cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
NADPH-dependent microsomal electron transfer increases degradation of CYP2E1 by the proteasome complex: role of reactive oxygen species.

Increased levels of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) produced by low-molecular-weight compounds is mostly due to stabilization of the enzyme against proteolytic degradation. CYP2E1, in the absence of substrate or ligand, normally has a short half-life, but the factors which regulate CYP2E1 turnover or trigger its rapid degradation are not known. Since CYP2E1 is active in producing reactive oxygen species, experiments were carried out to evaluate whether reactive oxygen species modulated the degradation of CYP2E1. CYP2E1 present in human liver microsomes was very stable. Addition of the cytosol fraction produced degradation of CYP2E1, and this was enhanced when NADPH was present in the reaction system. Antioxidants or iron chelators which prevent lipid peroxidation, prevented the degradation of CYP2E1 by the cytosolic fraction. Similarly, diphenyleneiodonium chloride, which inhibits NADPH-dependent electron transfer, prevented the degradation of CYP2E1, as did 4-methylpyrazole, a ligand which increases the level of CYP2E1. If microsomes were first incubated with NADPH for 30 min, followed by the addition of these agents, there was no protection against CYP2E1 degradation. Lactacystin, an inhibitor of the proteasome, decreased the degradation of CYP2E1. In intact HepG2 cells transduced to express CYP2E1, proteasome inhibitors elevated steady-state levels of CYP2E1. Steady-state levels of CYP2E1 were increased by about 50% when the cells were incubated with trolox. Trolox decreased the rate of loss of CYP2E1 protein when the cells were treated with cycloheximide. These results suggest that NADPH-dependent production of reactive oxygen species may result in oxidative modification of CYP2E1, followed by rapid degradation of the labilized CYP2E1 by the proteasome complex. It is interesting to speculate that one consequence of the high rates of production of reactive oxygen species by CYP2E1 is its own labilization and subsequent rapid degradation, and this may be a regulatory mechanism to prevent high levels of the enzyme from accumulating within the cell.
Fertilization at planting influences seedling growth and vegetative competition on a post-mining boreal reclamation site

Reclamation of post-mining sites is challenged by limiting factors including adverse soil chemical and physical properties, along with weed competition. Fertilization may alleviate nutrient deficiencies, but broadcast fertilization with immediately available fertilizers (IAF) results in generally low rates of nutrient recovery for planted trees. Directed application of controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) to the rhizosphere offers an alternative to extend nutrient longevity while reducing nutrient leaching or uptake by competing vegetation. We evaluated white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) and aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) development on a mine reclamation site in the Oil Sands Region of northern Alberta in response to IAF and polymer-coated CRF (3–4 and 8–9 month release). IAF and CRF (each NPK plus other macro- and micro-nutrients) were applied at 20 and 40 g N seedling−1 and 2 and 4 g N seedling−1, respectively. No effect on seedling survival occurred. White spruce year-1 height and diameter growth responded positively to both IAF and CRF relative to non-fertilized controls, but in year-2 seedlings treated with CRF (i.e., 8–9 month) outperformed those fertilized with IAF, which were similar to controls. Aspen height growth did not respond strongly to fertilization in either year, but diameter growth showed positive responses to all fertilizer treatments in year-1 and to all CRF treatments and the high IAF rate in year-2. Responses were attributed to a pronounced increase in vegetative competition observed for IAF relative to CRF or controls following the first growing season, and generally higher levels of foliar N in year-1 for CRF compared to IAF or unfertilized trees. Thus, directed root zone application of CRF promoted seedling growth responses similar to or better than those induced by broadcast IAF applications, but at 90–95 % lower N application rates.
Usefulness of Two-Dimensional and Speckle Tracking Echocardiography In “Gray Zone” Left Ventricular Hypertrophy to Differentiate Professional Football Player's Heart from Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Distinguishing the pathologic hypertrophy of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) from the physiologic hypertrophy of professional football players (PFP) can be challenging when septal wall thickness falls within a "gray zone" between 12 and 16 mm. It was hypothesized that 2-dimensional and speckle-tracking strain (e) echocardiography could differentiate the hearts of PFPs from those of patients with HC with similar wall thicknesses. Sixty-six subjects, including 28 professional American football players and 21 patients with HC, with septal wall thicknesses of 12 to 16 mm, along with 17 normal controls, were studied using 2-dimensional echocardiography. Echocardiographic parameters, including modified relative wall thickness (RWT; septal wall thickness + posterior wall thickness/left ventricular end-diastolic diameter) and early diastolic annular tissue velocity (e'), were measured. Two-dimensional e was analyzed by speckle tracking to measure endocardial and epicardial longitudinal e and circumferential e and radial cardiac e. Septal wall thickness was higher in patients with HC than in PFPs (14.7 ± 1.1 vs 12.9 ± 0.9 mm, respectively, p <0.001), while posterior wall thickness showed no difference. RWT was larger in patients with HC than in PFPs (0.68 ± 0.10 vs 0.48 ± 0.06, p <0.001). Longitudinal endocardial e and radial cardiac e were significantly higher in PFPs than in patients with HC, while circumferential endocardial e was no different. RWT was the parameter that most accurately differentiated PFPs from patients with HC. An RWT cut point of 0.6 differentiated PFPs from patients with HC, with an area under the curve of 0.97. In conclusion, a 2-dimensional echocardiographic measure of RWT (septal wall + posterior wall thickness/left ventricular end-diastolic dimension) accurately differentiated PFPs' hearts from those of patients with HC when septal wall thickness was in the gray zone of 12 to 16 mm. Two-dimensional strain analysis identifies variations in myocardial deformation between PFPs and patients with HC with gray-zone hypertrophy.
Early sexual behavior in a sample of low-income, African American Children.

