cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The dynamics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus exposure in a hospital model and the potential for environmental intervention.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major cause of healthcare-associated infections. An important control strategy is hand hygiene; however, non-compliance has been a major problem in healthcare settings. Furthermore, modeling studies have suggested that the law of diminishing return applies to hand hygiene. Other additional control strategies such as environmental cleaning may be warranted, given that MRSA-positive individuals constantly shed contaminated desquamated skin particles to the environment. We constructed and analyzed a deterministic environmental compartmental model of MRSA fate, transport, and exposure between two hypothetical hospital rooms: one with a colonized patient, shedding MRSA; another with an uncolonized patient, susceptible to exposure. Healthcare workers (HCWs), acting solely as vectors, spread MRSA from one patient room to the other. Although porous surfaces became highly contaminated, their low transfer efficiency limited the exposure dose to HCWs and the uncolonized patient. Conversely, the high transfer efficiency of nonporous surfaces allows greater MRSA transfer when touched. In the colonized patient’s room, HCW exposure occurred more predominantly through the indirect (patient to surfaces to HCW) mode compared to the direct (patient to HCW) mode. In contrast, in the uncolonized patient’s room, patient exposure was more predominant in the direct (HCW to patient) mode compared to the indirect (HCW to surfaces to patient) mode. Surface wiping decreased MRSA exposure to the uncolonized patient more than daily surface decontamination. This was because wiping allowed higher cleaning frequency and cleaned more total surface area per day. Environmental cleaning should be considered as an integral component of MRSA infection control in hospitals. Given the previously under-appreciated role of surface contamination in MRSA transmission, this intervention mode can contribute to an effective multiple barrier approach in concert with hand hygiene.
Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) Deep Sea Coring Techniques

The coring techniques and systems of the Ocean Drilling Program (ODP) were developed to satisfy a scientific need for better quality and improved recovery of oceanic core samples. Some of the ODP systems in use today evolved from refinements to earlier systems developed by the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP) or were adaptions of available industry technology. Other systems were conceived and designed by ODP engineers. The evolution of these progressive scientific coring systems began with the Rotary Core Barrel (RCB) used by the DSDP and proceeded to the highly advanced Diamond Coring System (DCS) currently under development by ODP engineers. During the evolution several other key systems were developed. These included hydraulic piston coring, extended coring, pressure coring, bare rock spudding and several systems using high speed diamond coring technology. These include the positive displacement coring motor (PDCM), the “Navi-drill” core barrel, and a top driven diamond coring system (DCS). This article describes the evolution and conceptual design of these systems including the required bottom hole assemblies, and the sinker bar/sandline configurations.
Frequency tuning of offshore platforms by liquid sloshing

The energy-absorbing characteristic of liquid sloshing can be used to reduce the dynamic response of an offshore platform. The finite element program for dynamic analysis of two-dimensional fixed offshore platforms, developed by DuVall 1 , is extended to include the operation of a deck-mounted liquid vibration absorber. The structural response of the model is determined for a digitized wave height spectrum, with and without the vibration absorber in operation. The system response is determined for variations of the following parameters: cylinder radius, liquid height, mass, frequency, and damping of the absorber. Possible methods of frequency tuning, and damping device mechanisms are suggested.
Self-efficacy as a predictor of smoking behavior in young adolescents

This study sought to develop a self-efficacy scale to predict smoking behavior and diagnose the most vulnerable factors associated with its onset. A sample of 800 seventh and eighth grade students received the survey on three separate occasions over an 8-month period. The instrument was comprised of 50 self-efficacy items, including social and emotional variables, and a self-report of smoking behavior. The data revealed an association between the total self-efficacy score and reported smoking behavior, implying the predictive capacity of the instrument. Factor analysis indicated several recurring item groups: social opportunities to smoke, emotional stress, and peer influences. Discriminant analysis of the subscales provided significant prediction of smoking behavior. Onset smoking behavior was also predictable over 3- and 5-month intervals. Peer influence persisted as the primary determinant of smoking activity. To confirm these results and ascertain the generalizability of this instrument, it is recommended that it be administered in other communities, and in conjunction with biochemical analysis to validate the self-reported smoking behavior. The instrument has potential application as a predictor of smoking behavior, to permit the design of more appropriate prevention programs, and as an effective evaluation measure for such interventions.
Inter-Laboratory Variability in Array-Based RNA Quantification Methods

