cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Seasonal variation in behavioral responses to m-CPP in patients with seasonal affective disorder and controls.

This paper reports the behavioral responses to m-chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP), a serotonin agonist, in patients with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and controls during the summer. Results are compared with the responses of SAD patients and controls given m-CPP in the winter. Results of the winter study were reported earlier by our group. Baseline Hamilton depression ratings in SAD patients were significantly lower in the summer than in winter (p <0.05). Additionally, in both SAD patients and controls, there were seasonal differences on the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) self-rating scale items: “depressed affect,” “dysphoria,” and “functional deficit” at baseline. The behavioral responses to m-CPP across seasons differentiated patients from normals only in the “activation/euphoria” item, on which a far greater response was seen in patients than in controls during the winter. This behavioral response may be a state marker for winter depression, as it was significantly reduced after light treatment of these patients in the winter, and in the summer. SAD patients responded differently from controls on “altered self-awareness” and “dysphoria” independently of seasons, and these responses may be considered as possible trait markers for this condition. These results provide further evidence of a possible deficiency in serotonergic transmission in seasonal affective disorder.
Catalysis and synergism in the reduction smelting of lead sulfide with carbon and lime

The catalyzed direct reduction of lead sulfide with carbon and lime was investigated at several temperatures and under two different inert gas atmospheres. The catalyzed reduction kinetics were determined both with a nitrogen atmosphere and a helium-rich helium-nitrogen atmosphere. The reduction kinetics under the latter were decidedly superior to those under the former. The differences were interpreted in terms of faster diffusion rates in a helium medium and synergistic effects. The catalyst used was a ternay eutectic mixture (K, Li, Na)/sub 2/CO/sub 3/, which amounted to 2.5 wt. % of the PbS:4CaO:4C reaction mixture.
The isolation of apparently homoplastidic mutants induced by a nuclear recessive gene in Arabidopsis thaliana.

The nuclear recessive gene, chm1, of Arabidopsis thaliana is a imitator that induces a variety of plastid alterations giving rise to mixed cells and variegated leaves. The variegation is maternally transmitted but chm1 is transmitted in a Mendelian fashion (Redei 1973; Redei and Plurad 1973). In order to characterize the different types of plastid alterations induced by chm1, isolating homoplastidic lines, each apparently containing one type of mutant plastid in its cells, was essential since such characterization cannot be carried out on mixed cells. We have used two genetic approaches to isolate several apparently homoplastidic mutant lines by the removal of the mutator from the genetic background, and the maternal transmission of the mutant plastids. The rapidity of obtaining homoplastidic lines in the absence of chm1 indicated a non-stochastic sorting-out of plastids in mixed cells. That each of the chm1-free homoplastidic mutant lines was apparently homoplastidic for one type of mutant plastids was confirmed by electron microscopic observations. Here we report, for the first time, the production of different homoplastidic lines in the absence of the nuclear-mutator gene. Such genetically-stable homogeneous material should be a useful tool for studying the molecular mechanism(s) by which chm1 induces a variety of heritable plastid alterations.
Respiratory and cardiovascular effects of tetrodotoxin in urethane-anesthetized guinea pigs.

Abstract Cardiorespiratory effects of tetrodotoxin (TTX) (15 μg/kg, i.p.) were investigated in urethane-anesthetized guinea pigs acutely instrumented for the recording of medullary respiratory-related units (RRUs), diaphragm electromyogram (DEMG), electrocorticogram (ECoG), electrocardiogram (ECG), blood pressure (BP), endtidal CO 2 , and arterial O 2 and CO 2 . Respiratory system responses showed a hyperventilatory profile during the initial stage of intoxication. This was followed by an abrupt onset of a progressive decrease in the respiratory frequency, and a respiratory rate depression-related respiratory failure. The average time to TTX-induced respiratory arrest and death was 10.3 ± 4.2 min. Concurrentlyecorded inspiratory and expiratory RRU activities indicated that respiration invariably failed in an end-expiratory. position as manifested by a sustained period of expiratory RRU discharge. The progressive rate depression prior to respiratory arrest was temporally correlated only to a concomitantly augmenting expiratory RRU discharge duration. Inspiratory RRU discharge duration, on the other hand, did not display any significant change throughout the course of intoxication. The asymmetry in RRU response patterns indicates either an expiratory network component's particular sensitivity to perturbation by TTX or a dissociative trend in some bulbar respiratory rhythmogenic mechanisms. Peripheral cardiorespiratory changes were also quite profound. These included a gradual and steadfast decline in BP, a steadily decreasing amplitude in DEMG oscillations, and a state of progressive hypercapnia and hypoxenia. Changes in heart rate and ECG waveform attributes prior to respiratory arrest were not appreciable. In conclusion, in addition to a variety of TTX-induced peripheral cardiorespiratory effects, findings from this study have revealed a central respiratory system component that appears to show an unusual sensitivity to perturbation by TTX. The significance of this unique phenomenon as it relates to the nature and extent of TTX-induced central respiratory depression is discussed.
The Potential Impact of Accountable Care Organizations With Respect to Cost and Quality With Special Attention to Imaging

An accountable care organization is a form of a managed care organization in which a group of networked health care providers, which may include hospitals, group practices, networks of practices, hospital-provider partnerships, or joint ventures, are accountable for the health care of a defined group of patients. Initial results of the institutions participating in CMS's Physician Group Demonstration Project did not demonstrate a substantial reduction in imaging that could be directly attributed to the accountable care organization model. However, the initial results suggest that incentive-based methodology appears to be successful for increasing compliance for measuring quality metrics.
Influence of diet on mammary cancer in transgenic mice bearing an oncogene expressed in mammary tissue.

