cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Effects of Trainee Characteristics on Training Effectiveness in Improving Organizational Performance

Despite the existence of many comprehensive and user-friendly guides to evaluate training programs, most practitioners have had difficulty assessing training effects on corporate outcomes. Research revealed that trainees, organizational, and training-related factors might influence the effectiveness of training in terms of organizational performance. The current study examines the effects of trainee characteristics among those factors, specifically what kind of trainee characteristics could affect training effectiveness in terms of job performance in a company. In addition, telephone surveys were conducted to aid in understanding of the reasons for leaving and high turnover of company personnel. The current and terminated employees who went through training programs in the company differed when considering previous sales experience in years and type of sales experience as trainee characteristics factors, with those still employed having a statistically higher average number of years and a higher rated type of sales experience. The current employees demonstrated higher job performance. The implications of these results on the attainment of training effectiveness as well as the selection decisions in the organization are discussed.
Deconstructing Welfare: Reflections on Stephen Darwall's Welfare and Rational Care

In his book Welfare and Rational Care , Stephen Darwall proposes to give an account of human welfare. Or rather, he offers two accounts, a metaethical and a normative account. The two accounts, he suggests, are somewhat supportive of each other though they are logically independent.
Southwestern Internal Medicine Conference: Pulmonary Complications of High-Altitude Exposure

ABSTRACT The primary physiologic disturbance at high altitude is hypoxemia, which leads to a cascade of secondary changes in each step of the oxygen-transport chain. The author, in this review, focuses on the alterations in ventilatory control and alveolar–capillary gas exchange at high altitude and discusses the clinical pulmonary complications associated with these alterations, as well as their prevention and management.
Statistical models for geometric components of shape change

Data for studies of biological shape often consist of the locations of individually named pointslandmarks considered to be homologous' (to correspond biologically) from form to form. In 1917 D'Arcy Thompson introduced an elegant model of homology as deformation: the configuration of landmark locations for any one form is viewed as a finite sample from a smooth mapping representing its biological relationship to any other form of the data set. For data in two dimensions, multivariate statistical analysis of landmark locations may proceed unambiguously in terms of complex-valued shape coordinates (e,v) = (C−A)/(B−A) for sets of landmark triangles ABC. These are the coordinates of one vertex/landmark after scaling so that the remaining two vertices are at (0,0) and (1,0). Expressed in this fashion, the biological interpretation of the statistical analysis as a homology mapping would appear to depend on the triangulation. This paper introduces an analysis of landmark data and homology mappings using a hierarc...
Familial occurrence of pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum

Pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (PA/IVS) is a rare disease, accounting for less than 3% of all congenital heart lesions. The cause of PA/IVS is unknown. We report the occurrence of two first cousins with PA/IVS, suggestive of autosomal dominant inheritance with incomplete penetrance. The study of such families should ultimately lead to the identification of the gene(s) that cause congenital heart disease.
Wastewater Characterization in a Multiproduct Dairy

Abstract Wastewater characteristics in a multi-product dairy plant were determined in two major drains and for several operations. Monitored characteristics included flow, biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solids, total solids, fat, and temperature. Overall, 2.3 liters of waste-water/kg of product were discharged with average concentrations of 3049 mg/liter biochemical oxygen demand, 5451 mg/liter chemical oxygen demand, 2203 mg/liter total suspended solids, 9574 mg/liter total solids, and 1424 mg/liter fat. The biochemical oxygen demand coefficient was 6.91 g/kg of product. Day-to-day variations of waste load/unit product were large. Peak day measures were more than 10 times as high as minimum day measures. Waste load discharged from the plant was related to losses of milk and fat. Losses of milk and milk fat calculated from waste characteristics were greater than indicated by plant records. Municipal charges for water, sewer, and surcharges for a plant processing 200,000kg of product per day with the average characteristics in this study were predicted to be approximately $18,600 per month. Waste loads for selected operations are presented with suggestions for reduction.
Distribution and Genesis of Quartz in a Piedmont-Coastal Plain Environment

River sands in the piedmont province of the southern Appalachians are derived mainly from saprolitic soils on granite, gneiss, and schist and consist mainly of quartz (60 to 80 percent) with minor microcline, orthoclase, and rock fragments. The quartz grains have embayed boundaries representing intense weathering and corrosion within saprolitic soils. When the particles of these soils are sampled, they show embayments on almost every grain. Skeletal-like grains are characteristic of the uppermost soil horizons. With transportation downstream, large (greater than 0 to 5 mm) rock fragments and polycrystalline quartz grains are broken. On entering the coastal plain, the river sands become highly quartzose (90 to 95 percent) within 1 to 5 mi by enrichment from the local coastal plain sediments. The dilution of piedmont-derived sand with Cretaceous and Tertiary coastal plain sand is observed by reduction in feldspar, rock fragments, and polycrystalline quartz, and by the decrease in the amount of embayed quartz grains, and the appearance of locally reworked quartzose sand fragments. Studies of several soil profiles show that quartz grains in soils of the piedmont are always embayed but that the degree of corrosion is greatest in the uppermost part of the soil horizon. A similar increase in quartz grain solution upward occurs in soils and coastal plain sediments, but many of these grains have been rounded during prior transportation and the degree of corrosion is small. This study suggests that the relative amount of sand-sized embayed quartz is a measure of in situ weathering in a soil profile, but that such quartz is slowly destroyed during subsequent transportation. The presence of embayed quartz in sands does not necessarily indicate a volcanic source terrain as is commonly thought by many petrographers.
Mapping the protein/DNA contact sites of the Ah receptor and Ah receptor nuclear translocator.

