cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reduced cooperativity of voltage-gated sodium channels in the hippocampal interneurons of an aged mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Beta amyloid (A $$\beta$$ ) associated with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) leads to abnormal behavior in inhibitory neurons, resulting in hyperactive neuronal networks, epileptiform behavior, disrupted gamma rhythms, and aberrant synaptic plasticity. Previously, we used a dual modeling-experimental approach to explain several observations, including failure to reliably produce action potentials (APs), smaller AP amplitudes, higher resting membrane potential, and higher membrane depolarization in response to a range of stimuli in hippocampal inhibitory neurons from 12- to 16-month-old female AP Pswe/PSEN1DeltaE9 (APdE9) AD mice as compared to age-matched non-transgenic (NTG) mice. Our experimental results also showed that AP initiation in interneurons from APdE9 mice are significantly different from that of NTG mice. APs in interneurons from NTG mice are characterized by abrupt onset and an upstroke that is much steeper and occurs with larger variability as compared to cells from APdE9 mice. The phase plot (the rate of change of membrane potential versus the instantaneous membrane potential) of APs produced by interneurons from APdE9 mice shows a biphasic behavior, whereas that from NTG mice shows a monophasic behavior. Here we show that using the classic Hodgkin–Huxley (HH) formalism for the gating of voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) in a single-compartment neuron, we cannot reproduce these features, and a model that takes into account a cooperative activation of VGSCs is needed. We also argue that considering a realistic multi-compartment neuron where the kinetics of VGSC is modeled by HH formalism, as done in the past, would not explain our observations when APs from both NTG and APdE9 mice are considered simultaneously. We further show that VGSCs in interneurons from APdE9 mice exhibit significantly lower cooperativity in their activation as compared to those from NTG mice.
Management of Chemotherapy-Induced Alopecia With Scalp Cooling

Chemotherapy-induced alopecia is a common and distressing adverse effect of many types of chemotherapy. Scalp cooling has been used since the 1970s for prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia; however, most data regarding this treatment modality are retrospective in nature, and use in the United States has been limited by safety concerns, specifically the potential for scalp metastases. Two prospective studies of scalp-cooling systems performed in the United States were published within the last year and add evidence supporting the efficacy and safety of scalp cooling in preventing chemotherapy-induced alopecia in patients receiving chemotherapy for solid tumor malignancies. Available data suggest that this technology is most effective for taxane-based chemotherapy regimens compared with anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens. Two scalp-cooling devices have been cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration, and multiple cold caps are available for patient rental. The adverse effect profile of sca...
Wir leben in einer Datenökonomie – neue Qualifikationen werden gebraucht

Datensouveranitat und Datenkompetenz sind in der heutigen Datenokonomie die wichtigsten Voraussetzungen fur wirtschaftlichen sowie personlichen Erfolg. Umlernen, neu lernen, anders lernen lautet die Devise, sei es in der schulischen und universitaren Ausbildung oder auch in der Personal-, Fortbildungs- und Einstellungspolitik von Unternehmen. Es entstehen „New Collar Jobs“ – wie beispielsweise der Data Scientist – in denen der Umgang mit digitalen Werkzeugen und Okosystemen entscheidend ist. Wir brauchen also eine digitale Sozialisation von der Schule bis in die Arbeitswelt.
Role of Allelochemics in the Specialisation of Trophic Relations between Bruchis and Legumes

At least 500 leguminous species are presently known that store L-canavanine (Bell et al., 1978), a highly toxic and insecticidal non-protein amino acid bearing structural analogy to L -arginine.
MRI-Guided RF Ablation in the Kidney

Percutaneous thermal ablation has become a viable option for locoregional control of cancer. In contrast to its role in most applications, thermal ablation in the kidney typically targets localized primary tumors with the aim of complete treatment. Radiofrequency ablation and cryoablation are the most commonly used thermal energy techniques for this purpose. The use of MRI to guide and monitor these ablation procedures is associated with a considerably more refined technique primarily owing to the ability of MRI to monitor the thermal effects of tissue heating as they occur. As such, MRI permits a tailored approach to treatment based on the actual visualization of individual tumor response. This represents a fundamental difference from performing these procedures under CT or ultrasound guidance when the implemented treatment paradigm follows a predetermined recipe based on experience collected during the treatment of similar tumors. In this chapter, a discussion of the rationale of image guidance during ablation is provided with a special emphasis on the added value of the use of MRI during both the guidance and the monitoring phases of treatment. The interventional MRI suite setup and equipment are explained, followed by a detailed practical approach to the ablation procedure under MRI. The cellular bases of MRI findings on follow-up imaging are then elucidated, and the chapter is concluded by a discussion of various safety measures to be followed during MRI-guided radiofrequency ablation procedures.
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Affective Symptoms and Functioning in Chronic Low Back Pain: A Pilot Double-Blinded, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background and objective Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is highly prevalent, with a substantial psychosocial burden. Pain has both sensory and affective components. The latter component is a significant driver of disability and psychiatric comorbidity but is often inadequately treated. Previously we reported that noninvasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may modulate pain-associated affective distress. Here we tested whether 10 daily tDCS sessions aimed to inhibit the left dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC), a region strongly implicated in the affective component of pain, would produce selective reduction in pain-related symptoms. Methods In this multisite, double-blinded, randomized placebo-controlled trial (RCT), 21 CLBP patients received 10 weekday sessions of 2-mA active tDCS or sham (20 minutes/session). A cathodal electrode was placed over FC1 (10-20 electroencephalography coordinates), and an identical anodal return electrode was placed over the contralateral mastoid. Participants rated pain intensity, acceptance, interference, disability, and anxiety, plus general anxiety and depression. Results Regression analysis noted significantly less pain interference (P =0.002), pain disability (P =0.001), and depression symptoms (P =0.003) at six-week follow-up for active tDCS vs sham. Omnibus tests suggested that these improvements were not merely due to baseline (day 1) group differences. Conclusions To our knowledge, this is the first double-blinded RCT of multiple tDCS sessions targeting the left dACC to modulate CLBP's affective symptoms. Results are encouraging, including several possible tDCS-associated improvements. Better-powered RCTs are needed to confirm these effects. Future studies should also consider different stimulation schedules, additional cortical targets, high-density multi-electrode tDCS arrays, and multimodal approaches.
Estimating n-octanol-water partition coefficients for neutral highly hydrophobic chemicals using measured n-butanol-water partition coefficients.

