cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Mount Sinai Patient-Centered Preoperative Criteria Meant to Optimize Outcomes Are Less of a Barrier to Care Than WPATH SOC 7 Criteria Before Transgender-Specific Surgery

Objectives: With expanding coverage of gender-affirming care in the United States, many insurers default to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) Standards of Care 7 (SOC 7) to establish eligibility requirements for surgery coverage. Informed by bariatric and transplant surgery evaluation models, the Mount Sinai Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery (CTMS) developed patient-centered criteria to assess readiness for surgery, focusing on concerns that could impair recovery. To make recommendations for the next version of the WPATH SOC, SOC 8, we compared Mount Sinai patient-centered surgical readiness criteria with the WPATH SOC 7 criteria. Methods: Data were extracted from a deidentified data set developed as part the quality dashboard for CTMS. The data set included all patients seeking vaginoplasty who were evaluated by a single mental health provider, from July 2016 through August 2018, and who completed the full CTMS assessment. The number of patients eligible for surgery based on the Mount Sinai CTMS criteria was compared with the number of patients eligible for surgery according to WPATH SOC 7 criteria. Results: Of 139 patients identified, 63 (45%) were ready for surgery immediately based on the Mount Sinai patient-centered model. By contrast, only 21 (15%) out of the 139 met criteria for surgery based on WPATH SOC 7. Fifty patients (40%) were ready for surgery as per Mount Sinai patient-centered readiness review but not WPATH criteria. Conclusion: An assessment designed to better prepare patients for surgery may also result in fewer barriers to care than existing criteria used by insurance companies in the United States.
Nanoliter scale electrochemistry of natural and engineered electroactive bacteria.

Abstract Bacterial extracellular electron transfer (EET) is envisioned for use in applied biotechnologies, necessitating electrochemical characterization of natural and engineered electroactive biofilms under conditions similar to the target application, including small-scale biosensing or biosynthesis platforms, which is often distinct from standard 100 mL-scale stirred-batch bioelectrochemical test platforms used in the laboratory. Here, we adapted an eight chamber, nanoliter volume (500 nL) electrochemical flow cell to grow biofilms of both natural (Biocathode MCL community, Marinobacter atlanticus, and Shewanella oneidensis MR1) or genetically modified (S. oneidensis ΔMtr and S. oneidensis ΔMtr + pLB2) electroactive bacteria on electrodes held at a constant potential. Maximum current density achieved by unmodified strains was similar between the nano- and milliliter-scale reactors. However, S. oneidensis biofilms engineered to activate EET upon exposure to 2,4-diacetylphloroglucinol (DAPG) produced current at wild-type levels in the stirred-batch reactor, but not in the nanoliter flow cell. We hypothesize this was due to differences in mass transport of DAPG, naturally-produced soluble redox mediators, and oxygen between the two reactor types. Results presented here demonstrate, for the first time, nanoliter scale chronoamperometry and cyclic voltammetry of a range of electroactive bacteria in a three-electrode reactor system towards development of miniaturized, and potentially high throughput, bioelectrochemical platforms.
Effects of elevated temperature on prooxidant-antioxidant homeostasis and redox status in the American oyster: Signaling pathways of cellular apoptosis during heat stress.

Abstract Increasing seawater temperature affects growth, reproduction, development, and various other physiological processes in aquatic organisms, such as marine invertebrates, which are especially susceptible to high temperatures. In this study, we examined the effects of short-term heat stress (16, 22, 26, and 30 °C for 1-week exposure) on prooxidant-antioxidant homeostasis and redox status in the American oyster (Crassostrea virginica, an edible and commercially cultivated bivalve mollusk) under controlled laboratory conditions. Immunohistochemical and real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) analyses were performed to examine the expression of heat shock protein-70 (HSP70, a biomarker of heat stress), catalase (CAT, an antioxidant), superoxide dismutase (SOD, an antioxidant), dinitrophenyl protein (DNP, a biomarker of reactive oxygen species, ROS), and 3-nitrotyrosine protein (NTP, an indicator of reactive nitrogen species, RNS), in the gills and digestive glands of oysters. In situ TUNEL assay was performed to detect cellular apoptosis in tissues. Histological analysis showed an increase in mucus secretion in the gills and digestive glands of oysters exposed to higher temperatures (22, 26, and 30 °C) compared to control (16 °C). Immunohistochemical and qRT-PCR analyses showed significant increases in HSP70, DNP and NTP protein, and mRNA expressions in tissues at higher temperatures. Cellular apoptosis was also significantly increased at higher temperatures. Thus, heat-induced oxidative and nitrative stress likely occur due to overproduction of ROS and RNS. Interestingly, expression of CAT and SOD increased in oysters exposed to 22 and 26 °C, but was at or below control levels in the highest temperature exposure (30 °C). Collectively, these results suggest that elevated seawater temperatures cause oxidative/nitrative stress and induce cellular apoptosis through excessive ROS and RNS production, leading to inhibition of the antioxidant defense system in marine mollusks.
Human gut microbial communities dictate efficacy of anti-PD-1 therapy in a humanized microbiome mouse model of glioma.

