cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Factors Involved in the Regulation of a Ligninase Activity in Phanerochaete chrysosporium

The regulation of an H2O2-dependent ligninolytic activity was examined in the wood decay fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium. The ligninase appears in cultures upon limitation for nitrogen or carbohydrate and is suppressed by excess nutrients, by cycloheximide, or by culture agitation. Activity is increased by idiophasic exposure of cultures to 100% O2. Elevated levels of ligninase and, in some cases, of extracellular H2O2 production are detected after brief incubation of cultures with lignins or lignin substructure models, with the secondary metabolite veratryl alcohol, or with other related compounds. It is concluded that lignin degradation (lignin → CO2) by this organism is regulated in part at the level of the ligninase, which is apparently inducible by its substrates or their degradation products.
Hybrid control for the Pendubot

A new hybrid controller has been applied for feedback stabilization of a Pendubot, whose dynamics show second order nonholonomic properties. Experimental results for different test cases show that the hybrid control outperforms the existing control algorithm. This successful implementation provides a novel alternative for the control of under-actuated mechanical systems. Many such systems are subject to second order non-integrable differential constraints.
THE ORGANIZATION OF YEAST NUCLEOHISTONE FIBERS

Previous studies have indicated that yeast histones are considerably less basic than those found in higher organisms and that the very lysine-rich histone fraction is absent (1, 2, 3) . Since yeast chromosomes do not condense completely at mitotic and meiotic metaphase (4, 5), it has been suggested (1, 2) that the very lysine-rich histone fraction occurs only in organisms exhibiting condensed chromosomes at metaphase . It has also been postulated that this fraction plays an essential role in the structural organization of metaphase chromosomes (1, 2) . The purpose of this communication is to report electron microscope studies on chromatin fibers of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae . The study was initiated to determine whether the basic nucleohistone structure of yeast, a rather primitive eucaryote, differed from that of multicellular organisms exhibiting condensed chromosomes and containing the very lysine-rich histone fraction (6-10) .
Rapid Penicillinase Paper Strip Test for Detection of Beta-Lactamase-Producing Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae

A modified 1-min iodometric paper strip test for penicillinase activity was developed for detection of beta-lactamase-producing isolates of Haemophilus influenzae and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The test is simple to perform and uses reagent-impregnated strips that may be stored for 1 year or more prior to use.
Treatment of Traumatic Myositis Ossificans with Acetic Acid Iontophoresis

The purpose of this case report is to document the treatment of a patient who had traumatic myositis ossificans with acetic acid iontophoresis. A 16-year-old boy developed quadriceps femoris muscle myositis ossificans as a result of a springboard diving accident. A 2% acetic acid solution was administered via iontophoresis into the myositis ossificans, followed by 8 minutes of pulsed ultrasound at 1.5 W/cm2. The treatment was performed three times per week for 3 weeks. At the conclusion of the treatments, radiographic findings indicated a 98.9% decrease in the size of the ossified mass. The patient regained full range of motion and was able to return to pain-free activity. This case report demonstrates the potential for a therapeutic program of acetic acid iontophoresis and ultrasound in eliminating myositis ossificans.
Characteristics of Sebaceous Carcinoma and Early Outcomes of Treatment Using Mohs Micrographic Surgery Versus Wide Local Excision: An Update of the Mayo Clinic Experience Over the Past 2 Decades

BACKGROUNDSebaceous carcinoma (SC) is a rare cutaneous neoplasm.OBJECTIVETo characterize SC and treatment approaches and outcomes.METHODS and MATERIALSWe retrospectively reviewed records of patients with SC from 1992 through 2012. Recurrence-free survival was estimated and compared between groups.RE
The guaranteed bandwidth and balancing mechanism for high speed metropolitan area networks

The bandwidth balancing (BWB DQDB) and guaranteed bandwidth (GBW DQDB) mechanisms have been recently proposed for addressing the issue of channel bandwidth allocation on DQDB type networks. BWB DQDB can introduce fairness into a DQDB network while GBW DQDB can guarantee the bandwidth of certain high priority stations. We introduce the guaranteed bandwidth and balancing mechanism (GBWB DQDB) which aims at combining the advantages of BWB DQDB and GBW DQDB. That is, it can guarantee the bandwidth of high priority stations and at the same time, enables them to compete for the remaining channel bandwidth. We provide a detailed description of the new mechanism and investigate its performance through simulation results. Furthermore, we compare GBWB DQDB with BWB DQDB and GBW DQDB. >
Effects of carbon dioxide concentration on the interactive effects of temperature and water vapour on stomatal conductance in soybean

Soybeans were grown at three CO2 concentrations in outdoor growth chambers and at two concentrations in controlled-environment growth chambers to investigate the interactive effects of CO2, temperature and leaf-to-air vapour pressure difference (LAVPD) on stomatal conductance. The decline in stomatal conductance with CO2 was a function of both leaf temperature and LAVPD. In the field measurements, stomatal conductance was more sensitive to LAVPD at low CO2 at 30 °C but not at 35 °C. There was also a direct increase in conductance with temperature, which was greater at the two elevated carbon dioxide concentrations. Environmental growth chamber results showed that the relative stomatal sensitivity to LAVPD decreased with both leaf temperature and CO2. Measurements in the environmental growth chamber were also performed at the opposing CO2, and these experiments indicate that the stomatal sensitivity to LAVPD was determined more by growth CO2 than by measurement CO2. Two models that describe stomatal responses to LAVPD were compared with the outdoor data to evaluate whether these models described adequately the interactive effects of CO2, LAVPD and temperature.
Lessons in Teaching Hope: An Interview with C. R. Snyder