This study describes the sexual behavior of 2- to 12-year-old African American children without known histories of sexual abuse and explores the relation of this behavior to gender and age. Primary caregivers were recruited from a public “Well Child” clinic and administered the Child Sexual Behavior Inventory (CSBI), a parental report measure that assesses a broad range of childhood sexual behaviors within 9 specific domains. CSBI data were collected on 249 African American children. Results indicate that African American children display a broad range of sexual behavior that was not reported to frequently occur. Sexual behaviors that involved requesting, planning, or forcing other children and adults into sexual activity were not reported. Although significant differences were not found between frequency levels of sexual behavior reported for boys and girls, the range of sexual behavior observed and reported for girls was narrower in comparison to boys. Significant differences were found between frequenc...
Isolated deep cerebral venous thrombosis treated by direct endovascular thrombolysis

BACKGROUND Isolated thrombosis of the deep cerebral venous system is very rare and is associated with a poor prognosis. Antithrombin III (AT III) deficiency is a disorder of hypercoagulability associated with deep venous thrombosis and recurrent pulmonary emboli. We report a case of an 18-year-old man who presented with spontaneous thrombosis of the deep cerebral veins and straight dural sinus as the initial presentation of a previously undiagnosed AT III deficiency. METHODS The patient was managed using direct endovascular infusion of the fibrinolytic agent urokinase followed by intravenous heparin. RESULTS The technique was successful in establishing patency of the deep cerebral venous system. The patient experienced a good clinical outcome. CONCLUSIONS Direct endovascular thrombolysis is a potentially effective management strategy for isolated thrombosis of the deep cerebral venous system.
On the elastic behavior of scission materials

Constitutive equations have recently been developed which account for changes in the mechanical response of an elastomer due to changes in its macromolecular structure. The changes consist of scission of macromolecular network junctions, recoiling of macromolecules and their subsequent cross linking to form new networks with new stress-free reference configurations. This work discusses changes caused by large deformations. For each deformation history, there is a range of deformations in which the microstructure is fixed, with no further scission or cross linking. The elastomer has a modified elastic behavior and a new stress-free reference configuration. The constitutive equation for this post-scission elastic range is developed. Two subclasses of this constitutive equation are defined: Mooney-Rivlin based and neo-Hookean based scission materials. The strain energy density function for each subclass is derived. It is shown how the new material symmetry is determined from the preceding deformation history and the scission and cross linking processes. The effect of scission on the stability behavior of a neo-Hookean based scission material is discussed and a cube under triaxial load is considered.
Deep brain stimulation for cognitive disorders: insights into targeting nucleus basalis of meynert in Alzheimer dementia.

NOTICE: This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in World Neurosurgery. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in World Neurosurgery, DOI:10.1016/j.wneu.2013.08.011.
Effect of reference point on visual evoked potentials: clinical relevance

For clinical purposes the VEP is generally recorded from the mid-occipital region referenced to the vertex or mid-frontal region. This may lead to interpretive errors that can be avoided if a relatively inactive reference point, such as linked mastoids, is used simultaneously. The additional recording derivation may also be helpful in clarifying aberrant or ambiguous wave forms. The diagnostic yield from the two montages is similar, although the linked-mastoid reference provides a greater number of technically inadequate recordings due to smaller size of P100 and increased contamination by muscle artifact.
Sociocultural variables in youth access to tobacco: replication 5 years later.