Background Although immunotherapy works well in glioblastoma (GBM) preclinical mouse models, the therapy has not demonstrated efficacy in humans. To address this anomaly, we developed a novel humanized microbiome (HuM) model to study the response to immunotherapy in a preclinical mouse model of GBM. Methods We used 5 healthy human donors for fecal transplantation of gnotobiotic mice. After the transplanted microbiomes stabilized, the mice were bred to generate 5 independent humanized mouse lines (HuM1-HuM5). Results Analysis of shotgun metagenomic sequencing data from fecal samples revealed a unique microbiome with significant differences in diversity and microbial composition among HuM1-HuM5 lines. All HuM mouse lines were susceptible to GBM transplantation, and exhibited similar median survival ranging from 19 to 26 days. Interestingly, we found that HuM lines responded differently to the immune checkpoint inhibitor anti-PD-1. Specifically, we demonstrate that HuM1, HuM4, and HuM5 mice are nonresponders to anti-PD-1, while HuM2 and HuM3 mice are responsive to anti-PD-1 and displayed significantly increased survival compared to isotype controls. Bray-Curtis cluster analysis of the 5 HuM gut microbial communities revealed that responders HuM2 and HuM3 were closely related, and detailed taxonomic comparison analysis revealed that Bacteroides cellulosilyticus was commonly found in HuM2 and HuM3 with high abundances. Conclusions The results of our study establish the utility of humanized microbiome mice as avatars to delineate features of the host interaction with gut microbial communities needed for effective immunotherapy against GBM.
All alone: A qualitative study of home health aides' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York.

Abstract Background Despite their integral role, Home Health Aides (HHAs) are largely unrecognized as essential to implementing effective infection prevention and control practices in the home healthcare setting. We sought to understand the infection prevention and control needs and challenges associated with caring for patients during the pandemic from the perspective of HHAs. Methods From June to August 2020, data were collected from HHAs in the New York metropolitan area using semi-structured qualitative interviews by telephone; 12 HHAs were interviewed in Spanish. Audio-recorded interviews were transcribed, translated and analyzed using conventional content analysis. Results In total, 25 HHAs employed by 4 unique home care agencies participated. HHAs had a mean age of 49.8 (± 9.1), 24 (97%) female, 11 (44%) Black, 12 (48%) Hispanic. Three major themes related to the experience of HHA's working during the COVID-19 pandemic emerged: (1) all alone, (2) limited access to information and resources, and (3) dilemmas related to enhanced COVID-19 precautions. Hispanic HHAs with limited English proficiency faced additional difficulties related to communication. Conclusions We found that HHA communication with nursing staff, plays a key role in infection control efforts in home care. Efforts to manage COVID-19 in home care should include improving communication between HHAs and nursing staff.
Investigating Patient-Reported Outcomes as a Tool for Assessing Risk of Developing Radiation Pneumonitis After Thoracic Radiation in Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Purpose/objective(s) Patient reported outcomes (PRO) show promise in predicting which patients are at risk for worst outcomes after chemoradiation (CRT) and may be used to improve symptom management. We investigate if patient-reported symptoms collected during thoracic radiation (TRT) may help identify patients at risk of developing radiation pneumonitis (RP) post-TRT. Materials/methods Between 2016 to 2020, patients with stage III NSCLC treated with definitive-intent TRT at our institution were identified. Patients completed a 10-item symptom-report questionnaire using the PRO Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE v.1.0) weekly during RT and at follow-up. Physicians graded lung-specific symptoms and side-effects using CTCAE v4.0 at the same time-points. RP was defined as radiographic inflammation of the lung within the radiation field attributable to TRT, and excluding other causes. Patient and treatment characteristics were recorded. Descriptive statistics and univariate competing risks analysis were performed to describe and identify variables associated with development of RP. Results Of 131 patients identified: median age was 66 years, 53% were male, and 45.8% patients had co-morbid lung disease. Patients received a median of 63 Gy (Interquartile range (IQR): 60-63 Gy) with chemotherapy (88%). The median mean-lung-dose (MLD) was 14.5 Gy (IQR: 12-17 Gy) and the median lung V20 was 20% (IQR: 20%-30%). After TRT, 61 patients received immunotherapy. In the entire cohort, twenty-four patients (18%) developed any grade RP, of which n = 21 were grade ≥2. The median time to diagnosis of RP after TRT was 3.0 months. Factors associated with the development of RP included: age (HR 1.06, P = 0.0004) and MLD (P = 0.0005). In terms of PROs associated with development of RP: patient reported severe pain was significantly associated (HR 3.4, P = 0.01), while moderate anxiety (HR 2.3, P = 0.06), and cough (HR 4.53, P = 0.06) were non-significantly associated with RP. Physician assessed grade 2 dyspnea where medical intervention was needed was associated with RP (HR 3.43, P = 0.02). Conclusion Patient symptom reports during treatment may be associated with the risk development of RP. Larger studies of prospectively collected PROs during TRT are needed to further explore these potential associations with RP.
Non-Linear Realization of Heavy Fermions*

I want to discuss a piece of work which is still going on. Eduardo Flores and Herbert Steger are collaborating with me on this.1 The motivation for us to look into the present problem is as follows: The pattern of masses of the various fermion families seems to indicate that in the fourth family, if in fact there is one more family, the mass of the up-member quark will be very large. In fact, perhaps the top quark in the third family is already heavier than W and Z. If so, our analysis should apply. Let me then generically call this heavy fermion top.
Is Cheating Wrong? Students' Reasoning about Academic Dishonesty

