cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Exploratory Study of the Role of Neutralization on Ethical Intentions Among Salespeople

The purpose of this study is to propose and test a model suggesting that the relationship between antecedent variables (role ambiguity, organizational commitment, relationship orientation) and salesperson ethical intentions will be mediated by a “neutralization” construct. Neutralization techniques are defined as a means for individuals to justify potential behavior that is incongruent with (their own and society’s) moral and ethical code. A sample of 157 industrial salespeople was obtained and the results were analyzed by a structural equation path model. The results suggest that salespeople will use neutralization techniques to justify their ethical intention when they exhibit lower levels of organizational commitment, higher levels of role ambiguity, and lower levels of relationship orientation. These results were more prominent in a business-to-consumer selling environment. This research contributes to the sales literature since exploring ethical neutralizations as a mediator between situational/personal antecedents and salesperson ethical intention as an outcome has yet to be studied in the professional sales domain. Implications for both sales research and sales managers are discussed.
Basilar Membrane Motion and Spike Initiation in the Cochlear Nerve

More than a half-century ago the pioneers of cochlear electrophysiology were able to offer fairly consistent descriptions of the relationship between cochlear microphonics and spike initiation in the cochlear nerve. Derbyshire and Davis (1935), studying the gross potentials picked up by round window electrodes, recognized the presence of both neural events (the compound action potential) and receptor events (microphonics) in responses to low-frequency stimuli and suggested that action potentials are generated in conjunction with the negative-to-positive polarity transition of the round-window microphonics. Once it was shown that the microphonic waveform reflects basilar membrane (BM) displacement at low frequencies (Bekesy, 1951) it was widely agreed that spike initiation must occur in phase with BM motion (either displacement or velocity) towards scala vestibuli (Goldstein, 1968). This view of spike generation in the mammalian cochlea was consistent with the demonstration that in lateral line hair cells displacement of stereocilia toward the kinocilium causes depolarization (Flock, 1971). In 1973, however, experiments carried out independently in two laboratories (Konishi and Nielsen, 1973; Zwislocki and Sokolich, 1973) suggested that the long-held view was at least incomplete, if not plainly wrong.
Sensor Cooperation and Decision Fusion to Improve Detection in Cognitive Radio Spectrum Sensing

Cooperative spectrum sensing has been shown to significantly improve the spectrum utilization in cognitive radio networks. In this paper, we deal with the problem of error in reporting the local decisions to the fusion center by the secondary users. First, we formulate a protocol of cooperation among the secondary users to share their local decisions and then relay each others information to the fusion center. Second, we use low-density parity-check coded communication in the second hop to protect the relayed information against variations in the wireless channel. The reported information from each sensor is then combined at a fusion center and a final decision is made based on majority-voting fusion mechanism. We refer to this scheme as coded cooperative spectrum sensing (CCSS). Finally, it is shown that the proposed CCSS scheme improves the spectrum utilization of the cognitive radio network by reducing the error in reporting the local decisions to the fusion center.
Alexander Hamilton and the Sedition Act: A Founder’s Ambivalence on Freedom of the Press

More than two centuries since his death, Alexander Hamilton has become the most popular and misunderstood Founding Father. At least partly because of Ron Chernow’s biography and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s blockbuster play, scholars burnish his idealized persona, transforming him from an anti-populist conservative into a political democrat demanding unlimited freedom of speech. Despite the availability of accurate historical accounts since the 1950s, a literature review reveals that historians, biographers, and modern-day journalists continue to misread Hamilton’s concept of press freedom. This article depicts Hamilton more accurately, closely examining his opinions on the Sedition Act of 1798 and his general attitude toward dissent. Hamilton favored the Sedition Act, which, although its provisions were more liberal than the common law, nevertheless violated the First Amendment. Moreover, employing the state courts and the common law, Hamilton sought to jail and bankrupt newspaper editors who opposed him. He demanded freedom of the press only when the expositor’s views mimicked his own.
Impact of socioeconomic status on the incidence and mortality of multiple myeloma in the United States.

e13595Background: Socioeconomic deprivation is known to be associated with poorer survival among cancer patients, but studies has not shown the impacts of socioeconomic status on the Incidence and ...
Normalization of Single Cell RNA Sequencing Data Using both Control and Target Genes