Lorie Ritschel received her undergraduate degrees in French and psychology from the University of Georgia in 1999. In 2002, she received her MA in clinical psychology from the University of Kansas, where she currently is pursuing a doctoral degree. Lorie is the clinic systems coordinator and a therapist at the University of Kansas Psychological Clinic. She also has taught undergraduate courses in abnormal psychology. Lorie's research examines the roles of mindfulness and hope in psychotherapy. C. R. (Rick) Snyder received his PhD in clinical psychology from Vanderbilt University in 1971. His entire career has been at the Department of Psychology, University of Kansas, Lawrence, where he was promoted to full professor in 1980. Director of the Kansas Clinical Program from 1974 to 2001, he became the Wright Distinguished Professor of Clinical Psychology in 2002. Editor of the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology from 1987 to 2001, he presently edits the Oxford University Press Book Series in Human Motiv...
Oxidant-NO dependent gene regulation in dogs with type I diabetes: impact on cardiac function and metabolism.

Background: The mechanisms responsible for the cardiovascular mortality in type I diabetes (DM) have not been defined completely. We have shown in conscious dogs with DM that: 1) baseline coronary blood flow (CBF) was significantly decreased, 2) endothelium-dependent (ACh) coronary vasodilation was impaired, and 3) reflex cholinergic NO-dependent coronary vasodilation was selectively depressed. The most likely mechanism responsible for the depressed reflex cholinergic NO-dependent coronary vasodilation was the decreased bioactivity of NO from the vascular endothelium. The goal of this study was to investigate changes in cardiac gene expression in a canine model of alloxan-induced type 1 diabetes. Methods: Mongrel dogs were chronically instrumented and the dogs were divided into two groups: one normal and the other diabetic. In the diabetic group, the dogs were injected with alloxan monohydrate (40-60 mg/kg iv) over 1 min. The global changes in cardiac gene expression in dogs with alloxan-induced diabetes were studied using Affymetrix Canine Array. Cardiac RNA was extracted from the control and DM (n = 4). Results: The array data revealed that 797 genes were differentially expressed (P < 0.01; fold change of at least ±2). 150 genes were expressed at significantly greater levels in diabetic dogs and 647 were significantly reduced. There was no change in eNOS mRNA. There was up regulation of some components of the NADPH oxidase subunits (gp91 by 2.2 fold, P < 0.03), and down-regulation of SOD1 (3 fold, P < 0.001) and decrease (4 - 40 fold) in a large number of genes encoding mitochondrial enzymes. In addition, there was down-regulation of Ca 2+ cycling genes (ryanodine receptor; SERCA2 Calcium ATPase), structural proteins (actin alpha). Of particular interests are genes involved in glutathione metabolism (glutathione peroxidase 1, glutathione reductase and glutathione S-transferase), which were markedly down regulated. Conclusion: our findings suggest that type I diabetes might have a direct effect on the heart by impairing NO bioavailability through oxidative stress and perhaps lipid peroxidases.
Sweatshop labor is wrong unless the shoes are cute: Cognition can both help and hurt moral motivated reasoning

The present research investigated the dual role of cognition as either an enabler of moral reasoning or self-interested motivated reasoning for endorsing sweatshop labor. Experiment 1A showed motivated reasoning: participants were more likely to endorse the use of sweatshop labor when considering a Caribbean vacation with questionable labor practices for themselves than for their friends. Experiment 1B demonstrated that endorsement of sweatshop labor mediated the relationship between product desirability and purchase intention. Experiment 2 found that cognitive resources were recruited to enhance motivated reasoning regarding sweatshop labor, the latter of which was reduced under cognitive load. Experiments 3A and 3B found that when cognitive resources were specifically directed in a comparative joint evaluation, participants offered harsher views on the ethicality of a favored company, and were less influenced by motivated factors than when under separate evaluations.
Direct measurement of the singlet oxygen lifetime in zeolites by near-IR phosphorescence

Time-resolved near-IR phosphorescence spectroscopy was employed to determine the lifetime of singlet oxygen in Y-zeolites and porous silica and it was found to depend strongly on the alumina content of the zeolite.
Forest Communities of Natchez Trace State Forest, Western Tennessee Coastal Plain