Ribonucleic acids (RNA) are hypothesized to have preceded their derivatives, deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA), as the molecular media of genetic information when life emerged on earth. Molecular biologists are accustomed to the dramatic effects a subtle variation in the ribose moiety composition between RNA and DNA can have on the stability of these molecules. While DNA is very stable after extraction from biological samples and subsequent treatment, RNA is notoriously labile. The short half-life property, inherent to RNA, benefits cells that do not need to express their entire repertoire of proteins. The cellular machinery turns off the production of a given protein by shutting down the transcription of its cognate coding gene and by either actively degrading the remaining mRNA or allowing it to decay on its own. The steady-state level of each mRNA in a given cell varies continuously and is specified by changing kinetics of synthesis and degradation. Because it is technically possible to simultaneously measure thousands of nucleic acid molecules, these quantities have been studied by the life sciences community to investigate a range of biological problems. Since the RNA abundance can change according to a wide range of perturbations, this makes it the molecule of choice for exploring biological systems; its instability, on the other hand, could be an underestimated source of technical variability. We found that a large fraction of the RNA abundance originally present in the biological system prior to extraction was masked by the RNA labeling and measurement procedure. The method used to extract RNA molecules from cells and to label them prior to hybridization operations on DNA arrays affects the original distribution of RNA. Only if RNA measurements are performed according to the same procedure can biological information be inferred from the assay read out.
Migration of Epithelio-muscular Cells in Hydra

RECENT reports have directed attention to the part played by connective tissue in the histogenesis and morphogenesis of epithelial tissue1. In Hydra the possibility that the acellular mesoglea influenced the differentiation of cells almost suggests itself. It is widely held that epithelio-muscular cells in the epidermis and digestive cells in the gastrodermis undergo a net movement down the body2 and change in certain cytological and physiological details as a function of the region in which they temporarily reside3.
Injury prevention in natural disasters. A theoretical framework

A theoretical framework for conceptualizing injury patterns in natural disasters is described. In this conceptual framework, natural disasters are divided chronologically into predisaster, disaster and postdisaster phases. Within each phase, four factors (human, engineering/technological, physical environmental and socioeconomic) are identified that play an important role in the causation of injury. By combining these phases and factors into a three by four matrix, one may begin to identify points in the natural history or evolution of a disaster that may be amenable to therapeutic or preventive intervention. The application of this proposed three-phase matrix model to a disaster will permit researchers to reduce a large, complex problem into more manageable, conceptually simpler parts. It may also be of value to disaster planners by suggesting preventive and mitigation measures, as well as aiding in the setting of priorities so that scarce resources can be allocated to achieve maximum reduction of injuries.
Understanding and learning from the success of prophylactic human papillomavirus vaccines

An estimated 5% of human cancers are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infections, and most of these cancers are of the cervix. Two prophylactic HPV vaccines that target the two most oncogenic virus types, HPV16 and HPV18, are now commercially available. In controlled clinical trials, the vaccines proved to be effective at preventing incident anogenital infection and the associated neoplastic disease that is induced by these virus types. Here, we highlight the specific aspects of HPV biology and vaccine composition that are likely to contribute to the efficacy of these vaccines, and we discuss how these particular features might or might not be relevant for the development of effective vaccines against other sexually transmitted viruses such as HIV and herpes simplex virus (HSV).
Arctic Ice–Ocean Modeling with and without Climate Restoring

Abstract A coupled ice–mixed layer–ocean model is constructed for the Arctic Ocean, the Barents Sea, and the Greenland–Iceland–Norwegian Sea. The model is used to address Arctic numerical modeling with and without climate restoring. The model without climate restoring reproduces basic observed features of the Arctic ice–ocean circulation. The simulated oceanic processes adjust to the surface and lateral fluxes and transport heat and mass in a way that achieves a rough salt and heat balance in the Arctic in the integration period of seven decades. The main deficiency of the model is its prediction of unrealistically high salinity in the central Arctic, which tends to weaken the ocean currents. The introduction of corrective salinity and temperature restoring terms has a significant impact on prediction of the ice–ocean circulation in the Arctic. The impact results from a chain reaction. First, the restoring terms change the salinity and thermal states in the oceanic mixed layer and below. The altered densi...
Lateralized interference in finger tapping: Comparisons of rate and variability measures under speed and consistency tapping instructions

Forty right-handed college subjects tapped with and without a verbal task under two instructional conditions (tap as quickly as possible vs. tap as consistently as possible) and two levels of verbal production (silent vs. aloud). The tapping task consisted of the alternate tapping of two keys with the index finger of the left vs. right hands, while the verbal task was anagram solution. Three rate and four variability measures of tapping performance were evaluated in the identification of lateralized interference. The results indicate that reliable lateralized interference, more right-hand than left-hand tapping disruption, was observed only for variability measures under instructions to tap as consistently as possible. Furthermore, only one of these variability measures was sensitive to an increase in lateralized interference produced by verbal production. Because of the limited demonstration of verbal laterality effects with the two-key tapping procedure in this study, conclusions suggest that the simpler manual task of repetitive tapping of one key should be viewed as the method of choice in future dual-task studies.
RAPID REPAIR OF LESIONS INDUCED BY 313 NM LIGHT IN BROMOURACIL-SUBSTITUTED DNA OF ESCHERICHIA COLI.

