cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Candida-induced oral epithelial cell responses.

Objective: Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC), caused by Candida albicans, is the most common oral infection in HIV+ persons. Oral epithelial cells are considered important for innate host defense against OPC with production of cytokines in response to C. albicans and the ability to inhibit Candida growth in vitro. The purpose of this study was to determine if Candida similarly induces cytokines by oral epithelial cells from HIV+ persons, including those with OPC, as well as to determine if cytokines can influence the oral epithelial cell anti-Candida activity. Methods: Supernatants from oral epithelial cells from HIV+ persons with and without OPC cultured with Candida were evaluated for cytokines by ELISA, or cytokines were added to the standard growth inhibition assay using epithelial cells from HIV− persons. Results: Results showed low Candida-induced epithelial cell cytokine production from HIV+ persons, but with some elevated proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6) in those with OPC compared to those without OPC. The addition of specific proinflammatory or Th cytokines had no effect on oral epithelial cell anti-Candida activity in healthy HIV− persons. Conclusion: These results suggest that oral epithelial cells from HIV+ persons can contribute at some level to the oral cytokine milieu in response to Candida during OPC, but that cytokines do not appear to influence oral epithelial cell anti-Candida activity.
The photometric determination of palladium with 4-(2-pyridylazo)resorcinol (PAR)

Abstract The application of PAR as a chromogenic reagent for the determination of palladium is discussed and several procedures are described. Two basic approaches are possible. The first, is to operate at pH 7.0 employing EDTA and sodium citrate as masking reagents to provide selectivity. The second approach, a modification of a method by Busev and Ivanov, utilizes 6 N sulfuric acid. A green palladium-PAR complex is formed and its absorbance may either be measured in the aqueous solution or after extraction into ethyl acetate. Further increase in sensitivity can be achieved by re-extraction of the green color into a small volume of aqueous stripping solution. Additional sensitivity can be gained by decomposing the green complex and measuring the absorbance of the free PAR, which has a higher absorptivity than its PAR complex. It is possible to determine microgram quantities of palladium in the presence of large amounts of all metallic elements. Difficulties arise only in the presence of niobium, tantalum, silver, gold, and mercury. However, these disturbances can be overcome by an appropriate modification of the general procedure.
Estimating the Impact of Transgenic Bt Cotton on West and Central Africa: A General Equilibrium Approach

Summary. — West and Central Africa (WCA)s cotton sector is experiencing rising production costs and lower yields, reversing decades of growth. Declining input use, soil fertility and inefficient chemical pest controls are contributing factors. We evaluate the potential impact of Bt cotton on WCA using a multiregion general equilibrium model and multicountry estimates of Bt-induced productivity. We find that Bt cotton raises growers returns, land value and welfare. Released labor from cotton is shifted to food crops hence reducing labor shortage constraints. Overall, results indicate that potential gross benefits from Bt cotton are substantial for WCA cotton sector, and that the economic costs of nonadoption are equally significant. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Cyclosporine A enhances vasopressin-induced Ca2 mobilization and contraction in mesangial cells

Cyclosporine A enhances vasopressin-induced Ca 2+ mobilization and contraction in mesangial cells. A major problem in cyclosporine A (CsA) therapy is its nephrotoxicity, characterized by a marked fall in glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Since the glomerular ultrafiltration area is an important determinant of GFR and has been proposed to be regulated by mesangial (MS) cell contraction, we examined the effect of CsA on arginine vasopressin (AVP)-induced Ca 2+ mobilization and contraction in cultured MS cells. Intracellular Ca 2+ , [Ca 2+ ] i , concentrations were measured using quin 2. Basal levels were not affected by CsA (151.1 ± 6.2 vs. 145.2 ± 5.8nM, NS), but 10 µg/ml CsA significantly augmented the 10 −8 M AVP-induced increase of [Ca 2+ ]i (Δ 94.5 ± 6.6vs. Δ167.3 ± 8.4nM, P 2+ -free medium (P 2+ ] i was not due to an inhibition of 45 Ca 2+ efflux, since AVP-induced increase of 45 Ca 2+ efflux at 30 seconds was enhanced in cells pretreated with CsA (1630 ± 185 vs. 3646 ± 197 cpm/mg prot/30 sec, P 45 Ca 2+ uptake in MS cells (7924 ± 414 vs. 11928 ± 760 cpm/mg prot/5 min, P 2+ channel blocker verapamil (5 × 10 −5 M, P −8 M AVP 25.7 ± 2.5% of the cells showed a decrease of cell surface area by more than 15%. With AVP + CsA, the percentage of contracting cells increased to 37.3 ± 2.2% (P 2+ influx, thereby increasing AVP-sensitive [Ca 2+ ] i stores in MS cells. The effect of CsA to enhance vasoconstrictor-mediated Ca 2+ mobilization and contraction in MS cells may contribute to the reduction of the ultrafiltration coefficient (K f ) and, consequently, GFR in CsA nephrotoxicity.
Comparing Inverse, Polar, and Rectangle-Wedge-Tail Fortran Routines for Pseudo-Random Normal Number Generation