In an effort to clarify vegetation gradients in a Mississippi Embayment Coastal Plain forest, we classified sixty-one forest stands in Natchez Trace State Forest (NTSF). Ten dominance types were delineated from cluster analysis that matched seven alliances of The Nature Conservancy's (TNC) National Vegetation Classification System. Ordination analysis clearly separated upland and lowland (floodplain and bottoms) dominance types, but differences among upland dominance types were more subtle and related to a topographic gradient involving slope position and aspect. NTSF is still recovering from severe anthropogenic disturbances (early in the 1900s), so a variety of early and mid-successional species are found throughout, e.g., Liquidambar styraciflua and Quercus alba. This successional component weakens vegetation-environment relationships and complicates interpretation of stand composition. Upland forests are succeeding to mesophytic dominance, especially by Fagus grandifolia. Vegetation was a mix between typical Coastal Plain forests, with Ilex opaca common, and typical Central Hardwood forests.
Phase I/II Trial of Erlotinib and Temozolomide With Radiation Therapy in the Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme: North Central Cancer Treatment Group Study N0177

Purpose Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) amplification in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a common occurrence and is associated with treatment resistance. Erlotinib, a selective EGFR inhibitor, was combined with temozolomide (TMZ) and radiotherapy (RT) in a phase I/II trial. Patients and Methods Adults not taking enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants after resection or biopsy of GBM were treated with erlotinib (150 mg daily) until progression. Erlotinib was delivered alone for 1 week, then concurrently with TMZ (75 mg mg/m2 daily) and RT (60 Gy), and finally, concurrently with up to six cycles of adjuvant TMZ (200 mg/m2 daily for 5 days every 28 days). The primary end point was survival at 1 year. Results Ninety-seven eligible patients were accrued with a median follow-up time of 22.2 months. By definition, the primary end point was successfully met with a median survival time of 15.3 months. However, there was no sign of benefit in overall survival when comparing N0177 with the RT/TMZ arm of the Europe...
1st international workshop on data analysis patterns in software engineering (DAPSE 2013)

Data scientists in software engineering seek insight in data collected from software projects to improve software development. The demand for data scientists with domain knowledge in software development is growing rapidly and there is already a shortage of such data scientists. Data science is a skilled art with a steep learning curve. To shorten that learning curve, this workshop will collect best practices in form of data analysis patterns, that is, analyses of data that leads to meaningful conclusions and can be reused for comparable data. In the workshop we compiled a catalog of such patterns that will help experienced data scientists to better communicate about data analysis. The workshop was targeted at experienced data scientists and researchers and anyone interested in how to analyze data correctly and efficiently in a community accepted way.
Problems with the diagnosis of metastatic neuroendocrine neoplasms. Which diagnostic criteria should we use to determine tumor origin and help guide therapy

Neuroendocrine neoplasms (NENs) can often present with metastatic disease before the primary tumor is discovered. Metastatic lesions are generally classified as well differentiated and poorly differentiated for prognostic and therapeutic purposes. In addition, for well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors (WDNETs), pathologists are expected to determine the site of origin, if not already known, and grade the tumors. However, it is often difficult for pathologists to provide this information with certainty without knowing the site of tumor origin, as different criteria have been proposed by WHO for classification of gastrointestinal and pulmonary NENs. In this review, we will discuss the current classification and grading schema of NENs and their impact on clinical care, the differential diagnosis of NENs, the use of immunohistochemical stains that help identify tumor site of origin, and a proposed approach for the diagnosis and classification of metastatic NENs.
Do Secretory Pathway Snare Proteins Mediate Myelinogenesis

Oligodendrocyte development proceeds along a well defined developmental lineage both in vivo and in vitro (Fig. 1). The differentiated oligodendrocyte synthesizes a vast amount of myelin membrane, in the range of 5,000–50,000 mm2 per cell per day (Pfeiffer et al., 1993). In the neo-natal rat brain, or example, the mg of dry weight or myelin increases 600% from P0 to P30 and 1800% by P180; over this same time period total brain weight increases by only 50–60% (Norton and Cammer, 1984). How do oligodendrocytes accurately target and assemble myelin lipids and proteins into mature myelin membrane?
Team Training in Obstetrics: A multi-level evaluation

INTRODUCTION Obstetric complications and adverse patient events are often preventable. Teamwork and situational awareness (SA) can improve detection and coordination of critical obstetric (OB) emergencies, subsequently improving decision making and patient outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a team training intervention in improving learning and transfer of teamwork, SA, decision making, and cognitive bias as well as patient outcomes in OB. METHOD An adapted TeamSTEPPS training program was delivered to OB clinicians. Training targeted communication, mutual support, situation monitoring, leadership, SA, and cognitive bias. We conducted a repeated measures multilevel evaluation of the training using Kirkpatrick's (1994) framework of training evaluation to determine impact on trainee reactions, learning, transfer, and results. Data were collected using surveys, situational judgment tests (SJTs), observations, and patient chart reviews. RESULTS Participants perceived the training as useful. Additionally, participants acquired knowledge of communication strategies, though knowledge of other team competencies did not significantly improve nor did self-reported teamwork on the unit. Although SJT decision accuracy did not significantly improve for all scenarios, results of behavioral observation suggest that decision accuracy significantly improved on the job, and there was a marginally significant reduction in babies' hospital length of stay. DISCUSSION These findings indicate that the training intervention was partially effective, but more work needs to be done to determine the conditions under which training is most effective, and the ways in which to sustain improvements. Future research is needed to confirm its generalizability to additional OB units and departments.
First report of fumed alumina incorporation in carbon–carbon composite and the consequent improvement of the oxidation resistance and mechanical properties

