cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
tRNA identity: a hair of the dogma that bit us.

Those drawn to the calling of molecular biology will inevitably be touched when a universal step in the flow of genetic information is clarified. That clarification is underway for the interaction of tRNAs and aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (AARS) in vivo and in vitro. These new data also apply to the more general topic of RNA-protein association and may illuminate other little-understood, though ubiquitous, ribonucleoprotein interactions. The Data, Old and New Distinction among tRNAs by AARS is sometimes simple. From work begun almost two decades ago, we know that a single additional genetic mutation in the CCA arm of amber (UAG) suppressor tRNATyrcun (the subscript shows a changed anticodon) alters this tRNA so that it inserts glutamine (Ghysen and Celis, JMB 83, 333-351, 1974). A single C-U mutation in the middle position of the anticodon of tRNATrp simultaneously converts it to an amber suppressor and makes it a glutaminyl-tRNA (Yaniv et al., JMB 86,245260,1974). Thus GlnRS depends heavily on one or two nucleotides to determine acceptance or rejection of some tRNAs. The anticodon plainly contains sufficient information to uniquely determine a tRNA’s associated amino acid, and can be the predominant determinant of amino acid specificity. The importance of the anticodon to E. coli MetRS in vitro was shown by work begun shortly after the early genetic experiments. Schulman and Pelka (PNAS 80, 6755-6759, 1983) ligated anticodon oligoribonucleotides into RNAase-gapped tRNAMet to demonstrate that MetRS depends heavily on the three nucleotides of the anticodon (34,35, and 36 in the figure, marked M). These same workers (Schulman and Pelka, Science, in press, 1988) have now transformed tRNAVarI into tRNAVa$,cAu, which accepts methionine at the same rate as bona fide tRNAMet. This represents an increase of 600,000-fold in acylation rate (V,,/K,) as a result of the substitution of two anticodon nucleotides. Similarly, tRNATrPCAu is acylated by MetRS only tenfold more slowly than tRNAMet. Other experiments of Schulman and Pelka show that ValRS displays the same type of dependence on the anticodon (sites marked V in the figure): tRNAMet,,unc accepts valine at a rate only tenfold lower than that of tRNAV$. Much recent work takes its inspiration from Normanly et al. (Nature 327, 213-219, 1986) whose experiments initially suggested that tRNA discrimination could be studied by changing a relatively small part of the tRNA sequence. These workers introduced a now widely used approach for determining the “identity set” of a tRNA and AARS (identity set is defined as the minimal set of nucleotide substitutions that changes the amino acid inserted into cellular Minireview
Running a gauntlet: a review of victimization and violence in the pre-entry, post-entry, and peri-/post-exit periods of commercial sexual exploitation

International sex trafficking and domestic prostitution are each forms of commercial sexual exploitation (CSE), and CSE typically encompasses a gauntlet of victimization and violence for its victims. Girls and women subjected to CSE are not only damaged during their involvement in the sex industry, but they typically suffer maltreatment and related factors before they enter into it and again as they endeavor to leave it. In this article we review the common risk factors associated with entry into the sex trade industry, the traumas commonly experienced while in the industry and their psychological sequelae, and the challenges surrounding, and longer-term impact of, endeavoring to exit the industry. We describe the complex conditions present at each of these three stages (pre-entry, post-entry, and peri-/post-exit) and how they result in challenges in treating this population. As rates of commercial sexual exploitation increase both nationally and worldwide, there is an urgent need to identify effective interventions for victims and to address the conditions that foster and support CSE. Keywords: Human trafficking Language: en
Annual temperature‐cycle of Lake Michigan

Between November, 1941, and February, 1944, no fewer than 110 crossings of Lake Michigan were completed, on which about 2,000 bathythermograph soundings and innumerable meteorological observations were made. Eighty of the crossings were between Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Muskegon, Michigan, at intervals averaging about ten days. The other crossings were made to the north or west of Frankfort, Michigan. Lake Michigan essentially consists-of two basins, the southern basin being nearly circular with a maximum depth of 172 meters. The north basin occupies the northern two-thirds of the lake proper, is long and narrow, and has a maximum depth of 282 meters. At the speed of the vessels from which the soundings were made, the bathythermograph, recording temperatures continuously, would descend vertically not more than 105 meters. Soundings to the bottom could be taken virtually all the way across the lake between Milwaukee and Muskegon.
Vitiligo in children

Background Vitiligo is an acquired depigmentary disorder affecting around 1% of the world’s population. In 25% of cases it has its onset prior to the age of 14 years.
Our two cents: research ethics consultation at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

As the faculty responsible for the Research Ethics Consulting Service (RECS) at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (JHSPH), we would like to briefly describe our service and to address two of the ongoing questions inherent to performing research ethics consulting posited by Cho et al. (2008): conflicts of interest and core competencies.
Bayesian Hierarchical Modeling for Integrating Low-Accuracy and High-Accuracy Experiments

