cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF MITOCHONDRIA : II. ENZYMES ASSOCIATED WITH A MITOCHONDRIAL MEMBRANE FRACTION

1. Mitochondria isolated from rat liver were disrupted with 0.3 per cent deoxycholate and a number of subfractions were isolated from this preparation by differential centrifugation. 2. The protein N, RNA and phospholipide content, as well as the succinoxidase, cytochrome c oxidase, adenylate kinase, and DPNH-cytochrome c reductase of these fractions were determined. 3. Two of these subfractions, found to consist of mitochondrial membranes (2), contained approximately 12 per cent of the protein N and approximately 35 per cent of the phospholipide of the whole mitochondria and accounted for approximately 70 per cent of the succinoxidase and cytochrome c oxidase activity of the original mitochondrial preparation. There was no discernible adenylate kinase, DPNH-cytochrome c reductase, or phosphorylating activities in these fractions, nor could they oxidize other substrates of the Krebs's cycle. 4. The most active fraction (60 minutes at 105,000 g pellet) had a higher phospholipide/protein value than the whole mitochondria and showed a seven-to elevenfold concentration of succinoxidase and cytochrome c oxidase activities. 5. Evidence has been given to indicate that the various components of the succinoxidase complex are present in this membrane fraction in the same relative proportions as in the whole mitochondria. 6. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Psychopharmacology of mood disorders in persons with mental retardation and autism

The ever-growing range of designer drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and other new antidepressants, atypical antipsychotic agents, and antiseizure medications may improve treatment efficacy and safety for persons with mood disorders and mental retardation (MR) and autism. Mood disorders are still frequently undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, and are often chronic and atypical. Diagnosis must rely on reporting of signs of the illnesses by caregivers, rather than by self-report. A key issue guiding the use of mood stabilizers as first-line drugs instead of antidepressants is the present or past existence of manic features. Chronic and atypical forms of bipolar disorder often require multiple mood stabilizers for acute and maintenance treatment. The role of the atypical antipsychotic agents in acute and maintenance treatment of mood disorders requires further study in this population, in terms of lower long-term risk and possible beneficial cognitive effects. The SSRIs appear to be broad spectrum and offer ease of prescription, may reverse some of the core features of autism, and can be beneficial for self-injury, explosive outbursts, and depressive and anxiety symptoms and behaviors. However, in view of the risk of drug interactions, together with the often numerous physicians treating mentally retarded persons for epilepsy and psychiatric and physical illness, scrupulous attention to pharmacotherapy detail and vigilance for drug interactions is essential. Research studies are needed to better characterize the phenomenology, biology, and treatment responses in the MR population. MRDD Research Reviews 1999;5:270–278. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Review : Ultraviolet-A1 (340-400 nm) irradiation therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus

Ultraviolet-A1 (UV-A1) wavelengths have been found effective in mitigating signs and symp toms of disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but studies have been uncon trolled. To rigo...
Efficacy, Safety, and Breakthrough Infections Associated with Standard Long-Term Posaconazole Antifungal Prophylaxis in Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation Recipients

Based on favorable results from randomized clinical trials, oral posaconazole has been approved for prophylaxis in neutropenic patients and stem cell transplantation (SCT) recipients. However, routine use of a prophylactic drug may yield different results than those from clinical trials. We collected data on the efficacy, safety, breakthrough infections, and antimicrobial resistance associated with standard long-term posaconazole prophylaxis in adult allogeneic SCT recipients at the UCLA Medical Center. Oral posaconazole (200 mg 3 times daily) was started on day 1 after SCT and continued until day 100. After day 100, posaconazole was continued in patients who still required corticosteroids for prevention or treatment of graft-versus-host disease. From January 2007 through December 2008, 106 consecutive patients received prophylactic posaconazole. Breakthrough invasive fungal infections on posaconazole occurred in 8 patients (7.5%) within 6 months after SCT; 3 additional patients developed invasive fungal infection after discontinuation of prophylactic posaconazole. The infective organisms were Candida (8 cases), Aspergillus (2 cases), and Aspergillus plus Coccidioides immitis (1 case). There were no Zygomycetes infections. Only 2 (both Candida glabrata) of 9 infecting isolates tested were resistant to posaconazole (minimal inhibitory concentration >1 μg/mL). Mortality from invasive fungal infection occurred in 4 patients (3.7%). Except for nausea in 9 patients, no clinical adverse event or laboratory abnormality could be attributed to posaconazole. Mean peak and trough plasma posaconazole concentrations were relatively low (
Otobius megnini Infestation in Three Dogs.

