cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A role for the umuDC gene products of Escherichia coli in increasing resistance to DNA damage in stationary phase by inhibiting the transition to exponential growth.

The umuDC gene products, whose expression is induced by DNA-damaging treatments, have been extensively characterized for their role in SOS mutagenesis. We have recently presented evidence that supports a role for the umuDC gene products in the regulation of growth after DNA damage in exponentially growing cells, analogous to a prokaryotic DNA damage checkpoint. Our further characterization of the growth inhibition at 30°C associated with constitutive expression of the umuDC gene products from a multicopy plasmid has shown that the umuDC gene products specifically inhibit the transition from stationary phase to exponential growth at the restrictive temperature of 30°C and that this is correlated with a rapid inhibition of DNA synthesis. These observations led to the finding that physiologically relevant levels of the umuDC gene products, expressed from a single, SOS-regulated chromosomal copy of the operon, modulate the transition to rapid growth in E. coli cells that have experienced DNA damage while in stationary phase. This activity of the umuDC gene products is correlated with an increase in survival after UV irradiation. In a distinction from SOS mutagenesis, uncleaved UmuD together with UmuC is responsible for this activity. The umuDC-dependent increase in resistance in UV-irradiated stationary-phase cells appears to involve, at least in part, counteracting a Fis-dependent activity and thereby regulating the transition to rapid growth in cells that have experienced DNA damage. Thus, the umuDC gene products appear to increase DNA damage tolerance at least partially by regulating growth after DNA damage in both exponentially growing and stationary-phase cells.
Causal discounting in the presence of a stronger cue is due to bias.

People use information about the covariation between a putative cause and an outcome to determine whether a causal relationship obtains. When there are two candidate causes and one is more strongly related to the effect than is the other, the influence of the second is underestimated. This phenomenon is called causal discounting. In two experiments, we adapted paradigms for studying causal learning in order to apply signal detection analysis to this phenomenon. We investigated whether the presence of a stronger alternative makes the task more difficult (indexed by differences in d′) or whether people change the standard by which they assess causality (measured by β). Our results indicate that the effect is due to bias.
External lumbar drain: A pragmatic test for prediction of shunt outcomes in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus.

Background: The consensus on most reliable supplemental test to predict the shunt responsiveness in patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is lacking. The aim of this study is to discuss the utility of external lumbar drain (ELD) in evaluation of shunt responsiveness for iNPH patients.
Postmenopausal hormone therapy and ductal carcinoma in situ: a population-based case-control study.

Abstract Background and aim : The relationship between hormone therapy (HT) and invasive breast cancer has been extensively investigated, but the relationship between HT and in situ breast cancer has received relatively little attention. We examined the relationship between HT and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) among postmenopausal women who participated in a population-based case–control study in Connecticut, USA. Methods : This analysis included 1179 post-menopausal women (603 controls and 576 cases), who comprised a subset of a population-based case–control study that included all incident cases of breast carcinoma in situ (BCIS) in Connecticut and frequency-matched controls by 5-year age intervals. Results : We found no association between DCIS and ever use of any HT (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.65–1.11); of estrogen alone (adjusted OR=0.93; 95% CI: 0.68–1.29) or of estrogen and progesterone (adjusted OR=0.75; 95% CI: 0.52–1.08). There was also no association between DCIS and current use of these hormones. In addition, estimated risk of DCIS did not increase with duration of use of these preparations. Conclusions : These results add to a small literature that remains inconclusive. To determine whether HT poses risk of in situ breast cancer, larger studies with greater power and precise control of important covariates (e.g., mammography screening) are needed, as are meta-analyses of available data.
Cognitive and Sociocultural Perspectives: Two Parallel SLA Worlds?.

Looking back at the past 15 years in the field of second language acquisition (SLA), the authors select and discuss several important developments. One is the impact of various sociocultural perspectives such as Vygotskian sociocultural theory, language socialization, learning as changing participation in situated practices, Bakhtin and the dialogic perspective, and critical theory. Related to the arrival of these perspectives, the SLA field has also witnessed debates concerning understandings of learning and the construction of theory. The debate discussed in this article involves conflicting ontologies. We argue that the traditional positivist paradigm is no longer the only prominent paradigm in the field: Relativism has become an alternative paradigm. Tensions, debates, and a growing diversity of theories are healthy and stimulating for a field like SLA.
An Escherichia coli plasmid vector system for production of streptavidin fusion proteins: Expression and bioselective adsorption of streptavidin‐β‐galactosidase