Abstract Background. A prior study presented the only systematic investigation of the role of sociocultural variables in youth access to tobacco. White, black, and Latino girls and boys attempted to purchase cigarettes in the same 72 stores at the same time of day. Results revealed significantly greater sales to girls than to boys and to minorities than to whites. Before concluding that sociocultural variables must be addressed in merchant intervention programs designed to reduce youth access to tobacco, this study must be replicated, particularly in light of the significant decreases in youth access in the past 5 years. This article presents that replication. Method. The stores used in the prior study were selected, and 12 white, black, and Latino girls and boys attempted to purchase cigarettes in those stores at the same time of day. Results. Youths' access rate in 1999 (12.7%) was significantly lower than in the prior (1993–1995) study (41%). No effect for minors' gender was found, but the ethnicity effect again emerged: Black and Latino youth were 2.5 times more likely to be sold cigarettes than their white counterparts. Conclusions. Multiple sociocultural variables affect youth access to tobacco when access rates are high, but only youth ethnicity plays a role when access rates are low. Merchant interventions designed to reduce youth access to tobacco must address ethnic issues.
Sympathetic Blocks: The Evidence

The sympathetic nervous system has been implicated in numerous pain syndromes ranging from neuropathic pain to vascular pain to visceral pain. In light of this, sympathetic ganglia have been the target of local anesthetic blockade to determine the sympathetic role in the transmission of pain. If analgesia is afforded with local anesthetic blockade, chemical or thermal neurolysis have been utilized to attempt to provide long-term relief. Despite frequent use of minimally invasive sympathetic blocks and neurolysis by pain practitioners, their efficacy for providing analgesia has been sparsely reported in the literature. Many case reports and case series have been published, but few placebo-controlled, blinded studies exist. This manuscript will review the literature on sympathetic blocks and summarize existing studies for each of the sympathetic blocks. The goal is to provide past, current, and future pain physicians with evidence that they can use to provide appropriate care for their patients.
Development of a fully-integrated ultrasensitive wireless sensor utilizing carbon nanotubes and surface plasmon theory

A practical application of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) for the realization of an ultrasensitive, fully-integrated, fully-packaged wireless sensor, that can operate in microwave frequencies based on the gas sensitivity of carbon nanotube (CNT) mixtures, is proposed. The sensor consists of a corrugated aluminum plate whose surface is periodically covered with a thin layer of the CNT materials. The incident TM-polarized waves on this surface excite the surface plasmon (SP) mode, thus resulting in a drop of power of the reflected wave. The change in the electrical properties of the CNT mixtures when exposed to gases results in the change of the SPR observable in the reflected waves. For the first time, a CNT-based wireless sensor has been designed to show a frequency shift of 400 MHz while operating in the 60 GHz range.
A neuromorphic paradigm for extrinsically evolved hybrid analog/digital device controllers: initial explorations

This paper argues that the continuous time recurrent neural network (CTRNN) provides a particularly attractive paradigm for the extrinsic evolution of analog device controllers. The paper begins with a discussion of motivations and difficulties faced in evolving electrical circuits and then illustrates how some of these difficulties have been successfully addressed in the context of evolved CTRNNs. This paper provides a presentation of a new, hardware friendly, CTRNN formulation as well as some preliminary experimental results demonstrating that practical devices can be evolved under the new model. Finally, the paper will conclude with a discussion of open issues and a summary of current plans to close those gaps.
Immunotherapy for paraneoplastic neurological disorders.

Paraneoplastic disorders may affect any part of the central or peripheral nervous systems. Although relatively uncommon, these disorders are a significant cause of severe neurological disability among cancer patients. Most, if not all, neurological paraneoplastic disorders are believed to be autoimmune diseases in which an antitumour immune response also attacks neurons that express shared neuronal tumour antigens. Affected patients often have one or more circulating antineuronal antibodies, which serve as a diagnostic marker for the paraneoplastic condition, and in some cases are the direct mediators of neuronal injury. The exact immunopathogenesis and relative contributions of humoral or cellular immune effectors for most paraneoplastic syndromes are not well understood. Some patients have a gratifying neurological response to tumour treatment and/or immunotherapy, especially if the diagnosis is made early and treatment is initiated promptly. Unfortunately, many patients are left with severe and permane...
Dutasteride Reduces Prostate Size and Prostate Specific Antigen in Older Hypogonadal Men With Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Undergoing Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Purpose: Benign prostatic hyperplasia and hypogonadism are common disorders in aging men. There is concern that androgen replacement in older men may increase prostate size and symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia. We examined whether combining dutasteride, which inhibits testosterone to dihydrotestosterone conversion, with testosterone treatment in older hypogonadal men with benign prostatic hyperplasia reduces androgenic stimulation of the prostate compared to testosterone alone.Materials and Methods: We conducted a double-blind, placebo controlled trial of 53 men 51 to 82 years old with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate volume 30 cc or greater and serum total testosterone less than 280 ng/dl (less than 9.7 nmol/l). Subjects were randomized to daily transdermal 1% T gel plus oral placebo or dutasteride for 6 months. Testosterone dosing was adjusted to a serum testosterone of 500 to 1,000 ng/dl. The primary outcomes were prostate volume measured by magnetic resonance imaging, serum p...
Beyond Literal Similarity