Resume— Trois cas d'infestation par Otobius megnini sont decrits. Le motif de consultation chez les deux chiens ne recevant par de corticoides etait des secousses de la tete. L'exerese des tiques chez deux chiens et l'utilisation d'une preparation otologique a base de thiabendazole-dexamethasone-neomycine chez le troisieme, ont permis un controle de l'infestation. [White, S. D., Scott, K. V., Cheney, J. M. Otobius megnini infestation in three dogs (Infestation de trois chiens par Otobius megnini). Resumen— Describimos tres casos de infestacion por Otobius megnini en la especie canina. Los dos perros que no recibian tratamiento con corticoesteroides sacudian la cabeza. La infestacion se resolvio quitando los piojos en dos casos y mediante el uso de una preparation otica con tiabendazol, dexametasona y neomicina, en el tercero. [Otobius megnini infestation in three dogs (Infestacion por Otobius megnini en tres perros). Abstract— Three cases of Otobius megnini infestation in dogs are described. Head-shaking was the presenting complaint in the two dogs not receiving systemic corticosteroids. Removal of the ticks in two dogs, and the usage of a thiabendazole-dexamethasone-neomycin otic preparation in the third, resulted in resolution of the infestation.
The density of states of a re-entrant superconductor

Abstract We compute the superconducting density of states for a re-entrant (ferromagnetic) superconductor N s (ω). We set up and numerically solve the analog of the Eliashberg equations using a simple diffusion model for the spin fluctuation propagator. Reasonably good agreement with some recent tunneling experiments is obtained.
Survival of Clostridium perfringens in Frozen Chicken Gravya

SUMMARY The effect of freezing Clostridiuna perfringens in chicken gravy was examined. Two means were used in inoculating the gravy: 1) inoculum- of C. perfringens was allowed to grow in the gravy for 6 hr; and 2) spores produced in Ellner's medium and dried on sterile soil were added to the gravy. In both cases, the gravy was then held in the frozen state (–17.7°C) for 180 days. When growth was permitted in the gravy, a maximum of 4.29% and 3.69% of viable cells survived for 90 and 180 days, respectively. When spores dried on soil were added to the gravy, maximum survival was 37.9% at 90 days and 10.9% at 180 days.
The impact of industry and training influences on salesforce consulting time and consulting effectiveness

Purpose – The purpose if this article is to study the relative impact of industry competitive conditions on salesforce consulting time and consulting effectiveness, relative to the impact of type of sales training.Design/methodology/approach – Surveys were sent to sales managers and hypotheses were tested in simultaneous equation models.Findings – Industry product differentiation has the greatest impact on consulting effectiveness. Industry customer segment number has a positive influence. The relationship between consulting time and consulting effectiveness is highest in commodity industries.Research limitations/implications – Future studies should expand the sampling frame to include all manufacturing industries, service firms, and consumer goods firms. Future studies should include other firm variables such as strategy, structure, and level of market orientation to improve the explanation of variation.Practical implications – Sales managers in commodity industries have a relatively high opportunity to ...
Orahesive as a protection for the teeth during general anaesthesia and endoscopy.

Orahesive was applied to the teeth in 110 patients who required general anaesthesia and endoscopy. The following observations were made: In order to save time in the application of Orahesive, it would be advisable to have the wafer supplied in the size 3“ long by 1/1/2‴ wide and to have a perforated margin on each side of the release paper about 3/16“ wide to facilitate rapid removal of enough paper to provide an adequate adhesive surface.
Effective view navigation

In view navigation a user moves about an information structure by selecting something in the current view of the structure. This paper explores the implications of rudimentary requirements for effective view navigation, namely that, despite the vastness of an information structure, the views must be small, moving around must not take too many steps and the route to any target be must be discoverable. The analyses help rationalize existing practice, give insight into the difficulties, and suggest strategies for design.
Peak point theorems for uniform algebras on smooth manifolds

It was once conjectured that if A is a uniform algebra on its maximal ideal space X, and if each point of X is a peak point for A, then A = C(X). This peak point conjecture was disproved by Brian Cole in 1968. However, Anderson and Izzo showed that the peak point conjecture does hold for uniform algebras generated by smooth functions on smooth two-manifolds with boundary. The corresponding assertion for smooth three-manifolds is false, but Anderson, Izzo, and Wermer established a peak point theorem for polynomial approximation on real-analytic three-manifolds with boundary. Here we establish a more general peak point theorem for real-analytic three-manifolds with boundary analogous to the two-dimensional result. We also show that if A is a counterexample to the peak point conjecture generated by smooth functions on a manifold of arbitrary dimension, then the essential set for A has empty interior.
Wellness: Its Impact on Student Grades and Implications for Business

Personal wellness, manifested as physical, spiritual, intellectual, emotional, social, environmental, and occupational dimensions, are discussed in a hospitality business context. Each dimension is...
Sweat artifact and respiratory artifact occurring simultaneously in polysomnogram.