Summary Irradiation at 313 nm of bromouracil-substituted DNA in Escherichia coli results in the appearance of single-strand breaks (or alkali-labile bonds). Postirradiation incubation of the irradiated cells causes the rapid disappearance (90% in 10 min) of the breaks. This rapid “repair” also occurs in two radiation-sensitive mutants (uvrA and polA) of E. coli , but not if the cells are lysed prior to postirradiation incubation. The relevance of this observation to the bromouracil-photolysis method of detecting repair replication is discussed.
Diffusion of Quasiparticles in Superconducting Aluminum Films

The diffusion of quasiparticle excitations in superconducting aluminum films has been observed. The measured diffusion constant $D=22.5$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$ ${\mathrm{sec}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ is in good agreement with an estimate based on the normal-state resistivity of the films.
A high-resolution X-ray photoemission study of the total valence-band densities of states of GaSe and BiI3☆

Abstract The total valence band denstiy of states spectra for the semiconducting layered compounds GaSe and BiI3 were obtained by X-ray photoemission spectroscopy. The results for GaSe were used to test recent band structure calculations and are compared with earlier photoemission results. The BiI3 data are the first experimental determination of the total valence band density of states for this compound. Since no calculations exist for BiI3, tentative assignments were made.
Safety of medically supervised exercise in a cardiac rehabilitation center

Medically supervised exercise continues to have a low major cardiovascular complication rate. Direct gym supervision by a physician does not appear necessary for safety. The currently proposed cardiac rehabilitation risk stratification criteria do not appear to identify patients at risk for these major complications. The safety of exercise programs with less supervision and electrocardiographic telemetry monitoring is unknown.
Second-order, four phonon processes in the self-consistent phonon theory

Abstract The second order contribution to the free energy from four-phonon processes is calculated according to a perturbative approach based on the self-consistent phonon formalism. The results are compared with experiment. A technique for substantially reducing computer time requirements for multiple scans over the Brillouin zone is pointed out.
Inflammatory Biomarkers, Statins, and the Risk of Stroke Cracking a Clinical Conundrum

A central paradox of the cholesterol hypothesis is that long-term treatment with statins reduces the risk of stroke, yet LDL cholesterol is not a strong risk factor for stroke. In almost all major prospective epidemiological studies, relationships between any measure of cholesterol and the risk of incident stroke are minimal. Nonetheless, as clearly demonstrated in large-scale randomized trials,1–3⇓⇓ therapy with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors reduces stroke risk by as much as 25%, a reduction similar to that for myocardial infarction and cardiovascular death. See p 2632 Early recognition of this apparent paradox played a major role in spurring research into nonlipid effects of statin therapy and the search for inflammatory biomarkers that might be strong determinants of stroke. In this regard, data for C-reactive protein (CRP) have been particularly informative. Not only has CRP been shown in several studies to predict incident stroke independent of LDL cholesterol,4–8⇓⇓⇓⇓ but statins have been shown to reduce CRP in an LDL-independent fashion.9–11⇓⇓ Moreover, differences between cholesterol and CRP in terms of predictive value provide considerable insight into the paradox facing the epidemiology of stroke. In the Physicians’ Health Study of healthy middle-aged men and in the Women’s Health Study of healthy postmenopausal women, total cholesterol and CRP both predict incident myocardial infarction, yet only CRP predicts incident stroke.4,5⇓ Almost identical data regarding CRP and thromboembolic stroke have now been presented in cross-sectional data from the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES)7 as well as in two prospective cohorts, the Leiden 85-Plus Study6 and the Framingham Heart Study.8 In Framingham, for example, baseline CRP proved to be a strong linear predictor of incident stroke even after adjustment for other atherothrombotic risk factors, data that confirm the utility of …
Anomalous electrical conductivity of the potassium deficient linear chain platinum compound: K1.75Pt(CN)4·1.5H2O

Four probe single crystal dc conductivity, σ, has been measured for K1.75Pt (CN)4·1.5H2O for temperature 360K > T > 30K on crystals prepared via electrochemical growth, with σ (295K) 25–50 Ω−1cm−1. An anomalous behavior in σ (T) is reported with σ (T) nearly constant for T > 300K and 160K > T > 80K, and rapidly decreasing σ (T) observed for 300K > T > 160K and T < 80K. The data for 200K < T < 308K are analyzed in terms of a three-dimensional second order phase transition occurring at Tc = 308K. These results contrast sharply with those of the well studied K2Pt(CN)4X0.3·3H20 (X=Cl,Br).
Mechanisms of Dendritic Spine Remodeling in a Rat Model of Traumatic Brain Injury

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI), a leading cause of death and disability in the United States, causes potentially preventable damage in part through the dysregulation of neural calcium levels. Calcium dysregulation could affect the activity of the calcium-sensitive phosphatase calcineurin (CaN), with serious implications for neural function. The present study used both an in vitro enzymatic assay and Western blot analyses to characterize the effects of lateral fluid percussion injury on CaN activity and CaN-dependent signaling in the rat forebrain. TBI resulted in an acute alteration of CaN phosphatase activity and long-lasting alterations of its downstream effector, cofilin, an actin-depolymerizing protein. These changes occurred bilaterally in the neocortex and hippocampus, appeared to persist for hours after injury, and coincided with synapse degeneration, as suggested by a loss of the excitatory post-synaptic protein PSD-95. Interestingly, the effect of TBI on cofilin in some brain regions was b...
Inspection for kissing bonds in composite materials using vibration measurements