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on students' reasoning about the acceptability or unacceptability of cheating in different situations. Academic cheating is part of a larger epidemic of societal dishonesty that is fed by decreased opportunities for advancement, coupled with increased individualism and a decline in concern for the welfare of others. Lying, stealing, and deceiving have become the commonplace means that the icons of success use to advance their personal wealth and power. Accordingly, the incongruity between students' stated beliefs and self-reported behaviors related to cheating may have a lot to do with the broader forces at play in this achieving society. The message to children and adolescents seems clear—material success comes before moral integrity. Cheating on a test may be a small price to pay if it helps securing admittance into a prestigious college or university. It is not surprising, therefore, that pressure for grades is often the primary reason students cite for cheating.
A simplex optimized INDO calculation of 13C chemical shifts in hydrocarbons

The variable-size simplex optimization method is used to reparametrize the I + A and β parameters of an INDO approximation to the perturbed Hartree–Fock calculation of 13C chemical shifts in hydrocarbons. The absolute shifts for 39 nuclei in a set of molecules containing up to four carbons are reproduced within a standard error of 9.9 ppm for an unconstrained optimization and to a standard error of 10.0 ppm for an optimization constrained to yield gross atomic charges in agreement with double-zeta ab initio calculations.
Checking Natural Language Proofs

Proofs in natural language contain much information useful for automatic proof checking that is usually lost in translation to a formal language. This paper describes a system which checks English language proofs in elementary number theory that uses such information to guide the theorem prover. The proof connector follows the argument presented in the proof and asks a theorem prover to make the same deductions that the human reader of the proof is assumed to make. This system has the added advantage of spotting fallacious proofs of correct theorems. A more powerful theorem prover might prove the theorem by ignoring a faulty proof.
A solution to the problem of updating encyclopedias

This paper describes a way of creating and maintaining a ‘dynamic encyclopedia’, i.e., an encyclopedia whoseentries can be improved and updated on a continual basis withoutrequiring the production of an entire new edition. Such anencyclopedia is therefore responsive to new developments and newresearch. We discuss our implementation of a dynamic encyclopedia andthe problems that we had to solve along the way. We also discuss waysof automating the administration of the encyclopedia.
Affinity Labeling of the Active Center of l-Aspartate-β-decarboxylase with β-Chloro-l-alanine

Abstract Interaction of β-chloro-l-[14C]alanine with l-aspartate-β-decarboxylase from Alcaligenes faecalis leads to inactivation associated with covalent binding of close to 1 mole of the 3-carbon chain of the analog per mole of active site. Evidence was obtained for two different types of binding. Thus, dialysis of the labeled enzyme against 0.05 m acetate (pH 6) led to loss of about half of the vitamin B6 cofactor without loss of 14C from the enzyme; before and after dialysis, about half of the 14C was released from the carboxyl group of the analog by treatment with ceric sulfate indicating the presence of a bound pyruvate residue. After dialysis of the labeled enzyme against 1 m acetate buffer (pH 5) containing 0.1 m l-glutamate, little additional vitamin B6 was lost (although similar dialysis of the holoenzyme releases all of the cofactor), but about half of the bound 14C was released; the 14C that remained bound to the dialyzed enzyme was not readily released by treatment with ceric sulfate. No evidence for nonidentical subunits was found. The data suggest that the two observed types of 14C-binding result from the aldimine-ketimine equilibrium; hydrolysis of the ketimine followed by loss of pyridoxamine 5'-phosphate at some sites competes with stabilization of the aldimine form by further interaction at other sites. The 14C-labeled enzyme was treated with cyanogen bromide and a labeled peptide was isolated. The label was released as β-hydroxy[14C]pyruvate from the peptide by treatment with mild alkali, 6 n HCl (105°, 18 hours), or on prolonged enzymatic digestion. Ammonolysis of the labeled peptide led to formation of glutamine and release of the label. The data indicate that the labeled derivative is β-hydroxypyruvate bound by ester linkage to a glutamic acid residue at the active center of the enzyme.
Convergence to Traveling Waves for Systems of Kolmogorov-like Parabolic Equations

We are interested in systems of equations of the form $$\begin{array}{*{20}{l}} {{u_t} = {u_{xx}} + g\left( {u,v} \right)u} \\ {{v_t} = {v_{xx}} + h\left( {u,v} \right)v} \end{array}$$ (1) on − ∞ < x < ∞ and t ≥ 0. Here g(u, v) and h(u, v) are C 1 functions and satisfy $$\begin{array}{*{20}{l}} {g\left( {u,v} \right) > 0{\mkern 1mu} for{\mkern 1mu} 0 \leqslant u 0{\mkern 1mu} for{\mkern 1mu} 0 \leqslant u \leqslant 1,0 \leqslant v < 1} \end{array}$$ (2a) with $$ \begin{gathered} g\left( {1,v} \right) = 0,h\left( {u,1} \right) = 0 \hfill \\ g\left( {u,v} \right),h\left( {u,v} \right) \downarrow \,as\,u,v \uparrow \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ (2b) .
Cardiac Monitoring of Human Subjects Exposed to the Taser