Standard practice when analyzing data from different types of experiments is to treat data from each type separately. By borrowing strength across multiple sources, an integrated analysis can produce better results. Careful adjustments must be made to incorporate the systematic differences among various experiments. Toward this end, some Bayesian hierarchical Gaussian process models are proposed. The heterogeneity among different sources is accounted for by performing flexible location and scale adjustments. The approach tends to produce prediction closer to that from the high-accuracy experiment. The Bayesian computations are aided by the use of Markov chain Monte Carlo and sample average approximation algorithms. The proposed method is illustrated with two examples, one with detailed and approximate finite elements simulations for mechanical material design and the other with physical and computer experiments for modeling a food processor.
Advantages of sequential polyethylene glycol (PEG) precipitations to isolate and analyze circulating immune complexes.

Abstract The present report describes a new approach utilizing sequential polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG) precipitations to isolate and analyze circulating immune complexes (IC). Two experimental systems were studied. First, IC were formed by adding labeled or unlabeled bovine serum albumin (BSA) to anti-BSA antiserum. Sequential precipitations with PEG concentrations ranging from 2 to 6.2 indicated that immunoglobulin (Ig) molecules were precipitated in all experimental and control sera tested. In contrast, optimal precipitations of IC (i.e., highest BSA/Ig ratio) were a function both of PEG concentration and of BSA/anti-BSA ratio (i.e., of IC size). Satisfactory IC purification was achieved by precipitation with appropriate PEG concentration followed by incubation with Staphylococcus aureus , Cowan I. Second, in preliminary experiments, the same procedure was applied to human sera. The findings paralleled those of the BSA/anti-BSA system. While PEG precipitated Ig in all sera tested, a potential antigen was found only in the most IC-positive serum, and only at the higher of the two PEG concentrations tested. From our data, we conclude that PEG concentrations needed to precipitate IC cannot be predetermined, as they are a function of the size and probably the nature of the IC studied. This limitation can be overcome by the systematic sequential precipitations which increase the chances of identifying antigens and decrease the risks of confusing antigen-antibody complexes and Ig aggregates.
Oxidative DNA base damage in MCF-10A breast epithelial cells at clinically achievable concentrations of doxorubicin

The cellular metabolism of doxorubicin generates reactive oxygen species with significant potential to damage DNA. Such DNA damage can result in mutations if not adequately repaired by cellular DNA repair pathways. Secondary malignancies have been reported in patients who have received doxorubicin-containing chemotherapeutic regimens; however, the underlying molecular mechanism(s) to explain the development of these tumors remains under active investigation. We have previously demonstrated the presence of DNA bases modified by oxidation in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of patients with breast cancer following treatment with doxorubicin. In those studies, doxorubicin was administered by continuous infusion over 96 h to minimize the risk of cardiac toxicity. To evaluate potential mechanisms underlying doxorubicin-induced DNA base oxidation in non-malignant tissues, MCF-10A breast epithelial cells were cultured for 96 h with the same doxorubicin concentration achieved in vivo (0.1 μM). During doxorubicin exposure, MCF-10A cells underwent growth arrest and apoptosis, developed elevated levels of reactive oxygen species, and demonstrated a time-dependent and significant increase in the levels of 11 oxidized DNA bases, as determined by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy. Diminished expression of DNA repair enzymes was also observed over the same time course. Thus, clinically achievable concentrations of doxorubicin induce a level of oxidative stress in MCF-10A cells that is capable of oxidizing DNA bases and significantly altering cellular proliferation.
Hyperspectral imaging for detection of scab in wheat

Scab (Fusarium head blight) is a disease that causes wheat kernels to be shriveled, underweight, and difficult to mill. Scab is also a health concern because of the possible concomitant production of the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol. Current official inspection procedures entail manual human inspection. A study was undertaken to explore the possibility of detecting scab-damaged wheat kernels by machine vision. A custom-made hyperspectral imaging system, possessing a wavelength range of 425 to 860 nm with neighboring bands 3.7 nm apart, a spatial resolution of 0.022 mm2/pixel, and 16-bit per pixel dynamic range, gathered images of non-touching kernels from three wheat varieties. Each variety was represented by 32 normal and 32 scab-damaged kernels. From a search of wavelengths that could be used to separate the two classes (normal vs. scab), a linear discriminant function was constructed from the best R((lambda) 1)/R((lambda) 2), based on the assumption of a multivariate normal distribution for each class and the pooling of the covariance error that averaged between 2 and 17%, dependent on wheat variety. With expansion to the testing of more varieties, a two-to-four wavelength machine vision system appears to be a feasible alternative to manual inspection.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Toward an operational definition of anhedonia.