A 43-year-old woman with snoring was referred to the sleep laboratory to rule out obstructive sleep apnea. Her body mass index was 42.6, and her Epworth Sleepiness Scale score was 7. She had a history of snoring and sleep maintenance insomnia. Her polysomnogram (PSG) revealed that she had mild sleep apnea with an apnea–hypopnea index of 19.9/h. The PSG showed excessive irregular swaying of the baseline electroencephalogram (EEG), which was noticed in the middle and final third of the night (Figs. 1 and 2). The technician confirmed that the patient was sweating at the time of the artifact and changed the temperature of the room to fix the artifact. The artifact resolved after the temperature was fixed.
Helical and circular scroll wave filaments

Abstract We present a formal theory of the motion of circular and helical scroll wave filaments with uniform twist. Some implications of the theory are derived and compared to numerical computations of scroll wave evolution.
Optimum ‘windows’ in quantitative energy dispersive analysis

Optimum energy window widths are derived using random counting statistics for use in quantitative energy dispersive analysis over a wide range of peak-to-background ratios. It is shown that a peak energy window width equal to the full width as half maximum gives good results for most practical cases.
Enabling and empowering certified nursing assistants for quality dementia care

Currently, 1.2 million full-time equivalent employees (FTEs) care for more than 1.5 million residents in nursing homes where 75% of residents have dementia. By the year 2010, the number of residents in these institutions may double. Registered nurses (RNs) make up less than 7% of a home's total FTEs. In contrast, certified nursing assistants (CNAs) account for more than 40% of total FTEs. Thus, CNAs serve as the primary caregivers in nursing homes. Typically, CNAs have a high school education or less, and receive little more than minimum wage. Their extensive contact with residents has a tremendous impact on quality of life, but significant barriers limit their caregiving effectiveness. These barriers include poor pay, minimal long-term benefits, and insufficient training, recognition and support for their physically and emotionally labor-intensive care. This paper addresses the issues of training CNAs for dementia care by suggesting an organizational framework within which to view dementia training; providing an overview of barriers to empowering CNAs to provide quality care to dementia residents; reviewing research that has addressed a specific barrier; making recommendations for future research; and suggesting research approaches to address these recommendations.
Kinetic evidence for a dual cation role for muscle pyruvate kinase.

Abstract The activation of muscle pyruvate kinase by divalent cations was studied by steady-state kinetics. Under experimental conditions the enzyme exhibits activation by Mg 2+ , Co 2+ , Mn 2+ , Ni 2+ , and Zn 2+ in descending order of maximal velocity. Combinations of cations were also studied. A synergistic activation was observed with a fixed concentration of Mg 2+ and varying concentrations of Mn 2+ or of Co 2+ . This synergism indicates at least two roles for the cations for enzymatic activation and a differential specificity among the cations for the separate functions. Synergistic activation was also observed with fixed Co 2+ and varying Mn 2+ . These results are consistent with a cation specifically required to activate the enzyme and a cation which serves as a cation-nucleotide complex which is a substrate for the reaction. The response observed suggests that Mn 2+ is a better activator of the enzyme than is Mg 2+ , however, MgADP is a better substrate than is MnADP. The lack of a synergistic effect by Ni 2+ or Zn 2+ with Mg 2+ suggests that Ni 2+ and Zn 2+ are poor activators either because they serve one catalytic function poorly but bind to that site tightly or they serve both catalytic functions poorly in contrast to Mg 2+ . These studies yield the first simple kinetic evidence that muscle pyruvate kinase, under catalytic conditions of the overall reaction, has a dual divalent cation requirement for activity.
Large-Scale Cortical Functional Organization and Speech Perception across the Lifespan

Aging is accompanied by substantial changes in brain function, including functional reorganization of large-scale brain networks. Such differences in network architecture have been reported both at rest and during cognitive task performance, but an open question is whether these age-related differences show task-dependent effects or represent only task-independent changes attributable to a common factor (i.e., underlying physiological decline). To address this question, we used graph theoretic analysis to construct weighted cortical functional networks from hemodynamic (functional MRI) responses in 12 younger and 12 older adults during a speech perception task performed in both quiet and noisy listening conditions. Functional networks were constructed for each subject and listening condition based on inter-regional correlations of the fMRI signal among 66 cortical regions, and network measures of global and local efficiency were computed. Across listening conditions, older adult networks showed significantly decreased global (but not local) efficiency relative to younger adults after normalizing measures to surrogate random networks. Although listening condition produced no main effects on whole-cortex network organization, a significant age group x listening condition interaction was observed. Additionally, an exploratory analysis of regional effects uncovered age-related declines in both global and local efficiency concentrated exclusively in auditory areas (bilateral superior and middle temporal cortex), further suggestive of specificity to the speech perception tasks. Global efficiency also correlated positively with mean cortical thickness across all subjects, establishing gross cortical atrophy as a task-independent contributor to age-related differences in functional organization. Together, our findings provide evidence of age-related disruptions in cortical functional network organization during speech perception tasks, and suggest that although task-independent effects such as cortical atrophy clearly underlie age-related changes in cortical functional organization, age-related differences also demonstrate sensitivity to task domains.
Towards Rules for Functional Composition