Single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) technique is becoming increasingly popular for unbiased and high-resolutional transcriptome analysis of heterogeneous cell populations. Despite its many advantages, scRNAseq, like any other genomic sequencing technique, is susceptible to the influence of confounding effects. Controlling for confounding effects in scRNAseq data is thus a crucial step for proper data normalization and accurate downstream analysis. Several recent methodological studies have demonstrated the use of control genes for controlling for confounding effects in scRNAseq studies; the control genes are used to infer the confounding effects, which are then used to normalize target genes of primary interest. However, these methods can be suboptimal as they ignore the rich information contained in the target genes. Here, we develop an alternative statistical method, which we refer to as scPLS, for more accurate inference of confounding effects. Our method is based on partial least squares and models control and target genes jointly to better infer and control for confounding effects. To accompany our method, we develop a novel expectation maximization algorithm for scalable inference. Our algorithm is an order of magnitude faster than standard ones, making scPLS applicable to hundreds of cells and hundreds of thousands of genes. With extensive simulations and comparisons with other methods, we demonstrate the effectiveness of scPLS. We apply scPLS to analyze three scRNAseq data sets to further illustrate its benefits in removing technical confounding effects as well as for removing cell cycle effects.
Laparoscopic versus robotic-assisted Heller myotomy for the treatment of achalasia: A systematic review with meta-analysis.

Background Robotic-assisted laparoscopic Heller myotomy has been proposed as an alternative minimally invasive approach to traditional laparoscopy for the treatment of achalasia. This systematic review aims to compare the safety and post-operative outcomes of the two procedures. Methods Systematic literature search was performed in MEDLINE through Ovid, Scopus and Cochrane to identify clinical trials and retrospective analyses. Outcome measures used for meta-analysis included operative time, estimated blood loss, length of stay, 30-day readmission, intraoperative oesophageal perforation, conversion, mortality, morbidity, symptom relief beyond 1 year, re-intervention for recurrent symptoms and gastroesophageal reflux during follow-up rates. Results Seven studies were selected with a total of 3214 patients. The only factor to be statistically different is intraoperative oesophageal perforation rate, which is lower in robotic-assisted Heller myotomy compared to laparoscopic (odds ratio = 0.1139; 95% confidence interval [0.0334, 0.3887]; p = 0.0005). Conclusions The results suggest a robotic approach is associated with improved patient safety.
Forms of resistance: Insights into beginning teacher development

Abstract The study centers a topic of international interest, teacher identity development by exploring an ongoing issue relative to teacher development—novice teachers taking up place-based pedagogies. The study uses data from first-year teachers who participated in a community-focused induction program; the induction program aimed to facilitate beginning teachers’ placed-based pedagogies by building asset-based perspectives on the community of color their school district served. More specifically, the beginning teachers engaged directly with community members to learn about community cultural wealth. Data suggest that despite participation in the community-focused induction program, some beginning teachers actually resist change and continue to situate their teaching practice as decontextualized from the larger community they serve. The findings make the case for extended work around the practical and psychological forms of resistance in beginning teacher development and change relative to enacting place-based pedagogies.
Legal Remedies for Corporate Human Rights Abuse (Jesner v. Arab Bank)

In the era of globalization and corporate social responsibility, victims of human rights abuses must be heard, including access to American courts. When a corporation violates the law of nations, U.S. federal courts should stand ready to provide a remedy to victims of corporate abuse
Factors impacting student success in a fundamentals course of an associate degree nursing program

Abstract Background Attrition rates are high for nursing programs. Attrition must be addressed to ensure nursing programs are financially sustainable and healthcare has an adequate supply of nurses. Purpose Identify factors impacting the success of students enrolled in the fundamental nursing course. Methods Retrospective file review of the previous seven cohorts (n = 351). Fifteen factors were investigated to determine their impact on successful completion of the fundamentals nursing course. Results Successful completion was significantly associated with race identified by the participants (χ2 = 10.84, p = 0.01) as participants who identified as white demonstrated higher success rates. Increasing ACT composite score (b = 0.95, p = 0.00) positively correlated with the student's success completion (CI = 1.26-5.38). Higher grade in General Psychology (b = 0.36, p = 0.02) positively correlated with successful completion (CI = 0.50-0.96). Recommendations and Conclusions Data can be used to evaluate current admission criteria and to develop support programs for students who may be at risk for not progressing well.
Immune cell residency in the nasal mucosa and COVID-19 severity across the age range

Summary Severe coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) positively correlates with age (Centers for Disease Control), develops after progression of infection from the upper airway to the lower respiratory tract (LRT), and can worsen into acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (Shi et al., 2020). Why children seem to be less likely to develop severe disease remains unclear. As the nasal mucosa (NM) is the first site of contact and defense for respiratory pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 before dissemination to the LRT (Casadei and Salinas, 2019), we hypothesized that differences in this tissue across the age range may help explain the disparity in COVID-19 severity. To this end, we profiled NM samples across the lifespan in health and disease. We find that global transcriptomic changes including the expression of SARS-CoV-2 and coronavirus-associated receptors and factors are not correlated with age or the novel virus type, since pediatric NM cells mount similar antiviral response to both SARS-CoV-2 or Influenza B. Rather, we find immune cell residency in NM decreases dramatically with age especially cells of the innate immune system. This includes a resident-memory-like T cell subset with antiviral properties. These observations give plausible biological explanation to the observed clinical differences in disease spectrum and provide a foundation for future experimental studies.
Strategies for non-uniform sampling of molecular dynamics phase space trajectories of relaxation phenomena