Systematic study of Rado's idea that anhedonia plays a central role in the development of schizophrenia has lagged for want of a suitable operational definition. Therefore, seven measures appearing to reflect anhedonia were intercorrelated and factor analyzed. The resulting varimax factors were named: Apathy vs Cheerfulness, defined by Psychotic Inpatient Profile and Nurses' Observation Scale for Inpatient Evaluation items, Gurel's Goalless Apathy Scale and a Fun-seeking rating; and Apathy vs Energy, defined by Goalless Apathy, the Elgin Interests Scale, Fun-seeking, and a specially constructed MMPI scale. It is suggested that anhedonia might best be considered as a multivariate dimension but that, where a single definition is desired, the scales defining the second factor may be the most appropriate.
Toxicity of Chloroform Biotransformation to Methanogenic Bacteria

Batch serum bottle assays were conducted to determine the effect of exposure to and biotransformation of chloroform (CF) on unacclimated, aceticlastic, methanogenic bacteria. Methanogenesis was negatively impacted both during and following exposure of methanogens to CF: methanogenesis was strongly inhibited in the presence of detectable levels of chloroform and maximum methane production (MMP) rates decreased following CF exposure. Using a general nonlinear model it was found that the loss of methanogenic activity was most strongly correlated with the mass of chloroform transformed (nmol CF; r 2 = 0.84), rather than with the time-integrated CF exposure which methanogens received (μM CF-h; r 2 = 0.60). Comparison of individual data sets supported this finding. Control studies showed that desorption of CF and exposure of methanogens to DCM or possible nonvolatile CF metabolites did not cause decreased MMP rates. Based on these results, it is concluded that CF biotransformation is toxic to unacclimated, ace...
A freudian construct lost and reclaimed : The psychodynamics of personality pathology

Although many early 20th-century descriptions of personality pathology were unabashedly psychoanalytic, recent editions of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) have attempted to frame personality disorders (PDs) in atheoretical terms. This article discusses the continuing relevance of psychoanalytic theory for PD diagnosis, research, and treatment. After reviewing the evolution of the PD concept since Freud’s time, 3 psychodynamic constructs central to a contemporary understanding of personality pathology are described: ego strength, defense style, and mental representations of self and others. Research in each area is briefly reviewed, the heuristic value of the psychodynamic perspective is discussed, and unresolved questions and future directions in the psychodynamics of personality pathology are addressed.
Pharmacological analysis of the cortical neuronal cytoskeletal protective efficacy of the calpain inhibitor SNJ-1945 in a mouse traumatic brain injury model

The efficacy of the amphipathic ketoamide calpain inhibitor SNJ-1945 in attenuating calpain-mediated degradation of the neuronal cytoskeletal protein α-spectrin was examined in the controlled cortical impact (CCI) traumatic brain injury (TBI) model in male CF-1 mice. Using a single early (15 min after CCI-TBI) i.p. bolus administration of SNJ-1945 (6.25, 12.5, 25, or 50-mg/kg), we identified the most effective dose on α-spectrin degradation in the cortical tissue of mice at its 24 h peak after severe CCI-TBI. We then investigated the effects of a pharmacokinetically optimized regimen by examining multiple treatment paradigms that varied in dose and duration of treatment. Finally, using the most effective treatment regimen, the therapeutic window of α-spectrin degradation attenuation was assessed by delaying treatment from 15 min to 1 or 3 h post-injury. The effect of SNJ-1945 on α-spectrin degradation exhibited a U-shaped dose–response curve when treatment was initiated 15 min post-TBI. The most effective 12.5 mg/kg dose of SNJ-1945 significantly reduced α-spectrin degradation by ~60% in cortical tissue. Repeated dosing of SNJ-1945 beginning with a 12.5 mg/kg dose did not achieve a more robust effect compared with a single bolus treatment, and the required treatment initiation was less than 1 h. Although calpain has been firmly established to play a major role in post-traumatic secondary neurodegeneration, these data suggest that even brain and cell-permeable calpain inhibitors, when administered alone, do not show sufficient cytoskeletal protective efficacy or a practical therapeutic window in a mouse model of severe TBI. Such conclusions need to be verified in the human clinical situation.
Current Trends in PET and Combined (PET/CT and PET/MR) Systems Design.

Molecular imaging using high-resolution PET instrumentation has a pivotal role in basic and clinical research. The development of optimized detection geometries combined with high-performance detector technologies and compact designs of PET tomographs has become the goal of active research groups in academic and corporate settings. More recently, the introduction of dual-modality PET/CT imaging systems in clinical environments has revolutionized the practice of diagnostic imaging. This article discusses recent advances in PET instrumentation and the advantages and challenges of multimodality imaging systems including PET/MR. Future opportunities and the challenges facing the adoption of multimodality imaging instrumentation and its role in biomedical research are also addressed.
Studies on equine immunologlobulins—III Antigenic bacterial interrelationships among horse and dog γG globulins☆