Covalently immobilized biotin was used as a biospecific adsorbant to investigate the application of streptavidin as an affinity domain for simultaneous purification and immobilization of recombinant proteins. A streptavidin-beta-galactosidase fusion protein was constructed and tested as a model system. The gene for streptavidin from Streptomyces avidinii was modified by polymerase chain reaction to mutate the stop codon and to facilitate cloning into an Escherichia coli expression vector yielding a versatile plasmid with 37 unique restriction enzyme sites at the 3' end. E. coli beta-galactosidase was cloned in-frame to the streptavidin gene. Analysis of lysates of induced recombinant E. coli cells by SDS-PAGE and Western blots indicated that the 133.6-kDa fusion protein was expressed. Sulfosuccinimidyl-6-(biotinamido) hexanoate was covalently immobilized on 3-aminopropyl-controled-pore glass beads. Exposure of recombinant cell lysates to this support indicated that streptavidin-beta-galactosidase was bioselectively adsorbed. The resulting biocatalyst contained 300 mg protein per gram of beads and exhibited a specific activity of 306 betamol/min per milligram protein with o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside as substrate corresponding to approximately 50% of that observed for commercially pure E. coli beta-galactosidase.
Social contracts and human-computer interaction with simulated adapting agents

Game theory is commonly used to study social behavior in cooperative or competitive situations. One socioeconomic game, Stag Hunt, involves the trade-off between social and individual benefit by offering the option to hunt a low-payoff hare alone or a high-payoff stag cooperatively. Stag Hunt encourages the creation of social contracts as a result of the payoff matrix, which favors cooperation. By playing Stag Hunt with set-strategy computer agents, the social component is degraded because of the inability of subjects to dynamically affect the outcomes of iterated games, as would be the case when playing against another subject. However, playing with an adapting agent has the potential to evoke unique and complex reactions in subjects because of its ability to change its own strategy based on its experience over time, both within and between games. In the present study, 40 subjects played the iterated Stag Hunt with five agents differing in strategy: exclusive hare hunting, exclusive stag hunting, random, Win-Stay-Lose-Shift, and adapting. The results indicated that the adapting agent caused subjects to spend more time and effort in each game, exhibiting a more complicated path to their destination. This suggests that adapting agents exhibit behavior similar to human opponents, evoking more natural social responses in subjects.
Mechanical properties of blends of PAMAM dendrimers with poly(vinyl chloride) and poly(vinyl acetate)

Hybrid blends of poly(amidoamine) PAMAM dendrimers with two linear high polymers, poly(vinyl chloride), PVC, and poly(vinyl acetate), PVAc, are reported. The interaction between the blend components was studied using dynamic mechanical analysis, xenon nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and tensile property measurements. The data suggest a much higher degree of interaction between components of PVAc-containing blends compared to those containing PVC. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 36: 2111–2117, 1998
Tobacco interventions delivered by pharmacists: a summary and systematic review.

Background. As one of the most accessible health care professionals, pharmacists are in an ideal position to provide tobacco-cessation and prevention services. Although there is growing interest in expanding the pharmacist's role in tobacco treatment, few published studies have assessed the efficacy or effectiveness of tobacco-cessation services delivered by pharmacists in the United States. Objective. To summarize and critique studies that examined pharmacist-delivered tobacco-cessation services. Methods. Articles written in English that appeared in peer-reviewed journals were identified from a systematic review of literature published from 1980–2006. Publications were selected for review if the interventions were delivered by pharmacists, if the intervention included United States Food and Drug Administration—approved drugs (if drug therapy was used), and if smoking-cessation rates could be calculated. Results. Fifteen studies met inclusion criteria. Fourteen of the studies targeted smoking, and one targeted spit (chewing) tobacco. Five studies were controlled, and 10 were uncontrolled. One of the controlled studies (chewing tobacco) and eight of the uncontrolled studies were conducted in the United States. Findings of the uncontrolled U.S. studies suggest that pharmacists can deliver smoking-cessation services. Three of the controlled studies found statistically significant differences between the pharmacist-based intervention and the control group, and the trend in the other two studies was toward the effectiveness of the pharmacist-delivered intervention. Only six of the 15 studies reviewed used biochemical measures to verify self-reported cessation. Conclusion. The uncontrolled and controlled studies reviewed demonstrate that pharmacists can deliver tobacco-cessation interventions, and the evidence strongly suggests that they are effective in helping smokers to quit. Future studies conducted in the United States that are well controlled and include biochemical verification of smoking status are needed to provide definitive confirmation that pharmacist-delivered interventions are effective for smoking cessation. With the availability and expanded training of pharmacists, this is an opportune time for testing and disseminating evidence-based research evaluating the effectiveness of pharmacist-delivered tobacco-cessation services.
Pattern of nest destruction in the two village weavers (Ploceus cucullatus and P. nigerrimus) at Ife, Nigeria