A FORTRAN IV version of the Marsaglia rectangle-wedge-tail algorithm and IMSL's commercially available Box-Muller polar method of normal deviate pseudo-random number generation were combined with various linear congruential uniform pseudo-random number generations and tested on a 32-bit-word IBM 370/155 computer. Looking at their relative speed and degree of meeting normality as joint performance criteria placed Marsaglia's method very slightly ahead of Box-Muller's. A commercially available IMSL inverse normal subroutine performed least effectively.
Cognitive, motivation, and affective processes associated with computer-related performance: a path analysis

This study used a path analysis of longitudinal data collected from 600 undergraduate management information systems students to test a model of the cognitive, motivational, and affective processes impacting computer-related performance. Nearly all of the predicted paths were at least partially supported. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.
Upper bounds for sums of powers of divisor functions

Abstract Let ζ be the Riemann zeta-function and write ζ(s)2 = Σn >- 1 dz(n)n−s for real s > 1, z > 1, so that dz(n) is a generalized divisor function. We obtain good upper bounds for Dz(x, t) = Σn ≤ x(dz(n))t which are uniform in the real variables x, z, t when x ≥ 1, z > 1, and t > 0. We also derive sharp new estimates for the maximal order of dz(n) which are uniform in both z and n. The proofs depend on precise uniform estimates for sums of p−σ (p prime, σ > 0). The upper bounds for Dz(x, t) will be applied in a later paper to establish new results on the distribution of values of dz(n).
High-performance silicon nanopore hemofiltration membranes

Silicon micromachining provides the precise control of nanoscale features that can be fundamentally enabling for miniaturized, implantable medical devices. Concerns have been raised regarding blood biocompatibility of silicon-based materials and their application to hemodialysis and hemofiltration. A high-performance ultrathin hemofiltration membrane with monodisperse slit-shaped pores was fabricated using a sacrificial oxide technique and then surface-modified with poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG). Fluid and macromolecular transport matched model predictions well. Protein adsorption, fouling, and thrombosis were significantly inhibited by the PEG. The membrane retained hydraulic permeability and molecular selectivity during a 90 hour hemofiltration experiment with anticoagulated bovine whole blood. This is the first report of successful prolonged hemofiltration with a silicon nanopore membrane. The results demonstrate feasibility of renal replacement devices based on these membranes and materials.
Hemotensiometry: A New Technique for the Study of Hemostasis in Open-Heart Surgery

Abstract Hemotensiometry is a new technique utilizing the principle of gas activation of clotting factors in vitro. The method has proved beneficial in open-heart operations because of its ability to determine the status of heparin anticoagulation and protamine neutralization rapidly and accurately at any given instant. Measurement of heparin levels takes about 5 minutes and requires 1.5 ml. of blood per assay. Prolonged hemorrhage from inadequate heparin neutralization may thus be prevented with the use of the Hemometer and hemotensiometric methods which we have developed.
Family history of pancreatic cancer in a high-risk cancer clinic: implications for risk assessment.

Detailed family history is a critical element of cancer risk assessment. The relative importance of pancreatic cancer (PC) in a close family member, particularly in hereditary breast-ovarian syndrome (HBOS), is not clearly defined. We use a case-control design to investigate the importance of a family history of PC to cancer risk assessment. Case and control families were identified from the University of Chicago Cancer Risk database (1994–2005). Pedigrees were analyzed for personal and familial clinical cancer data. Cases included all new subjects (probands) reporting a close relative (first or second degree) with PC. Controls included the probands enrolled in the database immediately prior to and subsequent to each case (i.e. two controls for each case). From 1,231 pedigrees, 103 PC were reported by the proband in 87 unique families. Many probands reported multiple or early-onset PCs: one third (28/87) of case families met criteria for a familial PC syndrome [≥2 first-degree relatives with PC (n = 10) or PC diagnosed ≤50 (n = 18)]. Of these families, the majority (75%) concurrently met criteria suggestive of hereditary breast-ovarian syndrome (HBOS). Because of a family history consistent with HBOS, at least one individual from each of 29 case and 55 control families underwent genetic testing for BRCA1/2. Among case families, 19 of 29 (66%) had a BRCA1/2 mutation compared with 16 of 55 (29%) controls. A significant association between family history of PC and a BRCA1/2 mutation was seen (OR 3.78, 1.32–10.9). This point estimate was strengthened but less precise in the non-Ashkenazi Jewish subset of tested families (OR 6.03, 1.68–22.14). In a high-risk population, a family history of PC, though infrequently reported, is nonetheless clinically meaningful. In risk assessment for HBOS, identifying a family history of PC should strongly raise the suspicion of an unrecognized BRCA1/2 mutation.
Lemurs in a complex landscape: mapping species density in subtropical dry forests of southwestern Madagascar using data at multiple levels