Abstract The first report of fumed alumina incorporation in carbon–carbon (C/C) composite is provided. Fumed alumina (0.5 vol.% solid alumina in the C/C, 15-nm average pore size, 100–200-nm squishable/conformable aggregates of nanoparticles) as a filler in unidirectional C/C (44 vol.% fibers, fabricated by 1000 °C 21-MPa hot-press mesophase-pitch carbonization) is as effective as one-cycle densification for decreasing the porosity (from 16% to 14%) and increasing the flexural modulus (from 52 to 68 GPa) and longitudinal hardness (from 2.7 to 5.5 GPa), and more effective than one-cycle densification for improving the flexural strength (to 330 vs. 280 MPa), longitudinal compressive modulus (to 38 vs. 30 GPa) and oxidation resistance. The positive mechanical/thermal effects of fumed alumina incorporation suggest pore structure refinement, due to the nanostructure and conformability of fumed alumina. Thus, a quality C/C is obtained at a low density (1.54 g/cm 3 ). Fumed alumina is more effective than organobentonite (3.3. vol.%, previously shown to serve unusually as both filler and binder) for improving the oxidation resistance and as effective as organobentonite for increasing the flexural strength/modulus, in spite of the higher porosity of its C/C (14% versus 12%). However, fumed alumina is inferior to organobentonite for increasing the toughness or longitudinal compressive modulus.
KN-93, an Inhibitor of Multifunctional Ca++/Calmodulin-Dependent Protein Kinase, Decreases Early Afterdepolarizations in Rabbit Heart

The multifunctional Ca++/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase) mediates Ca++-induced augmentation of L-type Ca++ current (ICa); therefore it may act as a proarrhythmic signaling molecule during early afterdepolarizations (EADs) due to ICa. To investigate the hypothesis that ICa-dependent EADs are favored by CaM kinase activation EADs were induced with clofilium in isolated rabbit hearts. All EADs were rapidly terminated with ICa antagonists. Hearts were pretreated with the CaM kinase inhibitor KN-93 or the inactive analog KN-92 (0.5 microM) for 10 min before clofilium exposure. EADs were significantly suppressed by KN-93 (EADs present in 4/10 hearts) compared to KN-92 (EADs present in 10/11 hearts) (P =.024). There were no significant differences in parameters favoring EADs such as monophasic action potential duration or heart rate in KN-93- or KN-92-treated hearts. CaM kinase activity in situ increased 37% in hearts with EADs compared to hearts without EADs (P =.015). This increase in CaM kinase activity was prevented by pretreatment with KN-93. In vitro, KN-93 potently inhibited rabbit myocardial CaM kinase activity (calculated Ki 100 microM). The actions of KN-93 and KN-92 on ICa and other repolarizing K+ currents did not explain preferential EAD suppression by KN-93. These data show a novel association between CaM kinase activation and EADs and are consistent with the hypothesis that the ICa and CaM kinase activation both contribute to EADs in this model.
Student participation in disciplinary discourses: when the teacher takes a step back, who takes a step forward?

This study compares the participation patterns of students across two classrooms, which were involved in a design-based experiment called PATHS. While both classes followed the same curriculum, which encouraged disciplinary engagement in the subjects of history and science, the pedagogical stances of the teachers led to some noticeable differences in the "participatory roles" that students took up during the course of instruction. However, despite differences in terms of the way students participated in discussions, this study finds that the stratification of students within each classroom in terms of the total amount of participation per student was the same across both rooms. The data point to pervasive patterns of student/student and student/teacher interaction, which confer status (and thus the right to speak) on particular kids.
Pregnancy-specific β1 glycoprotein in rat: tissue distribution of the mRNA and identification of testicular cDNA clones

A partial cDNA of pregnancy-specific beta 1 glycoprotein isolated from human term placenta was used as probe for slot-blot analysis of total RNA extracted from placental and non-placental tissues in the rat. RNA hybridization with the probe was observed in rat placenta, indicating the presence of mRNA highly homologous to human SP1. The quantity of hybridizing RNA increased with increasing gestational age. In non-pregnant rats, SP1-hybridizing mRNAs were found in uterus, intestine and testis, while no hybridizing material was detected in liver or muscle. The amount of rat SP1 mRNA, based on percentage of total tissue RNA, was greatest in the testis followed by intestine, uterus and placenta. Using the same probe, six clones were obtained by screening a rat testis cDNA library. These clones carried cDNA inserts ranging in size from 1530 to 1983 bp. An internal EcoRI site was present in all cDNA clones. Southern blot analysis confirmed that the cDNA insert of all the clones was homologous to human placental SP1 cDNA. These results suggest a possible origin for the trace quantities of SP1 detected in non-pregnant individuals. It also confirms that the rat is an appropriate model for studying the physiological functions of SP1.
Abstract B93: Colorectal cancer screening patterns among residents living in Ohio Appalachia

