cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
PHOSPHOLIPIDS OF ASCARIS LUMBRICOIDES WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THE FATTY ACIDS AND ALDEHYDES.

Abstract The phosphate-containing lipids of Ascaris lumbricoides muscle, cuticle, and reproductive system were separately studied. The phospholopids were separated by silicic acid column chromatography into cephalin and lecithin and their corresponding plasmalogens. Phosphatidyl choline and phosphatidyl ethanolamine were present in large concentrations, and phosphatidyl serine appeared in trace amounts in all three tissues. Sphingomyelin was present in lipids from muscle tissue but was not detected in lipids from the reproductive system. Plasmalogens were present in all three tissues. The fatty acids and aldehydes from the separate phospholipids and plasmalogens of muscle and reproductive system were analyzed by gas chromotography and found to consist of mixtures of C-12 through C-20 compounds.
Comparisons of estuarine and coastal journal quality

Library budgets are increasingly affected by rising journal costs, journal quality appears to vary widely, and there are simply too many articles and outlets to keep up with. How do we, the scientific community, measure accomplishments of the journal, the article, or (indirectly) the author? Is it the number of journal subscriptions or the times it is used (constructively or otherwise) by others? Is it the narrowness or the breadth of its application? How do estuarine and coastal scientists go about evaluating the journals we propose to submit articles to, subscribe to, and recommend for library purchase? Is journal prestige comparable? The purpose here is to compare various indices of journal quality for the estuarine and coastal scientific and management community. It may prove useful for several reasons relevant to cost, professional responsibilities, and prudent publication management and administration. For example, libraries are constantly, and necessarily, reviewing their holdings to justify expenditures; it is prudent for potential authors to thoughtfully consider where manuscripts are submitted; professional review and advancement may be served by consideration of all indices of accomplishment, including professional stature as represented by publication quality; and, publication management for professional societies and commercial outlets may be enhanced by periodic review of pertinent indicators. Comparable reviews exist for other discipline interests including geology (18 journals; Ribbe 1988), oceanography (21 journals; Garfield 1987), and physics (over 200 journals; Barschall 1986). A common approach is to consider the various quantitative analyses of journal use prepared annually by the Journal Citation Reports of the Science Citation Index (SCI). The Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) was formed by E. Garfield and publishes SCI, as well as Current
Evaluation of 99mTc-MAG3-annexin V: influence of the chelate on in vitro and in vivo properties in mice

We conjugated mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG(3)) to rh-annexin V to permit radiolabeling with (99m)Tc in an effort to decrease the high kidney and liver accumulation observed for (99m)Tc-labeled Hynic-annexin V. The 36-kDa protein was conjugated at a 5:1 molar ratio with NHS-MAG(3) in HEPES buffer pH 7.8 at room temperature, then quenched with glycine and purified by dialysis. The biopotency of the resulting MAG(3)-annexin was similar to that of Hynic-annexin as determined by a sensitive red blood cell membrane affinity binding assay and a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assay. The (99m)Tc radiolabeling of MAG(3)-annexin resulted in radiochemical yields of 90% under mildly basic pH conditions. Biodistribution data in normal mice clearly showed a significant decrease in kidney and liver uptake at 1 h postinjection for the (99m)Tc MAG(3)-annexin compared to the (99m)Tc Hynic-annexin (from 24% ID to 4% ID for the liver, and 45% ID to 15% ID for the kidneys, respectively). Autoradiography of the kidneys showed retention of radioactivity in the collecting tubules following administration of both labeled annexins. The (99m)Tc MAG(3)-annexin biodistribution was also characterized by a lower retention of radioactivity in the whole body, but with small intestine accumulation over fivefold higher than observed with (99m)Tc Hynic-annexin. These findings show a definite improvement in renal and hepatic clearance of the MAG(3) radioligand. However, due to the increased radioactivity uptake in the small intestines, the early in vivo detection of ongoing apoptosis in the lower abdomen might be more difficult with (99m)Tc MAG(3)-annexin. Nevertheless, (99m)Tc MAG(3)-annexin may be an attractive alternative to (99m)Tc Hynic-annexin for the in vivo imaging of phosphatidylserine receptors.
Myasthenia gravis: immunobiology of a receptor disorder

Abstract Ten years ago, the discovery of a deficit of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at neuromuscular junctions of patients with myasthenia gravis (MG) 17 , and the development of an experimental animal model of the disease 33 , shed new light on a human disorder that was first described exactly 300 years earlier by the great physiologist Thomas Willis. During the past decade, rapid progress has been made in our understanding of the pathogenesis of MG and the ability to treat it. It is now widely accepted that the basic defect in MG is a decrease in the number of junctional AChRs due to an antibody-mediated autoimmune response. Several mechanisms have been defined by which autoantibodies reduce the number of available AChRs. However, there is still much to be learned about MG: it is not yet clear how the autoimmune response is triggered initially or how it is subsequently maintained. Furthermore, though virtually all myasthenic patients can now be effectively treated, the ultimate goal of a specific cure has yet to be realized.
Television feedback used to modify gasoline consumption

Feedback has proven effective in reducing electricity and fuel oil consumption. For the vital energy conservation necessary today, the effect of feedback on the performance of an entire community needs to be examined. The present study provided feedback on the amount of gasoline consumed daily to a mass audience in West Texas via a nightly news television program. The amount of gasoline consumed was reported by gasoline station managers who took the information from automatic pump counters; university students tabulated this data from a random sample ( N =18) of all 190 gasoline stations in the area. Results indicated that a mass audience can reduce gasoline consumption 31.5% when it receives appropriate feedback.
TAAPP: Tiling Array Analysis Pipeline for Prokaryotes.