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. The laboratory rat treated with strong carcinogen is the most commonly used animal model for study of breast cancer. Transgenic mouse lines with homologues of human breast cancer oncogenes have been developed. The transgenic mouse line TG.NK with c-neu, the human breast cancer oncogene homologue of erbB2, was evaluated to determine its suitability for study of intervention strategies to delay/prevent the development of breast cancer. There were no palpable mammary tumor masses up to 22-weeks of age, and almost all mice fed a purified diet developed palpable mammary tumors by 28-weeks of age. Nonpurified diets decreased the incidence and multiplicity, and delayed the development of mammary tumors as compared to a purified diet. Increasing the fiber content of nonpurified diet decreased the tumor incidence further. There is approximately a 19-week interval between weaning and development of palpable mammary masses to evaluate intervention strategies to delay or prevent the development of mammary cancer in the TG.NK mouse model. Fiber from nonpurified cereal ingredients appears to be highly beneficial in delaying the development of mammary cancer in TG.NK mice, and this observation is in agreement with human epidemiological findings. Therefore, the TG.NK transgenic mouse with oncogene c-neu (erbB2), appears to be a useful animal model for evaluation of dietary intervention strategies.
Revealing load hysteresis based on physical-mesomechanical deformation and fracture criteria

Previously derived plastic deformation and fracture criteria are applied to an engineering application. Aluminum plate specimens are preloaded to various stress levels ranging from the elastic to plastic regime. After released from the preload, these specimens are reloaded at a stress level much lower than the yield stress. Electronic speckle pattern interferometry is used to observe fringe patterns that differentiate the level of preloading. Results of this study indicate that it is possible to reveal the load hysteresis through analysis of these fringe patterns.
High Electrical Conductivity in Ni3(2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaiminotriphenylene)2, a Semiconducting Metal–Organic Graphene Analogue

Reaction of 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaaminotriphenylene with Ni2+ in aqueous NH3 solution under aerobic conditions produces Ni3(HITP)2 (HITP = 2,3,6,7,10,11-hexaiminotriphenylene), a new two-dimensional metal–organic framework (MOF). The new material can be isolated as a highly conductive black powder or dark blue-violet films. Two-probe and van der Pauw electrical measurements reveal bulk (pellet) and surface (film) conductivity values of 2 and 40 S·cm–1, respectively, both records for MOFs and among the best for any coordination polymer.
Cellular toxicity of elsinochrome phytotoxins produced by the pathogenic fungus, Elsinoë fawcettii causing citrus scab

Summary • Elsinochromes are the red/orange pigments produced by many Elsinoe fungal species and are structurally similar to the phytotoxin, cercosporin. Here, pigments were extracted from cultures of a citrus pathogen, Elsinoe fawcettii and tested for cellular toxicity. • On irradiation with light, elsinochromes rapidly killed suspension cultured citrus and tobacco cells. The toxicity was decreased by adding the singlet oxygen (1O2) quenchers (bixin (carotenoid carboxylic acid), DABCO (1, 4-diazabicyco octane), ascorbate or reduced glutathione). Application of elsinochromes onto rough lemon leaves resulted in necrotic lesions, whereas lesion development was inhibited by the addition of bixin, DABCO or ascorbate, but not a-tocopherol. Incubation of rough lemon leaf discs with elsinochromes in the light induced a steady increase of electrolyte leakage. • Compared with two photosensitizing compounds, hematoporphyrin and cercosporin, the accumulation of 1O2 induced by elsinochromes after irradiation was indicated by successful detection of the cholesterol oxidation product, 5a-hydroperoxide. Addition of a potent quencher, b-carotene prevented 5a-hydroperoxide production. Elsinochromes generated superoxide ions (), whereas accumulation of was blocked by addition of the superoxide dismutase, a scavenger of , but not the 1O2-quencher, DABCO. Our study indicated that elsinochromes are functioning as photosensitizing compounds that produce 1O2 and , and exert toxicity to plant cells.
Exercise training improves endothelial function in young prehypertensives