The Ah receptor (AHR) and its DNA binding partner, the Ah receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT), are basic helix-loop-helix proteins distinguished by their PER, AHR, ARNT, and SIM (PAS) homology regions. To identify the amino acids of the AHRARNT heterodimer that contact the TNGCGTG recognition sequence, we have performed deletion mapping and amino acid substitutions within the N termini of both the AHR and ARNT. The ability of the variant AHR and ARNT proteins to bind DNA and activate gene transcription was determined by the gel shift analysis and transient transfection assays. We have found that the amino acids of ARNT that contact DNA are similar to those of other basic/helix-loop-helix proteins and include glutamic acid residue 83 and arginine residues 86 and 87. Although our initial experiments indicated that DNA binding of the AHR may involve two regions that are bordered by amino acids 9-17 and amino acids 34-42, further analysis demonstrated that only amino acids 34-39 are critical for the AHRTNGC interaction. These experiments indicate that while the structural features of the ARNTGTG complex may closely resemble that deduced for proteins such as Max, E47, and USF, the AHRTNGC complex may represent a unique DNA binding form of basic/helix-loop-helix proteins.
Alteration of the growth of mammalian cells in vitro by ecdysone extract.

IN insects metamorphosis is controlled by a balance between juvenile hormone (neotenin) and metamorphosis hormone (ecdysone) with trophic neurosecretion responsible for periodicity1–4. Work on the reason for regression of atypical growths in Drosophila 5 during the larval stage implicated this hormonal mechanism in the observed behaviour6,7. As a result of this work, investigation of the possibility that hormones in invertebrates may have an effect on mammalian cells is in progress. In earlier work8, there were suggestive regressions of transplanted tumours in mice when ecdysone was injected into individuals bearing transplants. Although the large amount of hormone required render this type of testing impractical except on a limited scale, the results were sufficiently encouraging to stimulate additional studies in vitro.
SensorMap for Wide-Area Sensor Webs

Geocentric Web interfaces such as Microsoft Virtual Earth and Google Maps are useful for visualizing spatially and geographically related data such as driving directions, directory entries, and weather and traffic conditions, to name a few. The desire to add useful information to these interfaces has led developers to create custom applications that overlay housing prices, crime rates, bus locations, and other data on top of browsable maps. These applications are possible due to useful APIs that Google Maps and Microsoft Virtual Earth publish to overlay location data on maps. We envision a new class of applications that relies on real-time sensor data and its mash-up with the geocentric Web to provide instantaneous environmental visibility and timely decision support.
The primary structure of chromatium high-potential iron-sulfur protein

The amino acid sequence of Chromatium high-potential iron-sulfur protein (“HiPISP”) is presented. This sequence is deduced from data obtained by enzymatic digestion of the denatured or chemically modified protein with trypsin, chymotrypsin, thermolysin, and carboxypeptidase A and by chemical degradation (Edman, BrCN) of modified and unmodified protein preparations.
Absence of LH-RH binding sites in corpora lutea from rhesus monkeys (Macacca mulatta).

The present study reveals the lack of specific binding sites for D-Ala6-LH-RH in corpora lutea obtained at mid-luteal phase from non-pregnant rhesus monkeys.
New effective process to fabricate fast switching and high contrast electrochromic device based on viologen and Prussian blue/antimony tin oxide nano-composites with dark colored state

Abstract We developed a new electrochromic device by using compact Prussian blue (PB)/antimony tin oxide (ATO) nano-composites as anodic electrode and viologen anchoring on titanium dioxide (TiO 2 ) nano-particles as cathodic electrode. The anodic electrode was based on a transparent nanostructured ATO nano-particle film and was electro-deposited by Prussian blue to form compact Prussian blue/ATO nano-composites by means of galvanostatic electrodeposition process. Nanocrystalline TiO 2 thin films on conducting glass were modified with a mono-layer of viologen with two anchoring groups, which were much strongly adsorbed onto the surface of TiO 2 nano-particles. A polymer gel electrolyte sandwiched between the anodic and cathodic layers is used as the ionic transport layer. The 2.5 cm × 2.5 cm electrochromic device shows high contrast (64.8%, at 600 nm) very low transmittance at colored stage (0.1%, at 600 nm), fast switching time (600 and 720 ms for coloration and bleaching, respectively), high coloration efficiency of 912 cm 2 C −1 at 600 nm and good stability. The enhanced performance of the electrochromic device can be attributed to the ATO nano-particles as inter-conductive materials.
In vitro modulation of proliferation and phenotype of resting and mitogen-stimulated bovine mononuclear leukocytes by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3