The study of southern dry forest lemurs has been largely restricted to small reserves; yet, the majority of the region's lemur populations reside outside protected areas. Lemur catta and Propithecus verreauxi occupy the same forests but have different dietary preferences. This study assessed L. catta and P. verreauxi population densities across a 3-km dry forest gradient (1,539 ha) in southern Madagascar. The study was designed to allow lemur densities to be related to particular forest types. A particular aim of this study was to collect lemur data in both protected and unprotected areas. Density estimates were calculated using point transect distance sampling in a study area that contained the Beza Mahafaly Special Reserve and the adjacent disturbed forests. The highest densities recorded for each species were in the protected area where the two species were most segregated in their distribution, with L. catta density highest in gallery forest type and P. verreauxi density highest in dry deciduous. Densities of both species varied widely outside the protected area, but P. verreauxi density was more uniform than was L. catta. Results of this study indicate that patterns of lemur density in protected areas are not representative of patterns in disturbed forests; this also suggests that we cannot fully understand the ecological constraints facing primate species by studying them only in protected areas. This research highlights the value of pairing the study of landscape-level patterns of species distribution with both local ground-level ecological interpretations and broad-scale satellite data; information from only one level may give an incomplete view of the community. Am. J. Primatol. 73:38–52, 2011. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Pairwise testing of group mean vectors in MANOVA with small samples

Several, multivariate, pairwise, multiple comparison procedures are proposed as follow-ups for a significant multivariate analysis of variance. The Peritz procedure is generalized from univariate to several multivariate applications. Procedures are evaluated using overall power, any-pair power and all-pairs power applied to mean vectors with common sample sizes of 4, 5, and 9. Monte Carlo simulation demonstrated greater power than previously proposed univariate procedures in many conditions especially for all-pairs power. The multivariate Peritz procedure based on the Lawley–Hotelling trace was found to be most powerful in many conditions.
Some implications of strain energy expressions for the Love-Kirchhoff non-linear theory of plates and shells

Abstract The exact non-linear theory of bending of shells under the Love-Kirchhoff hypothesis is discussed from the point of view of three-dimensional elasticity theory. The assumption of various forms of the strain energy function for the shell is shown to imply corresponding expressions for the stress distribution throughout the shell wall. Exact equilibrium and constitutive relations for the study of the elastic stability of shells are derived. The equations are specialized and fully discussed for flat plates, for which a correction to the classical equations is obtained.
Floodplain Price Impacts by Property Type in Boulder County, Colorado: Condominiums Versus Standalone Properties

Studies find various, and often small or negligible, impacts of floodplain designation on home sales prices in the United States, calling into question the U.S.’s National Flood Insurance Program’s (NFIP) effectiveness at internalizing flood risk into the residential property market. However, studies also tend to focus only on standalone homes, although a substantial portion of the U.S. housing market, particularly within designated floodplains, consists of condominiums: single-unit residences that are bundled with an ownership share in common property. This study investigates the price impact of floodplain designation for condominiums and for standalone properties in Boulder County, Colorado, U.S., and finds a strong impact for condominiums but none for standalone properties. Results are consistent across hedonic price estimation and non-parametric matching estimation. Numerous factors may contribute to this difference, including differences in the pre-transaction provision of flood insurance cost information and whether maintaining ongoing flood insurance is compulsory. These results have implications for the NFIP and offer insights for policy interventions for internalizing risks more generally. They also caution against generalizing from the experience of the NFIP without detailed consideration of the contexts and specific conditions in which it is applied.
Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. in marine environments from the West Coast of the USA.

Aims: The aim of the study was to determine if vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. [VRE] carrying vanA and/or vanB genes were present in public marine beaches and a fishing pier [2001–2003, 2008] from Washington and California [2008]. Methods: PCR assays for the vanA and/or vanB genes with verification by DNA–DNA hybridization of the PCR products were used. Positive isolates were speciated using the BD BBL Crystal™ Identification and/or by sequencing the 16S ribosomal region. Results: Eighteen (8%) of 227 isolates including Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus casseliflavus/gallinarum and a Staphylococcus epidermidis carrying vanA and/or vanB genes, from four of six Washington and one of two California sites, were identified. Selected VRE and the S. epidermidis were able to transfer their van genes to an E. faecalis recipient at frequencies ranging from 1·9 × 10−6 to 6·7 × 10−9. Conclusions: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus spp. was isolated from five of the seven sites suggesting that other North America public beaches could be the reservoirs for VRE and should be assessed. Significance & Impact of the Study: This is the first report of isolation and characterization of VRE strains (and a vanB Staphylococcus sp.) from North American environmental sources suggesting that public beaches may be a reservoir for possible transmission of VRE to beach visitors.
Interface interaction between thin films of transition metal compounds and silicon substrates across the native SiO2 layer

