cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Identification and characterization of a nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae putative toxin-antitoxin locus

Certain strains of an obligate parasite of the human upper respiratory tract, nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi), can cause invasive diseases such as septicemia and meningitis, as well as chronic mucosal infections such as otitis media. To do this, the organism must invade and survive within both epithelial and endothelial cells. We have identified a facilitator of NTHi survival inside human cells, v irulence-a ssociated protein D (vapD Hi , encoded by gene HI0450). Both vapD Hi and a flanking gene, HI0451, exhibit the genetic and physical characteristics of a toxin/antitoxin (TA) locus, with VapD Hi serving as the toxin moiety and HI0451 as the antitoxin. We propose the name VapX Hi for the HI0451 antitoxin protein. Originally identified on plasmids, TA loci have been found on the chromosomes of a number of bacterial pathogens, and have been implicated in the control of translation during stressful conditions. Translation arrest would enhance survival within human cells and facilitate persistent or chronic mucosal infections. Isogenic mutants in vapD Hi were attenuated for survival inside human respiratory epithelial cells (NCI-H292) and human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC), the in vitro models of mucosal infection and the blood-brain barrier, respectively. Transcomplementation with a vapD Hi allele restored wild-type NTHi survival within both cell lines. A PCR survey of 59 H. influenzae strains isolated from various anatomical sites determined the presence of a vapD Hi allele in 100% of strains. Two isoforms of the gene were identified in this population; one that was 91 residues in length, and another that was truncated to 45 amino acids due to an in-frame deletion. The truncated allele failed to transcomplement the NTHi vapD Hi survival defect in HBMEC. Subunits of full-length VapD Hi homodimerized, but subunits of the truncated protein did not. However, truncated protein subunits did interact with full-length subunits, and this interaction resulted in a dominant-negative phenotype. Although Escherichia coli does not contain a homologue of either vapD Hi or vapX Hi , overexpression of the VapD Hi toxin in trans resulted in E. coli cell growth arrest. This arrest could be rescued by providing the VapX Hi antitoxin on a compatible plasmid. We conclude that vapD Hi and vapX Hi may constitute a H. influenzae TA locus that functions to enhance NTHi survival within human epithelial and endothelial cells.
Unwinding a non-effective cut elimination proof

Non-effective cut elimination proof uses Koenig's lemma to obtain a non-closed branch of a proof-search tree τ (without cut) for a first order formula A, if A is not cut free provable. A partial model (semi-valuation) corresponding to this branch and verifying ¬A is extended to a total model for ¬A using arithmetical comprehension. This contradicts soundness, if A is derivable with cut. Hence τ is a cut free proof of A. The same argument works for Herbrand Theorem. We discuss algorithms of obtaining cut free proofs corresponding to this schema and quite different from complete search through all possible proofs.
Compartmentalization of Information Processing in an Aplysia Feeding Circuit Interneuron through Membrane Properties and Synaptic Interactions

We describe a pair of cerebral-to-buccal interneurons, CBI-5/6, which have outputs and inputs in two ganglia. The soma in the cerebral ganglion received synaptic inputs during buccal motor programs (BMPs) and after mechanical stimulation of the lips. During BMPs the soma received antidromic spikes generated in processes in the buccal ganglion. The soma was driven into a plateau potential by each of these inputs, during which it fired orthodromically at 0–5 Hz. The soma had outputs in the cerebral ganglion consisting of electrical coupling to the adjacent CBI-5/6 and to a cerebral-to-pedal neuron (CPN1). The buccal terminals of CBI-5/6 received inputs that generated rhythmic barrages (up to 25 Hz) of antidromic spikes during BMPs. The buccal terminals had chemical and electrical outputs to motor and premotor elements of feeding circuitry. This combination of synaptic interactions and endogenous properties mean that CBI-5/6 can process information in a number of ways. During the barrage of antidromic spikes, high-frequency firing will produce strong inputs to buccal followers and on their arrival at the soma will transfer excitation electrotonically to CPN1. Subthreshold input to the soma will be transferred electrotonically to cerebral followers but will not be relayed to postsynaptic buccal neurons. Plateau potentials after the antidromic spikes or local cerebral inputs will locally excite CPN1 via electrical coupling but will have little influence on buccal events because of the low orthodromic firing rate. Thus, CBI-5/6 may transmit information locally within the cerebral ganglion or more extensively in both buccal and cerebral ganglia simultaneously.
Sympathetic Influences on Cardiac Rate and Contractility During Acute Stress in Humans

Experiments are reported concerning an evaluation of sympathetic influences on heart rate and cardiac contractility in normal young adult humans during a stressful reaction time task. During the preparatory interval only vagal influences on heart rate change could be found which were related to concomitant somatic activity. In expectation of the shock and for a more sustained period thereafter, sympathetic influences became manifested on both heart rate and contractility which were independent of concomitant somatic activity. In a follow-up study, the relationship was evaluated between blood pressure, as measured directly from the radial artery, and both contractility and heart rate. Sympathetic influences on the heart were not found to be secondary to depressor effects, although appreciable phasic decreases in blood pressure were sometimes found to follow the onset of large increases in heart rate and contractility. The data suggest that sympathetic influences on the heart are normally very minimal but are evoked by intense stress when the organism attempts to cope with the stress.
Changes in biotic and abiotic processes following mangrove clearing