Functional decomposition is used in conceptual design to divide an overall problem with an unknown solution into smaller problems with known solutions. The procedure for functional decomposition, however, has not been formalized. In a larger effort to understand and develop rules for functional decomposition, this paper develops rules for composition of reverse-engineered functional models. First, the functional basis hierarchy is used in an attempt to compose the functional model of a hair dryer, which does not produce the desired results. Second, a set of rules for composition is presented and applied to the hair dryer functional model. This composed functional model is more similar to the desired decomposition result than the functional model developed by changing hierarchical levels. Ten additional functional models are also composed and the results shown. The findings demonstrate that composition rules can be developed empirically through analysis of functional models.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
On the representation of automation using a work domain analysis

Work domain analysis (WDA) has been applied extensively within cognitive engineering as an analytic framework for the evaluation of complex sociotechnical systems in support of design. However, the WDAs described in the literature have not explored the representation of automated system components, despite the documented problems associated with operator-automation interaction and the requirements for operator support in complex automated systems. The current research examines the application of WDA to model an example automated system – a camera – by representing the camera along with its automated components as separate systems using the abstraction hierarchy (AH). Additionally, we contrasted this modelling approach with the more typical approach of modelling automation within a cognitive work analysis (CWA) by performing a control task analysis using the decision ladder. The results of these analyses suggest that, similar to non-automated systems, considering a separate representation of an automated s...
Spatially resolved fluorescence lifetime mapping of enzyme kinetics in living cells.

Summary Traditional cuvette-based enzyme studies lack spatial information and do not allow real-time monitoring of the effects of modulating enzyme functions in vivo. In order to probe the realistic timescales of steric modifications in enzyme–substrate complexes and functional binding–unbinding kinetics in living cells without losing spatial information, it is imperative to develop sensitive imaging strategies that can report enzyme kinetics in real time over a wide dynamic range of timescales. Here we present a multi-photon excitation-based, ultra-fast photon detection using a streak camera and Laguerre expansion-based fast deconvolution approach for achieving high spatio-temporal resolution in monitoring real-time enzyme kinetics in single cells. In particular, we report spatially resolved, nanosecond-scale fluorescence dynamics associated with binding–unbinding kinetics of endogenous metabolic co-factor nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide with enzymes in intact living cells. By monitoring real-time kinetics of NAD(P)H–enzyme kinetics in primary hepatocytes isolated from young and aged mouse models, we observed that the mechanism of inhibition of mitochondrial respiration at complex I site is mediated by redistribution of free and protein-bound nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide pools and that this equilibrium redistribution is affected by age-related modifications in mitochondrial function. We describe unique advantages of Laguerre deconvolution algorithm in comparison with conventional lifetime analysis approaches. Non-invasive monitoring of metabolic dysfunctions in intact animal models is an attractive strategy for gaining insight into the dynamics of tissue metabolism in health and in various metabolic syndromes such as cancer, diabetes and aging-induced metabolic dysfunctions. Besides the example demonstrated above, we envisage that the proposed method can find applications in a variety of other situations where intensity-based approaches fall short owing to spectroscopic artefacts.
Surface Deformation and Convection in Electrostatically-Positioned Droplets of Immiscible Liquids Under Microgravity

A numerical study is presented of the free surface deformation and Marangoni convection in immiscible droplets positioned by an electrostatic field and heated by laser beams under microgravity. The boundary element and the weighted residuals methods are applied to iteratively solve for the electric field distribution and for the unknown free surface shapes, while the Galerkin finite element method for the thermal and fluid flow field in both the transient and steady states. Results show that the inner interface demark-ing the two immiscible fluids in an electrically conducting droplet maintains its sphericity in microgravity. The free surface of the droplet, however, deforms into an oval shape in an electric field, arcing to the pulling action of the normal component of the Maxwell stress. The thermal and fluid flow distributions are rather complex in an immiscible droplet, with conduction being the main mechanism for the thermal transport. The nonuniform temperature along the free surface induces the flow in the outer layer, whereas the competition between the interfacial surface tension gradient and the inertia force in the outer layer is responsible for the flows in the inner core and near the immiscible interface. As the droplet cools into an undercooled state, surface radiation causes a reversal of the surface temperature gradients along the free surface, which in turn reverses the surface tension driven flow in the outer layer. The flow near the interfacial region, on the other hand, is driven by a complimentary mechanism between the interfacial and the inertia forces during the time when the thermal gradient on the free surface has been reversed while that on the interface has not yet. After the completion of the interfacial thermal gradient reversal, however, the interfacial flows are largely driven by the inertia forces of the outer layer fluid.
College women coping with depression