Abstract FeSi films deposited on the native oxide layer on silicon substrates have been shown to undergo a metal-like to insulator-like transition around the temperature of 250 K. Near room temperature the current was carried through the silicon substrate as a result of carriers tunneling across the film–substrate interface. This was facilitated by the formation of an ohmic contact to the silicon substrate across the SiO 2 layer. Rapid increase in the film–substrate interface resistance near 250 K switched the current to the film giving rise to a more than three orders of magnitude change in resistance. CoSi and Fe 2 O 3 films deposited on silicon substrates also showed a similar transition in resistance near 250 K while resistance increased monotonically without any sign of a transition for TiSi and TiO 2 films. However, TiO 2 films doped with 6% Co behaved similar to films of Fe and Co compounds. These results conclude that the transition metal ions with multiple valences are important for the formation of an ohmic contact and the subsequent resistive transition. The magnitude of the transition was seen to depend on the energy of the depositing species during film growth. Ablation at high laser fluencies produced highly excited and ionized species. High density of interface states produced by energetic transition metal ions increased the hopping probability of carriers leading to a lower interface resistance. Formation of an ohmic contact between a metal electrode and the silicon substrate across the native SiO 2 layer in Metal/FeSi/SiO2/Si structures has been demonstrated.
Redefining the Boundaries of Belonging: The Institutional Character of Transnational Religious Life

Global religious institutions shape the transnational migration experience while migrants chip away at and recreate global religions by making them local and starting the process anew. Migrants’ religious institutions are also sites where globally diffused models of social organization and individuals’ local responses converge to produce new mixes of religious beliefs and practices. Transnational institutional connections transformed immigrant community religious life and the political and religious life of the home country and enabled immigrant religious communities to exert power within their global religious systems. Global culture and institutions also clearly shape migrants’ transnational religious practices. From the mid 1800s to the present, the Catholic Church has worked diligently to create and reinforce its role as a transnational, publicly influential institution. The institutional connections that migration engenders, and that reinforces and is reinforced by already-global aspects of religious life, transform religion into a powerful, underexplored site of transnational belonging.
Domain structure changes in a ferromagnetic Co90Hf10 metallic glass

Abstract This paper presents a study of the thermal changes in the domain structure of a Co 90 Hf 10 amorphous alloy. Melt-spun specimens were isothermally annealed under high vacuum at 700 K for 2 and 4 h and confirmed to have remained amorphous. A Phillips EM 301 transmission electron microscope working in the Lorentz mode (LTEM) and Fresnel contrast was used to study the domain structures. In the as-quenched alloy ripple structures observed, the alloy annealed for 2 h and the ripple structure gradually disappeared, with a tendency to form a stripe pattern originating from the main domain walls. Finally, in the alloy annealed for 4 h, stripe structures were formed, consisting mostly of Bloch walls. The observed changes in the domain patterns are discussed in terms of the domain energy.
An X-ray diffraction technique for analyzing structural defects including microstrain in nitride materials

An X-ray diffraction analysis technique incorporating microstrain broadening is introduced to characterize nitride materials. The technique is tested using GaN and AlN samples prepared with different growth processes. The computation technique relies on simultaneously analyzing the X-ray profiles from a series of crystal planes and extracting the various broadening effects. An analysis ignoring the mircostrain term will often overestimate the effects of lattice tilt and lateral coherence length. The extended analysis results in much better fits, especially for planes with large Bragg angles. Improved estimates give a more complete picture of the structural properties of nitride materials.
Quantitative Account of the Enhanced Affinity of Two Linked scFvs Specific for Different Epitopes on the Same Antigen

Protein and other antigens typically have a number of different epitopes. This presents an opportunity for designing high-affinity antibodies by connecting via a flexible peptide linker two antibody fragments recognizing non-overlapping epitopes on the same antigen. The same strategy was employed in natural and designed DNA-binding proteins. According to a previous theory, the linking enhances the antigen-binding affinity over those of the individual antibody fragments (with association constants K(A) and K(B)) by p(d(0))K(B) or p(d(0))K(A), where p(d(0))=(3/4pil(p)bL)(3/2)exp(-3d(0)(2)/4l(p)bL)(1-5l(p)/4bL+ cdots, three dots, centered ) is the probability density for the end-to-end vector of the flexible linker with L residues to have a distance d(0). The predicted affinity enhancement is found to be actually approached by a bi-specific antibody against hen egg lysozyme consisting of scFv fragments of D1.3 and HyHEL-10. The wide applicability of the theory is demonstrated by diverse examples of protein-protein interactions constrained by flexible linkers.
Effect of mercury and cadmium on the growth of Anacystis nidulans.

Anacystis nidulans is a member of the cyanobacteria, one of the largest and most diverse groups in the prokaryotic kingdom. Cyanobacteria are excellent organisms to serve as models for the investigation of a wide variety of biological problems such as acting as environmental pollution indicators. There have been several studies on the effects of heavy metals on A. nidulans. Some of these elements, such as copper, are known to be essential nutrients for cyanobacteria. Others, like cadmium, are not known to be necessary for normal growth and metabolism. Large amounts of either essential or non-essential elements can be toxic. Toxic metals, such as mercury and cadmium are a major water pollution problem. Metals come from natural weathering processes of the earth's crust, industrial discharge, pest or disease control agents applied to plants, urban run-off, mining, soil erosion, sewage effluents, air pollution fallout and other sources. This study investigates the growth of Anacystis under different concentrations of mercury and cadmium. 13 refs., 2 figs.
Evolution of a Search: The Use of Dynamic Twitter Searches During Superstorm Sandy