Prehypertensives exhibit marked endothelial dysfunction, a risk factor for future cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, the ability of exercise to ameliorate endothelial dysfunction in prehypertensives is grossly underinvestigated. This prospective randomized and controlled study examined the separate effects of resistance and endurance training on conduit artery endothelial function in young prehypertensives. Forty-three unmedicated prehypertensive (systolic blood pressure [SBP]=120-139 mmHg; diastolic blood pressure [DBP]=80-89 mmHg) but otherwise healthy men and women and 15 normotensive matched time-controls (NMTC); n = 15) between 18 and 35 y of age met screening requirements and participated in the study. Prehypertensive subjects were randomly assigned to either a resistance exercise training (PHRT; n = 15), endurance exercise training (PHET; n = 13) or time-control group (PHTC; n = 15). The treatment groups performed exercise training three days per week for eight weeks. The control groups did not initiate exercise programs throughout the study. Flow mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, biomarkers of enodothelial function and peripheral blood pressure were evaluated before and after exercise intervention or time-matched control. PHRT and PHET reduced resting SBP (9.6 ± 3.6 and 11.9 ± 3.4 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.05) and DBP (8.0 ± 5.1 and 7.2 ± 3.4 mmHg, respectively; P < 0.05). Exercise training improved brachial artery FMD absolute diameter, percent dilation and normalized percent dilation by 30%, 34% and 19% for PHRT, P < 0.05; and by 54%, 63% and 75% for PHET, P < 0.05; respectively. PHRT and PHET increased plasma concentrations of 6-keto prostaglandin F1α (19% and 22%, respectively; P < 0.05), NO x (19% and 23%, respectively; P < 0.05), and reduced endothelin-1 by (16% and 24%, respectively; P < 0.01). This study provides novel evidence that resistance and endurance exercise separately have beneficial effects on resting peripheral blood pressure, brachial artery FMD and endothelial-derived vasoactive agents in young prehypertensives.
Anthropomorphism, primatomorphism, mammalomorphism: understanding cross-species comparisons

The charge that anthropomorphizing nonhuman animals is a fallacy is itself largely misguided and mythic. Anthropomorphism in the study of animal behavior is placed in its original, theological context. Having set the historical stage, I then discuss its relationship to a number of other, related issues: the role of anecdotal evidence, the taxonomy of related anthropomorphic claims, its relationship to the attribution of psychological states in general, and the nature of the charge of anthropomorphism as a categorical claim. I then argue that the categorical reading of anthropomorphism cannot work and that it misrepresents what is being claimed when one claims that traits are shared between humans and nonhumans. We should think of such claims not as anthropomorphic per se - because that implies the trait is intrinsically human and only derivatively nonhuman. Instead, traits shared with mammals are mammalomorphic, for example, or primatomorphic when shared by primates. (Epigraph:)
The Differences Across Distributed Leadership Practices by School Position According to the Comprehensive Assessment of Leadership for Learning (CALL)

The Comprehensive Assessment of Leadership for Learning (CALL) is a multi-source assessment of distributed instructional leadership. As part of the validation of CALL, researchers examined differences between teacher and leader ratings in assessing distributed leadership practices. The authors utilized a t-test for equality of means for the various responding groups on CALL and identified the areas of leadership practice that yielded the greatest and smallest differences between teacher and leader ratings. The authors discuss the similarities between leadership practices that yielded these differences. The authors discuss implications for leadership practice and suggest further research opportunities based on the findings.
Contracting Revisited: Determinants and Consequences of Contracting Out for Public Education Services

The determinants and consequences of contracting are examined in more than 1,000 Texas school districts for 1997–2008. The results largely replicate prior research by O'Toole and Meier, showing that contracting is negatively related to spending on school districts’ core instructional functions and that the relationship between contracting and bureaucracy is reciprocal. The present findings, based on data from a longer period, indicate that contracting is positively related to school district performance. This article also finds support for an extended model of contracting determinants involving two environmental shocks: negative budget shocks and enrollment shocks.
Ethics committees and due process.

I have three points to make about due process and an IEC's responsibility to provide ethics consultation on request: 1) the problem of due process needs to be put into the context of ethics consultation, for which committees are responsible but which they are ill-equipped to deliver as a whole group, except in certain circumstances; 2) IECs that attempt to provide consultation without an early stage of bedside consultation, involving the key decision-makers and especially the patient, attending physician and nurse(s), are inviting due process problems as well as a general "failure to thrive"; and 3) due process issues are important to resolve at two levels: a) initial contacts with patient, family and other decision-makers at an early stage of consultation close to the bedside, and b) especially at a second level of conflict resolution, when part or all of the IEC may be involved, because no resolution of the ethical problem(s) has been found at the primary level of consultation and the level of conflict will probably be higher. I propose a two-stage or two-step model for due process issues, i.e., obligations exist at both levels to respect the patient's rights and his or her priority in the decision-making process. My recommendation will be that IECs and their consultants need to be especially meticulous in carrying out these obligations at a second level of conflict resolution, when all or part of the IEC will be involved.
Aisle Routing for Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Mobility in ad hoc networks causes routes to break disrupting traffic flows and triggering additional routing overhead. We address this problem with a novel hybrid routing protocol, Aisle Routing. Aisle Routing introduces a route refresh mechanism to reactive source routing which proactively and adaptively refreshes routes through an aisle-like area and is designed so the route-control overhead is relatively small. This paper presents the Aisle Routing mechanism and describes how it can be integrated with existing reactive source routing protocols. Simulation results demonstrate that Aisle Routing has high packet delivery ratio and low delay in various mobility scenarios.
Random and systematic uncertainties of reflection-type Q-factor measurement with network analyzer