The Taser (TASER International, Scottsdale, AZ) is a high-voltage, low-amperage device used by many law enforcement agencies. Our objective in this study was to evaluate for rhythm changes utilizing cardiac monitoring during deployment of the Taser on volunteers. A prospective, observational study evaluated law enforcement personnel who had continuous electrocardiographic monitoring immediately before, during, and after having a voluntary exposure to the Taser X-26. Changes in cardiac rate, rhythm, ectopy, morphology, and conduction intervals were measured. A total of 105 subjects were evaluated. The mean shock duration was 3.0 s (range 0.9-5 s). Mean heart rate increased 15 beats/min (95% CI 12.6-18.3), from 122 beats/min before shock to 137 beats/min immediately after shock. One subject had a single premature ventricular contraction both before and after the shock, but no other subject developed ectopy or dysrhythmia. Poor inter-rater agreement prevented determination of the overall effect of shock on conduction intervals. However, several interpretable tracings demonstrated change in QT duration-either shortening or prolongation after shock. Human subjects exposed to a brief shock from the Taser developed significant increases in heart rate, but there were no cardiac dysrhythmias or morphologic changes. Alterations in the QT interval were observed in some subjects but their true incidence and clinical significance are unknown.
Shape creating shape

From polka dots to circle skirts, the circle has been a vital part of fashion for a very long time. Lately, the use of the circular shape in fabric and patternmaking has been an inspiration for the...
Channel Incentives as Unilateral and Bilateral Governance Processes

The authors investigate channel incentives as extra-contractual governance processes that maintain and extend marketing channel relationships. More specifically, instrumental incentives are monetary-based payments made by a manufacturer in a unilateral channel arrangement to motivate distributor compliance, while equity incentives are bilateral expectations of fair treatment that motivate both parties to continue to cooperate with one another. A model of the antecedents and performance consequences of channel incentives is conceptualized and tested on 314 marketing channel relationships using a structural equation modeling methodology. The findings support the conceptual model and suggest that unique facets of the channel relationship explain the type of incentive mechanism in use.
Measurement of SDS Micelle-Peptide Association Using 1H NMR Chemical Shift Analysis and Pulsed-Field Gradient NMR Spectroscopy

The binding of two simple tripeptides, glycyl-histidyl-glycine (GHG) and phenylalanyl-histidyl-phenylalanine (FHF) with SDS micelles was examined using 1H NMR chemical shift analysis and self-diffusion coefficients measured with pulsed-field gradient NMR spectroscopy. The presence of GHG or FHF did not appear to significantly affect the critical micelle concentration (cmc) or the average size of the SDS micelles formed. The chemical shifts of several of the GHG resonances change as a function of SDS concentration, indicating an interaction between the peptide and the micelles. In addition, the concentration-dependent decrease observed for the GHG diffusion coefficients suggests association of the peptide with SDS micelles. The free and micelle-associated GHG are in fast exchange on both the 1H chemical shift and diffusion time scales. The equilibrium constant for the binding of GHG to SDS micelles was determined from the analysis of the concentration dependence of the histidine C2 and C4 resonances to be ...
Extra dimensions at the weak scale and deviations from Newtonian gravity

We consider theories in which the standard model gauge fields propagate in extra dimensions whose size is around the electroweak scale. The standard model quarks and leptons may either be localized to a brane or propagate in the bulk. This class of theories includes models of Scherk-Schwarz supersymmetry breaking and universal extra dimensions. We consider the problem of stabilizing the volume of the extra dimensions. We find that for a large class of stabilization mechanisms the field which corresponds to fluctuations of the volume remains light even after stabilization, and has a mass in the ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}\mathrm{eV}$ range. In particular this is the case if stabilization does not involve dynamics at scales larger than the cutoff of the higher dimensional standard model, and if the effective theory below the compactification scale is four dimensional. The mass of this field is protected against large radiative corrections by the general covariance of the higher dimensional theory and by the weakness of its couplings, which are Planck suppressed. Its couplings to matter mediate forces whose strength is comparable to that of gravity and which can give rise to potentially observable deviations from Newton's law at submillimeter distances. Current experiments investigating short distance gravity can probe extra dimensions too small to be accessible to current collider experiments. In particular for a single extra dimension stabilized by the Casimir energy of the standard model fields compactification radii as small as 5 inverse TeV are accessible to current submillimeter gravity experiments.
Identification and analysis of basidiospore allergens from puffballs

Spore extracts from four common puffballs (Calvatia cyathiformis, Geaster saccatum, Pisolithus tinctorius, and Scleroderma areolatum) were fractionated by Sephadex G-75 gel filtration. Pooled fractions, analyzed by skin test or direct RAST, contained allergenic components over a molecular weight range of 10,500 to 20,000 daltons for all puffball spores studied except for S. areolatum (greater than 70,000 daltons). The Sephadex G-75 allergenic pool of C. cyathiformis was further fractionated by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Fractions were successively eluted with 4 and 1 mol/L buffered saline solutions and water. The 1 mol/L fraction contained maximal allergenic activity as determined by RAST-inhibition studies. At least 15 Coomassie blue staining bands were identified after isoelectrofocusing, of which 7 were shown by immunoprinting to bind IgE from a serum pool of five patients with allergy. Our results demonstrate that a combination of gel filtration, hydrophobic interaction chromatography, RAST-inhibition, and immunoprinting studies can be used to fractionate, characterize, and standardize spore allergen extracts of puffballs for diagnostic and therapeutic purpose.
Sisters of the sinuses: cetacean air sacs