Summary Details of nest destruction patterns in the black-headed village weaver and Vieillot's black weaver were recorded from three colonies on the Ife campus in 1983 and 1984 breeding seasons. Nests that were destroyed were classified into ten groups. The numbers in each category showed the presence of synchronized high and low peaks at bi-weekly intervals. The intensity of nest destruction was markedly increased during the main breeding months from May to June. Nests unaccepted by the females were normally torn down by the males in two weeks and brooded nests in about six weeks. Large-scale abandoning by the females of the completed nests accounted for a considerable part of the total number of destroyed nests. Nests were torn down in short bouts of from 3 to 30 minutes. Removal of nest materials by the neighbours caused minor destruction. Evidence is put forward to show that extensive nest destruction of the nests by the males is an obligatory response to prevent the oversaturation of the nest sites in the restricted territories. Resume On a rapporte des details sur les schemas de destruction des nids chez le tisserin gendarme et le tisserin noir de Vieillot, sur le campus de Ife, pendant les saisons de reproduction de 1983 et 1984. Les nids detruits etaient classes en dix groupes. Dans chaque categorie, les nombres montraient l'existence de pointes maxima et minima a des intervalles bihebdomadaires. L'intensite de la destruction des nids augmentait sensiblement pendant les principaux mois de reproduction, de mai a juin. Les nids refuses par les femelles etaient generalement demolis par les mâles en deux semaines, et les nids habites, au bout de six semaines. Les nids termines abandonnes par les femelles comptaient pour une grande part dans le nombre total des nids detruits. Les nids etaient mis en pieces en 3 a 30 minutes. L'enlevement des materiaux du nid par des voisins n'occasionne qu'une destruction mineure. On met en evidence le fait que la destruction massive des nids par les mâles est une reponse obligatoire pour empecher la sursaturation en nids de territoires restreints.
Psychometrics of the Rape Conformity Assessment and Other Measures: Implications for Rape Prevention

This study investigated the psychometric properties and aspects of the construct validity of the Rape Conformity Assessment (RCA). In addition, the test–retest reliability and internal consistency of Malamuth's Attraction to Sexual Aggression scale and Burt's Rape Myth Acceptance, Acceptance of Interpersonal Violence (AIV), and Adversarial Sexual Beliefs scales were investigated. One hundred twenty-six undergraduate males in three samples served as subjects. Findings suggest that the RCA may be useful as a disguised measure that addresses the social desirability problem in rape prevention and treatment outcome research. With the exception of the AIV, the psychometric properties of the administered scales were adequate. The conformity manipulation revealed strong effects, which suggests that the potential to rape should be viewed not only as a trait but also as having situational components.
IC-CRIME snapshots: training crime scene photographers using procedural content generation in games

Modern day crime scene investigation methods are continually being enhanced by the application of new technologies to improve the analysis and presentation of crime scene information, helping to solve and prosecute crimes. The IC-CRIME Snapshots system provides a games-based tool to help train forensic photographers in a virtual environment.
Correlations of functional capacity and neuropsychological performance in older patients with schizophrenia: evidence for specificity of relationships?

Abstract Background Neuropsychological (NP) performance is a consistent correlate of everyday functioning in schizophrenia, but it is unclear whether relationships between individual NP ability areas and domains of everyday functioning are general or specific. Assessments of real-world everyday functioning may be influenced by environmental and social factors (e.g., social security, disability status, opportunities and restrictions in living situations). This study examined the specificity of the relationships between different NP abilities and performance-based measures of social and living skills. Methods 181 ambulatory older (age> 50) patients with schizophrenia were examined with NP tests measuring episodic and working memory, executive functioning, verbal fluency, and processing speed. All subjects performed tasks examining social (Social Skills Performance Assessment: SSPA) and everyday living (UCSD Performance Based Skills Assessment: UPSA) skills. Results Using canonical analysis, the NP variables were used to predict the functional capacity measures. The analysis found that 37% of the variance in the functional capacity and NP measures was shared, X2 (54) = 106.29, p Implications Social and everyday living skills deficits in patients with schizophrenia may reflect generally independent domains of functional outcome, linked through cognitive performance. The data suggest that somewhat different cognitive processes are associated with these two domains of functional capacity, although there appears to be some overlap, which may be due to the nature of the NP tests employed.
Interannual Temperature Events and Shifts in Global Temperature: A ''Multiwavelet'' Correlation Approach

Abstract For the purpose of climate signal detection, we introduce a method for identifying significant episodes of large-scale oscillatory variability. The method is based on a multivariate wavelet algorithm that identifies coherent patterns of variation simultaneously within particular ranges of time and periodicity (or frequency) that may vary regionally in the timing and amplitude of the particular temperature oscillation. By using this methodology, an analysis is performed of the instrumental record of global temperatures spanning the past 140 years. The duration of an “episode” is chosen to correspond to 3–5 cycles at a specified oscillation period, which is useful for detecting signals associated with the global El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomenon. To confirm the robustness of signals detected in the earliest, sparse data (only 111 5° longitude by 5° latitude grid points are available back to 1854), we performed multiple analyses overlapping in time, using increasingly dense subsets of t...
Making violence ordinary: radio, music and the Rwandan genocide

During the 1994 Rwandan genocide an estimated 800 000 people, or roughly 12 per cent of Rwanda's population, perished at the hands of both Hutu militias and ordinary citizens. The pro-genocide radio station, RTLM, or Radio-Television Libre des Milles Collines (Free Radio-Television of a Thousand Hills), played a critical role in cultivating anti-Tutsi ideology and spurring mobs of Hutu militants to commit acts of violence in the name of justice, solidarity, and self-preservation.
Flow cytometric analysis of cell cycle control by tumor suppressor genes.