Improper bonding of composite structures can result in close contact cracks under compressive stresses, called kissing bonds. These bond defects are very difficult to detect using conventional inspection techniques such as tap testing or local ultrasonic scanning and can lead to local propagation of damage if the structure is subjected to crack opening stresses. A method is investigated for identifying kissing bonds in composite material repairs based on vibration measurements. A damage feature of the kissing bond is extracted from the response of the input-output measurement that is a function of the structural path. This path exhibits local decoupling associated with the close contact cracks. Experimental vibration measurements from sandwich composite materials are presented along with the results of the damage detection algorithm for the healthy sections of the material and the kissing bond sections. A vibration based inspection technique could increase the ability to detect kissing bonds in composite material repairs while decreasing inspection time. Benefits of this method of identification over conventional techniques include its robust, objective damage detection methodology and the reduced requirement for specimen preparation and surface texture when compared to ultrasonic scanning.
Creep Prediction of a Printed Wiring Board For Separable Land Grid Array Connector

The paper presents a study of creep behavior of a printed wiring board caused by the mechanical fastening of separable connector, known as a land grid array. Time-temperature superposition method was employed to predict the lifetime creep behavior. A low-cost testing method based on the ASTM D790 three-point bending procedure was developed to predict and characterize creep of polymeric materials under low temperature, low stress, and large elapsed times.
Features of targeted arm movement after unilateral excisions that included the supplementary motor area in humans

The strategies used to make rapid targeted flexion movements at the elbow were assessed for the right and left arms of ten neurologically normal subjects and seven patients who had unilateral cortical resections that included all or part of one supplementary motor area (SMA). Visual targets were displaced either a constant distance (fixed step task) or a variable distance (variable step task). The reaction time (RT) for SMA patients as a group did not differ significantly from normal, although for some patients, RT exceeded the normal range bilaterally. Total movement time (TMT) was longer than normal for the SMA group, and again, increased TMTs tended to occur bilaterally. Both groups of subjects used a combination of duration and velocity scaling to adjust movement amplitude. In normal subjects, however, velocity scaling predominated, whereas in SMA patients, duration scaling was increased bilaterally. Our data indicate that the initiation of rapid elbow movement to a target presented visually is not consistently delayed after lesions that include part of the SMA, but the movement speed and strategy used to adjust movement amplitude may be changed bilaterally.
Diffusion of dissolved CO2 and Cl in hydrous silicic to intermediate magmas

The bulk diffusivity of dissolved CO{sub 2} in obsidian and dacite melts containing 0-11 wt% dissolved water at 800-1,100C and 1 GPa was characterized using a {sup 14}C radiotracer technique. Five values were also obtained for Cl in melts containing 8% H{sub 2}O. Carbon dioxide diffusivity (D{sub CO{sub 2}}) in nominally dry molten obsidian is similar to previously reported values for a simple melt in the Na{sub 2}O-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-SiO{sub 2} system and for dry basalt, indicating little effect of melt composition on bulk CO{sub 2} diffusion. Three D{sub CO{sub 2}} values for hydrous dacite melt are consistent with this lack of a melt composition effect. Dissolved water, however, causes an increase of D{sub CO{sub 2}} in molten obsidian by about an order of magnitude for each 5% of added water. The activation energy of {approximately}18 kcal/mol is lower by a factor of {approximately}3 than that for diffusion in dry basalt. In comparison with existing data for diffusion of water in silicic melts at their typical liquidus temperatures, D{sub CO{sub 2}} is generally lower unless the melt contains more than about 6% dissolved H{sub 2}O, in which case D{sub CO{sub 2}} {approximately} D{sub H{sub 2}0}. The few data obtained frommore » chlorine diffusion reveal the D{sub Cl} is lower by a factor of 5-10 than D{sub CO{sub 2}} in the same melt. The overall systematics of the new data on dissolved volatile diffusion indicate that diffusional fractionation effects are likely to be most significant in silicic to intermediate magmas having water contents in the 0-4% range.« less
Solid solution hardening due to metal interstitials in the Pb--Ag system

Abstract Solid solution alloys of Pb-Ag, quenched from various solution temperatures, show a substantial hardening, dτ dc ∼- 3G , in agreement with the hardening being a consequence of an asymmetrical defect. Furthermore, the hardening increases with increasing quenching temperature according to an Arrhenius equation and this suggests that the solutes are partitioned between unlike sites. Based on this result, the formation energy of the asymmetrical interstitial is calculated and is shown to decrease with increasing Ag concentration. These results are discussed, in consonance with a model of solid solutions in which an interstitial is composed of two silver atoms.
Oxygen reduction on a platinum cluster