This overview assesses some distinguishing features of the cetacean (whale, dolphin, porpoise) air sac system that may relate to the anatomy and function of the paranasal sinuses in terrestrial mammals. The cetacean respiratory tract has been modified through evolution to accommodate living in water. Lack of paranasal sinuses in modern cetaceans may be a diving adaptation. Bone-enclosed air chambers are detrimental, as their rigid walls may fracture during descent/ascent due to contracting/re-expanding air volumes. Flexible-walled "sinuses" (extracranial diverticula) are a logical adaptation to diving. Odontocetes (toothed whales) exhibit several pairs of paranasal air sacs. Although fossil evidence indicates that paranasal sinuses occur in archaeocetes (ancestors/relatives of living cetaceans), it is not known whether the paranasal sacs derive from these sinuses. Sac pigmentation indicates that they derived from invaginations of the integument. Unlike sinuses, paranasal sacs are not circumferentially enclosed in bone, and therefore can accommodate air volume changes that accompany diving pressure changes. Paired pterygoid sacs, located ventrally along the cetacean skull, connect the pharynx and middle ear cavities. Mysticetes (baleen whales) have a large midline laryngeal sac. Although cetacean air sacs do not appear to be homologous to paranasal sinuses, they may serve some analogous respiratory, vocal, or structural functions. For example, these sacs may participate in gas exchange, thermoregulation, resonance, and skeletal pneumatization. In addition, they may subserve unique aquatic functions, such as increasing inspiratory volume, mitigating pressure-induced volume change, air shunting to reduce respiratory dead space, and facilitating underwater sound production and transmission.
Noise effects in a dynamic model of attentional switching

Attention plays a crucial role in higher cognition in the presence of limited resources. We study attentional mechanisms producing sequential switching between interacting mental modalities. Our model uses dissipative dynamical systems of coupled oscillators modeling various parts of the brain. The dynamics can manifest winnerless competition (WLC) between the oscillators with switching between different modalities. Hete-roclinic cycle is a widely used mathematical image of dynamical switching in WLC. We use the generalized Lotka-Volterra (LV) equations to describe networks with WLC. For simplicity, we assume that there are two subsystems, each is described by three LV equations. Under certain value of mutual coupling one part of the system has topologically equivalent behavior to its initial however the other part exhibits chaotic dynamics. We study the dynamics of the system with intrinsic additive and multiplicative noise components. The coupled attentional system exhibits robust behavior with heteroclinic cycles in the case of multiplicative noise. Additive noise, on the other hand, may lead to the collapse of the complex chaotic dynamics to periodic oscillations.
Gyromagnetic ratio of proton redetermined

An extremely accurate redetermination of a fundamental physical constant — the gyromagnetic ratio of the proton — is presented. More accurate values for all physical constants whose values depend on the measurement of magnetic fields are now possible.
Accentuated expression of silk fibroin genes in vivo and in vitro

Fibroin mesenger RNA accumulates in the posterior silk gland of Bombyx mori at an almost constant rate (7 to 10 molecules/gene per min) throughout the fifth larval instar. During this period ribosomal RNA synthesis decreases from 7 to 0·2 molecules/gene per minute and synthesis of heterogeneous RNA also decreases. Thus, fibroin mRNA comprises about 1, 3 and 8% of the RNA pulse-labeled for 30 minutes in vivo on the second, fourth and seventh day, respectively. Pulselabeling experiments on the seventh day of the fifth instar indicate that a single fibroin gene is transcribed at a rate 50-fold higher than an rRNA gene. In contrast, fibroin mRNA was not detectable in RNA labeled for 30 minutes during the preceding fourth moulting stage. Posterior silk gland nuclei have an extremely ramified structure and attain about 4×105 ploidy in the late fifth instar. These nuclei have been mechanically fragmented and 90 to 95% of the cytoplasmic contaminants removed. When pulse-labeled for 30 minutes in vivo before nuclear isolation, most of the unlabeled fibroin mRNA and about half of the pulse-labeled mRNA were found in the cytoplasmic fraction. In vitro synthesis of total RNA by endogeneous RNA polymerase in the disrupted nuclei was almost linear for 30 minutes, and some reinitiation was observed. The in vitro product labeled for 30 minutes yielded a profile similar to that of RNA labeled in vivo when fractionated on a Bio-Gel A50m column. Hybridization of the in vitro RNA to B. mori DNA under conditions which allow transscripts of repetitions sequences as well as fibroin mRNA to hybridize was completely competed for by total posterior gland RNA. By sequence analysis about 2% of the in vitro transcripts labeled in 30 minutes were identified as fibroin mRNA of apparent full size length. In vitro fibroin mRNA synthesis was abolished by 0·2 μg of α-amanitin/ml suggesting that RNA polymerase II is responsible for fibroin gene transcription.
Profitability of Grazing Versus Mechanical Forage Harvesting on New York Dairy Farms