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to document colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates among residents of Appalachia Ohio who were average-risk for CRC prior to the implementation of a mass media campaign to improve CRC screening in this population which experiences increased CRC incidence and mortality rates. Methods: A commercial list of Ohio Appalachia residents 50+ years of age was obtained for the 12 counties. Residents from each county were randomly selected and sent a letter of invitation to complete a telephone survey. Participants were called, consented, and interviewed. A medical record release form was requested to confirm self-report of CRC screening. Rate of within CRC screening guidelines was considered for any of the following: fecal occult blood test within the last year, flexible sigmoidoscopy within the last five years, or colonoscopy within the last ten years. The odds ratios (and 95% CIs) for being within guidelines by self-report were calculated for each covariate via univariate logistic regression. We conducted a path analysis using Mplus 5.0 to assess the relationship between factors leading to a CRC screening test. Results: A total of 1,106 interviews were completed. A medical record release form was provided by 795 (71.9%) of respondents and CRC screening information was returned by clinics for 91.4% of these participants. Overall, the majority of individuals were female (59%), White (97%), and were married (77%). The mean age was 61 years old, 38% were retired, 44% had less than a college education, 17% had annual household incomes less than $20,000, 91% had health insurance, and 12% were current smokers. Among the respondents, 93% reported that they had a healthcare provider, 82% had a check-up in the last year, and 54% rated their health as excellent or very good. Being within CRC screening guidelines by self-report was 61.4% in the entire sample, and among those with a medical record review (MRR) available, 68% were within guidelines by self-report and 49% by MRR. The following characteristics were significantly (p $50,000/year income vs. Conclusions: Low CRC screening rates among a random sample of residents of Appalachia Ohio show evidence to support increased CRC mortality rates among residents of Appalachia, documented in recent publications. Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20(10 Suppl):B93.
American dental hygienists' attitudes towards chairside medical screening in a dental setting

Objectives Targeted screening for medical conditions in a dental setting can be an effective strategy for early identification of individuals at increased disease risk. Dentists, patients and physicians have a favourable attitude towards this strategy. Given that dental hygienists (DHs) are involved in preventive and educational activities, this seems like a natural extension to their roles. We report on the attitudes of American DHs towards chairside medical screening. Methods A 5-point Likert scale (1 = very important/willing, 5 = very unimportant/unwilling) survey was mailed to a nationwide random sample of US practicing DHs. Descriptive statistics were used for all questions, and the Friedman nonparametric analysis of variance was used for multi-element questions. Results A total of 3133 respondents returned the completed questionnaires for an effective response rate of 49.2% and a margin of error 1.8%. The majority of respondents felt it was important to perform/conduct chairside screening for hypertension (94%), diabetes mellitus (89%), cardiovascular disease (85%), HIV (79%) and hepatitis infection (78%); were willing to refer a patient for medical consult (94%), conduct screening that yields immediate results (85%); and were willing to collect the data/samples needed (57–95%). The most important considerations were dentist/owner support (98%), training (97%), patient willingness (98%) and time (98%). Conclusion Similar to dentists, physicians and patients, the majority of the DHs had a favourable attitude towards chairside medical screening. Integrating the DH into screening activities is likely to require additional training and education regarding the diseases of interest, something that could be accomplished through continuing education courses and eventually incorporation into the educational curriculum.
Electronic structure, stacking energy, partial charge, and hydrogen bonding in four periodic B-DNA models

We present a theoretical study of the electronic structure of four periodic B-DNA models labeled $(\mathrm{AT}{)}_{10}$, $(\mathrm{GC}{)}_{10}$, $(\mathrm{AT}{)}_{5}(\mathrm{GC}{)}_{5}$, and $(\mathrm{AT}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{GC}{)}_{5}$ where A denotes adenine, T denotes thymine, G denotes guanine, and C denotes cytosine. Each model has ten base pairs with Na counterions to neutralize the negative phosphate group in the backbone. The $(\mathrm{AT}{)}_{5}(\mathrm{GC}{)}_{5}$ and $(\mathrm{AT}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{GC}{)}_{5}$ models contain two and five AT-GC bilayers, respectively. When compared against the average of the two pure models, we estimate the AT-GC bilayer interaction energy to be 19.015 Kcal/mol, which is comparable to the hydrogen bonding energy between base pairs obtained from the literature. Our investigation shows that the stacking of base pairs plays a vital role in the electronic structure, relative stability, bonding, and distribution of partial charges in the DNA models. All four models show a highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) to lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) gap ranging from 2.14 to 3.12 eV with HOMO states residing on the ${\mathrm{PO}}_{4} + \mathrm{Na}$ functional group and LUMO states originating from the bases. Our calculation implies that the electrical conductance of a DNA molecule should increase with increased base-pair mixing. Interatomic bonding effects in these models are investigated in detail by analyzing the distributions of the calculated bond order values for every pair of atoms in the four models including hydrogen bonding. The counterions significantly affect the gap width, the conductivity, and the distribution of partial charge on the DNA backbone. We also evaluate quantitatively the surface partial charge density on each functional group of the DNA models.
Supplier Involvement and Contract Design During New Product Development