The reflection-type measurement of the unloaded Q factor of microwave resonant cavities consists of measuring the complex reflection coefficient with a network analyzer as a function of frequency and fitting the measured data to a circle on a complex plane. The measurement errors are of two kinds: random errors caused by imperfect data fit to an ideal circle and systematic errors caused by the limited accuracy of the network analyzer and its accessories. This paper presents the methods for estimating the measurement uncertainties for both kinds of errors.
α5β1 Integrin Protects Intestinal Epithelial Cells from Apoptosis through a Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase and Protein Kinase B–dependent Pathway

Renewal of the gastrointestinal epithelium involves a coordinated process of terminal differentiation and programmed cell death. Integrins have been implicated in the control of apoptotic processes in various cell types. Here we examine the role of integrins in the regulation of apoptosis in gastrointestinal epithelial cells with the use of a rat small intestinal epithelial cell line (RIE1) as a model. Overexpression of the integrin α5 subunit in RIE1 cells conferred protection against several proapoptotic stimuli. In contrast, overexpression of the integrin α2 subunit had no effect on cell survival. The antiapoptotic effect of the α5 subunit was partially retained by a mutated version that had a truncation of the cytoplasmic domain. The antiapoptotic effects of the full-length or truncated α5 subunit were reversed upon treatment with inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3-kinase), suggesting that the α5β1 integrin might interact with the PI-3-kinase/Akt survival pathway. When cells overexpressing α5 were allowed to adhere to fibronectin, there was a moderate activation of protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt, whereas no such effect was seen in α2-overexpressing cells adhering to collagen. Furthermore, in cells overexpressing α5 and adhering to fibronectin, there was a dramatic enhancement of the ability of growth factors to stimulate PKB/Akt; again, this was not seen in cells overexpressing α2 subunit and adhering to collagen or fibronectin. Expression of a dominant negative version of PKB/Akt in RIE cells blocked to ability of α5 to enhance cell survival. Thus, the α5β1 integrin seems to protect intestinal epithelial cells against proapoptotic stimuli by selectively enhancing the activity of the PI-3-kinase/Akt survival pathway.
BRANCHING PATTERNS IN FOREST SHRUBS AND UNDERSTORY TREES IN RELATION TO HABITAT

SUMMARY We investigated the branching and leaf display of dominant forest shrubs and understory trees in central New Jersey to determine (1) whether branching differentiation occurs in shrubs which reach optimum development in different successional environments, (2) the contrast in branching of small trees between field and forest and (3) the nature of within-crown branching plasticity in a mature canopy tree. We discovered that shrubs do not differ in gross branching structure (ratio of terminal to supporting branches) and propose that branch angle, length and alteration of leaf orientation may be significant display characters. Small trees exhibit markedly variable response to open v. closed habitats, confirming the expected increase in branching ratio in open environments. Within, but not outside, the forest, earlier successional species were more variable in branching. A single canopy tree crown also demonstrated alteration of leaf display components, including increased length and wider angle of branches, but not branch ratio in the shaded, lower crown. We suggest some of the fine-scale morphological traits of shrub branching which may be important in determining their leaf display. Finally, we discuss differences in shrub and tree habit, such as cloning and the presumably reduced costs of support in shrubs, which may explain the failure of shrubs to exploit the same component of branching strategy as trees.
Dating branches on the Tree of Life using DNA

The use of DNA sequences to estimate the timing of evolutionary events is increasingly popular, although it is fraught with practical difficulties. But the exponential growth of relevant information and improved methods of analysis are providing increasingly reliable sequence-derived dates, and it may become possible to reconcile fossil-derived and molecular estimates of divergence times within the next few years.
Vibrating wheel micromechanical gyro

Silicon micromechanical gyro performance has progressed to the threshold of useful initial applications, at least 1 deg/s. The vibrating wheel on a gimbal (VWOG) is a new gyro design with the promise of improved manufacturability. With a variety of accelerometers from which to choose, the advent of the silicon gyro begins the era of silicon micromechanical inertial guidance.
Factor Structure Analysis of the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence Scale on International Students:

The authors investigated the factor structure of the Schutte Self-Report Emotional Intelligence (SSREI) scale on international students. Via confirmatory factor analysis, the authors tested the fit...
Learning the Parameters of Stochastic Grammar Models for RNA Structures with Pseudoknots

Stochastic grammar systems have been introduced to model RNA structures with pseudoknots. These grammar systems need to be properly trained to get the accurate prob- abilistic parameters from the training sequences. The context sensitive property inherent in these systems poses a difficulty for parameter estimation. In particular, existing algorithms, such as the INSIDE-OUTSIDE algorithm, are suitable for context- free structure models that containing only parallel and nested relationships between the objects; they do not apply to context- sensitive models in which object relationships may be in crossing patterns. In this paper, we present an EM algorithm for learning the parameters of context-sensitive structure models. Based upon a stochastic grammar system model we previously developed for the profiling of RNA pseudoknot structures, the algorithm, called UPWARD-DOWNWARD, can re-estimate the probabilistic parameters from a given training data set. This full dynamic programming algorithm can be regarded as a natural extension of INSIDE-OUTSIDE from context-free to context-sensitive struc- tures including crossing patterns.
A syn‐depositional age for Earth’s deepest δ13C excursion required by isotope conglomerate tests