Effects of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] on the proliferation and phenotype of normal bovine peripheral blood mononuclear leukocytes (MNL) were studied in vitro. Resting and pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-stimulated MNL cultures were supplemented with 1.0 nM of 1,25(OH)2D3 at the beginning of the culture period. Leukocytes were removed from 2-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, and 14-day unsupplemented and 1.25(OH)2D3-supplemented cultures, and were counted and phenotyped using monoclonal antibodies to bovine leukocyte surface antigens. Cell numbers in resting MNL cultures decreased with time and were unaffected by 1,25(OH)2D3 supplementation. The progressive increase in cell numbers in PWM-stimulated MNL cultures was suppressed, but not abolished by 1,25(OH)2D3. Suppression was greatest in PWM-stimulated 6- to 12-day cultures. Cellular composition of resting MNL cultures was unaffected by 1,25(OH)2D3. Pokeweed mitogen-stimulated cultures supplemented with 1,25(OH)2D3 had fewer total T-cells and CD4+ T-cells at 6-14 days. In contrast, numbers of CD8+ T-cells were significantly higher in 1,25(OH)2D3-supplemented cultures at 6, 10, and 14 days. Effects of 1,25(OH)2D3 on CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell populations were manifested by a significant reduction in the CD4+:CD8+ T-cell ratios in 6- to 14-day cultures. Proliferation of IL-2 receptor+ and MHC class II antigen+ cells was also reduced in supplemented 6- to 14-day cultures, indicating events associated with PWM-induced MNL activation were suppressed by 1,25(OH)2D3. These findings indicate that 1,25(OH)2D3 modulates the proliferation and differentiation of bovine MNL in vitro. Our results also suggest that changes in plasma or tissue 1,25(OH)2D3 concentrations that occur during the peripartum period and in clinical cases of milk fever may regulate the bovine immune system in vivo.
Pentachlorophenol decreases ATP levels in human natural killer cells

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) is used as a wood preservative and is found in human blood and urine. PCP causes significant decreases in the tumor-killing (lytic) function of human natural killer (NK) cells, a critical immune defense. The current study examined the association between decreased lytic function and decreased ATP levels, as well as the ability of antioxidants (vitamin E and reduced glutathione) to prevent PCP-induced decreases in either ATP levels or lytic function. Exposure of NK cells to 10μM PCP decreased ATP levels by 15% at 24 h, and exposure to 5 μM PCP decreased ATP levels by 32% at 48 h. No effects were seen with 0.5 μM at 48 h or with 5 μM at 24 h. However, 10 μM PCP decreased lytic function by 69% at 24h and 5 μM decreased it by 90% at 48 h. Even 0.5 μM PCP decreased lytic function by 46% at 48 h. None of these effects were prevented by pretreatment with 1 mM vitamin E or reduced glutathione.
Misleading questions and the retrieval of the irretrievable

It has been shown that misleading questions between visual presentations and recognition tests lead to incorrect choices, which then appear to completely replace the original memory. In the present experiment, subjects who were “returned to the scene of the crime” after their first recognition test performed markedly better on their second recognition test. This improvement was interpreted as being the result of more efficient retrieval cues provided by the sequential information presented in the return-to-the-scene slides. The model which seemed to best fit the data also assumed that the misleading questions were affecting the guessing bias, rather than memory.
THE RISK STRUCTURE OF INTEREST RATES AND INTERDEPENDENT BORROWING COSTS: THE IMPACT OF MAJOR DEFAULTS

This paper develops a new methodology for evaluating the impact of economic events on bond yields. Term structure information and implicit forward rates are used to generate expected bond yields, and the difference between actual and expected yields is interpreted as the information effect of the event. The methodology is applied to two studies of municipal default: the New York City default and the more recent Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS) default. The analysis provides evidence that the New York City default did have a significant impact on the interest cost of municipal financing in general. In the case of WPPSS, however, there is no indication of a significant default impact.
The Role of Thiazolidinediones in the Treatment of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a significant and growing health concern worldwide. Unfortunately, type 2 diabetes mellitus is generally under-managed, and this may explain the increasing prevalence of diabetic complications throughout the world. The introduction of newer classes of antihyperglycemic agents should enhance the ability of clinicians to achieve optimal blood glucose control. One recent addition to the pharmacologic armamentarium is the thiazolidinedione class. The main effect of thiazolidinediones is amelioration of insulin resistance. These agents may also preserve beta-cell function, although evidence in favor of this effect is still inconclusive. The mechanism of action of thiazolidinediones is not completely understood. Similarly, the current state of knowledge cannot explain the differences in the lipid effects of pioglitazone and rosiglitazone. Thiazolidinediones are commonly used as add-on therapy for those requiring large daily doses of insulin therapy, or in addition to sulfonylurea agents and metformin for those reluctant to start insulin therapy. The potential role of thiazolidinediones as first-line therapy is now emerging. It is possible that in certain subgroups, particularly patients with renal failure, elderly individuals or those with corticosteroid-induced diabetes mellitus, the use of thiazolidinediones as a first-line therapy is justifiable. However, the lack of a long-term safety record, and the cost, would limit the widespread acceptance of this class of agents as first-line therapy.
Multi-component hierarchically structured polymer brushes

