cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Designed Ankyrin Repeat Protein (DARPin) Neutralizers of TcdB from Clostridium difficile Ribotype 027.

ABSTRACT Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a leading cause of hospital-acquired diarrhea. In recent decades, the emergence of the “hypervirulent” BI/NAP1/027 strains of C. difficile significantly increased the morbidity and mortality of CDI. The pathogenesis of CDI is primarily mediated by the action of two toxins, TcdA and TcdB, with TcdB being the major virulent factor in humans. In this report, we describe the engineering of a panel of designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins) that potently neutralize TcdB from the BI/NAP1/027 strains (e.g., TcdBUK1). The most effective DARPin, D16, inhibits TcdBUK1 with a 50% effective concentration (EC50) of 0.5 nM, which is >66-fold lower than that of the FDA-approved anti-TcdB antibody bezlotoxumab (EC50, ∼33 nM). Competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) showed that D16 blocks interactions between TcdB and its receptor, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4). The dimeric DARPin U3D16, which pairs D16 with DARPin U3, a disrupter of the interaction of TcdB with Frizzled 1/2/7 receptor, exhibits 10-fold-to-20-fold-enhanced neutralization potency against TcdB from C. difficile strains VPI 10463 (laboratory strain) and M68 (CF/NAP9/017) but identical activity against TcdBUK1 relative to D16. Subsequent ELISAs revealed that TcdBUK1 did not significantly interact with Frizzled 1/2/7. Computation modeling revealed 4 key differences at the Frizzled 1/2/7 binding interface which are likely responsible for the significantly reduced binding affinity. IMPORTANCE We report the engineering and characterization of designed ankyrin proteins as potent neutralizers of TcdB toxin secreted by a hypervirulent ribotype 027 strain of Clostridium difficile. We further show that although TcdB toxins from both ribotype 027 and VPI 10461 interact efficiently with TcdB receptors CSPG4 and Pvrl3, TcdB027 lacks significant ability to bind the only known physiologically relevant TcdB receptor, Frizzled 1/2/7.
Endogenous glutamatergic inputs to the Parabrachial Nucleus/Kölliker-Fuse Complex determine respiratory rate.

The Kolliker-Fuse Nucleus (KF) has been widely investigated for its contribution to "inspiratory off-switch" while more recent studies showed that activation of the Parabrachial Nucleus (PBN) shortened expiratory duration. This study used an adult, in vivo, decerebrate rabbit model to delineate the contribution of each site to inspiratory and expiratory duration through sequential block of glutamatergic excitation with the receptor antagonists 2,3-dihydroxy-6-nitro-7-sulfamoyl-benzo[f]quinoxaline-2,3-dione (NBQX) and d(-)-2-amino-5-phosphonopentanoic acid (AP5). Glutamatergic disfacilitation caused large increases in inspiratory and expiratory duration and minor decrease in peak phrenic activity (PPA). Hypoxia only partially reversed respiratory rate depression but PPA was increased to >200 % of control. The contribution of PBN activity to inspiratory and expiratory duration was equal while block of the KF affected inspiratory duration more than expiratory. We conclude that in the in vivo preparation respiratory rate greatly depends on PBN/KF activity, which contributes to the "inspiratory on- "and "off-switch", but is of minor importance for the magnitude of phrenic motor output.
Power Wearable Medical Device Components Via Thermoelectric Circuit Integration

Previous wearable thermoelectric energy harvester design strategies seek to enhance thermoelectric power generation through skin-generator contact resistance reduction. Flexible generator fabrication may achieve this end. Unfortunately, previous flexible generator fabrication techniques (1) lack methodology on how to couple the generator with an efficient heat dissipation system and (2) are time consuming to fabricate and largely inaccessible. Alternative approaches exist that match rigid off-the-shelf thermoelectric generators, which addresses the second concern, to heat sinks, which addresses the first concern, to enhance power generation. Even so, thermoelectric generators produce a millivolt voltage, too small to apply across circuit components, which necessitates amplification. Previous amplification techniques focus on maximum power point tracking to amplify the voltage at a maximum power point. Yet, maximum power point tracking requires additional switching components and a microcontroller to execute the maximum power point algorithm. Alternatively, it is possible to match a thermoelectric generator array to the input impedance of a DC-DC step-up converter to amplify the voltage without maximum power point tracking. In our previous work, we described a method to design a thermoelectric circuit by matching the input impedance of an array of off-the-shelf thermoelectric generators to the input impedance requirement of a DC-DC step-up converter. We applied this methodology to fabricate a wearable thermoelectric circuit and operate a lower power microcontroller. During the tests, the thermoelectric generator array provided an average power output of $20.3\ \mu W/cm^{2}$ . This was enough power to operate the microcontroller in a low power state as it listened for external input. Upon external input, the microcontroller lit an LED, which visually demonstrated wearable thermoelectric circuit function.
The ratio-cut polytope and K-means clustering