Abstract 1. 1. Antisera prepared against equine IgG globulin, its Fab, Fc fragments and L chains were employed in immunodiffusion analysis to examine their cross reactivity with canine IgGa,b globulins and a canine IgGd paraprotein. 2. 2. Interspecies antigenic similarities were found and cross reactive groupings assigned to various parts of the canine γG-globulin molecule. 3. 3. Immunodiffusion and cross absorption studies with anti-equine IgG, showed canine IgGa,b and IgGd to share some antigenic determinants in common with equine IgG and IgB absent from equine IgG(T).
A Comparison of Static and Cyclic Long-Term Oxidation of Two Nb-Cr-Mo-Si-B Alloys

Nb-25Cr-20Mo-15Si-10B (compositions in at pct) and Nb-25Cr-20Mo-15Si-15B alloys were exposed to air for a maximum period of 2 weeks under static and cyclic conditions to determine oxidation response. Oxidation was carried out at temperatures of 973 K, 1173 K, 1373 K, and 1573 K (700 °C, 900 °C, 1100 °C, and 1300 °C). Results of long-term cyclic oxidation show an increase in oxidation resistance with an increase in boron content. Pesting has been observed at 973 K (700 °C) in the 10B alloy in cyclic and static modes of oxidation. Comparative analysis of oxide formation is done by the weight gain per unit surface area method. The alloys and their oxides are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray mapping.
The influence of body mass index and velocity on knee biomechanics during walking

Obesity has been associated with both the development and progression of knee osteoarthritis. Being overweight or obese from a young age is likely to decrease the age of onset for co-morbidities of obesity such as osteoarthritis. However, research on osteoarthritis has thus far focused on older adults. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether young adults who are overweight or obese exhibit biomechanical risk factors for knee osteoarthritis at either their preferred walking velocity or at 1m/s, which was slower than the preferred velocity. Thirty healthy young adults formed three equal groups according to body mass index. Three dimensional kinetics and kinematics were collected while participants walked overground at both velocities. Joint moments were normalized to fat free weight and height. The preferred walking velocity of obese participants was slower than that of normal weight individuals. There were no differences in knee flexion excursion, peak knee flexion angle, normalized peak knee flexion moment or normalized peak knee adduction moment among groups. Obese participants walked with lower peak knee adduction angle than both overweight and normal body mass index participants and several shifted towards knee abduction. All groups had smaller knee flexion excursion, peak knee flexion angle, peak knee flexion moment and peak knee adduction moment at 1m/s compared to preferred walking velocity. Overall, young and otherwise healthy overweight and obese participants have knee biomechanics during gait at preferred and slow walking velocities that are comparable to normal weight adults.
Distribution of melamine in melamine/polyester coatings; FT-IR spectroscopic studies

Abstract Studies of polyester/melamine films using ATR FT-IR spectroscopy indicate that the melamine distribution across the films is uniform unless the hydroxyl content is low and the cure temperatures are relatively high. With polyester resins having an OH number as low as 6, curing at 250 °C with 30 w/w% melamine gives rise to melamine enrichment at the film-air interface. Enrichment is believed to result from melamine self-condensation near the interface. Although the distribution is a complex function and depends upon the amount of acid catalyst, the hydroxyl number of polyester, the film thickness and the reaction rate difference between the film-air and film-substrate interfaces, the primary factor leading to self-condensation is the loss of amine at the surface. Apparently, these factors play a key role in melamine self-condensation near the film-air interface and may control such properties as the crosslink density and the modification of properties such as flexibility and stain resistance.
Nurse Staffing and Adverse Events in Hospitalized Children

This study determined whether the number of hours of care provided by RNs was related to mortality and complications in hospitalized children. Administrative data (1996-2001) were used to examine discharges of 3.65 million pediatric patients in 286 general and children's hospitals in California. A greater number of resource-adjusted hours of care provided by RNs was related to significantly reduced occurrences of postoperative pulmonary complications, postoperative pneumonia, and postoperative septicemia; the positive impact of increases in nurse staffing was of greater magnitude at institutions providing fewer resource-adjusted hours of RN care. There was also evidence of an impact of increases in nurse staffing on urinary tract infections, but it was statistically significant only for institutions with higher resource-adjusted hours of RN care. There was no statistically significant relationship between RN staffing and mortality. More hours of care provided by RNs was associated with improved quality of care for hospitalized pediatric patients.
Potential pitfalls in diagnostic oral pathology: a review for the general surgical pathologist.