High-density tiling arrays provide closer view of transcription than regular microarrays and can also be used for annotating functional elements in genomes. The identified transcripts usually have a complex overlapping architecture when compared to the existing genome annotation. Therefore, there is a need for customized tiling array data analysis tools. Since most of the initial tiling arrays were conducted in eukaryotes, data analysis methods are well suited for eukaryotic genomes. For using whole-genome tiling arrays to identify previously unknown transcriptional elements like small RNA and antisense RNA in prokaryotes, existing data analysis tools need to be tailored for prokaryotic genome architecture. Furthermore, automation of such custom data analysis workflow is necessary for biologists to apply this powerful platform for knowledge discovery. Here we describe TAAPP, a web-based package that consists of two modules for prokaryotic tiling array data analysis. The transcript generation module works on normalized data to generate transcriptionally active regions (TARs). The feature extraction and annotation module then maps TARs to existing genome annotation. This module further categorizes the transcription profile into potential novel non-coding RNA, antisense RNA, gene expression and operon structures. The implemented workflow is microarray platform independent and is presented as a web-based service. The web interface is freely available for acedemic use at http://lims.lsbi.mafes.msstate.edu/TAAPP-HTML/.
QUANTITATIVE ESTIMATION OF HISTOLOGICAL CHANGES IN SUBCUTANEOUS VASCULATURE OF THE MOUSE AFTER X-IRRADIATION?'

Abstract The right hind legs of mature female BALB/c mice were irradiated locally with single X-ray doses of 250–4000 rad (250 kV X-rays, half value layer (HVL) 1.3 mm Cu). Microangiography by intracardiac injection of India ink was performed at intervals between 1 and 12 weeks post-irradiation. Specimens of skin were fixed and sectioned serially at 50 μ m; sections were stained with luxol fast-blue periodic acid Schiff (LFB-PAS). Four parameters were estimated by morphometric methods. Vascular volume increased significantly, reaching a peak at 4 weeks after 2000 or 4000 rad; for doses of 1000 rad or less, there were no changes in vascular volume during the 12 week period of observation. Vascular diameter increased roughly in parallel with vascular volume, but instead of peaking at the 4th week, diameter continued to increase up to the 12th week after 2000 and 4000 rad. Vascular surface area/unit volume of tissue remained essentially constant for 4 weeks, and then decreased to a minimum at 12 weeks. Vascular length/unit volume of tissue also decreased continuously until 12 weeks after 2000 or 4000 rad. No changes in these parameters were associated with doses of 1000 rad or less. The absence of effects of doses less than 2000 rad suggests that the observed radiation effects on the vasculature of the subcutis are part of an "all-or-nothing" phenomenon with a threshold between 1000 and 2000 rad. Because these changes are similar to those described in or around tumors by others, it is likely that the "tumor bed effect" of irradiation is a direct consequence of radiation-induced vascular changes as well as a phenomenon involving a reduced capacity for neovascularization.
Price and Output Effects of Monetary and Fiscal Policy under Flexible Exchange Rates: Comment on Argy and Salop

N A WELL-KNOWN CONTRIBUTION to this journal, Argy and Salop (1979) analyzed the effects of monetary and fiscal policy on the price level and real output when exchange rates are flexible, paying particular attention to the consequences of real wage rigidity. This comment concerns one of their conclusions in particular: that if the consumption real wage is completely rigid, the balanced-budget multiplier is negative. Moreover, in their model the overall price level (the consumer price index) moves in a direction opposite to that of real output for given money supply, so that a balanced-budget reduction in government spending would actually raise output and lower the price level. Balancedbudget reductions in government expenditure therefore seem to be an attractive policy option. This result, however, may not be robust because it depends on the assumption that absorption (measured in units of domestic output) decreases as the terms of trade improve-the Laursen-Metzler effect (Laursen and Metzler (1950)). Recent work on this effect (for example, Obstfeld (1982) and Svensson and Razin (1983)) implies that, on the contrary, absorption in units of domestic output may rise with the terms of trade. I show below that if there is no Laursen-Metzler effect, the balanced-budget multiplier can take either sign; this conclusion is reinforced if the Laursen-Metzler effect has the unconventional sign suggested by Obstfeld.
A Guide To Latin American and Caribbean Census Material: A Bibliography and Union List

A Guide To Latin American and Caribbean Census Material: A Bibliography and Union List. CAROLE TRAVIS, general editor. Boston: G.K. Hall & Company. 1990. 739 pp. $85.00 (cloth). ISBN 0-8161-0497-2.
Effects of PEG-induced water stress on in vitro hardening of 'Valiant' grape

Polyethylene glycol was added to the rooting medium ofmicropropagated grape shoots to induce water stress. At the end of the rooting stage, plantlets treated with 2% polyethylene glycol were compared with untreated control plantlets and greenhouse-grown plants. Leaves of treated plantlets had the highest deposition of epicuticular wax, followed by those of the greenhouse and control. Stomatal index did not vary among treatments. However, differences in leaf epidermal cell configuration were observed among treatments. The morphological changes of treated plantlets, including substantial deposition of epicuticular wax and modified leaf surface anatomy were associated with increasedex vitro survival after four weeks in the greenhouse.
Catecholamines in cardiac hypertrophy.