Terra Nova, 24, 318–325, 2012 Abstract The most negative carbon isotope excursion in Earth history is found in carbonate rocks of the Ediacaran Period (635–542 Ma). Workers have interpreted the event as the oxidation of the Ediacaran oceans [Rothman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA100 (2003) 8124; Fike et al., Nature444 (2006) 744; McFadden et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA105 (2008) 3197], or as diagenetic alteration of the δ13C of carbonates (δ13Ccarb) [Knauth and Kennedy, Nature460 (2009) 728; Derry, Earth Planet. Sci. Lett.294 (2010) 152]. Here, we present chemo-stratigraphic data from the Ediacaran-aged Wonoka Formation (Fm.) of South Australia that require a syn-depositional age for the extraordinary range of δ13Ccarb values (−12 to +4‰) observed in the formation. In some locations, the Wonoka Fm. is 700 metres (m) of mixed shelf limestones and siliclastics that record the full 16‰δ13Ccarb excursion. In other places, the Wonoka Fm. is host to deep (∼1 km) palaeocanyons, which are partly filled by tabular-clast carbonate breccias that are sourced from eroded Wonoka canyon-shoulders. By measuring the isotopic values of 485 carbonate clasts (an isotope conglomerate test), we show that canyon-shoulder carbonates acquired their δ13Ccarb–δ18Ocarb values before brecciation and redeposition in the palaeocanyons.
Reversal of tricyclic-antidepressant-induced cardiac conduction abnormalities by phenytoin

Ten patients with cardiac conduction defects due to severe tricyclic antidepressant poisoning were successfully treated with intravenous phenytoin. Eight patients had combined first degree AV block and intraventricular conduction delay; one patient had first degree AV block alone; and one patient had intraventricular conduction delay alone. Phenytoin was injected at a rate of 50 mg/min in amounts not exceeding 500 mg (approximately 5 mg/kg to 7 mg/kg). Five patients had complete normalization within 46 min. The remaining five patients showed improvement in their conduction defects shortly after phenytoin treatment, with complete normalization occurring within 14 hr. This investigation demonstrated the effectiveness of phenytoin in reversing tricyclic-antidepressant-induced cardiac conduction abnormalities. Phenytoin is a logical drug for the treatment of severe tricyclic antidepressant poisoning signalled by first degree AV block and/or intraventricular conduction delay.
The clinical and economic value of a short course of omeprazole in patients with noncardiac chest pain

Abstract Background & Aims: Evaluation of new patients with noncardiac chest pain (NCCP) may require a variety of costly tests. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of the omeprazole test (OT) in diagnosing gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) in patients with NCCP and estimate the potential cost savings of this strategy compared with conventional diagnostic evaluations. Methods: Thirty-nine patients referred by cardiologists were enrolled. Baseline symptoms were recorded, and the patients were randomized to either placebo or omeprazole (40 mg AM and 20 mg PM) groups for 7 days. Patients were crossed over to the other arm after a washout period and repeat baseline symptom assessment. All patients underwent 24-hour esophageal pH monitoring and upper endoscopy before randomization. Results: Thirty-seven patients (94.9%) completed the study. Twenty-three (62.2%) were classified as GERD positive and 14 as GERD negative. Eighteen (78%) GERD-positive patients and 2 (14%) GERD-negative patients had a positive OT ( P Conclusions: The OT is sensitive and specific for diagnosing GERD in patients with NCCP. This strategy results in significant cost savings and decreased use of diagnostic tests. GASTROENTEROLOGY 1998;115:42-49
Performance of phase-locked loop receiver in DECT system

The performance of the noncoherent phase-locked loop (PLL) receiver is compared to the performance of the limiter-discriminator detector and differential detector in the digital enhanced cordless telephone system. The results indicate that a well-designed PLL receiver based on the optimisation of PLL parameters and post-detection filtering has a performance advantage.
Cardiovascular Endocrinology: Introduction

s (maximum 200 words) must be sent to: Prof. J. R. PASQUALINI by Monday, February 9th, 2004 (postmark) (Original 4 copies). For further details please contact: General Scientific Secretariat: Prof. J. R. PASQUALINI Steroid Hormone Research Unit Institut de Puericulture
Isolation of Mutations that Disrupt Cooperative DNA Binding by the Drosophila Bicoid Protein