Abstract: Oral developmental, reactive, benign neoplastic and malignant neoplastic conditions, many odontogenic in origin, may not be seen routinely by the general surgical pathologist and therefore may present a diagnostic dilemma. This article describes odontogenic and nonodontogenic conditions with little or no destructive potential along with the more aggressive conditions that resemble them clinically and histologically. The importance of clinical and radiographic correlation as an adjunct to tissue diagnosis is highlighted. Additionally, a brief summary of odontogenesis is presented with attention given to odontogenic embryologic remnants and the developmental and pathologic processes that may arise from them.
Electrophysiologic Studies on Mobitz Type II Second-Degree Heart Block

Experimental studies were carried out in animals with intracellular and extracellular electrodes used to record simultaneously from the atrium, atrioventricular (A-V) node, bundle of His, bundle branches, Purkinje fibers, and ventricles to determine the site of conduction delay and block in Mobitz type II second-degree heart block. Type II block with block occurring within the His-Purkinje system was observed only rarely in normal animals; however, Mobitz type II block could be induced in normal hearts by slight but undetectable variations in the P-P interval. Sudden conduction failure was usually due to block within the His-Purkinje system. Type II block also resulted from failure of conduction within the A-V node during depressed A-V conduction due to rapid atrial pacing, vagal stimulation, or ouabain infusion. The classification of second-degree heart block according to Mobitz type I (increasing P-R interval) and Mobitz type II (constant P-R interval) block should take into account that the site of blo...
Stimulation of phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis in diabetic hypertrophic kidneys.

Choline metabolism and phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis were studied in renocortical slices of rats rendered diabetic with streptozotocin. The rates of [14C]choline incorporation into both acid-soluble and acid-insoluble fractions were increased in diabetic relative to control kidneys. While choline uptake into the control kidneys reached a plateau after 30 min of incubation, the tissue uptake of choline by the diabetic kidneys showed a time-dependent increase over 120 min, rising to a level exceeding that of control kidneys. In the control kidney, the oxidation of choline to betaine was similar to the level of phosphocholine accumulation during the first 30 min, while the formation of phosphocholine in the diabetic kidney was 1.9-fold higher than that in the control kidney (P < 0.02) and 1.4-fold higher than the formation of betaine in diabetics (P < 0.05). These data suggest that most of the choline transported into cells enters the Kennedy pathway by phosphorylation to phosphocholine in diabetic kidney...
Experimental and computational investigation of the laminar flow structure in a stirred tank

The laminar flow structure inside an unbaffled stirred tank generated by a 6-blade radial flow impeller was characterized using flow visualization experiments, particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) experiments, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. As expected from a previous study (Lamberto et al., 1996), the dominant flow structures in the system were two ring vortices above and below the impeller. These secondary circulation regions were segregated from the bulk of the flow and, for low impeller Reynolds numbers (5<Re<100), their positions and size were found to depend on Re and on the position of the impeller blades. The pumping capacity and circulation flow of the impeller were quantified and results indicate that the circulation flow was approximately 4 times the pumping capacity of the impeller.
Perception of randomness: On the time of streaks

People tend to think that streaks in random sequential events are rare and remarkable. When they actually encounter streaks, they tend to consider the underlying process as non-random. The present paper examines the time of pattern occurrences in sequences of Bernoulli trials, and shows that among all patterns of the same length, a streak is the most delayed pattern for its first occurrence. It is argued that when time is of essence, how often a pattern is to occur (mean time, or, frequency) and when a pattern is to first occur (waiting time) are different questions and bear different psychological relevance. The waiting time statistics may provide a quantitative measure to the psychological distance when people are expecting a probabilistic event, and such measure is consistent with both of the representativeness and availability heuristics in people's perception of randomness. We discuss some of the recent empirical findings and suggest that people's judgment and generation of random sequences may be guided by their actual experiences of the waiting time statistics.
Singularity Avoidance Using Null Motion and Variable-Speed Control Moment Gyros

A variable speed control moment gyroscope (VSCMG) null motion steering law is introduced that continuously attempts to minimize the condition number of the control in uence matrix. By doing so, the gimbal angles are rearranged to less singular con gurations without exerting a torque onto the spacecraft. By allowing the reaction wheel speeds to be variable in this steering law, more general recon gurations are possible than what are possible with conventionalCMG. No a priori calculations of preferred sets of gimbal angles are necessary with this method. Numerical studies show that superimposing this VSCMG null motion on the VSCMG steering law can result in a drastic reduction in the required reaction wheel power consumption when operating near CMG singular gimbal con gurations.The reaction wheel torque required by this VSCMG steering law is typically very small and achievable with existing CMG hardware.
Quantitative Infrared Spectroscopy of Glucose In Blood Using Partial Least-Squares Analyses*

The concentration of glucose in drawn samples of human blood has been determined using attenuated total reflectance (ATR) Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and partial least-squares (PLS) multivariate calibration. A twelve sample calibration set over the physiological glucose range of 50-400 mg/deciliter (dl) resulted in an average error of 5.24 mg/dl. These results were obtained using cross validated PLS calibration for all data in the frequency range of 950-1200 cm-1. These results are a dramatic improvement relative to those obtained by previous studies of this system using univariate peak height analyses.
Enhancing parenting practices of at-risk mothers