Early supplier involvement (ESI) infuses upfront supplier resources and expertise to accelerate the research and development (R&D) timeline, and allow for risk sharing. Successful implementation of ESI in a new product development setting, however, remains elusive due to the intricacy of interfirm collaboration while dealing with unproven technology and market uncertainty. Extending from prior ESI studies on supplier selection, resource integration, and relationship management, we propose game theoretical contracting strategies to achieve manufacturer objectives, such as predictable design timelines, sufficient supplier commitment, and radical in-process innovations. Taking into account various project factors, such as revenue forecast, technical uncertainty, market competition, and team capability, we propose an incentive compatible mechanism based on real option analysis to suggest which project stage to best engage the supplier. The supplier, in turn, can follow our analysis to determine whether to participate, and if so, the appropriate level of resource commitment. The equilibrium analysis provides managerial insights into how to best balance the time-to-market mandate with the need for accruing significant innovations through supply chain partnerships.
Roles of MAO-A and -B in the Metabolism of DA and the Oxidation of MPTP-like Compounds

Over the last several decades much has been learned about brain monoamine oxidase (MAO), a key enzyme in the metabolism of dopamine (DA). It is known that there are two forms of MAO (A and B) and that the ratio of A to B varies considerably among several species of animals (Garrick and Murphy, 1980). In addition, although DA is a substrate for both forms of the enzyme in vitro, there are differences in which form of the enzyme metabolizes endogenous DA in different species (Azzaro et al., 1985). It is also known that MAO is capable of oxidizing not only endogenous monoamines, but also a wide variety of other amines. One such amine is the proneurotoxin, 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). It has been demonstrated that MAO-B catalyzes the first step in the oxidation of MPTP (Chiba et al., 1985). Furthermore MAO-B inhibitors, given to experimental animals prior to MPTP, protect against its neurotoxicity (Heikkila et al., 1984). Recently we have found that MAO-A, in addition to MAO-B, can oxidize several neurotoxic MPTP analogs both in vitro and in vivo. Thus, either or both forms of MAO may be involved in the bioactivation and neurotoxicity of MPTP-like compounds.
Physical behavior of germanium under shock wave compression

Abstract Shock wave compression measurements from 20 to 140 kb and resistivity measurements under shock wave compression to 40 kb are reported for Ge in the [111] orientation. The Hugoniot elastic limit is found to be 44 ± 4 kb and a phase transition in the pressure range from 114 to 122 kb at about 160°C is identified. The transition occurs at a volume between 0.870 V0 and 0.880 V0. A shock wave velocity measurement in the mixed phase region allows the slope of the phase diagram to be determined as −3.1 × 10−2 kb °C−1. The pressure and volume data are in good agreement with the static work; these data, when combined with the slope of the phase diagram, clearly identify the transition as the solid-solid transition to the white tin structure. The observed exponential decrease of resistivity with elastic strain allows an energy gap change computation which agrees with theoretical calculations for silicon to 60%. Unusual features of the band structure of one-dimensionally strained [111] Ge are discussed. The new technique developed is generally applicable for shock compression and resistivity measurements on semiconductors.
The RNA of the Mature Xenopus Oocyte

The RNA of the mature oocyte of Xenopus laevis has been studied in many laboratories and more extensively characterized than that of any other oocyte. Some of the information which has been developed relative to this RNA is summarized briefly in the paragraphs below.
A Hand-Held Optoelectronic Nose for the Identification of Liquors

Successful discrimination of 14 representative liquors (including scotch, bourbon and rye whiskies, brandy, and vodka) was achieved using a 36-element colorimetric sensor array comprising multiple classes of cross-reactive, chemically responsive inks. In combination with a palm-sized image analyzer, the sensor array permits real-time identification of liquor products based on vapor analysis within 2 min. Changes in sensor spot colors before and after exposure to the vapors of the liquors that are partially oxidized as they are pumped over the sensor array provides a unique color difference pattern for each analyte. Facile identification of each liquor was demonstrated using several different multivariate analyses of the digital data library, including principal component, hierarchical cluster, and support vector machine analysis. The sensor array is also able to detect dilution (i.e., “watering”) of liquors even down to 1% addition of water. This colorimetric sensor array is a promising portable adjunct t...
Does Urinary Bisphenol-A Change after Bariatric Surgery?

Background One of the world's highest volume chemicals is bisphenol-A (BPA), an organic compound with a high solubility in fat. An emerging body of literature has suggested a link between BPA, obesity, and insulin resistance. The study aim was to determine if surgical weight loss is associated with changes in BPA levels. Study Design Demographic, preoperative, and 3-, 6-, and 12-month postoperative urine and laboratory data were prospectively collected on 22 bariatric surgery patients at a single academic institution. Laboratory values included hemoglobin A1C, fasting insulin, and fasting glucose. Demographic, preoperative and postoperative data, and urinary BPA levels were compared using Student's t-tests and simple regression analyses using GraphPad Prisim6 software. Results Patients were predominantly privately insured (86%), female (83%), and white (68%). Urinary BPA excretion was negatively correlated with weight at 6 months (r = −0.47, p = 0.029) and 12 months (r = −0.65, p = 0.006). The average weight before surgery was 274 pounds. Average preoperative BPA excretion was 2.4 ng/mL (SD = 1.0 ng/mL) in patients lighter than average weight and 1.3 ng/mL (SD = 0.7 ng/mL) in patients heavier than average weight (p = 0.006). Average BPA excretion at 12 months was 2.5 ng/mL (SD = 2.2 ng/mL) among lighter patients and 0.58 ng/mL (SD = 0.4 ng/mL) among heavier patients (p = 0.05). Follow-up included 18 patients at 3 months, 22 patients at 6 months, and 16 patients at 12 months. Higher urinary excretion of BPA preoperatively correlated with lower 6-month patient weight (r = −0.557, p = 0.025). Higher preoperative fasting insulin correlated significantly with reduced BPA excretion at 6 months postoperatively (r = −0.5366, p = 0.032). Conclusions Excretion of BPA increases as bariatric surgery patients lose weight. Heavier patients with insulin resistance may store more BPA in adipose tissue and therefore excrete less BPA.
Experimental Study of High Temperature Superconductors through Substitution