Abstract Direct measurement of the n-octanol partition coefficients (KOW) for highly hydrophobic organic chemicals is extremely difficult because of the extremely low concentrations present in the water phase. n-Butanol/water partition coefficients (KBW) are generally much lower than KOW due to the increased solubility of solute in the alcohol saturated aqueous phase, and therefore become easier to measure. We measured the KBW for 25 neutral organic chemicals having measured log KOWs ranging from 2 to 9 and 4 additional highly hydrophobic chemicals, with unmeasured KOWs, having estimated log KOWs ranging from 6 to 18. The measured log KBW and log KOW values were linearly related, r2 = 0.978, and using the regression developed from the data, KOWs were predicted for the 4 highly hydrophobic chemicals with unmeasured KOWs. The resulting predictions were orders of magnitude lower than those predicted by a variety of computational models and suggests the estimates of KOW in the literature for highly hydrophobic chemicals (i.e., log KOW greater than 10) are likely incorrect by several orders of magnitude.
Performance and variability of QuantiFERON Gold Plus assay associated with phlebotomy type.

Background QuantiFERON Gold Plus (Plus) assay has two approved methods for blood collection: direct in-tube (Plus direct) or the transfer of blood from a lithium heparin tube (Plus transfer). Currently, there is little data comparing the results of Plus and the QuantiFERON Gold In-Tube (Gold) based on blood collection. Methods In 2017, high risk healthcare workers undergoing annual tuberculosis infection screening at Houston Methodist Hospital, a private hospital in the Texas Medical Center (Houston, TX, U.S.A.) were consented and enrolled in a study comparing the Gold-in-tube (Gold), Plus direct in-tube, and Plus transfer assays. Blood was drawn concurrently for all 3 assays. Results Phlebotomy occurred on 300 consecutive, consented and enrolled participants in the study. The proportion of positive test results for the Gold, Plus direct and Plus transfer assays were 10% (29/300), 12% (35/299) and 17% (51/299), respectively. The agreement in the results of Gold versus Plus direct, Gold versus Plus transfer, and Plus direct versus Plus transfer was 91%, kappa (κ) = 0.56; 91%, κ = 0.59; and 85%, κ = 0.37, respectively. Conclusions Among high risk healthcare workers in a low prevalence tuberculosis setting, the Gold Plus assay had a higher proportion of positive results than the Gold in-tube assay. The agreement between the Gold, Plus direct and Plus transfer assays was unexpectedly low for simultaneously obtained samples. Blood transfer using lithium heparin offers individual clinics and public health programs greater ability to customize protocols, but variability of results still exists.
Don't Just Think Metric--Live Metric.

I urge opposition to this assinine [sic] way of measurement. Are we, the great United States, no longer the leading country in the world? Must we change our very satisfactory way of measurement and weight to the backward systems of Europe? For the few companies trading with Europe, let them change. Why our whole country should be turned topsy-turvy for the European way is simply beyond me. The cost of such a changeover alone is monumental and the idea that it will benefit us and be so much simpler sounds just like the new math, the new way of teaching children to read, the new idea of printing instead of learning penmanship. We wonder why Johnny and Mary cannot read, add and subtract and write a decent hand. We should get together and bombard our congressman with anti-metric system letters. (From a letter to the editor, Columbus Dispatch, 1973)
A review of the business case for CSR in the hospitality industry