This study evaluated the effectiveness of an intervention designed to improve early parenting by increasing understanding of infant developmental needs and promoting maternal responsiveness as indicated by increased positive behavior support for infants and decreased psychological control. At-risk mothers were randomly assigned to control or treatment conditions, the latter consisting of training in parental responsiveness, developmental knowledge, and loving touch. Following the intervention, treatment mothers reduced their controlling tendencies; they were less rigid, less intrusive, and more flexible than control mothers. Treatment mothers provided more parental support indicated by higher quality verbalizations, more demonstrative teaching, and lower role-reversal tendencies. Editors’ Strategic Implications: Further replication will be necessary, but the results for the “My Baby and Me” program are promising. The authors provide crucial information for parent educators about the pairing of basic knowledge transfer with the active engagement of parents with their infants in practicing new parenting skills.
Primary and secondary psychopathic characteristics and the schedule for non-adaptive and adaptive personality (SNAP)

Abstract The current study examined the relationship of the Levenson self-report psychopathy (LSRP) scales to indices of personality disorder (PD) and trait and temperament (TNT) from the schedule of non-adaptive and adaptive personality (SNAP). In a sample of college students (N = 276), LSRP primary and secondary subscales were predictably related to SNAP PD scales reflecting cluster B symptoms; multiple regression analyses indicated that narcissistic (+) and antisocial (+) PD were the best predictors of primary psychopathy; antisocial (+), paranoid (+), obsessive–compulsive (−), and borderline (+) were the best predictors of secondary psychopathy. In terms of TNT scales, mistrust (+), manipulation (+), aggression (+), disinhibition (+), and impulsivity (+) were most consistently related to LSRP psychopathy scales. However, manipulation (+), exhibitionism (+) and entitlement (+) were more related to primary psychopathy whereas aggression (+), dependency (+) and positive emotions (−) were more related to secondary psychopathy. Finally, factor analysis of SNAP psychopathy-related scales and LSRP scales highlighted the discriminant validity of primary and secondary psychopathy.
Quality-of-life assessment tools for men with prostate cancer.

Quality-of-life assessment tools give patients and health-care providers a nuanced understanding not only of how long patients will survive, but also how well they will live. Bergman and Laviana describe the range of tools used to assess quality of life in men with prostate cancer.
Looking beyond 30, 60, and 90 days

Abstract Child welfare agencies have moved to a decidedly short-term orientation toward service delivery. The problems faced by many families, however, require a more long-term approach, with services designed to address problems with roots in a host of social, economic, and familial troubles—often going back many generations. This paper describes the conceptual framework for an on-going and non-categorical approach to services, based on a home visitor model. Obstacles as well as advantages are discussed.
Environmental regulation and corporate policy

The agricultural sector is coming under increasing scrutiny as to its contribution to environmental degradation. The concepts of corporate social responsibility and environmental and product liability suggest that agribusiness firms have a duty and are responsible not only for the environmental impacts of their production and distribution operations but in part for the environmental practices and impacts of those who use their products and from whom they acquire raw materials as well. More and more agribusiness firms are expected to develop environmentally responsible corporate policies that are substantiative in nature rather than simply public relations gestures. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Compliances indices in the assessment of cardiac diseases

Changes in aortic compliance have been used to diagnose cardiovascular diseases. The extent of such changes is directly related to the severity of the diseased state. The current investigation examines two different compliance indices of the aorta and the left ventricle in different types of cardiac diseases. An increase in diastolic volume associated with mitral regurgitation results in an increase in stroke volume and a corresponding increase in the calculated compliance values. The relatively small percentage decrease reported may be due to the preliminary nature of this study. The results suggest that a general decrease in compliance is associated with cardiac disease. This study reaffirms that left ventricular and arterial compliances are useful indices for the assessment and evaluation of the therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. >
Fatalities in the landscape and horticultural services industry, 1992–2001

[BACKGROUND: Although landscape and horticultural services workers have high injury and illness rates, little is known about fatalities in this industry. METHODS: Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries and Current Population Survey data were analyzed to determine fatality rates and causes of landscaping deaths from 1992 to 2001. RESULTS: There were 1,101 fatalities during the 10-year period and the average fatality rate was 13.50 deaths per 100,000 full-time employees. In 2001, the landscaping fatality rate was 3.33 (95% CI 2.84-3.91) times the all industry rate. The leading causes of death were transportation incidents (27%), contact with objects or equipment (27%), falls (24%), exposure to harmful substances and environments (18%), and assaults and violent acts (4%). The fatality rate for African American landscapers was 1.51 (95% CI 1.25-1.83) times the rate for white workers. Fatalities were also common among self-employed, small business, and young landscapers. CONCLUSIONS: Landscaping workers are at increased risk of fatal injury. Further research is needed to characterize industry hazards. Language: en
Low Reynolds Number Interactions between Colloidal Particles near the Entrance to a Cylindrical Pore