Abstract Non-uniform phase space trajectory sampling schedules were developed for time-domain analysis of molecular dynamics simulations of transient processes to reduce the data storage costs to record the trajectory for post-processing and permanent archival. Sampling periods are defined as functions of time such that the spacing between sampled points is either exactly or approximately constant in the logarithmic-time domain. A non-uniform sampling schedule was applied to uniformly sampled time histories of translational kinetic energy for translationally excited molecules in a crystal. Direct comparison of the non-uniformly sampled time history to the uniform one reveals that the non-uniform time history accurately captures the relaxation process with a 93% reduction in data storage cost for the conditions studied. Implications for frequency-domain analysis are discussed. A sampling schedule for simulations of supported shock waves is presented that provides an approximate 60% reduction in data storage cost.
Sequence analysis and mapping of the Salmonella typhimurium LT2 umuDC operon.

Abstract In Escherichia coli, efficient mutagenesis by UV requires the umuDC operon. A deficiency in umuDC activity is believed to be responsible for the relatively weak UV mutability of Salmonella typhimurium LT2 compared with that of E. coli. To begin evaluating this hypothesis and the evolutionary relationships among umuDC-related sequences, we cloned and sequenced the S. typhimurium umuDC operon. S. typhimurium umuDC restored mutability to umuD and umuC mutants of E. coli. DNA sequence analysis of 2,497 base pairs (bp) identified two nonoverlapping open reading frames spanning 1,691 bp that were were 67 and 72% identical at the nucleotide sequence level to the umuD and umuC sequences, respectively, from E. coli. The sequences encoded proteins whose deduced primary structures were 73 and 84% identical to the E. coli umuD and umuC gene products, respectively. The two bacterial umuDC sequences were more similar to each other than to mucAB, a plasmid-borne umuDC homolog. The umuD product retained the Cys-24--Gly-25, Ser-60, and Lys-97 amino acid residues believed to be critical for RecA-mediated proteolytic activation of UmuD. The presence of a LexA box 17 bp upstream from the UmuD initiation codon suggests that this operon is a member of an SOS regulon. Mu d-P22 inserts were used to locate the S. typhimurium umuDC operon to a region between 35.9 and 40 min on the S. typhimurium chromosome. In E. coli, umuDC is located at 26 min. The umuDC locus in S. typhimurium thus appears to be near one end of a chromosomal inversion that distinguishes gene order in the 25- to 35-min regions of the E. coli and S. typhimurium chromosomes. It is likely, therefore, that the umuDC operon was present in a common ancestor before S. typhimurium and E. coli diverged approximately 150 million years ago. These results provide new information for investigating the structure, function, and evolutionary origins of umuDC and for exploring the genetic basis for the mutability differences between S. typhimurium and E. coli.
Perceptions of the media in three different cultures: the US, Australia & Taiwan

This paper examines business students' perceptions of the media in the United States, Australia, and Taiwan across four attributes—informative, entertaining, boring and irritating. Management implications of the findings are also discussed. Newspapers, radio, billboards, television, direct mail and magazines were selected for analysis. The findings revealed that 16 different paired comparisons out of a possible 72 tests show statistical significance. Media perception patterns describing respondents' ratings of different media classes for given attributes were examined. The perception patterns in Australia and the United States were similar with respect to the informative, entertaining and boring attributes, and significant differences in perception patterns were found between Taiwan and the other two countries.
Measurement Of Student Ability To Problem Solve In Accounting

