(I-Cl 2 CCO), have been determined by differential scanning calorimetry. The T g values are found to increase linearly with the percentage of the carbon-carbon double bonds of poly-I that have reacted with dichloroketene..
Myelolipoma of adrenal gland

Myelolipoma of the adrenal gland is a rare, benign tumor of which only 17 clinical cases have been reported previously in the literature. We document 1 additional case and review the pathogenesis of the tumor, with emphasis on the theory of the tissue necrosis as the major stimulus of the myelolipomatous changes in the adrenals.
Suitability and readability of consumer medical information accompanying prescription medication samples

Abstract Objective To examine readability and formatting characteristics of consumer medication information (CMI) accompanying prescription medication samples. Methods We collected the most commonly used prescription medication samples ( n =100) from four out-patient clinics at a large teaching hospital in the Southeastern US. Seventeen percent of samples were not pills/tablets and of such diverse nature (e.g., injections, drops, and creams) that there were not enough in any category to draw conclusions. Therefore, our analyses were limited to 83pill/tablet samples, belonging to 11 drug classes (e.g., cardiovascular, and psychiatric). We noted if CMI was present, and if so we assessed it for how instructions were presented, reading level, text size, format/layout, and comprehensibility . Results No CMI was present in 39 (46.9%) samples. In 19 (22.9%), CMI was contained in a package insert and in 25 (30.2%) it was printed on the medication package. Average reading difficulty of CMI was at the 10th grade level (range=6–15) using the Fry formula, and text point size was small (mean 9.9±2.2 on package inserts and 9.4±2.6 when printed on packages). Conclusions Almost half of samples did not include any type of CMI. For those that had CMI, it was often written at a reading difficulty level higher than the average reading skills of American adults, and the format of most CMI was not optimal for comprehensibility. It is likely that many patients do not understand the instructions accompanying medication samples they receive from clinicians. Practice implications Clinicians should be cognizant of the shortcomings of CMI accompanying medication samples and thereby, distribute them to patients with caution. Manufacturers too should consider revising CMI to comply with low-literacy guidelines.
Breast pathology: rationale for adopting the ductal intraepithelial neoplasia (DIN) classification

This Viewpoint advocates a radical rehaul of the system for describing breast pathology, to echo the classification systems used in other organs. Molecular alterations detected by comparative genomic hybridization highlight some of the deficiencies of the current system for differentiation of different types of breast tumors.
Ignatian spirituality: The spiritual exercises and social work

Abstract A group of social work faculty and students and university ministry staff participated in an intensive twenty‐four week program of the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises. Following this experience, two reflection groups were conducted to assess the impact of these spiritual experiences on individuals’ social work practice and teaching.
“Wisdom Among the Perfect:” Creation Traditions in Alexandrian Judaism and Corinthian Christianity

L'A. s'interesse a la genese des traditions en prenant l'exemple de celle qui s'est elaboree dans le judaisme alexandrin et de celle du le christianisme corinthien. Il tient a montrer l'influence de la premiere dans l'elaboration de la seconde, notamment dans le cadre du corpus paulinien