We have studied the cuprate superconductors by the means of cation doping using different elements, inducing changes in structure, oxygen ordering, carrier concentration, magnetic properties, and indeed the superconducting properties. The response of various properties to doping allows us to elucidate the role of a particular constituent of a superconductor. We will review the results of substitution for the Cu sites in YBa2Cu3O7. New results of cation substitution for the La and Cu sites in La1.85Sr0.15CuO4 will be presented and discussed.
An Introduction to Drug Testing: The Expanding Role of Mass Spectrometry

Measurement of drugs and their metabolites in biological fluids is the foundation of both therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) and toxicology. Though different in their application, each discipline depends upon accurate identification and quantification if the measurements are to be useful. Thousands of methods are described for drug analysis but until recently most have relied upon analytical tools, such as spectrophotometry and immunoassay, that suffer from lack of specificity and sensitivity. The introduction of methods based on mass spectrometry (MS), coupled to gas or liquid chromatography, has revolutionized these areas. The methods are proving to be robust, versatile, and economical. This chapter introduces the reader to the application of MS to TDM and toxicology, the steps that should be considered during implementation, and the processes that should be implemented to assure continued quality.
Effects of soluble copper and copper oxide nanoparticle exposure on the immune system of mussels, Mytilus galloprovincialis

Copper and copper oxide nanomaterials (nCuO) can enter the marine environment negatively impacting mussels, an environmental and commercially relevant organism. We analyzed the effects on the immune system of adult mussels exposed to soluble copper (CuSO4 , 20-50 μg/L) or nCuO (100-450 μg/L). CuSO4 caused significant copper accumulation in gills and cell-free hemolymph, while nCuO caused cell damage to gills and significant copper accumulation in hemocytes, the most abundant cells in the hemolymph. Both sources of copper caused cellular toxicity in hemocytes by increasing reactive oxygen species production and lysosome abundance, and decreasing multi-drug resistance transporter activity. Though hemocyte abundance was not affected, their in-vitro phagocytic activity decreased, explaining the slight (but not statistically significant) increase in bacterial proliferation in mussels exposed to the pathogenic bacteria Vibrio tubiashii following copper exposure. Thus, exposure to non-lethal concentrations of CuSO4 or nCuO can potentially increase mussel susceptibility to bacterial infections.
A Qualitative Description of the Electrosleep Experience

Clinical studies of electrosleep commonly take a quantitative point of view. They usually list numbers of successes, partial successes, and failures, treating various psychiatric and psychosomatic conditions. There are few reportings of the qualitative, subjective experience as felt by the person undergoing the treatment. The current paper describes the subjective experiences of five members of our staff who received standard courses of electrosleep as normal controls in a psychophysiologic study. The descriptions were taken from personal diaries which were kept during the course of electrosleep.
Does Structure Limit or Enable Empowerment

Based on the organizational structure and job characteristics literature, the current study examines how perceived structural characteristics (centralization and formalization) influence employees’...
Improved National Results With Simultaneous Liver-Kidney Transplantation Using Donation After Circulatory Death Donors.

Previous large registry studies have demonstrated inferior outcomes for simultaneous liver-kidney transplantation (SLKT) recipients of grafts from donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors compared with those from donation after brain death (DBD) donors in the era from 2000 to 2010. Given the improving national results in liver transplantation alone using grafts from DCD donors, the present study aimed to investigate if results with DCD-SLKT have improved in the modern era. Patients undergoing SLKT between 2000 and 2018 were obtained from the United Network for Organ Sharing Standard Analysis and Research file and divided into 2 eras based on the date of SLKT: era 1 (2000-2010) and era 2 (2011-2018). Improvement in DCD-SLKT patient, liver graft, and kidney graft survival rates was seen between era 1 and era 2 (P < 0.001). Concurrently, there was a decrease in the proportion of critically ill (P = 0.02) and retransplant (P = 0.006) candidates undergoing DCD-SLKT. When DCD-SLKT in era 2 was compared with a propensity-matched cohort of DBD-SLKT in era 2, no differences in patient (P = 0.99), liver graft (P = 0.19), or kidney graft (P = 0.90) survival were observed. In addition, both bilirubin (0.5 versus 0.5 mg/dL; P = 0.86) and creatinine (1.2 versus 1.2 mg/dL; P = 0.68) at last follow-up were not different between the DCD-SLKT and DBD-SLKT patients in era 2. In conclusion, in the most recent era, patients undergoing DCD-SLKT were able to achieve similar outcomes compared with matched patients undergoing DBD-SLKT. DCD-SLKT represents a viable option for appropriately selected recipients.
Optimizing databases by learning hidden parameters of solid state drives