Mangrove forests, important tropical coastal habitats, are in decline worldwide primarily due to removal by humans. Changes to mangrove systems can alter ecosystem properties through direct effects on abiotic factors such as temperature, light and nutrient supply or through changes in biotic factors such as primary productivity or species composition. Despite the importance of mangroves as transitional habitats between land and sea, little research has examined changes that occur when they are cleared. We examined changes in a number of biotic and abiotic factors following the anthropogenic removal of red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) in the Panamanian Caribbean, including algal biomass, algal diversity, algal grazing rates, light penetration, temperature, sedimentation rates and sediment organic content. In this first study examining multiple ecosystem-level effects of mangrove disturbance, we found that areas cleared of mangroves had higher algal biomass and richness than intact mangrove areas. This increase in algal biomass and richness was likely due to changes in abiotic factors (e.g. light intensity, temperature), but not biotic factors (fish herbivory). Additionally the algal and cyanobacterial genera dominating mangrove-cleared areas were rare in intact mangroves and included a number of genera that compete with coral for space on reefs. Interestingly, sedimentation rates did not differ between intact and cleared areas, but the sediments that accumulated in intact mangroves had higher organic content. These findings are the first to demonstrate that anthropogenic clearing of mangroves changes multiple biotic and abiotic processes in mangrove forests and that some of these changes may influence adjacent habitats such as coral reefs and seagrass beds. Additional research is needed to further explore the community and ecosystem-level effects of mangrove clearing and their influence on adjacent habitats, but it is clear that mangrove conservation is an important aspect of managing tropical coastal systems.
SITE-DEPENDENT REGULATION OF POPULATION SIZE: COMMENT

Murdoch (1994) attributed the remarkable stability often exhibited by territorial bird populations to tight regulation, speculating that it allowed so little variation in population size that changes therein would be difficult to relate, with any degree of statistical confidence, to the causal mechanism: density dependence. Ideas suggesting that population size could be closely bounded by other means have been uncommon in the mainstream literature since the work of Andrewartha and
Conferences and Symposia [The GOLD Report]

This summer, our Society will host the annual international Symposium. It may not be clear to the members of GOLD what makes conferences and symposia important. It is with this concern in mind that I write this month's column. Let's begin with an overview of events that will occur this summer, and then discuss the various ways to take full advantage of this very important opportunity.
Efficient Synthesis of (2S,3S)-2-Ethyl-3-methylvaleramide Using (1S,2S)-Pseudoephedrine as a Chiral Auxiliary

An efficient and scaleable synthesis of (2S,3S)-2-ethyl-3-methylvaleramide (1) has been developed starting from inexpensive and readily available l-isoleucine. The key step in this process is an asymmetric alkylation using (1S,2S)-pseudoephedrine as a chiral auxiliary. A practical procedure was developed to remove the sterically hindered pseudoephedrine auxiliary from the amide. The process consists of eight chemical steps and five isolations without any chromatographic purification. It has been successfully implemented to prepare several multikilogram batches of the target compound 1 in 41% overall yield.
Absolute photoabsorption cross sections for H2O and D2O from lambda 180-790 A

Abstract Absolute photoabsorption cross sections for H 2 O and D 2 O have been measured photoelectrically from λλ 180 to 790 A using synchrotron radiation. The cross sections increase smoothly with wavelength to ∼λ610 A, with both H 2 O and D 2 O displaying a broad absorption band extending above a nearly linear background from λλ 400 to 490 A. The continuum has a maximum of ∼ 22.5 Mb at λ 640 A. Above λ 615 A, superimposed on the continuum, a diffuse structure appears which is similar to the vibrational structure of the 2 B 2 states of H 2 O + and D 2 O + as observed in photoelectron spectra. The structure is believed to arise from excitation of a 1 b 2 electron to the vibrational levels of a Rydberg orbital with n ∗ ≈ 2.64.
INFORMATION FLOWS IN HIERARCHICAL SYSTEMS

Abstract Relations between information flows and structure are discussed for two major classes of systems which have information-processing functions. It is shown that for both classes hierarchical structure is ideally suited for efficiency in the information processing. A partition law of information flow is developed which shows that the sum of the information flows through atomic components of a deterministic system can be partitioned into flow within the system devoted to system coordination, input flow which affects the output (throughput), and input flow which is blocked by the system.
Oral rehydration solutions: enhanced sodium absorption with gum arabic.