Abstract Despite prolific research on corporate social responsibility (CSR) in its various forms in the hospitality industry, there is no consensus regarding the business case for CSR initiatives. Using a stakeholder lens, we review the research on CSR and its rationale by analyzing its impact on the environment, employees, customers, community, and investors in the hospitality industry. Our review analyzes 170 articles published between 1990 and 2017 covering different conceptual frameworks, measures, and samples to evaluate the current state of the field, integrate findings, identify gaps, and suggest avenues for future research. Our review calls for a) more studies that examine hospitality-specific CSR initiatives to examine impact on firm performance, b) greater theory-driven research, and c) expansion of contexts both in terms of different sectors of the industry and geographical locations, than is covered by existing studies. Future research directions are provided.
White Jews: An Intersectional Approach

“Intersectionality,” a concept coined and developed by legal scholar Kimberle Crenshaw, examines how our various identities change in meaning and valence when placed in dynamic relation with one another. Instead of exploring identity traits like “race,” “gender,” “religion,” and so on in isolation, an intersectional approach asks what these various characteristics “do” to one another in combination. I suggest that an intersectional approach—asking “what does Whiteness do to Jewishness?”—can help illuminate elements of the Jewish experience that would otherwise remain obscure. The core claim is that Whiteness and Jewishness in combination function in ways that are not necessarily grasped if one atomizes the identities and holds them apart. What Whiteness “does” to Jewishness is act as an accelerant for certain forms of antisemitic marginalization even as it ratifies a racialized hierarchy within the Jewish community. Absent an intersectional vantage, many political projects and controversies surrounding Jewish equality will be systematically misunderstood.
Properties of a separable representation of optical potentials

Background: Separable interactions have a long history in nuclear physics. In the last few years, separable expansions have been used to represent the optical potential between a nucleon (proton or neutron) and a target.Purpose: We explore the nonlocal properties of these separable optical potentials as well as their convergence behavior.Method: For a couple of cases, we use the generalized Ersnt-Shakin-Thaler scheme to generate separable interactions starting from local optical potentials. We study the variation of the interaction with energy range and rank.Results: We find that, overall, the off-diagonal behavior of the converged separable interaction deviates from the Gaussian form assumed by Perey and Buck [F. Perey and B. Buck, Nucl. Phys. 32, 353 (1962)]. However, in the region surrounding the maximum depth the Gaussian form works quite well. Focusing on this region, we study potentials describing neutron elastic scattering on $^{16}\mathrm{O}$ and $^{48}\mathrm{Ca}$ for beam energies in the range of $E=10$--50 MeV and explore several measures of nonlocality of the separable interactions.Conclusions: When the energy range considered for generating the separable interaction is $0\ensuremath{\le}{E}_{\mathrm{range}}\ensuremath{\le}50$ MeV, the resulting nonlocality is large and target dependent. Contrarily, the nonlocality obtained including larger energy ranges in the separable procedure is independent of the target and other details of the original local potential. We find that, even when including in the expansion many support points with energy ranges $0\ensuremath{\le}{E}_{\mathrm{range}}\ensuremath{\le}2400$ MeV, the resulting potential retains nonlocal behavior. Connections with microscopic optical potentials as well as other transformations used in the nucleon-nucleon domain are made.
Simultaneous Observations of Geoelectric and Geomagnetic Fields Produced by Magnetospheric ULF Waves

NASANational Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) [NAS5-02099, 80NSSC19K0907]; U.S. Geological Survey Mendenhall Postdoctoral FellowshipUnited States Geological Survey; NSFNational Science Foundation (NSF) [AGS-1004814, EAR0323311]; IRIS under NSF Cooperative Agreement [478, 489, EAR0350030, EAR0323309, EAR0733069, 75MT, CFDA 47.050, 05OSUSAGE, EAR1261681]; Seismological Facilities for the Advancement of Geoscience (SAGE) Award of the National Science Foundation [EAR-1851048]
A comparison of COVID-19 and imaging radiation risk in clinical patient populations.

OBJECTIVE: The outbreak of coronavirus SARS-COV2 affected more than 180 countries necessitating fast and accurate diagnostic tools. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) has been identified as a gold standard test with Chest CT and Chest Radiography showing promising results as well. However, radiological solutions have not been used extensively for the diagnosis of COVID-19 disease, partly due to radiation risk. This study aimed to provide quantitative comparison of imaging radiation risk versus COVID risk. METHODS: The analysis was performed in terms of mortality rate per age group. COVID-19 mortality was extracted from epidemiological data across 299,004 patients published by ISS-Integrated surveillance of COVID-19 in Italy. For radiological risk, the study considered 659 Chest CT performed in adult patients. Organ doses were estimated using a Monte Carlo method and then used to calculate Risk Index that was converted into an upper bound for related mortality rate following NCI-SEER data. RESULTS: COVID-19 mortality showed a rapid rise for ages >30 years old (min:0.30%; max:30.20%), whereas only 1 death was reported in the analyzed patient cohort for ages <20 years old. The rates decreased for radiation risk across age groups. The median mortality rate across all ages for Chest-CT and Chest-Radiography were 0.007% (min:0.005%; max:0.011%) and 0.0003% (min:0.0002%; max:0.0004%), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19, Chest Radiography, and Chest CT mortality rates showed different magnitudes and trends across age groups. In higher ages, the risk of COVID-19 far outweighs that of radiological exams. Based on risk comparison alone, Chest Radiography and CT for COVID-19 care is justified for patients older than 20 and 30 years old, respectively. Notwithstanding other aspects of diagnosis, the present results capture a component of risk consideration associated with the use of imaging for COVID. Once integrated with other diagnostic factors, they may help inform better management of the pandemic.
Underwater Wireless Communication Using Coil-Based Magnetic Induction