Abstract There has been intense interest in the roles catecholamines may play in compensatory myocardial hypertrophy. This article reviews the following: (1) chronic infusions of catecholamines in experimental animals result in cardiac hypertrophy, but in many of the studies mechanical factors have played a role; (2) experiments using isolated papillary muscles and isolated hearts, stretched isolated myocytes, and denervated hearts in vivo demonstrate that mechanical activity is sufficient to cause increased protein synthesis and cell growth; (3) in neonatal myocyte cell cultures, α-adrenergic agonists are powerful stimulants for protein synthesis and cell growth. Beta-adrenergic stimulation of nonmyocyte myocardial cells causes release of a factor that promotes protein synthesis in neonatal myocytes. Either α or β stimulation, probably through different mechanisms, appears to have growth-promoting effects on isolated adult myocytes in culture; (4) α stimulation is transduced through the Gq pathway and its activation of phospholipase C, cleavage of phosphatidylinositol (4,5)-bisphosphate, and then further through the ras/raf , mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase system; (5) transgenic mice with upregulation of catecholamine-related systems have not clarified the independent role of either the α- or β-adrenergic pathway; and (6) observations in humans suggest that mechanical factors predominate in the development and regression of cardiac hypertrophy. Humoral mechanisms, including catecholamines, may play a role, but their quantitative importance has not been determined. It is hypothesized that catecholamines may play a role in transition from the adaptive to the maladaptive state.
Infectibility of endovascular stents following antibiotic prophylaxis or after arterial wall incorporation.

Abstract Background: Case reports of endovascular stent infection have been accumulating in the last several years. We sought to determine if prophylactic antibiotics would prevent stent/artery complex infections in a swine model if given before a bacterial challenge at the time of stent placement and 4 weeks following deployment. We also investigated whether arterial wall incorporation protected the stent against infection without antibiotic prophylaxis. Methods: Balloon expandable Palmaz stents were placed in the iliac arteries of 42 swine. At the same time, angioplasty was performed on the contralateral iliac artery as a control. In group A, prophylactic cefazolin was given to 12 swine at the time of stent deployment followed by an intraaortic bacterial challenge of Staphylococcus aureus. In group B, 10 swine received prophylactic cefazolin followed by intravenous S aureus 4 weeks after iliac stenting and angioplasty. In group C, 3 months following iliac stent placement and angioplasty an intravenous bacterial challenge was administered with S aureus. All swine were euthanized, and the iliac stent/artery complex and the contralateral angioplastied iliac artery were harvested and sent for culture and pathology. Experimental groups were compared with results from our previously published swine infection model using the Fisher’s exact test. P values were considered significant if less than 0.05. Results: Group A: Two of the 12 (17%) stent/artery complexes in the antibiotic treatment group had positive cultures. This compares with 7 of 10 (70%) in the control group (P = 0.016). In addition, there was one infection in an angioplastied vessel contralateral to one of the two stent infections. Molecular strain typing verified that the positive cultures were the same strain that was used to challenge the animals. No vessel thrombosis occurred in the stented arteries even in the presence of infection. Group B: One of 10 (10%) stented iliac arteries had a culture positive infection. This compares with 7 of 14 (50%) positive cultures in the control group (P = 0.04). In addition, one angioplastied vessel did have mild S aureus growth on culture. Both positive cultures were verified to be the same as the injected strain by molecular strain typing. There were no thrombosed or occluded vessels. Group C: One of 15 patent stents had growth of S aureus on culture and evidence of acute inflammation on histopathologic examination. The stent infection rate of 1 of 15 (7%) patent stents in this study was significantly less than the infection rates with bacterial challenge at placement (7 of 10, 70%; P Conclusions: The results of this study support a recommendation that antibiotic prophylaxis should be used at the time of arterial stent placement and early after placement at times of anticipated bacteremia, but indefinite prophylaxis may be unnecessary due to arterial wall incorporation of the stent.
The effect of disinfection by-products and mutagenic activity on birth weight and gestational duration.