Polymer brushes offer patternable, robust, two-dimensional coatings that can be used for, among other applications, the capture and release of medicine and nanoparticles. In this contribution, we demonstrate a technique for extending the patterning ability into the third dimension. This technique, which combines photolithography and ATRP, uses a photoresist to mask and expose chosen areas of a polymer brush. The polymer brush grows only in the exposed areas and subsequent masking and growth processes can be repeated owing to the living nature of ATRP, and thus allowing complex three-dimensional pattern formation. The concept is demonstrated by creating multi-component block-copolymer brush patterns of poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA), poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) and poly(glycidyl methacrylate) (PGMA). Colorimetric visualization of the swell–deswell transition of the partially hydrated and fully hydrated patterns confirm that PGMA patterned on top of PNIPAM alters swelling and the kinetics of the transition.
Victims, perpetrators, and the limits of human rights discourse in post-Palermo fiction about sex trafficking

This article explores the figure of the perpetrator in fictional and testimonial representations of sex trafficking, situating its analysis in the context of broader conversations about the figure of the perpetrator within human rights discourse; of feminist debates about victimisation and agency in the trafficking scenario; and of discussions in literary and cultural studies about how cultural representations contribute to understandings and treatment of victims and perpetrators of sex trafficking. We demonstrate that, rather than depending upon a single criminal figure or syndicate, a range of perpetrators from all walks of life manifest the trafficking of persons for sex. Investigating the broad spectrum of responsible parties to or beneficiaries of the sex trafficking scenario, the article argues for a more complex understanding of culpability which will, in turn, intervene in debates about trafficking that are built upon and recapitulate reductive terms of responsibility, agency, and victimhood.
Reduction of divertor carbon sources in DIII-D

Abstract The evolution of carbon release from the DIII-D lower divertor tiles is studied using atomic and molecular spectroscopy. Newly installed virgin graphite tiles in 1992 are found to have had a chemical erosion yield, Ychem⩽ 3–5%, consistent with both laboratory results and similar experiments in other totamaks. The average Ychem measured in the DIII-D lower divertor decreased approximately a factor of ten between 1992 and 2000. The presumed cause of this reduction is the cumulative effect of >30 wall-conditioning boronizations and 105 s of plasma exposure, although the relative importance of these two mechanisms is unknown. This result indicates that a substantial reduction in carbon chemical erosion, and its relative importance as a source of carbon, can be obtained by long-term in situ wall conditioning techniques. The total carbon source sputtered into the DIII-D lower divertor has also apparently decreased over the same period. However, there has been no significant decrease in the average core carbon contamination with the decreasing lower divertor carbon source.
A convenient synthesis of crystalline potassium phosphate‐18O4 (monobasic) of high isotopic purity

The synthesis of crystalline potassium phosphate-18O4 (monobasic) of high (∼ 90%) isotopic purity starting with PCl5 and 99% water-18O is described. The yield of the salt free from contamination by metaphosphates and pyrophosphate is 85%.
Task-dependent weakness at the elbow in patients with hemiparesis.

Abstract Objective: To investigate the task dependence of elbow weakness in patients with hemiparesis. Design: Descriptive study based on interlimb comparisons of maximum voluntary torques (MVTs) generated isometrically in elbow flexion and extension under four task conditions: without explicit control of the torques at adjacent joints and in combination with each of three submaximal shoulder abduction/ adduction torque levels. Setting: Rehabilitation center research laboratory. Patients: Volunteer samples of six patients with chronic hemiparesis and four controls. Main Outcome Measure: Residual strength (RS), defined as the ratio of MVTs for the paretic and nonparetic limbs of patients and nondominant and dominant limbs of controls. Results: For the patient group a significant effect of task condition on RS was found (analysis of variance, p = .0003 and p = .002 for elbow flexion and extension, respectively). With increasing shoulder abduction torque level, elbow flexion RS increased and elbow extension RS decreased. In contrast, for the control group, the effect of task condition on RS was not significant. Conclusion: In hemiparetic patients, weakness of the paretic elbow musculature shows a strong task dependence. This task dependence likely reflects the existence of abnormal synergies between elbow and shoulder muscles of the paretic limb and has important implications for the rehabilitation of motor function following hemiparesis.
A modified currency board system: Theory and evidence