A coil antenna-based magnetic induction (MI) scheme for subsea wireless communications is introduced. Magnetic induction (MI) is considered to be a good candidate to overcome the challenges posed by the harsh underwater environment. The designed MI communication system is implemented in hardware. Both numerical simulations and lab experiments are performed to demonstrate the effectiveness of the MI antenna.
Multiphase Organization Is a Second Phase Transition Within Multi-Component Biomolecular Condensates

We present a mean-field theory for the multiphase organization of multi-component biomolecular condensates and validate the theory by molecular dynamics simulations of model mixtures. A first phase transition results in the separation of the dense phase from the bulk phase. In a second phase transition, the components in the dense phase demix to localize in separate regions that attach to each other. The second phase transition occurs when the strength of cross-species attraction goes below the mean strength of the self-attraction of the individual species and reaches a critical value. At a given strength of cross-species attraction, both of the phase transitions can be observed by decreasing temperature, leading first to phase separation and then to demixing of the dense phase. The theory and simulations establish the disparity in strength between self and cross-species attraction as a main driver for the multiphase organization of multi-component biomolecular condensates. TOC GRAPHICS O_FIG O_LINKSMALLFIG WIDTH=196 HEIGHT=200 SRC="FIGDIR/small/460104v1_ufig1.gif" ALT="Figure 1"> View larger version (55K): org.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@e17fdcorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@9168deorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@7c07bcorg.highwire.dtl.DTLVardef@e0077d_HPS_FORMAT_FIGEXP M_FIG C_FIG
Preprint Highlight: Adult fibroblasts retain organ-specific transcriptomic identity.

Even with recent advances in lineage tracing and multiomics analyses, it is difficult to specifically identify and target heterogeneous fibroblast populations in an organ-specific manner. This study combined robust multi-organ in vitro, in vivo, and high-throughput gene expression analyses of mouse fibroblast populations derived from various organs to define organ-specific transcriptional signatures. The analyses revealed that fibroblasts derived from different organs retain transcriptional embryonic gene signatures as organ-of-origin identifiers in adulthood. Moreover, organ-specific transcriptome identities of fibroblast populations were maintained in fibroblast co-cultures in vitro and ectopic transplants in vivo. These studies advance our current understanding of the heterogeneity of fibroblast populations and suggest opportunities for their exploitation and targetability in an organ-specific manner.
Movement ecology and space-use by mountain lions in West Texas

Abstract Local knowledge regarding the movements and space-use of large carnivores can inform species’ management, conservation planning, and strategies for reducing human-wildlife conflict. However, because issues regarding large carnivores can be controversial, obtaining such information may be difficult and therefore lacking in many places. Such is the case for mountain lions (Puma concolor) in West Texas, where most of the land is privately owned. Therefore, we sought to better understand movements and home ranges of mountain lions in the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. We GPS collared 24 mountain lions (15 females, 9 males) between 2011 and 2017. We inspected variograms to distinguish dispersers from residents then we estimated movement metrics and home ranges using continuous-time movement models and autocorrelated kernel density estimation. Using generalized linear mixed models, we tested for seasonal differences in all movement and home range metrics. Of three subadults that dispersed, one had data appropriate for speed estimation; she exhibited faster speeds while dispersing than while exhibiting philopatric movements. Compared to adult resident males, adult resident females moved with slower average speeds (females: 11.82 ± 0.43 km/day; males: 20.36 ± 2.86 km/day), exhibited similar directional persistence in movement (females: 0.95 ± 0.14 h; males: 1.12 ± 0.21 h), crossed their home ranges in similar times (females: 5.76 ± 0.98 days; males: 7.07 ± 1.34 days), and used smaller home ranges than males (females: 283.83 ± 37.50 km2: males: 1077.95 ± 219.30 km2). Adults moved with slowest speeds in the cold-dry season; there were no seasonal effects on other estimates. Each individual’s successive seasonal home ranges were highly overlapped (0.95 ± 0.01). The mountain lions did not expand, contract, or shift their home ranges seasonally, which may be due to ample prey-availability and limited seasonal-shifts in prey distribution. Mountain lions used areas larger than most local ranches and tended to move across the landscape quickly. Together, our results indicate that mountain lions do not typically stay on one property for long which may have implications for conservation planning and species management.
OS100: A Benchmark Set of 100 Digitized UV-Visible Spectra and Derived Experimental Oscillator Strengths