Hitherto, theories of similarity have restricted themselves to judgments of what might be called literal similarity. A central thesis of this article is that a complete account of similarity needs also to be sensitive to nonliteralness, or metaphoricity, an aspect of similarity statements that is most evident in similes but that actually underlies metaphorical language in general. Theoretical arguments are advanced in support of the claim that metaphoricity can be represented in terms of the relative degrees of salience of matching (or matchable) attributes of the two terms in a comparison. A modification of Tversky's account of similarity is proposed. The implications of this proposal for similarity statements are discussed, along with implications for the psychological processes involved in their comprehension. It is argued that the general account of similarity proposed, including, as it does, nonliteral similarity, can form not only the basis of a theory of metaphor but can also give a credible account of the relationship between metaphor, analogy, and similarity.
Improving software API usability through text analysis: A case study

Technical writers who want to be more involved in the earlier stages of software product development must often find ways to demonstrate how their skills can benefit the initial design process. This case study describes how the application of technical communication skills and tools helped improve the usability and clarity of a new application program interface (API) by performing a text analysis of the API elements. The case study presents the theory upon which this approach is grounded and describes how the theory was applied to analyze a specific API. The paper concludes with a review of how this analysis method could be transferred to other projects and how the tools used in this analysis can be applied to benefit the design, development, and documentation processes of APIs.
The carcinogenicity of chrysotile asbestos.

In in vitro test systems, chrysotile is markedly toxic, causes chromosomal aberrations, and is capable of inducing morphological and preneoplastic transformation. In carefully designed animal experiments, chrysotile produces lung cancer and mesothelioma as effectively as do the amphiboles tested. Human population studies do not refute these experimental results. Chrysotile asbestos is carcinogenic to humans, especially for the induction of lung cancer and mesothelioma in exposed populations. For cancers of other sites, with the exception of laryngeal and possibly gastrointestinal cancer, the evidence for association with exposure to all forms of asbestos, including chrysotile, is not yet adequate for evaluation.48 references.
A MULTI-YEAR PERSPECTIVE ON METHANE CYCLING IN A SHALLOW PEAT FEN IN CENTRAL NEW YORK STATE, USA

Minerotrophic sedge fens are common in sub-arctic regions and are a significant source of atmospheric methane (CH4), yet they have received less attention than other peatlands, such as boreal ombrotrophic bogs, which are smaller sources of CH4. At the process level, CH4 fluxes in sub-arctic systems are limited primarily by cold temperatures, and thus are sensitive to potential climate change. This study examined CH4 dynamics in a temperate sedge-fen to determine controls on the spatial and temporal variability in CH4 fluxes and, therefore, how the biogeochemistry of CH4 in sedge-fen peatlands may respond to predicted changes in climate. We used flux chambers and laboratory peat incubations over a six to seven-year period (1994–2000) to study fluxes, pools, and potential production of CH4 in a peat-forming wetland in central New York State, USA. Results showed that precipitation (i.e., dry years and depth to water table) exerted an important control on annual and seasonal patterns of CH4 fluxes. Mean summer flux rates ranged from 2258 nmol m−2 s−1 in the wettest year to −934 nmol m−2 s−1 (net consumption) in the driest year. CH4 concentrations in the surface peat were as low as 0.01 μatm and as high as 10 matm in the summer months depending on precipitation patterns. In contrast, CH4 concentrations were consistently two to three times greater in sub-surface than in surface peat, and pools persisted during dry years and were temporally less variable. Fluxes were only weakly associated with potential CH4 production rates, which showed little seasonal variation. In-vitro measurements of potential CH4 production did not sufficiently explain fluxes, suggesting a need for improved in-situ methods for measuring CH4 production. Site differences associated with different dominant vegetation had a significant effect on CH4 cycling in all years except the driest, suggesting sensitivity to vegetation changes. These results indicate that predicting responses of fen peatlands to environmental requires an improved understanding of the underlying microbial processes and mechanisms that control CH4 cycling.
Ultraviolet dichroic ratio of DNA from T2 and T5 bacteriophages

The dichroic ratios of T5st-O and T2H bacteriophage DNA molecules were measured throughout the ultraviolet region of the spectrum. Two methods of DNA orientation were studied: (1) orientation in solution in a Shimadzu flow dichroism instrument attached to a Beckman DU spectrophotometer, and (2) alcohol precipitation of the DNA from solution and orientation in a thin film on the quartz face of a humidity chamber. Spectra in the latter case were recorded using a Gary Model 14 spectrophotomcter fitted with Glan prisms. The lower wavelength limit was 215 mμ in both systems. The DNA preparations were carefully characterized as to spectral purity, sedimentation coefficient, hyperchromicity, protein content, and DNA content. In addition, the structure of the DNA oriented in films was inferred from x-ray diffraction patterns of fibers of the precipitated DXA. The A and B configurations of DNA in films could not be distinguished by the dichroic ratio measuiements. The dichroic ratio obtained for the film-oriented DNA at high relative humidity shows the same wavelength dependence as for the flow-oriented DNA. The same wavelength dependence for DNA in the fibrous state and in solution, when considered together with the x-ray diffract ion results, indicates that DNA in solution maintains an orientation of bases which is similar to that in fibers. I1Or both solutions and films of DNA, the dichroic ratio is constant from 290mμ to 240 mμ and increases at wavelengths below 240 mμ. The increased parallel absorption below 240 mμ is consistent with the existence of an nπ* transition. The inherent molecular dichroic ratio is found to be the same for T5st-O DNA and T2H DNA in solution, and is a maximum of 0.09 ± 0.02 at 260 mμ.
The hair-on-end sign.