Abstract Depression is a common problem among college women, and many of them cope with it on their own (without professional help). Since these naturally occurring episodes of self-controlled behavior are frequent—and sometimes dramatically successful—they were investigated in this study. College women who had coped successfully and unsuccessfully with clinically-significant levels of depression were interviewed about their coping efforts. In contrast to previous research of this type, the present investigation did not identify any clear coping differences between successful and unsuccessful copers. Follow-up interviews indicated that many initially unsuccessful subjects eventually became much less depressed. The implications of these results are discussed, with suggestions for future research.
Responses of Plasma Adrenocorticotropin, Cortisol, and Dehydroepiandrosterone to Ovine Corticotropin- Releasing Hormone in Healthy Aging Men

To assess the effects of age on both the pituitary ACTH response to corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) and the secretory responses of cortisol (F) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to endogenous rises in ACTH, we measured evening basal and ovine CRH (oCRH; 1μ/kg) -stimulated plasma concentrations of ACTH, F, and DHEA in 49 healthy men, aged 21–86 yr. By analysis of variance, we found no change with age in either the basal concentration of ACTH or the magnitude of the peak ACTH response to oCRH. Older men had higher basal F levels (P 0.1). We also found no significant increase with age in the magnitude of the peak F response to oCRH (P > 0.2), although peak F responses occurred significantly earlier (P < 0.03) in the older men. Basal plasma levels of DHEA decreased significantly with age (P < 0.001), as did the magnitude of peak DHEA responses to endogenous ACTH rises (P < 0.01). There was no alterati...
“I Am Not a Racist But...”: Mapping White College Students' Racial Ideology in the USA:

Survey-based research on Whites' racial attitudes in the USA has characterized their views as either `tolerant' or `ambivalent'. We argue that surveys on racial attitudes have systematically underestimated the extent of prejudice in the White population. The legal and normative changes created by the civil rights movement of the 1960s brought a new racial ideology (`color blind racism'), with new topics and a new form. These matters were examined by collecting survey and interview data from college students in three universities. The main findings were that White respondents appear to be more prejudiced in the interviews than in the survey, use a new racetalk to avoid appearing `racist', and that the themes and arguments that they mobilize are congruent with what other analysts have labeled as `laissez faire' or `competitive' racism.
Cohabitation and Exchanges of Support

This paper examines the relationship between nonmarital cohabitation and routine exchanges of support between American adults aged 19-30 (N = 3,809) and their aging parents, using data drawn from the first wave of the National Survey of Families and Households. Cohabiting young adults were found to be significantly less likely to be exchanging support with their parents than their married or single, noncohabiting counterparts. Cohabiting young adults were also significantly less likely than married young adults to nominate their parents as persons to turn to in an emergency. Analysis of variability in exchanges of support with parents among cohabiting young adults revealed that the quality of the relationship with the parent to be the most potent predictor of exchanges.
New family of superconducting copper oxides: GaSr2Ln1−xCaxCu2O7

Abstract We have prepared a new copper oxide, GaSr 2 Ln 1− x Ca x Cu 2 O 7 (0 ≤ x ≤ 0.4), that becomes superconducting a high-pressure oxygen annealing. While the undoped parent compound, x = 0, does not show three-dimensional magnetic order above 4 K, probably due to the presennce of the thick ionic separating the CuO 2 layers, superconductivity with a high- T c (∼70 K) is possible for the doped compositions.
A gradient field defeats the inherent repulsion between magnetic nanorods

When controlling the assembly of magnetic nanorods and chains of magnetic nanoparticles, it is extremely challenging to bring them together side by side while keeping a desired spacing between their axes. We show that this challenge can be successfully resolved by using a non-uniform magnetic field that defeats an inherent repulsion between nanorods. Nickel nanorods were suspended in a viscous film and a non-uniform field was used to control their placement. The in-plane movement of nanorods was tracked with a high-speed camera and a detailed image analysis was conducted to quantitatively characterize the behaviour of the nanorods. The analysis focused on the behaviour of a pair of neighbour nanorods, and a corresponding dynamic model was formulated and investigated. The complex two-dimensional dynamics of a nanorod pair was analysed analytically and numerically, and a phase portrait was constructed. Using this phase portrait, we classified the nanorod behaviour and revealed the experimental conditions in which nanorods could be placed side by side. Dependence of the distance between a pair of neighbour nanorods on physical parameters was analysed. With the aid of the proposed theory, one can build different lattices and control their spacing by applying different field gradients.
In-Plane Bandpass Regulation Check Valve in Heat-Shrink Packaging for Drug Delivery

The first check valve featuring dual regulation of in-plane flow and heat-shrink tubing packaging is presented. This modular design is optimized for integration into low-profile fluidic devices requiring flow control, such as drug delivery devices. Theoretical and finite-element-modeling (FEM) analyses were performed to guide valve design and these results were confirmed experimentally. The valve regulates flow between 150-900 mmHg (20-120 kPa) and withstands ≫ 500 mmHg (66.7 kPa) of reverse pressure. The heat-shrink packaging scheme does not require adhesives and is extremely robust (≫2000 mmHg without leakage).
Particulate interlayer toughening of dicyanate matrix composites