Epidemiologic studies of disinfection by-products have traditionally focused on total trihalomethane (TTHM) concentration as a surrogate for maternal exposure during pregnancy. We used birth certificate data on 196,000 infants to examine the effect of third-trimester exposures on various indices of fetal development. We examined the effect of town-average concentrations of TTHM and additional exposure metrics in relation to mean birth weight, mean gestational age, small for gestational age (SGA) infancy, and preterm delivery. Trihalomethane data (TTHM, chloroform, and bromodichloromethane) from 1995-1998 were available for 109 towns in Massachusetts. Data from 1997-1998 on haloacetic acid (total haloacetic acids, dichloroacetic acid, and trichloroacetic acid), 3-chloro-4-(dichloromethyl)-5- hydroxy-2(5H)-furanone (MX), and mutagenicity were available for a limited number of towns. We observed reductions in mean birth weight (12-18 g) for maternal trihalomethane exposures > the 90th percentile compared with those 20 microg/L and TTHM exposures > 40 microg/L. Elevated trihalomethanes were associated with increases in gestational duration and a reduced risk of preterm delivery. We found evidence of an exposure-response effect of trihalomethanes on risk of SGA, with odds ratios (ORs) ranging from 1.09 to 1.23 for bromodichloromethane exposures > 5 microg/L. Elevated mutagenic activity was associated with SGA [OR = 1.25; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04 to 1.51] and mean birth weight (-27 g; 95% CI, -54 to -1). Although smaller in magnitude, our findings are consistent with previous studies reporting associations between trihalomethanes and SGA. These data also suggest a relationship between fetal development indices and mutagenic activity independent of exposure to trihalomethanes, haloacetic acids, and MX.
Minimax inequalities equivalent to the Fan-Knaster-Kuratowski-Mazurkiewicz theorems

The purpose of this note is to give further generalizations of the Ky Fan minimax inequality by relaxing the compactness and convexity of sets and the quasi-concavity of the functional and to show that our minimax inequalities are equivalent to the Fan-Knaster-Kuratowski-Mazurkiewicz (FKKM) theorem and a modified FKKM theorem given in this note.
Effects of an ACE inhibitor combined with a calcium channel blocker on progression of diabetic nephropathy

It is clear that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors slow progression of diabetic nephropathy to a greater extent than other antihypertensive agents when blood pressure (BP) is reduced to levels below 140/90 mm Hg. Recent studies also demonstrate that nondihydropyridine calcium channel blockers (NDCCBs) slow progression of diabetic nephropathy in people with pre-existing renal insufficiency secondary to non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. The combined effects of both a CCB and ACE inhibitor have recently been examined in both animal models of diabetes as well as patients with established diabetic nephropathy. These studies demonstrate the following points: (a) at comparable BP levels, a combination of an ACE inhibitor with a NDCCB result in a greater reduction in proteinuria when compared to either components alone; and (b) conversely, addition of an ACE inhibitor to a dihydropyridine CCB (DCCB) yields effects on proteinuria similar to the ACE inhibitor alone. Therefore, addition of an ACE inhibitor to a DCCB demonstrates protection against the effects of DCCB alone. Addition of an ACE inhibitor to a NDCCB does not potentiate the preservation of renal morphology associated with progression of diabetic nephropathy when compared to either of its components alone. Conversely, a DCCB/ACE inhibitor combination yields morphologic results similar to the ACE inhibitor alone. Taken together these results suggest that ACE inhibitors when combined with a NDCCB result in greater reductions in proteinuria, and similar preservation of renal morphology when compared to either of its components alone.
Analogy and Inference

The nature of analogies, and their legitimacy in argumentation and inference, is a disputed subject. This essay is intended to shed some light on the tangle of issues that it involves. After discussing in section one the different functions of analogy, in particular in explanation and in science, we present in section two a prima facie defense of analogical argument against those who repudiate it entirely and in section three an account of its logical structure. Section four argues that analogical inference does not collapse, as some of its critics contend, into standard induction, and section five attempts to explicate more precisely the warrant for analogical inference. We conclude in section six by suggesting a typology for arguments from analogy.
Counting primates for conservation: primate surveys in Uganda.

Primate census techniques have been developed over the past 35–40 years yet there is still some confusion and great variation in the methods used. This precludes comparisons between sites where different techniques have been used. This paper discusses the variations between the methods that seem to be practiced currently and then describes a census of primates in the forests of western Uganda. Primate density and biomass varied greatly between forests as well as within forests and this is probably related to food availability. Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) density was strongly correlated with nest encounter rates from reconnaissance walks in the forest. This result can be used to estimate chimpanzee density in forests where it is difficult to survey this species (e.g., due to security reasons). A total of 4,980 chimpanzee was estimated for Uganda which is higher than previously guessed, but still of conservation concern. Only four forests had more than 500 individuals which gives concern for long-term population viability.
Deoxynucleoside Salvage Facilitates DNA Repair During Ribonucleotide Reductase Blockade in Human Cervical Cancers

Cells generate 2′-deoxyribonucleoside triphosphates (dNTPs) for both replication and repair of damaged DNA predominantly through de novo reduction of intracellular ribonucleotides by ribonucleotide reductase (RNR). Cells can also salvage deoxynucleosides by deoxycytidine kinase/thymidine kinase 1 in the cytosol or by deoxyguanosine kinase/thymidine kinase 2 in mitochondria. In this study we investigated whether the salvage dNTP supply pathway facilitates DNA damage repair, promoting cell survival, when pharmacological inhibition of RNR by 3-aminopyridine-2-carboxaldehyde thiosemicarbazone (3-AP, NSC no. 663249) impairs the de novo pathway. Human cervical cancer cells were subjected to radiation with or without 3-AP under medium deoxynucleoside concentrations of 0, 0.05, 0.5 and 5.0 µM. Efficacy of DNA damage repair was assessed by γ-H2AX flow cytometry and focus counts, by single cell electrophoresis (Comet assay), and by caspase 3 cleavage assay as a marker of treatment-induced apoptosis. Cell survival w...
Sum-over-states calculation of the specific rotations of some substituted oxiranes, chloropropionitrile, ethane, and norbornenone.