The scientific method involves validating computational theories and methods against experimental results. However, the comparison between theory and experiments is not always straightforward; in UV-visible spectroscopy, experiments provide a plot of wavelength-dependent molar extinction/attenuation coefficients (e) while computations typically provide single-valued excitation energies and oscillator strengths (ƒ) for each band. e and ƒ are related, but this relation is complicated by various broadening and solvation effects. We describe a protocol to fit and integrate experimental UV-visible spectra to obtain ƒexp values for absorption bands and to estimate the uncertainty in the fitting. We apply this protocol to derive 164 ƒexp values from 100 organic molecules ranging in size from 6-34 atoms. The corresponding computed oscillator strengths (ƒcomp) are obtained with time-dependent density functional theory and a polarizable continuum solvent model. By expressing experimental and computed absorption strengths using a common quantity, we directly compare ƒcomp and ƒexp. While ƒcomp and ƒexp are well correlated (linear regression R2=0. 914), ƒcomp in most cases significantly overestimates ƒexp (regression slope=1.31). The agreement between absolute ƒcomp and ƒexp values is substantially improved by accounting for a solvent refractive index factor, as suggested in some derivations in the literature. The 100 digitized UV-visible spectra are included as plain text files in the supporting information to aid in benchmarking computational or machine-learning approaches that aim to simulate realistic UV-visible absorption spectra.
Determinants of Regimen Adherence in Renal Dialysis

Patient nonadherence with medical regimens is common in the treatment of many chronic diseases (Turk & Meichenbaum, 1991). For the over 165,000 end-stage renal disease patients in the United States, nonadherence is both pervasive and clinically significant. The goals of this chapter are to illustrate both the scope and the implications of nonadherence among ESRD patients, as well as to review the empirical literature aimed at identifying determinants of nonadherence. The chapter will also illustrate the assertion that adherence can be better understood by considering the interaction of patient individual differences with treatment and disease-related factors. Finally, the chapter discusses the implications of these issues for the design and implementation of related interventions.
Contribution of presynaptic Na(+) channel inactivation to paired-pulse synaptic depression in cultured hippocampal neurons.

Paired-pulse depression (PPD) of synaptic transmission is important for neuronal information processing. Historically, depletion of the readily releasable pool of synaptic vesicles has been propose...
Validity study of the K6 scale as a measure of moderate mental distress based on mental health treatment need and utilization

The widely-used Kessler K6 non-specific distress scale screens for severe mental illness defined as a K6 score ≥ 13, estimated to afflict about 6% of US adults. The K6, as currently used, fails to capture individuals struggling with more moderate mental distress that nonetheless warrants mental health intervention. The current study determined a cutoff criterion on the K6 scale indicative of moderate mental distress based on mental health treatment need and assessed the validity of this criterion by comparing participants with identified moderate and severe mental distress on relevant clinical, impairment, and risk behavior measures. Data were analyzed from 50,880 adult participants in the 2007 California Health Interview Survey. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis identified K6 ≥ 5 as the optimal lower threshold cut-point indicative of moderate mental distress. Based on the K6, 8.6% of California adults had serious mental distress and another 27.9% had moderate mental distress. Correlates of moderate and serious mental distress were similar. Respondents with moderate mental distress had rates of mental health care utilization, impairment, substance use and other risks lower than respondents with serious mental distress and greater than respondents with none/low mental distress. The findings support expanded use and analysis of the K6 scale in quantifying and examining correlates of mental distress at a moderate, yet still clinically relevant, level.
Transfer function analysis of autonomic regulation. I. Canine atrial rate response.

We present a useful technique for analyzing the various functional components that comprise the cardiovascular control network. Our approach entails the imposition of a signal with broad frequency ...
Proof of unconditional security of six-state quatum key distribution scheme

We prove the unconditional security of the standard six-state scheme for quantum key distribution (QKD). We demonstrate its unconditional security up to a bit error rate of 12.7 percents, by allowing only one-way classical communications in the error correction/privacy amplification procedure between Alice and Bob. This shows a clear advantage of the six-state scheme over another standard scheme--BB84, which has been proven to be secure up to only about 11 percents, if only one-way classical communications are allowed. Our proof technique is a generalization of that of Shor-Preskill's proof of security of BB84. We show that a advantage of the six-state scheme lies in the Alice and Bob's ability to establish rigorously from their test sample the non-trivial mutual information between the bit-flip and phase error patterns. A modified version of the degenerate quantum codes studied by DiVincenzo, Shor and Smolin is employed in our proof.
Detection of Fragments from Internal Insects in Wheat Samples Using a Laboratory Entoleter

ABSTRACT A simple, rapid method that uses a small mechanical rotary device (entoleter) was developed for estimating insect fragment counts in flour caused by hidden, internal-feeding insects in whole grains of hard red winter and soft red winter wheat. Known counts of preemergent adults, pupae, and larvae of lesser grain borers and rice weevils were blended with 500 g samples of uninfested wheat. The entoleter impeller speed was adjusted based on grain hardness and moisture content to obtain about ≈98% intact and ≈2–2.5% broken kernels in an uninfested sample. The entoleter flung the wheat kernels against a surrounding steel ring. Approximately 70–90% of the insect-infested kernels, being weaker, released internal insect pieces upon impact. The broken kernels were sieved with number 10 and number 20 sieves to obtain large-sieved and small-sieved fractions, respectively. Insect pieces in sieved fractions were counted. The insect piece counts were correlated with the estimated flour fragments (R2 = 0.94). T...
p-Cresol Methylhydroxylase: Alteration of the Structure of the Flavoprotein Subunit upon Its Binding to the Cytochrome Subunit†,‡