Abstract The modified currency board (MCB) with a preference for both its credibility and economic growth can exercise limited discretionary power to maintain a substitution relationship between the credit instrument and exchange rate instrument. Under the assumption that money demand is more sensitive to credit expansion than money supply, the MCB's response function takes the credit instrument for growth as the world interest rate falls but the exchange rate instrument instead as the world interest rate rises. The survival of a MCB depends both on the nature of a shock and on its preference for credibility versus growth. This paper's finding suggests that the recent collapse of Argentina's currency board system as well as macroeconomic hardship in Hong Kong may stem from a combination of the falling world interest rate and a rigid credibility-oriented currency board.
Physiological responses of Pacific halibut, Hippoglossus stenolepis, to intracoelomic implantation of electronic archival tags, with a review of tag implantation techniques employed in flatfishes

Management of Pacific halibut (Hippoglossus stenolepis), a long-lived flatfish, is complicated by possible ontogenic and sex-specific variation in migration. Archival tags promise the ability to help uncover long-term movement patterns at the individual level, if the tags can be retained and recovered from healthy fish. We examined fifteen individuals (69–90 cm fork length) for long-term physiological response to intracoelomic implantation of three types of archival tags: fully internal, internal with right angle protruding light stalk, and internal with straight protruding light stalk. Tags represented 0.05–0.16% of initial fish weights. Fish were reared at 10.8 ± 1.1°C for 59 weeks post-surgery. One fish died after 39 weeks from thermal stress unrelated to the surgical procedure. Temporal variation in behavior of tagged fish was indistinguishable from that of controls (n = 15 tagged, 5 controls). Treatment and control-group fish grew at similar rates. No tag expulsion or physiological response was evident in the individual that died at 39 weeks, but nine of eleven individuals dissected at the end of 59 weeks had developed internal responses. These responses ranged from deposition of fibrous protein and/or calcitic material on tag surfaces to partial or full tag encapsulation in either the visceral peritoneal layer (fully-internal tags) or the intestinal mesenteries (stalk-bearing tags). The responses were within the range reported for other pleuronectids implanted with tags of similar configuration and may have implications for design and interpretation of long-term tagging studies. Encapsulation may reduce the probability of tag recoveries even in the absence of tag expulsion, especially in species eviscerated at sea.
The Passing of an Era: Clifford J. Sager, M.D.

In the fall of 1974, Volume 1, Number 1 of the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, was first published under the editorial direction of Helen S. Kaplan, Clifford J. Sager, and Harold Lear. It is mo...
Utility of serum thyroglobulin measurements after prophylactic thyroidectomy in patients with hereditary medullary thyroid cancer

Introduction Prophylactic thyroidectomy can be curative for patients with hereditary medullary thyroid cancer (MTC) caused by RET proto-oncogene mutations. Calcitonin is a sensitive tumor marker used to follow patients. We suggest that thyroglobulin (Tg) levels should also be monitored postoperatively in these patients. Methods We reviewed patients with RET mutations who underwent prophylactic thyroidectomy between 1981 and 2011 at an academic endocrine surgery center. Patients were excluded if they had no postoperative Tg levels recorded. Results Of the 22 patients who underwent prophylactic thyroidectomy, 14 were included in the final analysis. The average age at thyroidectomy was 9.8 years (range, 4–29). Tg levels were detectable 1.5 months to 31 years postoperatively in 11 patients (79%), all of whom were Conclusion Tg levels can identify patients with remnant thyroid tissue after prophylactic thyroidectomy. Ultrasonography can determine whether thyroid tissue remains posterolaterally that is at risk of MTC recurrence. Maintaining normal TSH may prevent growth of remaining thyroid follicular cells.
Optical upconversion techniques for high-sensitivity millimetre-wave detection

Millimeter-wave radiation has the unique ability to penetrate atmospheric obscurations such as smoke, fog, and light rain while maintaining the capability for high-resolution imaging. However, suitable technologies for creating high-sensitivity, large pixel-count detectors are a limiting factor in the implementation of such systems. To this end, we present a technique for detecting millimeter-wave radiation based on optical upconversion that promises both high sensitivity and scalability to large pixel arrays. High-speed optical modulation is used to transfer millimeter-wave radiation onto the sidebands of a near-infrared optical carrier frequency. Optical filtering techniques are subsequently used to suppress light at the carrier frequency. The resultant signal is passed to a low-frequency photodetector, which converts the remaining sideband energy to a photocurrent proportional to the incident millimeter wave energy at the modulator input. Utilizing the low noise powers of such photodetectors, high sensitivities may be obtained even accounting for the relatively high signal losses associated with optical upconversion. Since optical upconversion inherently preserves both phase and amplitude information and fiber optics may readily be used for low-loss routing of the modulated signal, such an approach offers promise for high-resolution synthetic aperture imaging. Alternatively, since each of the required components may be fabricated in III-V materials using planar semiconductor processing techniques, integration of multi-pixel arrays is feasible. Herein, we present experimental results obtained using a baseline detector assembled from commercially available fiber-optic components as well as efforts to integrate the desired functionality into a single GaAs substrate. An initial noise equivalent power (NEP) of the proposed detector has been demonstrated at sub-nanowatt levels, with improvements to sub-picowatt NEP's anticipated as the setup is optimized.
Common deficiencies with bioequivalence submissions in abbreviated new drug applications assessed by FDA.