Toughening of dicyanate matrix composites with particulate-modified resin-rich interlayers was investigated in this study. Specifically, the cure behavior, viscosity, and fracture toughness of the modified dicyanate systems were analyzed. Creation of a layered composite structure showed no improvement in Mode 1 interlaminar fracture toughness (GIc), but greatly increased the Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness (GIIc). Furthermore, the concentration of modifier particles in the interlayer resin was found to directly affect the toughness improvement and fracture path.
Prophylactic gastrostomy tubes in patients undergoing intensive irradiation for cancer of the head and neck

Background Most patients receiving accelerated fractionation radiotherapy or chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer experience severe mucositis. This can lead to decreased oral intake, resulting in dehydration, severe malnutrition, hospitalization, and/or interruption of radiotherapy. Objective To evaluate the effect of prophylactic gastrostomy tubes (PGTs) on the rates of weight loss, unplanned interruptions, and hospitalization during high-intensity head and neck radiotherapy. Methods A retrospective review was performed on 88 patients treated for locally advanced head and neck cancer with accelerated twice-a-day radiation (n = 59) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (n = 29). Prophylactic gastrostomy tubes were placed in 36 (41%) of patients in anticipation of increased acute toxic effects from treatment. The remaining patients without PGTs served as a control group. Results Patients without PGTs lost an average 3.1 kg compared with 7.0 kg in the control group (P Conclusions The use of PGTs significantly reduces weight loss and the rate of hospitalization for dehydration and complications of mucositis. Treatment interruptions may also be avoided by the use of PGTs in patients with good performance status. We encourage patients scheduled for intensive radiation therapy to receive a PGT.
New aspects of DNA adduct formation by the carcinogens crotonaldehyde and acetaldehyde.

Crotonaldehyde and acetaldehyde are mutagenic in S. typhimurium and other systems used for detection of genetic damage (IARC, 1985; 1995; 1999). Crotonaldehyde induces altered liver cell foci, neoplastic nodules, and hepatocellular carcinoma upon oral administration to F344 rats (Chung et al, 1986; IARC, 1995). Acetaldehyde causes tumors of the respiratory tract in rats and hamsters upon exposure by inhalation (IARC, 1985; 1999). Crotonaldehyde and acetaldehyde are commonly detected in cigarette smoke, mobile source emissions and other products of thermal degradation (IARC, 1985; 1995; 1999). Their concentrations in cigarette smoke are far higher, while their carcinogenic activities are considerably lower, than those of polycyclic hydrocarbons, aromatic amines and N-nitrosamines, which are considered to be important carcinogens in cigarette smoke (IARC, 1985; 1986; 1995; 1999). Crotonaldehyde and acetaldehyde are also important endogenous compounds. Crotonaldehyde is a product of lipid peroxidation while acetaldehyde is the principal metabolite of ethanol.
Ventilatory long-term facilitation is evident after initial and repeated exposure to intermittent hypoxia in mice genetically depleted of brain serotonin

Our study was designed to determine if central nervous system (CNS) serotonin is required for the induction of ventilatory long-term facilitation (LTF) in intact, spontaneously breathing mice. Nine...
Client Selectivity Among Mid-Sized Auditing Firms: Evidence From The Post-Sox Audit Market Realignment

Considerable realignment in the audit market occurred in the wake of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, with many clients switching from a Big 4 to a non-Big 4 auditor. We examine a sample of 212 former Big 4 clients who switched to either a mid-sized auditing firm (i.e., BDO Siedman, Crowe Horwath, Grant Thornton and McGladrey) or a small auditing firm. We consider reasons why clients may prefer a mid-sized firm rather than a small firm (called “client demand” characteristics) and reasons why auditors may be willing to accept an audit engagement (called “auditor supply” characteristics). Among client demand characteristics, we find that clients are more likely to engage a mid-sized auditing firm when the client is larger, has higher asset turnover, and has foreign operations. From an auditor supply perspective, we find that a midsized auditing firm is more likely to accept the client if the client is willing to pay higher audit fees and uses the auditor for non-audit services. Higher financial leverage could be seen from either a client demand or auditor supply perspective. From a client demand perspective, higher financial leverage would make clients prefer mid-sized auditors, as these clients’ needs for financing could lead them to seek a more “brand-name” auditor to enhance their credibility with banks and other creditors. From an auditor supply perspective, auditors may prefer to avoid clients with higher leverage, which reflects financial riskiness. These financially risky clients may result in adverse reputational and/or legal costs for the auditing firm. We find that clients with higher leverage are less likely to engage a mid-sized CPA firm. These results suggest that mid-sized auditors are somewhat selective in the clients they are willing to accept.
Shiga toxins, and the genes encoding them, in fecal samples from native Idaho ungulates.