Determination of cell cycle distribution is an important tool in cell biology. Flow cytometric analysis of cellular DNA can provide rapid, quantitative information about DNA ploidy and cell cycle distribution. Presented here are three basic protocols for analysis of DNA by flow cytometry. There are many variations of these protocols that may be more appropriate for particular cell types or applications (1).
Acinetobactin Isomerization Enables Adaptive Iron Acquisition in Acinetobacter baumannii through pH-Triggered Siderophore Swapping.

Pathogenic strains of Acinetobacter baumannii excrete multiple siderophores that enhance iron scavenging from host sources. The oxazoline siderophore pre-acinetobactin undergoes an unusual non-enzymatic isomerization, producing the isoxazolidinone acinetobactin. In this study, we explored the kinetics, mechanism, and biological consequence of this siderophore swapping. Pre-acinetobactin is excreted to the extracellular space where the isomerization to acinetobactin occurs with a pH-rate profile consistent with 5-exo-tet cyclization at C5' with clean stereochemical inversion. Pre-acinetobactin persists at pH 7, matching each siderophore's pH preference for iron(III) chelation and A. baumannii growth promotion. Acinetobactin isomerization provides two siderophores for the price of one, enabling A. baumannii to sequester iron over a broad pH range likely to be encountered during the course of an infection.
Role of Trauma Score in Triage of Mass Casualties

The development of emergency medical services (EMS) systems in the United States, incorporating various levels of sophistication in prehospital care and echelons of capability in hospital resource availability, has brought new connotations to the word “triage” (sorting).Heretofore, triage consisted entirely of estimating treatment needs so that prioritized transfer of patients could be made to hospitals. The decision is no longer binary, since the introduction of Trauma Centers requires the triage decision maker to not only decide which patient first, but also which patient to which hospital. Clear cut decision rules for this process applied to routine civilian emergency medical practice have yet to emerge.
Ultrasound and alendronate: new tools for osteoporosis screening and treatment

Office-based physicians can now use ultrasonography of the heel to screen for osteoporosis and estimate the risk of fractures. In treating osteoporosis, alendronate has been shown to increase bone mineral density and to decrease the incidence of fractures.
Thermal Equilibration and Growth of Doped Amorphous Silicon

The relation between the thermal equilibration of the defect structure in n-type doped hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) and the deposition conditions has been investigated. When the deposition rate is increased by raising the rf power the equilibration time constants become longer, though the thermal equilibrium processes are qualitatively similar to those in samples grown under optimal conditions. Models relating the slower equilibration rate to the deposition-induced microstructure are explored.
Studies on hemagglutination by NDV.

Summary and conclusionsBy absorption experiments, a strain of NDV was shown to have at least 2 agglutinins with different specificities. Human RBC were shown to possess receptors for only one type, in contrast to chicken RBC which had receptors for both types. This conclusion was further supported by the results of experiments using NDV eluted from human RBC as well as by the absorption of NDV with chicken RBC with selectively blocked receptors. Further experiments using mixed agglutination showed that hemagglutination by the myxoviruses is brought about by the bridging of cells having similar receptors by multivalent viral particles.
A Polynomial with a Root Mod m for Every m

(2000). A Polynomial with a Root Mod m for Every m. The College Mathematics Journal: Vol. 31, No. 5, pp. 403-405.
Selective Action of Crystal Violet and of Brilliant Green on Bacteriophages

Studies of the effects of aniline dyes on bacteriophages have apparently yielded negative results, except for the inactivation of an antistaphylococcus phage by toluidine blue and methylene blue (methylthionine chloride, U. S. P.). D'Herelle 1 found that some of the dyes did not affect the phenomenon of bacteriophagy so long as bacterial growth was not inhibited. Schultz and Krueger 2 reported the inactivation of an antistaphylococcus phage by methylene blue in a 0.002 per cent solution of the dye, but they did not observe inhibition with other dyes used, including crystal violet and brilliant green. Clifton and Lawler 3 obtained inactivation of an antistaphylococcus phage with toluidine blue, and Clifton4 was able to demonstrate the inactivation of an antistaphylococcus phage by the photodynamic action of methylene blue. In view of these negative results with some of the stronger dyes, it occurred to us that the use of dyes in concentrations far in excess of that required for the inhibition of bacteria, correlated with variable periods of incubation and variable temperatures, might produce results that otherwise could not be obtained. It further seemed advisable to test certain phages, including those active against gram-positive bacteria, which have not previously been studied.
A Post-Processor to Render Turbomachinery Flows Using Phase-Lag Simulations