To assess whether the addition of gum arabic (GA) to oral rehydration solutions (ORS) of either 60 or 90 mM sodium enhances net water and sodium absorption in rats.Perfusion of a jejunal segment of male juvenile rats under anesthesia, and determination of net water and sodium absorption, and unidirectional fluid movements using appropriate markers.Addition of 5 and 10 g/L of GA increased the rates of sodium removal from the intestinal lumen perfused with ORS containing either 60 or 90 mM sodium. Net water absorption was unaffected, although GA tended to facilitate bidirectional fluid movement. The alteration of solute transport rates by the addition of 10 g/L GA was associated with an expansion of the basolateral intercellular spaces.A soluble fiber such as GA appears to be an effective enhancer of sodium absorption from ORS when tested in experimental animals. Since GA does not affect viscosity, an alteration of solute diffusibility through the brush border membrane and changes in intercellular compartme...
Holocene volcanic activity at Koniuji Island, Aleutians

Abstract Reconnaissance mapping and 40 Ar/ 39 Ar age determinations establish an eruptive chronology for Koniuji Island in the central Aleutian island arc. Koniuji is a tiny 0.95 km 2 island that rises only 896 ft above the Bering Sea. Previous accounts describe Koniuji as a mostly submerged, deeply eroded, dormant stratovolcano. However, new 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages constrain the duration of subaerial eruptive activity from 15.2 to 3.1 ka. Furnace incremental heating experiments on replicate groundmass separates from two samples of a 30–50 m thick basaltic andesite flow at the southernmost point of the island gave a weighted mean 40 Ar/ 39 Ar age of 15.2 ± 5.0 (2 σ ). The next phase of eruptive activity includes a series of 5.8–4.6 ka basaltic andesitic to andesitic lava flows preserved along the western shoreline. The basal lavas contain numerous mafic enclaves and dioritic cumulates suggesting a major disturbance in the plumbing system during the initial stages of emplacement. The 5.8–4.6 ka lavas are truncated by an andesitic dome complex that includes hornblende-bearing domes, flows and pyroclastics which extruded into the center of the island and comprise the majority of the subaerial eruptive volume. An angular block from within the dome complex yielded 40 Ar/ 39 Ar age of 3.1 ± 1.9 ka, thereby making it one of the youngest island arc volcanics to be dated using the 40 Ar/ 39 Ar method. Overall, the 40 Ar/ 39 Ar data indicate that Koniuji is a nascent stratovolcano that has only recently emerged above sea level, not a glacially-eroded, long-lived volcanic complex like those found on many other central Aleutian Islands.
Endocrine Disruptors Affect Developmental Programming of HOX Gene Expression

HOX gene expression determines the differential developmental identity of the Mullerian duct. Diethylstilbestrol and several environmental xenoestrogens disrupt the development of the female reproductive tract by altering HOX gene expression, leading to structural and functional defects.
Evidence for two uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase isoenzymes in human erythrocytes

Abstract In animals and plants, uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase catalyzes the stepwise decarboxylations of uroporphyrinogen, the precursor of heme and chlorophyll. To better understand its metabolic roles, we characterized the enzyme purified to electrophoretic homogeneity (about 11,000-fold) from human erythrocytes by a novel uroporphyrin-sepharose affinity chromatographic method. Native polyacrylamide disc gel electrophoresis of the purified enzyme preparation showed two bands detected by staining either for protein or with uroporphyrin-I. Each individual protein eluted from the gel when subjected to re-electrophoresis on SDS-polyacrylamide gel, appeared as a single protein band with molecular masses of ∼54,000 and ∼35,000 daltons respectively. Both proteins were able to catalyze all four decarboxylation steps, though the ratios of enzyme activity using octa-, hepta-, hexa- to pentacarboxylic porphyrinogen substrates were distinctly different. Also, their kinetic analysis with heptacarboxylic porphyrinogen-I substrate provided distinctly different apparent Michaelis constants. This provides the first evidence that decarboxylations of uroporphyrinogen to coproporphyrinogen are catalyzed by two isoenzymes.
Multiplex sample NMR: an approach to high-throughput NMR using a parallel coil probe

A new parallel coil NMR probe is described which can detect simultaneously the signals arising from four individual samples. The signals are differentiated using field gradients and analyzed in software yielding either a table of peaks assigned to each sample or individual spectra. When suitably developed, this method should be useful for increasing the throughput of NMR measurements, an important issue in applications such as process monitoring or the screening of large molecular libraries using NMR detection.
Contact metamorphism/hydrothermal alteration of Tertiary basalts from the Isle of Skye, northwest Scotland