We introduce the ratio-cut polytope defined as the convex hull of ratio-cut vectors corresponding to all partitions of $n$ points in $\mathbb R^m$ into at most $K$ clusters. This polytope is closely related to the convex hull of the feasible region of a number of clustering problems such as K-means clustering and spectral clustering. We study the facial structure of the ratio-cut polytope and derive several types of facet-defining inequalities. We then consider the problem of K-means clustering and introduce a novel linear programming (LP) relaxation for it. Subsequently, we focus on the case of two clusters and derive sufficient conditions under which the proposed LP relaxation recovers the underlying clusters exactly. Namely, we consider the stochastic ball model, a popular generative model for K-means clustering, and we show that if the separation distance between cluster centers satisfies $\Delta > 1+\sqrt 3$, then the LP relaxation recovers the planted clusters with high probability. This is a major improvement over the only existing recovery guarantee for an LP relaxation of K-means clustering stating that recovery is possible with high probability if and only if $\Delta > 4$. Our numerical experiments indicate that the proposed LP relaxation significantly outperforms a popular semidefinite programming relaxation in recovering the planted clusters.
Resorption of Impacted Teeth

There is probably no other type of case that causes as much consternation as impacted teeth. The most frequently impacted tooth that the orthodontist will encounter is the maxillary canine. The gamut of treatment ranges from heroic biomechanics that might include expansion and accelerated tooth movement to the often more practical and simpler plan of extraction of the impacted tooth or in the older patient, simply leaving the tooth in place. The most difficult cases demand an intense level of collaboration among providers, whether they are general practitioners or specialists.
The case against full probability distributions in perceptual decision making

How are perceptual decisions made? The answer to this seemingly simple question necessitates that we specify the nature of perceptual representations on which decisions are based. Recent work has taken for granted that the representation at the decision stage consists of a full probability distribution over all possible stimuli. However, to date, no empirical evidence has supported this assumption. Here I present five possible perceptual representation schemes that allow the extraction of different levels of sensory uncertainty. I review the empirical evidence from both continuous and discrete judgments and show that, at present, only the most primitive scheme based on a single point estimate can be rejected. In other words, at least four different representational schemes are consistent with the available data and therefore full probability distributions cannot be assumed. There is an urgent need for empirical research to adjudicate between these theoretical possibilities.
LGBTQ+ Engagement in Activism: An Examination of Internalized Heterosexism and LGBTQ+ Community Connectedness.

Participation in activist groups has been demonstrated to have myriad benefits for LGBTQ+ individuals, including decreasing the negative mental health effects of discrimination. In this brief repor...
Impairment of eye emotion discrimination in benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes: A neuropsychological study.

Purpose To explore the characteristics of the impairment of eye emotional recognition and related clinical factors in children with benign childhood epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECT). Methods The Eye Basic Emotion Discrimination Task and Eye Complex Emotion Discrimination Task were used to study emotion discrimination in 33 recently diagnosed BECT patients and 33 BECT patients after complete remission compared to respective age- and gender-matched comparison participants. Results The scores for discrimination of sadness, fear, and disgust were significantly lower in the newly diagnosed BECT group than in the comparison group (p = .004, p = .019, and p = .044, respectively), while scores for recognizing happiness, anger, and surprise were not significantly different between the two groups (p = .248, p = .586, and p = .540, respectively). Our analysis revealed that the BECT onset age influences the scores for recognition of sadness, fear, and disgust (OR = 1.795, 95% CI: 1.097 to 2.936, p = .020; OR=1.846, 95% CI: 1.124 to 3.034, p = .016; OR = 1.851, 95% CI: 1.131-3.029, p = .014). After remission, the scores for discrimination of happiness, anger, sadness, fear, disgust, and surprise of the BECT group were not significantly different from the comparison group (p = .588, p = .765, p = .752, p = .984, p = .328, and p = .339, respectively). Conclusions In our study, newly diagnosed BECT patients exhibited emotion discrimination dysfunction, mainly related to sadness, fear, and disgust, and this dysfunction was more severe the younger the age of onset was. However, after BECT remission, the ability to discriminate emotions returned to normal.
Reading Aloud with Infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit: A Unit-Based Program to Enhance Language Enrichment and Support Early Foundational Relationships

Objective Early meaningful auditory experiences in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) enhance language outcomes and promote cognitive and social–emotional development. Methods This is a descriptive report sharing our level III NICU experience of building a reading-aloud enrichment program with the goals of enhancing infant neurodevelopment and strengthening early parent–infant relationships. Results We propose a roadmap for program development, outline challenges and possible ways to mitigate them, and highlight opportunities for further research in this area. Key Points
Factors Associated with Nurses Emotional Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background Nurses are among the frontline healthcare workers directly impacted by the burden of the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of emotional distress and the associated factors among nurses practicing in South Dakota during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods An online survey was conducted among practicing, licensed nurses in South Dakota during the pandemic (July 2020 - August 2020). Emotional distress was measured using the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Logistic regression models were performed to examine the association of emotional distress and the three DASS-21 subscales with: sociodemographic and work environment factors (e.g., work setting, job satisfaction, number of COVID-19 cases seen at the facility, preparedness, concerns with worsening pre-exiting mental health conditions due to the pandemic, and contracting the illness). Results Among 1505 participants, overall emotional distress was reported by 22.2%, while anxiety, depression and stress were 15.8%, 14.5% and 11.9%, respectively. Factors associated with moderate to severe emotional distress, depression, anxiety, and stress were as follows: concerns for worsening of pre-existing mental health conditions, job dissatisfaction, encountering higher number of COVID-19 cases at one's work facility, feeling unprepared for the pandemic, and concern for contracting the illness (all p Conclusions Our study suggests a high prevalence of emotional distress among nurses and highlights the factors associated with emotional distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. Promoting appropriate support is imperative to reduce nurses' emotional distress and promote psychological well-being during the COVID-19 world health crisis and in future pandemics.
Perinasal indicators of malevolence