The structures of two forms of a recombinant flavoprotein have been determined at high resolution and compared. These proteins are (1) the flavocytochrome c p-cresol methylhydroxylase (rPCMH, 1.85 A resolution) and (2) the cytochrome-free flavoprotein subunit of rPCMH (PchF, 1.30 A resolution). A significant conformational difference is observed in a protein segment that is in contact with the re face of the isoalloxazine ring of FAD when the structure of PchF is compared to the subunit in the intact flavocytochrome. This structural change is important for optimum catalytic function of the flavoprotein, which has been shown to be dependent on the presence of the cytochrome subunit. This change results in different protein-flavin and apparently different protein-substrate interactions that have a "tuning effect" on the electronic and redox properties of bound p-cresol and the covalently bound FAD. The conformational change in the segment in the cofactor-binding site is induced by a small rearrangement in the flavoprotein-cytochrome interface region of the flavoprotein.
Treatment of Postherpetic Neuralgia Using a Thoracic Transforaminal Epidural Steroid Injection

A 64-year-old male patient with a history of herpes zoster exposure presented with severe, constant, burning pain in the left T10 dermatome consistent with postherpetic neuralgia. Previous treatment included oral and topical medications as well as an intercostal nerve block; however, these treatment options did not provide significant relief. The patient was treated with a single-level T10 thoracic transforaminal epidural steroid injection for refractory postherpetic neuralgia. He reported complete resolution of his symptoms at 2- and 12-week follow-ups. This case illustrates transforaminal epidural steroid injections may be a successful treatment option for postherpetic neuralgia.
The Phoenix search results at Parkes

Abstract For 16 weeks (February to June of 1995), Project Phoenix had the exclusive use of the 64 m Parkes radio telescope in New South Wales, Australia, as well as another element of the Australian Telescope National Facility (ATNF), the 22 m Mopra telescope, 200 km to the north at Coonabarabran. With these two telescopes, we conducted a targeted search of nearly two hundred solar-type stars covering the frequency range from 1.2–3 GHz. The signal detection system described in the paper by Dreher [1] was optimized to detect narrowband signals (presumed to be transmitted by another technological civilization) originating in the vicinity of these targets. The system was sensitive to signals that were continuously present, or pulsed regularly, even if their frequencies drifted, or changed slowly in time. Many signals of precisely this nature were detected—coming from our own technology! All manner of transmitters, from microwave ovens to satellite downlinks, are rapidly making this naturally quiet portion of the electromagnetic spectrum extremely noisy. The use of the two widely separated telescopes as a pseudo-interferometer was essential to discriminate against signals of terrestrial origin. The performance of the system and the results of the observing campaign are presented in this paper, while the cooperative science observations that were undertaken with Australian PIs are described in a companion paper.
Void effects on the interlaminar shear strength of unidirectional graphite-fiber-reinforced composites

A study was conducted to evaluate the effect of voids on the interlaminar shear strength (ILSS) of a polyimide matrix composite system. The graphite/PRM-15 composite was chosen for study because of the extensive amount of experience that has been amassed in the processing of this material. Composite densities and fiber contents of more than thirty different laminates were measured along with ILSS. Void contents were calculated and the void geometry and distribution were noted using microscopic techniques such as those used in metallography. It was found that there was a good empirical correlation between ILSS and composite density. The most acceptable relationship between the ILSS and density was found to be a power equation which closely resembles theoretically derived expressions. An increase in scatter in the strength data was observed as the void content increased. In laminates with low void content, the void appears to be more segregated in one area of the laminate. It was found that void free composites could be processed in matched metal die molds at pressures greater than 1.4 and less than 6.9 MPa.
Teaching the Mental Status Examination to Medical Students by Using a Standardized Patient in a Large Group Setting

The authors describe their recent experience in using a standardized patient (SP) to illustrate the mental status examination (MSE) to 170 second-year medical students in a large classroom setting. An SP was trained to portray a patient with schizophrenia who was interviewed during the MSE lecture. A six-question survey was distributed to the students to evaluate how the students felt about the learning experience. Results show that the majority of students felt that using an SP in a large classroom setting helped them to understand the material better and was a useful teaching tool. Follow-up studies are under way to objectively measure students’ integration and retention of the lecture material.
Microtia repair: creation of a functional postauricular sulcus.