Cooperative DNA binding is thought to contribute to the ability of the Drosophila melanogaster protein, Bicoid, to stimulate transcription of target genes in precise sub-domains within the embryo. As a first step toward testing this idea, we devised a genetic screen to isolate mutations in Bicoid that specifically disrupt cooperative interactions, but do not disrupt DNA recognition or transcription activation. The screen was carried out in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and 12 cooperativity mutants were identified. The mutations map across most of the Bicoid protein, with some located within the DNA-binding domain (homeodomain). Four homeodomain mutants were characterized in yeast and shown to activate a single-site reporter gene to levels comparable to that of wild-type, indicating that DNA binding per se is not affected. However, these mutants failed to show cooperative coupling between high and low-affinity sites, and showed reduced activation of a reporter gene carrying a natural Drosophila enhancer. Homology modeling indicated that none of the four mutations is in residues that contact DNA. Instead, these residues are likely to interact with other DNA-bound Bicoid monomers or other parts of the Bicoid protein. In vitro, the isolated homeodomains did not show strong cooperativity defects, supporting the idea that other regions of Bicoid are also important for cooperativity. This study describes the first systematic screen to identify cooperativity mutations in a eukaryotic DNA-binding protein.
Universal Access to Electricity: Closing the Affordability Gap

Access to electricity changes lives but only when people can afford electricity-powered services to meet their basic needs, and this is more than just two light bulbs and a fan. Decentralized renewable energy (RE) minigrids, particularly solar photovoltaic (PV) minigrids, can cost-effectively electrify a large share of currently unelectrified rural populations. But the cost of using appliances with this electricity is still much higher than what the poor can afford without deep subsidies. This affordability gap stunts the sustainability and growth of RE minigrids. Significant improvements in the economics of supplying electricity with minigrids, combined with higher-efficiency appliances, are needed to reduce the effective cost of using electricity in decentralized RE minigrids. These would bridge the affordability gap and improve business opportunities and value to users, investors, and service providers and thus create market-driven expansion to overcome the acute lack of funding that they currently fac...
A Descriptive Study of Continuing Nursing Education Programs in Academic Settings

This article describes survey results from 24 collegiate continuing nursing education programs in the United States. The purpose was to collect baseline data regarding the role of the continuing education (CE) administrator, the characteristics of financial information, and the organizational structure of the department. The findings showed that roles and responsibilities of the directors in continuing nursing education include both administrative activities and faculty responsibilities. The trend toward decreasing enrollments of CE registrants will make it imperative for the CE administrator to explore creative programming directions, configure an affordable staffing arrangement within the organization, and generate new sources of program revenue.
‘The world is yours’: the globalization of hip-hop language

ABSTRACTThis article is an analysis of the cultural, linguistic and artistic features of hip-hop that cultures translate into their social world and embed in their culture, language ideology, and performance styles. It begins with an analysis of features of hip-hop in the U.S. that appear in global hip-hop. It then considers the modes of dissemination of African American music, language and politics worldwide and the influence of various forms of media and technology. It then presents two case studies, one in South America (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and the other in Europe (Paris, France). Finally, it critiques the place and role of hip-hop in popular culture, academia and countries throughout the world.
Leadership and Commitment: The Relationship Between Leaders’ Personality Traits and Organizational Commitment

Is there a relationship between leaders’ personality traits and organizational commitment among their associates? • A quantitative research design tested the relationship between leaders’ personality traits and organizational commitment Apparel and Consumer Packaged Goods organizations • New York and New Jersey markets • Leaders’ personality traits assessed utilizing the Hogan Personality Inventory (HPI) • Associates’ levels of organizational commitment measured utilizing the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire (OCQ) • Findings: There is a significant relationship between specific leaders’ personality traits and organizational commitment among their associates
Breaking Free: Understanding Leadership Entrenchment and Disruptive Strategies

Using qualitative analysis of in-depth interview data from 23 Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) in diverse industries, the study aims to advance theoretical understanding of (a) when and how corporate leaders experience entrenchment, (b) what strategies corporate leaders use to disrupt or break free from their entrenchment and (c) how leaders generate disruptive strategies. Our findings show that CMOs experience both organizational and personal entrenchment, which differ in nature and significance. In general, CMOs are alert to entrenchment traps and deploy varied disruptive strategies to break free, sometimes with success. Finally, our data suggests that CMOs source their disruptive strategies from the same knowledge, experience and skills that entrench them.
Detection and Measurement of Unhealthy, Environment-Derived Aerosol Materials in an Emergency Department:

Objective:To measure unhealthy aerosol materials in an Emergency Department (ED) and identify their sources for mitigation efforts.Background:Based on pilot findings of elevated ED particulate matt...
Pelvic Adhesions Following Microsurgical and Macrosurgical Wedge Resection of the Ovaries

The incidence of postoperative adhesion formation following microsurgical and macrosurgical ovarian wedge resection was contrasted in 10 adult female rhesus monkeys. Bilateral wedge resection was performed on day 10 of the luteal phase using microsurgical technique on one ovary and macrosurgical technique contralaterally. Animals were examined 4 weeks postoperatively. Adhesion formation occurred in only one ovary in which microsurgery had been employed (10%). In contrast, adhesion formation followed macroscopic ovarian wedge resection in five ovaries (50%). All adhesions were periovarian, emanating from the suture line on the ovarian surface. Adhesions were most common on the nonovulatory ovary.
Clinical pharmacology of converting enzyme inhibitors, calcium channel blockers and diuretics