A post‐processing algorithm has been developed to render the complete annulus flow for phase‐lag simulations with the turbomachinery analysis code, TURBO [1]‐[7]. The motivation of the work is that only one blade passage from each blade row in multiple stage simulations need be computed using the phase lag approximation. For analysis of the simulation results, there is a need for a tool to reconstruct the entire annulus flowfield from the single‐passage solutions. Relations of flow variables between the computed passage and other passages are derived. The derived flowfields are formulated in terms of the correct phase of the computed results. A procedure for furnishing the time series of solutions produced by phase‐lag simulation is presented. Test cases are applied to the simulation of the NASA Glenn research compressor stage which contains Rotor 35 and Stator 37, and NASA Stage 35 with an inlet grid. Results produced by this technique are presented and can be linked with visualization toolkits to produce animations of the unsteady blade row interaction. The flowfield derived through this process exhibits good continuity across the interface between blade rows.
A Study of Autonomous English Learning Ability of Vocational College Freshmen

Based on the study of questionnaire,the paper probes into the autonomous English learning ability of vocational college freshmen.The findings of this study can be summarized in the following: First,the general level of freshmen's autonomous English learning ability is relatively low.Second,compared with male students,female students perform better in autonomous English learning especially in the section of learners' autonomous learning attitudes,learners' motivation and identification of what has been taught in the class,and they do better in self-monitoring and self-management.Third,superior to students with low scores,students with high scores do better in autonomous English learning and the application of metacognitive strategies such as self-monitoring and self-management.According to these results,the author makes some recommendations to foster vocational college freshmen's autonomous English learning ability.
Study on Population Migration Characteristics in Mainland China and Its Applications to Decision-making for SARS Control

This paper introduces the study for population migration in mainland China and its applications to SARS control. This paper analyzes following issues by using Geographic Information System, (1)the characteristics of immigratory population and migratory population in cities,(2)inflow spatial features for migrant workers in Beijing and Guangdong respectively, (3)situation prediction for migrant workers reflunce to Beijing, and (4)spatiallg distributing features for SARS along traffic lines. According to above studies, some elementary information can be given for SARS control decision-making. (1)The cities, where immigratory population are more than or less than migratory population and the situation along the traffic line can be pointed out here, and how to take measures to cut off the disease of spreading in these cities is obvious;(2)The study on migrant workers can provide some advise to the rural SARS control measures, such as quarantine measures;(3)According to phenological statistic and some raw data for migrant workers, some predictions for the rush hour of migrant workers, who inflow Beijing again refluence can be given roughly.
Studies on the composition of glyceryl ethers and their preparation from diacyl glyceryl ethers in liver oils

Procedures are described for the preparation of alkyl iodides from fatty alcohols and glyceryl ethers. Alkyl iodides were separated directly by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) on ethylene glycol succinate columns and do not require calibration factors in their analysis with a thermal conductivity detector. Iodide derivatives have absolute retention times on GLC similar to the corresponding fatty alcohol acetates. Alkyl iodides were converted to alcohol acetates with silver acetate or to hydrocarbons with lithium aluminum hydride and these derivatives were separated by GLC. The elimination of hydriodic acid from secondary iodides during GLC is described. The resulting monoene iodides are readily separated from saturated iodides by GLC. Alkoxy structures have been assigned by comparison of the retention time data of iodide derivatives with standard alcohol derivatives. Unsaturation was confirmed by catalytic hydrogenation. Branched components were identified as the alkanes. Glyceryl ethers were prepared from diacyl glyceryl ethers by hydrogenolysis with lithium aluminum hydride. The glyceryl ether-fatty alcohol mixture was separated quantitatively by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and sufficient material obtained from one TLC plate for the preparation of alkyl iodide derivatives.
Progress in antiarrhythmic therapy

The number of patients with cardiac arrhythmias is increasing in our society with the aged people along with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome and ischemic heart diseases. Patient characteristics and therapeutic tools are both diverse at present, and, therefore, clinical evidence is one of the important pieces for selecting therapy suitable for our individual patients. This article reviews recent clinical trials regarding to atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation. We have many powerful knowledge and tools, but at the same time, know well some limitations peculiar to individual therapy for particular arrhythmias.
Arabidopsis miR827 mediates post-transcriptional gene silencing of its ubiquitin E3 ligase target gene in the syncytium of the cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii to enhance susceptibility