Several decades of research into detecting lies has resulted in a large number of available of techniques among both behavioral and physiological channels. However only in the recent past, have researchers started to focus more on ways to detect ill-intent. Persons lying under high stakes situations show detectable changes in behavior. Similarly while lying to conceal ones true intent, one exhibits similar characteristics. This work presents a fast, convenient and discrete way of monitoring facial physiology using thermal imaging to detect when a person is lying about their intentions. Its application is suitable for screening in airports, border crossing and other venues with large transit volumes.
Optimized synthesis of X-band microstrip side coupled bandpass filters

This paper discusses the synthesis of X-band microwave bandpass filters. The techniques are unique in that filters are synthesized subject to geometrical constraints.
Design and performance of 1 GHz range image impedance connected low loss SAW filters

An improved design technique of image impedance connected low-loss filters is presented. The technique makes it possible to control the fractional bandwidth in the range 0.7-3% on 36 degrees -rotated Y-cut LiTaO/sub 3/ (36-LTO). An accurate and simple method is used for characterization of propagation on 36-LTO above 1 GHz. The mass-loading coefficient was derived from experimental data and the attenuation coefficient was found to be 10/sup -2/ dB/ lambda /GHz, which is a much higher value than for LiNbO/sub 3/ but still compatible with low-loss filter manufacturing. Four high-performance low-loss SAW (surface acoustic wave) filters were manufactured on 36-LTO with various fractional bandwidths from 0.65 to 3%. Insertion losses as low as 6.5 dB at 800 MHz and 8.5 dB at 1400 MHz were obtained and out-of-band rejections as high as 50 dB were achieved, even with devices mounted in chip carriers. >
METABOLISM OF PHENOXYALKYL CARBOXYLIC ACIDS BY A FLAVOBACTERIUM SPECIES

Abstract Macrae, I. C. (Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y.), and M. Alexander. Metabolism of phenoxyalkyl carboxylic acids by a Flavobacterium species. J. Bacteriol. 86:1231–1235. 1963.—A Flavobacterium sp. isolated from soil and grown in media containing 4-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) butyric acid metabolized ω-linked 2,4-dichlorophenoxyalkyl carboxylic acids in the series from 3-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propionic acid through 11-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)undecanoic acid rapidly and without a preliminary induction phase. There was no detectable oxidation of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid. Phenols and the fatty acids corresponding to the aliphatic side chains were liberated during the decomposition of the dichlorophenoxy alkanoates from propionate to octanoate. The data indicate that the initial step in the degradation of ω-linked 2,4-dichlorophenoxyalkyl carboxylic acids by the bacterium involves a cleavage of the ether linkage, a new mechanism for the microbial metabolism of these compounds.
How Prepared are Our Teachers for Mainstreamed Classroom Settings? A Survey of Postsecondary Schools of Education in New York State

This study examined the hypothesis that postsecondary schools of education are sufficiently preparing regular education students to work in integrated or mainstreamed classroom settings. Chairpersons of 58 such programs in New York State were queried about their programs' accreditation, coursework, and field experience requirements relevant to mainstreaming practices. Results indicated that only a minority of these programs were accredited by the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education, offered dual certification in regular and special education, or required training in collaborative teaching and education.
MRI‐guided high‐intensity focused ultrasound ablation of bone: Evaluation of acute findings with MR and CT imaging in a swine model

Purpose To evaluate hyperacute (<1 hour) changes on magnetic resonance (MR) and computed tomography (CT) imaging following MR-guided high-intensity focused ultrasound (MRgHIFU) in a swine bone model as a function of sonication number and energy. Materials and Methods Experimental procedures received approval from the local Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. MRgHIFU was used to create distal and proximal ablations in the right femur of eight pigs. Each target was dosed with four or six sonications within similar volumes. The energy dosed to the distal target was higher (419 ± 19 J) than the proximal target (324 ± 17 J). The targeted femur and contralateral control were imaged before and after ablation using MR at 3T. Qualitative changes in signal on T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and T1-weighted postcontrast images were assessed. Ablation dimensions were calculated from postcontrast MRI. The 64-slice CT images were also obtained before and after ablation and qualitative changes were assessed. Results MRgHIFU bone ablation size measured on average 8.5 × 21.1 × 16.2 mm (transverse × craniocaudal × anteroposterior). Interestingly, within similar prescribed volumes, increasing the number of sonications from 4 to 6 increased the depth of the intramedullary hypoenhanced zone from 2.9 mm to 6.5 mm (P < 0.001). There was no difference in the appearance of low versus high energy ablations. CT imaging did not show structural abnormalities. Conclusion The number of MRgHIFU focal sonications can be used to increase the depth of treatment within the targeted bone. Unlike CT, T2-weighted and contrast-enhanced MR demonstrated the hyperacute structural changes in the femur and surrounding soft tissue.J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2014;40:1174–1180 © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
An analogue of Bode's integral for stable nonlinear systems: relations to entropy