The predominant trend in pediatric antihypertensive management is towards increasing reliance on angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and calcium channel blockers because of their general effectiveness, low incidence of adverse reactions and potential specific benefit in patients with renal disease. The common aetiological relationship between renal disease and elevated BP also is the reason that diuretic therapy continues to be included in many treatment regimens. A number of ACE inhibitors are available for clinical use, although only captopril has been subjected to any meaningful degree of investigation in children. Initial doses of captopril are 0.5 mg/kg in children > 6 months of age and 0.01-0.1 mg/kg in neonates, because of an apparent increased antihypertensive effect and duration of action in this age group. Side-effects are few and the major adverse effect is a reduction in glomerular filtration in patients with bilateral renal artery stenosis. The calcium channel blockers reduce cytosolic calcium concentration and are particularly effective in patients with volume dependent forms of hypertension. The pharmacokinetic properties of these drugs are similar with drug clearance by hepatic metabolism. In particular, nifedipine has a rapid onset of action and is widely used to treat hypertensive emergencies. Although it has been used sublingually, the effectiveness of the drug is due to absorption from the gastrointestinal tract. Few side-effects from these drugs have been reported in children. Heart rate and cardiac output increase but return to pretreatment levels within a few weeks. As is the case with the ACE inhibitors, calcium channel blockers appear to have a positive effect on renal function.
Intravital Imaging Reveals Dynamics of Lymphangiogenesis and Valvulogenesis.

Lymphatic research signifies a field of rapid progression in recent years. Though lymphatic dysfunction has been found in a myriad of disorders, to date, few effective treatments are available for lymphatic diseases. It is therefore urgent to develop new experimental approaches and therapeutic protocols. The cornea offers an ideal site for lymphatic research due to its transparent nature, accessible location, and lymphatic-free but –inducible features. Moreover, we have recently discovered that corneal lymphatic vessels develop luminal valves as lymphangiogenesis proceeds. This tissue thus provides an optimal tool to study both lymphangiogenesis and valvulogenesis upon a pathological insult. In this paper, we show that the modified Prox-1-GFP mice carrying wildtype C57BL/6 background provide a valuable tool for intravital imaging of corneal lymphatic vessels and valves and can be used to study pathological lymphangiogenesis induced by various insults. Further, we demonstrate the multifaceted dynamics of lymphangiogenesis and valvulogenesis associated with transplantation, from the initiation to regression phases, and report several novel and critical phenomena and mechanisms that cannot be detected by conventional ex vivo approaches. Further investigation holds the great potential for divulging new mechanisms and therapeutic strategies for lymphangiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis-related diseases at various stages and inside or outside the eye.
A digital seismograph system for measuring earth noise

Abstract A digitally recording seismograph station has been installed to record and study earth noise in the frequency range of 0.01 to 1 cps. The system is capable of recording four channels of information plus time on paper tape at sample rates of up to three times per second with a dynamic range of 90 db. Preliminary analyses of the digital records show that the spectral peak between 0.1 and 0.2 cps exhibits properties consistent with Rayleigh waves arriving from the southwest mixed with isotropic noise.
A fast tracker data acquisition system for pCT

We present a data acquisition design for a silicon-strip tracking system being constructed as part of a pre-clinical prototype scanner for proton computed tomography (pCT), capable of measuring one to two million proton tracks per second. The front end of the system is based on our ASIC design that handles 64 consecutive channels, including logic for control, calibration, buffering, and zero suppression. Each IC outputs a cluster list for each trigger, and a set of field programmable gate arrays merges those lists and builds the events to be sent to the data acquisition computer.
Seeing red and wearing pink: Trajectories of cultural power in the AIDS and breast cancer ribbons

Abstract How does the cultural power of a public symbol shift over time? The public retrievability of the iconic red and pink ribbons followed very different paths: red ribbons rose rapidly and fell out of favor just as quickly, whereas the presence of the pink ribbon grew steadily over time. What explains these different trajectories? We identify and explain these differences through an analysis of archival newspaper data from 1991 to 2014 and through the use of secondary sources to create case studies of important moments in the histories of these symbols. The paper makes three interventions. 1) It elaborates and extends Schudson’s (1989) discussion of cultural power, refining the mechanism of retrievability and adding recognizability. 2) It demonstrates the importance of organizations in maintaining high retrievability and recognizability in the face of criticism and controversy, along with politicians, celebrities, and corporations. 3) It introduces “genre violation” as a mechanism undermining a symbol’s cultural power.
Flotation of Toxocara canis Eggs in Commercial Bleach and Effects of Bleach Treatment Times on Larval Development in These Eggs