Cattle are a known reservoir of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. The prevalence and stability of Shiga toxin and/or Shiga toxin genes among native wild ungulates in Idaho were investigated. The frequency of both Shiga genes and toxin was similar to that reported for Idaho cattle (~19%).
Investigating loss functions and optimization methods for discriminative learning of label sequences

Discriminative models have been of interest in the NLP community in recent years. Previous research has shown that they are advantageous over generative models. In this paper, we investigate how different objective functions and optimization methods affect the performance of the classifiers in the discriminative learning framework. We focus on the sequence labelling problem, particularly POS tagging and NER tasks. Our experiments show that changing the objective function is not as effective as changing the features included in the model.
Novel‐doped zinc oxide sorbents for low temperature regenerable desulfurization applications

Eight metal oxide sorbents including transition metal doped ZnO/SiO2 sorbents and ZnO/SiO2 were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation for regenerable desulfurization applications at low temperatures (i.e. room temperature). Among them, copper-doped sorbent (Cu-ZnO/SiO2) demonstrated the highest saturation sulfur capacity of 0.213 g sulfur/g ZnO (54% of the theoretical capacity), which is twice that of ZnO/SiO2 sorbent. Compared with ZnO/SiO2, Cu-ZnO/SiO2 demonstrated superior desulfurization performance in a wide temperature range of 20–400°C. Due to the use of porous SiO2 support, Cu-ZnO/SiO2 is highly regenerable. It can be easily regenerated in air at low temperatures, ca. 300–550°C, which are much lower than the typical regeneration temperatures of commercial ZnO sorbents. Cu-ZnO/SiO2 maintained its sulfur capacity during 10 cycles of regeneration/sulfidation. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2010
Genetic Recombination Between α-Toxin Mutants of Staphylococcus aureus

McClatchy, J. K. (The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas), and E. D. Rosenblum. Genetic recombination between α-toxin mutants of Staphylococcus aureus. J. Bacteriol. 92:580–583. 1966.—A demonstration of genetic recombination between Staphylococcus aureus nonhemolytic mutants was attempted by means of transduction. The results of two-point reciprocal transductions placed the mutants into two genetic groups. Recombination within each group was not detectable within the limits of the method, but hemolytic recombinants were obtained in transductional crosses when donor and recipient were from different groups. At least two genetic loci are therefore involved in α-toxin production. The 11 mutants of group II were fibrinolysin-negative. The recombinants were always found to be restored to fibrinolysin production as well as to α-toxin production. These data suggest the existence of a pleiotropic gene simultaneously affecting the synthesis of both α toxin and fibrinolysin. The nine mutants of group I were fibrinolysin-positive. Group I members are postulated to be α-toxin structural mutants. Three mutants were also negative for bound coagulase, but no linkage was observed between the locus controlling bound coagulase and the loci for either fibrinolysin or α-toxin production.
The Role of Market Knowledge in Recognizing and Exploiting Entrepreneurial Opportunities in Technology Intensive Firms

Entrepreneurial opportunity recognition is an increasingly prevalent phenomenon. Of particular interest is the ability of promising technology based ventures to recognize and exploit opportunities. Recent research drawing on the Austrian economic theory emphasizes the importance of knowledge, particularly market knowledge, behind opportunity recognition. While insightful, this research has tended to overlook those interrelationships that exist between different types of knowledge (technology and market knowledge) as well as between a firm's knowledge base and its entrepreneurial orientation. Additional shortfalls of prior research include the ambiguous definitions provided for entrepreneurial opportunities, oversight of opportunity exploitation with an extensive focus on opportunity recognition only, and the lack of quantitative, empirical evidence on entrepreneurial opportunity recognition. In this dissertation, these research gaps are addressed by integrating Schumpeterian opportunity development view with a Kirznerian opportunity discovery theory as well as insights from literature on entrepreneurial orientation. A sample of 85 new biotechnology ventures from the United States, Finland, and Sweden was analyzed. While leaders in all 85 companies were interviewed for the research in 2003-2004, 42 firms provided data in 2007. Data was analyzed using regression analysis. The results show the value and importance of early market knowledge and technology knowledge as well as an entrepreneurial company posture for subsequent opportunity recognition. The highest numbers of new opportunities are recognized in firms where high levels of market knowledge are combined with high levels of technology knowledge (measured with a number of patents). A firm's entrepreneurial orientation also enhances its opportunity recognition. Furthermore, the results show that new ventures with more market knowledge are able to gather more equity investments, license out more technologies, and achieve higher sales than new ventures with lower levels of market knowledge. Overall, the findings of this dissertation help further our understanding of the sources of entrepreneurial opportunities, and should encourage further research in this area.
Neutrophils Deficient in PU.1 Do Not Terminally Differentiate or Become Functionally Competent