Purpose A generic product must meet the standards established by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be approved for marketing in the USA. FDA approves a generic product for marketing if it is proved to be therapeutically equivalent to the reference product. Bioequivalence (BE) between a proposed generic product and its corresponding reference product is one of the major components of therapeutic equivalence. These approvals may be delayed if the BE portion of the submission is determined to be deficient. Many of these BE deficiencies recur commonly and can be avoided.
Marital Processes, Arranged Marriage, and Contraception to Limit Fertility

An international transition away from familially arranged marriages toward participation in spouse choice has endured for decades and continues to spread through rural Asia today. Although we know that this transformation has important consequences for childbearing early in marriage, we know much less about longer-term consequences of this marital revolution. Drawing on theories of family and fertility change and a rural Asian panel study designed to measure changes in both marital and childbearing behaviors, this study seeks to investigate these long-term consequences. Controlling for social changes that shape both marital practices and childbearing behaviors, and explicitly considering multiple dimensions of marital processes, we find evidence consistent with an independent, long-standing association of participation in spouse choice with higher rates of contraception to terminate childbearing. These results add a new dimension to the evidence linking revolutions in marital behavior to long-term declines in fertility and suggest that new research should consider a broader range of long-term consequences of changing marital processes.
Solvent modulation in liquid chromatography: optimization strategies

Abstract In solvent modulation, individual solvent zones are introduced onto the liquid chromatographic column in either a repeating or a random sequence. Because the solvent zones are spatially and temporally separated, solute retention is controlled independently within each zone. Therefore, the overall retention of the solute is a simple time-weighted average of its capacity factor in the individual solvent zones. This technique provides a versatile alternative to premixed mobile phases for the rapid optimization of separations with a minimum number of preliminary experiments. The separation of a complex mixture of fourteen saturated and unsaturated fatty acids was optimized utilizing the solvent modulation technique. Two different optimization strategies were explored: (1) the complete resolution response surface was systematically calculated for a two-dimensional solvent modulation system and the optimum was determined by visual inspection, and (2) an iterative searching method was used to locate rapidly the optimum response for a two-dimensional or higher order resolution response surface. Excellent agreement was observed between the predicted retention and that measured experimentally, with a relative error of less than 4.5% for all fatty acids standards. The optimum separation using solvent modulation was comparable to that obtained using premixed solvent systems, yet was achieved with only two initial experiments.
Compact Biocompatible Quantum Dots Functionalized for Cellular Imaging

We present a family of water-soluble quantum dots (QDs) that exhibit low nonspecific binding to cells, small hydrodynamic diameter, tunable surface charge, high quantum yield, and good solution stability across a wide pH range. These QDs are amenable to covalent modification via simple carbodiimide coupling chemistry, which is achieved by functionalizing the surface of QDs with a new class of heterobifunctional ligands incorporating dihydrolipoic acid, a short poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) spacer, and an amine or carboxylate terminus. The covalent attachment of molecules is demonstrated by appending a rhodamine dye to form a QD-dye conjugate exhibiting fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). High-affinity labeling is demonstrated by covalent attachment of streptavidin, thus enabling the tracking of biotinylated epidermal growth factor (EGF) bound to EGF receptor on live cells. In addition, QDs solubilized with the heterobifunctional ligands retain their metal-affinity driven conjugation chemistry wit...
An analytical study of Doppler ultrasound systems

The past theoretical contributions in Doppler ultrasonic imaging have borrowed heavily from the electromagnetic case. In these contributions, most points of departure between the ultrasonic and electromagnetic cases were taken care of by heuristic incorporation of factors in the derived formulas. A theory is presented that is more complete in the sense that it specifically accounts for the diffracted fields of the transducer aperture (assumed to be a source of a Gaussian focussed beam), the interaction of these fields with the scattering sites, and the interaction of the transducer aperture with the back scattered fields. The theoretical formulation was used to perform a series of computer simulation studies on Doppler ultrasound. The control afforded by the theory over different parameters of the system has allowed us to study the effect of the different signal bandwidths, tissue attenuation constants, and the role of transducer design in the ultrasound Doppler systems.
Enzymatic Saccharification of Soybean Hull-Based Materials

The feasibility of biodegradability of materials made from soy hulls is investigated in this study. A mixture of enzymes responsible for degradation of cellulose, hemicellulose, and starch, principal constituents of agrowastes, is employed for degradation of soy hulls and soy hull-based materials. The effects of key parameters, such as initial concentrations of different enzymes, reactor temperature, method and speed of agitation, size of samples to be degraded, pH, and processing temperature on degradation of the polysaccharides, are investigated. The ease of biodegradability of soy hulls and processed soy hulls is demonstrated by the very high extents of degradation achieved.
A Comparative Study of the Metabolism in the Human Body of Some Isomers of Tartaric Acid