Toxocara canis is a common intestinal nematode of young dogs. Puppies contaminate the environment with large numbers of eggs that can embryonate and become infective in less than a month. Embryonated eggs are infectious for humans and other paratenic hosts. Most T. canis infections in humans are asymptomatic; however, migration of T. canis larvae in the eye and in the central nervous system can result in vision loss, blindness, and even death. The eggs of T. canis are highly resistant to harsh environmental conditions and routinely used chemical disinfectants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of full-strength commercial bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution) treatment on development of T. canis eggs and to report our serendipitous finding that T. canis eggs in dog feces can float in passive fecal flotation tests using bleach. We also demonstrated that T. canis eggs could be identified using the McMaster's fecal eggs counting test using 100% bleach. Toxocara canis eggs collected from the feces of naturally infected 4-8 wk old puppies were treated with full-strength bleach (5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution) for 15 min, 30 min, 60 min, and 120 min; washed free of bleach smell by centrifugation; and resuspended in 0.1 N sulfuric acid solution to undergo larval development at room temperature for 18 days after exposure to bleach. Motile larvae were observed in T. canis eggs in all groups treated for 15-120 min and eggs continuously exposed to bleach for 18 days. Our results indicate that bleach may not be an appropriate disinfectant for dog kennels, cages, or laboratory utensils and work surfaces. Toxocara canis eggs are resistant to bleach treatment and continue to pose a risk for canine and human infections. Further study is needed to find the most appropriate methods for disinfection and removal of eggs to reduce the risk of transmission of this parasite.
Validity of electrocardiographic criteria for increased left ventricular mass in young patients in the general population

Validity of electrocardiographic criteria for increased left ventricular mass in young patients in the general population
Abstract A22: The effects of Lipocalin-2 in the early stages of colorectal cancer metastasis

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. When diagnosed at an early, localized stage, the five year survival rate is approximately 90%; however, when patients are diagnosed at the metastatic stage, this drops to 12%. Metastasis, the spread of cancer cells from the primary tumor to a distant organ, is the primary cause of death in cancer patients. In CRC, metastasis is typically found in the liver, asymptomatic, and often detected at the final stage when therapeutic options are few. The genetic and cellular mechanisms driving the early stages of metastasis are still poorly understood. Recent studies have shown that prior to the arrival of cancer cells at the secondary organ, molecular signals from the tumor direct the recruitment of bone marrow derived cells to create a pre-metastatic niche where cancer cells can attach and develop into a metastatic lesion. Identifying and understanding these molecules can lead to the development of methods for early diagnosis or targets for intervention. Using an orthotopic model of CRC liver metastasis, we performed microarray analyses of the liver microenvironment in tumor bearing mice before and after the arrival of metastatic cells. We found that Lipocalin-2 (LCN2, 24p3, NGAL) was highly expressed in the liver and in circulation of mice bearing highly metastatic cells. LCN2 is a 25 kD secreted glycoprotein that binds small lipophilic molecules. Its expression is upregulated in a number of primary tumors of epithelial origin, but its role in metastasis remains unclear. It has contrasting roles in metastasis in breast cancer models and has been associated with poor prognosis in CRC patients; however its role in the tumor microenvironment has not been studied. Our studies thus far show that overexpression of Lcn2 in mouse colon cancer cells either had little impact on tumor growth and invasiveness, or it enhanced invasion in the presence of macrophages; however, it resulted in an overall reduction of circulating iron levels in sera from tumor bearing mice. In-vitro, iron also seems to have an effect in conjunction with Lcn2 on the invasiveness of the tumor cells. The results from this study will allow us to better describe the role of LCN2 in tumor and stromal cells in the early stages of liver metastasis. Citation Format: Daniel Hughes, Celestia Davis, Yu Zhang, John Bonaparte, Maria Pena. The effects of Lipocalin-2 in the early stages of colorectal cancer metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference on Tumor Metastasis; 2015 Nov 30-Dec 3; Austin, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(7 Suppl):Abstract nr A22.
Kepler’s dark worlds: a low albedo for an ensemble of Neptunian and Terran exoplanets

Photometric phase curves provide an important window onto exoplanetary atmospheres and potentially even their surfaces. With similar amplitudes to occultations but far longer baselines, they have a higher sensitivity to planetary photons at the expense of a more challenging data reduction in terms of long-term stability. In this work, we introduce a novel non-parametric algorithm dubbed "phasma" to produce clean, robust exoplanet phase curves and apply it to 115 Neptunian and 50 Terran exoplanets observed by Kepler. We stack the signals to further improve signal-to-noise, and measure an average Neptunian albedo of Ag < 0.23 to 95% confidence, indicating a lack of bright clouds consistent with theoretical models. Our Terran sample provides the first constraint on the ensemble albedo of exoplanets which are most likely solid, constraining Ag < 0.42 to 95% confidence. In agreement with our constraint on the greenhouse effect, our work implies that Kepler's solid planets are unlikely to resemble cloudy Venusian analogs, but rather dark Mercurian rocks.
Temperature dependence of the hardness of secondary phases common in turbine bucket alloys

Representative examples of the most common types of secondary phases in turbine bucket alloys have been synthesized in bulk and their hardness measured from room temperature to 800°C. It is concluded that high hot hardness of the dispersed phase is an important factor in the high temperature strength of alloys but that other (as yet not explicitly identified) factors are also significant.