The profitability of rotational grazing versus mechanical harvesting of forages was estimated using data from 237 nongrazing and 57 grazing farms participating in the New York farm business summary program in the year 2000. The objective was to perform an empirical comparison of the profitability of grazing versus mechanical forage harvesting systems. A regression analysis technique that controls for treatment selection bias is used to determine the impact of grazing on the rate of return on assets. This is accomplished by joint maximum likelihood estimation of a probit adoption function and a profit function. The results indicate that treatment selection does not have an important impact on the estimate of the profitability of grazing. There were wide ranges and overlap of profitability among herds using the two systems. However, other things equal, farmers utilizing grazing systems were at least if not more profitable than farmers not using grazing systems. After controlling for the factors influencing the decision to graze, we found that herd size, rate of milk production per cow, and prices received for milk have a strong positive impact on profitability. Farmers who perceive potential lifestyle benefits that might be obtained by implementing a grazing system likely do not have to pay an income penalty for adopting a grazing system.
Downstream fish assemblage response to river impoundment varies with degree of hydrologic alteration

River impoundments can fundamentally restructure downstream fish assemblages by altering flow regimes. However, the degree of alteration and associated ecological change may depend on pre-existing hydrologic regimes. We used long-term datasets to compare downstream hydrological and fish assemblage responses to impoundment in two catchments classified as having intermittent and perennial-flashy natural hydrologic regimes. We observed significant shifts in fish assemblage structure at both sites after stream impoundment. The historically intermittent stream shifted to a stable perennial flow regime. Changes in fish assemblage structure covaried with changes in five different components of the flow regime; most species that increased in abundance require fluvial habitats and likely benefited from increased flows during historically low flow seasons. Shifts in fish assemblage structure were also observed in the perennial stream, despite minimal flow alteration after impoundment; however, most species shifts were associated with lentic environments, and were more likely related to proximity of reservoirs in the drainage system rather than changes in stream flow. Findings from this study confirm that downstream fish assemblage response to river impoundment can be associated with high levels of hydrologic alteration, but other factors including expansion of lentic species into lotic environments also influence shifts in assemblage structure.
Psycholinguistics as a case of cross-disciplinary research: Symposium introduction

In setting a framework for the papers that follow, I have explored some of the major characteristics of disciplines and the factors that breed ethnocentrism among disciplines, considered what factors can lead researchers to cross disciplinary boundaries, and explored the kinds of conceptual as well as social and institutional products that result from cross-disciplinary work. While drawing out the significance of these various considerations for psycholinguistics, I have presented a fairly general conceptual analysis that is not restricted to this case. The following papers consider in much more detail the particular features of the historical and current endeavors in developing psycholinguistics.
Characterization of a novel vaccine candidate and serine proteinase inhibitor from Schistosoma japonicum (Sj serpin)

Serine proteinase inhibitors (serpins) represent an important superfamily of endogenous inhibitors that regulate proteolytic events active in a variety of physiological functions. Immunological screening of a Schistosoma japonicum adult worm cDNA expression library with sera of Microtus fortis, a naturally resistant vertebrate host, has identified one clone that encoded for a sequence homologous to those of the serpin superfamily. The full-length sequence encoding S. japonicum serpin (Sj serpin) was amplified from adult worm cDNA by using 5'-RACE-PCR and subsequently cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pET28c. The full-length Sj serpin fusion-protein with his-tag was expressed in E. coli, purified by affinity chromatography and used to immunize New Zealand white rabbits. Sj serpin is located on the tegument in S. japonicum adult worms. C57BL/6 mice immunized with Sj serpin induced the production of high levels of specific IgE and IgG1 subclass antibodies as well as a marked IL-4 response. Lymphocyte surface marker analysis revealed proliferation of CD19 expressing B cells, indicating a predominant Th2-type response to Sj serpin. Immunized mice developed moderate protection against infection of S. japonicum as demonstrated by a 36 and 39% reduction in the recovery of adult worms and eggs, respectively. These data suggested a role for Sj serpin as a vaccine candidate or as a novel target for anti-schistosome drugs.
Neutral fragment mass spectra via ambient thermal dissociation of peptide and protein ions.

A novel method for the fragmentation of peptide and protein ions at atmospheric pressure outside the mass spectrometer is described. Peptide/protein ions generated by electrosonic spray ionization (ESSI) are carried through a heated coiled metal tube where they fragment. Fragment ions of types a, b, and y are observed for peptides such as angiotensin II and bradykinin. In the case of phosphopeptides, informative b and y ions which preserve the labile phosphate groups are observed in the negative ion mode, which is potentially useful in the location of phosphorylation sites in proteins through chemical analysis of phosphopeptides. The thermal dissociation method extends to proteins such as ubiquitin and myoglobin, giving rise to y-type and other fragment ions. The most important feature of this method is that it also allows characterization of the neutral fragments arising from thermal dissociation by use of on-line corona discharge ionization. This neutral re-ionization experiment is much easier to perfor...
Occurrences of hydrous and carbonate phases in ultrahigh‐pressure rocks from east‐central China: Implications for the role of volatiles deep in cold subduction zones