Alkali olivine basalts from Skye were simultaneously contact metamorphosed by Tertiary gabbro and granite intrusions and altered by the hydrothermal convection system that the plutons induced. Four metamorphic zones were mapped around the plutons. Furthest from the intrusions, in the primary olivine zone, metabasalts are composed of combinations of igneous olivine, augite, plagioclase, titaniferous magnetite, ilmenite, zeolites, gyrolite, sulfides, and chlorite-smectite intergrowths. Closer to the plutons, in the smectite zone, saponite and carbonate appear, primary olivine and gyrolite disappear, and zeolites decrease dramatically in abundance. Still closer to the plutons, in the amphibole zone, actinolite, edenite, chlorite, sphene, epidote, andradite, and quartz appear and saponite and chlorite-smectite intergrowths disappear. Along parts of the contact between gabbro and basalt, in the orthopyroxeneolivine zone, orthopyroxene, metamorphic olivine, and biotite appear and amphibole, chlorite, sphene, epidote, andradite, carbonate, and quartz disappear. Whole-rock chemical data indicate only minor change in the major-element chemical composition of the metabasalts during progressive metamorphism/hydrothermal alteration. Two-pyroxene eothermometry and various mineral-fluid equilibria suggest the range of peak temperatures attained in the metamorphic zones: orthopyroxene-olivine zone, ∼900°1, 030° C; amphibole zone, ∼400°–900° C; smectite and primary olivine zones, +5‰ (SMOW); mineralogically more altered basalts from the smectite zone have whole-rock δ18O=+2 to +5‰; still more mineralogically altered basalts from the amphibole zone (with one exception) have δ18O<+ 2‰; completely recrystallized hornfelses from the orthopyroxene-olivine zone have δ18O<0‰. The principal mechanism of isotope exchange between basalt and metamorphic/ hydrothermal fluid probably was heterogeneous mineralfluid reaction.
Professionals or Technicians? Teacher Preparation Programs and Occupational Understandings.

Teacher preparation is a mechanism of occupational socialization, a process by which novice workers learn the norms and values of the occupation. Traditional education programs housed in schools of education support the ideology of a professional teacher with norms that include a strong pedagogical knowledge base and a gradual induction to the field. Alternative training programs, conversely, are field based with a strong technical emphasis on content and skills. The primary question of this research, therefore, is do the differing modes of entry socialize novice teachers into different occupational understandings? To address the question I interview 49 beginning teachers in one labor market, 26 alternatively certified and 23 traditionally certified, to explore occupational understandings by preparation program. The initial socialization process was weak for both groups, and neither expressed a strong professional or technical identity, indicating the differences between preparation programs is overstated...
Primary oesophageal motility disorders current therapeutic concepts

Various oesophageal manometric disorders have been associated with chest pain or dysphagia. The classic motility disorders are achalasia and diffuse oesophageal spasm. In achalasia, a disorder of aperistalsis in the oesophageal body and incomplete relaxation of the lower oesophageal sphincter, either surgical myotomy or pneumatic dilatation is an effective approach, although some investigators have suggested a role for pharmacological therapy. For the treatment of diffuse oesophageal spasm, a disorder of non-peristaltic motor activity in the oesophagus, various pharmacological approaches with nitrates, anticholinergics, and calcium antagonists have been used. In the presence of associated lower oesophageal sphincter dysfunction, bouginage or pneumatic dilatation may be indicated. Long oesophagomyotomy should be considered for those patients who fail to respond to these measures.
Computer-Adaptive Testing for Students With Disabilities: A Review of the Literature

There has been an increased interest in developing computer-adaptive testing (CAT) and multistage assessments for K-12 accountability assessments. The move to adaptive testing has been met with some resistance by those in the field of special education who express concern about routing of students with divergent profiles (e.g., some students with math-based learning disabilities may have difficulty with basic computation but not high level problem solving) and poor performance on early test questions. This paper consists of a literature review focusing on adaptive testing issues for students with disabilities in the K-12 sector. While it is clear that there are issues that will present obstacles to administering accountability tests adaptively to students with disabilities, this synthesis of research and policy developments with respect to this topic will be useful both for development of research agendas and to inform states that are currently using or are considering moving to CAT.
Microstructural Investigation of Soil Suction and Hysteresis of Fine-Grained Soils

The relationship between soil suction and degree of water saturation (also known as the soil-water characteristic curve or SWCC) for a given soil depends on a number of variables such as the soil type, mineral type, fluid type, pore size distribution, and anisotropy. In addition, the SWCC is found to exhibit a form of hysteresis, in that it is different in wetting and drying. Design of structures founded on unsaturated soils requires an in-depth microscopic understanding of the variables controlling SWCC and the underlying hysteresis. Most of the past basic studies have focused on granular materials, with solid particles represented by spheres. The present study is focused on clayey soils involving platelike solids. The analysis method of molecular dynamics (MD) is used to understand the nature of clay-water capillary meniscus. On the basis of the observations from the MD analysis and the Young-Laplace equation, a model is proposed for predicting SWCC and the associated hysteresis. The microscopic paramet...
A case‐based reasoning approach to application of value engineering methodology in the construction industry