BACKGROUND Twitter has emerged as a critical source of free and openly available information during emergency response operations, providing an unmatched level of on-the-ground situational awareness in real-time. Responders and survivors turn to Twitter to share information and resources within communities, conduct rumor control, and provide a "boots on the ground" understanding of the disaster. However, the ability to tune out background "noise" is essential to effectively utilizing Twitter to identify important and useful information during an emergency response. METHODS This article highlights a two-prong strategy in which the use of a Twitter list paired with subject specific Boolean searches provided increased situational awareness and early event detection during the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) response to Superstorm Sandy in 2012. To maximize the amount of relevant information that was retrieved, the Twitter list and Boolean searches were dynamic and responsive to real-time developments, evolving health threats, and the informational needs of decision-makers. CONCLUSION The use of a Twitter list combined with Boolean searches led to enhanced situational awareness throughout the HHS response. The incorporation of a dynamic search strategy over the course of the HHS Sandy response, allowed for the ability to account for over-tweeted information, changes in event related conversation, and decreases in the return of relevant information.
An electron spin resonance study of oxyradical generation in superoxide dismutase- and catalase-deficient mutants of Escherichia coli K-12

The response of superoxide dismutase- and catalase-deficient strains of Escherichia coli to redox active compounds was examined by electron spin resonance. Levels of radicals formed in response to pyocyanine in situ were extremely low and were found to be predominantly extracellular, even in a strain completely deficient in both superoxide dismutase and catalase. In cell-free extracts of superoxide dismutase-minus strains incubated with NADPH and pyocyanine, the primary accumulating radical was the superoxide anion (O2-), although low levels of the hydroxyl radical (.OH) were also detected. In contrast, extracts from strains lacking catalase were found to accumulate higher levels of hydroxyl radicals.
Relationship between cloud-to-ground lightning and precipitation ice mass: A radar study over Houston

[1] Using seven summer-seasons (1997–2003) of NEXRAD data (over 46,000 volumes), coincident climatologies of cloud-to-ground (CG) lightning flash densities and radar-derived, column integrated precipitation ice mass (IM) were developed, extending global studies of IM and lightning to more regional and cell scales around Houston, TX. Results indicate that local maximums in CG lightning were indeed accompanied by peaks in IM. Extending previous global findings to cell-scales, we establish a link between a storm's ability to generate enhanced concentrations of mixed-phase IM, and its ability to generate lightning. Relative to the documented CG lightning “anomaly” over Houston, these results imply that unique aspects of the Houston urban area must first generate an anomaly in convective intensity and precipitation ice, thereby generating an anomaly in lightning; causal hypotheses must be capable of explaining either increased frequency and/or intensity of convection, and then relating these to the enhancement of IM and lightning production.
Relation of Growth Temperature to Fatty Acid Composition of Propionibacterium Strains

Abstract The ability of 101 strains of Propionibacterium to grow at 4.5°C in broth culture was measured. Three strains that grew at 4.5°C, Propionibacterium freudenreichii subsp. shermanii strains P8, P22, and P33, and three strains that did not grow at 4.5°C, Propionibacterium jensenii strains P25 and P41 and Propionibacterium acidi-propionici strain P50, were grown individually in batch culture to early stationary phase at 10 and 32°C. Their fatty acids were extracted directly from whole cells by potassium hydroxide digestion and examined as methyl esters by capillary gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Percentages of fatty acids were compared at the two growth temperatures. The most abundant acids in both groups were iso- and anteiso-15:0 fatty acids. The fatty acids of the strains that grew at 4.5°C were 38 to 64% anteiso-15:0 and 2 to 10% iso-15:0, whereas the strains that would not grow at 4.5°C contained 25 to 46% of anteiso-15:0 and 14 to 42% of iso-15:0. Both groups tended to increase the proportion of branched chain fatty acids and decrease saturated straight-chain fatty acids at 10°C compared with 32°C. The difference of fatty acid composition between the two groups may be species-related. The change of fatty acid composition with a change of growth temperature frequently was not large, indicating that strains able to grow at low temperature possess a fatty acid composition consistent with this trait rather than possessing the ability to adjust fatty acid composition greatly with a change of growth temperature.
Within‐business diversification in technology‐intensive industries

This study extends diversification research to a new level of analysis, examining how within-business diversification, which occurs when firms extend existing product lines or expand into new ones, affects organizational survival. While prior research suggests that corporate-level diversification accounts for relatively little variation in performance, within-business diversification matters a great deal, by influencing which start-ups survive and which firms better cope with rapid environmental change. Specifically, we find that the relationship between within-business diversity and survival is contingent on the amount of environmental change wrought by a firm's competitors as they simultaneously diversify their own product portfolios and innovate technologically. Analysis of the population of U.S. personal computer manufacturers from the industry's founding in 1975 through 1994 supports our premise: Regardless of its effects across businesses, diversification matters a great deal within them. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Changing Schools of Education through Grassroots Faculty-Led Change.