Abstract The interaction between stable colloidal particles arriving at a pore entrance was studied using a numerical method for the case where the particle size is smaller than but of the same order as the pore size. The numerical method was adapted from a front-tracking technique developed for studying incompressible, multifluid flow by S. O. Unverdi and G. Tryggvason ( J. Comp. Phys. 100 , 25, 1992). The method is based on the finite difference solution of Navier–Stokes equation on a stationary, structured, Cartesian grid and the explicit representation of the particle–liquid interface using an unstructured grid that moves through the stationary grid. The simulations are in two dimensions, considering both deformable and nondeformable particles, and include interparticle colloidal interactions. The interparticle and particle–pore hydrodynamic interactions, which are very difficult to determine using existing analytical and semi-numerical, semi-analytical techniques in microhydrodynamics, are naturally accounted for in our numerical method and need not be explicity determined. Two- and three-particle motion toward a pore has been considered in our simulations. The simulations demonstrate how the competition between hydrodynamic forces and colloidal forces acting on particles dictate their flow behavior near the pore entrance. The predicted dependence of the particle flow behavior on the flow velocity and the ratio of pore size to particle size are qualitatively consistent with the experimental observations of V. Ramachandran and H. S. Fogler ( J. Fluid Mech. 385 , 129, 1999).
Reduced anion-binding affinity of Cu,Zn superoxide dismutases chemically modified at arginine.

We have studied the spectroscopic and anion-binding properties of bovine and yeast Cu,Zn superoxide dismutases which have been chemically modified at one arginine per subunit by phenylglyoxal. This modification is known to inactivate these proteins as superoxide dismutases. We find that the visible absorption and ESR spectra of the modified proteins are consistent with a shift toward a more nearly axial coordination geometry about Cu(II) and that the affinities of these proteins for the anions CN − , N 3 − , NCS − , and NCO − are substantially reduced.
The Social Construction of Historical Events Through Public Dramas

Medieval Corpus Christi pageants, community and royal public dramas, and French revolutionary demonstrations are examined in order to uncover the elements of their social construction. The elements are seen to be focus, engrossment, costuming, performer selection, scripting, performance effects and moods, and the presentation of symbols. These theatrical elements form a technology that is employed by elites when they collectively seek to symbolize power, present the status order, demand expressions of loyalty, symbolize tradition, emphasize solidarity, and engineer social and cultural change. It is concluded that the study of power effectiveness requires attention not only to legitimacy and interest satisfaction but also to the manner in which power is presented.
A Methodology for Predicting Variability in Microstructurally Short Fatigue Crack Growth Rates

A finite element model, which implements single crystal constitutive relationships, was used to simulate fatigue cracks growing at the microstructural level. Plastic deformation (slip) was allowed along two specified microscopic crystallographic planes. As the orientations of the slip systems were changed several crucial fatigue crack growth parameters, measured over all possible orientations, were found to vary: (1) crack tip forward slip band size, r{sub p}, 0.03 {le} r{sub p}/(K{sub max}/{lambda}{sub 0}){sup 2} {le} 0.31 where {lambda}{sub 0} is the critical resolved shear stress on a slip system, (2) crack opening displacement, {delta}, 1.2 {le} {delta}/(K{sub max}{sup 2}/E{sub m}{sigma}{sub 0}) {le} 7.8 where E{sub m} and {sigma}{sub 0} are the elastic modulus and yield stress of a polycrystalline material with many randomly oriented double slip crystals, and (3) crack closure level, S{sub open}/S{sub max}, 0.02 {le} S{sub open}/S{sub max} {le} 0.35. Corresponding to these differences in crack growth parameters, crack growth laws were used to estimate the expected changes in crack growth rates when microstructurally short cracks grow through grains with different crystallographic orientations. The resulting predictions form approximate upper and lower bounds on crack growth rates for microstructurally short cracks. For several different materials, the crack growth rate variability predictionsmore » were in the range 7 {le} (da/dN) (max)/(da/dN) (min) {le} 37, which is consistent with experimentally measured variations.« less
Recommendations and treatment outcomes for patellofemoral articular cartilage defects with autologous chondrocyte implantation: prospective evaluation at average 4-year follow-up.