A method of analysis of urine for tartaric acid has been developed. A color comparison curve for the determination of tartaric acid in urine has been made for tartaric acid-metavanadate mixture. The metabolism of the different isomers of tartaric acid in a human being has been determined. The percentage of tartaric acid eliminated in the urine after intramuscular injection is only slightly greater than that after oral ingestion of tartaric acid. The D (-) isomer of tartaric acid is more readily metabolized than the L (+) isomer. The DL isomer taken by mouth gives slightly higher values in the urine than does the D (-) isomer, but it is considerably lower than the L (+) isomer.
Specification error in the estimation of the elasticity of substitution between capital and land in residential construction

Previous estimates of the elasticity of substitution between capital and land ignore the role of labor and financing in the production function for housing. In the case of cross-section data between cities, time-series data, or pooled cross-section and time-series data, the exclusion of one or both variables may lead to specification error. This study tests the hypothesis that the exclusion of these variables does not bias the estimate of the elasticity of substitution between capital and land. The methodology employs data for U.S. cities from 1973 to 1982 to estimate translog cost functions. Exclusion of financing biases the elasticity estimate upward.
Comparison of the effects of antimicrobial agents from three different classes on metabolism of isoflavonoids by colonic microflora using Etest strips.

Daidzein (4′,7-dihydroxyisoflavone), a phytoestrogen found in soybeans mainly in the form of its glycoside daidzin, is metabolized by colonic bacteria to compounds with altered estrogenic activities, which may affect human health. Antibacterial agents used for the treatment of infections can alter the composition of bacterial populations in the colon and therefore can affect daidzein metabolism. To rapidly detect the effects of different concentrations of antibiotics on daidzein metabolism by colonic bacteria of monkeys and identify the subpopulation involved in daidzein metabolism, Etest strips containing antibacterial agents from three classes (tetracyclines, fluoroquinolones, and β-lactams) were used to eliminate the colonic bacteria that were susceptible to 0–32 μg/ml of each antibacterial agent and test the surviving bacteria for their ability to metabolize daidzein. The metabolism of daidzein by the colonic microflora was measured before and after the colonic bacterial population was exposed to antibacterial agents. The metabolites were detected by high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry after incubation of the cultures for various times. Exposure of colonic microflora to antibiotics had various effects on daidzein metabolism. Tetracycline completely removed the bacteria metabolizing daidzein, metabolism of daidzein was not changed in cultures of bacteria after ceftriaxone treatment, and ciprofloxacin enriched for the bacteria metabolizing daidzein. In liquid cultures treated with various concentrations of ciprofloxacin, 4 μg/ml of ciprofloxacin favored the growth of bacteria that metabolized daidzein. This is the first time in which the Etest has been used to show that, whereas some antibiotics eliminate phytoestrogen-metabolizing bacteria in colonic microflora, others enrich them by eliminating the non-metabolizing strains in the population.
Parental Involvement in Predicting School Motivation: Similar and Differential Effects Across Ethnic Groups

ABSTRACT The authors investigated how different dimensions of parental involvement similarly or differentially linked to various constructs of school motivation (academic self-efficacy in mathematics and English, intrinsic motivation toward mathematics and English, and engagement) across ethnic groups of Caucasian, African American, Asian American, and Hispanic students. The structural equation modeling analyses revealed the existence of ethnic differences by providing evidence that (a) parental advising and parent–school communication concerning benign school issues were positively related to Hispanic students’ intrinsic motivation toward English and academic self-efficacy in English, but negatively related to Asian American students’ mathematics intrinsic motivation and/or mathematics self-efficacy; and (b) parental participation in school functions sporadically affected the school motivational constructs for only Caucasian and African American students. Despite the ethnic differences, similar findings ...
The mechanism of an asthmatic attack in chronic allergic asthma

Abstract 1.1. Lipiodol injections of bronchi and roentgenograms were made during the course of an asthmatic attack and during an interval between attacks. 2.2. Postmortem material of patients dying from allergic asthma was correlated with the roentgenologic findings. 3.3. An asthmatic paroxysm is essentially due to bronchial occlusion by mucus as a result of a hypersecretory activity of the bronchial mucous glands. 4.4. The degree and the duration of an attack are proportionate to the extent of mucous secretion and bronchial plugging. 5.5. There is a reduction of functioning lung tissue due to a permanent bronchial occlusion. The extent of this reduction is proportionate to the duration of the disease, the severity and the frequency of the individual attacks.
Estimating population size and density of a low-density population of black bears in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado

Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP) is home to a low-density black bear (Ursus americanus) population that exists at >2,400 m with a very limited growing season. A previous study (1984–1991) found bear densities among the lowest reported (1.37–1.52 bears/100 km2). Because of concerns of viability of this small population, we assessed population size and density of black bears from 2003 to 2006 to determine the current status of RMNP’s bear population. We used three approaches to estimate population size and density: (1) minimum number known, (2) occupancy modeling, and (3) catch per unit effort (CPUE). We used information from capture and remote-triggered cameras, as well as visitor information, to derive a minimum known population estimate of 20–24 individuals and a median density estimate of 1.35 bears/100 km2. Bear occupancy was estimated at 0.46 (SE = 0.11), with occupancy positively influenced by lodgepole pine stands, non-vegetated areas, and patch density but negatively influenced by mixed conifer stands. We combined the occupancy estimate with mean home-range size and overlap for bears in RMNP to derive a density estimate of 1.44 bears/100 km2. We also related CPUE to density estimates for eight low-density black bear populations to estimate density in RMNP; this estimate (1.03 bears/100 km2) was comparable to the occupancy estimate and suggests that this approach may be useful for future population monitoring. The use of corroborative techniques for assessing population size of a low-density black bear population was effective and should be considered for similar low-density wildlife populations.
Pertussis Toxin B-Pentamer Mediates Intercellular Transfer of Membrane Proteins and Lipids

Pertussis toxin (PTx) is the major virulence factor of Bordetella pertussis. The enzymatic or active (A) subunit inactivates host G protein coupled receptor (GPCR) signaling pathways. The non-enzymatic binding (B) subunit also mediates biological effects due to lectin-like binding characteristics, including the induction of T cell receptor (TCR) signaling and subsequent down-regulation of chemokine receptor expression. Here we report another activity attributable to PTxB, facilitating transfer of membrane material between mammalian cells. This activity does not require the TCR, and does not require cell-to-cell contact or cellular aggregation. Rather, membrane vesicles are transferred from donor to recipient cells in a toxin-dependent fashion. Membrane transfer occurs in different cell types, including cultured human T cells, CHO cells, and human primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Transfer involves both lipid and integral membrane proteins, as evidenced by the transfer of T and B cell-specific receptor molecules to other PBMCs. Interestingly, membrane transfer activity is a property that PTx shares with some, but not all, cell-aggregating lectins that are mitogenic for human T cells, and appears to be related to the ability to bind certain host cell glycolipids. This phenomenon may represent another mechanism by which pertussis toxin disrupts mammalian intra- and inter-cellular signaling.
Structure of the p300 Histone Acetyltransferase Bound to Acetyl-Coenzyme A and Its Analogues.

The p300 and CBP transcriptional coactivator paralogs (p300/CBP) regulate a variety of different cellular pathways, in part, by acetylating histones and more than 70 non-histone protein substrates. Mutation, chromosomal translocation, or other aberrant activities of p300/CBP are linked to many different diseases, including cancer. Because of its pleiotropic biological roles and connection to disease, it is important to understand the mechanism of acetyl transfer by p300/CBP, in part so that inhibitors can be more rationally developed. Toward this goal, a structure of p300 bound to a Lys-CoA bisubstrate HAT inhibitor has been previously elucidated, and the enzyme’s catalytic mechanism has been investigated. Nonetheless, many questions underlying p300/CBP structure and mechanism remain. Here, we report a structural characterization of different reaction states in the p300 activity cycle. We present the structures of p300 in complex with an acetyl-CoA substrate, a CoA product, and an acetonyl-CoA inhibitor. A comparison of these structures with the previously reported p300/Lys-CoA complex demonstrates that the conformation of the enzyme active site depends on the interaction of the enzyme with the cofactor, and is not apparently influenced by protein substrate lysine binding. The p300/CoA crystals also contain two poly(ethylene glycol) moieties bound proximal to the cofactor binding site, implicating the path of protein substrate association. The structure of the p300/acetonyl-CoA complex explains the inhibitory and tight binding properties of the acetonyl-CoA toward p300. Together, these studies provide new insights into the molecular basis of acetylation by p300 and have implications for the rational development of new small molecule p300 inhibitors.
Tunable microstructures and mechanical deformation in transparent poly(urethane urea)s

Transparent poly(urethane urea) (TPUU) materials offer an avenue to enable material designs with potential to achieve simultaneous enhancements in both physical and mechanical properties. To optimize the performance required for each application, the molecular features that influence the microstructure, the glass transition temperature (T g ), the deformation mechanisms, and the mechanical deformation behavior must be understood and exploited. In this work, a comprehensive materials characterization of select model PUUs with tunable microstructures is addressed. Increasing the hard segment (HS) content increases the stiffness and flow stress levels, whereas altering the soft segment (SS) molecular weight from 2000 to 1000 g/mol leads to an enhanced phase mixing with a SS T g shifted ~17 °K toward higher temperatures as well as broadening of the SS relaxation closer to room temperature. As a result, the 1K TPUU materials display greater rate-dependent stiffening and strain hardening on mechanical deformation over the broad range of strain rates covered in this work (10 -3 to 10 4 s -1 ). In such case of similar urea-based HS content, the molar content of the urethane linkages, per stoichiometric requirements, is much higher in the 1K TPUUs than the 2K TPUUs. These additional urethane moieties lead to an increase in the extent of intermolecular interactions, via hydrogen bonding between the HS and the SS, providing not only further phase mixing and stronger rate sensitivity but also provide 1K TPUUs with drastically improved barrier properties.