A sum-over-states approach has been applied to the calculation of the specific rotations of several substituted oxiranes, 2-chloropropionitrile, and 30°-rotated ethane. In each case, the first few ...
The phase centers of aperture antennas

Two methods are given for the determination of the phase center of aperture antennas. These methods are used to obtain the phase centers of electromagnetic horn antennas treated as aperture antennas. The second-derivative method is more accurate and uses less computer time, while the two-point method is easier to understand and to derive. Calculated and experimental results are compared.
Hepatic lesions in young rats given calcium disodium edetate

Abstract Inbred Buffalo male and female rats, 4-day, 4-, 12-, 24-, and 52-week-old, were injected intraperitoneally with calcium disodium edetate. Hydropic change of the hepatic parenchymal cells, observed in the 4-week-old animals only, was slightly more severe and diffuse in the female than in the male animals. The lesion was reversible after discontinuation of injections of the chemical. There were foci of inflammatory cells in the livers of the same animals. There was disruption of hepatic cords in the 4-day-old animals.
Assessing the Effects of Standardized Testing on Schools.

This study brings empirical data to the debate about the efficacy of standardized tests. A teacher questionnaire containing 81 Likert-type items was mailed to 450 upper elementary school teachers in 48 schools. Questions of interest included (a) What are the effects of these tests on the teaching and learning process in schools? (b) What is the meaning of test score gains? and (c) Does such testing have differential effects in schools serving students at different socioeconomic status (SES) levels? Approximately 75% of the teachers (n = 341) completed the questionnaires. Results of Cronbach's alpha and principal components analyses indicated that items within specified subscales were internally consistent. Results of a confirmatory factor analysis showed that the interitem correlations within subscales were stronger than those across subscales. The results of multiple discriminant analysis (DA) using categories of TREND (schools with increasing vs. stable or decreasing test scores) as the grouping variabl...
Abstract 316: Modifying autophagy through combination treatments as a potential therapeutic strategy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC)

Introduction: Autophagy, a catabolic process, can play a crucial role in cancer cell survival. Modifying this process has shown to be an effective mechanism of inducing cell death. In order to explore this concept, we induced autophagy with one agent (Akt-inhibitor MK-2206), and decreased autophagosomal trafficking with other agents (Paclitaxel and Nocadazole) by disrupting the microtubule networks. We hypothesized that by modifying autophagy through this combination, it would lead to an accumulation of autophagosomes and eventual cell death in a synergistic manner. Methods: SCC 61 and Cal 27 HNSCC cell lines were used to explore this hypothesis. SCC 61 cells were transduced with an m-Cherry GFP LC3B vector in order to detect autophagosomes under both fixed and live cell confocal microscopy. Cell viability and apoptosis assays were performed. A siRNA ATG 7 KO SCC 61 cell line was used to detect if in fact autophagy was important for this therapeutic approach. Results: There was an accumulation of autophagosomes with the combination of an Akt inhibitor and microtubule disrupters. A decrease in fusion of autophagosome to lysosome was seen when cells were treated with an agent, which disrupted the microtubule networks (Paclitaxel) but even more dramatically when treated with the combination (MK-2206 and Paclitaxel). Moreover, accumulation of autophagosomes occurred prior to induction of apoptosis with combination treatment. These effects were decreased with siRNA ATG 7 KO in SCC 61 cells, which were more resistant to combination treatment compared to control. Discussion: Manipulating autophagy with Akt inhibition (induction) and Paclitaxel (decreasing autophagic trafficking) leads to an accumulation of autophagosomes and eventual cell death in a synergistic manner. This therapeutic approach of altering the normal autophagic process warrants further investigation. Citation Format: Omar G. Ahmed, Wen-Liang Kuo, Tai-Fen Wei, Jeannette S. Messer, Marina Sharifi, Madhavi Nagilla, Kay Macleod, Ezra E.W. Cohen. Modifying autophagy through combination treatments as a potential therapeutic strategy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr 316. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-316
A Habitat-Based Framework for Communicating Natural Resource Condition