For linear systems, it can be shown that the constraint known as Bode's integral has an information theoretic interpretation in terms of the difference in the entropy rate between the input and output of the system. Using this interpretation as a basis to look at a nonlinear analogue, we show that, for a discrete-time, stable nonlinear system, the difference in entropy rates between input and output is also zero.
Romantic Anarchism and Pedestrian Liberalism

Emma Goldman's stance toward anarchism was oddly mystified, even loving. Precisely this enchantment led her to see clearly the deep vices of Soviet Russia, when so many on the sane and sober Left w...
Selective targeting of the α5-subunit of GABAA receptors relaxes airway smooth muscle and inhibits cellular calcium handling

The clinical need for novel bronchodilators for the treatment of bronchoconstrictive diseases remains a major medical issue. Modulation of airway smooth muscle (ASM) chloride via GABAA receptor act...
A Longitudinal Investigation of Auditor Error Projection Decisions

We investigate auditor error projection decisions based on a sample of audit sampling applications collected from the inventory and accounts receivable workpapers from three large firms for audits during 1994 and 1999. We find an overall decline in the rate of error projection, consistent with the argument that audit quality declined during the period. Error projection rates declined for both Big 5 firms in the sample, but increased for the non‐Big 5 regional firm. The results also suggest significant individual firm changes in the treatment of nonprojected errors. The use of immateriality as a justification to not project errors increased significantly for one of the firms in our sample and decreased significantly for another firm. The use of containment procedures to resolve large audit differences increased significantly for one firm in our sample. Individual firm differences in error projection and use of immateriality and containment procedures appear to be sensitive to the review process and individ...
Enhanced three-dimensional reconstruction from confocal scanning microscope images. II. Depth discrimination versus signal-to-noise ratio in partially confocal images.

The enhanced depth discrimination of a confocal scanning optical microscope is produced by a pinhole aperture placed in front of the detector to reject out-of-focus light. Strictly confocal behavior is impractical because an infinitesimally small aperture would collect very little light and would result in images with a poor signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), while a finite-sized partially confocal aperture provides a better SNR but reduced depth discrimination. Reconstruction algorithms, such as the expectation-maximization algorithm for maximum likelihood, can be applied to partially confocal images in order to achieve better resolution, but because they are sensitive to noise in the data, there is a practical trade-off involved. With a small aperture, fewer iterations of the reconstruction algorithm are necessary to achieve the desired resolution, but the low a priori SNR will result in a noisy reconstruction, at least when no regularization is used. With a larger aperture the a priori SNR is larger but the resolution is lower, and more iterations of the algorithm are necessary to reach the desired resolution; at some point the a posteriori SNR is lower than the a priori value. We present a theoretical analysis of the SNR-to-resolution trade-off partially confocal imaging, and we present two studies that use the expectation-maximization algorithm as a postprocessor; these studies show that a for a given task there is an optimum aperture size, departures from which result in a lower a posteriori SNR.
Towards user‐centered indexing in digital image collections

Purpose – User‐created metadata, often referred to as folksonomy or social classification, has received a considerable amount of attention in the digital library world. Social tagging is perceived as a tool for enhancing description of digital objects and providing a venue for user input and greater user engagement. This article seeks to examine the pros and cons of user‐generated metadata in the context of digital image collections and compares it to professionally created metadata schema and controlled vocabulary tools.Design/methodology/approach – The article provides an overview of challenges to concept‐based image indexing. It analyzes the characteristics of social classification and compares images described by users to a set of images indexed in a digital collection.Findings – The article finds that user‐generated metadata vary in the level of description, accuracy, and consistency and do not provide a solution to the challenges of image indexing. On the other hand, they reflects user's language an...
An evaluation of Protocol Buffer

World is shrinking each day through the use of Internet and people are communicating better than before in this widely distributed network. There is a great need to manage this communication over various networks supporting different specifications. One of the widely used techniques for this type of data management is XML data interchange format. Google developers recently introduced Protocol Buffer as an alternative to XML claiming that it overcomes the shortcomings suffered by XML. This paper compares XML and Protocol Buffer data formats by extensive analysis of the two. The paper evaluates the claims made by Google by developing an algorithm to map an existing XML to Protocol Buffer format and drawing any conclusion on the efficiency and effectiveness of this format as compared to XML. It can be hoped that this work will contribute to the upcoming research in this field as people are looking for more robust data interchange format for the future of the Internet.
Retail Clinics and Drugstore Medicine