Abstract The reaction Pt5O2(ads)+H+(aq)+e−→Pt5–OOH is analyzed on the basis of density functional theory calculations. It is found that the electron transfer process takes place gradually as the hydronium ion gets close to the adsorbed oxygen. At a certain small Oads–H⋯Owater distance, the barrier for proton and electron transfer becomes negligible. The effect of an electric field on the reaction is studied by charging the metal/adsorbate complex, and that of a solvation shell on the proton transfer process is explored by using the H3O+(H2O)2 ion cluster to model the hydrated proton.
The Direct Cost of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Abstract Objectives This analysis estimated the direct cost of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) from a societal perspective. Methods Primary and secondary data sets were used to determine the rate of medical resource utilization. National average Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement rates were used to value direct costs (in 1994 dollars). Results Persons with RA have, on average, $1702 in direct costs for treating RA annually. More than half of the total cost is for medications. Nursing home care accounts for nearly one fifth of the cost and hospitalizations and ambulatory care (combined) comprise another fifth of the total cost. Travel to medical appointments and medical supplies make up the remaining 10%. The projected annual US direct costs are $3.6 billion for treating RA. Conclusion The health care utilization in persons with RA is frequent and includes a number of components leading to high annual direct cost.
Willa Cather's a lost lady and the nineteenth century novel of adultery

(1984). Willa Cather's a lost lady and the nineteenth century novel of adultery. Women's Studies: Vol. 11, Willa Cather, pp. 287-303.
Hexamethylphosphoramide-boron compounds. A new type of boronium cation

Abstract Hexamethylphosphoramide adducts of BF 3 and BCl 3 have been characterized. Reactions with BBr 3 and Bl 3 are complex and result in cleavage of the PN bond as implicated by the isolation of {[(CH 3 ) 2 N] 3 PO·BH 2 ·[(CH 3 ) 2 N] 2 P(I)O}I. hexamethylphosphoramide is only capable of cleaving the boron-halogen bond in amine-haloboranes for the bromine and iodine species. Boronium cations like {amine·BH 2 ·[(CH 3 ) 2 N] 3 PO} + , [amine·BH{[(CH 3 ) 2 N]PO} 2 2+ , (amine = (CH 3 ) 3 N; C 5 H 5 N; pCH 3 C 5 H 4 N) have been isolated and studied. last cation is the first example of a boronium cation containing one nitrogen and two oxygen bases.
Dynamic Analysis of Composite Laminates with Multiple Delamination Using Improved Layerwise Theory

A procedure has been developed to investigate the dynamic response of composite structures, with embedded multiple delaminations. A recently developed improved layerwise composite laminate theory is extended to model composite laminates of moderately large thickness with delamination. The theory accurately predicts interlaminar shear stresses while maintaining computational efficiency. Natural frequencies and mode shapes are computed for cross-ply laminates with delaminations placed at different locations. Experiments are conducted to validate the developed theory. Numerical results indicate excellent correlation with analytical solutions and experimental results. Parametric studies are conducted to investigate the effect of delamination location, both through the thickness and in plane, and number of delaminations on the dynamic response. A potential application of the developed procedure is in structural health monitoring where accurate predictions of dynamic response in the presence of delamination are important issues.
Assessment of the morphological and functional effects of the anti-angiogenic agent SU11657 on 9L gliosarcoma vasculature using dynamic susceptibility contrast MRI.

To investigate the influence of anti-angiogenic agents on tumor perfusion, we employed a dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC)-MRI method that utilizes a simultaneous gradient-echo (GE) and spin-echo (SE) imaging sequence to derive perfusion parameters (blood flow, blood volume, and mean transit time (MTT)). These parameters are sensitive to both the total vasculature (from the GE data) and the microvasculature (from the SE data), and can also provide a measure of the mean vessel diameter (mVD). This approach was used to evaluate the response of a 9L rat brain tumor model to 20 mg/kg and 40 mg/kg of the anti-angiogenic agent SU11657. The 20-mg/kg dose significantly decreased mVD by 29.9% (P = 0.02). The 40-mg/kg dose significantly decreased mVD by 30.4% (P = 0.0007), SE blood volume by 31.8% (P = 0.03), GE and SE MTT by 46.9% (P = 0.03) and 62.0% (P = 0.0005), and increased GE and SE blood flow by 36.6% (P = 0.04) and 52.6% (P = 0.02). These findings demonstrate that DSC-MRI perfusion methods can play a key role in the noninvasive evaluation of morphological and functional changes in tumor vasculature in response to therapy. Magn Reson Med 57:680–687, 2007. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Mitochondrial retrograde regulation in plants