This paper describes the development and evaluation of a test used to measure accounting-specific problem solving skills in business students in an effort to assess the outcome of a significant curricular revision in the principles of accounting series. In response to suggestions by the Accounting Education Change Commission (AECC), the accounting faculty at a small, urban university changed the content and method of teaching principles of accounting. Since a review of the literature did not produce an appropriate instrument for measuring problem solving in accounting that could be administered within one class period and was machine scorable, the authors developed the Accounting Problem Solving Test (APST) and evaluated its reliability and validity. Results provided consistent and strong support that the APST is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing problem solving ability specific to the subject domain of accounting. Further use and testing for validity are warranted in situations where teachers are interested in assessing their students’ abilities to problem solve in accounting given changes in teaching strategies.
Heat shock-induced appearance of RNA polymerase II in karyoskeletal protein-enriched (nuclear "matrix") fractions correlates with transcriptional shutdown in Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract Heat shock in vivo or brief incubation at moderately elevated temperatures (15 min at 37 degrees C) in vitro is required for the structural stability of proteinaceous karyoskeletal elements purified from Drosophila melanogaster (McConnell, M., Whalen, A. M., Smith, D. E., and Fisher, P. A. (1987) J. Cell Biol. 105, 1087-1098). We have found that the appearance of the two largest subunits of RNA polymerase II in karyoskeletal preparations is promoted by conditions identical to those which promote in vitro stability of karyoskeletal elements overall. Increased levels of polymerase II in karyoskeletal protein-enriched fractions correlate with decreased levels of nucleotide incorporation in nuclear transcription run-on assays. These results are not easily reconciled with the proposal that putative karyoskeletal elements such as the internal nuclear "matrix" are sites of active transcription in vivo.
Microarrays in Toxicological Research

Toxicologists are increasingly applying oligonucleotide and complementary DNA microarrays in an attempt to understand adverse chemical reactions that occur during gene transcription. When applied in concert with the more established approaches of biochemical toxicology, pathology and so on, the appropriate use of these microarrays is improving our fundamental knowledge of mechanisms of toxicity and will have profound impact on safety assessment processes in the discovery and development of new pharmaceuticals. Keywords: toxicology; microarray; gene expression; bioinformatics; database transcription, drug development
Enhancing photo-catalytic production of organic acids in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 ΔglgC, a strain incapable of glycogen storage

We describe how a key objective in microbial biofuels strain development is to maximize carbon flux to target products while minimizing cell biomass accumulation, such that ideally the algae and bacteria would operate in a photo-catalytic state. A brief period of such a physiological state has recently been demonstrated in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803 ΔglgC strain incapable of glycogen storage. When deprived of nitrogen, the ΔglgC excretes the organic acids alpha-ketoglutarate and pyruvate for a number of days without increasing cell biomass. This study examines the relationship between the growth state and the photo-catalytic state, and characterizes the metabolic adaptability of the photo-catalytic state to increasing light intensity. It is found that the culture can transition naturally from the growth state into the photo-catalytic state when provided with limited nitrogen supply during the growth phase. Photosynthetic capacity and pigments are lost over time in the photo-catalytic state. Reversal to growth state is observed with re-addition of nitrogen nutrient, accompanied by restoration of photosynthetic capacity and pigment levels in the cells. While the overall productivity increased under high light conditions, the ratio of alpha-ketoglutarate/pyruvate is altered, suggesting that carbon partition between the two products is adaptable to environmental conditions.
Pulmonary sarcomatous tumors.

Abstract Context.—Sarcomatous pulmonary neoplasms are a rare and diagnostically challenging group of tumors. Primary pulmonary sarcomas must be distinguished from the more frequent occurrence of sarcoma metastatic to the lung, primary pulmonary sarcomatoid carcinoma, and diffuse malignant mesothelioma involving the lung. In current practice, the general availability of ancillary diagnostic techniques, such as immunohistochemistry and molecular analysis, can reliably classify many sarcomatoid lesions. Objective.—To review the literature and report on additional primary material about the application of immunohistochemistry and molecular analysis in the differential diagnosis pulmonary sarcomatous neoplasms. Data Sources.—Literature review of relevant articles indexed in PubMed (National Library of Medicine) between 1961 and 2007 and primary material from the author's institution. Conclusions.—This review discusses specific criteria for the diagnosis of primary lung sarcomas and offers a practical approach ...
Iceman: Uncovering the Life and Times of a Prehistoric Man Found in an Alpine Glacier

Iceman: Uncovering the Life and Times of. Prehistoric Man Found in an Alpine Glacier. Brenda Fowler. New York: Random House, 2000.296 pp.
Endogenous tRNA-derived fragments suppress breast cancer progression via YBX1 displacement

Upon exposure to stress, tRNAs are enzymatically cleaved, yielding distinct classes of tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs), yielding distinct classes of tRFs. We identify a novel class of tRFs derived from tRNA(Glu), tRNA(Asp), tRNA(Gly), and tRNA(Tyr) that, upon induction, suppress the stability of multiple oncogenic transcripts in breast cancer cells by displacing their 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) from the RNA-binding protein YBX1. This mode of post-transcriptional silencing is sequence specific, as these fragments all share a common motif that matches the YBX1 recognition sequence. Loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies, using anti-sense locked-nucleic acids (LNAs) and synthetic RNA mimetics, respectively, revealed that these fragments suppress growth under serum-starvation, cancer cell invasion, and metastasis by breast cancer cells. Highly metastatic cells evade this tumor-suppressive pathway by attenuating the induction of these tRFs. Our findings reveal a tumor-suppressive role for specific tRNA-derived fragments and describe a molecular mechanism for their action. This transcript displacement-based mechanism may generalize to other tRNA, ribosomal-RNA, and sno-RNA fragments.
The Paired Comparison Method in Educational Research