EASY ACCESS TO MEDICAL CLINICS IN RETAIL SETTINGS is gaining momentum in the United States. While criticized in some quarters, these clinics are successful as measured by patient satisfaction and quality scores. Retail clinics hold potential for a uniquely US solution to the problem of access to primary care. Although questions remain about their future, evidence suggests that retail clinics may have an important role in US health care.
Use of fetal pulse oximetry among high-risk women in labor: A randomized clinical trial

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical role of fetal pulse oximetry to reduce cesarean delivery for a nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing. Study design Singletons ≥28 weeks were randomized to fetal pulse oximetry plus electronic fetal heart rate monitoring (monitoring+fetal pulse oximetry) or monitoring alone. Results Overall, 360 women in labor were recruited: 150 cases with monitoring+fetal pulse oximetry and 177 cases with monitoring alone were analyzed. Most demographic, obstetric, and neonatal characteristics were similar. Specifically, the gestational age, cervical dilation, and station of the fetal head were not differential factors. In addition, cesarean delivery for nonreassuring fetal heart rate tracing was not different between the group with monitoring+fetal pulse oximetry (29%) and the group with monitoring alone (32%; relative risk, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.75, 1.22). Likewise, cesarean delivery for arrest disorder was similar between the group with monitoring+fetal pulse oximetry (22%) and the group with monitoring alone (23%; relative risk, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.79, 1.44). However, the decision-to-incision time was shorter for the group with monitoring+fetal pulse oximetry (17.8 ± 8.2 min) than for the group with monitoring alone (27.7 ± 13.9 min; P Conclusion The use of fetal pulse oximetry with electronic fetal heart rate monitoring does not decrease the rate of cesarean delivery, although it does alter the decision-to-incision time.
In-situ surface exafs at chemically modified electrodes

Abstract The surface EXAFS and near edge structure of electropolymerized films of [M(v-bpy)3]2+ (v-bpy is 4-vinyl-4'-methyl-2,2'-bipyridine and M = Ru, Os) and [Os(phen)(v-bpy)2]2+ (phen is 4-methyl-l,10-phenanthroline) on platinum electrodes have been studied as a function of surface coverage and applied potential by measuring the characteristic RuKα or OsL fluorescence intensities. For [Ru(v-bpy)3]2+ spectra for electrodes modified with 1, 5, 12, 25 and 50 monolayers were obtained. Analysis and comparison of EXAFS and XANES features for these films showed similar morphological and electronic characteristics in agreement with previous electrochemical studies showing that solution redox properties of monomer complexes can be transferred to electrode surfaces by electrodeposition as polymer films of varying thickness. Electrochemical oxidation of the films resulted in a shift of 2 eV in the edge position towards higher energy, consistent with the higher charge on the ruthenium centers. Other spectral features, however, remained essentially unchanged. Similar studies were performed on the osmium complexes but in addition, changes in the edge position and near edge features could be correlated with the coordination environment. The applicability of these studies to the in-situ investigation of electrocatalytic systems is discussed.
Multiple molecular weight forms of immunoreactive alpha-inhibin in human seminal plasma.

The purpose of these studies was to determine whether the total immunoreactive alpha-inhibin protein concentration in seminal plasma correlated with serum gonadotropin levels or semen characteristics and to identify the forms of alpha-inhibin present in seminal plasma. Thirty-eight serum samples from men being evaluated for infertility were selected for study based on their serum hormone profiles and semen parameters. Serum LH and testosterone levels were normal, but FSH levels ranged from normal to hypergonadotropic (> 20 IU/L). Most semen parameters were within normal ranges, but germ cell numbers ranged from normal to azoospermic. Thus, seminal plasma from these men provided a unique opportunity to examine the antigenic forms of alpha-inhibin in individuals in whom strong correlations between inhibin and FSH levels might be predicted because of the observed ranges of FSH levels and germ cell numbers. Seminal plasma alpha-inhibin was characterized by RIA or Western blotting, using an antiserum directed ...
Migration, Sources of Income, and Community Change in the Nonmetropolitan Northwest

During the late 1980s and the first half of the 1990s, the nonmetropolitan Northwest grew quite rapidly, narrowing the gap between the growth rates of the metropolitan Northwest, and oupacing national rates. This growth was largely the result of in-migration from regional and national metropolitan areas. Traditional economic base theory does not explain the recent growth, as employment levels in in the region's basic industries continue to stagnate and decline, and the sources of income for these in-migrants remain a mystery. This paper utilizes data from the 1990 Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) to determine the extent to which metropolitan-origin migrants are measurably different from oldtime nonmetropolitan residents on certain socioeconomic variables, in an attempt to understand the ways in which the newcomers survive financially. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) shows that newcomers are younger, earn less in wages and salary, receive more nonearnings income, and reside in more valuable housing compared...
Electrical Measurements of Bilayer Membranes Formed by Langmuir−Blodgett Deposition on Single-Crystal Silicon