Abstract Objective: Auricular reconstruction for repair of severe congenital microtia can provide the patient with a realistic-looking pinna. However, an unseen functional cephaloauricular sulcus is necessary, especially for patients with eyeglasses. Technique: (1) A skin graft is harvested. (2) The ear framework is separated substantially from the side of the head. (3) A crescent of hair-bearing scalp skin is excised. (4) The donor skin graft is divided. One part of the graft surfaces the superolateral and medial portions of the auricular framework into the sulcus depth; the remainder covers the side of the head. Results: This simple technique was effective. Minor transient sequelae have included granulation tissue (2 patients), localized infection (2 patients), and adhesion (1 patient). Patients requiring glasses have worn frames soon after surgery, and no sulcus problems have resulted. Conclusion: Creation of this postauricular sulcus during microtia reconstruction is easily performed and offers the patient a durable and functional space, especially for eyeglass wear. (Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 1999;120:789-93.)
The Native Protein

R ESULTS OBTAINED IN PHYSICAL chemistry and chemical crystallography yield a rather definite picture of the native protein which fits at many points with that emerging from the various fields of the biology of the proteins, i.e. enzymology, immunology, pharmacology, virus studies, and genetics. If we attempt to sum up the general impression derived from a study of various independent sources of information on the proteins, it can be broken down into the following parts: (1) Many proteins in solution are particles, not individual molecules (21). It is useful to use the term proteon to connote a native protein unit incapable of division into subunits also having the native protein character. Every native protein may then be regarded as a proteon or a system of proteons, alike or different. That a protein particle is not a mere conglomerate of proteons but an orderly aggregate, i.e. a molecular colony, follows from the finding that in many cases where ultracentrifugal studies show that a protein is uniform in size and shape under well-defined external conditions, the protein in question is capable of dissociation into subunits when the environmental conditions are modified (21). Much information has now been assembled concerning the particle status of many proteins, ranging from the very large tobacco mosaic nucleoprotein down to horse hemoglobin. The reversible dissociation of protein particles does not imply any change in the chemical status of the proteons. It is therefore to be sharply distinguished from denaturation. (2) Interproteon associations within particles depend upon the R-substituents of the amino acid backbones (N-CQ-C) which make up the proteon skeletons. Structure chemistry provides three types of association: direct polar, mediated polar, and less polar. Horse hemoglobin, which on dilution dissociates into two subunits, provides an illustration of the first type; the Helix hemocyanin particle whose dissociations in aqueous solution are affected by Ca++ and Mg++, an illustration of the first and second types (21). That the less polar R-substituents of aliphatic and aromatic types, as well as the more polar types, emerge from protein surfaces is indicated by many data, e.g. the higher solubility of insulin in propylene glycol than in water and the affinity of human serum albumin for the paraffin chains of fatty acid molecules (13). Thus, associations of the third type are also a possibility,
Ab initio study of aqueous hydrochloric acid

Ab initio molecular dynamics simulations have been carried out for solutions of hydrochloric acid in water, under ambient conditions, over a wide range of concentrations. For acid-to-water mole rat...
Protein Crystal Engineering of YpAC-IV Using a Strategy of Excess Charge Reduction

The class IV adenylyl cyclase from Yersinia pestis has been engineered by site-specific mutagenesis to facilitate crystallization at neutral pH. The wild-type enzyme crystallized only below pH 5, consistent with the observation of a carboxyl-carboxylate H bond in a crystal contact in the refined structure 2FJT. On the basis of that unliganded structure at 1.9 A resolution, two different approaches were tested with the goal of producing a higher-pH crystal needed for inhibitor complexation and mechanistic studies. In one approach, Asp 19, which forms the growth-limiting dicarboxyl contact in wild-type triclinic crystals, was modified to Ala and Asn in hopes of relieving the acid-dependence of that crystal form. In the other approach, wild-type residues Met 18, Glu 25, and Asp 55 were (individually) changed to lysine to reduce the protein’s excess negative charge in hopes of enabling growth of new, higher-pH forms. These three sites were selected based on their high solvent exposure and lack of intraprotein...
Comparison of a short food frequency questionnaire with the Youth/Adolescent Questionnaire in the Growing Up Today Study

Introduction. Our purpose was to design and evaluate a shorter version of our 126-item food frequency questionnaire (long FFQ) for use with adolescents. A shorter FFQ is needed that can reliably ra...
Hatching of amphibian embryos: the physiological trigger

Marbled salamander embryos hatch in water if the environmental oxygen pressure is 86 torr or less, but do not hatch if the environmental oxygen pressure is equivalent to that of air. Under hypoxic conditions, embryos hatch in aqueous and nonaqueous media with equal success. Increasing carbon dioxide pressure does not induce hatching, but does decrease the time to hatching by altering environmental pH.
An Analytic and Cognitive Parameterization of Coherence Relations

An analytic and cognitive parameterization of coherence relations is proposed that contains the categories TYPE (CAUSAL, TEMPORAL, ADDITIVE), POLARITY (POSITIVE, NEGATIVE), and DIRECTION (FORWARD, BI-DIRECTIONAL and BACKWARD). Evidence for the parameterization comes from the first of a series of studies. An eye tracking study and a self-paced reading time
Anthrax Toxin Induces Macrophage Death by p38 MAPK Inhibition but Leads to Inflammasome Activation via ATP Leakage