This paper examined five sets of paired comparison judgments in order to identify the most probable source of intransitivity in the data. An attempt was made to separate the influences of multidimensional judgment criteria, indiscriminable objects, and unreliability. Results call into question the usefulness of the paired comparisons as a method for assessing the dimensionality of judgment criteria, but reinforce its use in providing information about sensitivity to stimulus differences.
The placebo puzzle: examining the discordant space between biomedical science and illness/healing.

POHLMAN S, CIBULKA NJ, PALMER JL, LORENZ RA and SMITHBATTLE L. Nursing Inquiry 2013; 20: 71–81 The placebo puzzle: examining the discordant space between biomedical science and illness/healing The placebo response presents an enigma to biomedical science: how can ‘inert’ or ‘sham’ procedures reduce symptoms and produce physiological changes that are comparable to prescribed treatments? In this study, we examine this puzzle by explicating the discordant space between the prevailing biomedical paradigm, which focuses on a technical understanding of diagnosis and treatment, and a broader understanding of illness and healing as relational and embodied. Although biomedical achievements are impressive, the knowledge resulting from this paradigm is limited by its ontological and epistemological assumptions. When the body and world are objectified, illness meanings, therapeutic relationships, and healing practices are dismissed or distorted. In spite of a robust critique of the tenets of biomedicine for guiding practice, the biomedical paradigm retains a tenacious hold on evidence-based medicine and nursing, downplaying our clinical understanding of the sentient body, patients’ life-worlds, and illness and healing. In reality, skilled nurses rely on multiple forms of knowledge in providing high-quality care to particular patients. Clinically wise nurses integrate their experience and knowledge of patients’ priorities, fears, and illness trajectories along with biomedical findings to make astute judgments and promote health and healing.
Abnormal cognitive planning and movement smoothness control for a complex shoulder/elbow motor task in stroke survivors

Abstract Purpose Cortical function is not well understood in stroke survivors with persistent dyscoordination. The study purpose was two-fold: 1) characterize cognitive planning time and cognitive effort level for a circle-drawing motor task in stroke survivors using shoulder/elbow muscles and 2) identify the relationship between cognitive effort level and movement smoothness. Methods Twelve stroke survivors with shoulder/elbow coordination deficits (> 12 mo) and eight controls were enrolled. The motor task was to draw a circle on a horizontal surface using only shoulder/elbow muscles. Outcome measures were: EEG-derived cognitive planning time, cognitive effort level, and movement smoothness. Comparisons between stroke and controls were made using t -tests. The Pearson's correlation model was analyzed to determine the relationship between movement smoothness and cognitive effort level. Results Stroke subjects showed a statistically significant prolonged motor planning time versus controls for both lesion and non-lesion sides ( p = 0.013 and 0.049, respectively). They also showed a statistically significant elevated effort level versus controls for both sides ( p = 0.016 and 0.013). The patients exhibited statistically significant poor movement smoothness in the medial/lateral and forward/backward movement directions versus controls ( p = 0.035 and 0.037, respectively). For stroke, there was a significant correlation between cognitive effort level on the non-lesion side and smoothness of movement in the medial/lateral and forward/backward directions ( r = 0.54, p = 0.036 and r = 0.76, p = 0.002, respectively). On the lesion side, results were mixed ( r = 0.268, p = 0.2 r = 0.59, p = 0.023, respectively). Conclusions Stroke survivors with upper limb motor deficits exhibit a longer cognitive planning time and elevated cognitive effort for performance of a complex shoulder/elbow motor coordination task. The elevated cognitive effort level was associated with poor (jerky) motor performance, suggesting a potential role of the CNS in controlling movement smoothness of the arm.
Evolution of substrate specificity in bacterial AA10 lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases

Understanding the diversity of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes in nature will provide insights for the improvement of cellulolytic enzyme cocktails used in the biofuels industry. Two families of enzymes, fungal AA9 and bacterial AA10, have recently been characterized as crystalline cellulose or chitin-cleaving lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs). Here we analyze the sequences, structures, and evolution of LPMOs to understand the factors that may influence substrate specificity both within and between these enzyme families. Comparative analysis of sequences, solved structures, and homology models from AA9 and AA10 LPMO families demonstrated that, although these two LPMO families are highly conserved, structurally they have minimal sequence similarity outside the active site residues. Phylogenetic analysis of the AA10 family identified clades with putative chitinolytic and cellulolytic activities. Estimation of the rate of synonymous versus non-synonymous substitutions (dN/dS) within two major AA10 subclades showed distinct selective pressures between putative cellulolytic genes (subclade A) and CBP21-like chitinolytic genes (subclade D). Estimation of site-specific selection demonstrated that changes in the active sites were strongly negatively selected in all subclades. Furthermore, all codons in the subclade D had dN/dS values of less than 0.7, whereas codons in the cellulolytic subclade had dN/dS values of greater than 1.5. Positively selected codons were enriched at sites localized on the surface of the protein adjacent to the active site. The structural similarity but absence of significant sequence similarity between AA9 and AA10 families suggests that these enzyme families share an ancient ancestral protein. Combined analysis of amino acid sites under Darwinian selection and structural homology modeling identified a subclade of AA10 with diversifying selection at different surfaces, potentially used for cellulose-binding and protein-protein interactions. Together, these data indicate that AA10 LPMOs are under selection to change their function, which may optimize cellulolytic activity. This work provides a phylogenetic basis for identifying and classifying additional cellulolytic or chitinolytic LPMOs.
Understanding consumption related values from advertising: A content analysis of television commercials from India and the United States

The present study focuses on understanding consumption related values currently prevailing in India. In order to examine if the consumption related values of the people in India are similar to thos...
Optical Materials and Their Preparation

A variety of materials such as glasses, crystals, pressed materials, and thin films are available for optical applications. The influence of impurities on physical properties indicates that materials of higher purity are frequently required. Methods of impurity detection and purification are well developed but their use is quite complicated. Synthesis of purest materials is still in its infancy.
High speed capillary zone electrophoresis-mass spectrometry via an electrokinetically pumped sheath flow interface for rapid analysis of amino acids and a protein digest

While capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) has been used to produce very rapid and efficient separations, coupling these high-speed separations with mass spectrometry (MS) has been challenging. Now, with much faster and sensitive mass spectrometers, it is possible to take full advantage of the CZE speed and reconstruct the fast migrating peaks. Here are three high-speed CZE-MS analyses via an electrokinetically pumped sheath-flow interface. The first separation demonstrates CZE-ESI-MS of an amino acid mixture with a 2-min separation, >50,000 theoretical plates, low micromolar concentration detection limits, and subfemtomole mass detection limits (LTQ XL mass spectrometer). The second separation with our recently improved third-generation CE-MS interface illustrates a 20 amino acid separation in ∼7min with an average over 200,000 plate counts, and results in almost-baseline resolution of structural isomers, leucine and isoleucine. The third separation is of a BSA digest with a reproducible CZE separation and mass spectrometry detection in 2min. CZE-MS/MS analysis of the BSA digest identified 31 peptides, produced 52% sequence coverage, and generated a peak capacity of ∼40 across the 1-min separation window (Q-Exactive mass spectrometer).
Superior temporal gyrus volumes in maltreated children and adolescents with PTSD.

Abstract Background: The structure and function of the superior temporal gyrus (STG), a structure involved in receptive and nonverbal auditory and language processing, is understudied in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Event-related potential abnormalities were previously reported in PTSD, implicating the existence of dysfunction in the primary auditory cortex and adjacent anterior auditory cortex of the STG in adult PTSD. Methods: Anatomic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) volumetric analysis of the superior temporal gyrus were performed in 43 maltreated children and adolescents with PTSD and 61 nonmaltreated healthy control subjects. Results: Unadjusted STG gray matter volumes were larger in maltreated subjects with PTSD than in control subjects, whereas STG white matter volumes were smaller in maltreated subjects with PTSD than in control subjects. After adjusting for differences in cerebral volume, right, left, and total superior temporal gyrus volumes were relatively larger in PTSD subjects compared with control subjects. After covarying for differences in cerebral gray matter volumes, regression analysis showed that PTSD subjects had significantly greater STG gray matter volumes in most, and in particularly right-sided STG measurements. Furthermore, findings of significant side-by-diagnosis interactions for STG and STG gray but not white matter STG volumes suggest that there is a more pronounced right > left asymmetry in total and posterior STG volumes but a loss of the left > right asymmetry seen in total, anterior, and posterior STG gray matter volumes in PTSD subjects compared with control subjects. Conclusions: These STG findings may suggest developmental alterations in maltreatment-related pediatric PTSD.
On semigroups with lower semimodular lattice of subsemigroups