Bilayer membranes on solid supports are used for fundamental studies of biophysical properties and for the development of biosensors and other devices. Here we report on electrically addressable bi...
Seasonal patterns of abundance, distributions, and phenology in relation to growth strategies of three Sargassum species

Seasonal patterns of abundance of Sargassum johnstonii Setchell & Gardner, S. herporhizum Setchell & Gardner, and S. sinicola Setchell & Gardner var. camouii (Dawson) Norris & Yensen were observed in the northern Gulf of California where mean monthly sea temperatures range annually from < 14 °C to nearly 30 °C. The three species displayed peaks in size, canopy cover, and fertility in the spring, in between periods of seasonal temperature extremes. Larger plants were the first to develop reproductive structures, suggesting that a threshold in size must be reached before plants become fertile. Fertile receptacles were shed in summer. S. sinicola var. camouii retained a greater portion of its primary stipes during the summer dieback than the other two species and showed a second peak in fertility in fall. Whereas tropical Sargassum are most abundant in winter and temperate-zone Sargassum are most abundant in summer months, the Gulf of California species achieve maximum size and fertility in between seasons of extreme temperatures. A long-term decline in abundance of Sargassum was observed at the study site between 1977 and 1981, possibly due to the detrimental effects on Sargassum of anomalously warm sea temperatures in the Gulf of California in 1978 or to the subsequent effects of warm temperature on food webs in the region.
Aminonaphthalene 2-cyanoacrylate (ANCA) probes fluorescently discriminate between amyloid-β and prion plaques in brain

A major challenge for diagnosing and monitoring the progression of amyloid-based diseases is the capability to distinguish between amyloid deposits that are associated with related, but distinctly different, diseases. Here, we demonstrate that aminonaphthalenyl 2-cyanoacrylate-based probes can fluorescently discriminate between different types of amyloid deposits in brain. The discriminating capability of these molecular rotors is due to the stabilization of the ground versus excited states of these probes as a function of the polarity of their microenvironment (i.e., within the binding pocket on the amyloid). This property makes it possible, for the first time, to estimate the inherent static relative permittivity (e(0)) of the binding pocket of each amyloid within tissue. The capability to selectively follow the deposition of specific amyloids in tissue may provide important information for therapeutic development that is not readily accessible from currently available technology.
Monogamy and duetting in an Old World monkey

THE first monogamous mating system among Old World monkeys has been discovered in the Mentawai langur, Presbytis potenziani. The only known monogamous anthropoid primates were the Old World gibbons (Hylobates spp.)1 and a few New World monkeys2–4. Reproductive groups of all known Old World monkeys, represented by approximately 85 species, are either polygamous or promiscuous5.
Electronic Energy Transfer in New Polymer Nanocomposite Assemblies

Abstract New light-harvesting thin film supramolecular assemblies, consisting of rod-coil polymer nanocomposites as the light-absorbtion energy donors and a randomly dispersed conjugated rigid-rod polymer as the energy acceptor, have been prepared and shown to exhibit efficiency for singlet electronic energy transfer as high as 93%. The film thickness dependence of the energy-transfer efficiency allowed us to determine the contributions of both the Forster and radiative mechanisms to energy transfer in the polymer nanocomposite assemblies. The Forster energy-transfer efficiency was found to increase with increasing acceptor concentration, reaching an asymptotic maximum of 48% at ∼3 mol%. On the other hand, radiative transfer diminished to an insignificant contribution at low acceptor concentration (
Twenty years of audiology in a patient with Norrie disease.

Summary Objective To describe disease progression and treatment outcomes over a 20-year period (ages 5–25) in a young man with Norrie disease (occuloacousticocerebral dysplasia), ND; OMIM #310600. Affected individuals are born blind and develop progressive sensory loss with onset in adolescence. This disease is X-linked and has been associated with mutations of the NDP gene (Xp11.4). Methods The patient was followed using repeated audiograms, as well as reports of educational progress and hearing aid use. The specific mutation was found by molecular analysis. Results The patient demonstrated progressive sensory loss with good preservation of word recognition. The loss was initially high frequency and asymmetric in adolescence and became more severe, more symmetric and affected practically all frequencies by the end of childhood. Educational progress was affected by the cognitive effects of the syndrome, and hearing aid use was very effective. Conclusions A bilateral progressive sensory loss with good preservation of word recognition was documented in detail. The residual word recognition supported good use of hearing aids in this case.
Praseodymium and copper cation‐exchange capacities of neutral‐detergent fibres relative to composition and fermentation kinetics