BackgroundReported results of autologous chondrocyte implantation for chondral lesions in the patellofemoral joint have been encouraging when combined with realignment procedures.PurposeThe objective of this study was to examine the clinical results of a patient cohort undergoing autologous chondrocyte implantation of the patellofemoral joint and elucidate characteristics associated with successful implantation.Study DesignCase series; Level of evidence, 4.MethodsThe cohort included 62 patients who underwent autologous chondrocyte implantation of the PF joint. The mean defect size was 4.2 cm2 (61.6). The average age was 31.8 years (range, 15.8-49.4), and the average follow-up was 4 years (range, 2-7). Outcomes were assessed via clinical assessment and established outcome scales, including the Lysholm, International Knee Documentation Committee, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Scale (KOOS; includes the 5 categories of Pain, Symptoms, Activities of Daily Living, Sport, and Quality of Life), Tegner, C...
Cloning and expression of a gene from Isochrysis galbana modifying fatty acid profiles in Escherichia coli

An ester hydrolase gene from the microalga Isochrysis galbana was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli BL21 Rosetta 2™. The full-length putative gene has 1,146 base pairs and codes for a 381-amino acid polypeptide. The predicted molecular mass of the deduced protein is approximately 42.31 kDa, with a theoretical pI of 9.37. Slight similarity and identity were observed between the microalga sequence and various α/β-fold hydrolases found in diverse phyla. The catalytic triad corresponds to residues Ser254, Asp309, and His341, with the nucleophilic catalytic residue Ser254 located in the pentapeptide consensus motif G-X-S254-X-G. The activity of the enzyme was established by fatty acid profile analysis of the membrane lipids. The expression of the protein in E. coli shifted the fatty acid composition predominantly towards C16:1 and C18:1 fatty acids. This enzyme is called I. galbana thioesterase/carboxylesterase (or IgTeCe). This novel gene is shown to have a potential for use in metabolic engineering to enhance the lipid yields of microalgae.
Alternative roles for CRISPR/Cas systems in bacterial pathogenesis.

1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Microbiology and Molecular Genetics Program, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States ofAmerica, 2Emory Vaccine Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States of America, 3Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta,Georgia, United States of America, 4Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States ofAmerica
EFFECTS OF GAMMA IRRADIATION ON MYOGLOBIN

Purified deoxygenated sperm whale myoglobin solutions were exposed to gamma irradiation at levels up to 500 krad. Following irradiation the solutions could be resolved by Sephadex chromatography into three fractions: monomer (molecular weight, M. W., estimate 17,000); dimer (M. W. 38,000); and polymers (M. W. 60,000 and greater). Dimer formation appeared to be intermediate to production of polymer fractions. All three fractions had the same spectral characteristics. Liganded derivatives of all three were less susceptible to change manifested by a lower Soret (409 nm) to protein (280 nm) absorbance ratio than was nonliganded metmyoglobin. The presence of excess ligand inhibited dimer and polymer formation, presumably due to the fact that such ligands may act as free radical scavengers. Irradiated myoglobin preparations showed many new bands on electrofocusing, underwent autoxidation at faster rates than controls, and were more susceptible to acid and thermal denaturation. Binding studies with n- butyl isocyanide suggested that irradiated myoglobin exhibits less steric hindrance than does control protein. (auth)
Power Technologies Energy Data Book - Fourth Edition

This report, prepared by NREL's Strategic Energy Analysis Center, includes up-to-date information on power technologies, including complete technology profiles. The data book also contains charts on electricity restructuring, power technology forecasts, electricity supply, electricity capability, electricity generation, electricity demand, prices, economic indicators, environmental indicators, and conversion factors.
The Impact of Order Effects on Nonprofessional Investors' Belief Revision When Presented a Long Series of Disclosures in an Experimental Market Setting

SYNOPSIS: Because firms are likely to release both good and bad news in close proximity to each other, it is important to understand what impact a long information set of mixed directional (i.e., both good and bad news) disclosures has on nonprofessional investors' stock price valuation decisions. Previous experimental research has identified information order effects as a critical factor impacting the decisions made by nonprofessional investors. However, the efficient market hypothesis predicts that individual biases are eliminated by the presence of market incentives, an element that is missing in prior studies on the effects of long information sets disclosures. Consequently, this study seeks to understand if and how order effects prevail in a market setting that includes economic incentives. Our findings indicate that initial primacy effects revert to recency effects over time. These results offer insights regarding how nonprofessional investors process mixed information disclosures over time and sho...
Adjoint implementation of Rosenbrock methods applied to variational data assimilation problems

Abstract In the past decade the variational method has been successfully applied in data assimilation problems for atmospheric chemistry models. In 4D-var data assimilation, a minimization algorithm is used to find the set of control variables which minimizes the weighted least squares distance between model predictions and observations over the assimilation window. Using the adjoint method, the gradient of the cost function can be computed fast, at the expense of few function evaluations, making the optimization process very efficient. For large-scale models, the high storage requirements and the difficulty of implementing the adjoint code when sophisticated integrators are used to solve the stiff chemistry make the assimilation a very intensive computational process. If the sparse structure of the chemical models is carefully exploited, Rosenbrock methods have been proved to be reliable chemistry solvers because of their outstanding stability properties and conservation of the linear invariants of the system. In this paper we present an efficient implementation of the adjoint code for the Rosenbrock type methods, which can reduce the storage requirements of the forward model and is suitable for automatization. The adjoint code is completely generated using symbolic preprocessing and automatic differentiation tools which allow flexibility and require minimal user intervention.