PU.1 is an ets family transcription factor that is expressed specifically in hematopoietic lineages. Through gene disruption studies in mice we have previously shown that the expression of PU.1 is not essential for early myeloid lineage or neutrophil commitment, but is essential for monocyte/macrophage development. We have also shown that PU.1-null (deficient) neutrophils have neutrophil morphology and express neutrophil-specific markers such as Gr-1 and chloroacetate esterase both in vivo and in vitro. We now demonstrate that although PU.1-null mice develop neutrophils, these cells fail to terminally differentiate as shown by the absence of messages for neutrophil secondary granule components and the absence or deficiency of cellular responses to stimuli that normally invoke neutrophil function. Specifically, PU.1-deficient neutrophils fail to respond to selected chemokines, do not generate superoxide ions, and are ineffective at bacterial uptake and killing. The failure to produce superoxide could, in part, be explained by the absence of the gp91 subunit of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, as shown by our inability to detect messages for the gp91 phox gene. Incomplete maturation of PU.1-deficient neutrophils is cell autonomous and persists in cultured PU.1-deficient cells. Our results indicate that PU.1 is not necessary for neutrophil lineage commitment but is essential for normal development, maturation, and function of neutrophils. © 1998 by The American Society of Hematology.
The influence of environmental heterogeneity on winter ranging in the red-backed fairy-wren, Malurus melanocephalus.

The decline in food and cover that accompanies the tropical dry season can cause animals to shift and expand their home ranges. However, range expansion is problematic for territorial species. In birds, this can be overcome via seasonal fission-fusion, a pattern in which birds combine individual breeding season territories in the nonbreeding season and travel as a flock over their combined range. Such behavior is present in a variety of birds and may have environmental, trophic and social causes. Here we investigate a potential environmental cause in one such bird, the red-backed fairy-wren (RBFW) Malurus melanocephalus . We used spatial analysis of home ranges, movement logs, and fire history to see whether access to unburned habitat was associated with seasonal fission-fusion. RBFWs showed a strong preference for unburned habitat. However, two other predictions-- that there would be a positive relationship between home range size and sociality and that flock size would be larger in unburned areas--were not supported. Our results suggest that fusion into large flocks did not occur at our site or had not begun in earnest at this point in the dry season. Fusion probably takes off in the late dry season and could potentially be driven by access to unburned habitat. This is suggested by RBFW's preference for unburned habitat, though other environmental and trophic factors are likely to drive group fusion as well.
Full Costing and Pricing Decisions

Using theoretical analysis and simulation experiments, we examine the usefulness of full costs for product pricing. We show that full costs are economically sufficient for pricing when a decision-maker (DM) jointly solves the capacity planning and pricing problems, and has enough discretion in setting prices to ensure full capacity utilization in any demand state (the full capacity utilization condition). In practice, however, informational limitations and cognitive bounds may induce the DM to plan capacity using limited demand information, and update prices when additional demand information becomes available subsequently. There is no economic loss from such problem decomposition if the full capacity utilization condition holds. We use simulation experiments to assess the loss from this decomposition if this condition is not satisfied. We find that using simple full cost plus pricing as an input into capacity planning is cost effective provided the DM reacts optimally to realized market conditions, and has enough pricing discretion to ensure high capacity utilization.
A systematic Chandra study of Sgr A⋆ – I. X-ray flare detection

Daily X-ray flaring represents an enigmatic phenomenon of Sgr A$^{\star}$ --- the supermassive black hole at the center of our Galaxy. We report initial results from a systematic X-ray study of this phenomenon, based on extensive {\it Chandra} observations obtained from 1999 to 2012, totaling about 4.5 Ms. We detect flares, using a combination of the maximum likelihood and Markov Chain Monte Carlo methods, which allow for a direct accounting for the pile-up effect in the modeling of the flare lightcurves and an optimal use of the data, as well as the measurements of flare parameters, including their uncertainties. A total of 82 flares are detected. About one third of them are relatively faint, which were not detected previously. The observation-to-observation variation of the quiescent emission has an average root-mean-square of $6\%-14\%$, including the Poisson statistical fluctuation of faint flares below our detection limits. We find no significant long-term variation in the quiescent emission and the flare rate over the 14 years. In particular, we see no evidence of changing quiescent emission and flare rate around the pericenter passage of the S2 star around 2002. We show clear evidence of a short-term clustering for the ACIS-S/HETG 0th-order flares on time scale of $20-70$ ks. We further conduct detailed simulations to characterize the detection incompleteness and bias, which is critical to a comprehensive follow-up statistical analysis of flare properties. These studies together will help to establish Sgr A$^{\star}$ as a unique laboratory to understand the astrophysics of prevailing low-luminosity black holes in the Universe.