The skull alterations are due to overactivity of the red marrow in response to anemia. This marrow hyperplasia widens the diploic space and thins the outer table. There is trabecular destruction with thickening of the residual trabeculae. The trabecular pattern within the diploe may sometimes be arranged perpendicular to the curvature of the cranial vault. The alternating opaque, thickened trabeculae and radiolucent marrow hyperplasia produce the hair-on-end appearance (3).
Sparsity and low-contrast object detectability.

The application of sparsity-driven reconstruction methods to MRI to date has largely focused on situations where high-contrast features (e.g., gadolinium-enhanced vessels) are of primary interest. In clinical practice, however, low contrast features such as subtle lesions are often of equal or greater interest. Using an American College of Radiology MR quality assurance phantom and test, we describe a novel framework for systematically and automatically evaluating the low-contrast object detectability performance of different undersampled image reconstruction methods. This platform is used to evaluate three such methods, two based on classic Tikhonov regularization and one sparsity-driven method based on l1-norm minimization (which is commonly used in compressive sensing, also known as compressed sensing, applications), across a wide range of sampling rates and parameterizations. Both the automated evaluation system and a manual evaluation of anatomical images with numerically-generated low contrast inserts demonstrate that sparse reconstructions exhibit superior low-contrast object detectability performance compared to both Tikhonov-regularized reconstructions. The implications of this result, and potential applications of both the described low-contrast object detectability platform and generalizations of it are then discussed. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Incremental Far Field and Degrees of Freedom of the Sinusoidal Current Filament

From where radiation originates for a specified current source or PEC boundary seems not to be as well-understood or agreed-upon as many other aspects of electromagnetics. Two propositions are explored in this article that relate to this issue. One is that if some incremental portion of a source distribution increases (changes) the total far field at any observation angle, then by definition radiation originates from that portion of the source distribution. The other is that the greater the number of degrees of freedom in a radiation pattern, the greater will be the proportion of the source distribution that actually radiates. These issues are explored here in terms of the radiation from a sinusoidal current filament.
Real-Time Protein Binding Detection with Neuromorphic Integrated Sensor

Real time protein binding interactions between biotinylated bovine serum albumen (BSA) and streptavidin (SA) are detected using chemoreceptive neuron MOS (CvMOS) transistors with extended floating gate structures. This enables protein interaction events to be monitored by a sensing gate area that is only capacitively coupled to the sensing circuits and far removed from the active area, reducing the invasiveness without loss of sensitivity. The use of both sensing and control gates to control the floating gate potential eliminates the need of an analyte reference electrode.
Disaster recovery codes: increasing reliability with large-stripe erasure correcting codes

Large-scale storage systems need to provide the right amount of redundancy in their storage scheme to protect client data. In particular, many high-performance systems require data protection that imposes minimal impact on performance; thus, such systems use mirroring to guard against data loss. Unfortunately, as the number of copies increases, mirroring becomes costly and contributes relatively little to the overall system reliability. Compared to mirroring, parity-based schemes are space-efficient, but incur greater update and degraded-mode read costs. An ideal data protection scheme should perform similarly to mirroring, while providing the space efficiency of a parity-based erasure code.Our goal is to increase the reliability of systems that currently mirror data for protection without impacting performance or space overhead. To this end, we propose the use of large parity codes across two-way mirrored reliability groups. The secondary reliability groups are defined across an arbitrarily large set of mirrored groups, necessitating a small amount of non-volatile RAM for parity. Since each parity element is stored in non-volatile RAM, our scheme drastically increases the mean time to data loss without impacting overall system performance.
Regulatory T cell epitopes (Tregitopes) in IgG induce tolerance in vivo and lack immunogenicity per se

Tregitopes are a set of epitopes, derived from IgG, that bind to MHCII, activate nTregs, and promote tolerance. We have now confirmed that coadministration of Tregitopes with a range of proteins (autoantigens and nominal antigens, such as OVA) in vitro and in vivo leads to suppression of T cell and antibody responses to the test antigens. In this study, we demonstrate that Tregitopes are not immunogenic in vivo even when emulsified with strong adjuvants, such as IFA or CFA. Moreover, in vivo administration of Tregitopes with IFA or CFA does not induce Th1 or Th2 cytokine expression under restimulation conditions in vitro. We investigated tolerance induction by codelivering Tregitopes with OVA using B cells. When B cells were pulsed with OVA plus Tregitopes and transferred into naive mice, we found that cellular and humoral immune responses to the OVA were suppressed. As a result of their ability to induce Tregs and the absence of immunogenicity in the context of strong adjuvants, Tregitopes might be considered a novel immunomodulatory approach for the suppression of immune responses to protein therapeutics (such as FVIII and mAb), as well as for treatment of autoimmune diseases.
STUDIES ON THE ARTHROPOD FAUNA OF ALFALFA: VII. PREDACEOUS INSECTS