A key point in value engineering (VE) methodology is to acquire and apply knowledge of the assorted fields. An appropriate definition of VE expert knowledge flow could, therefore, yield more productive VE workshops. A conceptual expert case‐based reasoning (CBR) framework is introduced in this paper to form a coherent basis for the provision of practically suitable VE expert models. The proposed framework outlines knowledge entities and their relations in the VE workshop. The model benefits from a fuzzy approach to handle uncertainties in the evaluation phase of the methodology. In addition, a computer program is devised, based on the proposed framework, using Borland Delphi 7.0. It comprises an interface representing several phases of the VE job plan. The model is employed in a tunnelling project to demonstrate feasibility of the model in a practical workshop. Owing to its expert nature, the developed model contributes to efficiency of the methodology through providing VE teams with canalized expert know...
Attraction to a group as a function of attitude similarity and geographic distance

Attraction toward a group was investigated as a function of attitude similarity and perceived geographic distance. Students ( n = 60), divided into four groups, received similar or dissimilar attitude statements attributed to a near or distant group. The effects of attitude similarity were strongly significant ( p < .0001). Attraction scores were high toward a similar attitude group and low toward a dissimilar attitude group. A similar group was also evaluated more positively on measures of intelligence, knowledge of current events and adjustment. Distance had no significant effect on attraction and limited effect on evaluations.
A framework to assess the role of stakeholders in sustainable building retrofit decisions

Abstract Stakeholders are concerned with increasing the sustainability of their existing buildings from social, environmental, economic, and technical perspectives. Several studies indicate that conflicting stakeholder requirements are a main barrier in implementing sustainable retrofits with the decision often made based purely on short-term economic grounds. However, most studies did not take into account the important role that different stakeholders can play in determining the type and extent of any retrofit measures, or develop methodologies that integrate social, environmental, economic, and technical concerns. In this research, a House of Quality (HOQ) model is developed that synthesizes differences among the stakeholders and integrates their competing objectives to establish hierarchy of retrofits that meet the stakeholder requirements in using the existing building. The developed model is tested on a decision to sustainably retrofit an existing US Navy case study building. The HOQ analysis revealed that the stakeholder type for this case study did not affect the ranking of their requirements, and in general, all 5 of the main groups of stakeholders involved in this study, agreed without persuasion that the primary reasons for implementing sustainable retrofits in each of the four main systems are to save energy, reduce costs, and adhere to policy.
Diagnostic accuracy in cytopathology

Cytopathologic diagnoses play an important role in clinical decision making. As a result, the tests that produce material for cytopathologic interpretation must be evaluated critically and carefully. One way to evaluate these tests is by the assessment of diagnostic accuracy. The commonly used sensitivity and specificity format dichotomizes the data set and often loses or misinterprets important diagnostic information, especially the data which is semiquantitative. In addition, sensitivity and specificity do not allow the clinician to revise the probability of disease depending upon the test result. The LR and ROC analysis are two methods that systematically measure the diagnostic accuracy of tests, including those that produce semiquantitative data. LR and ROC measurements incorporate the concepts of sensitivity and specificity, but, in addition, provide a way to assess the clinical utility of a test by estimating the post-test probability of disease. These methods are related to other techniques in medical decision making such as decision analysis and information theory, and are straightforward and easily utilized by clinicians and pathologists.
Tensile strength of discontinuous fibre-reinforced composites

A stochastic Monte-Carlo approach, based on Eyring's chemical activation rate theory, is used to study the factors controlling the tensile strength of discontinuous fibre-reinforced composites. The model explicitly takes into account the local distribution of stress near fibre ends. Both the fibre and the matrix are allowed to break during fracture of the composite. The stress-strain curves and the modes of failure of the composite are found to be strongly dependent on the volume fraction and aspect ratio of the fibres. The importance of adhesion at the fibre/matrix interface is also studied. The results are compared with available experimental data.
A formal method for subjective design evaluation with multiple attributes

This paper contributes toward a more formal theory and methodology for design by mathematically modeling the functional relationships between design decisions and the ultimate overall worth of a design. The conventional approach to design evaluation is limited in two respects. First, the direct measurement of attribute performance levels does not reflect the subsequentworth to the designer. Second, ad hoc methods for determining the relative importance or priority of attributes do not accurately quantify beneficial attribute tradeoffs. This information is critical to the iterative redesign process. A formal Methodology for the Evaluation of Design Alternatives (MEDA) is presented which resolves these problems and can be used to evaluate design alternatives in the iterative design/redesign process. Multiattribute utility analysis is employed to compare the overall utility or value of alternative designs as a function of the levels of several performance characteristics of a manufactured system. The evaluation function reflects the designer's preferences for sets of multiple attributes. Sensitivity analysis provides a quantitative basis for modifying a design to increase its utility to the decision-maker. Improvements in one or more areas of performance and tradeoffs between attributes which would increase desirability of a design most are identified. A case study of materials selection and design in the automotive industry is presented which illustrates the steps followed in application of the method.
Localization of protease nexin-1 on the fibroblast extracellular matrix.