Solid State Drives (SSDs) are complex devices with varying internal implementations, resulting in subtle differences in behavior between devices. In this paper, we demonstrate how a database engine can be optimized for a particular device by learning its hidden parameters. This can not only improve an application's performance, but also potentially increase the lifetime of the SSD. Our approach for optimizing a database for a given SSD consists of three steps: learning the hidden parameters of the device, proposing rules to analyze the I/O behavior of the database, and optimizing the database by eliminating violations of these rules.We obtain two different characteristics of an SSD, namely the request size profile and the location profile, from which we learn multiple internal parameters. Based on these parameters, we propose rules to analyze the I/O behavior of a database engine. Using these rules, we uncover sub-optimal I/O patterns in SQLite3 and MariaDB when running on our experimental SSDs. Finally, we present three techniques to optimize these database engines: (1) use-hot-locations on SSD-S, which improves the SELECT operation throughput of SQLite3 and MariaDB by 29% and 27% respectively; it also improves the performance of YCSB on MariaDB by 1%-22% depending on the workload mix, (2) write-aligned-stripes on SSD-T, reduces the wear-out caused by SQLite3 write-ahead log (WAL) file by 3.1%, and (3) contain-write-in-flash-page on SSD-T, which reduces the wear-out caused by the MariaDB binary log file by 6.7%.
The Employee Rights in Employer Bankruptcy Act of 2019

The Blackjewel Coal bankruptcy of summer 2019 exposed critical weaknesses in our state-based system of employee creditor protection. Notwithstanding employees' priority over other unsecured creditors in bankruptcy, and notwithstanding a bonding requirement imposed by the State of Kentucky, Blackjewel's final round of paychecks paid to employees 'bounced,' confronting employees with imminent personal bankruptcies, forgone medical and other services, and even mortgage foreclosure and homelessness. This proposed bill works both to aid Blackjewel employees at the time of passage and to prevent future Blackjewel incidents. It does so by (a) assigning the Department of Labor a permanent representation role in future employer insolvencies; (b) federalizing the employer bonding requirements now found only in inconsistently administered state laws; (c) establishing an Employee Liquidity Support Fund to tide employees over while bankruptcy proceedings are pending; and (d) holding employing-firms' executive officers personally liable for violations of the Act's requirements. Employing firms and their owners have enjoyed multiple forms of state patronage for decades in our nation, while employees have in general enjoyed only sporadic assistance from public sector institutions and, less now than any time since the early 20th century, labor unions. This Act will commence the task of enabling the nation to represent and protect the interests of its own productive citizenry - its labor force.
The kidney–cancer connection continues to grow:

Onco-nephrology is an important sub-field of nephrology, which interfaces with the fields of oncology, hematology, urology, critical care medicine, clinical pharmacology, and palliative care medici...
Carotid Interposition Graft in a Patient with Prior Carotid Stenting for Acute Stroke

Carotid interposition graft was performed in a patient with recurrent/residual internal carotid stenosis and carotid in-stent stenosis. Patient had undergone carotid stenting 2.5 years earlier following thrombectomy for middle cerebral artery occlusion with acute stroke.
Atomic layer deposition of HfO2 films using carbon-free tetrakis(tetrahydroborato)hafnium and water

Thin hafnium oxide films were prepared by atomic layer deposition using a carbon-free precursor, tetrakis(tetrahydroborato)hafnium [Hf(BH4)4], and H2O. Film growth was studied using an in situ quartz crystal microbalance and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements. Self-limiting growth was observed between 100 and 175 °C, but the thermal decomposition of the Hf precursor occurred at higher temperatures. The film properties were investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, x-ray reflectivity, x-ray diffraction, ellipsometry, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, and x-ray absorption spectroscopy. The as-deposited films were found to consist of an amorphous mixture of HfO2 and B2O3, and had a lower density and lower refractive index compared to pure HfO2 thin films. Annealing the films to >750 °C yielded crystalline monoclinic HfO2 with a density of 9 g/cm3 and a refractive index of 2.10.
Responsibilities and Competencies for Health Education Specialists: Implications for Research and Practice in the American Journal of Health Education

The American Journal of Health Education (AJHE) has been published for over 50 years. Over time, the mission and goal of AJHE have evolved from a publication focused primarily on school health issu...
Neutron-proton charge-exchange scattering between 600 and 2000 MeV/c

$n\ensuremath{-}p$ elastic differential cross sections in the charge-exchange region have been measured for incident neutron momenta between 600 and 2000 MeV/c. The momentum of neutrons incident on a liquid-${\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ target was determined by a measurement of flight time over a 32.9-m flight path. The momentum and scattering angles of the recoil proton were measured by a wire-spark-chamber magnetic spectrometer. Approximately 450 000 elastic events were detected for proton laboratory angles between 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 62\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. Differential cross sections are presented at 16 energies. An absolute normalization of the cross sections was achieved by measuring the incident neutron flux with a detector whose efficiency was determined experimentally.