In this article I report on the application of the lens of Rogers’ (1995) change agent roles and Kezar and Lester’s (2011) adaptation of tempered radicals in order to understand the leadership roles assumed by three individual faculty members located at three distinct schools of education. These faculty leaders utilized the concepts and principles of the Carnegie Project on the Education Doctorate (CPED) to lead redesigns of their Ed.D. programs. Qualitative data were gathered during a larger study on institutional change. Findings contribute to understanding grassroots leadership and how it works in collaboration with top-down authorities.
Topical protease therapy as a novel method of epidermal ablation: preliminary report.

Background For more than 50 years, proteolytic enzymes have been extensively used in laboratory settings for the purposes of in vitro epidermal separation and keratinocyte isolation. However, the topical, in vivo pharmacologic properties of these enzymes are virtually unknown. Previous therapeutic applications for topically applied proteases have been limited to wound debridement. Objective To characterize the clinical and histologic effects of topically applied proteases as a method of therapeutic epidermal ablation. Materials and methods SKH-1 hairless mouse and human skin samples were exposed both in vitro and in vivo to varying concentrations of the proteases subtilisin, trypsin, and dispase for different exposure durations. The effects of protease exposure were then assessed by both clinical and histologic examination. Results Exposure of both human and mouse skin samples to topical protease solutions resulted in reproducible, differential patterns of epidermal ablation: subcorneal, intraepidermal, and subepidermal. In a limited study, topical application of trypsin solution resulted in the scar-free ablation of lesions of seborrheic keratosis located on the lower extremity. Conclusion Topically applied proteases represent an alternative method of epidermal ablation with several potential advantages over existing techniques. Further studies are needed to delineate ideal enzyme formulations, vehicles, and applications. HOWARD FEIN, MD, HAS A PENDING US PATENT APPLICATION CONCERNING THE DERMATOLOGIC APPLICATIONS OF TOPICAL PROTEASE THERAPY.
Bacteriological aspects of Florida red tides: A revisit and newer obervations

Abstract A brief review is presented of the literature involving the occurrence of bactera in red tides caused by the dinoflagellate Ptychodiscus brevis. Both quantitative and qualitative studies were made on outbreaks along the Florida Gulf coast in 1982 and 1987 and a bloom along the North Carolina coast in 1987. Non-bloom waters in both areas were sampled in 1988. Bacteria were also recovered from batch cultures of P. brevis. Bacterial isolates from red tide and normal waters and dinoflagellate cultures were tested for their ability to kill fish under laboratory conditions. Numbers of bacteria were always higher than reported for a 1971 outbreak but did not routinely correlate directly with P. brevis numbers. Storage of red tide water produced increased bacteria counts in some cases and decreased levels in another. Members of the genera Aeromonas, Alteromonas/Pseudomonas, and Vibrio were frequently isolated from the three blooms studied as well as from non-bloom waters; MPN of> 1100 100 ml of Vibrio alginolyticus were recorded from the latter. Dominant chromogenic bacteria, reported during previous studies, were not observed in our samples. Several bacteria killed fish experimentally including isolates from red tide and normal waters and P. brevis cultures. It was concluded that a given dinoflagellate bloom is an individual event from a bacteriological standpoint, based on quantitative and qualitative comparison of historical observations and the present study. Recent reports of tetrodotoxin production by the bacterial genera isolated above suggests a further consideration of bacteria in toxic dinoflagellate blooms.
THE INFLUENCE OF STRATEGIES FOR SELECTING LOGLINEAR SMOOTHING MODELS ON EQUATING FUNCTIONS

This study addressed 2 issues of using loglinear models for smoothing univariate test score distributions and for enhancing the stability of equipercentile equating functions. One issue was a comparative assessment of several statistical strategies that have been proposed for selecting 1 from several competing model parameterizations. Another issue was an evaluation of the influence of the selection strategies on equating function accuracy. These issues were considered in a simulation study, where the accuracies of 17 selection strategies for loglinear models and their effects on equating function accuracies were assessed across a range of sample sizes, test score distributions, and population equating functions. The results differentiate the selection strategies in terms of their accuracies in selecting correct model parameterizations and define the situations where their use has the most important implications for equating function accuracy.
Correlative inhibition of root emergence in the gamma-irradiated coleus leaf—III. Effects of auxin on the radiation-induced changes in RNA, RNA metabolism, and rooting

Post-irradiation treatment with auxin is shown to reverse the depression in levels of RNA and rooting that take place in the petiole base after irradiation of the lamina. Auxin does not reverse the activation of soluble and particulate ribonucleases, but does activate RNA synthesis. These observations are considered to support the concept that the correlative agent is auxin, that the auxin reversal of the irradiationinduced fall in the concentration of RNA derives primarily from an increase in the rate of RNA synthesis, and that sequential falls in the levels of auxin, RNA, and protein provide an explanation of the abscopal inhibition of root emergence.
MOLECULAR MECHANISM OF DNA RECOGNITION BY THE ALPHA SUBUNIT OF THE OXYTRICHA TELOMERE BINDING PROTEIN