Abstract The question of which semigroups have lower semimodular lattice of subsemigroups has been open since the early 1960s, when the corresponding question was answered for modularity and for upper semimodularity. We provide a characterization of such semigroups in the language of principal factors. Since it is easily seen (and has long been known) that semigroups for which Green's relation J is trivial have this property, a description in such terms is natural. In the case of periodic semigroups—a case that turns out to include all eventually regular semigroups—the characterization becomes quite explicit and yields interesting consequences. In the general case, it remains an open question whether there exists a simple, but not completely simple, semigroup with this property. Any such semigroup must at least be idempotent-free and D -trivial.
Differential skeletal muscle gene expression after upper or lower motor neuron transection

Causes of disuse atrophy include loss of upper motor neurons, which occurs in spinal cord injury (SCI) or lower motor neurons (denervation). Whereas denervation quickly results in muscle fibrillations, SCI causes delayed onset of muscle spasticity. To compare the influence of denervation or SCI on muscle atrophy and atrophy-related gene expression, male rats had transection of either the spinal cord or sciatic nerve and were sacrificed 3, 7, or 14 days later. Rates of atrophy increased gradually over the first week after denervation and then were constant. In contrast, atrophy after SCI peaked at 1 week, then declined sharply. The greater atrophy after SCI compared to denervation was preceded by high levels of ubiquitin ligase genes, MAFbx and MuRF1, which then also markedly declined. After denervation, however, expression of these genes remained elevated at lower levels throughout the 2-week time course. Interestingly, expression of the muscle growth factor, IGF-1 was increased at 3 days after denervation when fibrillation also peaks compared to SCI. Expression of IGF-1R, GADD45, myogenin, and Runx1 were also initially increased after denervation or SCI, with later declines in expression levels which correlated less well with rates of atrophy. Thus, there were significant time-dependent differences in muscle atrophy and MAFbx, MuRF1, and IGF-1 expression following SCI or denervation which may result from distinct temporal patterns of spontaneous muscle contractile activity due to injury to upper versus lower motor neurons.
Buckling and kinking force measurements on individual multiwalled carbon nanotubes

Using an atomic force microscope operated inside a transmission electron microscope, we have studied the forces involved in buckling and kinking an individual multiwalled carbon nanotube while observing its structure. In particular, we have measured an individual nanotube's asymptotic critical buckling load and critical kinking load. The buckling results are well described by classical elastic theory, while the observed kinking behavior requires a more involved analysis. Repeated buckling measurements on the same nanotube indicate an extremely high degree of elasticity and set a lower bound on the nanotube's yield strength of $1.7\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{GPa}$, higher than the yield strength of steel. Plastic deformation of the nanotube was eventually observed following kinking.
Effects of the Model's Age, Perceived Similarity, and Familiarity on Children's Donating

Abstract Modeling is an effective means of facilitating prosocial behavior in children. Different types of models are not equally effective, however. Third, fourth, and fifth graders (75 boys and 75 girls) participated in this study. We used a 2 × 2 × 5 (Sex of Subject × Age of Model × Familiarity of Model) design. The subjects watched a videotaped model demonstrate a sorting task, collect 20 certificates, and share them. The mean number of certificates shared was significantly higher in the similar-age model group than in the adult model group. The mean number of certificates shared for unfamiliar models who were described as similar and the unfamiliar models with no similarity mentioned were each higher than for the familiar preferred model and the unfamiliar model described as dissimilar groups. Unfamiliar models with no similarity mentioned elicited more sharing, on average, than parent models did. The mean for the group comprising unfamiliar age-mate with no similarity mentioned was higher than the m...
Visualization of the Transfer Reaction: Tracking Immune Complexes from Erythrocyte Complement Receptor 1 to Macrophages☆

Immune complexes (IC) bound to human erythrocytes (E) via complement receptor 1 (CR1) are transferred to phagocytes in the liver and spleen. In an in vitro model system using bispecific mAb reagents (antigen-based heteropolymers) to link IC to E, we have made time-lapse movies in which fluorescently labeled IC cross the E-human macrophage interface and remain associated with the macrophage. Both these movies and fixed-time experiments reveal transfer intermediates in which IC hinge E to macrophages. Examination of model macrophages after transfer indicates that the majority of IC are on the surface at short times (2 min) but are internalized at long times (1-4 h). More than half of the surface IC colocalize with CR1 at 2 min. This evidence supports a model in which CR1-bound IC provide a secure linkage between E and macrophages, allowing rearrangements of the macrophage surface necessary for release of CR1, and IC, from the E.
Predicting the Axisymmetric Manufacturing Deformations of Disk-Style Benders:

The thermally-induced deformations of multilayer disk-style benders that are consolidated at elevated temperature to cure the adhesives bonding the layers together and then cooled to room temperature are studied. Only axisymmetric deformations are considered, and hence the disks cool to a dome-like shape due to the different thermal expansion properties of the layers. The paper derives the equations governing the deformation and, since the out-of-plane deformations are often many times the disk thickness, geometrically nonlinear effects are considered in the derivation. As a comparison case, the equations are linearized and solved in closed form. The geometrically nonlinear case is solved by using the shooting method and the Rayleigh-Ritz method. A number of simple bender designs are studied to examine the influence of geometric nonlinearities, disk geometry, and layer material properties on the deformations. It is concluded that geometric nonlinearities lead to flattening of the dome relative to the geom...
White dwarf heating and the ultraviolet flux in dwarf novae

The heating of the outer layers of the white dwarf which is likely to occur during a dwarf nova outburst is investigated. It is shown that the decline in IUE flux, observed during quiescent intervals in the dwarf novae VW Hydri and WX Hydri, may be due to the outer layers cooling off once the heat source is removed. The calculations here assume uniformity of the heat source over the white dwarf surface. This is unlikely to be realized from disk accretion, and discussion is made of what further calculations are required.
Variations in plasma lipid concentration during examination stress.

The effect of psychological stress on plasma lipids was studied in 40 law students (20 men and 20 women). Plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, and apolipoprotein concentrations were examined at the beginning of the quarter and during the week before final examinations. Cortisol, blood pressure, and heart rate, and self-reports of stress and workload were also measured to verify that examinations were associated with increased stress levels. Perceived stress, perceived workload, and Cortisol increased before examinations. Low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) increased 5.8 ± 13.9 mg/dL, and apolipoprotein B (apo B) increased 2.9 ± 4.0 mg/dL. High density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased in women only. These changes were not due to changes in dietary intake or indexes of plasma volume. However, changes in Cortisol and changes in LDL-C and apo B were associated, suggesting a neuroendocrine component to the effects. These results suggest that episodic, stressful situations may lead to potentially atherogenic changes in lipid and lipoprotein concentrations.
COMPLEX BETA-DECAY SCHEMES: PANDEMONIUM LOST AND PARADISE REGAINED

Abstract The β-decay of 145Gd has been studied in sufficient detail for comparison with the decay of its fictional analogue Pandemonium. It is shown that >98% of the 145Gd decay intensity was observed. This result casts doubt on the value of decay schemes determined solely by statistical techniques.
Phase-shift markers in Bordetella: alterations in envelope proteins.

Envelope preparations derived from phase I strains of Bordetella pertussis were shown to contain at least 10 major proteins or protein subunits. Four of these proteins were either missing or produced in much lower concentrations in phase IV strains and in C-mode cells. Envelope protein profiles of Bordetella parapertussis were similar to those of B. pertussis except that more high-molecular-weight proteins were detected. Phase I strains of Bordetella bronchiseptica also had protein profiles similar to those of B. pertussis except that the higher-molecular-weight proteins were not present. C-mode strains of B. parapertussis and rough strains of B. bronchiseptica were deficient in certain proteins and resembled rough strains of B. pertussis in this regard. An examination of the envelope proteins of species of Bordetella can provide useful information to distinguish between virulent and avirulent strains and to understand the mechanism(s) responsible for strain degradation. Markers of strain degradation were sought because degraded strains may lack protective antigens, a property that is necessary for effective pertussis vaccines. Intermediate forms have been postulated, but Bordetella pertussis exists either as a virulent phase I form or as an avirulent form termed phase
Prediction of the Pitch-Damping Coefficients Using Sacks' Relations

Abstract : Throughout its development, slender body theory has been generalized to predict a large variety of aerodynamic coefficients for a wide class of flight bodies. For most applications, slender body theory provides only a qualitative predictive capability. There is, however, a set of slender body relationships which has been previously derived by Sacks that allows the individual pitchdamping coefficients and the pitch-damping coefficient sums to be related to each other. Until recently, it has been difficult to assess the accuracy of these relationships due to the lack of high-quality pitch-damping data or the lack of a higher order theory. The current work applies a recently developed computational fluid dynamics capability for predicting all three pitch-damping coefficients. From this analysis, the accuracy of these relationships has been assessed and their engineering significance demonstrated. One important result is that the pitch-damping relations developed by Sacks allow the individual pitch-damping coefficients to be determined from the pitch-damping coefficient sum with a high degree of accuracy.
Typographical errors and technological solutions

A recently reported typographical error in our global computer simulation model did exist, but had only a small quantitative effect on the published results. The error was not responsible for the pollution crisis mode; its removal does not stabilise the model system and the conclusions are unaffected by the numerical change.