Abstract Protease nexin-1 (PN-1) is a protease inhibitor that is secreted by fibroblasts and several other cultured cells. PN-1 forms complexes with certain serine proteases in the extracellular environment including thrombin, urokinase, and plasmin. The complexes then bind to the cells and are rapidly internalized and degraded. This report demonstrates that PN-1 is present on the surface of fibroblasts, bound to the extracellular matrix. Immunofluorescent studies showed that PN-1 colocalized with fibronectin on both intact cells and in preparations of extracellular matrix made from these cells. In contrast, PN-1 did not colocalize with the epidermal growth factor receptor, a plasma membrane marker. An enzyme-lined immunosorbent assay was developed which showed that the extracellular matrix contained at least 60-80% of the cellular immunoreactive PN-1. Extraction of the matrix with 2 M NaCl removed PN-1 in a form which reacted with 125I-thrombin to form complexes which were immunoprecipitated by anti-PN-1 IgG and were of identical size as complexes made from soluble PN-1 and 125I-thrombin. These data indicate that in addition to its role as a soluble protease inhibitor, PN-1 is also a component of the extracellular matrix and might control its proteolysis.
Dark matter with flavor symmetry and its collider signature

Abstract The notion that dark matter and standard-model matter are connected through flavor implies a generic collider signature of the type 2 jets + μ ± + e ∓ + missing energy . We discuss the theoretical basis of this proposal and its verifiability at the Large Hadron Collider.
Mechanisms of enhanced phosphorylase activation in the hyperthyroid rat heart.

Abstract Enhanced phosphorylase activation in hearts from hyperthyroid animals has been well documented. To elucidate the mechanisms responsible for the enhanced phosphorylase a formation, hearts from euthyroid and hyperthyroid rats were perfused by the Langendorff method with calcium (3.75 m m ), isoproterenol, dibutryl cAMP and trifluoperazine, an inhibitor of calcium-calmodulin dependent enzymes. Comparative biochemical analyses revealed increased phosphorylase a formation in hearts from both euthyroid and hyperthyroid animals following exposure to calcium, dibutryl cAMP and isoproterenol. Hearts from hyperthyroid rats had an increased sensitivity to threshold concentrations of isoproterenol for both cAMP formation and phosphorylase b to a conversion. At higher concentrations of isoproterenol (10 −8 m and 3 × 10 −8 m ), no significant differences in cAMP formation were noted between euthyroid and hyperthyroid animals in spite of persistently increased phosphorylase a levels in the hyperthyroid state. Trifluroperazine had no effect on basal phosphorylase a levels but significantly inhibited phosphorylase a formation in both groups following calcium or isoproterenol stimulation. However, enhanced phosphorylase a formation was still present in the hearts from hyperthyroid rats following trifluoperazine preperfusion. Determinations of phosphorylase kinase activity revealed a specific activity in the hyperthyroid animals twice that of the euthyroid controls. At least two mechanisms, an increased sensitivity to beta-adrenergic agents and increased cardiac phosphorylase kinase activity, may mediate the enhanced phosphorylase a formation found in hearts from hyperthyroid rats.
Separation of Ownership and Control: Implications For-Board Composition

This article investigates the implications of separation of ownership and control for board composition over a spectrum of ownership structures present in the U.S. property–liability insurance industry. We hypothesize that agency costs associated with manager–owner conflicts increase with the degree of separation of ownership and control. Greater agency costs imply a greater need for monitoring by outside directors on the board. Therefore, use of outside directors is expected to increase as the separation of ownership and control gets larger. Employing a sample of property–liability insurers exhibiting different degrees of separation of ownership and control, we find support for our hypothesis.
The Importance of Physical Activity in Closing the Achievement Gap

The most significant concern within the US educational community is the academic achievement gap. Investigation of the achievement gap reveals that minority students across all levels of education are not meeting the same academic measures as their non-Hispanic White peers. In addition, a disproportionate number of minority children are identified as overweight. Physical activity has been identified as an influence on the reduction and prevention of overweight and obesity. In addition, physical activity has been recognized as beneficial to cognitive performance in children. The current review provides a stimulus to recognize the links between overweight and academic achievement in minority youth and the importance of physical activity in addressing these issues.
Internal medicine training: putt or get off the green.

This issue features 2 position papers on reforming internal medicine residency education. Although the proposed reforms are visionary, far-reaching, and appealing, they lack a road map and the nece...
Preduodenal portal vein: Surgery and radiographic appearance

Preduodenal portal vein is rare, with 63 cases reported in the literature. In general, this anomaly occurs in children with associated small bowel obstruction. We report a newborn infant who presented with duodenal stenosis, mongolism, and preduodenal portal vein. Treatment consisted of a duodenoduodenal anastomosis without mobilizing the portal vein. The correlation between imaging techniques and the operative findings is discussed. Because identification of preduodenal portal vein at surgery is important, preoperative sonography may be useful in selected cases to define the position of the vein.
Hypertension resulting from renal arterial injection of microspheres.

IT has been known for some time that alteration of renal function may lead to hypertension. If both kidneys are removed, renoprival hypertension ensues1. If one renal artery is partially constricted and the opposite kidney removed, blood pressure will increase to hypertensive levels2, although renal function is sufficient to maintain essentially normal fluid and electrolyte balance. The latter method is in widespread use as the means of producing hypertension. This communication deals with another method by which hypertension of renal origin may be produced, that is, renal arterial injection of microspheres.
Effect of plant sterols, fatty acids and lecithin on cholesterol absorption in vivo in the rat.