The predator fauna of alfalfa, Medicago sativa L., was studied at Ithaca, N.Y., during 1966–69. Predators are separated into species that completed their life cycle on alfalfa (primary), species whose adults took prey from the plants but bred elsewhere (secondary), and species not observed to capture prey on alfalfa (incidental). Seasonal occurrences and prey records are given for the 19 primary species and the secondary species whose prey were identified.
On efficient concurrent fault simulation for synchronous sequential circuits

The authors report on an efficient fault simulation method for synchronous sequential circuits. The method is based on concurrent fault simulation and has the simplicity of deductive fault simulation. Several new ideas to reduce computation time and memory requirements are proposed. New fault simulators were developed to simulate transition faults as well as stuck-at faults. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method is effective for simulating faults in large synchronous sequential circuits in the workstation environment. >
Historiography and forensic analysis of the Fort King George "skull": Craniometric assessment using the specific population approach

In this article, we evaluate the association between the Fort King George "skull" and two Franciscans who were killed during a Guale revolt in 1597 and whose remains were never recovered (Pedro de Corpa and Francisco de Verascola). The history and historiography of the revolt is summarized to generate a forensic profile for the individuals. The calvaria is described in terms of preservation, taphonomy, possible trauma, age, and sex. Because these factors are consistent with the individuals in question, population affinity is assessed using comparative craniometric analysis. In response to recent criticism of the typological nature of forensic population affinity assessment, we use a population specific approach, as advocated by Alice Brues (1992). Archaeological and historical data inform the occupation history of the site, and data from those specific populations are used in the comparative analysis. Results of linear discriminant function analysis indicate a low probability that the calvaria is a Guale (the precontact inhabitants of southeastern Georgia) or an individual of African descent. Comparison among European and Euro-American populations indicated poor discriminatory resolution; however, the closest match suggests a New World affinity rather than an Old World English, Scottish, or Iberian affinity for the specimen. Future analyses that will provide greater resolution about the identity of the calvaria are outlined. The case highlights the unique challenges of historical forensics cases relative to those of traditional jurisprudence, as well as the potential for using historiography to overcome those challenges in future analyses.
Toxicity of Fatty Acid Salts to German and American Cockroaches

The toxicity of fatty acid salts to German, Blattella germanica (L.), and American cockroaches, Periplaneta americana (L.), was evaluated. Potassium and sodium laurate caused up to 95% mortality of German cockroaches and 100% mortality of American cockroaches. Even-numbered potassium fatty acid salts, C8–C18, were assessed for toxicity at 0.125, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2% concentrations by a 30-s immersion of cockroaches. The more soluble of the fatty acid salts at 2% concentration caused 65–95% mortality of German cockroaches and 100% mortality of American cockroaches. Potassium oleate, C18, was most toxic to both German (LC50 = 0.36%) and American (LC50 = 0.17%) cockroaches. Fatty acid salt solutions on a substrate were tested by placing cockroaches in contact with treated floor tiles immediately after application (wet) or after the solutions had dried. Sodium laurate and potassium caprate caused mortality of German (62 ± 17.4 and 58 ± 12.6%, respectively) and American cockroaches (52 ± 18.5 and 28 ± 4.9%, respectively) on wet tiles, whereas potassium oleate caused mortality of German cockroaches (67 ± 14.1%) only. Dry fatty acids caused no mortality among exposed cockroaches. Fatty acid salt solutions can be effective in killing German and American cockroaches but only when insects are thoroughly wetted with 1–2% fatty acid salt solutions.
Isolation, visualization, characterization, and osmotic reactivity of crayfish BLMV.

Procedures were developed to isolate basolateral membrane vesicles (BLMV) from gill, hepatopancreas, and antennal gland of intermolt freshwater crayfish, Procambarus clarkii. Individual procedures ...
Molecular Characterization of the Intestinal Microbiota in Patients With and Without Abdominal Bloating