Minor epidote-zoisite, phengite, glaucophane, nyboite, talc, magnesite, and dolomite occur as matrix phases or as mineral inclusions in some ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) rocks from the Dabie-Sulu terrane. Some of these phases contain inclusions of coesite or coesite pseudomorphs and appear to have been in equilibrium with coesite at the time of formation. Their occurrences in the UHP rocks together with experimentally determined and calculated phase relations indicate that they are stable at mantle depths in relatively low-temperature environments. Because of the apparently dry nature of subducted continental protoliths of the Yangtze craton, small amounts of volatile components at depths exceeding 50 km along a cold subduction zone may have been stored mainly by these hydrous and carbonate phases. These minerals, in addition to some dense hydrous magnesian silicates, act as important carriers for H2O and CO2 recycled at mantle depths. Available petrological and geochemical data support limited or no fluid flow in this region. At very high pressures and low temperatures, the subducted sialic crust evidently served as a desiccating agent. Partial melting of the subducting slab, therefore, may not have occurred, and near absence of volatile expulsion from the subducting slab to the overlying mantle wedge + continental crust may have inhibited large-scale partial melting, accounting for the lack of a typical contemporaneous calc-alkaline magmatic arc.
Comparison of Performance and Safety of Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography Across Pediatric Age Groups

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) has been shown to be overall effective and safe in children, but its performance characteristics and safety profile have not been specifically evaluated according to age. We aim to compare the indications, findings, interventions, and safety outcomes of ERCP across pediatric age groups. A retrospective cross-sectional study of pediatric patients (ages 17 or below) who underwent ERCP between October 1998 and April 2011 at a tertiary-care academic center. Data on indications, findings, technical success, and adverse events of ERCP were collected and compared according to age groups (0–6, 7–12, or 13–17 years). There were 289 procedures performed in 154 children (mean age, 11.5 years). The number of patients undergoing ERCP increased with age; teenagers constituted the largest group (52.6 %) and had the most procedures (49.8 %). Children aged 0–6 years had an equal distribution of biliary and pancreatic cases; children aged 7–12 years had predominantly pancreatic indications. Most procedures in teenagers were for biliary indications. Overall, the technical success rates of ERCPs were similar across age groups (P = 0.661). Seventeen adverse events (5.9 % of procedures) were identified: post-procedure pancreatitis (12 cases; 4.2 %), hypoxia (3; 1.0 %), and hemorrhage (2; 0.7 %). The youngest group had more adverse events (12.0 %, compared to 6.3 and 2.1 % in other groups; P = 0.049), mostly due to mild pancreatitis. ERCP is generally safe in the pediatric population, although the risk of mild post-procedure pancreatitis may be higher among the youngest children.
Separation of bacteria by sedimentation field‐flow fractionation

Growth of the soil bacterium Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in the presence of selenite produced a mixture of two types of cells: those that contained numerous electron-dense bodies of elemental selenium and those that did not. Light diffraction and electrical impedance measurements indicated that the cells that contained visible bodies of elemental selenium were approximately 30% larger than the cells that exhibited no visible accumulation of selenium. Sedimentation field-flow fractionation was applied to a stationary-phase culture of bacteria growth in the presence of 2.0 mM selenite. Complete separation of selenium-free cells from those that contained elemental selenium was achieved at a field strength of 331 cm/s2. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Micro Sep9: 497–501, 1997
Apolo: interactive large graph sensemaking by combining machine learning and visualization

We present APOLO, a system that uses a mixed-initiative approach to help people interactively explore and make sense of large network datasets. It combines visualization, rich user interaction and machine learning to engage the user in bottom-up sensemaking to gradually build up an understanding over time by starting small, rather than starting big and drilling down. APOLO helps users find relevant information by specifying exemplars, and then using a machine learning method called Belief Propagation to infer which other nodes may be of interest. We demonstrate APOLO's usage and benefits using a Google Scholar citation graph, consisting of 83,000 articles (nodes) and 150,000 citations relationships. A demo video of APOLO is available at http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~dchau/apolo/apolo.mp4.
Spectral sparsification via random spanners

In this paper we introduce a new notion of distance between nodes in a graph that we refer to as robust connectivity. Robust connectivity between a pair of nodes u and v is parameterized by a threshold k and intuitively captures the number of paths between u and v of length at most k. Using this new notion of distances, we show that any black box algorithm for constructing a spanner can be used to construct a spectral sparsifier. We show that given an undirected weighted graph G, simply taking the union of spanners of a few (polylogarithmically many) random subgraphs of G obtained by sampling edges at different probabilities, after appropriate weighting, yields a spectral sparsifier of G. We show how this be done in O(m) time, producing a sparsifier with O(n/e2) edges. While the cut sparsifiers of Benczur and Karger are based on weighting edges according to (inverse) strong connectivity, and the spectral sparsifiers are based on resistance, our method weights edges using the robust connectivity measure. The main property that we use is that this new measure is always greater than the resistance when scaled by a factor of O(k) (k is chosen to be O(log n)), but, just like resistance and connectivity, has a bounded sum, i.e. O(n), over all the edges of the graph.
Preoperative Airway Assessment: Predictive Value of a Multivariate Risk Index