The inhibitory effect of plant sterols, fatty acids and lecithin on cholesterol intestnal absorption was studied in the unanesthetized rat using a single pass perfusion technique. Bile was excluded from the perfused intestine. Cholesterol absorption did not change following the additions of cholestanol, cholestanone, lanosterol, stigmasterol and β-sitosterol. A 3-fold increase in the molarity of cholestanol and β-sitosterol or the separate additions of the saturated short and medium chain fatty acids, butyric and octanoic, also did not change cholesterol absorption. The unsaturated long chain fatty acids, oleic, linoleic, linolenic and arachidonic, inhibited cholesterol absorption. Lecithin additions at concentrations of 0.1–1.5 mM caused a progressive, dose-related inhibition of cholesterol absorption. The inhibitory effect of these agents on cholesterol absorption is likely to have been caused by changes in cholesterol solubility in the micelle and shifts in the partition coefficient of cholesterol away from the cell membrane to the micelle.
Borrelia burgdorferi and the macrophage: Routine annihilation but occasional haven?

Borrelia burgdorferi, the agent for Lyme disease, has a typical pattern of bacterial interaction with phagocytes: attachment, stimulation o f release o f inflammatory mediators and, in most cases, ingestion and killing. Spirochetes are killed extracellulorly by antibody plus complement via the classical pathway, as well as by phagocytes through apparently nonoxidative means. Yet rare persistent spirochetes (mutants?) have been identified both in patients' tissues and in cells grown in vitro. Ruth Montgomery and Stephen Malawista here ask: are some Borrelia wolves in sheeps' clothing, evading macrophage anti-microbial action?
Teacher communication activities relevant to student motivation: Classroom facework and instructional communication competence

Relying on an interdisciplinary link between identity management and student motivation research, this study describes teacher communication activities that students in two graduate preprofessional classrooms identified as face‐relevant. Ethnographic methods found 7 instructional communication activities during which students reported feeling one or more of their face needs addressed (i.e., supported or threatened). Findings and extant research are cited to demonstrate the positive motivational consequences of instructor face‐support during these face‐relevant interactions. Results extend previous communication research on motivation, immediacy, and influence in the classroom.
Digital books and the salvation of academic publishing

Purpose – The paper seeks to propose that librarians act to ensure the continued existence of small, specialized, and non‐profit publishers as avenues of intellectual and academic discourse in an era of growing publishing monopolies.Design/methodology/approach – The paper reviews the profitability of commercial publishers and their plans for expansion in the digital book market, and contrasts this with the continued financial hardships of public‐welfare academic publishers.Findings – The problems for non‐profit academic publishers will not be solved by simply “going digital”.Practical implications – Librarians need to exclude small academic publishers from further burdening through collective collection development.Originality/value – The paper reviews developments in digital book publication from the perspective of a 1997 conference on the “crisis” in academic publishing with current business practices and expansions by large publishing houses.
ETHICAL INQUIRY IN NURSING RESEARCH

The last Nursing Forum (Vol. VI, No. 1) Contained an article by Dr. Florence S. Downs which raised certain issues about the ethical Standards that should prevail in nursing research, particularly those needed to ensure the rights of human subjects of research. In the belief that these Issues merit considerable thought from different point of view, we asked several nurses who were or had been involved in research to discuss Dr. Downs's article. The three reactionnaires presented here are the immediate responses to this request.
GABAB Receptor Agonist R-Baclofen Reverses Social Deficits and Reduces Repetitive Behavior in Two Mouse Models of Autism

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is diagnosed by two core behavioral criteria, unusual reciprocal social interactions and communication, and stereotyped, repetitive behaviors with restricted interests. Excitatory/inhibitory imbalance is a prominent hypothesis for the etiology of autism. The selective GABAB receptor agonist R-baclofen previously reversed social deficits and reduced repetitive behaviors in a mouse model of Fragile X syndrome, and Arbaclofen improved some clinical symptoms in some Fragile X and ASD patients. To evaluate R-baclofen in a broader range of mouse models of ASD, we tested both the R-baclofen enantiomer and the less potent S-baclofen enantiomer in two inbred strains of mice that display low sociability and/or high repetitive or stereotyped behaviors. R-baclofen treatment reversed social approach deficits in BTBR T+ Itpr3tf/J (BTBR), reduced repetitive self-grooming and high marble burying scores in BTBR, and reduced stereotyped jumping in C58/J (C58), at nonsedating doses. S-baclofen produced minimal effects at the same doses. These findings encourage investigations of R-baclofen in other preclinical model systems. Additional clinical studies may be warranted to further evaluate the hypothesis that the GABAB receptor represents a promising pharmacological target for treating appropriately stratified subsets of individuals with ASD.
Preparation and thermophysical properties of AgGaTe2 crystals