Recent studies have demonstrated differences in the intestinal microbiota between patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and healthy controls (HC), suggesting a role for the intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of IBS. Alterations in the microbiota have also been implicated in the pathogenesis of abdominal bloating, a commonly reported symptom in IBS. We investigated the relationship between the intestinal microbiota, abdominal bloating, and altered bowel patterns in a cohort of patients with IBS and HC. The 16S rRNA gene from fresh fecal samples was amplified and pyrosequenced by using Roche-454 Titanium chemistry. A Core Measurable Microbiome (CMM) was generated for Operational Taxonomic Unit (OTU) detected in >75% of all samples and compositional features of CMM were compared between groups by Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA). IBS differentiated from HC by LDA using continuous variation in the species/OTUs or the CMM genera. When subcategorized based on bloating symptoms and bowel characteristics, the same subjects were also well differentiated from one another and from HC. ANOVA analysis showed quantitative species/OTU differences between the subgroups including IBS with and without bloating, and subtypes based on bowel characteristics. The clear LDA differentiation and the significant microbial taxa differences between the groups imply a significant association of the microbiota with bloating symptoms and bowel characteristics in IBS. These changes in the microbiota may serve as a biomarker for IBS and its clinical subtypes and suggest a role for the intestinal microbiota in the pathogenesis of the main symptoms of the disorder.
The Scope of Scientific Authority in Democratic Participation

In setting environmental policy some have argued that scientific knowledge is necessary both to understand the problem being addressed and to develop potential solutions. It has also been argued that democratic deliberation is necessary for the policy-making process because it addresses the morally significant aspects of policy outcomes. If both scientific knowledge of environmental problems and deliberative consideration of morally acceptable policy outcomes are thought necessary to justify environmental policy decisions a tension forms between the recognition of authority in the former procedure and the requirement of equality in the latter. In this paper I will attempt to resolve this tension through consideration of the limitations of both scientific authority and citizen knowledge.
Discussion: Statistical Bottlenecks to Econometric Analysis

data and to have a statistical program that is responsive to changing data requirements, a positive joint effort on the part of users and producers of statistics is necessary. To fill data gaps and achieve an improved statistical program we need to focus more attention on the defining of data requirements in relation to the purposes to be served. It is time to begin expressing, in more detail than heretofore, the data needs in terms of detailed content, frequency of collection, tabulation specifications, and accuracy requirements. MARVIN W. KOTIKE
Supporting preschool dual language learners: parents’ and teachers’ beliefs about language development and collaboration

ABSTRACTGuided by Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological theory of human development and Moll’s theory of funds of knowledge, the aim of this qualitative study was to examine the beliefs of parents and early childhood teachers on (a) the language development of Spanish-speaking preschool dual language learners (DLLs) and (b) how they can collaborate to support DLLs. Parents (n = 14) and early childhood teachers (n = 17) of Spanish-speaking DLLs participated in focus groups and interviews. Data were analysed using the consensual qualitative research method [Hill, C., Thompson, B., & Williams, E. (1997). A guide to conducting consensual qualitative research. The Counseling Psychologist, 25, 517–572]. Nine themes emerged about parents’ and teachers’ beliefs about DLLs’ language development, and three themes emerged about parent–teacher collaboration. Findings indicate several practice implications, such as a need for education about second language acquisition and development of sustainable models to form collabora...
Organocatalyzed atom transfer radical polymerization driven by visible light

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) has become one of the most implemented methods for polymer synthesis, owing to impressive control over polymer composition and associated properties. However, contamination of the polymer by the metal catalyst remains a major limitation. Organic ATRP photoredox catalysts have been sought to address this difficult challenge but have not achieved the precision performance of metal catalysts. Here, we introduce diaryl dihydrophenazines, identified through computationally directed discovery, as a class of strongly reducing photoredox catalysts. These catalysts achieve high initiator efficiencies through activation by visible light to synthesize polymers with tunable molecular weights and low dispersities.
Suppression of apple bloom with gibberellin sprays

SummaryGibberellin A4+7 at concentrations of 250 mg P1 active ingredient (a.i.) or less, applied as one, two or three sprays 4-16 weeks after petal fall gave inconsistent flower thinning on five year old redchief ‘Delicious’ apple trees. Four sprays, each a month apart, beginning one month after petal fall on similar six year old trees, with concentrations of 250 or 500 mg r1 a.i., eliminated 95% or 99% of return bloom, respectively.
Three-Dimensional Distribution of Transverse Collagen Fibers in the Anterior Human Corneal Stroma

PURPOSE Recent investigations of human corneal structure and biomechanics have shown that stromal collagen fibers (lamellae) are organized into a complex, highly intertwined three-dimensional meshwork of transverse oriented fibers that increases stromal stiffness and controls corneal shape. The purpose of this study was to characterize the three-dimensional distribution of transverse collagen fibers along the major meridians of the cornea using an automated method to rapidly quantify the collagen fibers' angular orientation. METHODS Three eyes from three donors were perfusion-fixed under pressure, excised, and cut into four quadrants. Quadrants were physically sectioned using a vibratome and scanned using nonlinear optical high-resolution macroscopy. Planes were analyzed numerically using software to identify collagen fiber angles relative to the corneal surface, stromal depth, and radial position within the anterior 250 μm of the stroma. RESULTS The range of fiber angles and the fiber percentage having an angular displacement greater than ±3.5° relative to the corneal surface ("transverse fibers") was highest in the anterior stroma and decreased with depth. Numerical analysis showed no significant differences in fiber angles and transverse fibers between quadrants, meridians, and radial position. CONCLUSIONS These results match our previous observation of a depth-dependent gradient in stromal collagen interconnectivity in the central cornea, and show that this gradient extends from the central cornea to the limbus. The lack of a preferred distribution of angled fibers with regard to corneal quadrant or radial position likely serves to evenly distribute loads and to avoid the formation of areas of stress concentration.
Topics in Clinical Pharmacology: Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy

A number of pancreatic enzyme replacement agents are currently available for correction of pancreatic insufficiency. All are derivatives of pancrelipase derived from hog pancreas and contain lipase, amylase, and protease. Pancrelipase preparations exist in two major forms. The first is a conventional preparation; the second type is encapsulated to resist gastric acidity and microsphered or microtableted to enhance bioavailibility
Tele-Follow-Up of Older Adult Patients from the Geriatric Emergency Department Innovation (GEDI) Program

The objective of this study was to characterize the content and interventions performed during follow-up phone calls made to patients discharged from the Geriatrics Emergency Department Innovation (GEDI) Program and to demonstrate the benefit of these calls in the care of older adults discharged from the emergency department (ED). This study utilizes retrospective chart review with qualitative analysis. It was set in a large, urban, academic hospital emergency department utilizing the Geriatric Emergency Department Innovations (GEDI) Program. The subjects were adults aged 65 and over who visited the emergency department for acute care. Follow-up telephone calls were made by geriatric nurse liaisons (GNLs) at 24–72 h and 10–14 days post-discharge from the ED. The GNLs documented the content of the phone calls, and these notes were analyzed through a constant comparative method to identify emergent themes. The results showed that the most commonly arising themes in the patients’ questions and nurses’ responses across time-points included symptom management, medications, and care coordination (physician appointments, social services, therapy, and medical equipment). Early follow-up presented the opportunity for nurses to address needs in symptom management and care coordination that directly related to the ED admission; later follow-up presented a unique opportunity to resolve sub-acute issues that were not addressed by the initial discharge plan and to manage newly arising symptoms and patient needs. Thus, telephone follow-up after emergency department discharge presents an opportunity to better connect older adults with appropriate outpatient care and to address needs arising shortly after discharge that may not have otherwise been detected. By following up at two discrete time-points, this intervention identifies and addresses distinct patient needs.
Laura F. Edwards, A Legal History of the Civil War and Reconstruction: A Nation of Rights

Laura F. Edwards, A Legal History of the Civil War and Reconstruction: A Nation of Rights . New York: Cambridge University Press, 2015. Footnotes, Bibliographic Essay, Bibliography, Index. Pp. xii, 212, 29.99 (pb), ISBN: 9781107401341. Laura F. Edwards, Peabody Professor of History at Duke University, has prepared a thought-provoking assessment of how law affected the Civil War and Reconstruction and the reverse. Professor Edwards, who is not law-trained, has developed a deep appreciation for the way law structures social and economic life in the United States and has become a respected social historian of law. She is not much concerned with the development of legal doctrine, nor legal institutions for their own sake. She is primarily concerned with how law and legal institutions affect people and how people use it for their own ends. Professor Edwards brings this approach to bear in six closely connected essays. Her survey will not replace a more traditional one …
Individualizing Immunosuppressive Therapy for Transplant Patients

Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM),2 the quantitative determination of compounds administered with therapeutic intent, is one way personalized medicine is practiced. Traditionally, medications are measured in the appropriate matrix (serum, plasma, or whole blood) and are used to individualize the dosage regimen with the intent to maximize efficacy and minimize toxicity. There are numerous classes of medications (e.g., antiarrhythmics, antibiotics, antiepileptics, psychiatric drugs) for which TDM is routinely used. Immunosuppressive drugs (e.g., tacrolimus, cyclosporine) given after transplant represent another class of drugs that have narrow therapeutic ranges and significant inter- and intraindividual variability in dosing requirements. Tacrolimus, a mainstay immunosuppressant drug used in solid-organ transplants, is one example of a drug for which TDM is important. Underdosing of tacrolimus may result in inadequate immunosuppression and acute rejection, while overdosing puts patients at risk for considerable neuro- and nephrotoxicity. For decades, the standard of care has been for clinicians to adjust the dose of an immunosuppressant drug in response to a whole blood trough concentration and established target therapeutic ranges. These decisions are made largely on the basis of clinical experience, and patients frequently deviate from the target range, running the alternate risks of toxicity and graft rejection. With the use of this strategy, a 78% 5-year survival rate for liver transplant recipients has been achieved [http://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/liver-transplant/basics/results/prc-20014076 (accessed July 2016)], but these success rates indicate there is still room for improvement. …