Plant cells must react to a variety of adverse environmental conditions that they may experience on a regular basis. Part of this response centers around (1) ROS as damaging molecules and signaling molecules; (2) redox status, which can be influenced by ROS production; and (3) availability of metabolites. All of these are also likely to interface with changes in hormone levels [Desikan, R., Hancock, J., Neill, S., 2005. Reactive oxygen species as signalling molecules. In: Smirnoff, N. (ed.), Antioxidants and reactive oxygen species in plants. Blackwell Pub. Ltd., Oxford, pp. 169-196; Kwak, J.M., Nguyen, V., Schroeder, J.I., 2006. The role of reactive oxygen species in hormonal responses. Plant Physiol. 141, 323-329]. Each of these areas can be strongly influenced by changes in mitochondrial function. Such changes trigger altered nuclear gene expression by a poorly understood process of mitochondrial retrograde regulation (MRR), which is likely composed of several distinct signaling pathways. Much of what is known about plant MRR centers around the response to a dysfunctional mtETC and subsequent induction of genes encoding proteins involved in recovery of mitochondrial functions, such as AOX and alternative NAD(P)H dehydrogenases, and genes encoding enzymes aimed at regaining ROS level/redox homeostasis, such as glutathione transferases, catalases, ascorbate peroxidases and superoxide dismutases. However, as evidence of new and interesting targets of MRR emerge, this picture is likely to change and the complexity and importance of MRR in plant responses to stresses and the decision for cells to either recover or switch into programmed cell death mode is likely to become more apparent.
A novel quinone: quinone methide isomerase generates quinone methides in insect cuticle.

Insoluble cuticle-bound enzyme(s) of Manduca sexta pharate pupae, which is known to convert N-acetyldopamine to N-acetylnorepinephrine through the intermediate formation of quinone methide, also converted exogenously supplied N-acetyldopamine quinone to N-acetylnorepinephrine. The presence of a quinone trap such as N-acetylcysteine in the reaction mixture containing N-acetyldopamine and cuticle prevented the formation of N-acetylnorepinephrine but readily yielded N-acetylcysteine-N-acetyldopamine quinone adduct as a dead-end product. These results indicate the oxidation of N-acetyldopamine to its quinone and its enzyme-catalyzed isomerization to quinone methide before yielding N-acetyl-norepinephrine as the stable product. The role of this newly discovered isomerase in sclerotization of insect cuticle is discussed.
Theory into Practice: Mentoring Student Teachers: Collaboration with Physical Education Teacher Education

(2011). Theory into Practice: Mentoring Student Teachers: Collaboration with Physical Education Teacher Education. Strategies: Vol. 24, No. 4, pp. 30-34.
What is the meaningful measure of neuronal spike train activity

Neuronal spike train activity is conventionally viewed in terms of certain measures of central tendency (mean or median of intervals between discrete events or mean rate of such events) and their associated measures of variability (S.D., skew, etc.). Less commonly, investigators will compute the probabilities of occurrence in an Information Theory context. Another rarely considered measure of spike trains is serial ordering. Seldom is more than one of these approaches applied to the same spike train, and we are unaware of any case where all 3 have been applied to the same train. In order to test the inter-relationships among these approaches, we examined the same spike trains with all 3 analytic methods. Measures of central tendency were taken from the original absolute interval values, whereas entropy and serial order (Markov order) were computed from the sequences of patterns of adjacent intervals, expressed in the same non-parametric format. We found that entropy (measure of uncertainty) did not correlate well with the degree of serial ordering (Markov order). Entropy also did not correlate well with measures of central tendency (median or mean interval, or impulses/s) nor with the variability of such measures. An inverse correlation was seen between Markov order and several measures of central tendency (mean interval and rate) as well as with several measures of variability. The implications of these analyses extend beyond the analysis of spike trains to most all biological and physical time series. For neurophysiologists, these analyses may challenge our common assumptions about the most appropriate way to describe and interpret neuronal spike train activity.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Embryonic dorsal-ventral signaling: secreted frizzled-related proteins as inhibitors of tolloid proteinases.

Here we report an unexpected role for the secreted Frizzled-related protein (sFRP) Sizzled/Ogon as an inhibitor of the extracellular proteolytic reaction that controls BMP signaling during Xenopus gastrulation. Microinjection experiments suggest that the Frizzled domain of Sizzled regulates the activity of Xolloid-related (Xlr), a metalloproteinase that degrades Chordin, through the following molecular pathway: Szl ┤ Xlr ┤ Chd ┤ BMP → P-Smad1 → Szl. In biochemical assays, the Xlr proteinase has similar affinities for its endogenous substrate Chordin and for its competitive inhibitor Sizzled, which is resistant to enzyme digestion. Extracellular levels of Sizzled and Chordin in the gastrula embryo and enzyme reaction constants were all in the 10−8 M range, consistent with a physiological role in the regulation of dorsal-ventral patterning. Sizzled is also a natural inhibitor of BMP1, a Tolloid metalloproteinase of medical interest. Furthermore, mouse sFRP2 inhibited Xlr, suggesting a wider role for this molecular mechanism.
Effect of hay-concentrate ratio on rumen fill as measured by an antipyrine dilution technique.