Abstract The preparation and thermophysical properties of AgGaTe 2 crystals are reported. The synthesis from pure elements was performed in a rocking oven and scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray elemental analysis show the presence of additional phases. From simultaneous differential calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis (SDT) measurements we have found that AgGaTe 2 melts at 725.7°C, with a heat of fusion of 104.8 J/g −1 . High temperature powder X-ray diffraction data confirmed the chalcopyrite structure and yielded the thermal expansion coefficients along the a - and c- axes to 500°C. Heating above that temperature, under inert gas flow, causes the material to sublime incongruently and produce a film of gallium rich surface. Experimental values of thermal diffusivity and estimates of the thermal conductivity values are also presented.
Photoinitiation of cationic and concurrent radicalcationic polymerization. Part V

Irradiation directe de sels onium. Photosensibilisation des sels onium. Systemes hybrides-polymerisation radicalaire cationique concurrente. Applications aux photoresists. References
Implications of increased myocardial isoenzyme level in the presence of normal serum creatine kinase activity

Although increased serum creatine kinase (CK) activity in the presence of an increased level of myocardial-specific isoenzymes (CKMB) has been strongly associated with acute myocardial infarction, the significance of an increased serum CKMB level in the presence of a normal total CK level is uncertain. In 335 consecutive patients suspected of having an acute myocardial infarction and 71 control subjects, peak serum CKMB and CK levels were correlated with the presence of other clinical criteria for acute myocardial infarction: (1) typical chest pain, (2) increased myocardial lactate dehydrogenase (LDH 1 /LDH 2 ), (3) acute electrocardiographic changes (new or ST-T wave changes with evolution), and (4) an elevated CKMB level on 2 or more determinations or a typical CK curve. No control subject had an increase in CK or CKMB or any of the 4 criteria for myocardial infarction. Of the 176 subjects with normal CK and normal CKMB (Group 1), only 11% had more than a single criterion, and none had more than 2 criteria consistent with myocardial injury. In contrast, of the 83 with elevated CK and CKMB levels (Group 2), 93% had 2 or more and 81% had 3 or more of the 4 criteria. Of the 63 patients with elevated CKMB but a persistently normal CK (Group 3), 65% had 2 or more criteria for acute myocardial infarction and 77% had subendocardial electrocardiographic changes; these patients resembled those with both elevated CK and MB. The phenomenon of elevated CKMB with normal CK occurred in 20% of the patients aged ≥ 70 years but in only 10% of the younger group (p
A Renewed Appeal for Adversarial Collaboration

We see no need to rebut Jost et al.’s (2009) numerous misrepresentations: readers can judge for themselves whetherTetlock & Mitchell (2009) endorsed ‘‘organizational complacency’’ and ‘‘blanket skepticism’’ or rejected severaldecades of cognitive psychology. But we do see an urgent need to return to the core theme of our chapter—the appealfor adversarial collaboration which Jost et al. (2009) virtually ignored. Indeed, Jost et al.’s (2009) response convincesus that adversarial collaboration is all the more needed for avoiding an unnecessarily protracted stalemate over theconditions under which, if any, gauges of implicit bias can predict tangible and fungible discrimination in realisticworkplaces.This boundary-condition question raises foundational level-of-analysis issues about the relative usefulness ofreductionist versus contextualist approaches to the organizational sciences. But that is not the reason for urgency.Epistemology can wait butthe legalsystem is less patient. Thecollectivecredibility ofthe behavioralsciencesis on thelinewhen researchers—such as Barbara Reskin, William Bielby, and Anthony Greenwald—have repeatedly, as expertwitnesses in class-action litigation, argued that implicit biases are so pervasive that they will inﬂuence personneldecisions whenever there is excessive managerial discretion, inadequate accountability, and insufﬁcient individuatinginformation.Our collective credibility is in peril because these expert witnesses have consistently failed to offer any scientiﬁcmetrics for the key constructs—accountability, discretion, and individuating information—underlying their critiquesof corporate policies. Without such metrics, experts give themselves inﬁnite ﬂexibility to second-guess the policies ofany organization.A resolute reductionist would see no reason to doubt the pervasiveness of implicit biases in workplaces.Organizations need to reduce managerial discretion to close to zero, impose strong outcome-accountability systems,and require decision makers to rely on rigid formulas to integrate large volumes of objectively derived, job-relevant,individuating information. A convinced contextualist would posit that implicit-bias effects are far more fragile thansometimes portrayed—and may disappear in response even to weak manipulations of accountability constraints orindividuating information.The thus-far-undisputed fact is that no one knows where precisely to draw the lines along these boundary-conditioncontinua. Jost et al. (2009) owe it to readers to clarify how strong a reductionist stand theyare taking. And we are underthe same obligation with respect to our brand of contextualism. Each side needs to advance testable propositions aboutwhere along each continuum they would expect implicit-bias effects to dissipate—and to specify the methodological