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a major class of small non-coding RNAs with emerging functions in biotic and abiotic interactions. Here, we report on a new functional role of Arabidopsis miR827 and its NITROGEN LIMITATION ADAPTATION (NLA) target gene in mediating plant susceptibility to the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii. Cyst nematodes are sedentary endoparasites that induce the formation of multinucleated feeding structures termed syncytia in the roots of host plants. Using promoter:GUS fusion assays we established that miR827 was activated in the initial feeding cells and this activation was maintained in the syncytium during all sedentary stages of nematode development. Meanwhile, the NLA target gene, which encodes an ubiquitin E3 ligase enzyme, was post-transcriptionally silenced in the syncytium to permanently suppress its activity during all nematode parasitic stages. Overexpression of miR827 in Arabidopsis resulted in hyper-susceptibility to H. schachtii. In contrast, inactivation of miR827 activity through target mimicry or by overexpression a miR827-resistant cDNA of NLA produced the opposite phenotype of reduced plant susceptibility to H. schachtii. Gene expression analysis of several pathogenesis-related genes together with Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression in Nicotiana benthamiana provided strong evidence that miR827-mediated downregulation of NLA to suppress basal defense pathways. In addition, using yeast two-hybrid screens we identified several candidates of NLA-interacting proteins that are involved in a wide range of biological processes and molecular functions, including three pathogenesis-related proteins. Taken together, we conclude that nematode-activated miR827 in the syncytium is necessary to suppress immune responses in order to establish infection and cause disease.
Ibandronate for the prevention of bone loss after allogeneic stem cell transplantation for hematologic malignancies: a randomized-controlled trial

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of ibandronate on bone loss following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT). A single-centered, open-label prospective randomized-controlled study following allo-SCT. The treatment group received 3 mg of intravenous ibandronate quarterly starting within 45 days of allo-SCT. All patients received daily calcium and vitamin D supplements. We compared the changes in bone mineral density (BMD) in the lumbar spine, femoral neck and total hip at 6 and 12 months following allo-SCT between the control and treatment groups. We also assessed relationships between bone loss and cumulative glucocorticoid dose, cumulative tacrolimus dose and acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) by linear regression. In all, 78 patients were enrolled. The treatment group had significantly less BMD loss in the lumbar spine at 6 months (mean percent change 0.06±4.03 (treatment group) versus -2.61±4.2 (control group)) and 12 months (mean percent change 1.27±5.29 (treatment group) versus -1.81±4.49 (control group)) than the control group (P=0.03). Both groups lost more BMD in the femoral neck and total hip than in the lumbar spine at 6 and 12 months. The changes in BMD in the femoral neck and total hip did not differ significantly between groups. Both glucocorticoids and tacrolimus reduced BMD in the lumbar spine, but ibandronate prevented this loss. Ibandronate may reduce bone loss in the lumbar spine in patients who undergo allo-SCT, particularly those who have received high doses of glucocorticoids and/or tacrolimus.
Mass Spectrometric Determination of Uranium and Thorium in High Radiopurity Polymers Using Ultra Low Background Electroformed Copper Crucibles for Dry Ashing.

A rapid new method for determining the U and Th mass concentrations in high radiopurity plastics is described, consisting of (1) dry ashing the plastic sample and tracers in low mass crucibles made of ultra low background electroformed copper (ULB EF-Cu) foil cut and folded into boats, (2) dissolving both the ash and the boat in acid, (3) performing a column separation to remove copper, and (4) determining the elements of interest by isotope dilution mass spectrometry. This method was demonstrated on both unfluorinated and fluorinated plastics, demonstrating high tracer recoveries and detection limits to pg/g (i.e., parts per trillion) levels or below, corresponding to μBq/kg of material. Samples of biomedical polyester (Max-Prene 955) and a fluoropolymer (polyvinylidene fluoride, PVDF) were analyzed in powder raw material forms as well as solids in the form of pellets or injection molded parts. The polyester powder contained 6 pg/g and 2 pg/g for 232Th and 238U, respectively. These levels correspond to 2...
Eras of business computing

Abstract The past half-century has seen amazing progress in the use of information technology and computer systems in business. Computerization and communication technologies have truly revolutionized the business organization of today. This chapter presents a structured overview of the evolution of business computing systems through six distinct eras: u • Era of Calculation • Era of Automation • Era of Integration and Innovation • Era of Decentralization • Era of Reengineering and Alignment • Era of the Internet and Ubiquitous Computing Advances in each of the major computing technologies—Computational Platform, Communications, Software, and System Architecture—are surveyed and placed in the context of the computing eras. The focus is on how technologies have enabled innovative strategic business directions based on new business system architectures. A key observation is that around 1975 the principal role of the computer in business systems changed from a computation engine to a digital communications platform. We close the chapter by presenting a set of major conclusions drawn from this survey. Within each conclusion we identify key future directions in business computing that we believe will have a profound impact into the 21st century.
Rooted in the Past: Use of “East Indians” in Library of Congress Subject Headings

This article argues that the use of the Library of Congress subject heading “East Indians” in reference to individuals from India represents not only a problematic vestige of colonialism, but also ...
Mathematical Interventions for Secondary Students with Learning Disabilities and Mathematics Difficulties: A Meta-Analysis.