Detection of microbial constituents by membrane associated and cytoplasmic pattern recognition receptors is the essence of innate immunity, leading to activation of protective host responses. However, it is still unclear how immune cells specifically respond to pathogenic bacteria. Using virulent and nonvirulent strains of Bacillus anthracis, we have shown that secretion of ATP by infected macrophages and the sequential activation of the P2X7 purinergic receptor and nucleotide binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptors are critical for IL-1-dependent host protection from virulent B. anthracis. Importantly, lethal toxin produced by virulent B. anthracis blocked activation of protein kinases, p38 MAPK and AKT, resulting in opening of a connexin ATP release channel and induction of macrophage death. Prevention of cell death or ATP release through constitutive p38 or AKT activation interfered with inflammasome activation and IL-1β production, thereby compromising antimicrobial immunity.
A common trinucleotide repeat expansion within the transcription factor 4 (TCF4, E2-2) gene predicts Fuchs corneal dystrophy.

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a common, familial disease of the corneal endothelium and is the leading indication for corneal transplantation. Variation in the transcription factor 4 (TCF4) gene has been identified as a major contributor to the disease. We tested for an association between an intronic TGC trinucleotide repeat in TCF4 and FECD by determining repeat length in 66 affected participants with severe FECD and 63 participants with normal corneas in a 3-stage discovery/replication/validation study. PCR primers flanking the TGC repeat were used to amplify leukocyte-derived genomic DNA. Repeat length was determined by direct sequencing, short tandem repeat (STR) assay and Southern blotting. Genomic Southern blots were used to evaluate samples for which only a single allele was identified by STR analysis. Compiling data for 3 arms of the study, a TGC repeat length >50 was present in 79% of FECD cases and in 3% of normal controls cases (p 50 TGC repeats, 13 (20%) had 50 repeats, 60 (95%) had 50 TGC repeats identifying FECD in this patient cohort was 79% and 96%, respectively Expanded TGC repeat was more specific for FECD cases than the previously identified, highly associated, single nucleotide polymorphism, rs613872 (specificity = 79%). The TGC trinucleotide repeat expansion in TCF4 is strongly associated with FECD, and a repeat length >50 is highly specific for the disease This association suggests that trinucleotide expansion may play a pathogenic role in the majority of FECD cases and is a predictor of disease risk.
Oil globule microstructure of protein/polysaccharide or protein/protein bilayer emulsions at various pH

Abstract The microstructure of oil droplets of bi-layer emulsions was studied as a function of pH (i.e. 7, 5, and 3) using scanning electron microscopy. The bi-layer emulsions consisted of a primary emulsion: 5 wt% soybean oil (SBO) in a 1% protein (nonfat dry milk) aqueous solution. The secondary layer was ι-carrageenan, high- (HMp), low (LMp)-methoxyl pectin, or gelatin. The secondary emulsions consisted of 2.5% SBO, 0.5% protein, and 0.2% polysaccharide or protein. Gelatin secondary emulsions were stable at pH 7 with defined droplets and became unstable at pH 5 and 3. The destabilization mechanisms for these emulsions at pH 5 and 3 were different as observed with the SEM: at pH 5 there is complete aggregation of protein due to their proximity to the isoelectric point; and at pH 3 the droplets are perfectly separated, suggesting that at this pH, when the net charge is positive, the destabilization is mainly due to depletion flocculation. HMp secondary emulsions shift from being stable (individual droplets) at pH 3 to being unstable at pH 7 where an extensive webbing is observed between the droplets at this pH value. The ι-carrageenan secondary emulsions are stable at each pH and the individual droplet microstructure is minimally altered as the pH changes. LMp secondary emulsions shift from being stable at pH 7 with individual droplets observed in the SEM micrographs to being unstable at pH 3 where extensive webbing is observed in the SEM micrographs.
On characterizing Z-matrices☆

Abstract In M. Fiedler , T.L. Markham [Linear Algebra Appl. 173 (1992) 115] M. Fiedler and T.L. Markham studied a partition of Z -matrices. Here, a transformational characterization is given for Z -matrices in general as well as for each member of the Fiedler–Markham partition. This characterization generalizes the transformational characterization of nonsingular M -matrices given by C.R. Johnson and the author in (Linear Algebra Appl., to appear).
Cell phones in campus libraries: An analysis of policy responses to an invasive mobile technology

This study examines how libraries within college and university settings in the United States have dealt with the influx of patron mobile telephone use. We contacted 150 colleges and universities throughout the United States and received 87 responses. These institutions were ranked by US News and World Report in their 2006 Edition of ''America's Best Colleges;'' we sampled from their list stratified within the following categories: ''top public universities;'' ''best liberal arts colleges;'' ''fourth tier liberal arts colleges;'' ''best national universities;'' and ''fourth tier national universities.'' We found that those college and university libraries adopt an array of stances when approaching cell phone use within their library facilities. These approaches include structured guidelines that specifically address cell phone use posted on the library website, signs displayed throughout the library barring cell phone use, and signage that provides patrons with a list of areas in which use is permitted. Interestingly, we found that several libraries lack any kind of mobile phone policy and instead, assume all patrons will behave in a proper way.