Using readily available and objective airway risk criteria, a multivariate model for stratifying risk of difficult endotracheal intubation was developed and its accuracy compared to currently applied clinical methods. We studied 10,507 consecutive patients who were prospectively assessed prior to general anesthesia with respect to mouth opening, thyromental distance, oropharyngeal (Mallampati) classification, neck movement, ability to prognath, body weight, and history of difficult tracheal intubation. After induction of anesthesia, the laryngeal view during rigid laryngoscopy was graded and the ability of experienced anesthesia personnel to ventilate via a mask was determined. Poor intubating conditions (laryngoscopy Grade IV) and inability to achieve adequate mask ventilation were identified in 107 (1%) and 8 (0.07%) cases, respectively. Logistic regression identified all seven criteria as independent predictors of difficulty with laryngoscopic visualization. A composite airway risk index (derived from nominalized odds ratios calculated from the multivariate model) as well a simplified (0 = low, 1 = medium, 2 = high) risk weighting exhibited higher positive predictive value for laryngoscopy Grade IV at scores with similar sensitivity to Mallampati class III, as well as higher sensitivity at scores with similar positive predictive value. Compared to Mallampati class I fewer false-negative predictions were observed at a risk index value of 0. We conclude that improved risk stratification for difficulty with visualization during rigid laryngoscopy (Grade IV) can be obtained by use of a simplified preoperative multivariate airway risk index, with better accuracy compared to oropharyngeal (Mallampati) classification at both low- and high-risk levels.
Perioperative immunomodulation in cancer surgery.

Abstract Despite undergoing a curative resection, many patients with colorectal cancer will develop and die of metastatic disease. It has been shown clinically and experimentally that surgery causes a transient period of immunosuppression, and it is postulated that this may encourage both the implantation of surgically disseminated tumor cells and the growth of existing micrometastases. The present study used natural killer cell cytotoxicity (NKCC) and tumor burden to evaluate perioperative modulation of immunocompetence in a murine model. We measured NKCC and tumor burden responses to a standardized surgical stress (SSS) alone, and to either morphine sulfate (MS) (15 mg/kg subcutaneously × 4 doses), ketorolac (a prostaglandin synthetase—prostaglandin E 2 —inhibitor) (2.5 mg/kg subcutaneously X 4 doses), or interleukin 2 (2,000 units intraperitoneally × 3 doses) administration with the SSS. In this model, we found that both low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) and ketorolac reversed the NKCC suppression associated with surgery, whereas morphine resulted in further depression of NKCC. In addition, IL-2 significantly decreased tumor incidence, whereas continuous MS exposure markedly increased tumor burden after surgery. These data suggest that IL-2 and ketorolac may be effective agents for the restoration of perioperative immune competence, whereas the use of continuous morphine might have significant deleterious effects.
Ionic organoboranes. Part 6. The ousenes revisited; 11B NMR spectra of two polyhedral borane anions, a nido-carborane anion, and a closo-carborane with carbocyclic cationic tropenyliumyl substituents

Abstract The ousenes are a class of ionic or zwitterionic organoboranes in which polyhedral borane anions or carboranes have carbocyclic cationic tropenyliumyl ( cyclo -C 7 H + 6 ) substituents. 11 B Fourier transform NMR studies have been used to probe ground state electronic interaction between cage and ring. Tropenyliumyl substitution on B 12 H 2− 12 or a closo -C 2 B 10 H 12 results in relatively minor electron withdrawal from the cage by a − I effect, while such substitution on B 10 H 2− 10 or a nido -C 2 B 9 H 2− 12 results in significant − I withdrawal of electron density at the point of attachment and, in addition, strong + T electron donation from cage to ring by borons other than at the point of attachment. Coupled with previous studies these observations confirm that modification of ousene structure can vary cage to ring electronic interaction from negligible, through excited state charge transfer, to significant electron delocalization from ground state electron density donation from cage to ring, and suggests that the electrical properties of these materials may well be worth further study.
Distribution, movement and impact of the corallivorous gastropod Coralliophila abbreviata (Lamarck) on a Panamánian patch reef

Corallivores are known to have a substantial impact on community structure and dynamics of Indo-Pacific reefs but thus far western Atlantic corallivores have been assumed to be largely unimportant. Recent evidence, however, suggests that at least one Caribbean coral predator, the gastropod Coralliophila abbreviata (Lamarck), may be of considerable importance. In the fall of 1987, I studied patterns of distribution, movement and feeding in C. abbreviata on a patch reef off the Caribbean coast of Panama. Snails were abundant on the reef but were virtually confined to only three of 27 zooxanthellate scleractinian species found there, i.e., Acropora cervicomis (Lamarck), Agaricia tenuifolia Dana and Montastrea annulons (Ellis & Solander). At any one time, snails were most abundant on the latter species, especially on lobate colonies. Groups of snails rapidly moved on and off A. cervicornis but were quite sedentary on the other two prey species. Snails were more active at night and those found on A. cervicornis were larger than those on A. tenuifolia. More than one-third of monitored colonies of A. cervicornis exposed to snail predation in the field died in <-9 wk whereas no colony of the other species suffered more than minor damage during the same period. Similar patterns of mortality were also observed in the laboratory. Snail predation may have contributed to declines in populations of A. cervicomis observed around the Caribbean (e.g., Jamaica) during the 1980s.