Progress in achieving desired environmental outcomes needs to be rigorously measured and reported for effective environmental management. Two major challenges in achieving this are, firstly, how to synthesize monitoring data in a meaningful way at appropriate temporal and spatial scales and, secondly, how to present results in a framework that allows for effective communication to resource managers and scientists as well as a broader general audience. This paper presents a habitat framework, developed to assess the natural resource condition of the urban Rock Creek Park (Washington, DC, USA), providing insight on how to improve future assessments. Vegetation and stream GIS layers were used to classify three dominant habitat types, Forest, Wetland, and Artificial-terrestrial. Within Rock Creek Park, Forest habitats were assessed as being in good condition (67% threshold attainment of desired condition), Wetland habitats to be in fair condition (49% attainment), and Artificial-terrestrial habitats to be in degraded condition (26% attainment), resulting in an assessed fair/good condition (60% attainment; weighted by habitat area) for all natural resources in Rock Creek Park. This approach has potential to provide assessment of resource condition for diverse ecosystems and provides a basis for addressing management questions across multiple spatial scales.
Effect of temperature and pH on the β–helix transition of poly(L-lysine) in sodium dodecyl sulfate solution

The conformational phase diagram of poly(L-lysine) (4.6 × 10−4M, residue) in sodium dodecyl sulfate (1.6 × 10−2M) solution was constructed from circular dichroism results at various temperatures and pH's. Poly(L-lysine)–sodium dodecyl sulfate complexes undergo a β–helix transition upon raising the pH of the solution. The transition pH tends to shift downward at elevated temperatures. No helix–β transition can be detected for poly(L-lysine) in sodium dodecyl sulfate solution (pH > 11) even after 1-hr heating at 70°C. This is in marked contrast with uncharged poly(L-lysine) solution without sodium dodecyl sulfate, which is converted into the β-form upon mild heating of the solution above 50°C.
Inhibition of DNA Replication by Berenil in Plasmids Containing Poly(dA)poly(dT) Sequences

The effect of berenil on plasmid DNA replication was studied on pBR322-derived plasmids containing poly(dA)poly(dT) sequences. In comparison to the parental plasmid pBR322, plasmid pKH47 harboring 100 bp of poly(dA)poly(dT) at the PvuII site showed a decrease in plasmid yield in the presence of berenil. This effect was also observed in pVL26, a related plasmid in which the location of the poly(dA)poly(dT) region had been shifted to the EcoRV site in pBR322. [(3)H]Thymidine incorporation experiments indicated that DNA synthesis may be affected in these plasmids in the presence of the drug. Bromodeoxyuridine incorporation experiments coupled to Cs(2)SO(4) equilibrium density gradient centrifugation indicated that the lower plasmid yield was due to an inhibition of DNA replication by berenil. We have also found that berenil induces DNA degradation in plasmids containing the homopolymer. Our studies strongly suggest that the effect of berenil on plasmid replication and DNA stability results from its binding to the poly(dA)poly(dT) region present in these plasmids. Moreover, we have found a correlation between the position of the poly(dA)poly(dT) region and this inhibitory effect. Thus, plasmid pKH47, containing the poly(dA)poly(dT) region most proximal to the origin of pBR322 replication, was most severely affected.
The role of savings in economic development the U.S. and Japanese experiences

Abstract This paper explores the relationship between savings and growth in the United States and in Japan within a simple Granger causality framework. For Japan, growth caused savings before World War II while after World War II savings caused growth. For the US, growth caused savings after World War II. These results suggest that the savings-growth relationship may depend upon the stage of development.
Effects of El Niño–Southern Oscillation on sea level anomalies along the Gulf of Mexico coast

[1] Analyses of daily sea level data show the impacts of El Nino–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). Data from three stations (St. Petersburg, Florida, Pensacola, Florida, and Galveston, Texas), all of which have at least 50 years of daily observations, are processed to identify the interannual signals. Although low frequency (interannual) signals in the sea level anomaly time series are not clearly evident, a low frequency modulation of the extreme anomaly events (upper 10% or lower 10% of the distributions) is identified. Results show that sea level variability is seasonally dependent at all stations, with maximum variability in the winter months. In the eastern GOM, low sea level events in the winter months are more frequent during El Nino (warm phase) conditions when compared to a neutral ENSO phase. This is consistent with ENSO-related changes in the location where extratropical atmospheric low pressure systems form and in the tracks of these weather systems. The impacts of tropical systems in the summer through early fall months on coastal sea level in the GOM are shown by infrequent extreme high and low anomalies coinciding with individual storms. However, the number of storms affecting the data record from a particular sea level station is too small to confirm ENSO-related variability. Statistical methods are employed to demonstrate a significant link between extreme sea level anomalies in the GOM and ENSO during the October to March period.
A Framework for Assessing the Performance of Nonprofit Organizations

Performance measurement has gained increased importance in the nonprofit sector, and contemporary literature is populated with numerous performance measurement frameworks. In this article, we seek to accomplish two goals. First, we review contemporary models of nonprofit performance measurement to develop an integrated framework in order to identify directions for advancing the study of performance measurement. Our analysis of this literature illuminates seven focal perspectives on nonprofit performance, each associated with a different tradition in performance measurement. Second, we demonstrate the utility of this integrated framework for advancing theory and scholarship by leveraging these seven perspectives to develop testable propositions aimed at explaining variation across nonprofits in the adoption of different measurement approaches. By better understanding how performance measurement is conceptualized within sector, the field will be better positioned to both critique and expand upon normative a...
SEXUAL MATURATION IN MEXICAN-AMERICAN ADOLESCENTS: HISPANIC HEALTH AND NUTRITION EXAMINATION SURVEY

Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) was conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics to produce estimates of the health of U.S. Hispanics. HHANES data are used to describe the secondary sexual characteristics of 1,491 Mexican-American adolescents, 728 females and 723 males, ages ten to seventeen. Estimates were made by the status quo method, which utilizes the percentage of each sexual maturation stage plotted against age. To this percentage distribution, a probit transformation was applied. Median transitional ages for female breast development (B): B2 10.91, B3 12.0, B4 13.75, B5 15.00; female pubic hair development (PH): PH2 11.16, PH3 12.25, PH4 14.00, PH5 15.41. Ages for entry to puberty stages for male genitalia development (G): G2 12.25, G3 13.25, G4 14.50, G5 16.08; male pubic hair development: PH2 12.5, PH3 13.25, PH4 14.5, PH5 16.0. Confidence intervals for both Mexican-American female and male sexual maturation stages are similar to those published for U.S. and British standards. This is the first cross-sectional data for Mexican-American adolescent sexual maturation and probit analysis of a U.S. adolescent population.
Enhancing Critical Reflection and Writing Skills in the HBSE Classroom and Beyond

Human Behavior in the Social Environment (HBSE) is an ideal location in which graduate social work students can enhance their critical reflection and writing skills while integrating social work theories with practice, research, and policy. A writing-intensive, learner-centered model using specific strategies is described via a framework of critical pedagogy. In addition to its application within HBSE, this model can be adapted across the social work curriculum. The article is situated within ongoing debates concerning the relevance of social constructionism and postmodernism to social work.
Findings concerning oscillatory behavior in the synchrotron spectrum of relativistic electrons

Calculations, based on exact relativistic Dirac matrix elements, of the transition rates from arbitrary upper states to each of the five lowest states of an electron in a uniform magnetic field are investigated in detail. In particular, local maxima, whose positions are extremely sensitive to the magnetic field strenght, are found in the spectral tail of ultrarelativistic electrons. In addition, local minima are found in the plot of transition rate from initial state n = 5 to final states n/sub f/ or approx. = 0.70 H/sub 0/, where H/sub 0/ = 4.414 x 10/sup 13/ G = quantum-mechanical critical field.
Effects of the CW YAG Laser on the Human Iris and Retina

A CW YAG laser was used to coagulate retina and to produce an optical iridotomy in a human eye that was to be enucleated for malignant melanoma at the optic nerve head. Moderate coagulation with the CW YAG laser produced a deep choroidal reaction involving the outer portion of the retina. The inner structure of the fovea remained relatively unaffected. The nerve fiber over the coagulated vessels was unchanged. An optical iridotomy also was produced with the CW YAG. At least ten times more energy was needed to produce retinal photocoagulation with the CW YAG than is generally needed with the argon laser. Retrobulbar anesthesia should be used to prevent pain if extensive coagulation is done.
Scenario planning, the interpretation of uncertainty and value-focused decision making: a case study of a radioactive waste site remediation

The interpretation of uncertainty is frequently a source of conflict in deciding on an appropriate course of action regarding the remediation of radioactive waste sites. Experts and laypeople may disagree on the uncertainty involving critical driving factors-political, economic, social, and technical (PEST)-of a proposed remediation. Questions such as, what constitutes a reasonable risk and what is a burden to the community are common. More importantly, experts and laypeople may have different worldviews or "mental models" of how PEST factors interact to create the future. Scenario planning creates internally consistent, plausible stories of the future based upon different interpretations of the uncertainty of critical driving factors. In a case study of a radioactive waste site remediation, it is proposed that scenario planning be used to create a shared language among stakeholders to provide a means for overcoming public suspicions of experts while bringing experts to a greater appreciation of public concerns. The goal is a clearer articulation of the values that inform decision making.
2(3H)‐Benzoxazolethione

[2382-96-9] C7H5NOS (MW 151.18) InChI = 1S/C7H5NOS/c10-7-8-5-3-1-2-4-6(5)9-7/h1-4H,(H,8,10) InChIKey = FLFWJIBUZQARMD-UHFFFAOYSA-N (used as leaving group in glycosyl donors in carbohydrate chemistry; 1-7 as a coupling agent in amide and ester synthesis; 8-12 as an auxiliary in Friedel–Craft alkylation reactions;13 in the synthesis of sulfides,14, 15 (2-alkylthio) benzoxazoles,16, 17 disulfides,18 thiols,19 and benzoxazole-containing compounds 20-22) Alternate Names: 2-mercaptobenzoxazole; 1,3-benzoxazole-2-thiol; BoxSH. Physical Data: mp 193–195 °C; ; . Solubility: insoluble in water, soluble in aqueous alkali and common organic solvents. Form Supplied in: commercially available as a yellow powder.
Diffraction loss of stable optical resonators with internal limiting apertures

In many stable laser resonators, the diffraction loss is principally or entirely due to internal occluding elements with two or more limiting apertures, rather than to any mirror size limitations. Such resonators, with any number of arbitrarily located circular or rectangular limiting apertures, can be decomposed into a set of equivalent empty symmetric cavities with finite size mirrors. When the end mirrors are convex, with radii of curvature greater than the distance to the nearest aperture, the equivalent symmetric cavities are stable, and their diffraction losses are given by graphs published by Fox and Li [6]-[8] and reproduced here for the reader's convenience. The method is illustrated by examples with circular and rectangular limiting apertures.
Bacterial toxin modulation of the eukaryotic cell cycle: are all cytolethal distending toxins created equally?