This meta-analysis is the first to provide a quantitative synthesis of empirical evaluations of mathematical intervention programs implemented in secondary schools for students with learning disabilities and mathematics difficulties. Included studies used a treatment-control group design. A total of 19 experimental and quasi-experimental studies containing 20 independent samples met study inclusion criteria. Results of a random effects model analysis indicated that mathematical interventions influence mathematics outcomes (g = 0.37, 95% confidence interval [0.18, 0.56]) for students with learning disabilities and mathematics difficulties. In addition, instructional time moderated the relation between mathematics interventions and student learning. Limitations of the study, future directions for research, and implications for practice are discussed.
Boosting the Electrochemical Performance of Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 by Atomic Layer-Deposited CeO2 Coating.

It has been demonstrated that atomic layer deposition (ALD) provides an initially safeguarding, uniform ultrathin film of controllable thickness for lithium-ion battery electrodes. In this work, CeO2 thin films were deposited to modify the surface of lithium-rich Li1.2Mn0.54Ni0.13Co0.13O2 (LRNMC) particles via ALD. The film thicknesses were measured by transmission electron microscopy. For electrochemical performance, ∼2.5 nm CeO2 film, deposited by 50 ALD cycles (50Ce), was found to have the optimal thickness. At a 1 C rate and 55 °C in a voltage range of 2.0−4.8 V, an initial capacity of 199 mAh/g was achieved, which was 8% higher than that of the uncoated (UC) LRNMC particles. Also, 60.2% of the initial capacity was retained after 400 cycles of charge–discharge, compared to 22% capacity retention of UC after only 180 cycles of charge–discharge. A robust kinetic of electrochemical reaction was found on the CeO2-coated samples at 55 °C through electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The conductivity of 5...
AUTOGENOUS VENOUS NERVE CONDUITS: A Review

Autogenous venous nerve conduit (AVNC) has evolved from an experimental idea to a clinical reality over the last two decades. The effectiveness of AVNC for reconstruction of a peripheral nerve with a nerve gap of less than 3 cm has been established and confirmed. An exciting application of this technique in the near future is to use the conduit as a vehicle for moderation and modulation of the cellular and molecular ambience for nerve regeneration.
Hodgkin's disease: classification and differential diagnosis.

During the past decade, there have been many advances in our understanding of Hodgkin's disease. Among the most important is the discovery that the Reed-Sternberg cell is a lymphoid cell, in most cases a B cell, and that it is clonal. Hodgkin's disease is thus a true lymphoma, deserving of a name change to Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). On the basis of a combination of immunophenotype and morphologic features, the Revised European-American classification system recognizes two main types of HL: classical types (nodular sclerosis, mixed cellularity, lymphocyte-rich classical HL, and lymphocyte depletion) and nodular lymphocyte-predominant type. These two types probably are distinct biologic entities. The immunophenotype and genetic features of the classical HL and the nodular lymphocyte-predominant type have been defined. These are useful in the subclassification of HL and in distinguishing HL from two recently described, aggressive lymphomas that were in the past often diagnosed as HL, i.e., anaplastic large-cell lymphoma, T-cell type, and T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma. Epstein-Barr virus has been detected in approximately 40% of the cases of classical HL, and it is clonal; this suggests that this virus might play a role in the pathogenesis of at least some types of HL. Alternatively, its presence might simply reflect the prevalence of Epstein-Barr virus-infected B cells in the individual. Despite the advances of the past 10 years, many questions remain to be answered; these will provide the challenges of the next decade.
A proposed measurement scheme when lymph nodes split on serial CT in clinical trials.

e18591Background: To compare measurement strategies of lymph node sizes which split into fragments over time when using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) 1.1. Methods: We retros...
Period-1 Evolutions to Chaos in a Periodically Forced Brusselator

In this paper, analytical solutions of periodic evolutions of the Brusselator with a harmonic diffusion are obtained through the generalized harmonic balance method. The stability and bifurcation o...
Application of the Within- and Between-Series Estimators to Non-normal Multiple-Baseline Data: Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian Approaches.