The cation-exchange capacity (CEC) of 12 neutral-detergent fibres (NDF) was measured using the elements praseodymium (Pr 111) and copper (Cu 11) at pH 3.5. CEC was positively correlated with lignin and nitrogen content as well as the lignin: acid-detergent fibre ratio of the NDF. CEC was also measured using Pr at pH 7.0. Increasing the pH of exchange from 3.5 to 7.0 significantly increased the CEC. Lignin had a higher correlation with CEC at pH 7.0. The relationship between CEC and the fermentation rates of NDF was non-significant. However, lag, i.e. the period of time before the initiation of fermentation, tended to decrease with increasing CEC. NDF influences the rumen ecosystem by buffering rumen pH, exchanging cations to influence osmotic pressure, and providing substrate and microenvironments for anaerobic microorganisms. Consequently, CEC needs to be measured at conditions which simulate the rumen. It is recommended that the Pr method should be used to measure CEC as it is a simple, yet robust technique that can be buffered to simulate conditions of the entire gastrointestinal tract ranging in pH from 2.0 to 7.0.
Evaluation of patients with coronary artery disease during exercise: the relation between extent of disease and perfusion deficit.

The purpose of this study was to assess the relation between the extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) and size of exercise-induced myocardial hypoperfusion in 79 patients with angiographically documented CAD. None of the patients had Q-wave myocardial infarction. Fifty patients had one-vessel disease, ten had two-vessel disease, and 19 patients had three-vessel or left main disease. From a scintigraphic functional standpoint, patients were classified into two groups: 28 patients (35%) had large perfusion defects and 51 patients (65%) had small defects. The size of the thallium-201 perfusion defect during exercise was assessed as the perimeter of the defect in each projection expressed as a percentage abnormality of the total left ventricular perimeter in that projection. The average abnormality from the three projections was used in the final analysis. Eleven patients with large defects (39%) had one-vessel disease and 12 patients with small defects (24%) had multivessel disease. Stepwise multivariate discriminate analysis identified the number of diseased vessels (F . 13.9), the change in systolic blood pressure from rest to exercise (F . 10.8), the exercise heart rate (F . 9.1), and exercise electrocardiographic response (F . 7.8) as significant associates of the size of the perfusion defect (predictive accuracymore » . 70%). We conclude that the size of hypoperfused myocardium during exercise is variable in patients with CAD. Discriminate analysis identified the extent of CAD, exercise heart rate, change in systolic pressure from rest to exercise, and exercise electrocardiographic response as significant associates of the size of the defect.« less
Interaction Approach to Contingency Theory: A Reexamination of Child's Manufacturing Subsample

A comprehensive data set was reanalyzed using multiple regression models. Alternative sets of models were developed for each of six performance variables. The results indicated that five of the six performance outcomes had significant predictors. Four of these five models contained significant interaction terms. It is concluded that even though the two methods produce different results, further investigation of the interaction approach to contingency theory within industrial sectors is warranted. Resume Un vaste ensemble de donnees a ete analyse a nouveau a l'aide de multiples modeles regressifs. Des ensembles de modeles alternatifs ont ete developpes pour chacune des six performances changeantes. Les resultats etaient tels que cinq sur six d'entre eux pouvaient etre predits de facon evidente; quatre de ces cinq modeles comprenaient des interactions significatives. En conclusion, bien que les deux methodes produisent des resultats differents, une recherche plus poussee de l'approche d'interaction au sein des secteurs industriels est justifiee concernant cette theorie d'eventualite.
Abatement of Nitrate Pollution in a Public-Supply Well by Analysis of Hydrologic Characteristicsa

High concentrations of dissolved nitrate in the ground water in the Redlands, California, vicinity threaten public water supplies. Dissolved nitrate-nitrogen concentrations in water from wells, which frequently exceed 10 mg/1 (milligrams per litre), are attributed to the previous applications of large quantities of commercial nitrogen fertilizer on citrus crops. In a city of Redlands public water-supply well field, wells 1 and 2 normally produce water with dissolved nitrate-nitrogen concentrations of about 18 and 30 mg/1, respectively. Well 1 is a large-capacity well capable of yielding 3,700 gal/min (gallons per minute) [233 1/s (litres per second)] and is the major source of water in the well field. The very permeable unconfined alluvial aquifer is composed of sand, gravel, boulders, and discontinuous clayey deposits. Well 1 is 742 feet (226 metres) deep and is perforated throughout most of the zone of saturation. A major clayey interval from 425 to 480 feet (130 to 146 metres) effectively separates the aquifer into an upper and lower zone. Well 2 is 426 feet (130 metres) deep and is perforated throughout most of the upper zone of saturation. At the well field the static water level (February 1976) was 180 feet (55 metres) below land surface. Independent tests were made on wells 1 and 2 to evaluate aquifer characteristics and to determine the sources of the high-nitrate water. Chemical analyses of water collected from well 1 during the first 48-hour test showed an increase in dissolved nitrate-nitrogen from 4.1 mg/1 to a maximum of almost 20 mg/1. Dissolved nitrate-nitrogen concentrations during the 48-hour test of well 2 stayed constant at 30 mg/1. Interpretation of the chemical data and the results of previous studies indicate that the upper zone of saturation is the higher in concentration of dissolved nitrate. To reduce the concentration of dissolved nitrate in water from well 1, an inflatable packer was placed in the casing at 480 feet (146 metres) to coincide with the bottom of the clayey interval. The packer sealed off the upper part of the well and, as determined from a final test of well 1, reduced dissolved nitrate-nitrogen concentrations from 20 to 4 mg/1 while only reducing well yield from 3,700 to 2,600 gal/min (233 to 164 1/s).
Horizontal (Cleavage) Tears of the Knee-joint Menisci in the Elderly