Summary The rumen contents of seven fistulated bovines were removed and weighed at from 2 to 24 hr. after feeding. These 477- to 1,310-lb. animals were fed from 1.3 to 3.1lb. of air-dry material per 100lb. body weight per day in one portion. Regression equations were developed for the total contents and water contained in the reticulo-rumen as a function of the per cent concentrate in the ration, time after feeding, and plane of nutrition. The per cent concentrate in the ration had a much larger effect on the amount of rumen contents than either time after feeding or plane of nutrition. Hay-concentrate ratios did not significantly affect dry matter concentrations in the rumen. The dry matter content of rumen ingesta decreased with time after feeding (P
N-Lysine Propionylation Controls the Activity of Propionyl-CoA Synthetase

Reversible protein acetylation is a ubiquitous means for the rapid control of diverse cellular processes. Acetyltransferase enzymes transfer the acetyl group from acetyl-CoA to lysine residues, while deacetylase enzymes catalyze removal of the acetyl group by hydrolysis or by an NAD+-dependent reaction. Propionyl-coenzyme A (CoA), like acetyl-CoA, is a high energy product of fatty acid metabolism and is produced through a similar chemical reaction. Because acetyl-CoA is the donor molecule for protein acetylation, we investigated whether proteins can be propionylated in vivo, using propionyl-CoA as the donor molecule. We report that the Salmonella enterica propionyl-CoA synthetase enzyme PrpE is propionylated in vivo at lysine 592; propionylation inactivates PrpE. The propionyl-lysine modification is introduced by bacterial Gcn-5-related N-acetyltransferase enzymes and can be removed by bacterial and human Sir2 enzymes (sirtuins). Like the sirtuin deacetylation reaction, sirtuin-catalyzed depropionylation is NAD+-dependent and produces a byproduct, O-propionyl ADP-ribose, analogous to the O-acetyl ADP-ribose sirtuin product of deacetylation. Only a subset of the human sirtuins with deacetylase activity could also depropionylate substrate. The regulation of cellular propionyl-CoA by propionylation of PrpE parallels regulation of acetyl-CoA by acetylation of acetyl-CoA synthetase and raises the possibility that propionylation may serve as a regulatory modification in higher organisms.
Therapy for Adults with Refractory Chronic Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Adult chronic immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a common hematologic disorder; about 14,000 to 16,000 new cases occur each year in the United States. Initial treatment with corticosteroids and splenectomy results in normal or "safe" platelet counts in more than 70% of patients. Treatment of patients refractory to these two treatments is difficult. This paper describes a structured approach to therapy that is based on a literature review and personal experience, including experience with treatment of chronic ITP in special situations (such as emergent bleeding, pregnancy, and central nervous system bleeding). Treatment of most patients with chronic ITP is fairly straightforward, but management of patients refractory to corticosteroids and splenectomy can be difficult. Large, randomized studies are clearly needed to better evaluate the many types of treatment that are recommended for refractory patients.
An inexpensive circuit for recording mean heart-rate

Abstract A circuit and technique are described for recording mean heart-rate from rats. This method obviates the use of a polygraph for recording the EKG and eliminates errors inherent in computing heart-rate from polygraph records.
Read-Write-Erasable Thin Film Optical Recording Medium

The optical recording characteristics of a silver halide thin film structure were investigated with respect to its possible use as a read-write-erasable medium. Tracks of ~1μm spots were recorded using a polarized He-Ne as the writing source. The recorded tracks were viewed with a GaAs laser between crossed polarizers; the writing energy density was determined to be ~0.2 joules/cm2 in the transmission mode. Erasure was also demonstrated by re-exposing a portion of the recorded tracks with the defocused write laser with its polarization rotates by 45° from the original write polarization direction.
Fixed endpoint optimal control

This note offers a new proof of the necessary conditions for fixed endpoint optimal control. Our approach simplifies the conventional derivation of the necessary conditions by using a transversality condition to ensure feasibility of modifications to the optimal path. We further prove that this transversality condition holds automatically at the optimum and can therefore be ignored in the statement of the necessary conditions.
INTERFERON INDUCTION WITH NEWCASTLE DISEASE VIRUS IN FS-4 CELLS: EFFECT OF PRIMING WITH INTERFERON AND OF VIRUS INACTIVATING TREATMENTS

Inoculation of human FS-4 cells with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) resulted in the induction of two distinct interferon responses, one that peaked at about 5 hr (early response) and one that reached a maximum between 10 to 24 hr after inoculation (second response). The early interferon response was enhanced by previous treatment of the cells with interferon (priming), whereas the second response decreased after interferon treatment in a dose-dependent manner. The early response diminished with decreasing multiplicities of infection, the magnitude of the second response in unprimed cells was relatively independent of the dose of NDV employed. The early interferon response was sensitive to inhibition by actinomycin D for only 1 hr after inoculation. In marked contrast, the second response remained sensitive to inhibition by actinomycin D until 12 hr after inoculation. The ability of NDV to induce the second response was greatly diminished by irradiation of the virus with ultraviolet light or by its treatment with hydroxylamine, whereas the ability to stimulate the early response was relatively resistant to these virus-inactivating treatments. Treatment of NDV with hydroxylamine abolished the virus to induce the second response at the same rate as it destroyed infectivity. The results suggest the existence of at least two distinct mechanisms of interferon induction by NDV; the early response is triggered either by a virion component or by a product of primary transcription, whereas induction of the second response requires the expression of some functions of the virus not needed for triggering the early response.
A multispectrum analysis of the ν1 band of H12C14N: Part I. Intensities, self-broadening and self-shift coefficients