Interactions between telomeric DNA and the alpha subunit of the heterodimeric telomere binding protein of Oxytricha nova have been probed by Raman spectroscopy, CD spectroscopy, and nondenaturing gel electrophoresis. Telomeric sequences investigated include the Oxytricha 3' overhang, d(T4G4)2, and the related sequence dT6(T4G4)2, which incorporates a 5'-thymidylate leader. Corresponding nontelomeric isomers, d(TG)8 and dT6(TG)8, have also been investigated. Both d(T4G4)2 and dT6(T4G4)2 form stable hairpins that contain Hoogsteen G.G base pairs [Laporte, L., and Thomas, G. J., Jr. (1998) J. Mol. Biol. 281, 261-270]. The alpha subunit binds specifically and stoichiometrically to the dT6(T4G4)2 hairpin and alters its secondary structure by inducing conformational changes in the 5'-thymidylate leader without extensive disruption of G.G base pairing. Conversely, binding of the alpha subunit to d(T4G4)2 eliminates G.G pairing and unfolds the hairpin. DNA unfolding is accompanied by conformational changes affecting both the backbone and dG residues, as evidenced by Raman and CD spectra. Interestingly, the alpha subunit also forms complexes with the nontelomeric isomers, d(TG)8 and dT6(TG)8, evidenced by altered electrophoretic mobility in nondenaturing gels; however, Raman and CD spectra of complexes of the alpha subunit with nontelomeric DNA suggest no significant changes in backbone or deoxynucleoside conformations. Similarly, the alpha subunit binds to but does not appreciably alter the secondary structure of duplex DNA. The present results show that while the alpha subunit has the capacity to bind to Watson-Crick and different non-Watson-Crick motifs, DNA refolding is specific to the Oxytricha telomeric hairpin and the retention of G.G pairing is specific to the telomeric sequence incorporating the 5' leading sequence. A model is proposed for alpha subunit binding to telomeric DNA, and the physiological role of the alpha subunit in telomere organization is discussed.
Cytological evaluation of the germ cell development strategy within the testis of the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis

The cytological changes to germ cells were investigated within the seminiferous epithelium of the American alligator (Alligator mississippiensis). Testicular tissues were collected, embedded in plastic, sectioned on an ultramicrotome, and stained with the periodic acid–Schiff+ procedure followed by a haematoxylin counterstain. Alligators have a prenuptial pattern of germ cell development, where spermatogenesis begins in early spring and sperm is mature by the time mating begins in May. Consistent spatial relationships between germ cells are absent within the seminiferous epithelium of the alligator. Their germ cells progress through the phases of spermatogenesis as a single cohort, leading to one continuous spermiation event that occurs during their mating season (May–June). This temporal germ cell development is different from the consistent spatial development seen within seasonally breeding birds and mammals but is similar to the recently described germ cell development strategies of two other temperate breeding reptiles, the slider turtle and the European wall lizard. The germ cell development strategy shared by these three temperate reptiles representing three different taxa within the class Reptilia is reminiscent of the temporal strategy seen within the anamniotic testis. Thus, alligators and at least two other temperate reptiles exhibit primitive spermatogenic cycles within derived amniotic testes and may be consider intermediates in terms of testicular organization, which may have significance phylogenetically.
UNCERTAINTIES OF MODELING GAMMA-RAY PULSAR LIGHT CURVES USING VACUUM DIPOLE MAGNETIC FIELD

Current models of pulsar gamma-ray emission use the magnetic field of a rotating dipole in vacuum as a first approximation to the shape of a plasma-filled pulsar magnetosphere. In this paper, we revisit the question of gamma-ray light curve formation in pulsars in order to ascertain the robustness of the 'two-pole caustic (TPC)' and 'outer gap (OG)' models based on the vacuum magnetic field. We point out an inconsistency in the literature on the use of the relativistic aberration formula, where in several works the shape of the vacuum field was treated as known in the instantaneous corotating frame, rather than in the laboratory frame. With the corrected formula, we find that the peaks in the light curves predicted from the TPC model using the vacuum field are less sharp. The sharpness of the peaks in the OG model is less affected by this change, but the range of magnetic inclination angles and viewing geometries resulting in double-peaked light curves is reduced. In a realistic magnetosphere, the modification of field structure near the light cylinder (LC) due to plasma effects may change the shape of the polar cap and the location of the emission zones. We study the sensitivity ofmore » the light curves to different shapes of the polar cap for static and retarded vacuum dipole fields. In particular, we consider polar caps traced by the last open field lines and compare them to circular polar caps. We find that the TPC model is very sensitive to the shape of the polar cap, and a circular polar cap can lead to four peaks of emission. The OG model is less affected by different polar cap shapes, but is subject to big uncertainties of applying the vacuum field near the LC. We conclude that deviations from the vacuum field can lead to large uncertainties in pulse shapes, and a more realistic force-free field should be applied to the study of pulsar high-energy emission.« less
A review of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and postpartum depression