AbstractIn single-case research, multiple-baseline (MB) design provides the opportunity to estimate the treatment effect based on not only within-series comparisons of treatment phase to baseline p...
FDA-regulated research: cellular therapy considerations

Background & Aim Regulatory approval from federal health agencies is a requirement to begin most phase 1 clinical trials with investigational agents. Enabling this approval requires evidence of previous human experience or, in the case of novel, fist-in-human treatments, significant preclinical data to support initial approval for use. Proof of concept, method of action and the penultimate safety studies are highly scrutinized and regulatory agencies often seek specific types of studies to provide this data. While a typical battery of pharmacological, pharmacodynamic, and toxicological tests are often used by the pharmaceutical industry, investigator-initiated trials by academic institutions need not always follow that route. In addition, the intricacies that surround cellular and gene therapy treatments make this data difficult to obtain or lacking in clinical relevance, thus dictating changes to the traditional IND-enabling roadmap. In addition to navigating the complex regulatory framework that is the US Food and Drug Administration, trial operation, product manufacturing, oversight and IND maintenance represent considerable hurdles which must be overcome. Despite these challenges, cellular and gene therapy INDs present unique opportunities to foremost provide lifesaving treatments but also do so without many conventional IND requirements. Careful consideration of these factors can lead the development of a successful and efficient implementation of a clinical research plan, so we have established a cell therapy IND algorithm and implemented a planning team to support investigators with a uniform and centralized process to ensure application success. Methods, Results & Conclusion Here we present our initial experience with this process in a new cell therapy program, discussing the pathway towards IND activation focusing on the intricacies that cellular and gene therapy trials present. We also provide our experience with over 20 active, under review and in preparation cellular therapy, gene therapy and combination product submissions. We further discuss type, quality (GLP, non-GLP), depth and breadth of studies required to enable investigator-initiated clinical studies, and challenges and opportunities in operationalizing cellular therapy clinical trials, both from a single- and multi-institution approach.
Redescubrir el asombro en la educación: fundamentos, enfoques, sentimientos

This article explores the relationship between wonder and education in a pedagogical perspective involving human educability and ability of every person to fully develop his/her own being. The experience of wonder reflects the questions, problems and disorientations typical of contemporary life and requires the person to be able to rediscover a passion for critical thinking and for the sense of good. In this context, the article makes a distinction between cognitive wonder and wonder as a moral feeling, enabling us to acquire a unique knowledge of reality, of our own self and of people around us.
Mastectomy in 25 small ruminants (2002-2019).

Objective To describe the outcome of small ruminants treated with unilateral and bilateral mastectomy by using three surgical techniques. Study design Retrospective study. Animals Twenty-five small ruminants (24 goats and one sheep). Methods Medical records of animals that underwent mastectomy between November 1, 2002, and May 1, 2019, were reviewed. Follow-up information was obtained by telephone questionnaire with owners. Signalment, surgical data, intraoperative and postoperative complications, bacterial culture results, histopathologic diagnoses, short- and long-term outcomes, and other procedures performed were recorded. Result Procedures consisted of six unilateral (with an elliptical incision) and 19 total (with inverted cloverleaf or elliptical skin incisions) mastectomies. All animals survived to hospital discharge. Intraoperative complications included contamination of the surgical site with mammary-gland fluid, hemorrhage, and difficulty dissecting skin from the mammary gland. Postoperative complications included seroma formation (7/25), surgical-site infection (5/25), and dehiscence of the skin incision (3/25). Mammary neoplasia was diagnosed in seven of 15 animals with histopathologic examination. No association was detected between surgical technique, diagnosis of neoplasia, and long-term outcome. Overall, client satisfaction was high. Conclusion Mastectomy was effective at removing abnormally enlarged udders secondary to chronic mastitis, inappropriate lactation, idiopathic causes, or neoplasia and was associated with a low rate of complications in small ruminants. Clinical significance Unilateral mastectomy with an elliptical skin incision or total mastectomy, preferably with inverted cloverleaf skin incision, may be indicated to remove diseased mammary tissue in small ruminants and can result in long-term survival with low morbidity and cosmetically pleasing results.
“Electric Word Life”: Methodological Dignity in Equity-Driven Research

In this essay, I offer methodological considerations for justice-oriented qualitative research. Particularly within the context of Trumpism within the U.S. and rising threats to historically margin...
Kidnapping Reconsidered: Courts' Merger Tests Do Not Remedy the Inequities Which Developed from Kidnapping's Sensationalized and Racialized History

Kidnapping has a troubled history in the law. It was instituted, perpetuated, and expanded almost exclusively after publicized and sensationalized cases where the children of wealthy whites were taken. In the same periods, courts and legislatures largely ignored the cries of minorities, particularly slaves or free blacks, that they too had been kidnapped. In the public hysteria over the relatively few kidnappings of white children, legislatures expanded the offense’s definition to the point that it lost all meaning and became unconstitutionally vague. To remedy this problem, courts created kidnapping merger tests. But these tests have had little consistency or coherency, and troublingly, they have done little to solve the issues of discriminatory enforcement that have plagued kidnapping since its inception. Legislatures should reconsider kidnapping and narrow its definition in order to prevent the arbitrary use of police or prosecutorial discretion. If legislatures refuse to act, then courts should strike down kidnapping statutes as vague and as violations of double jeopardy and equal protection, as well as a cruel and unusual punishment.