The cytolethal distending toxins (CDTs) comprise a family of intracellular-acting bacterial protein toxins whose actions upon eukaryotic cells result in several consequences, the most characteristic of which is the induction of G2/M cell cycle arrest. Most CDTs are hetero-tripartite assemblies of CdtA, CdtB, and CdtC, with CdtB required for CDT-mediated cell cycle arrest. Several lines of evidence indicate that CdtA and CdtC are required for the optimal intracellular activity of CdtB, although the exact functional roles of CdtA and CdtC remain poorly understood. The genes encoding the CDTs have been identified in a diverse array of Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria. More recently, the genes encoding several CdtB subunits have been associated with alternatively linked subunits resembling the B-subunits of pertussis toxin. Although the CDTs are generally considered to all function as bacterial genotoxins, the extent to which individual members of the CDTs employ similar mechanisms of cell surface binding, uptake, and trafficking within sensitive cells is poorly understood. Recently, data have begun to emerge suggesting differences in the molecular basis by which individual CDTs interact with and enter host cells, suggesting the possibility that CDTs possess properties reflecting the specific niches idiosyncratic to those CDT bacterial pathogens that produce them. The extent to which functional differences between individual CDTs reflect the specific requirements for intoxicating cells and tissues within the diverse range of host microenvironments colonized by CDT-producing pathogenic bacteria remains to be experimentally explored.
Belowground Resistance to Western Corn Rootworm in Lepidopteran-Resistant Maize Genotypes

Several maize, Zea mays L., inbred lines developed from an Antiguan maize population have been shown to exhibit resistance to numerous aboveground lepidopteran pests. This study shows that these genotypes are able to significantly reduce the survival of two root feeding pests, western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte, and southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber. The results also demonstrated that feeding by the aboveground herbivore fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J.E. Smith), before infestation by western corn rootworm reduced survivorship of western corn rootworm in the root tissues of some, but not all, genotypes. Likewise, the presence of western corn rootworm in the soil seemed to increase resistance to fall armyworm in the whorl in several genotypes. However, genotypes derived from the Antiguan germplasm with genetic resistance to lepidopterans were still more resistant to the fall armyworm and both rootworm species than the susceptible genotypes even after defense induction. These results suggest that there may be intraplant communication that alters plant responses to aboveground and belowground herbivores.
atxA Controls Bacillus anthracis Capsule Synthesis via acpA and a Newly Discovered Regulator, acpB

ABSTRACT Two regulatory genes, acpA and atxA, have been reported to control expression of the Bacillus anthracis capsule biosynthesis operon capBCAD. The atxA gene is located on the virulence plasmid pXO1, while pXO2 carries acpA and the cap genes. acpA has been viewed as the major regulator of the cap operon because it is essential for capsule gene expression in a pXO1− pXO2+ strain. atxA is essential for toxin gene transcription but has also been implicated in control of the cap genes. The molecular functions of the regulatory proteins are unknown. We examined cap gene expression in a genetically complete pXO1+ pXO2+ strain. Our results indicate that another pXO2 gene, acpB (previously called pXO2-53; accession no. NC002146.1 :49418-50866), has a role in cap expression. The predicted amino acid sequence of AcpB is 62% similar to that of AcpA and 50% similar to that of AtxA. Assessment of cap gene transcription revealed that cap expression was not affected in a pXO1+ pXO2+acpB-null mutant and was slightly reduced in an isogenic acpA mutant. However, cap gene expression was abolished in an acpA acpB double mutant. Microscopic examination of capsule synthesis by the mutants corroborated these findings. acpA and acpB expression is controlled by atxA; capsule synthesis and transcription of acpA and acpB were markedly reduced in an atxA mutant. The data suggest that, in a strain containing both virulence plasmids, atxA is the major regulator of capsule synthesis and controls capBCAD expression indirectly, via positive regulation of acpA and acpB.
Analysis of residual stresses in diamond coatings deposited on cemented tungsten carbide substrates

Residual stresses in diamond films grown on WC–Co substrates have been investigated by Raman spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction (XRD), and curvature methods. Microcrystalline diamond films were deposited at 650−700 °C in a conventional hydrogen–methane environment by the microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique. The film thickness, measured from cross-sectional micrographs taken by scanning electron microscopy, changed from 1.5 to 16.5 μm as the growth time increased from 1 to 12 h. The type and the magnitude of the total residual stress obtained from curvature and XRD measurements agreed very well in all of the samples and changed from tensile to compressive as film thickness increased. However, Raman spectroscopy results showed that all films exhibited compressive stress due to the domain size effect. Different methane fractions, varying from 1% to 3%, have been utilized for diamond growth, and the total residual stress increased as more methane was included.