: At autopsy, extensive knee arthrotomies were performed on 11 Scottish males (average age 77) and 11 females (average age 75) who had died from various medical disorders and had no history of complaints referable to the knees. The aim was to study the incidence of horizontal (cleavage) tears of the menisci in the general population. In the males, there was a high incidence of cleavage tears of the medial meniscus (in 14 of 22 knees) whereas the lateral menisci were usually normal (in 21 of 22 knees). In the females, there was a low incidence of both medial (in 6 of 22 knees) and lateral meniscal tears (in 2 of 22 knees). Cleavage tears of the medial meniscus in geriatric males may be part of the aging process, and this should be kept in mind if surgery is contemplated for reasons other than severe symptoms.
OPTIMAL DESIGN OF MULTI‐PRODUCT MULTI‐ECHELON INVENTORY SYSTEMS*

Large scale inventory distribution systems typically comprise a hierarchy of retail stores and warehouses. This paper presents a model for finding the optimal design of such systems. Given the maximum number of facilities under consideration and their locations, the problem is to determine which facilities to include in the system and which products to stock at each in order to minimize the cost of the system. Demand for the products may be deterministic or stochastic. To use the model it is necessary to know the optimal inventory policies for the multi-echelon systems under consideration; however, an important feature of this work is that any multi-echelon model may be used in tandem with this design model. Included is an example to illustrate the model and the two points which are the basis for its formulation: first, there is generally no single design which is best for all products; second, the design which is optimal for a given product is not necessarily the best design to use for that product when trying to minimize the cost of the entire system.
Long-term enhancement of N availability and plant growth under elevated CO2 in a semi-arid grassland

Summary 1While rising atmospheric CO2 has the potential to enhance plant growth and biomass accumulation, rates of these processes may be constrained by soil nitrogen (N) availability. Despite much effort, it is still uncertain how elevated CO2 affects long-term soil N dynamics. 2We used open-top chambers to examine the effect of 5 years of elevated atmospheric CO2 concentration (720 vs. 368 p.p.m.) on N dynamics in a semi-arid grassland ecosystem in north-eastern Colorado, USA. In the first year 0·5 g m−2 of ammonium nitrate-N, 99·9 atom%15N, was added to each plot. We examined the effect of elevated CO2 on N mineralization and plant N uptake by tracking the labelled and total N in plant and soil over the following 5 years. 3Plant growth and plant N uptake remained significantly higher under elevated than under ambient CO2. The fraction of labelled N (expressed per unit of total N) in above-ground biomass declined over time, and this decline was greater under elevated CO2. The amount and fraction of labelled N in the soil did not change with time and was unaffected by elevated CO2. These results suggest that with time, N released from mineralization in the soil diluted the labelled N in above-ground biomass and that this dilution effect caused by N mineralization was greater under elevated CO2. More of the mineralized N ended up in the above-ground biomass of Stipa comata and forbs (C3) than in Bouteloua gracilis (C4) under elevated CO2. 4Increased soil moisture under elevated CO2 likely supported higher rates of N mineralization, thereby reducing N constraints on plant growth. Therefore, in semi-arid systems, plant growth and species composition responses to elevated CO2 may be more persistent than in mesic systems where N mineralization is less constrained by soil moisture.
Ocular oxygen concentrations accompanying severe chronic ophthalmic pathology in the lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush)

Abstract 1. 1. Ocular oxygen tensions of 359± 31·9 (37) mm Hg were found in normal lake trout eyes while those eyes showing gross pathology had a significantly lower PO2 of 219 ± 34·4 (27). 2. 2. The progression of the ocular histopathology is described in relationship to pseudobranch degeneration. 3. 3. The maintenance of elevated intraocular PO2 even in the presence of chronic ophthalmic pathology is noted.
Scheduling for just-in-time manufacturing

Abstract The concept of Just-In-Time manufacturing has several attractive features and components. The implementation of total form of Just-in-Time (JIT) in the western industrialized countries in the short run is one that will be challenging and costly. The change-over costs notwithstanding, progressive companies can obtain partial benefits of JIT through several low cost programs and operational changes while gradually adopting the JIT philosophy over time. In this paper, the effect of scheduling in JIT manufacturing systems is presented. With the objective of minimizing inventory cost, two models dealing with two cases of order shipment and delivery from the plant to the customers are developed. The use of the models are demonstrated with numerical examples.
Thyrocalcitonin in the dog heart-lung preparation: serum calcium and phosphorus responses.

Abstract Injection of crude porcine thyrocalcitonin into the dog heart-lung preparation was without effect on plasma calcium concentrations. The serum phosphate values in this bone-free preparation, however, rose significantly over control values.