Depression is common among HIV-infected women, predicts treatment non-adherence, and may impact mother to daughter (vertical) transmission of HIV. A majority of women who develop HIV are of child-bearing age, and are at risk for postpartum depression (PPD). A literature review was performed to analyze the literature regarding PPD in HIV-positive women. This review specifically looked at literature regarding the incidence, risk factors, outcomes, and treatment of PPD in HIV-positive women compared to the general population. While existing literature is limited, it seems to imply that there is no difference between HIV-positive women and unaffected women when it comes to PPD incidence or risk factors. A majority of studies did conclude that routine screenings are needed for depressive symptoms in HIV-positive women.
A Model for Defining West Nile Virus Risk Perception Based on Ecology and Proximity

West Nile virus (WNV) has made considerable impact as an emerging infectious disease, spreading from coast to coast across North America since 1999. The disease has exhibited great spatial variability in North America, making an ecosystems approach to understanding the local human and vector ecology critical to prevention and control. This study underscores the importance of employing both personal prevention and community participatory approaches to create messages that have been adapted to the local ecology and are designed to reduce the risk of human infection with this mosquito-borne virus. As the virus spreads into new areas, underlying attitudes toward mosquitoes and the local perception of environment/ecology can affect the success of control and prevention measures. This work presents results from focus group discussions conducted in two Colorado counties in 2003, a year of significant WNV activity in the state. Issues addressed include residents’ assessment of risk and how this perception varied by age group and location, use or nonuse of repellents, and community attitudes toward mosquito control in areas with different ecologies and histories of mosquito-borne disease. The need to address individual components of personal prevention, to target prevention to specific audiences, and to disseminate prevention messages through local channels is discussed. The authors propose including aspects of ecology and disease proximity in understanding risk perception and addressing emerging diseases with a prominent ecological component.
High-Voltage Organic Thin-Film Transistors on Flexible and Curved Surfaces

A pentacene (C22H14)-based high-voltage organic thin-film transistor (HVOTFT) was demonstrated on both a rigid and a flexible substrate. The HVOTFT showed minimal degradation of the current–voltage ( $I$ – $V$ ) characteristics under flexure. Consistent with the previous reports on amorphous silicon (a-Si) TFTs, the offset drain/source structure enabled high-voltage operation, allowing for the HVOTFT to switch very large drain-to-source voltages ( $V_{\text {DS}} > 300$ V) with a relatively lower controlling voltage (0 $\text {V} V). The HVOTFT was evaluated with three different gate insulators to assess how the dielectric constant and interface states influence device performance. Due to the high electric field generated in the device, the HVOTFT suffered from impeded charge injection into the gated semiconductor channel, similar to that reported in a-Si-based high-voltage TFTs, as well as from a nonsaturating $I$ – $V$ characteristic behavior similar to the short-channel effects found in FETs. A field plate was implemented to improve charge injection into the gated semiconductor channel. Output characteristics of the HVOTFT were numerically corrected to demonstrate that the device $I$ – $V$ can be modeled with the existing Si-based FET models.
Soil-vegetation-climate interactions in arid landscapes: Effects of the North American monsoon on grass recruitment

We used a daily time step, multi-layer simulation model of soil water dynamics to integrate effects of soils, vegetation, and climate on the recruitment of Bouteloua eriopoda (black grama), the historically dominant grass in the Chihuahuan Desert. We simulated landscapes at the Jornada ARS-LTER site with heterogeneous soil properties to compare: (1) a grass-dominated landscape in 1858 with the current shrub-dominated landscape (i.e., a change in vegetation structure), and (2) the current shrub-dominated landscape with future landscapes over a range of climate scenarios associated with the North American monsoon (i.e., a change in climate). A historic shift from high productivity grasslands to low productivity shrublands decreased simulated recruitment for most of the site; the amount of reduction depended on location-specific soil properties and changes in production. In some cases, soil properties interacted with vegetation structure: soils high in clay content maintained high recruitment even with a decrease in production. Wetter summers would increase recruitment in all vegetation types. Drier summers below 25% of current rainfall would decrease recruitment to negligible values (<0.03) throughout the landscape. We used our results to identify the conditions where recruitment of B. eriopoda is possible with and without significant modifications to soil and vegetation.
AnatomyBrowser: A novel approach to visualization and integration of medical information.

In this article, we present a novel technique for visualization of three-dimensional (3D) surface models, as well as its implementation in a system called AnatomyBrowser. Using our approach, visualization of 3D surface models is performed in two separate steps: a pre-rendering step, in which the models are rendered and saved in a special format, and an actual display step, in which the final result of rendering is generated using information from the prerendering step. Whereas prerendering requires high-end graphics hardware, the final image generation and display can be implemented efficiently in software. Moreover, our current implementation of AnatomyBrowser interface uses the Java programming language and can therefore be readily run on a wide range of systems, including low-end computers with no special graphics hardware. In addition to visualization of 3D models and 2D slices, AnatomyBrowser provides a rich set of annotation and cross-referencing capabilities. We demonstrate several possible applications for AnatomyBrowser, including interactive anatomy atlases, surgery planning, and assistance in segmentation.