Abstract The infrared spectrum of HCN in the region between 3150 and 3450 cm −1 has been recorded at 0.005 and 0.008 cm −1 resolution using two different Fourier transform spectrometers, the McMath–Pierce Fourier transform spectrometer located at the National Solar Observatory (on Kitt Peak) and the Bruker-120HR Fourier transform spectrometer situated at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory at Richland, Washington. Room temperature measurements were made of positions, absolute intensities, self-broadening and self-shift coefficients for individual lines belonging to the HCN ν1 band centered near 3311 cm −1 . These are to our knowledge the first extensive set of self-broadening and self shift measurements in the band. In addition, intensities, self-broadening and self-shift coefficients for several lines of the ν1+ν21−ν21 hot band and several intensities for lines in the H13C14N and H12C15N isotopomers were also determined. A multispectrum nonlinear least-squares fitting algorithm was used to fit the entire spectral region covering the 3200– 3400 cm −1 region of up to 27 spectra simultaneously. The measured line intensities in the ν1 band were further analyzed to derive the vibrational band intensity and the Herman–Wallis coefficients. Differences in line intensities between 5 and 10% are found with respect to present measurements and the values given in the HITRAN database for m values beyond 25 in the P branch and 5 in the R branch.
A Decade After Guatemala's Agreement on Identity and Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Mayan-Tz’utujil Women's Views on Health, Healing, and Disease

Mayan women have been called “guardians of life and ancestral culture.” As such, one of their main responsibilities is the health of those in their care. Mothers are the ones who, as soon as a child, husband, or older relative falls sick, assess the symptoms and decide how to proceed. Although Mayan-Tz’utujil healing practices have been the subject of study on numerous occasions, the literature lacks women's views on health, healing, and disease. In this study I present those views within the framework of postcolonial studies, reflecting on the changes in Guatemala's national health policy.
Feature subset selection for age-related changes in EEG and EMG during motor tasks

The paper presents an ongoing investigation into the feasibility of distinguishing between healthy young and older adults, but more specifically into the nature of the features that would provide this distinction. The present study compared the performance of forward, backward, and branch and bound feature selection algorithms when applied to electroencephalography and electromyography data. The results showed that the forward selection algorithm outperformed the other techniques for this particular problem. In addition, time domain features were primarily selected over frequency domain features. Validation of the selected subset suggests the approach is appropriate for future investigation.
Immune function, hepatic CYP1A, and reproductive biomarker responses in the gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, during dietary exposures to endocrine disrupters

The gulf killifish, Fundulus grandis, was used to determine the influence of biological rhythms on three biomarker responses. We first developed monoclonal antibodies against the model's immunoglobulins and vitellogenin in order to measure antibody responses and vitellogenesis, respectively. We then treated adults with 10, 1, 1, and 10 ppm of Aroclor 1254, tribuyltin, 3-methylcholanthrene, and nonyl-phenol, respectively, in mixtures over a 16-week period. The study followed Vibrio anguillarum-specific antibody responses, hepatic CYP1A, and plasma vitellogenin levels in the morning and again in the evening at 2-week intervals. The contaminated diet suppressed secondary antibody responses, but only in the morning. The contaminated diet also altered CYP1A, but not vitellogenesis. In addition, fish in the control group exhibited daily and seasonal differences in specific antibody levels and CYP1A induction. Moreover, circulating vitellogenin levels in control males sampled in the morning increased throughout the exposure, but remained below those of females. This study underscores the need to consider normal physiological rhythms when employing biomarkers in toxicology.
New developments in laser-induced photochemical anemometry (LIPA)

This paper introduces advances in LIPA (Laser Induced Photochemical Anemometry) and LIPA's application to the induction flow of a four-stroke internal combustion (IC) engine employing these advances. The IC engine is represented by a one-valve axisymmetric water analog model which was manufactured from quartz in order to achieve complete visual access since LIPA is an optical measurement concept. Two flow visualization techniques are used to obtain a qualitative picture of the induction flow. Reduction of LIPA data is done for the realization of the intake flow of one engine cycle at 20 RPM of obtain quantitative information of the flow field--velocity and vorticity maps for several crank-angles during the early phase of intake will be presented. These results which characterize the flow field in terms of fluid dynamic quantities are compared to the those results attained by flow visualization. A strong correlation between the two data sets (visualization and LIPA) will be denoted.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Rapid Access Color Reconnaissance System

The problem which faces photointerpreters is that of extracting the maximum amount of military information from a certain set of film data which often consists of only about two or three pieces of simultaneous imagery. Usually, panchromatic, near infra red and thermal infra red photography is employed. It is from this photography that the photointerpreter is required to obtain pertinent terrain characteristics as well as the location, strength and disposition of the enemy.© (1966) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Superconducting joint between multifilamentary wires 1. Joint-making and joint results

Abstract A method of making joints between superconducting multifilamentary wires has been developed in connexion with the construction of a 7 T nmr magnet. Test results indicate that they have acceptably low resistances and carry sufficient currents.